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Presidential names
What do we call Noynoy Aquino?
Filipinos have a penchant for using initials to refer to important people. In the corporate world, someone called by his initials is a person of distinction, or someone in management’s higher echelons.
The world of Philippine politics can’t be far behind in using first letters of a VIP’s name. For as far as I can remember Ferdinand Marcos was always referred to as “FM” while Fidel Ramos was “FVR” for short.
This is with the exception of Corazon Aquino who was always referred to as housewifely “Cory” and Joseph Estrada who was always called “Erap” (“Pare” in reverse) in cognizance of his showbiz and bystander past. After Erap, president-christening reverted to initials mode with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo widely addressed as GMA or P-GMA (if you really have to assert her already obvious Presidency).
Americans have outgrown their affinity to initials. After FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt) people have adhered to calling their presidents simply by their last names, Nixon, Carter or Clinton. The Bushes were demarked via middle initial George-H to refer to the father, or George-W to mean, the son. Obama is of course, Obama and never BO (which universally smells bad) or BHO2 (Barrack Hussein Obama the Second) which has a certain toxic appeal and may not mix well with many Americans as Barrack’s middle name “Hussein” is their least-favorite Iraqi.
But Filipinos? We’re still stuck on calling our presidents by their initials perhaps for brevity, exigency, and economizing the column inch. Besides with the presidency being a controversial position befitting many a news item, newspapers should really go for abbreviations.
So what will it be for Noynoy Aquino? Will it be BCA (for Benigno Cojuangco Aquino) or NCA (Noynoy Cojuangco Aquino)?
Or would it be hipper to refer to him with an alpha-numeric BA3 for Benigno Aquino the Third? Calling him PBA (President Benigno Aquino) might confuse front page with sports section and PNA (President Noynoy Aquino) may make the Philippine Nurses Association or Philippine News Agency sue for patents.
Already, media calls him “Noynoy” and there’s a big possibility he would go his mother’s (or Erap’s) destiny being president-doomed-by-alias.
It becomes even dire if recall is limited to four letters (for “CORY” and “ERAP). We certainly can’t call him NOYN, or AQUI, otherwise a tabloid headline on Noynoy’s proclamation would run, “Nanalo Aqui!”
How about PNOY?
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Book publisher, writer and friend Steve Gelano brings up an interesting point with the overused reference to Senator Noynoy Aquino as the Philippines’ president-apparent.
The term “president-apparent” has been loosely used by media in an attempt to be more precise in describing the kind of president Noynoy Aquino is (or at least, for the moment). Calling Noynoy “president-elect” before the canvassing of votes is concluded at the House of Representatives may sound contentious to those who have issues with the accuracy of automated elections. Noynoy can only be referred to as president-elect as soon as there is absolutely no doubt he won the elections. Reluctantly, I agree with the political correctness of it.
Steve explains that “president-apparent” may have been coined from the term “heir-apparent” widely used in the British monarchy when describing a situation where an heir to the throne is one who cannot be displaced from inheriting it—- somewhat like Prince Charles to Prince William. The key, operative term here is “inherited position” in which case the Philippine presidency is not. What Noynoy is inheriting perhaps are the problems of the past administration but that is an entirely different column.
Now back to presidential terminology, many national broadsheets have stopped using the term “president-apparent” to refer to Noynoy after using the term heavily for a week. Some media outfits have also changed from “president-apparent” to “presumptive president” perhaps for purposes of precision. Up until this point (or until our congressmen regain their composure, self shame and resume canvassing) Noynoy is still “presumed president” of the Philippines, hence “presumptive”. But again, what is presumptive president?
In the British monarchy parlance, a “presumptive heir” is one who is bound to inherit the throne, although such inheritance can be displaced by certain events. Personally, I have doubts on using that on Noynoy as it makes his position precariously ominous. If his proclamation can in fact be displaced by “certain events” then our country is in big trouble again. Let’s not give “coup pals” any ideas.
Back to Noynoy’s titles, for purposes of clarity, accuracy and even timeliness, I would rather call Noynoy “presidential-frontrunner”. The term is devoid of political malice and it straightforwardly describes Noynoy’s almost physical position in the presidential race. He is after all, in the lead. And President-in-waiting, like lady-in-waiting, is too girly.
How about Partial-Unofficial President? For now.