Trapo

TRAPO.

IN ILOCANO, AS IN MANY PHILIPPINE LANGUAGES, "trapo" means rag. And, like many words integrated into the myriad of Philippine languages, its origin is Spanish, meaning cloth, dust cloth, cleaning cloth, rag. In the local context,  "trapo" sometimes means a very dirty, almost useless piece of cloth not even fit for cleaning: a throw-away.

Hence, during the Marcos era, politicians subservient to the dictator and his cronies, who consented to suppression and chose to keep their mouths shut for fear of reprisal, or simply coasted along, with similar-minded politicians, to live life comfortably and without risk despite widespread repression and lack of freedom for the general public, were called "trapo" by their critics, the media and citizens who saw things and led life differently. A traditional politician, in other words. 

"Trapo" is a shorter form for the earlier name-call "tradpol" like tadpole, i.e. legless, mindless baby amphibians squiggling aimlessly in murky waters. My guess is, those who later coined the word "trapo" saw the term more appropriate for the traditional (and "traditionally corrupt") politico, and in deference to the aquatic larvae, which, in later stages of its development, are actually helpful to our survival as humans.

Trapo, the political name-call, has outlived Marcos and is very much in use today. It not only includes politicians identified with Marcos but politicians of all ages and affiliations who belong or are perceived to condone the status quo.

The trapo is not expected to have an open mind or risk their social and ideological positions. They are believed to be exclusive (as opposed to being inclusive), are neither adaptive nor progressive. They are the "same old-same old", "been there done that" bench-warming, grandstanding public servants content with the "old ways" of doing things. They are the political godfathers and patriarchs who bequeath their positions in government to their descendants or whose progeny audaciously await such inheritance.

Endorsements

In Philippine politics, endorsements by religious groups is a big thing. Ironically, it is during the thank you speeches by those endorsed that their humility, grace and reverence to faith—or to faiths other than their own—are made to shine through as if their conduct in their campaigns and their lives as public figures and that of their kin exemplary, virtuous, and sin-free.

Politicians try hard to appear coy about these endorsements. They make their brokering and other such "important" visits to group heads clandestinely, except when big, public occasions are unavoidable, in which case the visits are made to appear without concessions. Religious leaders behave in the same manner, often evading political associations until "the proper time". When a politician fails to make it to such public occasions, they send statements of regret equaling that of a private, one-on-one confession, or send alter egos to declare apologies on national television.

Sometimes, the lines are blurred between religious heads, political bankrollers/kingmakers and power brokers because those who seek endorsements of faith-based leaders make it so, despite denials of favors whispered only among them.

The flocks, and the voters, are always left out guessing which, among the gods' wishes, were fulfilled by particular candidates and come short in others. These decisions are not to be questioned, the exception coming from one  anointed candidate who presumptuously floated the idea of one group head possibly misreading a godly message and offered to try to convince the head to take a second look.

The Anointed and chosen

When the "major" religious block endorsements started coming out days apart from each other (the third group's is anticipated to come out on Sunday, 09 May), only one word to describe the chosen ones came to mind: trapo. The flocks are expected to heed. On the other hand, for better or worse, the rest of the voting population after May 10 may well end up getting the government it deserves.

Anyhow, I hope the elections will be peaceful and the candidates at peace with the process.