"The need for Unity to expose Tyranny"
At first, this note extends support on the action in response to the president's "State of the Nation Address" this Monday.
For despite the order's attempt to silence the planned action, this protest action is itself important as the need to counter the peddled lies to be brought through the address. That for four years, this regime has been snaring people through a web of lies ranging from drug war, anti corruption, even parroting anti-oligarch sentiment as trying to cover-up the failure in addressing various social problems including this ever-present pandemic. But in recent times people have shown criticism against the present Duterte regime. First by its drug war that's pointing directly against the poor, followed by its inaction and lack of program within this ever-present pandemic, and now with the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the denial of ABS CBN's right to broadcast, these actions brought about by the present Duterte administration are seemingly aggravating tensions between the state and the people especially those who are concerned what goes behind state affairs that affected the country.
And that by exposing the real "State of the Nation", this shows the ever-present social situation of the broad masses of the Filipino folk that's marked by joblessness, poverty, hunger, repression, and even this rapid spread of COVID 19. It is unsurprusing for with this continuity the order tends to dismiss, the actions brought by the folk, regardless of the risks, are itself an opportunity to express from those who suffered the burnt of the regime. Be it the frontliners in the health sector, jeepney drivers and other affected members in the transport sector, peasants demanding agrarian reform, workers for just living wage, even the teachers and media workers from ABS CBN who demand their station to regain its right to broadcast through a renewed franchise. These affected sectors, driven by the hunger pangs and despair under the present order should forge unity and strength as their calls be resonated through the action in the streets- exposing the order's incompetence, corruption, repression, and various forms of injustice.
However, for those who supported the regime, it is also that in recent times supporters are demanding "obedience" to the regime if not to coopt radical messages to justify such actions like the recent denial of broadcast franchise of ABS CBN while state forces is constantly harping on about need to "protect the institution and prerogatives of the present administration." With this situation, if one were to take their messages, then would be led to believe that they want to see a return to Marcosian authoritarianism, especially those who treat the present Duterte regime as a doormat for the Marcoses in its plan to return to power. Possible would be as their calls are rather becoming a coded way of saying "less freedom" and "more order" like one apologist who insist about "Asian values" as a reason in the need for authoritarianism. That by blaming democracy for all the woes, the desire for a strongman is for them a "best solution" to the chaos brought by those who expressed disgust about the order's inconveniences- redescribing it as the "excesses" of liberal democracy that "led" to the destruction of the country's "moral fibre" and subsequent "indiscipline".
Strange for ironically these supporters even defend democracy under the present administration. In a time that ABS CBN was stripped its right to broadcast, they cited "freedom of the press" as alive and instead claiming that the mass media company was spreading opposition-led propaganda. That laws such as "Freedom of Information" are being enacted despite the fact that their idol-president denied them the right to inform about his health. What more that by using the pandemic as its pretext for denying the right to assemble as well as the right to express dissent towards an incompetent but stubborn regime.
But will people just stop seeking truth from facts? Expose? Oppose? And offer an alternative? The utter refusal by the order to meet people's demands, what more of downplaying it means a call for action in various forms. Regardless of the risks and slander these people who chose to stand for social justice and self-determination as a nation will unite and strike back against the order and its accomplices-of Duterte and his camarilla of thugs and exploiters. For sure they will remain stubborn for this as they downplay the action and their calls as the folk demand the abrogation of the anti-terrorism act and an end to the militarist approach to the pandemic crisis, the reinstatement of the right to broadcast of ABS CBN, and various anti-people programs and measures to be enacted by the regime. Expect numerous attempts to prevent, dissuade people from engaging in actions nor exposing inconveniences as it desperately aims to silence and prevent from engaging, showing collective power in exposing, opposing their moves and to assert a pro-people alternative to the ever-present situation- including those of using the pandemic as an alibi for refraining.
But despite this ever-continuing past and now aggravated by this pandemic crisis, hope people look at the example of their forefathers, of those who not just survive, but resist the tremors. For theirs would reminds that their power, courage, unity triumph all over hardship. That their contributions last for generations. Expect the order will try their "best" that the future generations shall curse their memories, but no- for reality shows otherwise that those who resist, those who forge, no matter how contrary to the wishes of the system remains significant. that through sacrifice and danger is a part of struggle to reach a great goal, but wonderful shall the spoils be, and glorious their history if to recall thy names.
Let no viral illness nor repression from the order shall hinder from the waves of actions. Expect risks in various forms,for as those truly concerned, all after in seeking truth from facts, are in this time, facing a greater enemy. Should people get contented in just "thoughts" and "prayers" alone when in fact those who tell rather just to escape the calling of responsibility? The moment shall one day come, that one after another will realise that there is no option between taking back future or to surrender in this ever-continuing past. Expect slander, arrest, and various forms of terror, but should those truly concerned accept this? No of course! This continuing past are in various forms, with paraphrased thoughts with the same intent-of uphelding interests while throwing crumbs to the folk and describing it as "change", "reform", "development", or any word just to hid an inconvenient truth. And this note wouldn't be surprised if this ever-present order would "shutdown" this society for their interest as it renders people's rights, laws, as obsolete in favour of what they perceive as "new" such as repressive and unjust.