I would not contest the popular sentiment that the May 2016 national elections is the most contested since the Martial Law period.
Too young to have comprehension over the 1986 snap elections, my generation went through the first grades memorizing by rote the Cory Cabinet alongside the Philippines’ national this and that.
That senseless exercise was quickly followed by having to repeat the Ramos slogan of “Philippines 2000,” but only after vaguely remembering being encouraged to speak English like Miriam. Miriam who was said to have been cheated, I would hear the adults say. The conscientious grader in me started thinking, “Aren’t you adults going to do anything about that?”
Political puberty hit alongside Erap’s machismo – of war against the Muslims, drunken binges in Malacañang and his conquests in the bedroom.
Sad to say, but I have to admit, my first attempt at political commentary went: “Para sa mahirap? Let’s give this actor-politician a go!”
That of course, did not go well. I would eat my naive optimism and more than make up for it by joining my first series of rallies and walk-outs in the Oust Erap campaign.
But more frustration came alongside the Gloria presidency. I would learn my first ~isms and ~ions. And learn them I did when friends and acquaintances started falling to assassin’s bullets.
By the time Noynoy was being catapulted into the highest office, I was already a world-weary yuppie. I harbored no illusions when it came to change via elections.
I started voting NOTA – none of the above. I would save and cast my vote for genuine marginalized sectors’ party-lists, as we have had a chance to elect them since 2001. And also senators, for they have tried to disrupt the games of the rich since 2010.
That is the very same attitude I carry with me now, with election Monday just in sight.
Ah, but as for change via other ways – via methods the rich cannot game and rig – those are the games I would like for the kids of today to play. With their hope-filled generation, I think I can get along.
