Then, now and tomorrow

Before the elections, I wrote an article entitled Beware of May 9. I sensed the dynamics that were defining the presidential campaign, anticipated by then that Rodrigo R. Duterte would be the obvious winner, and tried to see in my mind what would happen after. Then, I said “beware” because my imagery of the near future was turbulent. May 9 was symbolic. It meant the campaign, it meant the election, it meant the first years of the incoming administration.

I will repeat excerpts of my article then. It helps me understand patterns and how they hold true until more powerful emotions and actions intervene. That understanding, then, I try to share with my readers.

“I have never seen and heard the divisiveness of Filipinos expressed so graphically, so loudly. Half of Filipinos have Facebook accounts and their opinions, commentaries, likes and dislikes have become public. There is, of course, the other half—voiceless, silenced by poverty.”

It is now four months after I wrote the article. The contentious, argumentative tone of Filipino against Filipino has not subsided. Strange, if one considers that a solid 91% had expressed approval of President Duterte two months ago. Not strange, though, when one sees the pattern of rabid partisans unwilling as of yet to upgrade themselves into patriotic citizens. The 91% support for the President was awesome political capital for a reunification among contending citizens. It has not been used for that purpose, unfortunately. Emotional and behavioral patterns are not easy to change.

“This short term facing Filipinos will be crucial. This is not a prediction; this is fact.”

Rodrigo R. Duterte himself has become the cornerstone of whatever change is supposed to come. It is his character, his strengths and especially his weaknesses, that is making life in the Philippines crucial. Yes, change is coming, definitely, because Rodrigo R. Duterte has come. And Duterte is a President like no other, not even Marcos. Because he cares, even or especially for the poor, the ordinary, and is determined to change their lives, to ease the pain, to set up a better future for them. This sentiment for the people is palpable enough for the vast majority to believe him. How else can 91% approve of him if those politically opposed did not open their hopes for him?

Human weakness, though, can lay waste all the good that is done, all the good intentions, all the brave works, all the inspiration and motivation. Does Duterte have his fatal weaknesses? Of course, all human beings do. I will not judge, nor mention what I believe these may be, because every weakness has a counter force, a redeeming mechanism. I can only pray that he rises above each one, that he will never fall badly and bring us all down with him.

“We are at a crossroad. The old and the new intersect—old and new perspectives, old and new methods, old and new dreams. In population, the young are definitely greater in number. But in attitude, it remains the old that control. It is still divisiveness that colors societal relationships, it is still poverty that mutes the poor, it is still the rich that controls the country, and it is still the super powers that can make the Philippines move according to their global dynamics.”

Duterte dares to confront established powers, powers that already oppose each other, and he wants them to bend to his. If not, he pushes harder, becomes more rash, and needs only to be reckless to throw the Philippines into an abyss. Left and Right, Christians and Muslims, America and China, pro-Marcos and anti-Marcos, warring political groups, illegal gambling, and now, illegal drugs. All these are established powers, nourished by greed and corruption, the Philippine Gordian knot, and Duterte wants to cut them with one swift cut by the presidential sword.

The kind of change President Duterte wants to engineer, with the manner by which he wants to do them, and with the pace and intensity he insists on, will disrupt powerfully. He has mentioned it every so often, that we Filipinos better fasten our seat belts, and it better to take him as literally as we can. When he boils the pot containing all the ingredients, or the opposing forces in this country, he will draw blood, or cause them to draw blood with one another.

“It is a catharsis, no less. The personalities involved have not placed anger and disrespect in our hearts—they have only stoked these hot emotions to come out. It is similar to some political dynamics in America where racism and bigotry have been provoked to rear their ugly heads. Worse, it is similar to the terrorism and genocide that plagues several nations and peoples. Yes, there is much progress in technology, but not much in giving respect and preventing violence.”

Because social media, led by Facebook, is being used actively by 50 million Filipinos, thoughts and feelings find their way to public viewing. It is alarming to see the tone and tenor of those who remain quite partisan. It will not be surprising that heated and insulting exchanges will result in physical violence. After all, where does violence begin if not from what used to be anger or hate at controllable levels?

Yet, the fact is that only small percentage engage in these disturbing comments and threats. As late as early last year, the statistics showed that only 1% initiate public postings, 9% like or comment on these postings, and 90% only read but do not voice an opinion. Still, 1% of 50 million is 500,000, and that is a deadly number if they are defined by hate and malice, if they intend to misinform and to malign.

“I carry mixed feelings, guided by contrasting wisdom. One says that the scourge of the world is man’s propensity to exploit his fellow man. The other says that our lives must be driven, not by our fears but by our hopes. For my people, especially for those enslaved by poverty, for a nation yet to be, for a future we must build by the day, I must hold on to hope.”

Amen.