I thought I had seen enough when in close succession I saw photos in the front pages last week showing the Marcos children commiserating with the Aquino siblings over the demise of their mother, Cory Aquino.

As I have earlier written in this space the scene was both touching and troubling considering the families’ public antipathy towards each other brought about by grim political circumstances.

But as the photos showed and the accompanying news accounts indicated, the meeting was relax and cordial. From what they conveyed, it would seem the present context and time have wiped out most of the memories of the past.

***

And then again the appearance of President Gloria Arroyo at the wake of Cory and the respectful manner with which she was received by Senator Noynoy Aquino reflected an unexpected attitude between bitter political adversaries.

Of course, as urbane and educated people they were not expected to raise their eyebrows and show arrogance, but still – because of their bitter differences – many thought that somehow there would be hints of some coldness or indifference, but there was none.

That all these happened without much ado, so to speak, as in fact with public awe and approval, was to the credit of both parties and all concerned.

***

But the last straw, if you may call it that, came last Monday when the front pages again carried the photos of an obviously elated Gloria Arroyo arm-in-arm with a smiling Erap Estrada amid an amused crowd.

Can you beat that?

Also behind them, all smiles, were the feuding Vice-President Noli de Castro and Senator Loren Legarda. Loren, if you may recall, filed a protest contesting Noli’s election against her for the vice-presidency.

“I had to rub my eyes and looked again,” my sometimes neighbor Fr. Ben San Luis, wrote in his column yesterday.

But he said it was a beautiful encounter that should be pursued towards reconciliation. People, especially top leaders, may have differences but they can still work together to move the country towards national fulfillment, Fr. Ben said.

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As reported in this paper, President Arroyo extended her hand to former President Estrada as they marched down the aisle as sponsors at the wedding of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s daughter Maria Christina Garcia to Mayor Duke Frasco at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

In his homily, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said, “Coming from political families on both sides, you have the added responsibility of living and loving well for the sake of your people. Let no politics get in the way of your love for each other and for your children,” adding that they should always remember that “you may be in office for sometime, but you will be married till death do you part.”

The Cardinal likewise reminded the newlyweds that “power may be a heady brew for one who is intoxicated with it, but in the twilight of one’s years, it is the family that stays with you, long after your constituents have forgotten you.”

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)