In 1986, a widow ran for office and became President of the Philippines.
Currently, a widow from Naga, Camarines Sur is also running for the highest office of the land.
Here in our own locality, another widow is aspiring to become a Councilor in the City of Gentle People to “continue the good plans” of her husband who died while in office.
Not that I have anything against wives of dead politicians running for public office. The truth is, I don’t even know them personally. I’m just wondering why nowadays, when a politician dies (especially when the death is untimely), the wife always wants to “take the cudgels.”
Widow’s succession was (and is) a political practice conspicuous in many countries in the early part of the 20th century, by which a politician who died in office was succeeded by his widow, either through election or direct appointment to the seat.
In the Philippines, it seems that widow candidates have with them a potent quality of anguish, travail, and determination that echoes in the minds of voters in a tremendously Catholic nation.
UP Political Science Prof.Jean Encinas-Franco once said in a statement to a foreign news agency, “It works especially in the Philippine context because widowhood has symbolic elements that are very much valued in politics.” She likewise said that the country lacks a strong party system, thus, family dynasties play a similar role, with wives called on to assume the clan’s figurehead position after an assassination or premature death.
Diane Kincaid, an American political scientist who studied the topic in the 1970s, wrote, “statistically, at least, for women aspiring to serve in Congress, the best husband has been a dead husband.”
Writing 25 years later, academics Lisa Solowiej and Thomas L. Brunell agreed that it is “arguably the single most important historical method for women to enter Congress.”
The lives of widows must be difficult. One doesn’t need to be a widow to know that. There is always that persistent pain, disquiet, and dread that are all understandable, yet, cannot be easily responded to or can be straightforwardly addressed in a short span of time.
I believe that living each day is a mighty challenge for them. The grief can take over and can manifest physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Some widows are distraught by the distress that loneliness brings, the anguish about the many changes that accompany the loss, and obviously, the agony of being alone while hurting. This is not to mention the many practical problems related to living alone.
But do they really need to run for public office? Or are they running because they feel there is an “unfinished business” that needs to get done? And they’re the ones who can do it?
Or are they’re simply fulfilling Gabriela Silang’s legacy?
Well, I don’t know. What I know is that nowadays, when the husband politician dies, the wife always runs for public office.
I find that strange.
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