Our struggle for democracy has never really ended
Last Thursday, the protests were peaceful. The people marched, sang, shouted their slogans. But no property was destroyed, contrary to the expectations of the President.
Now that the outrage is made known to the powers that be, the struggle now is to win back the hearts and minds of people. It's not just fighting fake news and putting the facts out there. We have to let everyone see that things can happen to them.
That this war on drugs has made us fearful. Saying "take care" used to be a little nicety. Now, we mean it literally, because you could turn up dead with a planted .38 caliber gun and a sachet of meth.
That this administration has made us care less about our neighbors.
This cannot be won by calling those who think differently a "Dutertard," a "bobotante" (a portmanteau of "bobo" - "stupid", "botante" - "voter"), or "tanga" ("stupid"). It's this liberal arrogance, the tone of "I told you so" that brought the tyrant into power in the first place.
He played up the hate of the people towards a neglectful establishment which focused more on numbers and charts and less on people. He manufactured numbers of the drug trade and made it look like law and order was the true problem, when still, poverty and corruption loom large.
But despair not. Some of his voters have been shaken by the death of Kian, of Carl, of all those who have died too young and too soon. Some have been disgusted by how the Commission on Human Rights was treated. Some haven't seen the change he promised. Some investors are pulling out.
If they see what's wrong, welcome these voters back with no judgment. Work with them to build a more inclusive democracy. If they don't, be patient. It takes time to change beliefs.
We have taken back the streets and our symbols. It is now time to take back this highjacked democracy.
