BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
POLITICS and lipstick? Kinda weird!
The most appropriate adjective to describe such a political gimmick is “cheap”.
But am I right?
Let’s take the case of Sen. Imee Marcos during the culmination of the Teachers’ Month celebration in Negros Occidental at the Panaad Park & Stadium in Bacolod City on Sept. 8.
Senator Imee alongside Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte and Sen. Francis Tolentino graced the event led by the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Negros Occidental.
Of course, in this kind of event, it’s normal to see “political gimmickries” and hear “political promises”. But what caught my attention weren’t the 25-kilo rice and P1,000 per teacher-attendee. Rather, it’s the lipstick per teacher, male or female.
There were 3,435 teacher-attendees. So, my personal (silent) reaction was, “Oh, my God! Quite pathetic!”
STORY OF BEAUTY & DEATH
When I got home, I asked my wife who was there in the event (because she’s a school principal) not about the rice and cash but about the lipstick.
Her candid response: “Okay, man! Nami, ah!”
Really? It puzzled me.
Being a journalist, I have a different perspective about that lipstick compared to my wife, who was just simple and content with what she and other teachers received that day.
I did a web research. It led me to a lot of noteworthy stories. The one that almost “swallowed” me in shame was Tanya Leigh’s story published via www.schoolofselfimage.com titled: “The Power of Lipstick (A Story of Beauty & Death)”.
The author narrated the story of a 63-year-old breast cancer patient named Mary Ann who loved to wear lipstick.
At the hospital, Leigh said, Mary Ann even wore lipstick while in her bed.
Two days before she died, Leigh continued, Mary Ann’s son asked her, “Mom, why are you putting on lipstick?”
The dying mom retorted: “Son, I may be dying, but that doesn’t mean I have to look like hell while doing it. When I check out of this world and into my next, I want to look my best.”
‘POWER OF LIPSTICK’
Such a conversation between Mary Ann and his son made me realize how important lipstick is to every woman. As I continued my research, I also encountered one article about the “power of lipstick”. The thought is so simple: Lipstick is power! And the very simple explanation is that lipstick gives every woman oozing confidence leading to competence.
With these two words – confidence and competence – I rest my case. It rendered me “forceless” and “shameful”.
Associating lipstick to politics and calling it “cheap” is, perhaps, my “greatest blunder”. Hence, knowing the underlying truth(s) behind lipstick is among the great consolations I ever had as a journalist for nearly 30 years.
And now I am convinced about the power and benefits of lipstick that even in our death, regardless you’re a man or a woman, we need to wear lipstick.
Embalmers-cum-make-up artists are obligated to “beautify” us before we are placed inside the coffin so we’ll be looking handsome and pretty. And lipstick is one of the keys. Odd to say, but that’s the reality.
AMID TRYING TIMES
Therefore, I salute Senator Imee for the lipstick.
I thank her, too, for having such a “cheap political gimmickry” that “forced” me to dig more about lipstick.
As she stressed in her speech, lipstick will help every teacher surmount lots of challenges inside and outside of the classroom.
Amid trying times, the lady senator added, lipstick will boost teacher’s confidence.
Hurray, it’s true! There’s simplicity in this kind of rationale. But the essence is superb.
Now, I can say that my personal research about lipstick helped me understand about this little thing. At first, I may be sarcastic towards such an item. But it doesn’t mean I’ll just lean on my personal-slash-political belief.
Lipstick brings “magic”. Believe in it!/PN
