By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
Let Him Who Has No Sin Among You Cast the First Stone
This was the gospel days ago when Mary Magdalene, a prostitute, wanted to get near Jesus to seek for atonement of her sins during the public life of Jesus. As was customary at that time, ang mga makakasala bato-on. And Jesus’ pronouncement was: Let him who has no sin among you cast the first stone.
Is the above statement applicable to the impeachment proceedings? Please don’t get me wrong. I’m religiously following the impeachment proceedings. I just wanted to seek out for the truth. As I said before, I belong to the in-between, not to the prosecution and not to the defense. I just want to seek for the truth.
Having viewed several impeachment proceedings, you could not predict the leanings of the senators, then. You were simply glued to the issues at hand. Senators simply listened to the evidence as presented by the prosecution and respondent sides. They were very respectable in dressing up and in their demeanor. Women senators at that time wore pashminas. Lakip na kadtong shawl nga gisul-ob ni Loren Legarda. I have asked from my friend then to buy a pashmina for me. At that time during the impeachment of former president Joseph Estrada, pashminas were in vogue. They were a bit expensive kay original man gyud. Pashminas come from India.
The classic Filipina attire
But now I feel awkward to find women wearing the terno for a business meeting especially in the halls of Congress. The terno and the Maria Clara are reserved for special events and very important occasions. People used to look forward to the attire of first ladies to the inaugural at the Luneta.
impeachment trial
Moreover, I don’t know why I’m distracted by women wearing the terno with rebonded hair. I don’t know if “rebonded” is the right word. Mura man ug maka wala sa natural beauty ang magpa rebond ug buhok. But alas, the terno has become an “ukay-ukay”. It is no longer the symbol of the feminine Filipina.
However, I enjoy watching the young lady lawyers both on the prosecution and the respondents’ sides. They are very young and yet they have wide knowledge of the law. It’s all right if the ladies have the same rebonded hair since that is the fad and they are not wearing the terno.
By the way, one day’s hearing this week was frustrating to the superlative degree. How can they change horses midstream?
At any rate, is there still hope for this country? Is everything in a mess? As in the movie Mahogany: Do you know where you’re going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you? Do you know?
Let him who has no sin among you cast the first stone!