Why Democracy Can't Work (Yet) in the Philippines (Part 1)

Once again the Philippines' "fragile" democracy is rocked amid coup attempts by military and politicians of the opposition. The already weakened economy is once more taking a bashing it can do without. Interestingly, the Administration, in its attempt to safeguard democracy, declared a state of national emergency. The opposition, in its bid to also safeguard the democracy, called the people to again take to the streets in the hopes of staging an EDSA III. God Almighty, help us! Sometimes I wonder if I should laugh at this circus called Philippine Politics or cry at how we are handling ourselves.

But can democracy really work in the Philippines? I don't think so. At least not in its true form. Democracy calls for a system of checks and balances, a true representation of the People, a court system that protects even the weak, and... well, you get my drift. Utopian? Hardly. I think it can work, but not in the Philippines - at least not yet. I think one of the major setbacks we face is the concept of family. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for family. But this can be a terrible liability when misapplied. A couple of days ago, former President Ramos was interviewed on television and unwittingly exposed the culprit. He said, when asked if he considered himself an adviser to the president, that he was more like a kuya or big brother and that the president also had an ate or big sister in Cory Aquino. He further said that the Philippines is like one big family -- naturally, with the three of them as the "top dogs." Herein lies our problem. In a family, the younger siblings do not correct or tell the kuyas and ates what to do. The younger members of the family are expected to obey the older ones without reservation or hesitation. The juniors are to turn a blind eye to all mistakes and shenanigans committed by their older siblings and even expected not to follow them.

A democracy assumes that the people are intelligent enough (ouch!), mature enough (ouch again!), and disciplined enough(ooh that stings) to govern themselves. I'm not saying Filipinos are dumb. I believe we are not lacking in that department. However, we are quick to react -- to quick for our own good. This is because we are immature and undisciplined -- a terrible byproduct of over 400 years of slavery to various nationalities. We celebrate over 100 years of independence, but we still sport a slave mentality.

We do not have a democracy in the Philippines. We have a mutated form of a democracy and an oligarchy -- a monster, if you will. That's why, like a family, the younger siblings, when they don't get their way, behave like spoiled brats. They cry, complain, rant, and rave till they get their way. Children call it fighting, adults call it coup attempts. For so long as we delude ourselves into thinking we have a democracy, we will continue to fight one another's definition of freedom. How many coup attempts have there been since Marcos was ousted? Almost as many years.

(To be continued)