The Theatre of Disgrace: When a Lawmaker Chooses Slurs Over Statesmanship

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives, the title "Honorable" is not merely a prefix; it is an expectation. It is a burden of conduct assumed by those elected to represent the people. Yet, there is a fine, fragile line between holding power accountable and desperate attention-seeking. Recently, Congressman Eli San Fernando hasn't just crossed that line—he has seemingly obliterated it.

The recent spectacle involving the Congressman hurling the slurs "gago" (fool) and "unggoy" (monkey) at Executive Secretary Ralph Recto marks a new low in our political discourse. It forces a nation to ask an uncomfortable question: Is this the new standard of Congress?

The Descent from Debate to Gutter Language

Political opposition is the lifeblood of democracy. Vulgarity, however, is the weapon of the weak argument.

When a sitting legislator resorts to calling the Executive Secretary—the highest appointed Cabinet official in the land—names fit for a street brawl rather than a congressional hearing, it signals a collapse of institutional respect. This is not about being "tough" or "relatable." This is conduct unbecoming of a public servant.

To verbally assault a fellow government official is one thing; to do so while ignoring the highest court in the land is another entirely.

Facts Over Fiction: The Legal Reality

Congressman San Fernando’s vitriol relies on a narrative that has already been dismantled by the ultimate arbiter of Philippine law. He continues to beat a drum that has long since lost its rhythm.

Let us strip away the noise and look at the irrefutable record:

The Supreme Court has spoken: Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has been cleared.

Zero Liability: The ruling found no abuse, no wrongdoing, and no criminal liability.

The Legislature’s Own Creation: The Department of Finance (DOF), under Recto, was simply implementing a law that Congress itself wrote and passed.

The Retraction: Even former Justice Antonio Carpio, a legal titan, walked back his earlier statements regarding the issue.

When the Supreme Court clears a man, and when legal luminaries retract their criticisms, a true statesman accepts the verdict. A demagogue, however, chooses to ignore the truth in favor of the spectacle. San Fernando chooses the latter, choosing disgrace over the dignity of facts.

The People as Props

Perhaps the most insidious aspect of this political theater is not the insults thrown at a powerful official, but the exploitation of the powerless.

San Fernando has surrounded himself with workers and ordinary Filipinos, positioning himself as the "voice of the masses." But let us be clear: weaponizing the plight of workers to fuel a personal vendetta against an exonerated official is not advocacy—it is exploitation.

Using struggling Filipinos as background "props" to make a press release look more compelling is a cynical political calculation. It creates an illusion of service while distracting from the reality that the Congressman is fighting a battle the law says he has already lost. To claim he serves the workers while using them to amplify his own noise is a contradiction too obvious to ignore.

The Silence of Competence vs. The Noise of Ambition

In this chaotic landscape, the contrast between the accuser and the accused could not be starker.

Ralph Recto has never been a politician who lives for the applause of the gallery. Throughout his career, he has been characterized by a preference for the "unpopular right" over the "popular wrong." He was entrusted with the position of Executive Secretary precisely because the current moment demands steadiness, economic competence, and principle—not histrionics.

Every time a public official degrades his office with vulgarity and spreads misleading narratives, the nation loses. Trust erodes. Institutions weaken. The truth gets buried under an avalanche of theatrics.

The Verdict

We must ask ourselves: Are these antics serving the country? Or are they simply serving the ego of a politician in search of relevance?

Congressman San Fernando may have the volume, but he lacks the veracity. He is trying to tear down a man already vindicated by the Supreme Court, and he is willing to drag the decorum of the House into the mud to do it.

Truth is quiet. It stands firm without the need for slurs like "gago" or "unggoy." Noise, on the other hand, is loud, desperate, and ultimately hollow.

True leaders choose truth. It is time Congressman San Fernando did the same.

THE INHERITANCE OF POWER: When the Department of Energy Becomes a Family Affair

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In the Philippines, the ladder of success is steep, broken, and slippery—unless you own the building. Then, you simply take the elevator.

It is a narrative as old as the archipelago’s politics, yet it stings with fresh potency every time it hits the headlines. The latest protagonist in this recurring drama is Mandy Romero. At 25 years old, an age where most professionals are navigating entry-level fatigue or studying for Civil Service Exams, she has been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE).

She is not just any 25-year-old. She is the daughter of Deputy Speaker and billionaire Congressman Mikee Romero.

To the casual observer, this is just another government appointment. But to those paying attention to the machinery of the Marcos Jr. administration, it is a glaring symptom of a chronic national condition: the "VIP Shortcut" culture that turns public service into a playground for the elite.

The Optic of Privilege

The optics could not be more blinding. On one side of the divide, we have the career public servant. This individual has spent a decade navigating the bureaucracy, earning master’s degrees, passing eligibility exams, and waiting years for a salary grade increase. They are the backbone of the government, grinding through the slow, thankless machinery of the state.

On the other side, we have the scions of the ultra-wealthy. They bypass the queue, skipping the "grind" entirely to land in executive offices that dictate policy for millions.

The appointment of Mandy Romero raises eyebrows not merely because of her youth, but because of the specific seat she now occupies. The Department of Energy is a high-stakes regulator. Her father, Mikee Romero, is a titan of industry with business interests that intersect directly with the energy sector.

In any other context, placing the daughter of a billionaire businessman in a position to help regulate her father’s industry would be flagged as a conflict of interest so bright it could power a city. In the Philippines, it’s just Tuesday.

The Defense: "Youth is Not a Crime"

To be fair, the narrative has two sides, and dismissal of Romero solely based on her surname can be reductive. Supporters of the appointment argue a point that holds theoretical weight: The government needs new blood.

The arguments for Romero are optimistic:

The Innovation Factor: Younger officials are often untainted by bureaucratic cynicism. They bring digital fluency, modern perspectives, and a hunger to prove themselves.

Trust and Confidence: The President has the prerogative to appoint people he trusts. If that trust is placed in the progeny of his allies, it is legally within bounds.

Merit Beyond Age: Being well-connected does not automatically equate to incompetence. If she delivers results, her background becomes a footnote.

"Give her a chance," the defense cries. "Why punish her for her father's success?"

The Critique: A Slap in the Face of Meritocracy

However, the counter-argument is not just noise—it is the sound of morale breaking within the civil service. Critics argue that appointments like this do not just look bad; they actively dismantle the integrity of government institutions.

The criticism is rooted in three harsh realities:

The Death of Meritocracy: When a 25-year-old is vaulted over qualified experts solely due to proximity to power, it sends a clear message to ordinary Filipinos: Hard work is a myth; connections are the currency.

The Conflict of Interest: This is the elephant in the room. How does one objectively regulate sectors where their family fortune is staked? Even if Romero acts with perfect integrity, the perception of bias undermines the DOE’s authority.

The Dynasty Playbook: This fits a pattern observed under the Marcos Jr. presidency. We are seeing a consolidation of power where political families are no longer content with legislative seats; they are embedding the next generation into the executive branch, effectively capturing the state from all angles.

The Bigger Truth: The Merry-Go-Round

Ultimately, the story of Mandy Romero is not about Mandy Romero. She is merely the latest face on a very old statue.

The Philippines is witnessing history repeat itself, not as a tragedy, but as a system feature. We are watching the formalization of an aristocracy where political and economic power are indistinguishable.

The "VIP Shortcut" reveals a painful truth about the Philippine condition: We have two sets of rules. One for the ordinary Filipino, who must queue, pay taxes, and prove their worth every single day. And another for the children of the gods, who inherit influence as easily as they inherit eye color.

The faces change. The surnames rotate. But the system—the great, exclusive merry-go-round of Philippine politics—keeps spinning, fueled by the same dynastic engines.

Is this the "New Philippines" we were promised? Or is it simply the old oligarchy, dressed in younger, fresher clothes?

As the daughter of a billionaire takes her seat at the Department of Energy, the lights stay on, but the shadow over our democracy grows just a little bit longer.

Advancing a Shared Vision: Medical Solutions aligns with WWRS Philippines for a Brighter Healthcare Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

As the global healthcare industry seeks to improve systems and patient care for a growing patient population, virtual nursing care is becoming more and more crucial for modern healthcare. What was once regarded as a supplementary service is now reshaping how hospitals, clinics, and home-care programs deliver timely, safe, and accessible support. Today, virtual nursing hubs offer a practical solution largely aided by telehealth technologies allowing the remote handling of medical care tasks such as in-patient care, patient education, triage, documentation, and post-discharge follow-ups. 

With this on the agenda, the Medical Solutions Group (MSG), one of the largest healthcare talent ecosystems in the US and led by its forward-thinking and dynamic Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Rogers Tijerino recently visited the Worldwide Resource Solutions Philippines’ (WWRS Philippines) offices located in Bridgetowne Complex, Quezon City. 

Tijerino leads one of the U.S.’ largest healthcare workforce solutions organizations, partnering with hospitals and healthcare systems to optimize labor resources, improve patient care, and address evolving workforce needs. With over 25 years of executive leadership experience at firms such as Randstad, The Intersect Group, Adecco, Seaton Corp., and Kelly Services, she has a proven track record of scaling businesses and developing technology-driven strategies that deliver best-in-class workforce solutions. A results-oriented leader, Tijerino is committed to driving sustainable growth while enabling healthcare organizations to meet the demands of today’s intricate labor environment.

Flying in recently with her for a few days’ visit were MSG senior leaders Brent Hardebeck, Chief Accounting Officer; Natasha Mann, Product Owner for Clinical and Quality; Sara Clock, Billing Director; and Alex Gaytan, Credentialing Manager. Representing the WWRS Philippines team who gave MSG the warmest welcome was Managing Director Otty Lumagui, along with Tony Monteras, Vice President for Admin, IT, and Facilities; Gilbert Torralba, Senior Director for Operations; and Mark Anthony Santos, Senior Finance Director.

Strengthening Ties, Expanding Impact

In a Filipiniana-themed town halI prepared by Lumagui and staff, Tijerino and the MSG executives offered a preview of incoming plans and mapped out the direction for the months ahead for its KPO and CPO (Clinical Process Outsourcing) partner. Branch expansion within and outside Metro Manila to enable disaster-safe operations, inter-company professional internship program between the U.S. and Philippines designed for leadership and management teams, and full equipping for virtual care services are among the significant initiatives outlined.

Tijerino lauded WWRS Philippines for its extraordinary pace of growth. She recalled her first visit to the Philippines in 2024, when the company—then in its inaugural year—had already expanded from zero to 200 employees at the Exxa building. A year later, she returned to find a workforce that had more than tripled, now exceeding 700 employees across the original Exxa site and the newly opened GBF Center office. This growth, according to Tijerino, complements MSG’s global growth and maintains its predominant position in the US, serving over 14,500 clinicians across the United States daily to connect care in hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, and ambulatory care centers across all clinical spectrums. 

The few days of visit allowed Tijerino and MSG executives to look closely at how WWRS Philippines operates in keeping its commitments to the parent company and making employees both prepared and fulfilled in helping deliver MSG’s mantra of Care Connect Excel - from talent acquisition, credentialing, onboarding alongside other essential human resource services. 

"My recent visit to WWRS Philippines offices reinforced the incredible value our Manila team brings to our organization. The WWRS culture is centered on teamwork, continuous improvement, and a shared commitment to our purpose of connecting care. The level of expertise, the steady work ethic, and the collaborative mindset I saw on the ground play a meaningful role in the success of Medical Solutions Group. I left feeling proud of the impact this team has on our mission and grateful for the way they show up for our clients and clinicians each day." 

Believing in the Filipino candidate-market, Tijerino adds, "The Philippines continues to be one of the most dynamic talent markets in the world, and our Filipino teammates are a big part of why. They bring a strong blend of technical skill, problem solving, and customer-centered thinking that aligns with our values and the needs of our clients and clinicians."

The visit also allowed Tijerino to be a little more acquainted with Filipino culture from wearing Filipiniana attire, experiencing a traditional calesa (horse-drawn carriage) ride and enjoying Filipino delicacies like puto, kutsinta, kakanin (native delicacies) and Filipino-made sorbetes (ice cream). Appreciating Filipino hospitality beyond delivering results, Tijerino is resolved in growing its Philippine partnership – a thrust that will allow both MSG and WWRS Philippines to help more Filipinos fill talent acquisition needs for the ever-growing global healthcare market.

To know more about Medical Solutions Group, visit its website at https://www.medicalsolutions.com/. 

MSG CEO Rebecca Rogers Tijerino in warm and comfortable Filipiniana bolero top.

MSG executives who recently visited WWRS Philippines (L-R) Sara Clock, billing director; Brent Hardebeck, chief accounting officer; CEO Rebecca Rogers Tijerino; Natasha Mann, product owner for clinical and quality; and Alex Gaytan, credentialing manager.

Cover Photo caption:

MSG CEO Rebecca Rogers Tijerino (second row, center) and WWRS Philippines Managing Director Rosita Lara Lumagui (second row, fourth from right) join the MSG and WWRS Philippines leadership teams during a recent town hall, fostering collaboration and alignment on strategic goals.

Rebecca Rogers Tijerino riding a calesa around Bridgetowne complex.