‘…on one hand, it will take more than one Arsenio Balisacan to signal a change in the way the wind is blowing; much work will need to be done by parties concerned about the need to bridge the gulf between political factions of society.’
THE choice by presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of former Socio Economic Planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan to return to NEDA was an inspired one. Balisacan is widely respected for his competence and character; more importantly, having served in the same position under the late President Noynoy Aquino, his selection was a proof point of the Marcos campaign’s focus on the message of unity and the desire to choose the best out there regardless of political color.
The fact that Balisacan is also the first of the Marcos economic team to be formally named must have quieted down some of the uncertainty being felt in some quarters of the business community who, being businessmen, always look for stability in policy (if not in programs as well) and have been eagerly awaiting the composition of the new administration’s economic team.
They now have one name in a very critical position and I am certain they are happy with it.
“He is a good man but I am surprised he accepted,” commented a dear friend of mine who was very passionately pink during the campaign. I am sure it is a sentiment shared in many “pink” households, where the prevailing point of view perhaps is that no one should associate with the Marcos administration as far as is humanly possible.
On the other hand, maybe it is not easy to turn down an invitation to serve in an administration, because the bottom line is you are being asked to serve your countrymen.
And there are many positions in government that are far less partisan or political than others and the economic team is one such example.
So I am personally happy that Balisacan was invited and that he chose to accept.
I only wish it were an indication of the thawing of the political winds and the warming of the socio-political climate, but I know I am dreaming on this score. Like many societies the world over, ours is a deeply polarized one – divided between social classes (notice in Makati how the rich villages voted pink but the rest of the city voted red?) and to a lesser extent between generations. The polarization is aggravated by technology and its ability to deepen divisions by creating pockets of opinion separated by high walls of algorithms. Echo chambers are created and group think is enhanced. This is why you see the cancel culture everywhere – even in universities of all places, universities and campuses where freedom of thought is supposed to reign supreme.
So yes, on one hand, it will take more than one Arsenio Balisacan to signal a change in the way the wind is blowing; much work will need to be done by parties concerned about the need to bridge the gulf between political factions of society.
On the other hand, yes, one Arsenio Balisacan serves to tell us that there should be space for anyone and everyone willing to contribute to society if and when asked to do so.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be in anyone’s Cabinet to be able to do your share for the rest of your countrymen!
