Political Idealism, Philosophy and Model of Governance
A. Political Idealism
Our patriotic movement can only be realized by building and adopting a political theory that will reflect our democratic aspirations as one country while recognizing the heterogeneity of our beliefs, culture, and religion. Our idealism questions the fundamental relevance of a constitutional democracy over the lives of ordinary citizens when we despise authoritarianism as a bane to the progress of our country. We recognize the constitution as a social contract between government and citizens and to that our democratic institutions have not responded to the call of the times and all what we gathered after more than three decades of constitutionalism is an absurd pro-colonial dispensation and extreme inequality. The substantive part of constitutional democracy is when we no longer see homeless citizens sleeping under bridges and in sidewalks, or eating leftovers found in garbage can, or justice is denied because they are poor, or sick patient died in a hospital because of lack of medicine and medical attention. We longed for a country where citizens respect and follow ordinances even when nobody is watching and laws are enforced squarely without fear or favor. We longed for a republic, strong and safe, where citizens have accepted a democratic way of life tempered by ethical values, values that reject excessive materialism which corrupt the spirit, for it is in the distortions of our morality which generated a culture of greed and violence. We abhor unbridled capitalism that lead to exploitation of man against man and of the environment, and we raise above our state of nature, that animus dominandi which is nourished and feed by excessive appetites for domination and self-aggrandizement, towards civility and gentleness in our desires for comfort and pursuit of happiness. We are to reform and amend public policies that support the neo-liberal order whose dark head is seen in globalization and structural adjustment policies, which euphemized hegemonic and imperialist motives of superpowers. We stand indignant against all kinds of shameless machinations and political maneuverings by the powers-that-be who can even design profit from their own incompetence and corrupt behavior by using them as an excuse to tamper the basic law, not for reforms, but as a ploy to cover authoritarian tendencies and perpetuate in power.
The fact is we have this country called Philippines where we have established our fellowship with one another and to God. It is in that faith and by its protection, which build sureties of our identity and splendor. Our identity should not cease to exist just because our national patrimony have been ravished by foreign interests. We will not despair even if our means of production are controlled and owned by foreign capital. We will not allow that our fellowmen become squatter in their own land, or remain glorified servants in distant shores just to boast our foreign exchange reserves. We will not allow our farmers to remain destitute and subsistent when they are the one who feed the nation. We still see the light at the end of the tunnel and the republic will be strong, safe and prosperous once our people imbibed our political philosophy and model of governance. With our hearts and minds set for this struggle, soon there will be peace and unity in the land.
B. Political Philosophy
We were men and women even without a republic. We embrace the whole human family in our love and believe in the unity of man under divine providence. It is only by these thoughts that we will be able to respect the rights and care for others and refrain from doing immorality.
We do not exist to serve a government but we create a government to serve our common purpose. We capture political power through the electoral process by establishing a government that will serve our people. And because we desire to establish a responsible government and a prosperous country, we have to educate our people the duties of citizenship and they should be written not in paper but in their hearts and minds. Duty to country must be accomplished by peaceful and progressive tendencies, complemented by a desirable character that will bring forth national harmony, for it is in that love of country that our individual aspirations are fulfilled. We stand firm to our collective spirit, to declare the irrelevance of elitist democracy characterized by individuals who treat public office as a family inheritance and private property and by economic groups who distinguished themselves away from performing their duty country and yet enjoy the protection and favor of our laws to exercise absolute control of the means of production and the wealth of our nation. Our affirmation to the philosophy of libertarian democracy must not equate freedom as an exclusive enjoyment of the privileged class who usually has the upper hand in asserting their interests. Our democratic process should be able to produce equalizing instruments, i.e. public policy, between the rich and the poor, and inculcate the importance of peaceful and democratic elections as a mechanism for effecting reforms rather than a risky exercise that lead to moral regression which is characterized by violence and hatred between brothers, clans, friends and relatives.
We pursue application of the real law of life by principle of social equity or equal sharing of duties and responsibilities. Those who are in position of influence and power must exercise greater social responsibility. Those who are endowed with resource capacity to make improvements in our decrepit state of affairs should be called in service to the country. They should join this patriotic movement and lead our people.
The Party advocates universal brotherhood of man and in the solidarity of peoples who are bound by common aspiration–, that is, to reduce that unity to fact, and not to confine unity as a mere political rhetoric. We hail patriotic citizens and netizens to stand as the building blocks of the party, to serve as the foundation of a truly free and democratic Philippines.
It is erroneous understanding if we yield our duty to country to only a few men whose acts are not in accord with the common good and unfaithful to the obligations of their office. And the measures for which we base our judgment against such skewed representations are the appearance of crisis after crisis reflecting human depravity from reason and civility. These are sufficient basis to conclude that those who enjoy the perks and privileges of power ceased to become representatives of the people but tyrants and usurper of our sovereign will.
It is erroneous to yield to the arrogance of the few to impose upon us and to future generation rules based on their subjective notion and approximations of public good, indeed more grave and insidious if they carry an authority that was derived from fraudulent elections or illegitimate selection. The perils of democracy is when it creates a costly consequence for the country when callous men are tolerated to employ all forms of machinations and sophisticated adhesives in order to reinforce their perpetual claim to the seat of power and establish political dynasty. We abhor to such repulsive political culture when potential public servants become men of war out of frustrations, or when education and affluence can no longer be relied upon as a guarantee for self-regulation against the corrupting influence of power.
Whether Philippines is created by destiny or by circumstances, or by mere accident in history, is of no consequence to this movement. We gather and organize ourselves not by mere appointment of higher powers but to perform an inherent duty to country. We cannot just be spectators waiting the tower of our aspirations tilt to the wrong side of history, neither to sit idly when our fellow-men groans or when the dignity of human nature is violated by falsehood and tyranny. Our minds and hearts will not be consoled by apologists and half-truths alleging we are better off than yester years. No, we reject all forms of justifications from the beneficiaries of falsehood. We have to take back sovereignty from the hands of unaccountable public officials, whatever and whoever they are, and replace them with patriotic people. We may have democratic elections but we elected many of them who really do not have a country of their own. They did not, and do not recognize this country as their own except their own families, cronies, dynasties, and the egoism of their own class.
This economic and social divide arbitrarily sanctioned by bad governments that precede us will soon be over. But even if there is change, we remain vigilant and steadfast to our cause and protect our freedom against future tyrants. The Party therefore shall be a liberating instrument from all these colonial vestiges and shenanigans of traditional politics.
C. Model of Governance
Our model of governance shall be based on strict observance to party discipline and worship of principles and not of worship of interests and opportunity. Governance is a serious business wherein those who are called to serve by elections or by appointments must perform their duty with utmost integrity, responsibility and patriotism. The first test of good governance is when government is able to mobilize people to collectively share the burden when the country is facing a crisis and there is commitment to continually promote redistributive policies that will narrow down the gap between the rich and the poor. The second test is when the government places truth and justice as the highest value in governance. Third, government is autonomous, that while it builds strong international relations, it must be free from vested interests and foreign influences over its domestic policies. Fourth, legitimate governmental authority must have the consent of the governed and the support of the people. Support does not mean majority alone but to include minority views whether it is in parliament or in the streets. It means expanding to the limits the space for democratic participation. The 1987 Constitution adopted a multi-party system as a mechanism to prevent monocratic and totalitarian tendencies. Such liberal-democratic model is to facilitate different political groups to coalesce and form a united front based on principles and fundamental issues and not as mere convergence of personal interests. Fifth, in developmental pursuits, consensus building is necessary for the effective implementation of government policies and programs. The republic spread its beauty by the flourishing of its arts and culture and manifests its strength through able leadership, competence and patriotism.
We form a government free from servile fears and insecurities, keeping at its foundation the people, and that the consequences of its principles are logically translated into specifics, understandable, felt and appreciated by even the most ordinary man in the streets and in remote villages, its outcome the amelioration of all, and that the end of all these human state of affairs is the fulfillment of the mission which God and people has bestowed upon our shoulders.
Tao Muna Partylist #82 