WE probably won’t live long enough to see it, but there could yet be a feature film on Philippine politics, in the tradition that has apparently been established by the film, Heneral Luna, which depicts Philippine history’s most prominent personalities as transactional, self-serving and self-preserving individuals. Heroes with feet of clay.
But unlike the biopic about Gen. Antonio Luna, I hope that the makers of Politikang Pilipinas will treat it like the Japanese film classic,Rashomon, with satirical touches such as those in Manuel Conde’s Juan Tamad Goes To Congress.
The film directed by Akira Kurosawa told the story of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife from the perspective of four people, each version different from the others. Conde’s satire, on the other hand, was about the den of crooks and charlatans that everyone wants to get elected to, in a pre-Hispanic setting of datus and maharlikas.
It was obvious whom Conde was satirizing. The actor who played the datu could have passed for a twin brother of then President Carlos P. Garcia. Rashomon, on the other, drove home the point that the truth is in the eye of the beholder-narrator or the writer-historian.
In today’s media-saturated environment, the truth about Philippine politics and its various characters and personalities is in the version presented by the demolition specialist or the professional apologist – but most of all, the truth is in the eye of the journalist, based on that person’s political, ideological or financial persuasion. Thus, the need for a Rashomon treatment.
Take the Aquinos for instance, with two presidents (Noynoy Aquino and Cory Aquino), several senators (Ninoy, Butch, Tessie Oreta and Bam) and assorted public officials in the clan. Ninoy, who was assassinated at the Manila international airport after having declared that the Filipino was worth dying for, has virtually been declared a national hero. But in a Rashomon type of retelling of Philippine history, Ninoy’s father, Benigno Aquino, Sr., could be portrayed both as a statesman who served the Philippine commonwealth with distinction and as a Japanese collaborator who was tried for treason by the American liberation forces.
Cory, who has practically been elevated to sainthood by her admirers “for restoring Philippine democracy,” could also be portrayed as a wealthy housewife who was thrust, ill-prepared, into the presidency; who, by her incompetence, allowed members of her family to enrich themselves and who presided over a new Philippine constitution to which many of our country’s economic and political ills may be traced.
Noynoy – Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III – our current president, may be different from the classic Rashomon characters, because in this case, while there are contrasting perceptions of him by supporters and detractors, he has an entirely fanciful perception of himself that is not necessarily grounded in reality.
Thus the Rashomon-style treatment of his presidency will depict him as a knight in shining armor who saved the country from the clutches of the evil couple, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and set it on the Straight Path (Tuwid na Daan) to economic progress and corruption-free governance. In that version, all the problems of the country, well into the sixth year of Aquino’s presidency, will be blamed on the Arroyos and her minions.
To add a Conde-style satirical touch to that version, even the defeat of GILAS by the Chinese basketball team will be blamed on Arroyo (i.e., Arroyo played footsies with China over the Spratleys which Noynoy denounced and which caused the rift between China and the Philippines, which in turn motivated the Chinese basketball team to trounce the Philippine contingent).
On the other hand, the not-so-flattering portrayal of Aquino will be all about his being a palpak and manhid (incompetent and insensitive) Malacañang occupant whose working hours are limited to the brief period between waking up and going to sleep, and who leaves it to his Rasputin, Budget Secretary Butch Abad, his former bodyguard, Gen. Alan Purisima, and his kabarilan, kaklase and kapartido (shooting buddies, classmates and political partymates) to ransack the country’s coffers and run the government to the ground. Appropriate Conde-like depictions of Metro Manila traffic, NAIA Terminal One and the MRT, intercutting with scenes of Filipinos in a torture chamber, will be incorporated in this version.
Then, of course, there will be Aquino’s perception of himself: well-loved, incorruptible, unerring, completely innocent of the Mamasapano massacre, the unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the stag party at the Liberal Party event in Laguna, featuring half-naked girls.
He will be shown with both hands in a prayerful pose, lily white from habitual washing, and above his head will be a saintly halo plus a balloon that declares, “It’s their fault!”
Who else will be depicted in Politikang Pilipinas? Vice-President Jejomar Binay will be portrayed by Senator Antonio Trillanes as the King of Kurakot and by Makati residents as their Supreme Benefactor. Mar Roxas will have be depicted as Aquino’s loyal reformist and champion of Tuwid na Daan while his critics will portray him as the Prince of Palpak and poster boy for government incompetence.
Senator Grace Poe will have the most interesting Rashomon-style portrayal of all. As an American. As a Filipino. As a Filipino American. As a foundling and adopted daughter of FPJ and Susan Roces. As a biological daughter of FPJ and Susan Roces. As a love child of President Ferdinand Marcos and Rosemarie Sonora. As the Great White Hope for the Philippine presidency. And as the Great Pretender. The last will have the famous song of the Platters as background music.
Senate President Franklin Drilon will also have a multi-faceted portrayal in the literal rather than the figurative sense. He will be shown with several faces attached to his enormous frame. As an Arroyo loyalist. As an Aquino loyalist. And as a loyalist of whoever wins the presidency. A fourth face will show him as Mae Paner alias Juana Change.
How will Francis Tolentino and Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya be portrayed in the movie, Politikang Pilipinas? It seems to me that there will be different versions of them, but none will be flattering. Trillanes, on the other hand, will portray himself as a hero while everyone else will depict him as a heel.
And finally, the Filipino people – how will we be portrayed in the movie? In a paper I delivered back in 1984 at the Asian Advertising Congress in Seoul, Korea, I described the Filipino as praying in the Spanish manner, savoring Chinese food, watching American shows on Japanese-made TV sets, but deep down, possessing a uniquely Filipino soul.
The Pinoy is the perfect subject for a Rashomon-style motion picture. We are a study in contrasts. At once beautiful, bright, cheerful and optimistic and constantly griping, disheartened and looking persecuted. The epitome of hospitality and of criminality. God-fearing and completely undisciplined. The majority wallowing in poverty but packing the malls and eating out even on weekdays. Demanding a corruption-free government but expecting to be paid or bribed for our votes.
Indeed, only a multi-faceted (figuratively) people like us could enjoy and survive Philippine politics in which, like the Romans in Nero’s colosseum, we comprise both the crowd yelling for blood and the hapless Christians being fed to the lions. ([email protected])
