Personal Opinion:

Political Science 14
Prof. Carl Ramota
Reaction on Film Viewing (and “Garci Issue”)

Documentaries such as the one that we have watched are not mere reflections of reality, as most people claim. Instead these are the realities that the majority have been running away from and have consistently and vehemently denied. Such graphic footages and clips were taken upon the occurrence of the so-called “street parliamentarism” more commonly referred to as rallying or “pagpro-protesta”.
Events such as the People Power Revolution in EDSA and the Hacienda Luisita Massacre are only two examples among many protests that have been recorded in which the marginalized, disenfranchised and underrepresented citizens of the Philippines assemble to express their experience of injustice. If we come to look at it, these two commemorative occasions are only the ones, which, people have seen in various newspapers. But more than just what is being reported, rallies and protests in streets are happening everyday, sometimes even simultaneously, and yet it doesn’t affect incumbent officials who are supposedly the ones concerned. It then makes us question if our cries for justice are being heard or do the sworn public servants that we have voted, dismiss these pleas to prioritize their interests? Worse than being trapped in a vicious cycle is being stuck below, with only the dregs of a powerful political system to chew on! But of course, who would want to chew on such rubbish? Literally speaking we are a nation of malnourished citizens, undereducated children, unemployed workers, displaced minorities and a generally repressed populace. To make the situation worse, the people who promised to bring us out of this misery, frankly just don’t give a damn!
Most of the time I am not one to complain; in my entire stay in UP I have only attended three out of numerous (hundred perhaps) rallies that various progressive campus organizations have invited me to participate in. There may be points of contention and differences in opinions but there is one thing that I, as well as everybody else would definitely agree upon. That is the fact that this country needs a drastic change. Honestly, with all the controversial Garcilliano crap that the media has hassled themselves with, I am utterly fed up and disgusted beyond reproach. It used to be that I wanted GMA to resign or be ousted in her office but I thought the better of it and realized that we need more than just a change of leaders.
Issues as to whether legally and legitimately, the diminutive Madam Gloria should be the one awarded the presidency, have been plaguing the minds of the people ever since the tapes were released. The thing is, all throughout history it has been the same case. Corazon Aquino was placed in position through “extra-constitutional” means. Neither did Joseph Estrada undergo due process under the law, so what else should we expect from the kind of system that we have?
If asked candidly what would happen now that Garcilliano is back with his “hell of an” explosive information, I would have to say: the same slow-paced, interruption-filled, and annoying political bullshit that happens in Congress everyday. Again if asked what I want to happen, well I have to answer that a change to a federalist-parliament would do us good. This suggestion was said to be a diversion tactic from the real issue, I say: what better time do we have to adapt a new form of government than now? We have nothing further to lose. The people are not satisfied anymore and no one wants to be accountable to any of the debilitating events that have occurred so far. If a centralized government did not work for us, then it’s time to decentralize. If a unitary government serves us poorly, then it's time to shift gears. There are more than one underlying reasons as to why I choose to believe in this option and enumerating the obvious would be a waste of time and effort. A transitional revolutionary government is a lot more ideal but it is too risky, too vague and unattainable in certain aspects precisely because it has never been tested. A federalist form of government may not be the entire answer to all our problems but it is a big step towards the attainment of a solution.
Lastly if asked, do I still want GMA seated in her throne, I would answer yes. Although with much doubt and no complete trust and confidence, I believe she is the best person to stay in control for the time being. While waiting for the drafting of a federalist-parliamentary form of government, GMA being one of the lesser evils, is a fairly good choice to retain.
Amidst this chaos and hullabaloo, as a student I firmly intend a partisan scholarship with a mixture of passive resistance and praxis. This may sound a little bit too highfaluting but for me it only means to act accordingly and responsibly by the spirit of the constitution and what I believe to be right. Studying in UP has fashioned and harnessed the principles the principles that I already have (and perhaps added a few) and will use them as my sword in a battle of compromise. If it is not what we want that is accessible to us, then settling with something closest to it will have to do. This doesn’t mean lowering ones standards and criteria; on the contrary, it is adjusting to attain the best option as a means to resolve a problem. At a pragmatic point of view, it means making do with the available resources/ solutions and building on them for improvement.