THE contrasting images were simply so poignant, that I feel so offended by those who simply cannot move on from their political bitterness and dare rain on our parade. Yes, I use the first person plural to refer to our collective selves as a people, one who is already getting tired of political toxicity and one who still dares to look for something positive in us.

The picture of former rivals, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former vice president Leni Robredo, shaking hands became a powerful image that evokes the positive thought that not all is lost in our politics. Robredo defeated Marcos in a bitterly contested election for vice president in 2016 but lost to the latter in an equally toxic election for president in 2022.