The Problem of the Liberals

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By Christopher Ryan Maboloc 

The moral politics of liberals have been tested since the time of PNOY but it achieved nothing in terms of changing the lives of millions of Filipinos. We are still under the same oligarchic system and nothing in the words of their potential candidates manifest any competence to address the lingering issue of structural injustice in the country. This is why all that they do, even if they present themselves as clean and the ultimate purveyors of accountability, won't work. EDSA has not delivered on its promise of change. Time and again, the moral framing of the adversaries of Vice President SaraDuterte, portraying her with a bad image, won't work because it is elitist and condescending. 

Politics in the Philippines has a lot to do with sentiments, not with labels, especially so when it comes to electing the President. The highest leader of the land will not only represent the people who believes in a cause, but someone who people can identify as one who is with them. Young people who are idealistic will of course stick to their moral framing. Let them be. Their experience today, which is very much influenced by social media, is different from the older generation who have struggled against a dictatorship. For instance, no amount of policy posturing, like the proposal to reduce the VAT just to win the sympathies of people can elevate any potential candidate to the top. It is not enough to make the candidates of the liberals win in 2028.

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