Editorial

Destiny?s children

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has won a referendum for a constitutional amendment that abolishes term limits for political offices, his included.

Chavez has been in power for the last 10 years and this latest victory may just enable the self-proclaimed ?21st-century socialist? to remain in power for decades more. His current term ends in 2013.

With 54 percent of the votes counted for ?yes? (described by most as better than expected), the impression is that Venezuelans are happy with their leader and would not mind having him around for much longer. Indeed, government ?missions? advancing basic services have helped Chavez entrench himself in his people?s consciousness, in the manner of Cuba?s Fidel Castro?s efforts to endear himself to his people.

But recent challenges are more formidable. Not even Chavez? dislike for the United States has made his country immune to the shocks of the global economic crunch. Venezuela has also come to be heavily dependent on oil, and its low prices of late have been anything but good for the country.

The foreign press has been careful not to brand Chavez as a dictator. After all, even the now-non-existent political term limits do not assure him of constant victory during elections, although he has been reaping the benefits of having a fragmented opposition. Chavez, however, has been called an autocrat. Human Rights Watch cites his policy of discrimination on political grounds and his takeover of the judiciary. Should he find himself pitted against a strong opposition candidate, it is not far-fetched he would resort to pressure, even thuggery.

While awaiting the results of the counting yesterday, Chavez said his political fate would be determined by this most recent referendum. These words betray a bias common to Chavez and other leaders who feel they have proprietary rights to their office. But who cares about their fate, political or otherwise? The only destiny that matters is the people?s.

No thinking citizen will buy that self-serving line that some leaders are destined to lead their nation, especially indefinitely. Nobody has the monopoly of good intentions and governance skills. A leader?s challenge is to do his job during the time given to him or her. But if extensions are needed?wanted?enough to change the rules, then maybe the people deserve somebody of better substance who can make a difference given limited time.

The Second Death March
It took the collapse of the US economy to give a bit more credit ?and some cash, besides?to the heroes of the Fall of Bataan. But even if a lot of people in this country think that $198 million in lump sum benefits for the remaining 18,000 Filipino soldiers who served alongside Americans in World War II in the controversial US economic stimulus package is too little, too late, it?s still something to cheer about? especially for the veterans themselves.

The fuss over Mr. Smith
My favorite nitpicker and faultfinder, Senator Ping Lacson, wants to rule out the law on evidence by telling his fellow senators not to be strict on rules of evidence in Senate investigations.

The voice of leadership
I don?t like attending events organized by PR people specifically to get media and bloggers to create a buzz for a product. It?s too contrived, it?s too unimaginative, it?s too desperate. And too exploitative on the part of the people expected to do the writing. But there are times when an event is organized not to focus on a product nor to create a buzz about the company on whose behalf the event was organized but to highlight a genuinely worthy endeavor. Those are times when I do bother leaving the quiet confines of my home in the boondocks and venturing to the concrete jungle that I rarely miss.

Turning 20
Antonion C. Abaya
This was intended to be written and published as my first article for 2009, but was continuously pushed back by more pressing concerns.