"No different from the others"

"No different from the others"

(Notes on Duterte's 2018 State of the Nation Address,
and how people chose to rage in today's still disquiet)

Source: PhilStar.com

The recent State of the Nation Address of president Duterte hath been described as "shortest" if not an attempt to lessen his off-script, long-winded tirade. With statements ranging from pursuing further a much-bloodied drug war, much-awaited federalism, the closure of Boracay, to those of making appreciative statements towards his stooge Bong Go, the president has proved to be making a continuity- a continuity of what has left by his predecessors.

For despite his initial promise to advance the people's interest, recent reports showed that regardless of so-called 'reforms' it didn't show mcuh the material basis behind those promises, what more those of reforms he afforded to sign all for the sake of impressing.

And because of this, obviously, the Duterte government has not been faithful to the promise of bringing change to the people, but instead it exposes his pretension to be advancing the people's interest. For history has proven that his predecessors did benefited the ruling few at the expense of the many, his programs showed rather a continuity, and because of it shows that even with new names and terms, slogans and the like, cannot fool the people as it continues to suffer- that from last few year's E-VAT to the recent TRAIN, will people ever get contented in this scheme whose proceedings end in paying debts and in compradore's pockets? Or the recent decree on ending unjust contractualisation, did it end the issue on various entities like Nutriasia in Bulacan to those of Jolibee?
Perhaps, he chose to less think if not 'not' of it. For as any of his speeches, his favorite topic will always be drugs. having it first mentioned in the session hall and facing the , the president stated that it will be relentless, and even slams critics for criticising his much-loved campaign he promised from the very beginning, after all, he even said that he prefers human lives than human rights, but is he ignorant that the right to life is also a human right? 

And this time, with attempts in changing the constitution, pretending it is for the people by equating federalism with people empowerment, this cheap idea peddled throughout by its ringleaders actually benefited local gentries and entrenched entities, particularly those aligned with the present administration, and by insisting that by opening the country to foreign interests on the pretense of 'development', this exploitative action is more than just a series of murders brought about by Oplans Tokhang and Double Barrel, forced explusions brought about by Militarization, and the like what Duterte et al. enjoys- for it means selling of patrimony to exploiters for few pieces of silver.

"Which is which?"
Source: CNN Philippines and Rappler

There are other statements the president hath expressed, praising accomplishments while his team of jesters afforded to make a positive light on him. And as expected, as people from all walks of life converged in Commonwealth avenue in a show of unified force, Duterte and his clique would assemble theirs, and dare to use these people to serve as its "shield" against assault. With the use of social media, by distorting photos and the like, and by making oppressive matters justifiable, this clique hath becoming desperate thinking that with the people hath gone aware, 'woke' by the recent tragedies, unjust policies, and even gutter statements, this clear and present struggle can undermine busloads of 'counterprotests' and gutter humour. And to think that they're trying to appear strong, the recent congressional coup that ousted Pantaleon Alvarez in favour of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo showed fragments within the administration, and desperately trying to be 'monolithly strong' as shown by their 'reports'.

With all these, a concerned would say that other than the aesthetics, the essence of the address is no different from the others. The strength of a democratic government rests on the support of its people. A partnership between the poor masses and the government would have happened if that's the case, but, with reality shows otherwise, then that government, no matter how it tries to be as populist as its predecessors, shall constantly face dissent and its actions, of all forms and from all fronts.