Yellow fever wearing off

It would not be entirely surprising if, in the next couple of days and at least two weeks from now, the yellow fever will start to wear off. Fact is, I am now feeling something like that. And I have asked other people and they feel the same.

The fascination that caught the nation's hearts is starting to fade. And fade it will, yes, since a thing over-promised and an event full of hyperboles usually follow the law of the gravity. What I am worried about is a sudden, albeit, unexpected drop. Yep, we readily accepted and easily made the decision to catch the yellow train only to disembark with just scorn in our faces. 

New governments do start with a bang and usually end with a whimper. We start with enthused fascination only to end with a pitiful frustration. 

Example--do you know where this administration put General Bangit? He's now a Commissioner of the Napolcom. Why? Bangit is reportedly "malakas" with Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin. 

Most of those now appointed by this "new administration" to sensitive directorial posts and undersecretaries are "has-beens" and "recycled failures". Most already served previous administrations and were found to be quite wanting, both in knowledge and vision. Why tap them again? Some of these appointees even have graft cases against them. How can we expect these people to fight corruption when they were grafters par excellence in previous administrations?

Atong Ang, the former Estrada gambling expert turned Noynoy "supporter" is now bragging that he'll just run around newly appointed PAGCOR Chairman Naguiat. Naguiat is a long-time PAGCOR employee, some say, he has served the government for more than 15 years. Question is, during his long stay, did he even lift a finger when his former bosses enter into shady deals or get hefty commissions from disadvantageous contracts? Naguiat was as silent as a lamb. And then, here we see him, appointed to the highest post.

These series of "neophyte" bloopers from Noynoy's cabinet members, are starting to get on the nerves of many people. We are in the most critical juncture in our history and we expect professionals to help us solve our problems. We need people who bungle their jobs the least. We don't need those who pretend to be the best--we need action men and women. We really cannot afford blunders as monumental as issuing Memorandum circulars. Or spokespersons who did not know what effects "immediately" is over "thirty days thereafter". Lawyers are supposed to know their legal construction.

How will we ever hope for substantive change when a doctor, specifically one who champions kidney donations to foreigners, while knowing full well that it violates United Nations' regulations, becomes the head of our health department. Imagine how ridiculous it is for us to revert to the usual practice of illegal kidney trafficking just by one stroke of an Ona's pen? We already conformed with international regulations for the prevention of kidney trafficking only to swallow our spit and say that we are now allowing this immoral and illegal practice yet again.

And how about a friar as head of our education department? The last time I saw my calendar, its already 2010 AD, not 1810, nor 1890. How do you expect a friar to be totally transparent and totally remain unbiased in implementing state policies in education? Surely, a Friar will expect us to believe in God and will damn those who don't. Obviously, we will yet again see "God" as the maker of humankind and Darwin as a perfect babboon. Education is supposed to be a tool for disseminating information. What kind of information do you expect to get from a priest? Thankfully, he's not a Jesuit.

And what's this we hear? Alleged communication experts miscommunicating with each other, fighting for turf and in effect, putting everything in total limbo? Communication should be clear, yet, it seems that things are still unclear over there at the "communications group".

These 'neophytes", really, are giving "change agents" a bad name.

Government, really, has no place for neophytes or slow starters. We expect our government officials to be quick on their toes. We expect them to be better than us.

It seems though, that these people who formerly went out in the streets, chanted, ranted and even cursed others, are as incompetent as those they rallied against. Such is our unfortunate destiny that we are now stuck in a rut with these verbose pseudo-change catalysts.

So much for change, as envisioned by conos, or Ateneeyans (or "atin ne yan" or in English, " "all these things are ours")