When he and his minions killing chickens and scaring monkeys
(and calling it as "change" and "hope")
Or "Thoughts after Duterte's brand of order
from Tokhang to this Pandemic
through the news and their statements"
through the news and their statements"
Initially, most people accepted Duterte. For despite his flaws and controversies, one would seem that this man of action is willing to be more than just "attacking the yellows" but also to steer the country to its greater heights, of promoting development, of cultivating national awareness, and the likes that would say breaking the country from its cycle of dependency both from domestic oligarchs and foreign overlords.
However, as weeks and months passed, his promises were turned out to be empty rhetoric while some of his actions as carryovers from the past. This person would say that time and again Duterte is on the first place, sworn to upheld and protect an order people would detest with; no matter how he make "compromises" with the folks who happened to be "promised" to have some semblance of change. Those times would also say that the administration "tries" to be "one with the people" with Mariano, Taguiwalo, Lopez, Ridon, Maza, and others concerned as trying to make a difference.
But, that "difference" was cut off by the interest-seekers also within that administration. That in a time when people got a savour of hope that same administration was also behind those string of killings be it war on drugs or land disputes. And Duterte, the man who promised hope and change, end choosing those who upheld their interests and contented in continuing the carryovers no matter how "controversial" would it be. And his supporters simply accepted the way things are despite thinking that their idol can still bring those changes without those who truly matter: Lopez, Taguiwalo, Mariano, Ridon, and Maza end sidelined and booted out afterwards, and from their places are those of former generals with Duterte himself justifying as "because they obey what he wants."
But for the sake of fairness, those carryovers somehow tries to prove that the country is steering towards development no matter the fact that the ones who benefited are not the folk but the interest-seekers, if not intended to outweigh the controversies that darkens the administration's image. Like Hitler who one would say was behind the Autobahn and the Volkswagen Beetle yet also behind the Holocaust, Duterte's "Build Build Build" and the Mobile Kitchen for hungry kids is the same Duterte who is behind Operations "Tokhang" and "Double Barrel."
And the fact that these could only govern by the permission of the landed gentries and the military, these semblance of development, regardless of its achievement has rather led to a huge income disparity between the haves and the have-nots in the country. With this, somehow the idea of "change" turns out to be a half-baked rhetoric brought by a ruler whose "action-oriented" politics meant consolidating further interests in the guise of realising people's hopes. Even those who are concerned about their country would say realised how they are fooled by that ruler who once promised land for the landless, houses for the homeless, sovereignty for the nation, empowerment for its people.
What more in these past weeks where people's expression is those of concern.
Basing from articles involving the way the Duterte administration treats this pandemic sitation, one would say that the administration thinks much about interests even at the expense of people's health. The initial reluctance to impose travel restrictions from those coming from China, the failure to control pandemic using medical means and instead by military/police antics, the enforced "lockdowns" to control movements from the opposition (including the closure of ABS CBN and the passage of the AntiTerrorism Act), and even the recent killings of those who strongly against Duterte in a time of pandemic has shown something that's simply a case of killing chickens to scare the monkeys.
Why is it that case? For an orderist like Duterte, using the pandemic as a chance to create a "new normal" based on restricting movement. Like "Operation Tokhang" and "Double Barrel", he sees something to provoke fear and in fear meant putting people in order. That he makes an example out of something or someone in order to threaten others be it the intensified anti-drug operations, the passage of the anti-terror act, or the closure of ABS CBN even in the middle of the pandemic in order to scare the rest into submission; that he doesn't care calls from human rights groups or the opposition, or worse, seeing the pandemic in itself as an opportunity to push through his agenda- that by imposing lockdowns, mobilising his police and military, to those of his treatment of the entire situation as a "peace and order" issue, this meant to provoke people into a state of fear, making way to a normalcy that's according to the president's whim.
For his supporters would say that "it's better to be feared than being loved" in a manner of Machiavelli, that "to keep is no benefit and to lose is no loss" in a manner of Pol Pot, and his treatment of the pandemic, is as same as his other controversial programs- more like a catharsis to remove their perceived undesirable from their "perfect society". It also doesn't matter for them that the regime they lived and loved is itself a vassal of both Americans and the Chinese, for "it is none of their business" no matter these bigwigs has done to its vassal be it its trade agreements, multinational companies, to those of the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea- yet they're the ones who once appalled by that goddamn leader's "sense of patriotism" after promising will put the flag after riding a Jetski towards Scarborough Shoal.
But despite their "dream" of total order the more those who really expressed concern about the order these fanatics and their idol wanted upon.
What more in these past weeks where people's expression is those of concern.
***
Speaking of concern, this COVID19 pandemic would say has become a challenge for the country under Duterte.
Why is it that case? For an orderist like Duterte, using the pandemic as a chance to create a "new normal" based on restricting movement. Like "Operation Tokhang" and "Double Barrel", he sees something to provoke fear and in fear meant putting people in order. That he makes an example out of something or someone in order to threaten others be it the intensified anti-drug operations, the passage of the anti-terror act, or the closure of ABS CBN even in the middle of the pandemic in order to scare the rest into submission; that he doesn't care calls from human rights groups or the opposition, or worse, seeing the pandemic in itself as an opportunity to push through his agenda- that by imposing lockdowns, mobilising his police and military, to those of his treatment of the entire situation as a "peace and order" issue, this meant to provoke people into a state of fear, making way to a normalcy that's according to the president's whim.
For his supporters would say that "it's better to be feared than being loved" in a manner of Machiavelli, that "to keep is no benefit and to lose is no loss" in a manner of Pol Pot, and his treatment of the pandemic, is as same as his other controversial programs- more like a catharsis to remove their perceived undesirable from their "perfect society". It also doesn't matter for them that the regime they lived and loved is itself a vassal of both Americans and the Chinese, for "it is none of their business" no matter these bigwigs has done to its vassal be it its trade agreements, multinational companies, to those of the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea- yet they're the ones who once appalled by that goddamn leader's "sense of patriotism" after promising will put the flag after riding a Jetski towards Scarborough Shoal.
But despite their "dream" of total order the more those who really expressed concern about the order these fanatics and their idol wanted upon.
***
As a writer, such concern about this pandemic situation is becoming more than just seeing the news and making an analysis. In a time when the order trying to use a situation using a silent enemy people seemingly not just thinking about their health and well-being, but also those of others and their society- especially when the very order who promised about ensuring the folk its well-being is actually using the entire situation as a means such as to silence dissent.
Pardon for the thought, but in seeing people becoming concerned on these issues then these issues affecting entirely their lives and communities outweighs the projects of various sorts the order has bragged about. Come to think of this, which is important: the aerotropolis in Bulacan or the much needed hospitals and schools? The skyscrapers to be built in Makati and Bonifacio Global City or the much needed mass housing structures similar to the flats of Hong Kong and Singapore? Of course the system will say "these are included in the Build Build Build program" only to find out these as empty promises if not getting corrupted by those in self-interest. Some even left empty, deteriorating, and if "squatted", why the hate when these occupiers occupy a neglected project? Who is to blame: the homeless or the ones who promised houses for the poor only to be neglected afterwards?
For sure their supporters would disagree such harsh criticisms and insist about people's concerns in the programs of the administration. That schools, houses, hospitals are side by side with toll-paying roads, airports in once-ricefields, and others to be bragged by the order to its subjects. But worse, that by seeing people's concerns gone into thin air by the corrupted, then fuck! Will people believe in the promises of the administration? Again, the carryovers from the past were supposed to be to continue development, but turned to be meant to brag over by one administration after the other while the people remained "as-it-is."
For sure their supporters would disagree such harsh criticisms and insist about people's concerns in the programs of the administration. That schools, houses, hospitals are side by side with toll-paying roads, airports in once-ricefields, and others to be bragged by the order to its subjects. But worse, that by seeing people's concerns gone into thin air by the corrupted, then fuck! Will people believe in the promises of the administration? Again, the carryovers from the past were supposed to be to continue development, but turned to be meant to brag over by one administration after the other while the people remained "as-it-is."
Again, in this time of pandemic, or rather say with or without this pandemic and regardless of who is the leader be it from Duterte or the traditional opposition, the people are increasingly becoming concerned and in need of solidarity. And if getting concerned also means to investigate further from facts and offer down to earth alternatives-
Then this includes thinking beyond the imposed parameters.