Have you ever wondered why political issues in the Philippines are easily forgotten? Despite history being taught in schools, documentaries on television, and news media producing historical movies and series, Filipinos still often forget what happened before.
The Predictable Pattern of Political Scandals
In the Philippines, political issues follow a predictable pattern. It always starts when a scandal is exposed, such as corruption being revealed in the news. After the exposure, people present evidence, documents, figures reaching billions, and name those involved. Once the public sees the evidence, they rant on social media, demanding accountability from every government agency, from the executive to the judiciary. Then, follow-up investigations are announced, and hearings begin.
It feels like justice is within the people's hands. Everyone tunes in to radios, watches the news, and debates the issues. However, the legal process is so slow that new issues emerge, shifting public attention. The anger gradually fades away.
This is how a political issue unfolds in the Philippines — another episode of demanding and forgetting.
The Cycle in Action
During the fourth State of the Nation Address of the President, flood control issues were announced, but then another issue emerged regarding confidential funds, which upset many Filipinos. The corruption scandal led to protests across the country, demanding accountability.
In most cases, especially graft and corruption cases, it takes years to resolve. This allows those involved time to rebrand themselves and appeal to the public to regain trust. Some people forget the accusations and disregard the issue's weight. When they get elected again, another hopeless cycle begins. Therefore, forgetting is not accidental; it is a natural result of a slow system designed to deliver quick and meaningful consequences.
The Problem Isn't Lack of Care
To assume that political issues die easily because people do not care enough is unfair when the system is so slow to deliver justice. Those who marched, followed the news, and stayed informed do care. The problem is not caring enough but staying engaged for a long time with such an issue is exhausting because the system is slow to deliver what is supposed to be delivered. It is us staying engaged versus the slow system.
This slow system has made it clear that it is manageable for the convicted and accused to dodge consequences. We have seen senators, congressmen, and higher-ups who were once convicted and accused, now chilling, smiling, flying in and out of the country, and getting reelected. It is evident. Why are we still not learning?
The Cost of Delay
Each delay and unresolved case reduces accountability and allows corruption to continue. Exhaustion is a natural response for those who stay engaged but face a failing system. However, exhaustion should not be seen as weakness. We can be exhausted for a moment, but we should not stop because we are tired. We can be exhausted for a moment, but we should never forget. Stopping attention and forgetting paves the way for corruption to exist and could destroy us as a nation. Therefore, we can only be exhausted but can never stop demanding and fighting.
They may rebrand who they were, but we should never forget what they have done to us. Every moment of silence and forgetting is another moment of power for those who abused it.
