Symbols

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/10/23/symbols/


By Jojo Robles
Manila Standard Today
Posted on Oct. 23, 2012 at 12:01am

Appearances can be deceiving, they say. And sometimes, when loaded political statements are constantly being made, appearances are truly meant to deceive.

Still, regardless of the supposed diplomatic awkwardness they caused, I wouldn’t read too much into the photographs showing President Noynoy Aquino greeting Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Fu Ying with one hand in his pocket. At worst, Aquino merely proved once again that he is a rube and a hillbilly in matters of protocol when he met the Chinese minister in his usual wanna-be-a-kanto boy style; I am forced to agree with Lady Gaga, Aquino’s spokeswoman, that the “no harm, no foul” rule is in effect here.

But since we’re on the subject of symbolic gestures, I am more concerned about Aquino’s continued wearing of the logo of his family’s franchise, the yellow ribbon. Aquino did not only display the symbol of his undying partisanship when Fu visited him—he was also sporting the yellow ribbon when he met the visiting French prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, over the weekend.

Fu, who was once Chinese ambassador to Manila, may understand the President’s refusal to wear a flag pin like his predecessors. She may have inwardly raised an eyebrow and disapproved, but she would have at least understood the context of Aquino’s symbol of divisiveness.

Ayrault, on the other hand, may have been confused by the decoration of the Philippine President’s chest. Because the super-patriotic French are really particular about such things, he may have even inquired as to the yellow ribbon’s political meaning —and wondered why a head of state could be so pettily partisan.

(Since we’re on the subject of revealing photographs, as well, it was truly painful to see pictures of Ayrault bowing to the Philippine flag as he trooped the line with Aquino wearing his family’s de facto seal. Now that is a statesmanlike gesture to a true national symbol, something that Aquino could learn from.)

I’ve said it before: Until Aquino realizes that he is President of all Filipinos and stops wearing his family’s divisive political badge, he will not win any more adherents to his cause outside of his captive base. The undeniable fact remains that, regardless of how many voted for Aquino in the 2010 elections, still more voters chose other candidates for President.

These people do not take kindly to Aquino’s continued display of factionalism and division. And they would appreciate a more inclusive, conciliatory symbol, like the flag that all Filipinos – starting with their President – should display and respect.

That said, and given his control of Congress, perhaps Aquino should just have a law passed replacing the old tricolor with a yellow ribbon flag. Then he can wear his family’s symbol all he wants—and hear no more quibbling about the matter from me.

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