The recent election exposed deep fissures among friends, among families, among Filipinos. It has been the most divided I’ve seen, so far, in my lifetime.
Half of us feel excitingly nostalgic, the other drowning in fear and dismay. It’s as if we want to draw a straight line in this archipelago so we can have two different leaders and governments.
The future is bleak for everyone, but most especially for those who have witnessed firsthand the extent of the government’s power, often to suppress, to diminish, to silence.
It is difficult to love the Philippines when many can’t accept a shred of criticism or just to be seated beside a person who has a scintilla of intelligence. “Educated” became a dirty word and knowledge was disregarded.
Relativism crept into the electorate. They have their own truths and histories. Never mind scholarship, never mind research. What appeals to the emotions becomes the ultimate test right now.
There’ll come a time when we will finally achieve unity. For now, never let them forget that you, we, are still here.
Going abroad suddenly becomes tempting, especially for those who accumulated enough wealth. Australia could be a good start. Canada could be a permanent residence. The United States is another option, though it lurches towards the opposite of democracy, like what we’re currently experiencing.
Gloating could be fun. Pushing people away if they won’t be subservient could be the norm. Decimating what’s left of our institutions could be politically advantageous.
But they can’t take away the spirit, the fervor and the passion of the people determined to defend what’s left of a vibrant democracy, even though it was severely pummeled over the years.
It’s time, however, to accept this new reality: That the Philippines is now led by the son of an ousted dictator. It’s time to swallow with a sincere heart and an open mind the decision of the majority, even though it was shaped by years of disinformation and disenchantment. It’s time to wrestle with the fact that the events transpiring right now didn’t go the way we wanted.
Only in acceptance can we begin taking the country back, away from the struggles that had imperiled its progress.
It’s not cute anymore to point fingers. It’s not helpful to leave the place where we grew up.
If I were to redefine the new president’s assertion, “I am here not to talk about the past; I am here to tell you about our future,” it would be a fresh start for the resistance, recalibrating its ineffective ways and rebranding itself for the next fight.
Patriots don’t leave. They just cry and rest in times of defeat. Then they stand up again to fight.
Don’t give up. It takes courage not to be discouraged. Hope is just around the corner. We just need to learn how to bring it out to the rest of the people.
There’ll come a time when we will finally achieve unity. For now, never let them forget that you, we, are still here.
Featured image from Democratic Erosion.
The Edj View 