Filipino Voices

Fellow Filipino Voices contributor Cocoy of Big Mango has raised interesting points (couched in rather strong language) in his post Because We Can that took exception to Manolo Quezon’s column on Inquirer.net “Resistance isn’t futile“. Cocoy’s take on it is quite thought-provoking, so much so that I feel the need to write up a reply.

(Let it be said at this point that Cocoy — commenting as arkangel1a on that blog — and I have had cordial counter-responses on the PCIJ blog, despite our fundamental differences in opinions on some issues.)

Excerpts from Cocoy’s post:

What’s our problem? IT is about A SYSTEM that is FUCKING FLAWED!!!

I want to break the cycle. Don’t you? I assume every good Filipino does. Everyone is SO sick of all the bloody negativity, all the stupid antics, all the garbage— from media, from both sides of the aisle. We should all be puking it out.

…

We need new blood!

We need people from ALL walks of life running for public office BECAUSE they think it is about CIVIC DUTY. We need political parties that NOMINATE candidates from within their party— real people, not the same old for the boys club.

…

By creating a system whereby Ordinary Filipinos can participate even more so in our election process, when ordinary Filipinos can SEE living proof that real change can and is happening, we can move this country forward. We give them more than hope, we give them more than optimism, we give them action because we can.

Cocoy focuses on the the fight of the people to wrest back the sovereignty we have granted to our elected officials as being on the grassroots, with Pampanga Governor
Ed Panlilio as his example. On this, I am in agreement.

What, then, can we do, with the 2010 campaign and elections just about two years hence?

Here’s what I propose:

1. Let’s harness the growing influence of cyberspace, on several fronts.

- The vast majority of internet users belong to the youth sector, the professional sector, the overseas Filipino workers and expatriates sector. These sectors comprise a large percentage of the electorate (if they had so chosen to participate, of course), and these same sectors — especially that of the OFWs — do exert influence over other sectors of the Philippine electorate.

That said, as early as now, we must muster as much influence as we can towards getting our peers to register and vote when the time comes, and then encouraging those we believe in to run for office, from the barangay level upwards.

- A special mention goes to our OFWs and expatriates, considering that they have as yet not exercised their influence as strongly as they should. Not only should our OFWs and expats register and vote, but they themselves must let their families back home know of the national and local issues that they feel strongly about, and their recommendations of whom to vote for as a means of getting these issues resolved. In fact, with the purse having a powerful influence over politics, these people can help ensure that local and national candidates that they believe in will be elected.

Our locally-employed professionals can do this as well for the benefit of the families in the provinces, perhaps in a manner more personal in approach (but perhaps with less influence, not sending home money in the same salary scale as do our OFWs, with the idea of the purse influencing politics in mind).

- Cyberwarriors must keep an eye on local and national politics, news, and issues, praising people who have made efforts to effect positive change and damning those who have acted to support regressive policies, using the internet’s viral nature to spread the word. In the same way, cyberwarriors must likewise spread the word after stumbling upon relevant news that has not made its way to mainstream media, so much so that mainstream media will be forced to accept the newsworthiness of such events and issues and thus publish them. With such information, the electorate will be given data leading towards the making of informed choices come election day.

- As soon as campaign time comes, cyberwarrriors should keep an eye on the local and national campaigns, posting up information, pictures, and videos of illegal (or at least unfair) campaign practices, highlighting the candidates who are pursuing such strategies and exhorting the electorate NOT to vote for them. Those who cannot abide by electoral laws can be thought of as likely not to abide by other laws.

- During election day, cyberwarriors should likewise keep an eye on the counting, and raise hell if any anomalies come to light. With cellphone cameras, MP3 recorders, and other pocket digital devices, getting proof of cheating is far easier than it used to be, and getting proof public will be likewise easier with the internet in place.

2. Let’s be involved. Personally.

Not only should we express our stand on the internet, but let’s walk the talk. In our homes, offices, schools, barkada tambayans, and such, let’s not be shy to tell people what we want, who we’re supporting, and why. Let’s try to persuade our peers to register and vote, and let’s persuade those of our peers whom we know can make a difference to run for office… and let’s provide them support.

How can we do that?

- If this person we want to run is part of a political party, let’s make sure that this person and his party get our logistical support.

- If this person we want to run has to run as an independent, then we should donate to his campaign, volunteer to campaign for him, and volunteer to be watchers during the elections.

- If anyone of us is being asked to run, then instead of dismissing the idea out of hand, we should think about it long and hard, and if there truly is a clamor for us to serve, then we must accept it.

All of these MUST be done without thinking of future reward or advantage — remember, we must be opposed to the politics of patronage and work for good governance.

3. Let’s take the fight from the streets to the halls.

Instead of the protests — which do serve a purpose, and I’ll get to that later — let’s take our fight to the halls.

Remember, all of us pay taxes, whether it be income taxes, business taxes, documentary stamp taxes, road users’s tax, E-VAT on purchases and what-not (heck, I’m not surprised if there is a tax on breatheable air being thought of by the Department of Finance). That said, we should demand the type of service that we deserve as taxpayers; if we don’t get it, then by all means, let’s do something about it.

For instance, if an LTO office is rife with fixers, let’s report the office to the in-charge anticorruption government team. If nothing is done about it, then let’s give our photos, videos, and recordings to the media teams that broadcast the stuff. If mainstream media doesn’t broadcast it, then we can publish it ourselves on an anticorruption blog or website. (Note that it can have the same impact as that blog by Brian Gorell, what with the allegations that have riveted the blogosphere’s interest.)

There’s more concrete actions that can be done. Let’s think about what we can do — and LET’S GO DO IT.

***

However, I must disagree with Cocoy’s seeming tone of disagreement with Manolo with regard to the need for people to oppose the current administration, especially with what the administration’s been doing against civil and political rights with only their political survival in mind.

I do not believe in waiting for the 2010 elections to express my dissatisfaction and dissent with the current administration’s actions. With Saint Augustine’s maxim “an unjust law is no law”, I’d take that further and say that an unjust administration must be opposed until it reforms. If it does not, then I would definitely support its ouster.

Constitutionally, of course.

The constitutional processes being bastardized (with Cocoy’s straightforward take on Congress being quite persuasive), however, leaves us with few alternatives.

Except — as I have begun to be convinced by — this single, powerful alernative: the Constitutional provision (which to my mind is a guarantee that has yet to be exercised) that sovereignty emanates from the will of the people.

I believe that we, the people, when under a government that no longer represents us and is abusing the power that we have handed to them, has a Constitutional right to take back that power. If to take this power back we must act directly, then so be it.

The “20th century playbook” of people’s opposition to the oppression of a unjust regime that Cocoy spoke of is not really of the era — unless construed from the point of view of keeping Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, jr, and Ninoy Aquino in mind. The playbook is much older than that, to my way of thinking; in 1776, a group of farmers and shopkeepers led a rebellion against a government that denied them representation, starting with a Boston harbor tea party; in 1789, a group of farmers and shopkeepers stormed Versailles to oppose a royalty that oppressed the people it ruled over.

The only thing that makes this playbook belonging to the 20th century is the means has progressed beyond violence. In fact, this being the information age, I think that the war between pitchforks versus muskets has been sublimated to the war of information versus propaganda.

(At least, for now, while there is — as yet — little reason to take up arms against the regime.)

We still enjoy a semblance of law and justice and the constitutional guarantees, and thus we can — we MUST — continue our opposition to the corruption in government, by using information and positive action in expression of our opposition — for as long as our expression is lawful, of course. For instance, getting in the way of a government convoy trying to force its way through traffic — as Manolo said he does — is not breaking the law (as far as I know) and is a valid way to show the administration our displeasure and dissent; the simple act of giving aggravation to the public official who is taking advantage of his position to try to get ahead of the rest of the public (whom he is supposed to be serving in the first place).

For each of us to not express our dissent via overt action, simply because the elections are merely two years hence, is to tacitly condone the administration’s actions. Remember, too, that to condone the administration’s perpetration of repression and injustice is to likewise encourage more of the same.

We must not merely act in preparation for 2010 to show our opposition to the administration.

We must also demonstrate our opposition now.

***

With all this said, therefore, let’s look at 2010, and this interim period before then, as part of the journey of our country and our people towards a mature democracy. We must work for a functioning electorate and a truly representative democratic system… and we must oppose corruption and repression when they occur, instead of waiting for the periods of transition.

We must, if we are to ensure that the Philippines will continue to exist.