In a digital world where the widespread influence of various social media platforms played a huge role in shaping public discourse and opinion, the recently concluded May 2022 elections proved to be one of the most sensational and controversial. It penetrated every aspect of human relationships—from our intimate family relations down to some stranger we met while riding a taxi along EDSA.
Red, Blue, Pink, Green, or White—it goes without saying that, as part of the same Filipino nation, everyone hoped for the best.
On the surface, it may look like the past elections were a competition among political candidates about who garnered the most number of attendees in a campaign rally, who was endorsed by the most number of organizations and celebrities, who was campaigned for by popular local leaders, whose hashtag trended the most on Twitter, whose campaign jingle best caught the attention of the masses, and the list goes on. But what must be emphasized is the fact that all these petty fights were skin-deep.
To dig deeper into what actually matters, a keen observer will soon realize that it all boils down to the fight between the welfare of the Philippines as a country with millions of inhabitants struggling to survive on a daily basis versus creatures who are consistently powering, propagating and enabling a system of impunity, selective justice, and false narratives in order to make the poor even poorer and the rich even richer.
This is the time for us to be brutally honest and ask ourselves: Setting aside the personal battles of the blue, red, green and pink, did the Filipino nation win during the 2022 elections?
Post-Election Aftermaths
Looking closely at election logistics, it has become a racket. The recent elections witnessed the marshaling of immense resources to sustain the campaign trail even without due regard to any moral compass, even to the extent of creating alternate truths— all founded on lies and deception.
As a point of departure, the massive resources we have seen in the recent elections were all a manifestation of how the people in power dread to feed on the Filipino nation’s complacency. For instance, there will be no issue if the candidate who splurges on the political campaign used funds coming from his own pocket and out of sincere support from his generous sponsors. But what if the candidate is reliant on the government post from which he or she is occupying and is compensated for? The general public is given the runaround when that same old candidate is using their position to which they could retain political power and financial compensation. It is an affront to the constitutional principle of “public office is a public trust.” At the end of the day, it is the general public who remains the victim of the games rich people love to play.
The democratic system allows a change of leaders through the ballot and other legal measures such as resorting to tribunals with jurisdiction to adjudicate cases, or by extra-legal methods, if not violent means, such as armed struggle and insurgency.
Insofar as utilizing the ballot, there is not much diversity of choice. Some capitalize on their qualifications. Some capitalize on their advocacies and platforms. Some cling to and utilize their family name to make up for their lack of qualifications and platforms.
Laws change by repeal, revision, or amendment but the culture and system it is supposed to govern is not absolutely receptive to rapid and radical change in general. To give reason to the ineffable, maybe there is an amount of mistrust that is associated with outright resistance.
As we have no choice but to confront the stark reality we have today, we must continue to dwell and process the outcome of the recent elections. Moving on will never be an option especially for people whose lives greatly depend on the government’s policies and actions for the next six years.
The results of the recent national and local elections in the country came as an obvious horror for the losing side. Here was a chance to upend a decaying system through the ballot. However, the status quo was upheld and for theorists, things will worsen through the progression of time. Hard times are here to stay and harder times are upon us.
Our passionate hopes were like cars stuck on the railroad tracks. The result of the election was like a freight train that would not decelerate until it hit the cars. The aftermath felt like getting hit by a train. Especially to the youth who wholeheartedly and fearlessly struggled to advocate a vote for the Philippines rather than for any political candidate, disappointment loomed. Anger, anxiety, despair, and heartbreak all came at once. Tragedy came for hope that seemed to have died.
What is the point of laboring for this country if your own countrymen are consistently and willfully choosing the corrupting ways of the old and oppressive system? Are we that obsessed with the products of a spoiled and distorted system powered by the same group of creatures who ushered the way for the country’s stagnation?
We saw a bold attempt to traverse a path towards a promised bright future but without actual direction nor an experienced navigator.
In broad daylight, in front of our two hopeful eyes, we were treated as if we were blind.
Nevertheless, we can criticize and be distrustful of the dirty tricks employed and handpicked from the classic traditional politician playbook but there is something worth highlighting from the election campaign activities of the 2022 Philippine elections: the volunteers.
Volunteerism has undoubtedly become a strong force in the 2022 election campaign activities. Regardless of political color, we cannot set aside the genuine dedication and burning support of the volunteers. Forget getting paid for services in a short campaign; it is more of an investment for the country’s future as led by competent and strong-willed leaders.
Volunteerism was not only a force that propelled the people’s desired leaders. It is a result of the people’s fervid thirst for good governance and “from-the-margins-to-the-center” aspirations.
Promise of Change
The promise of change, and the rhetoric that goes with it, is commonly used as a campaign material. As history teaches us, this cliché is harder in practice than in theory. The filth and heartbreak of the previous regime are hard to scrub. If one is committed to the promise of progressive change, there will be developments, albeit small and gradual. If one happens to be indifferent, there will only be stagnation as everything stays the same.
The promises of change and prosperity contemplated today are only for the people in power. Come to think of it, what benefit will they get if they uproot the old system? It will not be in their best interests because they will just become victims of their own creation. They do not like that grim scenario. Not in this lifetime. They will do everything in their power to prevent any force that attempts to instill change in a system that already made them so comfortable.
Unfortunately, with no miracle yet in sight after the elections, it appears that the so-called “change” is a mere perception. “New face of politics,” they say, but in reality, it is the same breed of creatures that continuously penetrate the system.
While they continue to wield power, the system that oppresses the Filipino people remains the same. The attempt to change the system in the name of progress is just an afterthought. It is a reaction rather than a proactive strategy to uphold the welfare of this nation’s citizenry.
Evidently, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Hope amidst the Struggle
We are confronted with the question, “Is this the end of democracy, the end of hope?” Let our biggest answer of “NO” reverberate beyond this chaotic social continuum we find ourselves in.
In 1942, during the Battle of Bataan, President Manuel L. Quezon sent a message to Brigadier General Vicente Lim, Commanding General of the 41st Infantry Division. President Quezon was inquiring about the situation in the field. To which the general replied, among others, “My division has been fighting for the last 15 days. We have repulsed every Japanese attack so far. You may rest assured that we will continue to fight as long as there is one man left in this command.”
The final statement in General Lim’s reply must be adopted as a motto of all Filipinos who still care for this godforsaken country.
The older generations already had their time. The younger generations are now stepping up while asserting their place in this dangerous world. We are going to inherit this earth. Out of our awareness of the fate of our predecessors, we now know better.
No matter how difficult it is to dismantle a system that is built on injustice, false narratives, corrupting lies, and blinding power, let us be reminded that they may have won the battle but we will look forward to winning the war.
With the sweet and flowery words of the people in power today, it is tempting to look at the past through rose-colored glasses. But let us continue strengthening the barricade as we speak truth to power. Let us hold them accountable for the past, present, and future.
More than ever, let us not forget the lessons of the past. The events that are happening in the present and are bound to happen in the future are all reflections of our dark past. Let us not allow the automatic burial of the past without first going through embalming of its corpse, preparing for its funeral and saying our eulogies.
Every generation has a challenge to contend against in addition to the challenges it inherited from its predecessors. For us, it has to be another perceived threat to common decency, integrity, and truth. As we wait for our turn, let us continue to prepare and to learn what is good and righteous altogether. At the end, one essential reflection begs to take center stage: Our choices during the May 9 elections reflect the kind of democracy we want. Take it or take it. There is no option to leave it.
THE BARRISTER 