Maka-Masa, o Pang-Masa Lang? A Thinking Citizen’s Guide to Philippine Politics

By John Renzo J. Cabunagan

(Last of three parts)

Adopting Ricky Lee’s concept of taong panloob, allow me to put forward the following proposition: taong panloob represents our truths while taong panlabas represents our reality. Now, let me introduce my personal take on the distinction between personality and character. When asked the question, “Ano ang gusto mo pamaayuhon sa imo kaugalingon?” (What in yourself do you want to improve on?) My answer would always be, “Mga bagay nga indi makita.” (Things that cannot be seen.) It is easy for one to assume that personality is among those things but, at least to me, that is not the case. This is based on the supposition that personality has something to do with how we are perceived by others, which does not run far from its definition in the conventional sense.

Personality pertains to the unique way we think, act, and feel, and is made up of the physical, psychological, emotional, and social aspects of our being. Meanwhile, character refers to our moral and ethical qualities and comprises our core beliefs and moral principles (Fleming, 2023). Taking all the learnings from this section, it can then be concluded that taong panloob is in a certain manner synonymous with character as taong panlabas is with personality.

Ricky Lee’s concept is also reminiscent of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant’s view of the self (inner self and outer self). While further reading has led me to believe that it does not offer much usefulness to this discourse, it reminded me of his works in ethics (moral philosophy) and aesthetics (the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty, art and taste). Having taken both subjects in college, it evoked a single word that is consistent with the aforementioned definition of character: values.

Values are core beliefs or ideals that help us determine what is desirable (or good) or undesirable (or bad). These beliefs shape our worldview, and can influence our behavior, personality, perceptions, and motivation. Influenced by cultural backgrounds and personal experiences, values can vary from person to person. Each of us can hold multiple values or sets of values, and the importance we assign to each can differ depending on the circumstances, such as having to choose between competing values like family and wealth (Weinstein, 2023).

When discussing values, what comes to mind? In my case, it starts with the question: Ano ang pinakaimportante nga bagay para sa akon? (What is the most important thing for me? Or, what do I care about the most?) This then leads to a series of unending questions: Ano ang gusto ko pamatud-an sa kabuhi? (What do I want to prove in life?) Ano gid bala ang ginapakigbato ko? (What am I fighting for?) Or, as the popular coffee commercial goes, “Para kanino ka bumabangon?” But ultimately, wherever that road takes me, I always find myself asking this: Sin-o ako? (Who am I?)

A belief I’ve held dear for some time now is that it is our values that give meaning to our existence. Working on this essay made it apparent that it is so because our values determine who we are. In other words, our identity in its truest form. Maybe when I’m older, I will be able to come up with a more vivid explanation. Perhaps by then, I will have my own personal experiences to relate this to rather than a mere concoction of ideas. But for now, to give this section a proper conclusion, I am putting forward these propositions: Meaning-making requires understanding of the self. Understanding of the self means understanding how our truths affect our reality. Our truths are represented by our character, which then equates to our values. Therefore, in order to make meaningful decisions, we must be able to define our own true identity.

The Thinking Citizen

“Maka-masa ba ang kandidato mo, o pang-masa lang?” I thought up this question several years ago as a simple tool for deciding who to vote for during the elections, that is, by using critical thinking to ascertain how and why a certain candidate represents the interests of the citizens. Having reached this part of this essay, however, one would agree that it really is not that simple.

Generation Tech’s video featured a scene from Star Wars wherein Padmé Amidala, the character portrayed by Natalie Portman, muttered, “So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause.” These words reflect the profound tragedy of the moment. Democracy, the system in which the citizens have the power to elect their leaders and hold them accountable, is being dismantled under the guise of security and stability. The applause represents how they, either unknowingly or willingly, support the loss of their freedoms without understanding the consequences. It also critiques how populist leaders can rise to power by appealing to people’s fears and desires, particularly in times of crisis. The “thunderous applause” symbolizes how the masses, or at least the Senate, enthusiastically support a populist leader, not realizing how it paves the way for their freedoms to be destroyed.

“Populism is the ivermectin of democracy.” The political scientist Richard Heydarian wrote in his 2021 article titled Polite populism: From Jokowi to Isko. In which, he discusses the evolution and impact of populism in contemporary politics, particularly in the context of the Philippines and Indonesia. It begins by defining populism as a political movement that thrives on public uncertainty and disillusionment with traditional authorities, often offering simplistic solutions to complex issues. While populism raises important questions about governance, it tends to lead to polarization, exclusion of minority voices, and a weakening of democratic institutions. He notes that despite criticisms of populism, it is not going away. He concluded the article by arguing that while populism in its more extreme forms may be harmful to democracy, a ‘polite populism’, which he positions as a more refined version of populism that combines effective leadership with inclusivity and rational policymaking, could offer a viable path for governance in the 21st century.

Populism often functions as a form of identity politics. In general terms, identity politics refers to political movements or ideologies that emphasize the interests and perspectives of a particular social group defined by characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, and religion. These social categories influence how we understand and prioritize certain values, particularly in relation to justice, equality, and social harmony. In the case of populism, it emphasizes the division between “the people” (the masses) and a set of elites or “outsiders” who are portrayed as corrupt, out-of-touch, or harmful to the common good (Müller, 2016).

In a way, the rise of populism in the Philippines is also the result of a collective struggle, one that was driven by increasing public dissatisfaction with the chaotic post-EDSA democratic governance, which prioritized the political and economic elite over the average Filipino citizen (Casiple et al., 2016). But at a time when the contemporaneous collective struggle underscores our individual struggles, identities, and values, it is only fitting that we come up with a more individualized solution.

“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” This line was spoken by Gandalf, the character portrayed by Ian McKellen, in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), an epic high fantasy adventure film based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel The Hobbit. I also remember the Nigerian author Chris Abani having written a line with the same message in his 2004 novel GraceLand. Back when I was working for a non-governmental organization that aims to protect, heal, and empower young female survivors of sexual abuse in Western Visayas, I used this very message to explain what a wicked problem is during a staff workshop on climate change. In which, I put forward that complex social and cultural problems that are difficult or impossible to solve call for individual participation.

In a September 2024 article by Rhia Grana on Esquire Philippines titled Today I Learned: Why Filipino Voters End Up Choosing the Wrong Leaders, she discusses the many challenges Filipino voters face in selecting the right leaders and why they often choose poorly. Referencing a podcast that featured political strategist Alan German, the article highlighted the importance of empathy and understanding the voters’ realities. But what is empathy, really? The award-winning animated film Ian (2018) teaches us that empathy does not only involve seeing things from another person’s perspective. It also entails sharing their emotions. This can then lead to compassion and actions that improve the other person’s situation. While admittedly easier said than done, this comprises the penultimate proposition of this essay: A thinking citizen is also a feeling citizen.

In Kara David’s November 2024 I-Witness documentary titled Huling Kalam ng Tiyan, she presents the story of Ningning and her family, who lived in Payatas, a community in the Philippines plagued by extreme poverty and a reliance on “pagpag” (food scavenged from garbage). It highlights their struggles and the transformative journey that led them out of poverty. Ningning recounts an existential realization (right after when her family was first featured in the same program in 2007) that led to her family’s turning point, “Oo nga, yung mga anak ko naglalakihan na. Mag-aaral na ng high school, college soon. Kung doon lang ako sa basura, hindi po siya realistic para sa akin na mangyayari yung mga pangarap ko para sa mga anak ko. Tapos, bumuo na po ako ng pangarap ko.”

Despite spending more than fourteen years collecting food scraps and living in dire conditions, Ningning and her family persevered through hard work and determination. Over time, their situation improved. The family was able to replace their rundown home with a new, more comfortable one. Her children, once embarrassed by their situation, grew motivated to change their lives and pursue education. While the documentary also underscores the continued challenge of alleviating hunger in the country, the family’s story is a testament to resilience, the power of education, and the impact of community support in overcoming poverty. This leads us to our final proposition: With adequate government action and societal empathy (to help families like Ningning’s break free from the cycle of poverty), any citizen can be a thinking citizen.

The 2025 Philippine general election will determine the fate of 18,721 positions across various levels of government. May we see it as not just another chance at a better future by choosing our leaders. May we see it as an opportunity to redefine our national identity by turning to account our collective ability to think, and more importantly, to feel. May it be not another narrative of choosing sides and proving who is right but that of knowing ourselves better by reevaluating our existing values and forming new ones – and of helping others do the same by exercising empathy in its truest manifestation.

Let this be our story. Let this be the spirit of our time.

Notes

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