Political Situations of the Philippines

Today’s political situation in the Philippines is, much like every other country, at the center point of
contemporary debate both online and in physical spaces. As tension between various world superpowers
arise, the effects can be felt within the local spaces of all other nations. The Philippines, a crucial country when
it comes to US-China relations, constantly have a pulse in these international bouts, causing worrying
problems concerning both our international relationships and internal welfare. It is safe to say that our current
political situation is proving divisive for many Filipinos both in and out of the country, as our economy is heavily
reliant on the current political era. An example of this is the high price of living in the Philippines.
Though inflation rates are expected to come down within this year, prices for goods and necessities are
still causing unrest in Filipinos, with the majority 34.4% of Filipino families earning between 9,100 to 18,200
every month, putting most Filipinos in the low-income bracket. This can be attributed to improper use of
national funds, lack of assistance towards essential economic sectors, unwise international business deals,
political instability, and corruption, which is still alarmingly present to this very day. This economic and political
environment over the years has created a distinct Filipino mindset that heavily romanticizes the unhealthy
“24/7 grind,” leaving Filipinos with a little to no sense of hope for changing the current economic situation with a
lot of Filipinos even migrating to other countries for greater pastures and provide for their families. With
sentiments such as “Maghihirap parin naman tayo kahit sino iboto natin, kaya magtrabaho nalang tayo” being
fed continuously to people, it starts to become clear how this fetishization of hardship cycles back into our
society’s values and leaves most Filipinos feeling indifferent towards our current political and social zeitgeist,
with Filipinos often seeing politicians as a sacred, untouchable, and irrefutable higher powers instead of
employed workers who are supposed to serve the greater population.
This political indifference is unfortunately fueled even more by the average Filipino’s lack of quality
education. With poverty still being a pressing issue that barres young Filipinos from attending school and poor
management of resources and infrastructure funding in education for those who are able, Filipinos are
unfortunately raised to be clueless as to how politics in our society and history is properly internalized and
processed. This issue has often been exploited by politicians, knowing that an uneducated population is less
likely to be able to analyze political issues. This lack of education also feeds into the mechanism of
irresponsible voting where politicians are often sensationalized and advertised in order to gain the masses’
trust and unverified information that puts politicians in a certain light is shared freely. This matter is still
observed today, with elections mostly being a battle between which politicians have the loudest jingle or the
wackiest television advertisement.
Another issue we are facing in today’s political society is tribalism. Due to factors such as: social class,
education level, geographical and political region, and religious beliefs, Filipinos, which encapsulates a
massive and diverse population containing various ethnicities, groups, and religions, are often divided into
voting blocks which politicians count on in order to gain power. The typical Filipino’s innate sense of community
can often negatively materialize into an unhealthy sense of tribalism, making a lot of Filipinos unnecessarily
“ride-or-die” with their chosen political party or politician. This creates an irresponsible sense of undying loyalty,
leading to the inability to see past one’s biases. Tribalism can also indoctrinate people into a certain way of
thinking as sinking deeper into your own “tribe’s” beliefs, values, and opinions is often rewarded whereas being
critical of even your own side is looked down upon. Through social media, this issue is amplified even more as
the air of decency and physicality is lost, causing highly-emotional arguments between people of different
tribes, further dividing each block and locking people in their own “echo-chambers” where people only share
their own opinions and beliefs. This large divide between people can prove extremely problematic as having a
nuanced and varied set of beliefs, values, and opinions is crucial for having a healthy stance on politics and
allows more civilized and intellectual political discourse with people who don’t necessarily share the same
opinions.
Some great examples of tribalism can be seen in both the last presidential and senatorial elections and
the current internal conflict within the people in office. The last election saw the “tribes” of Leni Robredo, former
left-wing vice president of the Philippines, Sara Duterte, Daughter of the controversial former president Rodrigo
Duterte, and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos takes on what could
only be described as a “war on ideology.” Over the years leading to the election period, these three tribes took
center-stage when in the contemporary political ecosystem. During this time, political discourse (mainly
through the internet) can be described as confusing, emotional, and immature. Rampant rise of misinformation,
historical misinterpretation, grifting, mudslinging, trolling, and bullying were observed at an all-time high. Due to
tribalism, arrogance, and lack of education, these groups often went at each other’s throats for their own
beliefs and opinions, leaving no room for healthy exchange of ideas and analysis. This ultimately led to two of
these tribes, both having fundamentally different beliefs and politicians backed by opposing countries, to
temporarily team up and combine their tribes in order to take over the elections. As of today, these two tribes
have then started to engage aggressively with each other as tensions between the figurehead politicians of
each group has started to rise.
As our country’s political situation moves, corruption ensues, and living conditions for Filipinos seem to
not be improving, it might feel easy to be pessimistic and lose hope, however, current political events has
sparked curiosity and discourse among younger voters. Younger Filipinos are encouraged to be more
politically aware and tune into the current political and social environment and are actively engaging with each
other through the internet. With various backed-up and verified information to scroll through, researching our
past and current political activities has never been easier. Filipinos are tapping into this wealthy bank of
information, surveys, interviews, and historical data to build a more nuanced political belief system. The
presence of outspoken and active professionals such as historians, political analysts, activists, and journalists
in social media make politics easier to get into and study while misinformation and grifting is being cracked
down upon at an accelerating pace. More and more political controversies are starting to broadcast themselves
through independent means and the value of being educated is rising. It’s safe to say that we as a nation have
a long way to go, but there is hope that the future generation of Filipinos will be more educated, more politically
aware, and more socially progressive than the last.
In conclusion, the Philippines grapples with a multifaceted political landscape, encompassing economic
hardships, tribalism, and a lack of education. While challenges persist, the emerging engagement of younger
generations in political discourse offers a glimmer of hope for a more informed and progressive future.
Addressing issues of corruption, promoting education, and fostering open dialogue are crucial steps toward
building a resilient and equitable political society in the Philippines.
Stay informed through reliable news sources, engage in constructive discussions, and consider participating in
local community events or forums to better understand diverse perspectives. Being an informed and active
citizen contributes positively to the democratic process.