"...if Duterte has extraordinary powers granted by the people to enable him to rule with a firm hand and clean up the mess."
When Ferdinand Magellan discovered these islands in 1521 nearly 500 years ago, the Filipinos already had a civilization. But they were not a nation but a bunch of sultanates ruled by rajahs and so the Spaniards conquered us.
When the Philippine Revolution broke out 350 years after Spain colonized us, we saw the dawn of Filipinos as a nation but were still a bunch of squabbling tribes. Our leaders fought among themselves. Aguinaldo versus Bonifacio. Aguinaldo and Buencamino versus Luna. And so the Americans conquered us.
When we were given autonomy as a Commonwealth, we continued to squabble. Quezon versus Aguinaldo. Nacionalistas versus Federalistas.
After the Americans granted us independence 50 years later, we still remained as tribes. Our independence was a mirage. The Americans dictated to Manuel Roxas how to deal with the Huks. Col. Edward Lansdale wrote the speeches of Ramon Magsaysay.
Ferdinand Marcos was the first to really instill a sense of nationhood. He decreed a national language. By firm rule he was able to unite a nation. He began to move towards a more independent foreign policy by opening diplomatic relations with Moscow. Had it not been for the extravaganza of Imelda who saw herself as a Hollywood star and the assassination of Ninoy Aquino who was the victim of a feud within the Cojuangco family that was conveniently blamed on Marcos who by this time had fallen sick, Ferdinand Marcos could have been a great president.
After the departure of Marcos which the Americans had decided in order not to destabilize the Philippines where two of its largest military bases outside the US were located, the Americans also picked Cory to succeed Marcos. The oligarchs returned to power. Our independence was still a mirage.
Thirty years after Edsa, Rodrigo Duterte was elected. The Filipinos had woken up. They picked a poor mayor from Mindanao who had no colonial mentality over the rich oligarch Mar Roxas whom Noynoy Aquino, an American lapdog, had anointed, to become president.
But the squabbling continues, this time between oligarchs who want to retain control of the political system they had long dominated and the marginalized who seek change and an end to a feudal political system.
Can unity be achieved as a nation? Yes, if Duterte breaks the oligarchy. Yes, if the insurgents and separatists agree to come to peace terms. Yes, if we can control terrorism supported by ISIS.
It's a tall order. It can only be done if Duterte has extraordinary powers granted by the people or through Marcos-style martial law to enable him to rule with a firm hand and clean up the mess.
Source: FB (June 2017)
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