The boy who cries wolf!

Many of us are familiar with the story of a shepherd boy who got bored being all alone in the fields taking care of his sheep. One day a bright idea popped up how to get people to come to him. He ran around at the edge of the town crying: “Wolf! Wolf!” Immediately people came to him wanting to help, only to find out there was no wolf. The boy was pleased to suddenly have a big company. He gave excuses how the wolf ran away.  Another day he again cried out louder: “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!” Again the good people rushed out to be of help. Again they found out that there was no wolf. Again excuses from the boy. A third time, the boy did the same and again the people came, to their dismay. One day, a wolf did really appear. The boy was frantic. He cried his heart out; “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!” Nobody came. The boy stood helpless as the wolf ravaged his flock.

The lesson is: one cannot always fool the people. People are wise. Excuses will not always stand. When the real need comes, nobody will believe anymore, to the great misfortune of the one whose speech cannot be trusted.

Transfer this to our political scene. Can we still believe the President who says that he will not extend his term? That he will resign if federalism is enacted? That he has no intention to declare a revolutionary government? That he will not be a dictator?

He said on the months before the 2016 elections that he would not run for president, that he had no intention to be one. But all the while this was all part of the script for his candidacy for the presidency. He had boldly declared during the presidential debates that if he does not solve the traffic of Manila in three months he would resign. It is now more than one year and the traffic has gone worse. He pledged to return the coconut lobby money to the farmers if he becomes president. Up to now the coconut farmers have yet to get the benefits from the money taken from them more than 40 years ago. Several times he said that ENDO is wrong and he would take it out. He is already more than a year in office and the workers suffer still ENDO and there is no positive sign that it will be taken away. We can go on and on… from the peace talks, to ending to the drug problem, to the sending out of the Americans, to the ending of the Balikatan, etc. So much bold talk, but they are all bubbles! He proves himself to be a very TRAPO politician, shamelessly promising what he cannot, or does not want, to deliver once he is in position of power.

So can we still believe him that he has no further intention in the presidency than to serve the people, that he will step down, that he will resign? He is the boy who cries “wolf!” His excuses are running out. The people are getting restless. Their situation has not changed in spite of the “high ratings” and “high” GDP. Unless this government shows concrete results that the poor and ordinary people can feel, and not just bold words and intimidations, the people will not long be fooled. Change is not coming! Filipinos too are intelligent. We may be long suffering, pero may hangganan din!