Well, we all know that in the realm of relationships, people's preference as to how and to whom they associate with, may change at any available opportunity depending on their personal agenda.
For some people, changing of relationships or associates could be as ordinary as changing clothes.
In politics, the act of changing relationships or associates has several personal aspects of change that go with it. Politicians often change image to suit a particular time, occasion, or opportunity. They also change their public appearance according to what impressions they would like to project. And occasionally, they change views and perspectives to align their actions with their agenda.
But, in all of the personal changes that people might be willing to undergo or do to themselves, the saddening thing to observe is when they are willing to sacrifice their core values and principles in order to gain things that they hope could ultimately benefit them in the end.
In the world of politics, politicians even have an aphorism for it: "In politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests."
Which sounds like: "Use and/or be used."
In the parlance of our millennials: "Gamitan pa more!"
----------
At the beginning, every time I saw and heard Atty. Harry Roque spoke on television about significant issues that are affecting our country, I saw in him a principled person who has unshakable core values.
Some years ago, because of his staunch advocacy on human rights, he earned the respect and admiration of almost all of our kababayans as well as of people in the international community. With his excellent ability to spot violations and twisting of the law, many serious voters had prayed that hopefully he would become a staunch human-rights-defender senator someday.
Years back, I didn't know if some people may also had similar thoughts about Atty. Harry Roque, but at least in my evaluative thought then, that to a country whose history is filled with so much human rights violations, I once considered Atty. Roque (along with [the likes of] Atty. Allan Peter Cayetano and Atty. Koko Pimentel) as a very potential high-office public servant who was some steps closer to another human rights hero in the making whom the voiceless poor, whose human rights have been violated, can lean on for real help in obtaining justice.
But since his acceptance to serve as the president's spokesman, Atty. Harry Roque now seems to appear like in the same state as the hero Spiderman whose original heroic inner self is occasionally struggling against an acquired and quickened dark side of himself brought about by the responsibilities and obligations of the duty which he has voluntarily accepted.
Duty-wise, Atty. Roque (and so also are other duty-bound public officials such as DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and AFP Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr.) maybe struggling against an inner dark side which is brought about by their sworn duty. But I chose not to lose hope in their abilities to triumph over their struggles. In their struggles, they may inadvertently make some errors. But if unavoidably they must commit any error, I'm fervently praying that they shall remain faithful to what is righteous. If they must err, then may they err on the side of truth, what is right, and what is truly just.
Their respective positions and offices in government public service come with great power and authority. And what they do now could become an example for others to follow.
May God protect their hearts, enlighten their minds, and guide their actions.
"With great power, comes great responsibility." -- The Spiderman
----------
Meanwhile...
Senator Antonio Trillanes is perhaps Max turned Electro, or perhaps Dr. Otto Octavius turned Dr. Octopus -- a villain hero. An idealistic heroic character whose way of heroism mostly appears as villainous to his opponents. At the end of the day, his villainous heroism achieves, or at least proves, his idealism.
What about the president, President Duterte, what character can he be?... Well perhaps..., hmm.... Aha! I think he is of course the writer-director of the entire movie.
On each movie character, he puts a character attribute that he chooses from the different character attributes which he assumes in real life in tackling the different political challenges he himself is struggling within and without as the president.
And as according to the hero-villain dual character role he is forced to adopt as a required necessity of being the president who has enormous responsibilities and hard duties, he must direct the whole movie like a grand master in a modified multi-opponent-version chess game.
