"Even in Yuletide there is Resistance."
(ramblings after Yuletide under Duterte)
As time goes by it is worth admissible that the regime is as same as its own predecessors: that behind that curtain called change is a continuity of exploitation.
As shown by recent events, with some depicted in these graphics done by the University of the Philippines' "Philippine Collegian", these actions brought about by the state bluntly directly points to the vulnerable; and despite all its unjustness the regime chose to remain indifferent if not thinking these as collateral damages yet necessary to pursue its orderist agenda.
Quite negative isn't it? That instead of their inclusive-developmentalist agenda presented, the order rather shows its blatant criticism caused by inadequate access to services to those of adherence to bloodied actions redescribed as "imposition of justice". And to think that with all these depictions shows that despite the administration's statement of development, it didn't stop the criticism, what more of anger of the people knowing that the regime itself initiated a bloodied venture in the name of interest.
Be it bleeding dry through "Tax Reform" and its subsequent price increases on commodities and services, or out and out bloodshed through its war on drugs and its obvious target towards the opposition, the Duterte regime has brazenly used his minions to violate the people, while he himself arrogantly pushed his schemes of one-man rule through charter change and bogus federalism. Worse, to see him treasonly sold out the sovereign rights and national patrimony to finance his bloodied ventures.
And because of this statement and the pictures shown for sure expect apologists would cry madly as their idol is being "assailed" because of his actions, if not countering with their usual series of infrastructures to take pride of, treating those as a showcase of political patronage than as a duty of the state to ensure people's welfare in any form.
After all, come to think of this: Duterte promised to end contractualisation, then how come he issued a watered-down decree which was immediately done amidst growing protest? He did promised land reform, but how come landlords continue to keep their foothold in the countryside? Demolitions on urban poor communities left unresolved, so why the fuss on these poor folks occupying abandoned homesites? He promised less tax burden, but where's the take-home pay he promised for the low-income employees when his tax reform law pitted down that same people? And lastly, since he promised to defend national sovereignty, how come he chose to kowtow on both Yankee and Chinese interests with preference towards the latter? These and more would hath made the regime tremble from its seat or making nightmares to a leader who himself becoming a living sarcasm while apologists would again churn counterstatements through their false accounts and pseudo-news outlets, showcasing their series of infrastructure and a "personalist" kind of leadership people think of it as increasingly annoying;but all these things doesn't stop people from questioning, what more of criticising, for despite these bullshits, it shows that the system, all because of having lack or no guarantee for human rights and welfare hath made chaotic circumstances occur, be it in a form of protest actions to those of offensives in the countryside. Also to think that since the order can able to counter those actions with piecemeal reforms and police actions including this yuletide, is the country truly traverse its intended direction of change and development even in this actually-existing impunity and terror? Perhaps no wonder why resistance is necessary by those who are victimised by the order's impunity.
Be it through civil disobedience to armed action, the "deed" has been performed throughout making the order even feel its weakness. Will people ever remain contented in its squalor, threats, and harassment? Of course no! The more they cherish that goddamn word "Democracy", "Freedom", and "Justice", the more willing to go beyond the parameters of legality just to invoke those kind of words; and from the idea of attaining struggle by peaceful means has increasingly becoming by any or all means, after all: "ideas spring from deeds and not the other way around", and that deep inside words of "peace and justice", a "fuck you" is internally spoken through a dissenter whose heart been hardened by the events affecting its own. And because of that, one cannot effect socio-political change by projecting an individualist, self-serving, pseudo-positivistic kind of appeal; or by showing a phony, bureaucratic image and constantly spouting unrealistic daydreams of conscienced legislators or despots suddenly heeding the call of the people. There are some conscienced legislators and government officials of course, but this isn't a substitute for the collective actions that pushed the state to compromise with the people (although most of which rather watered-down by entrenched interests).
***
Admittingly speaking, Duterte would have won the hearts of the masses if he took a stance that appeases them, or redescribing his reforms as revolutionary in character; but, obviously, the latter bluntly meant desperately trying to upheld the status quo as he, whilst bannering the word "change" has curried favours from those who kept firm in their interests. Did that tax reform law ever lifted the less paid? Nope, did prices of commodities controlled? Not even, what more of peace in Mindanao which is increasingly becoming those of the grave.
Thus, like any other leader, it shows how Filipino populism has done what was in the past, and with that it has incurred eternal guilt before the Filipinos; for it has brought unspeakable misery upon the people: simply because it cannot keep all its promises, and also because it cannot bring to the people genuine mutual understanding, that reforms are rather sided towards interest seekers, what more that those who disagree are being deemed against by the order whom urges to take part in the venture.
With this, no wonder why even in Yuletide there is Resistance. That no matter how apologists and fanatics ever churn out their views, this doesn't stop the people from seeking truth from facts and the will to scrutinise what goes on in that regime whose bannering word is "change".