Apple or Orange?
By Rolo B. Cena

My student once asked me which one is better, apple or orange? In response to this, I told him to pick any of his choice; or both, to put it safely. Choosing one over the other may exude principled choice but may also bring about unforeseen problem, or to say the least, confusion while choosing both welcomes safety as in “balimbing.”

Today, most of us are poised with the same question: Apple or orange, UNO or Team Unity? What is in apple that is not in orange, and vice versa? Similarly, what is neither in UNO that is nor in Team Unity?

Of course there are reasons why we choose apple apart from its being associated with the first fruit eaten by Adam and Eve that expelled them from the biblical Garden of Eden. It contains nutrients that made rise to the adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are fat-free and good source of dietary fiber, pectin, potassium, and Vitamins A and C. Oranges, which are also fat-free, contain vitamin A, B1, and C, dietary fiber, folate, potassium, calcium and calories. Both contain flavonoids, a substance present in vegetables and fruits that act as antioxidant. Recent studies show that eating flavonoids reduces heart disease by protecting against the damaging effects of bad cholesterol and reduces the risks of certain types of cancer, stroke, and asthma.

Arguably, there’s neither in UNO that is nor in Team Unity. Both can be agent of change; both is capable of ushering us to the promised “renewal” in whatever manner they would want, or both can be cancer-causing agents. They are two separate and distinct personalities expressed in different tone. The same is true with apple and orange.

UNO and Team Unity are composed of come-backing and aspiring law-makers who declare this familiar statement: Vote for me and the rest would be history! It’s the same promise I hear from all politicians when I was still young: the promise to build homes for the homeless, jobs for the jobless, and food for the deprived. Both apple and orange promise a common thing: eat me and the rest would be history, too. Yes, it’s true. They made history; they made history bitter for the Filipinos.

Which is why, majority of the Filipino people are still homeless in their own land, jobless in this jobs-oriented modern times, and hungry in this tough and changing world.
UNO recently reported that it has completed its line up. Notable of names is a real estate magnate and the former Speaker of the House who nailed the former President Joseph Estrada through the impeachment trial he initiated; a one time senator whose presence in the press conference he (along with others) organized after the successful take over of Pres. Gloria Arroyo catapulted his senatorial victory; the wife of the former presidential aspirant whose near-end declaration supporting PGMA created the “big bang” in the electorate; a general, senator, former aide to Estrada-turned presidential aspirant; a bar top-notcher and is believed to be courting another star, the son of the slain oppositionist to the Marcoses, and former senators all bringing with them their own personal and official platforms decorated with their own biases and questionable intentions.

Arguably, Team Unity has also a panel to boast for: a former critic of madam president; an avid supporter of Estrada for all seasons; a come-backing senator and an opponent of PGMA; a vocal oppositionist who’s one of the many who called for the resignation of Arroyo and an actor; the dancing queen of the senate who strutted after voting “no” to the “envelope” during the impeachment proceedings; and other names of sort.

All of them have their own points and biases. While choosing between apple and orange gives us the same benefit, choosing between UNO and Team Unity does the same. The personalities comprising these two teams are the same Adams and Eves who committed the first sin; they, too, will.

When the late dictator ruled the Republic, several uprisings sprouted. Most, especially the young minds went up the rugged terrains of the mountain ranges just to join their peers. He was ousted by the popular un-armed revolt – the EDSA Revolution. Shortly thereafter, a widow took over the Palace by blows. What we thought to be an intelligent choice seemed to soil and became a sore – another coup was attempted but was foiled. Soon, the military man took over; still rallies and demonstrations, defined as small means of uprising, came to the fore. After a term, a womanizer-actor inherited the most coveted title of the land but did not stay long for evil does not win over good. Now, we have the mutant-economist. What we thought to be another good choice is slowly becoming a sore, which is why we always have lapses in judgment today.

There shall always be the likes of “Hello Garci” scandal or Melo Committee white-wash. Yes, UNO or Team Unity – they are all the same: venom-inflicted descendants of Adam.
It’s not between apple or orange. Apple contains the same nutrients as orange does. Apple functions in the same way as orange. It’s not between UNO or Team Unity either. This is politics. Marcos had his own KBL in the same manner as Cory had her own Laban signature. FVR had his own team, too, in the same manner as Erap had. Gloria has her own, too. But what’s the point?

The same breed of self-serving politicians reciting the old-grown line “we are for the country.” It’s just for today. Yes, saying before the public that they are for the people of the Philippines does not make sense anymore. UNO or Team Unity: it doesn’t really matter. Why? Because, they are all politicians, which is why, we have this unresolved conflicts and issues clashed with their respective ailing personalities.

What we basically need is to change our attitude. We easily forgive and forget. We are always influenced by the mellow-dramatic soap opera accorded to us by the fighting terrestrial giants, which is why we thought our life is just as bubbly as the soap operas we adore. Change! We should manage to say “no” if it doesn’t call for it and “yes,” if we really need to. We should fearlessly deliver our point even if it hurts. We should welcome the idea of changing our good-for-the-closet bad attitude even if it hurts accepting the truth.

Choosing between apple and orange does not make sense: your will do!

(published at the Dumaguete Suns.Star, March 2007)