THE WORD TO linger the longest time in public consciousness these days is “kain-suka,” sort of a Filipino onomatopoeia, literally translated as “eat-vomit,” as vivid as memories can get.
I first read the term phrase “could it be an irony?” from certified Duterte Diehard Supporter (DDS) actress Vivian Velez who captioned in her Facebook wall the photo of Megastar Sharon Cuneta in a chummy hush, a “beso-beso” (cheek-to-cheek), a showbiz if not a quotidian indulgence with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a star-studded affair billed as “An Evening with the Stars: A Gala Celebrating the Stars who Continue to Light Our Way” at Foro Intramuros to recognize entertainment luminaries for their contributions to the development of popular culture as an art form.
It is also where Sharon playfully exclaimed in her spiels in between her musical numbers to wit: “Sir, I only have one vice president. My date tonight. Mali (Wrong) your choice, no” as if saying “it should have been my husband” as Marcos, Jr.’s second-in-command.
After the teasing, she proclaimed: “Basta (It just is), Mr. President, you have my support.”
Velez sarcastically described the face-to-face tableau of the President and the singer-actress as a textbook meaning of “kain-suka.”
SHARON’S ANTI-STANCE
Is it simply in the context of Cuneta’s anti-Bongbong pronouncements during the presidential elections in 2022 when Marcos ran with Sara Duterte as his VP?
In this historic meeting between Kiko Pangilinan’s wife and the then presidential candidate of the Uniteam that Vivian’s metaphor of a “kain-suka” applied?
There’s more to it than meets the eye, though.
It’s more than civility and political rhetoric.
It’s the kind of patronage if not traditional politics Filipinos–celebs or not–are wont to engage.
Let’s trace the political past of the Cunetas (Sharon was the daughter of the late Mayor Pablo Cuneta who served the longest in Pasay City before and even during the Marcos Sr. dictatorship and who eventually chose and got the late strongman as principal sponsor to the Sharon-Gabby Concepcion wedding) subscribing to the feudal arrangement of leadership like “you scratch my back I scratch yours” to not to break the chain of tradpol that governs not only the unwashed but the middle and upper classes as well in this society.
In other words, the wielding of power in an elitist politics.
So how can Shawie ever get out of the web?
KIKO PANGILINAN FACTOR
Thanks but no thanks to Kiko who has opened her eyes to, at least, in some degrees of enlightenment about the material sources of injustice, poverty, exploitation, obscurantism, social inequality, horrors of capitalism, misogyny, unfair labor practice and other inhuman exercises.
What is intriguing is the file video posts of DDS showing Sharon throwing lavish praises on Sara in a past encounter as if insinuating that the Megastar is insincere, plastic and double-edged.
Of course, Sharon could just keep her mouth shut but she knows how to play the game without being rude.
POKWANG AND PINKY
In this recent event, not a few supporters of the fiercest presidential opponent of Marcos, Jr.and former vice-president and losing 2022 presidential aspirant Leni Robredo were around like Pokwang, Pinky Amador etc. to partake in the dinner gala.
On his socmed wall, young movie director Darryl Yap, an ardent DDS, lambasted Pokwang and Pinky about their “kain-suka” stance as the two were critics of Bongbong.
“Dati akala ko, malakas na ang loob ko, akala ko makapal ang mukha ko—
pero nung nakita ko ang pictures nila Pokwang at Pinky Amador sa paparty ni Bongbong Marcos, Isa pala akong Mahiyain (Before, I thought I was bold enough, thick-faced–but when I saw their photos in the Marcos party, I was, after all, coy). HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (boisterous laughter).
“Yung isa, inalipusta si Ella Cruz dahil sa pagsuporta sa Marcos, yung isa akala mo kung sinong santa sa pag-iinarte at pagsigaw ng Magnanakaw at Human Rights, ayun— present sa pabuffet ng suka (the other one touted and criticized Ella Cruz for being a Marcos supporter, the other one was like playing saint by acting and shouting Thief and Human Rights–but there they were in the party of the vomit).
DARYL YAP’S RANT
“Walang masama kung nagbago na ang kanilang paniniwala, or baka wala silang hapunan ng gabing iyon. Ang masama ay yung sakit ng salita, panlilibak at panghuhusga nila sa kapwa nung panahon ng kampanya, hindi na mababawi iyon (it’s okay to change beliefs or maybe they didn’t have something to eat that night. What is not okay is their hurting words, the mockery and misjudgement on people during the campaign, they cannot take them back)
“Kaya, may respeto na ko ulit kay therefore, I have my respect for (Cherry Pie),” gushed Yap.
Is Darryl talking about Cherry Pie Picache?
Very vague even if Pie wasn’t in the shindig.
Pokwang and Pinky might be Kakampinks or Leni rooters but their presence in the event doesn’t mean to say they are political turncoats or vascillators.
TOGETHER WITH GARY V.
Together with Sharon or even Gary Valenciano who is a brother-in-law of Kiko, these Leni endorsers are critical allies of Marcos or shall we be vigilant about their actions?
We expect Sharon, Gary, Pokwang, Pinky et al to be critical of Marcos Jr. and the Dutertes for the sake of the Filipinos.
And why did Darryl spare Sharon in his rants?
Is it because Cuneta is still very much attached and identified with Viva Films, the producer of Yap’s political propaganda movies, “Maid in Malacanang” and “Martyr or Murderer”?
What hypocrisy!What selective criticism!
POLITICAL SHOWBIZ
Enough of these political show business moro-moro (a traditional literary theater about the conflict between Christians and Muslims to the victory of the former. In the context of contemporary real-life events, it is usually a scripted drama with favored protagonists).