SUBTERFUGE OF THE FRAUDULENT

--sent by one of my friends; it's his most embarrassing moment...

Politics is dirty. Engage in it and your end up losing. That was the very pieces of advice that my father was always admonishing me. My family in our barangay is one of the highly-esteemed for we never accept bribe from TRAPOS in exchange with our sacred votes. As the trend of politics become dirtier and dirtier, the notion of entering to politics became nuisance for me. Though it was my dream to contribute for the betterment of our barangay by being a Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman, I was greatly dissuaded to be exposed with politics, besides, I’m a novice and have no idea what is it all about. As the local election time approached, rumors came to us that the son of my father’s best friend who happened to work for us was running for the position under my uncle as the Brgy. Captain. The incumbent S.K. Chairman then was the brother of the son of my father’s best friend. The incumbent Brgy. Captain was my uncle who sought for reelection. Our family rallied together to talk about the matter. Questions aroused what a 3^rd year student who happened to be one of the students of my mother can do for the amelioration of our barangay. We pondered on the fact that his brother wanted reelection but on the virtue of him. No one attempted in our barangay to file their candidacy for the position of S.K. chairman. And so at that very moment, we decided that I will run for the position. I knew then that our family will be tainted with issues. Rumors grew that why should I run when both my parents are professional with high salaries. Why not gave the post to those who are need. I was greatly astonished. Logically, it was clear that there intention for running was not serving but for the money the post could offer. It was only the beginning. For after I’ve won the election there was more to come. My father’s best friend was angry with us. I reckoned that it’s because of envy. They grew indignant to us. But one thing I did not expect as well as my family is about my uncle. He sided with my brother’s best friend in exchange of their votes. He risked his integrity just to win the election only to find out that he won only by 1 vote. His own vote. It was a very close fight. There were 3 candidates for the post. My uncle got 38 votes and his two opponents 37 and 36. When we coincidentally met on my way to the barrio, I was happy to shake hands with him for we’ve both won. But I was surprised the way he looked at me. He gave a stern look. I never thought that beginning from that day he will be my worst enemy. I never thought in my life that we, his close kin, will be betrayed by him. I never thought that my father who had been his avid supporter during his previous administration will be exasperated to him greatly. I never blamed my mother for being indignant to him ever since because of his bad manner. When we held our first Brgy. Session, he said pompously with vigor that we must bury into oblivion everything that happened before. “Limutan na an kolor pulitika” as he always stressed in the session. He said that we must strive for the betterment of our barangay. And so all my doubts to him only during that time subsided. I thought that he was sincere. Few months had passed and I was busy managing my student life. Every 1^st and 3^rd week I have had to go back to our barangay for the session. Sometimes in the month of June, it had been the talk of the town who will be the next Brgy. Secretary since the previous one resigned for unknown reason. It was rumored that the sister of my father’s best friend’s wife will be appointed by my uncle. My family disagreed with the idea of appointing her for she is not capable of the position. I was in Virac that time and I don’t know the happenings in our barangay. I never expected that my uncle will rush to my boarding house just to let me sign a document. He said that it was for the honoraria of each and every one of us for the month and it was a pressing matter so I must immediately sign. And so I signed. A few days later, my father went to boarding house very furious with me. I don’t know the reason why. “Why did you sign that document you fool!” he said to me with resentment. Don’t you know that it was for the concurrence for the appointment of secretary! What will the barrio folks will say to us? That we are on the side of our enemy! You Fool! That was the first time I’ve suffered the wrath of my father who happen to be a very patient person. I was greatly shocked. I cannot stand firmly. I wanted to cry out loud and hurt myself for my foolishness. I was on the hard side. If I’m going to admit to the barrio folks that I was victimized by the subterfuge of my fraudulent uncle I’ll forever have a slap of shame to my face. They’ll brand me to be an educated fool. It’s difficult to accept on my side. I told my father that we should file a case to my uncle for his unruly deed. On the contrary, my father rejected my opinion. He said that I should accept my foolishness. Beginning from that day I’ve learned a great lesson in my life. Though I bear heavily a great anger with my uncle, my father cautioned me to take heed of controlling my anger. I should not let my own emotion ruin my own conviction. “There will come a time that his wrong deeds will go back to him” my father told me.