On Philippine Elections

It is the easiest and fastest thing to do: to blame it all on the poor, for their stupidity, and lack of concern. For accepting bribes and making ill choices in their ballots.

(We) the schooled people, the middle class, the Filipino bourgeoisie will never realize their full potential of actually making an impact or of creating some sort of change in the society if they remain in their comfort zones. I.E. The Internet. 

It is not the time to point fingers. Own it, man.

The bigger question: “Would they?”

I guess it is a bit improper to say that politicians “probably” do not know or understand the situation of the Filipinos. (Or it is a bit safe to say so.) I’d like to believe that these politicians are actually well aware of the troubles that the masses go through. For one, they wouldn’t be able to promise things like “iaahon ko kayo sa kahirapan”, “libreng edukasyon at libreng pagamot”, “mababa at tapat na presyo ng bilihin”, etc. etc. if they do not know who are people they are supposedly serving in the first place. These people running in the coming elections are smarter than we thought of them. They know what the people want and what the people need. Now, it is just a matter of “will they give what the people want and need?”

I might sound a bit too fast and straight to the point. Of all things, what I do not want is to sound too simplistic or downright negative. But I hope I am making a clear point here.

The thing is this: I don’t expect politicians to actually “have a change of heart” or suddenly be pro-people and become genuine representatives just by integrating with the masses once in a while. Or by living the lifestyle of the poor for a day or a period of time. Why? Because they’ve been doing that since time immemorial! A politician won’t win in the elections without talking to his constituents. That is actually a prerequisite for being a politician. In fact, one of the major challenges faced by a politician is to identify himself or herself with the poor. That is why every election season, aside from the bright promises they bring to the voters, what they also do is convince the people that they are “ang tunay na mahirap”, “champion ng masa”, “di trapo - karaniwang tao”.

Ansaklap lang ng nag-aacads habang may bakasyon (Holy Week). Sabi nila, magnilay-nilay at magpahinga. Pero parang di akong pwedeng magpahinga sa dami ng kailangan pang gawin at isubmit para next week. Maaaam, pressure! -____-

Disapprove of the youth’s idealism, then disapprove of this so-called “hope” that the youth will or may bring.

Isa sa mga pinakagasgas ng linya ay ang “kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan”. Lalo pa ngayong panahon ng graduation. Napakasimple lang ng ideya ng katagang ito. Pero kung titingnan nating mabuti, paano nga ba at bakit nga naging pag-asa ang kabataan?

Idealism. Ang pagiging idealistic, intuitive at assertive ng kabataan ang dahilan kung bakit sila kinukonsiderang pag-asa. At sa pagtanda nila, paglabas ng eskwelahan, sa pagiging parte ng labor force ng bansa, kaakibat nito ang pag-asang madadala nila ang idealism na hinubog sa kabataan. 

Subalit kung ang nais din naman pala nating lahat (gaya ng sabi ni Mareng Winnie), pagtanda ay magtino-tino, mas maging objective, at pakawalan ang idealism… e di sana di na tayo nag-aral. Naggagaguhan lang pala tayo sa loob ng school. 

Do we fucking expect change kapag ganito tayo klase mag-isip? Kung ang takbo ng utak natin ay lapat lang sa status quo at dikta ng system? NO. Magpapaikot-ikot lang tayo sa mga paulit-ulit na problema kinsasadlakan ng bansa. 

Fuck you Mareng Winnie. Even Jose Rizal will side with us.

Shame!!!

Sagot ko sa “Why activism is passé” PStar article

Basahin nyo muna kung di nyo pa nababasa.

Ito naman exactly ang problema ng mga tibak sa mga hindi tibak. Muli, hindi necessarily para lang makapang-antagonize, kundi magbigay lang ng klarong punto, … ang tibak labas sa sarili kung tumingin ng mga bagay-bagay.

“Forgive me for not leading a more exciting life, but I’d rather deal with issues this way.”

^ Ito sa tingin ko ang problema ng mga “hindi tibak”, sariling larga at sariling opinyon ang pinaiiral. Hindi akma na maikumpara ang isang hamak na tibak sa ganitong klase ng simplification ng mundo.

“I have other questions such as: Is it necessary? Is it effective? Is it efficient? What’s that? People are too ignorant to hear what you’re saying? I hate to break it to you, honey, but when you have a cause and you’re committed to seeing it through, you make it your responsibility to make sure you are listened to…”

^ Di ako sure ah. Pero parang mas marami ka pang tanong kesa sa sagot. Mas maraming kang di nalalaman tungkol sa tibak kesa sa alam mo. Sa mundong malawak, matalino at progresibo (na tingin nating lahat e ang siyang ating kinabibilangan), akala natin alam na natin lahat, ang akala natin gagap natin kung paano talaga tumatakbo ang mundo. Pero hindi. Hindi mo alam.

“You can analyze and say all you want about how institutions, society, and enforced ideologies work and keep many from attaining their goals, but at the end of the day, these big, intimidating giants are run by people — ordinary, relatable people who shit in the morning. Anyone who has a profound understanding of this will be able to talk to anybody and make anything happen, minus all the anger andpaghihimagsik.”

^ Tao, oo, tao ang mga demonyong tinutukoy mo. (O namin pala sorry). At yun nga pinakamisteryo sa lahat ng to e: tao pala sila? Or baka di mo lang pansin o ramdam, hawak ka pala nila sa leeg o tinatakpan nila yung mata mo kaya di mo makita yung mga sungay nila.

Parte tayong lahat nung sistemang lagi’t lagi naming binabanggit o “sinisisi”. You try to identify yourself as someone who doesn’t belong in the system. We don’t. Akala mo kung sino kang malinis o magaling o matalino. Hindi mo magegets, hanggat idinedeny mong kakampi mo sila o kakampi ka nila. Hindi mo magegets hanggat nagmamalinis ka. 

Di passe ang aktibismo dahil di passe ang oppression. Iba lang siguro ang porma nito. Mag-aral ka siguro para malaman mo. Peace. Mag-aral ng lipunan.