Lower your expectations

CTALK

- CITO BELTRAN

"If you look up to men, you will eventually be disappointed." — Pastor Steve

If, like me, you actually hoped, maybe even believed, that President Bongbong Marcos was capable of initiating change or creating results by sheer political will, it only proves that you are an optimist. But other than that, it's time to lower your expectations.

After miserably losing in the midterm elections, PBBM displayed unusual transparency and humility by acknowledging that his administration failed to meet the expectations of the people and needed to step up.

When PBBM asked for the courtesy resignation of members of his Cabinet and extended this down to agency heads and GOCCs, I was tempted to nod in approval and give open support. But the slow and tentative manner that Malacañang conducted the "cleansing" hinted that something was amiss.

Unpopular and controversial characters were too easily retained, and none of the agency heads of controversial agencies and GOCCs were replaced. Yes, some NPAs or non-performing assets were sent home, but overall, the reshuffle was more like wiping off dust instead of an actual cleansing.

Part of the problem, it seems, is that the President relied on the usual suspects or his cordon sanitaire to screen and filter who stays and who goes. In the end, only those who had no real political or financial capital for the administration were sent to pasture.

PBBM's advisers simply got rid of the "dead weight" or pals with no purpose, but the rest who are considered undesirables by the public are still sitting comfy and secure. The question that is often asked is: what was the metric used?