The Philippines is much more divided than ever. It is a chilling picture to look at. Scary and very dim … or maybe not.
It appears that in the Philippines you can see the entire scenario from your own perspective. You decide what you want to see and remind clueless or blind to other areas you wish to ignore.
Are we living in a virtual reality? Where everything can be shaped and dictated by one’s whimsical desire or imagination?
Very recently we are bombarded left and right with full minute television adds and newspaper spreads on the advocacy for and against charter change.
Ahhhhhhhhh! The latest and most infamous two letter phrase that is waging more havoc to the already wretched national situation.
One.org is an anti-charter change move spearheaded by the opposition, NGO’s, some church and business communities. I respect their stance, believing that the expression of ones freedom is vital to any democracy; however I find the content of their advertisements quite disturbing.
For one thing it’s very simplistic. One.org compared the parliamentary form of government to a children’s party and his guest. They portrayed the change in the form of government to children who gluttonously took all the cake not leaving any for the celebrant. Very myopic and hyper simplified.
If I were from the proponent of charter change, I would not commit this mistake.
But lo and behold, Sigaw ng Bayan did the very same mistake if not worst. Sigaw ng Bayan seems to tell the people that the reason our country is at a lost is due to one single problem and that is the constitution and that if we change it, all our worries and aches can be appeased and we shall enjoy progress.
This is very unrealistic, delusional and creepy making one want to believe to One.org’s grim forecasts
But here is what both One.org and Sigaw ng Bayan is missing, commitment and sincerity for their cause. If I would like to advocate something I would not sugar coat it nor simplify it. I shall raise my advocacies for its merits and defend it earnestly.
Information is vital in very important issues like charter change because we are putting the future in the line. The people need and deserve much more that what these two groups are giving us.
We Filipinos need to know, what are the specific changes in the constitution being proposed?
What the advantages?
Opportunities to be gained?
What are the dangers?
Adverse effects?
Change is constant and unavoidable. But risks are involved and we, the people, need to be equipped with all the proper information to be able to decide on the matter at hand.
So do you wanna do the “cha-cha”?
