Why I Chose To Stay Home
Why I Chose Not to March at EDSA Today
I chose not to physically participate in today’s EDSA rallies, out of disillusionment. I’ve stood at EDSA twice before, during revolts that promised transformation. Those uprisings did lead to changes in government, courtesy of the USA. But it wasn't the kind of justice or progress we were told to expect. Instead, they ushered in a political landscape where the country grew poorer, while congressmen amassed wealth rivaling that of European monarchs. The cost of those revolutions was borne by the people, but reaped by the powerful.
Today’s gatherings at Luneta and the EDSA Shrine felt more like carnivals than calls for reform. The hypocrisy was palpable. Celebrities flocked to the scene, successfully omitting the named of the perpetrators of corruption in their dramatic speeches. So what's the use? They never had the intention of standing in solidarity with ordinary people, but to boost their social media metrics and insist that they are profound in their fake rage. Smiles, selfies, and singing drowned out any semblance of solemnity. Chants for Sara Duterte’s ousting echoed through the crowd, despite her lack of direct involvement in the flood control scandal. The spectacle blurred the line between protest and performance. These fink celebrities used to hate the dictator’s son, but now they praise him just because of money and the irrational hatred of the Dutertes. They don’t even feel shame for their appalling lack of integrity.
Among the attendees were the usual suspects: self-righteous showbiz personalities, opportunistic leftists, alleged insurgents, indoctrinated students, and the very politicians whose corruption we claim to oppose. The irony was suffocating. Rumors swirled that the rallies were bankrolled by the president himself, or perhaps his scheming spouse. Others pointed fingers at the Speaker of the House, infamous for using bribes to silence dissent and bury wrongdoing. If that's true, then these rallies were started by the same corruption they're supposed to fight.
There’s talk that rebel groups and leftist factions are on the Speaker’s payroll, allegedly receiving millions to sabotage the Duterte bloc. If that’s the case, then today’s demonstrations weren’t acts of resistance. They were strategic distractions, designed to fracture the essence of the outrage.
It’s heartbreaking. This could have been a moment to reclaim our nation from the grip of manipulation and congressional rot. But instead, it feels like another missed opportunity. Tomorrow, the crowds will disperse. The hashtags will fade. And the politicians we tried to confront will sit back, laughing, because they know we’re too afraid, too divided, too exhausted to truly hold them accountable.
