Proem

While compiling my thesaurus in English-Sugboanon Bisaya (I’m still at 27,000 English words) I encountered the English word “Metooism”.  I translated it into Binisayâ as “pagpangángkon”.  “Tág-ing = mimic” and “sundog = imitate” are not very accurate.  Maybe “áwat = copy” is a nearer translation.

Metooism is defined as “to claim as one’s own the successful policies of another”.  Since we are approaching the political campaign for the May 2016 election, I find it very interesting to discuss about metooism.

Metooism per se does not say that it is good or bad.  Depending upon the political persuasion you have you may view it as good or bad.

P-Noy’s 4Ps

The 4Ps stands for “Pangtawid Pang-Pamilya Program”.  It is a government program in which the poor members of society are given financial subsidy in return for keeping their children in school and having the pregnant mother undergo medical checkup including the young children.

The 4Ps was started by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  The political opposition branded it as a waste of money.  It is practically a dole out and supposed to be a source of corruption.  However it turned out to be beneficial to the poor and therefore it was viewed as a successful policy.

During the change of administration, Pres. Arroyo was charged with the crime of plunder and still under “hospital arrest” until the present.

Meanwhile, President P-Noy continued and expanded the 4Ps to benefit millions more of poor Filipino Families.  Pres. P-Noy’s administration is very proud of the success of the 4Ps.  Have you ever heard that any credit was/is given to Pres. Arroyo’s administration who started it?  This is a clear example of “metooism”.

Daang Matuwid

The Tagalog words “daang matuwid” is translated into “straight path” in English.  This is the slogan or catch phrase of Pres. P-Noy’s administration.  The contention is, if you follow the daang matuwid or straight path, there will no longer be corruption and shenanigans in government.  The intention is good and it is claimed by the present administration that the daang matuwid slogan is successful.

We all know that a straight highway is not a guaranty for a safe highway.  Many accidents still happen in a straight highway.

The Annointed Wants To Copy

President P-Noy has anointed former Senator and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to be the Liberal Party candidate for President of the Philippines in the May 2016 election.

Sec. Mar Roxas has already announced a metooism.  He wants to continue the daang matuwid or straight path slogan of Pres. P-Noy.  It is doubtful whether his personality will fit the intangibles of a daang matuwid. Well, there is no harm in trying.

Evanescent or Imaginary

Evanescent means to be fleeting or liable to pass away.  As a concept, the slogan daang matuwid is evanescent or at worse it is imaginary.

According to the General Theory of Relativity of Albert Einstein there is no such thing as a straight line.  Everything is curve.  What you may think is a straight line is actually curve when viewed from another perspective.

According to Albert Einstein if you will draw a line long enough, it will eventually return to its point of origin.

So if Sec. Mar Roxas will continue the daang matuwid it may return to the point of origin where there were corruption and shenanigans in government.  A metooism of daang matuwid may not work for him.

Biblical Admonition

In Matthew 7:13-14 of the Holy Bible there is an admonition by our Lord Jesus Christ that is analogous to daang matuwid.

It says, “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only a few finds it.”

The concept of “broad is the road” is practically the same as daang matuwid.  According to our Lord Jesus Christ, it will lead to destruction or to hell.

Comment

In the Province of Bohol we can find many cases of metooism.  Some acknowledged the original implementer and others did not. (By Jes B. Tirol)