By Atty. Howie Calleja
While most of us are looking at how the events have unfolded over the past year in disbelief, and rightly so, there are those that are looking forward – where will we be in another year? Will we even be more in debt, distress, and denial of the fundamental nature of the rule of law? This will be even more crucial as, one year from now, we will be in the midst of what is sure to be a heated election cycle that will determine the very future of our nation.
We should expect that, over the next year, the vast ocean that is political discourse in the country will be made up of treacherous waves. But those that have remained vehemently opposed to the disregard of human rights, equal protection under the law, and due process must remain vigilant as they navigate the waters. That vigilance should come in the form of unity, selflessness, and a sense of self-awareness.
Though “unity” might sound like a motherhood adjective, it is crucial to ensuring the defeat of not any one person – but an entire leadership that has found strength in disregarding individual rights for the sake of “discipline”, and with nothing but blood on their hands to show for their efforts. Unity in the campaign period will not mean a coalition that blindly agrees with each other, as we can expect that true leaders will have individual opinions, but rather “unity” should be a principle that signifies a common belief system. Being unified by fundamental values, and a ticket that is comprised of people who have the track record that supports those beliefs, will be the starting point for relevant discourse and a leadership that works to actualize the pillars of good governance.
Selflessness, on the other hand, is not an image often projected on Philippine political candidates. But it is a quality that is sorely needed in the upcoming campaign period. In particular, we must ask that political ambitions of certain candidates be set aside as we attempt to restore our democracy. In 2016, the division of the vote against strong candidates was, ultimately, our tipping point, and 36% of the voters was enough for President Duterte to edge out the competition. One illustration of the need for unity is the recent US election, though many Democratic voters were unhappy with President Biden’s bid, the call to turn out and vote for him remained strong – all in order to oust Trump. We, on the other hand, do not have the luxury of a two-party system. We cannot make the same mistake as we did in 2016 and divide the vote. Consider this a call for all pro-democracy candidates to come together and collaborate on policy plans that will progress our nation forward, as well as determine who is in the most favorable position to beat the hand-picked Duterte replacement. The need for a unified ticket of democratic forces is imperative to win back the country for the poor who have been placed in the line of fire.
Though we will support the best candidate, and one who is in the best position to outwit the opponent, this is not, and will never be an excuse for complacency. This is where self-awareness comes in. As the electorate cannot be expected to be “yes” men, it stands to reason that we will disagree with some points. As mentioned earlier, we will be united by fundamental values, but we will hold our candidates accountable. While it is true that a house divided cannot stand, that does not equate to diversity of thought weakening the glue of our bond. Our candidate and the senatorial ticket that supports them must not only be considerate of the public’s needs, but be aware of how their past experience and political moves can reflect on their ability to be “winnable”. Though we will make the best candidate “winnable”, it is essential that, they themselves, hold their words and actions to a higher standard – a true antithesis of the current leadership, and the political landscape in its entirety.
These three qualities will be what set a true leader apart from the handpicked candidate of our current President. Though it has certainly been a long five years, the past year in particular has been the most telling; it has been a full calendar year since the start of the pandemic, and we are only in a worse position, domestically and globally. It is very easy to say that the virus is out of our control, but that is easily rebutted by neighboring countries who are back to normal. It is even easier to say that we have done the best we can, but the inability to recognize mistakes and missteps is one that has plagued the administration for the entirety of its term.
What we need now are people that are not just talk, but action: people that have a proven track record. In March 2020 we had promises, and in March 2021 those same promises have long since fallen flat. Now, we must look to leaders with actual plans and platforms that address the very real, pressing, and life-threatening issues the average Juan faces. One year later, we have not only faced more deaths and less vaccinations, but the world’s longest lockdown has come with increased national debt, widespread corruption, and the harrowing statistics of killings of lawyers and human rights defenders.
It is the hope of not just this author but, indeed, the entire country, that there will be leaders who step up for the challenge. This Thursday we will see people who have shown their talent on the national stage before in areas of education, law, international affairs, and human rights – and we will hope that other patriotic countrymen follow and unite under the coalition that is 1Sambayan.
1Sambayan is the broadest coalition comprised of members of underrepresented sectors in politics including, but not limited to: urban poor, youth, labor, academe, business, farmers, professionals, health workers, religious, former magistrates, and even current government officials who have a proven track record. The entire nation is certainly desperate for clear, concise, and realistic plans that encompass the main concerns of the country; poverty alleviation, economic stability, national security, and the prioritization of the health sector, to name a few. While we are far off from the campaign period and can expect that concrete plans will emerge soon, for now we look forward to the reveal of candidates who have the desire and capability to heal the country. Not just from the pandemic, but from the divisions that have led to resentment and concern for our future.
Though we are certainly hopeful that the candidates are up to the challenge, we will remain vigilant. 1Sambayan will be comprised of people that we respect and know to be true leaders, but we will continue to do what is best for our country and hold them accountable to their promises as we move forward.
The launch of 1Sambayan will happen this Thursday (March 18, 2021) at 9am in Makati Sports Club, Makati City.
Register for the zoom meeting via: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEucuysqDgqHtURXRHW-zq71iHRo5LTTibi
Or you can watch Livestream through
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/1Sambayan-108652564620342
or Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzzu1nUVhI5d_J1bvW8aHQg
