July 20, 2009

  • Power

    Reflections

    Yesterday, I had a most stressful experience. After a relaxing and blissful weekend at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, I once again woke up to reality when a little less than thirty minutes after check out I went to cover an event at the University of Cebu - Lapu Lapu-Mandaue Campus. The event was the awarding of scholarships by the Aboitiz conglomerate to several of the university's students. I was there by invitation from Aboitiz.

    On entering the campus I have to go through the guard, which is okey because that is the standard operating procedure. For the safety of the students. The guard at the gate was arrogant, maybe because he saw me wearing just my jeans, an ordinary shirt, and flipflops (Ipanema, mind you). I was of course wearing my ID, and he goes like, "who are you? why are you here? from where are you?" And all the while I was thinking, "Hello??? My ID says im with the PRESS in large bold all capital letters. I am from the press, do I need to spell that out for you?" but hey I just took a deep breath and remained calm.

    Then I had to walk 15 minutes to the next building where I waited for roughly 30 minutes for the elevator to descend. I do not intend to walk all five floors with all my stuff, mind you, so I patiently waited. The guards on the ground floor were very accommodating, calling the elevator operator (who happens to be another guard) every three minutes. I could feel that they were embarrassed that I had to wait that long. It was ok with me.

    Then the elevator door opened, and the guard came crashing out of the elevator as if about to pounce an enemy. Pointing with his radio he said, "who are you? why are you here? where do you intend to go?" And so I replied, "I am with the media and I am here to cover the event on the 5th floor."

    "You are not on the list. I was told to only accommodate the people from ABS and GMA," he said.

    By now, the rest of the guards on the ground floor (about three of them) were already surrounding me, and then this lady, apparently a staff at the school, started to intervene, but siding with the guards. She was asked me, "Who did you call about this event?"

    "You called me, You invited me," I said, to which she replied, "Who called you, whats the name?"

    By that time, I already felt ridiculous and so I left. They begged me not to go, but hey, what's the use of staying, just to argue with no nonsense people who just wanted to show that they have authority? I told them, "You are the one who wants publicity, not me."

    So, anyway, after that the PR of Aboitiz, Mr. Yhol Colegado, called several times to apologize. He asked me to return, but I told myself, "Why should I return? Just to kiss the arrogance of some power-hungry lowlife? No thank you."

    I was really stressed out, but this incident is an illustration of my sentiments towards people in authority. Its not that I don't respect authority, its that I abhor power hungry people who goes power tripping.

    In all honesty, I have issues with people in authority. When I was still a kid (yes, I was kid once), I always come into an argument with my mother, father, aunts, elder sister, and everybody who wants to tell me what to and what not to do. In fact, when I was still around five years old I chased an old fat guy with a bolo around the compound of my uncle's place because he rebuked me from playing with water.

    In college, I joined an activist group. Up until now, I still want to consider myself as a progressive, but a tamer one at that. And in every organization I join, well, lets just say that I always argue with those who are in position.I always believed that my idea was better than there's.

    And when I started working, I go against the grain and speak what I want. I used to send pages of letters of grievances against my boss or peoples of authority. And yes, the guards. I always have an argument with guards, especially the arrogant ones. There are just those who think they can push around people because they were given the authority to do so. Hmmm.... Really? Now my left eyebrow went up a notch.

    That was then. Now, from time to time, my eyebrows would raise every time I encounter someone who thinks that they can push me around. Not that I always go against people in authority, I also know where I stand. Now I try to compromise and see behind the clout of authority. There is some good in there, I know.

    But the thing is, authority, power, sometimes when we get a little taste of it, we go berserk and think that we are untouchable. A little sensitivity and responsibility is needed, not to mention, a little push to wake you up.