The people vs. the tradpol

The events in the current political campaign leading to the May 2022 election while not unexpected, have socio-political components that may change the politics and governance of the Philippines in the coming years. It is developing very fast that the traditional politicians’ (tradpols) reactions were unsure and lack direction. The ongoing phenomena I refer to, is the massive and increasing involvement of ordinary people from all walks of life, from all demographic, economic, and geographic sectors in the presidential campaign of Robredo.

What has happened and is still happening, is the enormous volunteerism from multiple sources, of donations of time, talent, and money for her campaign; resources that would translate to billions of pesos if valued and paid for. These resources are donations coming from all economic and social classes, various professional associations, religious organizations, labor unions, private and public employees, small and big business people, students, retirees, and individual persons who believe in Robredo. These volunteers have organized online and physical rallies/campaigns, funded by their own group or in collaboration with other volunteer groups that have gathered or talked to millions of voters all over the country. They have deluged the social media with their campaign spiel and even gone on a house-to-house campaign. All this with minimal expenses for the Robredo headquarters, as most of the materials, legwork, campaign materials, and necessary supplies are provided by the volunteers. Volunteers are even contributing as low as ?500 online for some campaign activities, and the talents and endorsements of the simplest supporters to the most popular celebrity endorsers are “gratis”. It is an avalanche of citizens action and contributions for the Robredo campaign.

The tradpols’ response, especially of incumbents in their elected positions, to this flexing of people power has been tentative and uncertain. The more informed and morally inclined, initiated alignment with the sentiments of the people. But those who got to their positions by guns, gold, and unrestrained power play are sticking to their ways in this 2022 elections. This set the stage for “the people versus the tradpols” now ongoing. The Robredo camp representing the people power and the BBM camp the traditional politicians.

There are plenty of historical and international parallels of an awakened citizenry realizing and asserting their political power in democratic and undemocratic regimes, with bloody repercussions in authoritarian states. However, the best example of a least bloody people power uprising would be the 1986 People Power Revolution in the Philippines that toppled the Marcos dictatorship. The masses that gathered in EDSA and in other places in the Philippines on that day were all volunteers who shared their frustration and provisions with each other on those momentous days. While that revolution was successful in ending the tyranny, it lacked the follow through to install solid democratic institutions and processes to embed the primacy of the power of the people. Over the years, the Marcoses and their allied oligarchy slowly clawed back to power funded by their enormous stolen wealth. Then the ascendancy of the friendly administrations of Arroyo and Duterte made them make the major move to aim for the presidency and rehabilitate the Marcos name and legacy.

The outcome of the coming election will not diminish the resurgence of people power in the Philippines. It will continue to pursue and complete the 1986 revolution to strengthen our democratic ideals to make elected officials and the government accountable to the people for their actions and governance. This power re-discovered cannot be put back in the steel drum. The progress of information technology and social media are boosters for this resurgent people power, so the people will be the winner.