THANKS for inviting me, but I must say no." That was the way Susan Roces turned down the invite to join the Laban party reorganization meeting where she was to be offered a berth in the Senate slate.
Her public reason was that she was not ready to enter politics. Her other reason, unstated because of courtesy, was her steadfast resolve to win the electoral protest for her late husband Fernando Poe Jr.
Clearly, the Laban, which supported her husband’s presidential campaign, was well on its way to aligning itself with the administration. How could it support her electoral protest effort?
* * *
For the Laban, it’s all over, including the shouting.
What was unthinkable a few short months ago, specifically aligning itself with administration, is now do-able.
Life must go on, and in politics, one must grasp whatever advantage is near at hand.
* * *
Laban is merely joining the ranks of other political parties, such as the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Once a tough opposition organization, it is today a friend of the administration.
The Liberal Party, the feisty adversary of the Nacionalista Party in the days of the two-party system, is no longer feisty. It is an adjunct of the administration. As for the Nacionalista Party, it is unrecognizable from the powerful giant that it was in pre-Martial Law days.
* * *
Shortly after the war, when the Nacionalista became the minority party, the legendary Eulogio Rodriguez, better known as Amang, was the party president.
At its first executive committee meeting, the Amang found some unoccupied seats at the table for 12. The absentees had left for greener pastures. Or they were too downhearted.
The Amang was nothing daunted. He worked hard to rebuild the party and eventually, he won.
* * *
Years later, there was President Marcos who, during the Martial Law years, used to challenge the opposition to work hard if it was to have a chance of replacing him.
The opposition must have taken up the challenge, for with a boost from the EDSA crowds, it did replace him.
Fortunately for the administration, neither the example of Amang Rodriguez nor the advice of Marcos mean anything these days to minority parties. There is a handful of two-fisted oppositionists but nothing organized.
