Mayor Tolits Atienza and the City Council of Manila are doing the legally impossible, unless I am missing something. They have named the San Andres Sports Complex and Civic Center after Manny Pacquiao. It is near the San Andres wet market.
Why erase a name after a saint reminiscent of a great national hero? Has Manny, a womanizing gambler, overshadowed Saint Andrew and Bonifacio?
Manny womanizes
R.A. No. 1059 clearly bans naming public places after living persons. No more morals and law? The principle, once breached, will see all sorts of public places named after living officials or their kin, dead or alive.
Mike Tyson earned $400-M but lost it all. I know billionaires who now have very little or nothing. Manny womanizes and gambles. That is why it is prudent to name public places only after the dead, no longer capable of any mischief or worse.
That is arguably why the National Historical Institute (NHI) says no public place should be named or renamed after a person within ten years of his death, save for highly exceptional reasons (i.e., death due to assassination, while trying to serve others, or as consequence of patriotism). Under the Local Government Code, local governments may name public places in consultation with the NHI, which does not allow the honor for one still around.
If Tolits?seen as rich?would use his money to put up a statue for Manny, why not? But if public funds would be used, I would doubt its legality and propriety. If Tolits has gone around his city hall, he may see what may be the ugliest such building in the world for a nation?s capital.
Charity begins at home
It is true that Michael Jordan has a statue in his honor in Chicago. But, I think not a single cent out public funds was spent there. And if Tolits thinks that Manny is good vice mayor material for his son, Ali, well, the team should know its limitations. Michael shifted to baseball and basketball operations and bombed. As in the case of Ali (Muhammad), the advice for Manny to quit soon is good, before he becomes a vegetable. First your legs go. Then your lungs. Then your funds. Then your friends.
The Marcoses named so many things after their kin in their time. No one deemed it proper to honor President Diosdado Macapagal, who tried to seek refuge in the American Embassy on April 1, 1974. GMA has lost no time in naming an airport, boulevard, port terminal, etc., after some kin, beginning with her parents. There is no respect for delicadeza, absolutely, and the rule of law. Congress should have done the naming.
Ali Atienza-Manny Pacquiao anyone? This is not all.
National Anthem
Manila has also Ordinance No. 8099, ?requiring all operators of business establishments to play the Philippine National Anthem every opening and closing of the daily business hours.? Business establishments are defined as large enclosed complexes containing shops, restaurants, and other business and facilities serving the public.
The ?Anthem shall be played either in instrumental music or with lyrics in Filipino in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe. PROVIDED, That all persons within the premises of the aforementioned business establishments shall stand at attention upon the playing thereof, sing the anthem with fervor and salute by placing their right palm over their left chest ?? In Nevada last Sunday, we again heard one way of singing the Star-Spangled Banner, with the enthusiastic crowd yelling, whistling, etc. In Manila, anyone found violating or infringing the above Ordinance may be imprisoned for six months. Thus if I sing off-key, or another way, or with not enough fervor, or do not place my right palm as required, I could be jailed for six months. If a baby or a Korean tourist would not obey, again, six months? This represents the best thinking of Manila?s officialdom, Tolits, Cuna, Sison, Lapid, Rivera, Dionisio, Alfonso-Juson, Ang, Asilo, Astals, Belgica, Beltran-Ricohermoso, Bonoan-David, Buenaventura, Chua, Co, Fugoso, Gernale, Ibay, Isidro, Isip- Garcia, Isip, Lacuna Jr., Lacuna-Pangan, Laxa, Jhosep (Susmaryosep!) Y. Lopez, Melendez, Moreno, Ortega Jr., Quintos, Silva, Sison, Tan, Tolentino, Uy, Valeriano, Viceo, Zarcal, Casta?eda, Gernale and, et tu, Danny Lacuna?
Spray-paint campaign
Manila was where Mayor Fred Lim tried to implement a spray-paint campaign.
The Court of Appeals shot him down. Now we have the Supreme Court saying MMDA chairman can wet-flag a jaywalker. As in the spray-paint case, it should have remanded the case to the Regional Trial Court for the reception of evidence.
Any shame campaign is a setback for the human rights community. It was sad how Justice Tony Carpio, abetted by the rest of the Supreme Court, in their SUVs, did not show greater sensitivity for the plight of the masses who cross streets. They may be fined but not touched and humiliated by BF?s goons.
Who needs scarlet letters, white feathers or yellow stars?
