The tragic-comic effect derives from the dazzlingly contortionist acts of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was not even present there, and Fidel V. Ramos, who was present and then benefited from it. First, to kick off the annual ritual, they laid a wreath at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio, not at the Edsa site. And they left without uttering a single word.

Later, at the foot of the People Power Monument, FVR, one of the Edsa triumvirs (the two others were Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, both conspicuously absent), went through his ritual jump on the stage. He didn’t bother to recall what the people then shouted at the top of their lungs, "Tama na, sobra na, palitan na!", perhaps to spare Gloria the embarrassment of hearing the same words voiced by the people demanding that she step down from her illegitimate presidency.

On the other hand, Gloria, keynoting the flag-raising ceremony, attempted to give a new definition of the term "People Power." She was not even a participant in that historic event 21 years ago, just like Cory Aquino, who was the first beneficiary of that original people power movement.

What exactly did she know about that political phenomenon and when did she know about it? The answer is obviously nothing. Still, unblushingly, she urged her listeners, a motley crowd of mostly soldiers assigned to protect her with these words: "People Power should not only mean national unity to unseat an administration, Instead ,,, people power should be used to unite responsible citizens to build a strong and modern nation."

Her articulation, alas, is so sketchy to the point of empty cliché. She conveniently avoided the truth that the people in 1986 had demonstrated that freedom and democracy, the will of the people, and free and fair elections are more powerful than any state machine, notwithstanding its strength and severity. The people regained their freedom and democratic institutions from the iron-clad rule of Marcos of over two decades ago.

Yes, the very same democracy and its institutions that she, Gloria, has crippled in six years of lawless rule. She and her political cohorts and police and military minions have violated with impunity those same freedom and democratic institutions through unconstitutional means and lawless ways.

Unfortunately, it seems that people these days have grown passive to what is happening in the country now sunk deep in official corruption. So far, they have not lifted their hands in violent protests over the wrongdoings of an illegitimate president these past six years.

If, as someone else has said, "People Power" is about returning the invisible institutions of morality, and that it is constitutional renewal, then the Filipino people will surely get the opportunity to throw the bums, the crooks, the thieves, the electoral cheating engineers, in the May 14 mid-term elections. They will use their ballots, not bullets, to replace those now running a corrupt, repressive, government that has been trampling their civil rights and liberties for too long.

If the powers-that-be do not use all the dirty tricks to frustrate the will of the people through electoral frauds and techniques, then the Filipino people will finally succeed in removing the hypocritical mask behind which Gloria Arroyo has been hiding her obsession and mad thirst for power, pelf and grandeur.

And if, applying an old English proverb, Gloria deceived us once in 2004, shame on her; but if we allow her to deceive us twice, shame on us!

So, people of the Philippines, cast your votes on May 14 with this one clear message to Gloria Arroyo and her chosen candidates: "Never, never, never, again!

***

Here are other examples of English, Philippine style, to add to the collection begun last week.

"Bread Pitt" is a bakery.

"Caintucky Friend Chicken" is an eatery in Cainta, Rizal.

"Mang Donald’s" is a burger joint in Naga City.

"Doris Day and Night" is a 24-hour eatery.

"The Friend of Marikina" is a fried chicken house.

"Let’s Goat-Together" is a kambingan-cum-beer garden in Quezon City.

"Meatropolis" is a meat shop.

"Meating Place" is another meat shop.

"The Way We Wear" is a boutique.

"Goldilocks" is a barber shop.

And here are excuse letters from parents and they’re not even Filipinos.

"My son is under a doctors care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him."

"Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot."

"Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33."

"Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating."

"Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip."

"Please excuse Johnny, he has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face."

"Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels."

"Sally wont be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral."

"Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover."

"Maryann was absent December 11-16, because she had a fever, sorethroat, headache, and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever and sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. .I wasn’t the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night."