“I believed [fiction] could get me nearer to the
truth … It is the substance of what happens to people not just on the outside,
but within…”
--
Helen Benedict, Columbia University journalism professor, and author
“History” and “fiction” are collateral damages of the
last presidential election driving a wedge among our local writers. The Manila
Times’ Rigoberto Tiglao locked horns with his fellow columnist Danton Remoto
and The Philstar columnist Jose Dalisay, particularly, on the fitness of drawing
on “fiction” in their opinion pages.
To
shed light in some way on the spat, I bannered Helen Benedict’s words above in
my ATABAY article “Michael’s Errand.”
In my
article today, I’ll take a crack at tapping “fiction” to showcase the essence
of Benedict’s assertion. I asked ChatGPT to dig up a popular fiction story on
the web about treasure hunters, at long last, hitting upon the place where the fabled
treasure was buried. ChatGPT rolled out
the following fiction, flash fiction to be exact (which it claimed as its work
when I asked it to cite its source), entitled Betrayal at the Buried X.
As
the sun sank below the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the desolate
landscape, a handful of treasure hunters stood in a circle around the fabled X.
Exhaustion lined their faces, a testament to the long and arduous hunt that had
brought them to this moment.
The
air crackled with anticipation, but also with an undercurrent of suspicion.
Each hunter’s eyes darted suspiciously at the others, wondering who would make
the first move, who would betray the unspoken code of camaraderie.
The
clues and pointers had brought them here, promising unimaginable wealth and
glory. But now, greed gnawed at their hearts, and the dark side of their nature
emerged. They knew that only one could claim the treasure for themselves.
A
treacherous tension hung in the air as they weighed their options. Who could
they trust? Loyalties wavered, and alliances formed and dissolved within the
span of a heartbeat.
In
this twisted game of deceit, the plot took a sinister turn. One by one, the
hunters revealed their true colors, their masks slipping away like shadows in
the fading light. Each move was calculated, designed to eliminate the
competition and secure the coveted treasure.
Backstabbing
and double-crossing became the norm, as promises were broken and alliances
shattered. Desperation fueled their actions, blurring the lines between friend
and foe.
In
the end, as darkness swallowed the landscape, only one figure stood triumphant.
The treasure was finally claimed but at a heavy cost. The echoes of betrayal
reverberated in the silence, a chilling reminder of the treacherous nature that
lurks within even the most outwardly innocent souls.
And
so, as the stars twinkled above, casting a cold gaze upon the scene, the
treacherous tone of this dark tale lingered, a warning to those who dare to
tread the treacherous path of ambition and greed.
This flash
fiction story may have captivated your imagination, but have you ever wondered
how this stuff holds a mirror to our country’s very real political pageantry unfolding
before our eyes today? Let’s take a peek at political theatrics at the highest
level by reading between the lines carved out by our local pundits:
“[VP] Duterte
took the move against her mentor as an arrow aimed at her own presidential
ambition…” – Inquirer’s Randy David, Power, secrecy, and the politics of
hypocrisy
“It
must have given [VP Sara] some pause when the leaders of her own Lakas-CMD
stabbed Arroyo in the back.” – Dr. Dante A. Ang, The Manila Times’ Chairman
Emeritus, Trouble in paradise?
“[T]he
next presidential election cycle will be an internal brawl… as they would tear
and smear each other.” – The Manila Times’ Antonio Contreras, It will be a
family brawl
“[T]he
first thrust of the political knife was made creating a break in the so-called
unity team.” – The Manila Times’ Ma. Lourdes Tiquia, Lines Drawn
“The worst of Philippine politics… What we are seeing is a display of naked power and blatant self-interest.” – Manila Standard’s Tony La Viña, Betrayal in politics
Just
as the treasure hunters stood locked in a treacherous fight, so too the VP and
House Speaker, once comrades in arms, now find themselves with locked horns in
a clash for the ultimate prize – the presidential throne. Just as the treasure
hunters succumbed to their baser hunger, the VP and the House Speaker have
succumbed to the allure of power.
Personal
ambition clashes with loyalty and the desire for the presidency can transform
allies into rivals. VP’s mentor’s in-your-face demotion showcased the extent
the House Speaker would go in standing guard over his path to the presidential
throne, in the face of alliances that were once considered unbreakable.
As the
fight for the presidential throne intensifies, political alliances turn
fragile, and loyalties are tested. Party members find themselves caught in the
crossfire, torn between personal relationships and the magnet of cheering on a
potential winner.
Amid
the unfolding drama, politicians navigate a treacherous maze of shifting
alliances, strategic maneuvers, and calculated risks. Behind closed doors,
secret negotiations, and backroom dealings shape the course of this high-stakes
presidential battle.
Meanwhile,
we, Pinoys, feast our eyes on public displays of loyalty and cunningly crafted
narratives tailored to sway our opinions, all the while the thirst for power hangs
out at the forefront. We are both spectators and participants in this political
theater. We watch from a distance the ripple effects of these power plays, the
fractures in the political landscape, and the erosion of trust.
This political
fight keeps rapidly evolving, and its outcome remains uncertain, as the thirst
for power never ceases to drive the contenders moving. Only time will reveal
the ultimate winner of this high-stakes political game.
Let me
conclude this article with the following excerpts from my previous ATABAY
article, a tongue-in-cheek “Letter To Inday Sara Supporter Who Is Also My
Friend” at the height of the last presidential election.
><><
Our common ground: We
vote for our leaders to pursue the common good -- love of PH. So, we agree: I
vote for Leni for President; you vote for Sara for VP. No conflict.
Now, here comes the
detail. After I vote for Leni and hope she’ll win, my voter’s task ends. Yours
just begin: after you vote for Sara and hope she’ll win; further, you dream she
will become a president in 2028. For such a dream to come true, she must first
jump over the following three hurdles:
Hurdle 1. She must win the 2022 VP race. [Done]
Hurdle 2. She must perform with flying colors during
her VP term.
Hurdle 3. She must be awarded the leadership
succession presidential “baton” by her president. [PBBM]
Let’s look over each
hurdle.
Hurdle 1. You will vote
for Sara and hope she will win. [Done]
Hurdle 2. If Sara wins
the VP, between President Leni and President Bongbong, who do you think would
give Sara ample opportunity to perform her VP function with flying colors? Leni
said, “Whoever becomes the VP, I will give them a big role in the government
because our cooperation will result in the greater good for our country.” What
an amicable statement, free from grudge-bearing emotion, uttered by a VP who has
been ignored and offended many times in the past by Sara’s father PRRD. On the
other hand, with Sara as his running mate, Bongbong, you will hope, give her a
big role as his VP in running the government.
Hurdle 3. If VP Sara
performs with flying colors, between President Leni and President Bongbong, who
do you think would give Sara the leadership succession presidential “baton” she
deserves without hesitation? Vital factor: While Leni is running as an
independent, on the other hand, BONGBONG IS RUNNING UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF MULTIPLE
PARTIES WITH A THRONG OF VESTED INTEREST. AIMING NOW FOR THE 2028 PRESIDENCY IS
A HORDE OF YOUNGER AND AMBITIOUS BREED OF SECOND-GENERATION LEADERS EMERGING FROM
A BAND OF DYNASTIC POLITICAL CLANS EMBEDDED IN BONGBONG’S CAMP. [Underscoring mine]
My friend, at this
point, if ever you find that Leni’s presidency offers a much better prospect
for Sara’s presidential run in 2028, then, such a conclusion is not a product
of a tricky analysis of Sara’s predicament, but as an insight, I am sharing
with you as your friend.
><><
Not bad guesstimate at all.
Content put together in collaboration with ChatGPT
Head collage photos courtesy of The Manila Times,
Inquirer, Depositphotos, Getty Images, and Megapixldotcom
Video clips courtesy of YouTube
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