I
n one gathering of social activists I asked this
question: what if you were president of the Philippines
tomorrow? People wondered why anyone would like
to be president under this situation. But they obliged
anyway. One said, “I will reverse the neoliberal policy
regime and undo the inequities of our government’s WTO
treaty commitments.” Another said, “As we can’t go on
like this, I will declare a revolutionary government to end
the political uncertainties.” The rest suggested something
in between, slanted one way or the other. Then they all
Human
(In)Security
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turned to me, and almost spontaneously I said, “As soon as I step in I
will step down and declare this country leaderless. From hereon we’re
each to our own, we can go on destroying each other or choose to
hang on like brother to brother, like sister to sister, and rise or go down
together.”
This little conversation on sustainability happened shortly after the
July 27 Oakwood uprising staged by some 300 young idealistic soldiers
against corruption and bad governance. Around this time coup rumors
were running wild alongside other newsy events, like the Senate
hearings on corruption involving the First Family and threats of
impeachment of no less than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
A sense of instability gripped the whole nation for much of 2003. It’s a
moment when everyone seemed to be asking where the hell this country
is going to.
It seems no one feels secure anymore, considering the pervasive
edginess and political volatility that may continue till after the May
2004 elections. Much depends on whether the process and outcomes
would be seen and accepted as legit, honest and fair. Unlucky Filipinos,
they will have to plod through that long. And to think that hardly has
the nation ever enjoyed peace and quiet since 2001. The current regime
was born of turbulence and, as some of its opponents wished, may end
the way it began.