‘The elder Sotto may have unknowingly set in motion what may be a huge demolition job against his son
by the political and business elites in this country…’
VICO Sotto’s performance as Pasig mayor, without doubt, has been quite outstanding, especially in his campaign against corruption. His father, the iconic movie, TV comedian and host Vic Sotto, could not resist announcing in a campaign rally in Pasig that Vico should be the next president of the Philippines.
He should have known better than to “throw Vico into the den of lions.” The elder Sotto may have unknowingly set in motion what may be a huge demolition job against his son by the political and business elites in this country, whose vast wealth and power have been nurtured by corruption, political patronage and personal gain.
Political harassment and threats to Vico’s life and safety are among the professional hazards that will certainly multiply.
It was premature on the part of Vic to venture such a forecast when many of us know too well that, as city mayor for only two terms, young Vico is unprepared for the top job in our government. Vic should probably try to reverse the mounting political flak against his son by claiming that it was meant to be a joke
Yet no one in the horizon exemplifies the truly exceptional qualities of Vico that the rest of our countrymen should look forward to for an honest, incorruptible and highly competent leadership.
His Christian faith has grounded him in moral scruples and values. He was among the only 150 mayors who signed up with the movement started by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for a nationwide honest and transparent local governance.
While many politicians portray themselves as Christians and regularly attend Sunday services, their lifestyles and performance in public office have been contemptible and a mockery of God’s basic commandments.
A prominent political dynasty in Rizal regularly attends and contributes to a large Christian church in Pasig, and yet is notorious for being corrupt and the most violent in Metro Manila. And so are two congressmen from Pasay and Manila, known as ranking ministers in their Christian churches, who have flaunted at one time their huge and luxurious homes and vehicles, along with a trove of automatic firearms.
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The following research findings from the New England Journal of Medicine should be quite encouraging to senior citizens bogged down by idleness, uncertainty and abandonment, as well as by fears of sickness and death.
(From an FB post) “The surprise has arrived! The director of the George Washington University School of Medicine maintains that the brain of an elderly person is much more practical than is commonly believed. At this age, the interaction of the left and right hemispheres of the brain becomes harmonious, which expands our creative possibilities. That is why among people over the age of 60, you can find many personalities who have just started their creative activities. Of course, the brain is no longer as fast as it was in youth. However, it gains in flexibility. Therefore, with age, we are more likely to make the right decisions and less exposed to negative emotions.
“The peak of human intellectual activity occurs around the age of 70, when the brain begins to work in full force. Over time, the amount of myelin in the brain increases, a substance that facilitates the rapid passage of signals between neurons. Due to this, intellectual abilities increase by 300% compared to the average. Also interesting is the fact that after 60 years, a person can use two hemispheres at the same time. This allows you to solve much more complex problems.
“Professor Monchi Uri of the University of Montreal believes that the elderly brain chooses the path that consumes less energy, eliminates the unnecessary and leaves only the right options to solve the problem. A study was conducted in which different age groups participated. The young people were very confused while passing the tests, while those over 60 years old made the right decisions.”
