TIRED of Politics
Lifted from Gerry Javier Jr
May 17, 2022
By Jose Alejandrino
In the Philippines, it seems people have nothing better to do than talk politics. The elections are over but everybody keeps talking about politics.
Some in the Catholic Church hierarchy dabble in politics than attending to their job of saving souls.
Instead of conceding that BBM and Sara won by a huge majority and uniting the country behind them, Kiko Pangilinan who ran as VP of Leni Robredo insists that he won.
The CPP-NPA and its front organizations keep urging people to go out and protest electoral fraud despite the heads of major powers - US, Russia, China - having congratulated BBM on his victory.
May 9, 2022 was the cleanest election we have had in a long time thanks to Digong warning troublemakers he would not hesitate to use the sledgehammer on them. The US Department of State formally acknowledged that our elections followed international standards.
Why did BBM obtain a huge margin of 16 million votes over his closest rival Leni Robredo? The simplest explanation is that people were tired of politics. It no longer mattered that BBM was the son of a dictator. By giving him a huge mandate, they were sending a message they wanted another who like his father and Digong before him tolerated no nonsense. They wanted a strong and firm leader as their next president. By being firm, Digong managed to produce achievements and the masses wanted more achievements, not the kind of bullshit they were accustomed to receive from liberals. Not surprising therefore that no LP candidate made it to the Senate this May election like none of the LP’s Otso Diretso made it to the Senate in 2019. As further proof the people were tired of the old politics, they gave Robin Padilla, a non-politician and neophyte, the highest number of votes among those elected to the Magic 12.
The May 9 election was sending a clear message: Pagbabago and Unity. Both were the themes of the BBM-Sara team and that was what caught fire among an electorate tired of politics and its silly in-fighting and bickering.
Now how to deliver on those two themes after the May election? First, by bringing in a fresh crew, the best and the brightest regardless of political color, willing to serve at a sacrifice to themselves, those with creative and innovative ideas. It was ideas that built America. In a post-COVID environment, the old models of development and governance no longer apply. Secondly, by focusing on the entrepreneurial spirit of Pinoys based on personal initiative, honesty and hardwork, to start small businesses with the government providing the startup capital and fiscal incentives, the same for farmers and fisherfolks by organizing them into cooperatives like the Israelis did and teaching them the basic rudiments of marketing and management to eliminate the need for middlemen. Thirdly, to reform the educational system, beginning with instilling discipline through ROTC and military service, to remove the “entitlement” mentality of students as we have seen in UP. The message must be clear. No student subsidy if students don’t want to study. No job if people don’t want to work. No more free-loaders at the expense of the State. Every citizen must be productive. The State will give them the tools. But they must catch the fish themselves.
The Pinoy is an anarchist by nature. Place ten Pinoys in a room and you’ll get ten different opinions. Mothers spoil their children, and, because of so many broken families, there is no strong father figure to discipline them. That is why when an honest and firm man like Digong appears who won’t accept any nonsense from anybody, Pinoys gleefully cheer because they have been trained to be softies. The genius of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Is he understood the psyche of the ordinary Pinoy. That is why he lasted 20 years as president. Fred gave them the iron hand. Meldy provided the stardom and Hollywood glitter which the bakya crowd loves. While that worked in the past, it won’t work today. For one, the social media has re-educated them about the nefarious aspects of Pinoy politics. For another, the masses have woken up to the realities facing them which are jobs, poverty, hunger. Anyone who can provide these I am willing to bet they are ready to exchange by supporting a strong leader. Digong showed the way by producing achievements through honest governance combined with firmness. It explains why Sara is extremely popular. Remember that photo I love to post on my wall where she boxed that sheriff? If she had also boxed Trillanes, she would have gotten 90 percent of the turnout vote last May 9. Sayang, I said to myself. Opportunity only knocks once.
The way to govern today is by balancing firmness and kindness. A total wimp gains no respect. And respect is what a president needs to lead. The election is over. Drop politics and move on to solving problems.
