Thread by @jeffcrisostomo

[THREAD/RANT] Congresspersons are sometimes afraid to lose funding for their districts if they go against the Administration.

No money = no projects = less happy constituents = less votes.

Partly, nasa tao rin talaga ang problema. Many elect Reps because they have their names displayed in infra projects, coupons, etc. It's not just name recall. We often fall victim to patronage politics which conditions us to be 'grateful' to politicians who 'give' to the people...

...even if the money they use is really ours to begin with as taxpayers.

Congressmen who use government funds to please people. People who elect Congressmen because of patronage-borne gratitude. Chicken. Egg. We're all part of a rotten system.

So your Representatives in Congress sometimes vote they way they do because the people who elected them also enable them. Okay, fine, hindi naman tayong *lahat*, but we're all complicit. We have to admit that first so we can break free when we decide we want to change the system.

Ang hirap 'no? Where do we start? Elect progressive leaders ba kaagad to create changes in the system through policy? Pwede, pero hindi kakayanin nang maramihan in one electoral cycle. Iilan lang ang makakapasok tapos magiging lone voices in the wilderness sila.

Or do we start with the people? Change the way they look at government and how it works AND HOW IT SHOULD WORK.

Palagay ko ang unang bahagi ng proseso ay magbuo ng hanay. Build grassroots groups that create ripples of change. We make the waves later on when we come together.

Join an advocacy organization. Join a progressive group or party (not mainstream trapo parties). Form your own. Pwedeng may specific cause: FOI, anti-dynasty, good local governance, people's participation in government, Consti education, empowerment of marginalized sectors, etc.

Maraming pwedeng simulan at gawin. Start in your workplace. Start in your school or dorm. Start in your barangay. Start in your own homes.

So hindi simpleng "Hey, Cong, change your vote now na!" ang tanging dapat gawin. Systemic at multi-layered ang mga problema at solusyon.

Itong galit natin sa Terror Bill vote, super late na, actually. The bill went through SEVERAL steps before it reached the plenaries of the House and Senate. The moment it was filed, we should have acted.

Nakakalungkot na napagtatanto lang natin na napuno na ang salop nung nalunod na ito. Parang 'yung isyu ko sa student leaders na magla-lobby lang for a higher budget for education nung nasa plenaryo na rin ang General Appropriations Act, hindi man lang nung committee level pa.

Hindi ko naman sinasabing kasalanan natin ang lahat. Kasalanan naman talaga ng mga gago at ganid sa gobyerno. What I'm saying is that we are PARTLY responsible. And if we recognize that, mas madali nating maisasaisip na may dapat tayong punan na pagkukulang.

Sa dulo, bawat bahagi ng proseso ng paggawa ng batas na makakaapekto sa ating lahat, mayroong espasyo para sa atin para makilahok at makialam. The trapos will deny us these spaces. Kaya mahalagang makita natin na may karapatan tayong mag-demand at may kakayahan tayong maggiit.

We have to always always always fight for our right to occupy our seat at the table of governance and policymaking. Hindi ito kusang ibibigay sa atin ng nagpakasasa na sa kapangyarihan. Ipagdadamot ito sa atin. Kailangan natin ng lakas ng loob para kunin ito.

Sa ngayon, iniisip ng iba sa atin: "Paano? I don't have time. I have work/school. May COVID pa, bawal lumabas!"

Make time. Your other equally important job is being a citizen. Learning can also happen outside the school. Bawal man lumabas pero makakahanap ka ng paraan.

These are what make us Filipinos. Embedded 'yan sa kasaysayan at DNA natin. At some point, may mga mamumuno at makakapagbigay sa atin ng chance na makasama sa laban. Sunggaban niyo kaagad 'yung chance na 'yan. Minsan small window period lang 'yan. Go go go!

Love + Laban,
Mamshie