Professor Randy David’s article (“The battle to change mindsets,” 5/8/2022) is, as usual, very stimulating and enlightening. Whatever the results of the election in the Philippines, he showed a positive view on citizen activism, which he said was never there before. “It spawned a social movement … to reshape the society.” This is the mindset that he was talking about. Whether this change in mindset will come soon, its strength, and its long-term viability, he believes it will be within a year.
When he mentioned “divisions,” we are lucky that in the Philippines, as far as I know, we don’t have racial divisions, a big problem in the US; only “class divisions,” separating the poor from the well-off. However, there is “colorism” in our society based on how light your skin is (the fairer you are, like the mestizo/mestiza), people look up to you and reverse.
Unfortunately, even the Bible says that “the poor will always be with us.”
I just wish that the change in the mindset will be a lasting one and not just a passing one like “ningas cogon” since whatever the results of the election will be, we need change for the sake of the country we have and love.
David remained true to his calling as a journalist. He never endorsed a candidate directly.
Ida M. Tiongco,New York,idationgco@gmail.com