Ano ba talaga, Ate?
After announcing, and then withdrawing, the conferment of the National Artist title on Fernando Poe Jr., the Fortress by the Pasig announced that the announcement made days ago stays. It even denies taking back the title given to FPJ. ABS-CBN News posted a reaction by a Poe family friend.
This made me laugh:
He said “there must have been a lapse somewhere but … the conferment [of the] awards is in June, so in a maximum of two weeks, everything will be final,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault. The Protocol and OPS just did not know that the documentation process was not yet finished,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s anything to apologize for. These things happen,” Ermita said.
Yeah, like that of July, 2005? They really love the phrase “lapse of judgment”.
Malacanang plays politics even in the conferment of the National Artist award. FPJ is not only deserving of the National Artist award. He should have been the one giving the award. They already deprived him of his Presidency. Now they are again robbing him of a long delayed accolade.
Politics is not bad per se. They are just giving it a bad rep. This latest issue is just a manifestation of the problematic thinking of the present occupant at the Fortress by the Pasig.