Filipinos continue to be shortchanged by their political Opposition. They offer neither genuine nor substantial opposition to the incumbent administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. All they contribute to the discourse is noise. They provide no alternative path forward and seek to keep Filipinos fixated on an irrelevant past.
It is easy of course to claim “unity”. Street rallies after all don’t require much agreement across the various factions and groups that all seek to seize political power. You just need to show up.
Indeed, they do show up by the busloads. Each group wear their colours and wave their own flags. So much for a “united front” right? How can one believe there is “unity” in the Opposition when, by their own design, they show such colourful fragmentation?
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United in superstitious voodoo politics and not in modern intelligent discourse. This is why the Philippines remains a backward society.
For that matter, is “unity” in an Opposition even good at all? The reason the various branded cliques of the Opposition keep screeching about “unity” is because there really is nothing in common amongst these groups beyond a shared hatred for Duterte and a traditional taste for illegal change in leadership (which most of them refer to as “revolution”). Other than those nebulous doctrines, they offer nothing else to the Filipino people other than chronic instability and fodder for click- and eyeball-hungry Big Corporate Media.
Filipinos deserve better than this Jeepney Opposition. It upholds a tradition of the pwede na yan thinking that is at the core of the Philippines’ intellectual bankruptcy. It’s time the traditional personalities that crown themselves “thought leaders” of this Opposition be called out and challenged head on — taken to task for the drivel they pollute the national “debate” with. It’s time Filipinos take back their Opposition.
How can this be done?
It begins by dousing the shillery in the discourse by tempering the emotionalism and engaging intelligently. Regain the courage to dive into Twitter threads, Facebook comment exchanges, and blog commenting facilities to speak your mind. Engage with original commentary and not just by parroting party and ideological cliches. Rather than merely forward and spread information, enrich it with your own thoughts before passing it on. In this way, ideas move forward rather than decay into dysfunctional party ideologies and narratives doomed to be rehashed election in and election out, rally in and rally out.
The Opposition is not something that should be monopolised by a single party or, worse, a single feudal clan. It should be a community that upholds an inclusive approach to maintaining intelligent and insightful discussion. Only in a diverse conversation of many voices will real solutions and pathways forward emerge.
Walang kamatayang ‘US-[insert current president here] Dictatorship’ template slogan of university campus communists. Were these students even taught how to think?
Today, it is quite disturbing to observe an Opposition held hostage by only two groups — the Yellowtards and the communists. Disturbing because both are groups spruiking obsolete — no, dead — ideologies. Backing them is an equally-confused Roman Catholic Church which can’t seem to decide whether to focus on providing spiritual guidance to Filipinos, engage in political patronage, or coddling communists who would just as soon burn down churches once they succeed in violently establishing their “dictatorship of the proletariat”.
All of these groups are anchored in the past, not in the future. Filipinos desperately need thought leadership adept at navigating the future and clever enough to evolve with the times. Sadly, an Opposition led by groups imprisoned by dogma will only keep Philippine society and its politics stuck in a nightmarish soup of stagnation, dysfunction, and primitivism. This is where the Philippines is at the moment. Only Filipinos can change their future — by taking accountability for this future back and embracing an Opposition (and an entire poltical discourse) premised squarely on that sense of personal accountability.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
agree to benigno comments=Today, it is quite disturbing to observe an Opposition held hostage by only two groups — the Yellowtards and the communists. Disturbing because both are groups spruiking obsolete — no, dead — ideologies. Backing them is an equally-confused Roman Catholic Church which can’t seem to decide whether to focus on providing spiritual guidance to Filipinos, engage in political patronage, or coddling communists who would just as soon burn down churches once they succeed in violently establishing their “dictatorship of the proletariat”.
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, is practicing, “Liberation Theology” ideology. It is a mixture of Christian Theology and Marxist communist ideology.
It is a twisted Christian belief. It twisted the true teaching of Jesus Christ. Cardinals, Priests , Bishops and Nuns, who practice this ideology have this twisted Christian teaching spread in the Philippine Roman Catholic Church !
The Cardinals, Bishops , Priests, Nuns, etc…who subscribe to this , “Liberation Theology” ideology, are : “Katok Liku Liku”; as it is jokingly called by another prominent religion in the Philippines.
To twist the teachings of Jesus Christ, mix it with the atheist teachings of Karl Marx, and work with the communist supremo, JoMa Sison of the C.P.P., is the worst evil I ever heard, since Judas Iscariot sold Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver to be crucified.
These Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Nuns, etc…will surely be roasted in Hell forever and ever for this blasphemy !
agree to this comments=To twist the teachings of Jesus Christ, mix it with the atheist teachings of Karl Marx, and work with the communist supremo, JoMa Sison of the C.P.P., is the worst evil I ever heard, since Judas Iscariot sold Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver to be crucified.
yes, Marcial Bonifacio aka Ninoy Aquino is the Founder of the CPP/NPA and JOMA SISON that was duped by late Santa Corykot lantaranG Pangugurakot who duped the Catholic Church in making her a Saint of the YellowGarchs family of hacienda luisita self interest of a NON pilipino, who died with a Malaysian Passport that he used to be Sacrifice as a sacrificial lamb of the Economic hitmen of Marcos Destruction.
To twist the teachings of Jesus Christ, mix it with the atheist teachings of Karl Marx, and work with the communist supremo, JoMa Sison of the C.P.P., is the worst evil I ever heard, since Judas Iscariot sold Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver to be crucified. this is what this two judas did late Cardinal kasalan(SIN) and liku liku Cardinal Villegas,
There is no political ideology that will accommodate the Filipino’s personal ideology: to drift through life without any goals or aspirations, leeching whatever they can get from society, OFW relatives, or the government.
Unfortunately, the one that comes closest is Communism, which is tailor-made for people who would prefer to fail at life while other people do all the hard work.
Communism is a failed ideology. It has proven to be a failure.
I really dont understand the problem that many people have here with communism. Communism will make itself obsolete because for the simple fact that it doesnt work.
In my neck of the woods there was a communist political party (CPN) but it ceased to exist. But only since the 1990s.
In case you want to read about it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_the_Netherlands (english version)
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communistische_Partij_van_Nederland (dutch version)
@Robert: it all depends what you mean by “doesn’t work”. You’re taking the wider view. You’re assuming that a political system that results in the destruction of society “doesn’t work”. But consider: what if that destruction is the intended aim?
The whole POINT of Communism is to support people who are useless, lazy, and incompetent via the hard work of those few who are socially responsible, hard-working, and competent (a.k.a. suckers), using violence to ensure that it happens.
The average Filipino views this as the ideal form of society.
As long as there are enough guns, and enough people just barely smart enough to know which is the dangerous end, Communism DOES work. That is, it achieves what it aims to achieve.
Marius,
all I can say is that it didnt work (out) in my country (otherwise the CPN was still thriving here today). I never was afraid of communism in my country and BTW guns are not allowed in my country. We are – thank god – not America. I am sure that even I like a few of their programs. Why? Because every single political party has something in their ideology that sounds good. Although, I dont like the word ‘ideology’ (so for lack of knowing a better word).
I can not find a Dutch political party that I agree to/with for the full 100% of everything they stand for. That is why its quite difficult to vote for one single political party – for me.
The issue is this, though: Dutch people (on the whole) are not useless, lazy and incompetent. Sure, there must be a few who are, but you don’t survive in a small, first-world country if you want to be lazy and incompetent. Therefore, nobody would have any interest in Communism.
Laziness and incompetence are built into the very fabric of Filipino society. Most Filipinos spend their days idling around. Even the ones who (nominally) have jobs don’t do very much: have you noticed how there are six employees in a Filipino supermarket, where you might have two in Europe? And mostly, they’re standing around doing nothing?
In short, the Filipino aspires to do nothing, and to have other people look after him. It’s a country of helpless children in adult bodies. People like that find a lot to like in faulty ideologies like Communism.
Marius,
I am not sure what you mean by the destruction of society? Do you mean – by any chance – to have legal same-sex marriages will destroy the family unit? I consider that as BS. And even if that causes the family unit to be destroyed then so be it. Although I am 100% heterosexual, we – heterosexuals – dont have the monopoly of how life should and must be organized.
I am convinced that climate change will have a much deeper impact on certain societies (read: countries) than communism and same-sex marriages.
um … no, I’d say that’s a completely unrelated issue. I was referring to the effects of Communism, which destroys people’s incentive to do anything useful with their lives, and thereby destroys the very basis of civilized society.
Lazy people exist because there people who believe that heroes, martyrs, and saints exist and these basically are the ideals that creates laziness. Another one is the condition of very expensive education and job rarity, so even if one is obviously very lazy he/she will always use this condition to force you to follow the ways of heroes, martyrs, and saints, lest you want to be called a bad guy. So if the poor will say “I’m poor because I was not able to get an education because it’s very expensive and I cannot find a job because there aren’t so many out there and again for lack of education”, what they are saying is true, and there isn’t much you can do about it, They have been given the condition to exploit your pity or as Mr.Chino F said “emotionally hostage”.
Communism did not work. It is a political theory. It was tested in Russia. It produced a mass murderer, Stalin, with his slave labor camps, called : Gulags that killed 30 million Russians.
Mao Tse Tung in Communist China, murdered more than millions of Chinese, in his slave labor camps. It enslaved billions of Chinese.
Pol Pot of Cambodia murdered millions of Cambodians.
All patriotic Filipinos must stand up and fight this totalitarian ideology.
The Aquino Cojuangco political axis , the Roman Catholic Church, the Liberal Party and the Feudal Oligarchs want this failed ideology to be imposed on us, to enslave us all !
You completely missed the point Hyden.
Communism worked very well indeed in both China and Russia. The aim of Communism is to create mayhem and misery. THAT IS ITS PURPOSE.
Filipinos like mayhem and misery. They spend a lot of time trying to cause mayhem and misery. So Communism – which incorporates wonderful ideas like killing people you don’t like and stealing their stuff – is very attractive to them.
When Pilipinos talk about “communist” they are talking about banditry, terrorist, killers. that is, all that is evil. In your country, or in Europe, communism may have a humble beginning, because they lean more upon public interest and wishes, and the government must have caved-in many of these public demand, so there isn’t so much issue to protest upon, so the party just ceased to exist. Because I’m not a communist/socialist I don’t really care much what it means, whatever Pilipinos think about what communism is, then I will take it just what they think it is.
Well, Filipinos never really cared for the accuracy of words. What the hell is a “masteral”? https://www.getrealphilippines.com/2012/12/pinoy-propensity-for-co-opting-pervades-the-presidency/
Communism could have worked if the leaders ambition is not personal wealth and fame. Communism failed because of their leaders. NPA leader who is in Europe on the dole surrounded by a harem of women ready for sex.
Bet this NPA leader wouldn’t want to live among his communists planting rice.
Communism did not work in the Soviet Union, and in Cambodia.
It is a failed ideology. Garbage thinking of Karl Marx, adapted by Lenin, and the mass murderer, Stalin…and the idiot: JoMa Sison. Cambodia’s Pol Pot was the mass murderer of the “Killing Field” in Cambodia.
We don’t want this to happen in the Philippines !
Marius,
“Laziness and incompetence are built into the very fabric of Filipino society. Most Filipinos spend their days idling around. Even the ones who (nominally) have jobs don’t do very much: have you noticed how there are six employees in a Filipino supermarket, where you might have two in Europe? And mostly, they’re standing around doing nothing?”
Yes, witnessed it with my own eyes in PH. It reminded me of Hungary when I was there back in the early 1980s. Really daft to see and witness it.
My PH partner/GF told me that that happens in PH so that everybody can check everybody for not putting a hand in the cash register and take out some money.
Have you also noticed, Robert, Philippine Embassy in Bern has more staff than Belgium which has three: An Ambassador, a driver (A Filipino) and a house staff. The wife of this Filipino consular driver also work in one of the European Embassy as a cook. They are only five of them.
These husband-and-wife European embassy staff have become Swiss national with Swiss children.
I just wonder what Embassy in Bern actually does.
What I am glad to hear about these former-ex-Filipinos working for European Embassies do not hang-out with Filipino embassy staff. Because according to them they got full of air. Absolutely humbug.
Oratio,
No, I wasnt aware of that but since you told me (here) I am not surprised at all.
Philippine Foreign Service is a political dole out. The creme-de-la-creme are European and Americas assignment. These assignments required asses kissed. They really do not know anything if they did not at par with Zimbabwean and Sinegalese consular officers.
Those Filipinos are consulate offices are arrogant. My pinay GF told me (this is her take) the Filipinos at the consulate think they are higher than those Filipinos they serve BECAUSE ….
*** because those Filipinos who immigrated are nobodies and those behind the un-bulletproofed glass sitting on squeaky chairs and Goodwill-Thriftstore-cabinets have political patrons and “passed rigourous Foreign Services tests ***
When she told me that I nearly fell off my chair. THIS I CAN TELL YOU, THOSE FILIPINOS AT THE CONSULAR OFFICES … THEIR ENGLISH SUCKS !!!
Since Filipinos measure intelligence by English they speak, therefore, THOSE WORKERS AT CONSULAR OFFICES HAVE VERY LITTLE OR NO I.Q. AT ALL.
Marius,
“your” problem is easy to fix.
– pay them a high enough salary; and/or
– make sure the population will not grow too much (more people need/require more available jobs)
– let every payment be done with bank card (direct debit) and/or credit card
– install CCTV cameras
– solve poverty
– educate people
The team up of the Roman Catholic and the Communist Party of the Philippines, is nothing but the : “Liberation theology” ideology.
Liberation Theology is the synthesis of Christian theology and Marxist socioeconomic analyses that emphasizes social concern for the poor and the political liberation for oppressed people.
It was popularized in Latin American countries in the ’70s. This false Christian theology is now being used against Pres. Duterte.
Arrest the Priests and Bishops, who are practicing this false Christian Theology !
Also arrest those Filipinos that celebrate Lapu-lapu killing of Christian Magellan whose only fault was arriving at the wrong side of the world … to spread the word of God.
These Priest and Bishops are in team up with the Communists and the YellowTards, and the Aquino Cojuangco political axis.
WHO ARE THE YELLOWTARDS? They are educated. Soft-Spoken. Do not eat with their hands. Classy Sassy. Bourgeois. Slave owners.
YellowTards are the thieving Aquino Cojuangco political axis members, and the Liberal Party members. They are rascals and thieves.
Marius,
“um … no, I’d say that’s a completely unrelated issue. I was referring to the effects of Communism, which destroys people’s incentive to do anything useful with their lives, and thereby destroys the very basis of civilized society.”
If I am one of those communists and i see you getting all the luxury in the world, that will aspire and inspire me to get at same level as you. Hence, I will perform very good in school (and get certain degrees and diplomas). So that I will get the same kind of job as you have that pays a good salary.
No, I dont see you as role model but your life style triggers me to get the same (or even better/more). Because being afraid and not knowing to have food on the table tomorrow seems disgusting to me.
And that is why I am convinced that communism will not work.
Unfortunately, Robert, Filipinos don’t think like that.
If someone has better stuff than they do, they won’t try to improve themselves to attain the same standard of living. They’ll just break into the rich guy’s house and steal what they want. Because:
“They can afford it, they’re rich”.
“I’m poor, I deserve it”.
“It’s not my fault I’m poor, it’s because I’m oppressed by rich people”.
And so on.
It’s unusual to meet a Filipino who thinks he’s in control of his own destiny, or who understands that he’s poor because he’s lazy and stupid.
Marius,
It seems to me a lot of people – especially here at GRP – have an obsession with/against communism and they seem to be very afraid of communism. That is too much negative energy. Although because of the PH election system, it must be very easy for a communist party to get into power in PH.
Well – again – they made/created their own system, So let them pay the prize for it. Maybe it will be good for PH to have a communist party in power. They finally may see and realize their election system sucks big time.
If the Communists were elected, that would actually be a sign that the system is working. Most Filipinos are Communists in their hearts: they believe they deserve stuff that they didn’t earn. Therefore, a Communist government would represent “the will of the people”.
I’m not exactly afraid of Communism. Communism is just an idea, and a stupid one at that. What I’m afraid of is Filipinos, who make it their mission to take stupid ideas and use them to generate the worst possible outcome.
Marius,
I think it would be great if you could consolidate in one write-up everything you said about communism on several threads and replies.
Very tempting to think like that, Robert.
But the premise that, “they may finally see and realize their election system sucks big time” does not apply in the Philippines. Every time something does not work, Filipinos, never really see failure and accountability as something internal; rather, they are externalized – always someone else’s fault.
To be fair, it is easier to blame someone else for one’s problems, rather than fix them themselves. Filipinos are an extreme, and dare I say, irredeemable example of this.
Oratio,
“Philippine Foreign Service is a political dole out. The creme-de-la-creme are European and Americas assignment. These assignments required asses kissed. They really do not know anything if they did not at par with Zimbabwean and Sinegalese consular officers.”
A relative of my pinay GF works at the PH embassey in the Hague (Netherlands). That relative is married with a dutch guy and has no kids. She is very bitter about having no kids. Its very clear she never integrated here and never adapted and adopted the Dutch culture. Ah well, she has every right to do that.
YES, THEY WERE THE ONE WHO INSTALLED LATE SANTA CORYKOT LANTARANG PANGUGURAKOT AND LATE CARDINAL JAIME SIN ,WITH THE ELECTION MANIPULATION OF SMARTMATIC MARK MALLOCH BROWN FOR THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF HACIENDA LUISITA YELLOW OLIGARCHS MASS MEDIA MANIPULATION, MARK BROWN WAS THE POLITICAL ADVISER AND SPEECHWRITER OF SANTA CORYKOT OF EDSAONE AND EDSATWO OF PGMA, BUT GLORIA GO AGAINST THEIR WILL ,BY INSTALLING LATE CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO CORONA THE REFORMER OF MADPNOY ABNOY KULANGKULANG99 CREATOR OF BRIBED BACON BARREL PDAF TO SENATONGS AND TONGRESSMAN, HE WAS THE ONE WHO CREATED FOUR MILLION PILIPINO ADDICTS, NOT INCLUDING THE DENVAXIA DRUGS
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, is practicing, “Liberation Theology” ideology. It is a mixture of Christian Theology and Marxist communist ideology OF LATE CARDINAL JAIME SIN AND CARDINAL VILLEGAS
It is a twisted Christian belief. It twisted the true teaching of Jesus Christ. Cardinals, Priests , Bishops and Nuns, who practice this ideology have this twisted Christian teaching spread in the Philippine Roman Catholic Church !
YES, THEY WERE THE ONE WHO INSTALLED LATE SANTA CORYKOT LANTARANG PANGUGURAKOT AND LATE CARDINAL JAIME SIN ,WITH THE ELECTION MANIPULATION OF SMARTMATIC MARK MALLOCH BROWN FOR THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF HACIENDA LUISITA YELLOW OLIGARCHS MASS MEDIA MANIPULATION, MARK BROWN WAS THE POLITICAL ADVISER AND SPEECHWRITER OF SANTA CORYKOT OF EDSAONE AND EDSATWO OF PGMA, BUT GLORIA GO AGAINST THEIR WILL ,BY INSTALLING LATE CHIEF JUSTICE RENATO CORONA THE REFORMER OF MADPNOY ABNOY KULANGKULANG99 CREATOR OF BRIBED BACON BARREL PDAF TO SENATONGS AND TONGRESSMAN, HE WAS THE ONE WHO CREATED FOUR MILLION PILIPINO ADDICTS, NOT INCLUDING THE DENVAXIA DRUGS
Communism in China and Russia works fine and completely successful, for it really represents the benefits of the majority, but communism in the Philippines failed for it only represents to the Yellow Oligarchs hacienda luisita self interest of late santa corykot lantarang pangugurakot and his mad;pnoy abnoy kulangkulang99 creator of four million pilipino addicts.
Any form of government in the Philippines will forever be a failure if it is run BY FILIPINOS. The Republic of the Philippine Islands should be run by a consortium of UNITED NATIONS because Filipinos are not responsible elected politicians. Either they are crook or they are incompetents.
Martial Law cannot even work !!! Coup-de-t’ats were always a failure. There never were a coup that was successful. Revolutions from KKK to EDSA were failures.
Filipinos should learn from their past. They were enslaved by Spain for 350 years. Under tutelage by America for 50 years. Tortured by Japan for 5 years. Handed over back to America for another 4 years. After they were handed independence on a silver platter it is still a miserable country to this day. THEY CANNOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO FIX THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM !!! Nor know investigate murders and financial malfeasance. Their lawmakers sucks! They copy laws from my country and they call themselves lawmakers !!! Pathetic !
Are you nuts? Why would any competent administrator want to have anything to do with such a basket-case? You’d have to be either a glutton for punishment or someone who REALLY likes a challenge.
The only reason the place hasn’t been invaded by China already is that they can’t face the prospect of running a country populated by 100 million Filipinos.
Ouch! You are right! That is why my great forefathers gave Filipinos their independence because they learned after 50 years that FILIPINOS CANNOT BE GOVERNED IN THEIR LAND … but can be governed when they are in America.
When our state troopers put a blinker on a Filipino … a Filipino pulls over … shaking … their English lost … “errrr, officer, what is the matter, Sir”? Instead of, “DO YOU KNOW WHO MY FATHER IS? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”
This I realize that Filipnos are not only coward … but docile before Americans.
True leadership is caring about the people who don’t care about things you care about.
Good quote for graduation ceremony but NOT IN PRACTICE. If people are to be cared for like what you said PEOPLE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF IT.
Just lookit those homeless people in California, New York and Florida. They prefer to be jobless, homeless and on the dole because the Americans take care of them. We give them blankets when it is cold, a home when it rains, food when they are hungry and a gun to shoot pedestrians if they do not get their way …. WELCOME TO AMERICA !!!!
One good thing about Filipinos they are NOT HOMELESS. JUST DO NOT PUT THEM IN ONE PLACE OR THEY BACK-STAB EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY !!!!