‘Will Duterte give Revillame an offer hard to refuse?’
PRESIDENT Duterte wants Willie Revillame in his senatorial line-up for the latter’s indispensable allure — “malakas ang hatak sa tao.” The TV host’s public appeal rests on his and his program sponsors’ huge generosity. This attracts a stream of followers hoping to win various prizes and cash giveaways.
Is he a shoo-in for a senate seat? He could be, if the demeaning standard of voting preference among the vast majority of the people would once again show it has nothing to do with legislative skills or public governance and leadership.
But Revillame will have to eventually make his presence scarce in his daily show if he is out to take his senate job seriously, which would bring down his astronomical income. He will surely cut a deal with the President, as he did with then presidential candidate Manny Villar mainly to expand his profitable businesses. Will Duterte give Revillame an offer hard to refuse?
Despite his immense popularity, Revillame may yet be bogged down by the exasperating legislative and bureaucratic mills, which had been the sad fate of prominent broadcaster Ted Failon after he got elected as congressman in his Samar hometown. Hopefully, Revillame does not end up in the political pitfalls that have gobbled up the likes of Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid. The former was humiliated and jailed for the pork barrel scam and the latter is a terribly idle occupant of a wasted senate seat paid for by the people.
***
Rejoinder to last the column. People going through loneliness and depression have experienced relief and comfort after reaching out to other people also experiencing similar problems. Some of them may be inside your homes, and should not be dismissed as exhibiting temporary indifference, disobedience and defiance.
The evangelist Derek Prince preaching about spiritual warfare has professed that Biblical healing that deals with casting out evil and unclean spirits should be practiced by believing Christians against the prevalent depression and loneliness. He embraced Isaiah 61:1-3 citing its healing power during a moment of being assaulted in his heart and mind by demons: ‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the tear of the Lord, and the day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all who mourn to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair…” And, now more than ever, we should embrace the Holy Spirit whose awesome power and loving mercies against the dark and demonic force are rarely taught at the pulpit.
