If Bongbong Can Bury Past Hurts, Why Can't Noynoy?

The Philippines will always forever be stuck in the Marcos vs. Aquino dichotomy or will it? One issue is the problem of the Marcos descendants vs. Aquino descendants -- you have Marcos/Aquino loyalists who only voted for Bongbong Marcos/Noynoy Aquino because of the father -- all the while both sides tend to argue like toddlers on who's side is better. This is the problem of the poor logic of judging people mostly by their lineages. Marcos loyalists tend to forget that Mariano Marcos was just as guilty as Benigno Aquino Sr. all the while they roast Noynoy for simply being a descendant of both Servillano Aquino (a traitor) while the Aquino loyalists tend to hide those facts.

The same can be true for Bongbong vs. Noynoy. Noynoy and his comrades always go against Bongbong for simply being a Marcos. But guess what -- Bongbong had very powerful words for Noynoy - "MOVE ON!" While atrocities and abuses during the rather sudden declaration of martial law in 1972 can't be denied then again, we can't hide the abuses done by the Aquinos too. I mean, who can forget about Hacienda Luisita and if ever proven, Plaza Miranda? What's even worse is that for someone who's now regarded as the best example of what it means to be a fake hero -- Ninoy Aquino actually once said in his Los Angeles speech in 1981:

"Those that we oppose are happy with the material wealth -- but for how long? I have written Mr. Marcos letters upon letters and told him -- Read your history my friend. I have no hatred for you. I only have pity -- because if you do not see and if you do not remove the calluses from your eyes, if you do not remove your blinders, you will meet the same fate of all dictators of history."

It seems to be that a lot of Noynoy's hatred for Bongbong actually sprang up from petty grudges and jealousy. You have to remember that both Ninoy and Marcos were once good friends before their political rivalry. What if Noynoy and Bongbong were once playmates. What if Bongbong had a bad habit of reporting to Ninoy and Cory everything Noynoy did bad? What if Bongbong kept defeating Noynoy in a game of marbles, sungka, takyan and whatever? Not to mention, Bongbong as a senator has shown himself to be more competent in his work. Can you imagine how Bongbong gave ideas and had them implemented such as the wind power plant in Ilocos Norte? I guess he was jealous of Bongbong's achievements and attention. He only got more attention when his mother Corazon C. Aquino died of cancer before 2010. I guess all that hate he has for Bongbong is more of a personal grudge.

Yet let's take a look at Bongbong and who he is as a politician. Sure, one can say that he's "mahangin" or boastful during the elections but you can't deny the substance either. You can see how he had the support of the people one way or another. What you can't deny is that in spite of the feud between the Marcoses and the Aquinos -- we see Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and her children visit the wake of Cory. Bongbong may be an idiot in the sense that he keeps insisting his father could have made the Philippines another Singapore but you can't deny that right now, he's moving on and focusing on his career than his father's supposed "greatness". He isn't even verbally fighting with Leni Loud nor his critics right now as the electoral protest is unfortunately -- still going on. He's just standing his guard all the while Leni Loud is losing every inch of dignity. You can see he's still more worthy of the position of Deputy Prime Minister than Leni Loud will ever be -- if ever the Philippines is a parliament.

Perhaps the biggest reason why Noynoy gets jeered on right now is because of his "Daang Matuwid" or straight path didn't didn't do much to improve the Philippines. Yet, if he didn't become president when the Philippines wouldn't have seen him for what he is -- a manchild. The foul stench of the Aquinos and the Liberal Party spilled over by Noynoy's childish decisions. True, he did manage to increase the credit approval rating but it wasn't entirely his either -- just like the new Mactan Airport was partly his, it was Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's idea and it was finished by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. He was too focused on past hurts such as bringing up whatever faults Gloria had whenever he made a mistake or the Marcoses whenever he refused to man up and own his mistakes. That alone could have gotten him voted out by a vote of no confidence if he ever held the position of Prime Minister.

Besides, Noynoy could have had buried past grudges. Maybe, he and Bongbong could have worked together for a greater good. Instead, he chose not to do his side. Bongbong holds no real resentment towards Noynoy. It's Noynoy who still wants to perpetuate whatever petty quarrels he had with Bongbong. Who knows it may all have been decades ago and he just refuses to move on.