When he crashed into the scene, he was an ironic breath of fresh air. He was not the usual disente politiko who talks sweet words, not the son/daughter of a past president (like so many presidents) nor past presidentiable, not even a vice-president. A foul- mouthed mayor who claims to have murdered and will murder more for the nation that he spoke that would be free of criminality and is run by discipline. And he had a city to prove it.
Thus because of some initial results and good changes many did wake up from believing and clinging into the illusion of the good mannered, good bred, career politician/s, but only to almost, almost, slip into another illusion- that the iron fist, disciplined ruler is a good ruler.
And only a pandemic stopped this eventual slide into another dream.
(our own city is not an exemption.)
We know now that the Bakal na Kamao, the iron fist, is mostly only applied to those who are weak, not to those who are powerful, and more importantly that "it" needs to be fed.
No partying unless you are a police officer, or someone influential, you could even use the line "tao lang" if you are caught, drop your mask, violate health protocols, that is, if you are somebody.
But if you are nobody, a common tao, well, be punished, stand in the open field for a day, do some community work, let someone shout at you, be incarcerated, be fined outrageous amounts, wear your mask! etc
The "bakal na kamao" is only a "bakal "to some tao, to others it's a soft, compassionate, massaging hand. It is not absolute as advertised.
That's the illusion. The first one.
Why is it two-faced? because its a living organism of its own, the one who wields it pays for it with his/her soul. If we have souls if not, we pay with gold, positions, favors (excuses).
That is the second illusion.
and then the third.
The Bakal na Kamao is not an iron fist but one that carries a gun.
We read in history and find out that those "people power" revolution's main turning point is when the military finally joins in the takeover. and those military men involved in coups or revolutions are given government positions (some become life long senators) one became a president. many are pardoned(some more than once) by the next administration in a bid to tip the scales.
So uneasy is the crown that securing the military and police seems to be of paramount importance, and that any claim to power with force is just another kowtow to this particular power. They are not as strng as they appear.
We did not see all of this when we voted, when I voted.
We were like dehydrated wanderers in a dessert and in our thirst we saw this mirage that was unlike any other oases we have seen before and rushed into it like madmen.
And this happens every time.
I remember when we joined in the jokes of then President Erap's assumed stupidity, he also said "walang kumpakumpare" (it was another kumpare who would expose him), the media was rife with Erap jokes. The Joke was on us. We lamented how the Filipino could have voted for one such as him. We were young we thought we knew that it was better that he was gone. and we followed the impeachment trial with fervor, thinking that his expose would awaken the voters who voted for him. He needs to go. and he did, but the so-called people power two was followed by what could be one of the most corrupt administrations of this country- Arroyo's. A lot would shake their heads in regret for removing Erap only to have GMA.
And history again, would speak of people who marched with Cory against the dictatorship of Marcos only to be massacred on the streets and the farmlands.
and of people who voted and supported Duterte only to be silenced by their own folly, like me. (i would wonder who would have done better, some would say the late senator Santiago, but woe, during the trial of Erap, she was painted by the media as a lunatic, and hated by the people power as one of those who voted not to open the envelope, not has Marcos as her VP,)
Illusions. Hopes. Duterte was not like Erap, nor GMA, nor Pnoy. He is different yes. But another illusion. Another lesson.
Chill, I am almost at the end, I just want to say these things before I decide to shut my stupid mouth.
Two things I hope for (remnants of my academic past):
We are only taught of history of how the Filipino battled the invaders - blind in our pride, not how the Filipino battled against themselves up to an ongoing political scene. That is a history that is not only closer to the truth, but highly practical. I think.
and Voter education and the lack thereof.
I thought our mayor had good intentions, but I had qualms about voting for him when I found out who was beside him. a certain engineer whom I've heard speak at a public consultation. I thought to myself, are these the ones in his think tank? so, I tossed a coin between him and another. and so many more we supported who turned out to be big dissappointments
If only I was also as scrutinizing to national politics, i would have also scrutinized who was with pdutz, but I was thirsty and uneducated.
or vice versa, if only we are as active and knowledgeable with local issues as we are with national issues. (what do you know of issues in your baranggay, your city?) this is out of topic, yes, but one that i continually hope would be true...
So there, despite the looming hopelessness, we could say another illusion is down the bin, and it is good it happened at the time when people seem to care a lot about politics, and to cement our lessons, we hope for political history and voter education.
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