Analysis and Opinion
By Joe America
A nation is like an aircraft carrier with a banca engine. It moves and changes direction slowly. Or not at all if there are winds and waves like corruption, incompetence, and impunity. A lot of government officials in the Philippines seem to prefer little change because they are rich and powerful even if the nation goes nowhere.
President Marcos has done little during his two years in office by my judgement. He's traveled a lot, internationally and domestically in the Philippines, but it's mostly been putting the shine on the deck. Removing a few barnacles, flying a flag, singing a song. He's not done anything about China's incursions or turned Duterte over to the ICC. He keeps his VP around and a clown named Gadon because he owes political favors. Not because he's building a great nation. Pogo gambling hubs continue to be horrific crime dens and corruption centers.
Gangs of Chinese mainlanders infest the nation, banning Filipinos from their establishments. Chinese miners dig up the valuable Filipino dirt and ship it off to the mainland.. China steals fish from Philippine seas and sells them back to Filipinos. China's corporations dig up Manila Bay to build landfills to house businesses and residential enclaves for Chinese mainlanders. China Telecom operates a cell phone network and State Grid Corporation of China owns 40% of the Philippine electrical grid operator. China's corporations must do whatever China asks.
All this seems strategically stupid to me, but it enriches a lot of entitled Filipinos. I don't exactly see how they can be considered patriots. China is buying the Philippines and the commissions must be huge.
The President has put a wealth investment fund in place that seems to serve no purpose unless it is a place to launder corruption money.
You can tell he is anxious about things because he wants the Constitution amended, probably to extend his term in office. And he is doing silly things like his father did, forcing the nation to sing a loyalty song for him. Talking in big words. Being seen with important people. Trying to look meaningful. Building things that won't be done soon.
The clock is ticking for President Marcos.
The lead candidates for President in 2028 seem to be populists. One is VP and Education Secretary Sara "I Love China" Duterte. The other is Senator Raffy "Radio Voice" Tulfo. Former VP Leni "Basket of Honors" Robredo would probably be third. Marcos' cousin, the designated heir apparent, House Speaker Martin "Imelda's Family" Romualdez, apparently can't get out from behind the podium. A non-starter, idiomatically. The President's sister Imee "Crying Time" Marcos is running ads to try to become popular, but few seem to like or trust her. She seems closer to the Dutertes than to her brother. One could imagine a ticket with Sara Duterte as President and Imee Marcos as VP, but it's kinda dopey to me.
Therein lies the problem for President Marcos. It's likely "one and done".
And the presidency in 2028 is an open field.
President Marcos is not the permanent icon he'd like to be. He's just the son putting on the shine for six years.
The Philippines is likely to remain a huge ship adrift, going nowhere. The President will leave office.
Well, how do you build a Philippines that is not limited by its unimaginative, un-united, dynastic barons? Who genuinely can run the nation to make it great, not coddle family members and friends first and care for the nation if it is convenient?
Three come to mind. Leni Robredo. Risa Hontiveros. Gilbert Teodoro.
The nation does not lack builders.
It lacks the capacity to put them in the driver's seat.
President Marcos does not seem to be a builder. More a showman.
President Marcos has only four years left to reconstruct his family's reputation by improving the Philippines. He needs to make some big decisions fast or he will go out like a lamb, wobbly kneed and wondering what just happened.
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Photo from Kyodo News via Reuters, in the article "Marcos's first year was a mixed bag for the Philippines" published by eastasiaforum.org on January 18, 2024.
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