Society fatigue

It takes superhuman energy to be a Filipino, especially these days.

Don’t you sometimes feel every bit of energy leaving your body just seeing the names of candidates for next year’s elections? We’re forced to watch with bated breath this political drama unfold before our eyes. It’s draining and exhausting, like a reverse Squid Game of sorts as we see part of our democratic institutions and possibly our future dying a little each day.

I used to be just cool about these things, unaffected by the political noise even if I’m in the news profession. I always think of Miles Davis and his ability to be nonchalant at the right moment.

But pondering on the 2022 elections and seeing the circus unravel, I’m scared just thinking of what the future holds.

Who will lead this country starting next year, on the 50th anniversary of martial law? Will we see a crew of traditional politicians – trapos – including law violators, ex-convicts, and messianic television hosts as the next crop of people who will be crafting our laws?

I really thought that we wouldn’t see the usual suspects, but alas, how wrong I was.

Try driving along North Luzon Expressway and you will see billboards of next year’s circus players – a motley crew of sorts, some of whom seem straight out of the cartoon series of our childhood; remember Chicken Little? Or plucked out from some dystopian movie set, rehabilitated to look as decent as they can possibly be, in coats and ties or bright-collared shirts.

The survey results provide no comfort, at least for now, with the political dynasties from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao all making their respective moves to keep their grip on power.

We hear of father-daughter spats; of proxy wars between first and second families; of a long, calculated move of a deposed family to return to power; and a quiet red queen as the ultimate kingmaker of all.

Economic recovery

But none of the players in this brutally scary power play are talking about a post-pandemic Philippines; how to help the country pick up the pieces after being ravaged by COVID-19; how jobless Filipinos will find work again; how to make sure there will not be another surge in COVID-19 cases; how to address a possible rise in inflation next year; how to contain skyrocketing prices of basic goods and commodities; how to address worsening smuggling in the country; and how to deal with negative interest rates, which as BPI economist Jun Neri warned, could create zombie companies.

It’s hair-raising, it’s nerve-wracking and it’s uncertain.

But there’s no time to be tired or exhausted. The May 2022 elections will be very important and the results will spell the difference between a better Philippines or a return to the same old system run by a powerful few.

It’s going to be an important fight for our future and we need to muster the energy and perseverance to educate ourselves and those in our own little circles about the candidates in next year’s polls.

Let’s look at the track record, the history, the accomplishments, and the interests they serve. Do they serve the interest of their respective classes or have they previously proven themselves as servants of the people, of the greater majority, and not just their own little dynasties? Are they bureaucrat-capitalists who simply want to make laws to protect their businesses or their patrons’ conglomerates? Are they just desperate to stay in power to avoid prosecution when they step down next year? Will we really vote for candidates who make a mockery of our electoral system? Or those who abuse the substitution rule for their own family feuds?

This we all must think about and on election day, let’s go out and vote and tell these candidates, “There’s no way you are going to represent me.”

A better Philippines

For now, everything looks overwhelming. Just watching the circus is tiring and sometimes you just want to fall into a deep slumber and wake up when the Philippines is in a better place.

But we must not be distracted or discouraged. Let’s get up, put one foot in front of the other and move forward to work on what is right for our country and for the future generations.

Big businesses, you who fund the circus, must also choose well. Don’t play safe, but play it right this time.

Didn’t Marcus Aurelius tell us that the only thing we need to do is act for the common good? Let’s choose candidates who not only promise to do that-- because they all do--but actually did and continue to do so.

Krisis

Our elections come after a difficult 20 months or so of dealing with the pandemic, the worst crisis to hit us since World War II, but we may also look at this crisis in the Greek sense, krisis, which means “to make a decision.” Let’s use the crisis to change our fate by remembering the lessons of the pandemic well – how we survive a catastrophe will greatly depend on the leaders we choose.

If you need a reminder, just look at that face shield. Oh, and don’t bother looking in your garage. There won’t be a surprise Lexus.

Iris Gonzales’ email address is [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at eyesgonzales.com