When The Edj View Becomes Political

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46 articles were published in the past year, excluding the anniversary articles, under the ‘Politics’ category of The Edj View. And there’s no surprise that I have been much involved in the political discourse. True to its tagline, “Raw and Unfiltered,” The Edj View aims to inform readers about the bewildering world of politics with factual information and critical analysis, especially at a time when fake news spreads more rapidly than real news.

The first article to be published under this category was a position paper on why the death penalty is ineffective in decreasing the crime rate in the Philippines. The latest article to be published was an opinion piece on why the deferment of the opening of classes this Academic Year was necessary.

The Edj View has regularly skewered President Duterte over his policies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. But before pro-admin supporters freak out, they must know that I do not land cheap shots on him. Instead, I try to view every issue objectively before criticizing him.

Politics in the Philippines is as messy as my hair every morning. From the senseless ‘Commute Challenge’ back in October 2019 to the mananita of NCRPO Chief Debold Sinas, we have seen the ridiculousness and pettiness of the so-called leaders who should embody the ideals of this nation. These are not isolated cases. These are absurdities that rhyme those of their predecessors. Their absurdness does not merely result in accountability but rather to unwanted forgiveness.

Somehow, the COVID-19 pandemic has unearthed the competence of our leaders. With so much time in our hands over the past five months, we now know who should we be voting for in 2022, and who shouldn’t. “It’s delicious to see incompetent politicians who are being reminded of their foolishness by the public who has a lot of time right now to access their social media accounts. Their chances of winning reelections should decrease as the future of their respective localities are at stake,” I wrote in March.

Let us teach our people again to be proud that they are Filipinos. Let us teach them to realize anew that being a Filipino means having as rich and noble a heritage of language, culture, patriotism and heroic deeds as any nation on earth. Let us teach a steadfast faith in Divine Providence, a stable family institution, the unhampered enjoyment of civil liberties, the advantages of constitutional government, the potentials of a rich and spacious land.

Carlos P. Romulo

Local Government Units (LGUs) have been paving the way to respond to this unprecedented crisis. Freshmen mayors have been working tirelessly since March to ensure that their localities are in good shape. The new breed of politicians is giving a glimmer of hope that our politics may not be that messy anymore. With their political will, they may be able to reshape our country towards the common good.

Of course, some policies need a revamp, including the Social Amelioration Program. “The beneficiaries are now in mental and financial suffering. The uncertainty of the future brought by the COVID-19 pandemic worries them on how to survive in the next few months. With the agony they’re already suffering, can’t the LGUs make their lives a little comfortable in distributing the financial aid?

I pray that LGUs can reach the May 10 deadline set by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in issuing the first tranche of the aid,” I wrote in May after news reports surfaced about the struggles of beneficiaries in claiming the money.

The Edj View did not only focus on local politics but also on international politics. As of today, there are only six articles under the ‘International Politics’ subcategory.

Two of them were about the impeachment of US President Donald J. Trump, only the third time in America’s history. “The Democrats made a bold action to adopt two articles of impeachment. They were wary at first because, like the Republicans, they feared that their majority may lose because of it. However, by doing their jobs, they manifested integrity and decentness. Never mind if impeachment costs them politically. What’s important is that they did not look away when something wrong was being done in front of them,” I wrote back in December. “I hope that the GOP will be enlightened by the facts shoved on them. It’s not too late to hold the president accountable. The Republican Senators who will serve as the jury in the impeachment trial may be able to change the course of the country from going the wrong way to the right one.”

With the U.S. Elections looming, the president will be facing a challenger who has served as a senator for 36 years and a vice-president for 8 years. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the traditional pomp and pageantry of the campaign. It has also destroyed the supposed strategy of Mr. Trump to frame the impeachment as a political sham. The upcoming suffrage will be highly anticipated worldwide. Will a norm-shattering president be able to defend his position without the interference of foreign entities? Or will he be defeated by an experienced politician who is respected by both political parties, Democrats and Republicans?

Just like the Philippines, America’s politics is chaotic. That’s why the impeachment trial of Mr. Trump was, as predicted, a ‘circus.’ “The political circus that Americans will be watching features a wide range of misleading statements, from debunked conspiracy theories to preposterous accusations. The president will surely interfere with the senators as they debate the merits of the accusations because he wants to be the protagonist of the newspapers’ banner headlines,” I wrote. “Social media will also be part of the political circus. Politicians will tweet horrendous claims without presenting any evidence; trolls will join the quagmire; the media will join the conversation in accordance with their political leanings; and other “analysts” will put the cherry on top.”

Besides the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Trump is also bugged about the Black Lives Movement that prompted social unrest across America. The death of George Floyd, who was pinned down for 9 minutes by a police officer, sparked outrage among Americans over racial discrimination and police injustice. “Decades after the Civil Rights Movement, black men continue to suffer in the hands of the police. From Eric Garner and Michael Brown’s passing to George Floyd’s killing, it seems that arresting officers haven’t learned from the scars of the past. Such aggressiveness against the black community is just appalling and heartbreaking,” I wrote in May. “Floyd’s killing is, indeed, a state of emergency.”

In the end, despite everything that is happening in the political arena around the world, one thing is for sure: we can overcome all challenges with unity and faith. In the words of Former President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo, which I used for my Independent Day Message, “We are one great race with a glorious past. As a race and as a nation, we have survived many challenges. Now we are challenged once again to make history and tread one extraordinary path. We should be proud of the path we once trod.”

In addition, Carlos P. Romulo had this to say to the Filipino people, “Let us teach our people again to be proud that they are Filipinos. Let us teach them to realize anew that being a Filipino means having as rich and noble a heritage of language, culture, patriotism and heroic deeds as any nation on earth. Let us teach a steadfast faith in Divine Providence, a stable family institution, the unhampered enjoyment of civil liberties, the advantages of constitutional government, the potentials of a rich and spacious land.”

Featured images from Google.