How to build a non-Yellowtard Philippine Opposition

If there is one big hurdle the Opposition face in their effort to put up a respectable challenge to the camp of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over the months leading to the 2022 election, it would be coming up with a non-Yellowtard campaign. Thanks to several decades of the Yellow narrative (an entire political mythology built around the Aquino-Cojuangco clan) dominating the national psyche, it had become really difficult for any Opposition camp, faction, or bloc (with the exception, perhaps, of the communists) to wash the yellow stain off their political brand. This has become quite critical though as association with the Yellow stain has become a virtual kiss of death to any election bid.

It does not help as well that the Yellowtards continue to presume to be the “leaders” of the entire Philippine Opposition. Even more baffling, nobody within the Opposition seems to have the guts to tell them, “enough of you Yellowtards, we need to transform into a non-Yellowtard Opposition!” It’s like despite everyone in the Opposition community being aware that there is a cancer in their midst that persistently subtracts from their political capital, the wherewithal to gouge out this cancer and evolve into something respectable seems to be utterly lacking.

It is clear that Filipinos no longer want a Yellowtard-run country. That message was delivered by Filipino voters in a resounding manner in 2016 and even more loudly in 2019. What Philippine Opposition 3.0 need to pitch to the electorate is a new vision for the country not hinged on the obsolete high-horsed notions of “freedom”, “equality”, “human rights”, and “decency” upon which the Yellowtards had built their now-failed brand. The idea that a country is great because of these should be put under critical scrutiny — because it seems that a focus on these does not necessarily lead to collective greatness. Under the Yellowtard watch, Filipinos have been transformed into a bunch of whiners. They encouraged Filipinos to see themselves as victims and, as such, a people entitled to the sympathy and “help” of the rich. Indeed, the Spanish word for “help” — ayuda — has become the dominant bukang-bibig (mantra) of the Opposition today. Filipinos are a people who need help is what today’s Opposition suggests. And that help needs to come from others and not from within. It is an utterly pathetic ideology.

So, with the 2022 elections just around the corner, it’s back to basics and so too for the important questions that need to be revisited. Do Filipinos want to build a great nation? Of course they do. Do they want a leader who will lead them to greatness? Yes. If so, then they need a leader who could be instrumental in transforming the Philippines from an Ayuda Nation into a truly great and proud nation.

But answering the “What?” questions is easy and in a typical campaign, it’s these easy questions that are used to create dishonest political brands. What do you want to be when you grow up? Any Grade 1 kid could answer that. I want to be a doctor. Mom and Dad then beam with pride and carry that with them until the reality of what it takes to be a doctor hits said kid ten years later.

The parts habitually left out are the more important “How?” questions. The Philippines, like that proverbial Grade 1 kid wants to be a great nation when she grows up. The question is, how do Filipinos go about building that great nation? Any politician can promise the Filipino greatness by the time his or her term ends in 2028. What sets apart the men from the boys, one would think, is the ability to articulate how to get there. If politicians who are making a bid for office in the coming elections are unable to articulate that how-to-get-there roadmap to greatness then how in the world can they even presume to lead an entire people to greatness?

If a new Opposition is to come across to the public as non-Yellowtard, it will have to show a way forward that is clear on what it takes to be a great people. Look across the globe and back through history and only a small handful of truly great countries stand out. These are countries that achieved great things and hosted societies of people who refused to be victims. They are peoples that took control — in both the good and bad senses of that term. If what is said of wealth is true — that behind every great fortune is a great crime — the same could be said of a great country. Behind every great country is a great atrocity.

For now let’s reflect on that fact and think about whether this is something we Filipinos have a stomach to take into account when we chart our course to greatness. More imporantly, Filipinos should think about whether the sort of leader they want to see come to power in 2022 is the sort of leader who would not balk at the reality of what it takes to achieve that greatness.

The Opposition have a choice — continue working within the frame of the sissy ideology the Yellowtards and communists propagate or put forth a platform of courage and boldness that is clear on what it takes to be a great people.

benign0

benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.