PBBM and the moral revolution we need

Taking into account the baggage carried by his surname, Bongbong Marcos’ convincing victory in the last polls is an indisputable signal that our people ache for change.

Our people feel betrayed by past administrations… and for good reason. Outside the top two percent of society who live in comfort, one hundred ten million Filipinos exist from hand to mouth. They endure without life’s basics safety nets like quality medical care, decent housing and education good enough to prepare them for the future.  Exacerbating matters is the lack of opportunities available to them. Without political clout or capital, it is next to impossible to climb out of poverty. No surprise, swaths of our population seek their fortunes abroad.

Our political system and laws were set-up to serve the interest of the political and business elite, not the greater majority. And this is where our leaders failed us. To illustrate, the Local Government Code created political dynasties and fiefdoms for them to rule. The EPIRA Law handed over control of the energy sector to private corporations.  The Cabotage Law protects the oligopoly of shipping lines from foreign competition, only to be inefficient and expensive. The Agrarian Reform Law earns brownie points for politicians but relegates the agricultural sector to underachievement. The provisions of the Constitution relating to foreign investments reserved the most lucrative industries for Filipino conglomerates only to starve the country of capital and technology. The list goes on.

Our citizens are crying out for wholesale change against income inequality, opportunity inequality, corruption, self-serving governance and incompetence. President Marcos is seen as the agent of change. His enormous mandate is proof positive of this. On his shoulders lay the hopes for political transformation.

Political transformation transcends simply amending our laws. True transformation comes via a change of mindset among political decision makers.

The philosopher, Plato wrote, “a country cultivates what it honors.” Let’s be honest and reflect on what the greater majority of our leaders truly honor. They honor family over community and nation. This is why political dynasties fester. They honor self-gain over collective gain. This is why corruption persists even if its consequences are dire. They honor expediency over rules. This is why politicians apply the law to everyone else but themselves. They honor impunity over delicadeza. This is why former presidents run for lower office and why famous personalities gun for high office even without academic credentials and even if criminally convicted. We honor short-term gain over long-term investments. This is why we have an ill-equipped armed forces and education standards that are among the world’s lowest.

To banish old attitudes requires a moral revolution. It all starts by a change in perspective. Our leaders must begin to prioritize the “we” before the “me and us.” Collective interest must reign supreme in the formation of laws and policies. Holding the collective interest primordial is what distinguishes effective governance from the incompetent and corrupt. The Japanese are examples of exemplary public servants whose values are in place.

One can imagine how effective government can be if our leaders gave more to the nation than they took from it…if our leaders prioritized the greater good over that which benefits themselves, their families and friends.

A moral revolution is founded on three basic pillars: the ability to empathize, the ability to compromise and a commitment to empowerment.

Empathy. Too often, our leaders base their decisions on their own assumptions. To empathize is to immerse one’s self in the situation of others and understanding how certain decisions, laws or policies may affect them. This requires deep listening from a place of inquiry, not of denial or bias. Empathy requires our leaders to confront the uncomfortable truth and make decisions from that stand point.

The power of empathy is what compelled Abraham Lincoln to free black Americans from slavery. It is what prompted Congressman John McDuffie and Senator Millard Tydings to champion Philippine independence. Indeed, empathy is the seed of meaningful reforms.

Compromise. Many of our leaders are immovable on their stand. Whether dictated by political lines or personal bias, refusal to compromise never ends well since there will always be winners and losers. Good leaders don’t decide based on “either” or “or” because nothing is absolute. Flexibility is key to effect win-win reforms.

Compromise is what paved the way for peace in the Bangsamoro region.

Empowerment. Our leaders should not be made to solve our problems. Neither should we expect them to. What they must do is empower our people with the tools needed to succeed. This includes education, skills development, infrastructure, fair access to opportunity, access to financial resources and an enabling bureaucracy bereft of red tape, among others. Government becomes effective when it channels its time, effort and resources towards empowerment. It becomes ineffective when it preoccupies itself with political intramurals and self-serving endeavors.

To say that a moral revolution is difficult is an understatement. It requires our leaders to leave behind their egos, personal interests and old habits. It requires them to abandon their positions of privilege. But discomfort is the father of progress.

Cynics may say that a moral revolution for us is a pipe dream. Well, cynics have never been the agents of change. Neither do they create the future. Revolutionary minds do.

I would like to think that President Bongbong Marcos is a revolutionary in mind and heart. After all, he has seen the best and worst in Philippine politics and earnestly wants what’s best for the country. He has the power, the faculties and the support of the majority to champion a moral revolution.

A successful moral revolution, under President Bongbong Marcos’ baton, will forever vindicate the Marcos brand. It will prove his 31 million voters right that indeed, Marcos is the country’s agent of change.

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Andrew Masigan’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan