Credibility

It seems that everything that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo does is bound to be criticized. Except for press releases issued by Malacañang and government owned TV stations, media outfits seem to be at one in disagreeing with the present administration. Her approval rating, according to the Social Weather Station, is at a negative 38 rating. And the current issues do not help in uplifting her popularity.

Today, she is being criticized for her declaration of martial law in Maguindanao. Her handling of the Ampatuan’s is perceived to be with that of using kid’s gloves. Some even blame her administration for allegedly arming warlords and letting private armies reign.

Her intention to run for Congress is much more damned, if not rebuked. Many see it as a play of greed and lust for power. Some takes it as a way to escape liability, a fact which she had shown finesse in avoiding several impeachment cases.

This leads us to say that she would go into the annals of history as one of the most unpopular president of our country.

But she is unique.

She would complete a nine year presidency. She is the only one who succeeded a legitimately constituted president who was ousted at the middle of a six year term. And for a fact, she is the only president who have tasted, if not tried, every available power that the office had to offer. No other president had declared a state of emergency, foiled a coup de etat, and declared martial law all in the same term.

So far, she is the most traveled president. She’s the only the one who had to say “I am sorry” in national television during the heat of the Garcillano issue. Her family is involved in so many charges of graft and corruption that it is hard to make count. From the ZTE-NBN scandal to the luscious dinners at New York, all speaks of how her every move is being watched.

Indeed she had experienced almost everything, except being loved by the people.

And this reminds me of the sagely advise of Pilosopo Tasio in Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel, Noli Me Tangere. He said that sometimes, it is not the idea which is being vehemently opposed to, but the giver of the idea itself. Thus, in pushing for a proposal to celebrate a local fiesta, the liberal characters of Noli suggested to the conservatives the opposite of what they wanted, and it got approved.

According to Eliot Spitzer, “I don’t care about motivation. I care about credibility.” Credibility, taking its literal meaning, is the quality of being believable or trustworthy. It only means that when a person loses credibility, the motivation of what he does is no longer important as his personality is already tainted. It’s like the boy who cried “wolf” and no one believed him.

When GMA is alone in her room or during those times when she could not sleep, does she cry because of the people’s impression upon her? So far, could we say that she have shown strength in the face of her adversaries? Whatever. There is a big difference between having strength and having a stone face.