Point Blank
laquino@theguidon.com
No, this piece isn’t a long-winded praise for our current president; it’s also not a litany of the merits of his patrician pedigree or his exclusive education. In fact, this piece is not about Noynoy at all. This time, it’s a good idea to turn the conversation around, and to start talking about ourselves. Yes, about us Ateneans, and why our community has a unique and crucial role to play in the regime of a true blue president.
The fact that Noynoy hails from the Ateneo can be taken for granted easily. Of course, we can’t blame anyone; educational background isn’t a starving people’s most urgent concern when choosing a leader. Besides, we keep telling ourselves: it’s never about the school; it’s about who can do most for the country.
Still, there is danger in completely disregarding a major part of Noynoy’s life. He spent his formative years here in the Ateneo, from grade school to college. His decisions now are shaped in a major way by the lessons he learned here many years ago. Or at least, we’d like to think so; his days in the Ateneo were, after all, just as saturated with lessons of magis, cura personalis, being a man-for-others, all those Atenean ideals.
But I digress. This piece is supposed to be about us, as I said. Let’s get to the real thing.
Our community’s relationship with Noynoy is unique compared to that of other groups because he himself is part of the community. It is only fair for us to compel him to live up to what is expected of Ateneans: excellence, compassion, love for the poor, and all that. And why not? It is but appropriate that we subject him to the same standards we all pride ourselves for having. Ultimately, Noynoy carries the name of the Ateneo. Just like everyone who’s ever had the privilege of studying here, he is expected to live out the same magnanimity and excellence that has come to define the school. If he does not, then we’ll have to take him to task for it.
Nevertheless, expectations can only go so far. As Ateneans, we have the power to—and should—make demands to the president, by virtue of his being part of the community. Now, don’t get me wrong; this is not some demented assertion that the blue blood we share with Noynoy gives us the right to special treatment. What I mean is that given the current rotten system, where the woes of the oppressed remain consigned to the margins, we—the privileged few—must unconditionally ally ourselves with the marginalized, and demand from Noynoy the change the country needs. We go down the hill as one community, and it is but proper that we demand Noynoy to do the same.
It’s been a hundred days since a new regime took power, but Noynoy’s performance has been quite disappointing. It is all the more necessary for us Ateneans to demand a good job from the president, especially with the unique roles given to us by circumstance. Our community has already articulated the right path to take: down the hill. Let’s make sure Noynoy is taking this path with us, not one back up into the Ivory Tower, where already too many Ateneans have been trapped.
