Thread by @jeffcrisostomo

[THREAD] The majority of Filipinos in poverty often determine the results of elections. Those with privilege often blame them for electing the wrong leaders because they "lack education."

Let's make things clear: They don't lack education. They are DENIED quality and accessible education by those who benefit from our morally bankrupt system. They want to keep the poor dependent.

They want to keep the poor poor. They provide dole-outs that are enough to last for a short time to keep them temporarily happy, but not enough to raise their quality of life.

Those who cling to power will never allow the masses to gain the education that will open their eyes, provide them with a better chance at life and the courage and power to demand change.

Citizens with privilege are sometimes complicit in this set-up, especially those who gain from the capitalist system that fuels our politics. Just look at our legislators—many of them have business interests.

So, no, our fight is not merely calling on government to provide better education. First, we, people in positions of privilege, should open our minds to this reality and open our hearts to those victimized by the trapo-capitalist system.

Second, we engage those who have less not by telling them what is right based on our perspective. We put ourselves in their shoes, examine their motivations for voting. We will not 'educate' them because doing so would place us at the higher rung of the ladder.

We can't make others listen if we are shouting from above. We speak to them face to face, at the same level. We empathize and we listen. By being 'educated', we have too many assumptions already about the electoral behavior of the poor.

We need to dismantle these assumptions if we want to engage them effectively. Starting a conversation where you already believe that you are right and that the one you're talking to is wrong will go nowhere. It will turn into a debate that will end in a stalemate.

My usual practice is to talk to people I meet everyday. When I was still in Manila, I open conversations about politics with taxi drivers & waiters at the bar I frequent. That's difficult to do now because of the pandemic, but if we truly believe we know better, we can find ways.

We begin by finding an issue to talk about. Instead of focusing on personalities involved, we should zero in on fundamental values and concepts that we can agree on, i.e. basic rights, accountability of officials, people's participation in governance, etc.

Once you have laid out the foundations (shared fundamental values), you lead the discussion to the point where you both agree on what should happen or what should be done.

Sometimes, they will exhibit resistance. Be patient. Do not invalidate their emotions or convictions. Instead, calmly present an alternative point of view. I'll include in this thread a conversation I had with a taxi driver in 2015, before the 2016 elections—

November 2015—

Usapan namin ni Manong Taxi Driver ilang linggo na ang nakakaraan; matagal 'tong naka-save sa laptop ko. Haha!—

Manong Taxi Driver: Dapat tumakbo na si Duterte para mabalik na ang death penalty.

Me: Bakit, kuya? Para saan?

Driver: Para matakot na ang mga tao at mabawasan ang krimen.

Me: Kuya, wala naman pong kongkretong patunay na nakakabawas ng krimen ang death penalty. May mga pag-aaral na sinasabing nakakabawas ito, mayroon ding mga pag-aaral na nagsasabing hindi.

Driver: Ah, basta, sa tingin ko talaga, mas matatakot ang mga tao na gumawa ng krimen pag may bitay.

Me: Kuya, parang ayaw ko namang mabuhay sa bansa na takot ang pinapairal para magkaroon ng peace and order.

Me: Kunyari, kayo mismo, maakusahan ng isang krimen na alam ninyong hindi ninyo ginawa. Kaya niyo po bang makakuha ng matinong abugado?

Driver: Hindi. Wala akong pambayad sa ganyan.

Me: Ayun na nga po. Kung ganun nga ang mangyari, tapos wala kayong maayos na abugadong madedepensahan kayo sa korte, payag pa rin kayo na may death penalty kahit alam ninyo na malaki ang posibilidad na matatalo kayo sa kaso?

Driver: <tumahimik saglit>

Me: Pag may death penalty po, napakadali para sa mayayaman na makakuha ng mahuhusay na abugado para manalo sa korte. Pero ang mahihirap? Paano po sila?

Driver: Mayroon namang PAO (Public Attorneys Office).

Me: Kuya, hindi po lahat ng kaso mahahawakan ng PAO. Mabibigat din po ang case load ng mga abugado nila. Maaari pong makatulong sila, pero hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon.

Driver: <tumahimik ulit>

Me: So, kuya, pabor pa rin kayo sa death penalty?

Driver: Parang hindi na po.

Me: So iboboto niyo pa rin po si Duterte?

Driver: Hindi na. Haha!

Me: Haha! Winner ka, kuya.

Ganern. Engage with respect. Convert your assertions about fundamental values into personal questions that can spur critical thinking on their part. And lastly, don't stop. Ours is a constant battle. Never lose hope.

Love + Laban,
Mamshie