In the theater of politics, where the stage is grand and the roles are as varied as they are vital, the war of words between First Lady (FL) Liza Araneta-Marcos and VP Sara Duterte has captured the nation’s attention. FL voiced a poignant plea, her words painting a picture of personal betrayal and a call for loyalty stirred with a veiled reprimand, meshed with gaping vulnerability.
“Nasaktan ako (I was hurt) because my husband will do everything to protect you… You ran together, right? (You said) we will rise together again.”
“Pupunta ka sa rally, tatawagin yung president mong bangag, ‘di ba, you’re going to laugh, tama ba ‘yan? (But you will go to a rally where they called your President a drug user, right? You’re going to laugh – is that the proper thing to do?) Even Leni (Robredo) never did that.”
In stark contrast, VP Sara Duterte’s retort is a fortress of duty and detachment:
“Bilang tao, karapatan ni Unang Ginang Liza Marcos para makaramdam ng sama ng loob at galit. Subalit ang kaniyang personal na damdamin ay walang kinalaman sa aking mandato bilang opisyal ng pamahalaan.
(As humans, it’s the right of First Lady Liza Marcos to feel upset and angry. But her personal feelings have nothing to do with my mandate as a government official.)
This clash has been spelled into the public domain, leaving us, the citizens, to ponder the weight of their words. As the lines blur and the plot thickens, we find ourselves as both spectators and critics in this unfolding drama. We are called to engage, to discern, to question. This war of words mirrors the age-old power play and how we react to these moments -- whether with passive leniency or active discourse – shapes not only our understanding but also the fabric of our society.
POWER PLAY IN JUDEA
In the annals of history, the narrative of Jesus and King Herod stands as a stark reminder of such a power play that takes two divergent paths – the political and the spiritual. M. Scott Peck, M.D. of The Road Less Traveled fame, has markedly drawn the distinction.
Political power is essentially the capacity to influence others, a function of the organizational structure, and resides in the position the person holds in a hierarchy. Always temporal, it will eventually be wrested away – by replacement, retirement, or death. On the other hand, spiritual power resides in the person’s being. It is the capacity to influence others, by example, by the virtue of the person.
Just as FL spotlighted the character of a past leader, in the person of Leni Robredo, to cast a reflection on the present, so too do we look back to the story of Jesus and Herod which depicts the contrast between the enduring influence of spiritual leadership and the temporal might of political headship – a dichotomy that continues to challenge and inspire leaders across the ages. It is within this historical context that we find a lens through which we view our current leaders, measuring them against the timeless yardstick of values.
King Herod wielded political power. He was appointed by the Roman Empire to govern Judea, and his authority was enforced by soldiers and the might of Rome. He built grand palaces, fortified cities, and even a magnificent temple. His rule was marked by political alliances, taxation, and the enforcement of law and order. He was a king who sought to maintain his power through wealth, alliances, and fear.
ONE SOLITARY LIFE
In contrast, Jesus of Nazareth embodied spiritual power. The following excerpts of a popular literary piece attributed to James Allen Francis profoundly portray such a contrasting kind of power.
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant… worked in a carpenter shop… He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never… owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today, he is the central figure of the human race… all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned – put together – have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.
Fast forward to the present, the echoes of such ancient archetype can be heard in the FL-VP’s verbal sparring where FL’s lament encapsulates the yearning for spiritual leadership.
LENI
Is it any wonder that FL, all of a sudden, flashed the name of Leni in the thick of the now infamous FL-VP’s war of words? Could the mention of Leni’s name reflect an acknowledgment of her conduct and public demeanor she displayed during her tenure as an embodiment of certain aspects of spiritual leadership, such as integrity, respect, and a commitment to service? Could the mention of Leni’s name suggest a benchmark of behavior expected of public figures, especially in situations where the dignity of the office is perceived to be at stake? Could the mention of Leni’s name imply a call for a return to certain values, like honesty, that are associated with spiritual leadership?
It’s noteworthy that in defending Imee Marcos and Bong Go during the last presidential election campaign, the VP, to my disbelief, declared: “[H]onesty should not be an issue now.”
I have a sneaking feeling that FL’s words reflect a longing for leadership that transcends political alliances and embodies the virtues of spiritual guidance. She seeks a camaraderie that mirrors the selfless devotion of spiritual leaders of yore, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela, to name a few, whose power lay in their ability to inspire and uplift rather than mere command and legislate.
On the flip side, the VP’s stance is firmly rooted in the realm of political ascendancy like her father, as portrayed by the old saying: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Her response is a testament to the often, cold calculus of politics, guided by the mandate of office and the complex web of governance.
COLLECTIVE HUNGER
This dichotomy between spiritual and political leadership is not merely a matter of personal dynamics but a reflection of a broader need of our society. The yearning for spiritual leadership speaks to a collective hunger for meaning and moral clarity in our country today often mired in the quagmire of political opportunism. It is a warning that the dearth of spiritual leadership, if left unaddressed, could lead to our nation’s future where the soul of governance is lost to the machination of power.
As we stand at the crossroads of our nation’s history, the lessons of the past beckon us to reflect on the kind of leadership we seek today. Do we yearn for the Herods of the land, whose legacy is etched in stone and decree, or do we aspire to the path of the Nazarene, whose power endures in the spirit of humanity? The answer lies in the actions of those who lead us today.
In the end, the true measure of leadership may well be the ability to wield both spiritual and political power with grace and wisdom, to lead not just with the mind but also with the heart. As the author of The Little Prince says:
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Content put together in collaboration with Microsoft Bing AI-powered Co-pilot
Head collage photos courtesy of Inquirer and Pinterest
Video clips courtesy of YouTube
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