“WE CAN COUNT how many seeds are in the apple, but not how many apples are in the seed.” – Ken Kersey. This is the text message I received from a good friend, Noel Tuazon, early yesterday morning. What a great way to start a day — a perfect message. What makes it perfect? It came when I was contemplating on what I am to share with you today. It is a Sunday alright and yet, here I am bordering on offensively branding us all as gamblers! But I can't help it; the opening of a new Jai Alai “legal” betting station in our province caused quite a stir in our community. The reactions do not amaze me; they are the seeds in the apple. What strikes me is the hypocrisy, the yet-to-be-counted number of apples in each of the seeds. Whether we like it or not, the culture of gambling is very much a part of us Filipinos these days. Being inutile in all campaigns against gambling in any form, the government is hoping against hope to lick out games of chance by promoting them – correcting an error with another error.
But what else can we expect from leaders who themselves gambled their way to where they are now seated. Campaigning for a post in governance is, in itself, a form of gambling. We all know that even a barangay SK chair is worth gambling for. You have to spend enough to earn enough. Money begets money is always the underlying principle, whether your ‘claimed advocacy' is to serve as a barangay captain or a senator for that matter. On the part of the constituency, choosing a politician to support is also another form of gambling; including the selling of votes. Votes are sold with the hope of receiving more favors and graces when the favored candidates win. A three year respite from a ‘scratch-to-peck' life may be won in exchange for undying loyalty during the campaign period. Practicality is fast becoming the meaning of righteousness. But then, righteousness is easier said than done. In a country, where only about a fourth of the populace is affluent, how many would not stand in line for a chance to get at a P600+ million purse for a hard-earned 20 bucks by just selecting 6 random numbers? The prize would not be that huge if only a few dared to hope, bet and lose.
We may have different views, but there is only one thing clear. While the poor are very desperate to get out from the dim clouds of poverty engulfing them, the rich are devising more ways to take on every single penny by luring them with huge baits. Gamblers all! To gamble or not is now just a question of practicality. It may be against morals; it may be against the teachings of whatever religion you believe in; it may be against the norms of society but what if there is one lap of a tasty hot soup for a long-grumbling tummy? Planting a banana a day would surely make tomorrows better; filling a coco shell with coins may buy enough umbrellas for a rainy day; but would you not also consider a lifetime of affluence with one lucky bet? Just as boxers do, we all are fighting to get at poverty with one solid punch and the game is over. Whether we are working or betting, the main aim is for a better life. Indeed, we must have to trust in the seed we choose to plant to give us more apples. To join Wordigras, email me at w ordigras@yahoo.com . I will be back next week. Take care of Mother Nature and Mother Earth and you'll be a Father of Mankind.
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