“That’s my mayor!” It doesn’t seem to matter when that statement was written or which mayor it was referring to. It’s something most of us have read and heard time and time again. But in the past few weeks, two officials seem to be the talk of the town.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has always been a political rockstar. Lauded as “Cinderella Man” in a 2012 Philippine Star feature, he managed to make his way from Tondo, to local show business, and now, to the city’s highest seat of power. His strong statements against his predecessor as well as his bold reforms have catapulted him to the top of our social media timelines.
Metro Manila cities reborn
Moreno himself led the clearing operations in the congested and polluted streets of Divisoria, Recto, and Quiapo. And days after he stepped on feces in front of the Andres Bonifacio monument, we find the area being vigorously cleaned by public workers.
On the other hand, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto became the nation’s darling after the young politician toppled the 27-year rule of the Eusebio clan in Pasig. The former councilor who once campaigned for anti-corruption measures within the city is now heading the launch of a local freedom of information center named “Ugnayan ng Pasig.”
Sotto has also earned praise after he was recorded telling the Zagu management and staff to respect the picketers’ right to protest last July 8. He addressed the company later in a Facebook post saying, “Hindi nagkaroon ng strike kung nakipag negosyasyon kayo ng maayos […] Sumunod kayo sa batas. Galangin niyo ang mga karapatan ng inyong manggagawa.” (There wouldn’t be a strike if you negotiated properly… Follow the law. Respect the rights of your workers.)
O ye, of little faith
All eyes are on these two young mayors. It is worrisome, however, how their every statement is featured in dozens of articles or how simple inspections in monuments and other landmarks have been live streamed in various media outlets.
The public must remain vigilant regardless of our leaders’ true intentions and whether or not politicians’ policies align with progressives. Political patronage and blind loyalty have victimized the country for decades. Countless accounts of human rights violations have been disregarded from the time of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, to former president Cory Aquino, to the present administration simply because we refuse to admit that our political idols are not the people we thought out to be. Orchestrated by the opposition, destabilization measures, biased media outlets—the excuses never seem to run out.
While toppling a political dynasty himself, we forget that Sotto is a member of another. And while he can’t control the way his family runs things, will he have the guts to condemn his uncle’s sexist remarks or oppose his controversial statements on timely political issues such as human rights and disputes about the West Philippine Sea? In Moreno’s case, we fail to see that the little convenience a Manileño experiences along the cleared streets of Manila could also mean the loss of livelihood of another.
Beyond the rose-tinted glass
The cities of Manila and Pasig need change. No one can deny that. The polluted, congested streets, and corruption within its governing bodies have no doubt caused the systemic and pervasive poverty within its borders. As well as it is true that somebody with a strong political will is needed to implement the proper reforms. Sounds familiar?
Forgive the cynicism. Sure, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. But branding Moreno and Sotto as the new faces of young, progressive leaders who will lead the country to its much-awaited development is simply misguided. One verse from Tony award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton (2015) sings: “We want our leaders to save the day, but we don’t get a say in what they trade away. We dream of a brand new start, but we dream in the dark for the most part.”
No one politician can save this country. Our support and dissent must rely on our own principles, not on the stances of our political idols. Progressive or not, these politicians’ actions must not be placed on high ground because that is how it should have been done in the first place. Appreciating their commitment to their responsibilities is one thing, but allowing them to bask in the praises of the public is another.
They both hold great promise. But this isn’t the first time a public official made bold statements against a corrupt, incompetent system empowered by their predecessor, and vowed to end it. Before we think about putting our new officials on a pedestal, or even so, a higher seat of power, know that there was once a strongman mayor whom everybody believed in. And he ended up condoning the murder of more than 6,000 people he swore to protect.
