Written by Kirstein Velasquez

These are the times that try men’s souls.

Our leaders grab us by the neck and demand us to look. Here lies on the pool of blood, these innocent lives of wrongfully accused Filipinos. The poor and the grimy, the activists and the thinkers, the boisterous and unafraid—they never stood a chance to be free from the devilish clutch of those in power.

The one seated at the highest chair of the country remains vehement in his pursuit of absolute control through coercion, intimidation, and propaganda machines. Our country’s biggest traitor is the president. He lured the voters with his lascivious jokes, his heavily accented voice, and his promise of freedom. He promised freedom from the ever-persisting problem of drugs, corruption, and terrorism. It was a promise. 

They say he was an icon for an ordinary Filipino. But dare I say, an ordinary Filipino never murders and molests and makes the community a living hell. We realized it far too late when he prides the pool of blood broadcasted on the media when he threatens the dissenters that things will get worse than this. The president once hailed as an icon for an ordinary Filipino has revealed his true colors.  

Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.

As the national elections draw closer, we wait in bated breath. We hope that we will not commit the same mistakes. We constantly remind ourselves to not be enticed by promises of freedom in any other form. Because we know the ones who promise freedom are those more inclined to subjugate those who trusted them.

But fighting for the right candidate will be a grueling task. When malicious information spreads faster than the real and credible ones, chaos and distrust prevail among the voting population. It terrifies me. I am terrified by the realization that we are not simply convincing mere supporters and casual voters. We are fighting against poor, brainwashed individuals manipulated by the propagandized information system.

Isn’t it ironic how the president they devoted themselves to and who promised them freedom now cages them inside a box of misinformation?

Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Due to this great divide within our voting population, we should remain steadfast in our efforts of bringing light into the darkest recesses of our society. We should not be silenced by the intimidation, rather we use it as fuel that ignites the fire that will burn the current dictatorship to the ground.

How can we be free in this time of rampant human rights violations and exploitation of power?

We use our votes wisely. We must advocate for the candidate who does not promise freedom. Because this candidate knows that the people can free themselves regardless of who leads the country. Instead, this candidate should promise healing and rehabilitation in life, in property, and every aspect of our society. The candidate should promise to reunite the factions divided by fanatics and propaganda. Lastly, the candidate should serve the people and not the interest of maintaining their power.

Because in the end, it is only through the healing and unity of our people do we truly free ourselves from the damage the previous administration had inflicted upon us.