Such an obvious trap

While watching a press conference in Congress inviting senators to debate over AI or the artificial initiative falsely referred to as PI or people’s initiative, my immediate reaction was: It’s a trap! Then I remembered a verse in the Bible that accurately sums up the situation.

Proverbs Chapter 1 verse 10 teaches us: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Then further, verses 14 to 17 tells us why:

“Cast thy lot among us; let us all have one purse. My son, walk not thou foot in the way with them, refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.”

The whole thing – calling a press conference just to invite senators to debate over the AI/PI is such an obvious set-up to score points in favor of Congress at the expense of the Senate. When I conduct trainings on media management, I always point out that press conferences are only for very important or special reasons and at the end of the day, to benefit the image or product of the company or person hosting the press conference.

Extending an invitation to a debate is not press conference worthy. Cong. Albano, Suansing, et al could have easily sent a written or verbal invitation privately to Senate President Migs Zubiri as protocol and courtesy dictates. So why did they hold a press conference? A private message would have been in keeping with the “peace pact” or cease fire entered into by Speaker Martin Romualdez with Senate President Zubiri. The invitation via press conference was, at the very least, not in keeping with the spirit of the peace pact.

By doing the “invitation via press-con” the members of Congress obviously wanted to publicly project an image of transparency, confidence and willingness to cooperate with the Senate. But there’s the catch: the Senate does not seem to be on the same page or recognizes the need to tamper with the Philippine Constitution, so what is there to talk or debate about?

There is a quote that fits perfectly in this situation: “Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because