More than Shock and Outrage

In the aftermath of the Massacre in Mindanao, the whole nation has expressed indignation amid cries for justice. The massacre happened even after repeated calls for the government to show its political will on the side of peace and justice. It does not matter whether the lives lost were those of journalists, wives, sisters or lawyers. What matters is whether or not we can truly render obsolete such political killings. We can no longer be contented with our cries, nor stand over the bodies of the Filipinos who have innocently died at such terror without walking away the wiser.

We, the women of Teresa Magbanua (TERESA), call on everyone to go beyond the emotions of shock and outrage, beyond the facebook activism that comfort us with little gain, and beyond the usual finger-pointing at government and law enforcers. We have to admit that violence of this scale exists because there continues to be a space for it. We have marginalized people, made them hungry and jobless, kept our women powerless while we have kept warlords wealthy, goons armed, and promoted politics as largely a game for the rich. It has been said that it is now cheaper for politicians to simply eliminate opponents by any means other than to run against them.

TERESA CALLS FOR MEANINGFUL ELECTIONS AND REAL STRUCTURAL CHANGE. As long as we keep to our habits of voting the most-funded, believing in the handsomest, succumbing to undemocratic rhetoric, and trusting in dynasties of any shade, our fledgling democracy will always be rudely awakened by the violent renditions of these biases.

We have always professed to love democracy but we have sadly fallen short of realizing and promoting democratic ideals of tolerance, fairness, access to equal opportunities, and the universality of human rights. Many still believe that egregious power is the only access to a good quality of life. THE TIME IS NOW TO END THIS DISTORTION. It is time to look beyond the usual and act against the trend and re-write this nation’s destiny.

These coming elections are an opportunity to intervene in the nation's politics. It is up to us as citizens to learn about social justice and who among the candidates are capable of leading us into real societal change. WE NEED TO BE STAKEHOLDERS of every Filipino life, none more valuable than another. Only then are we sincerely advocate democracy and progress.




Tet Gallardo
CPRP