IN pleasant contrast to the division and chaos many people honestly assumed or feared would follow Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s election to the presidency, the early days of the transition to his administration have been rather placid, thanks to the president-elect himself. Although he obviously has not had the opportunity to do much, what he has done has for the most part been reassuring.

He has made a number of solid appointments to key positions — and to be fair, a few questionable ones, although that was probably to be expected no matter who won the elections — and, unlike his incurably rustic predecessor, has conducted himself with uncontroversial decorum. It would be overgenerous to say he has turned skeptics into fans, of course, but so far, he has given everyone a few reasons to complain. The most hysterical, committed sociopaths among his legions of die-hard supporters are another matter, of course, but he can hardly be blamed for that, and at any rate, that's a topic for another time.