Philippine Democracy Online

By Gerry F. Arambala Chairperson, Philosophy Department La Salle University, Ozamiz City Discussions on President Rodrigo Duterte's radical politics are heating up among young scholars in the South. The works of Patricio Abinales, Heidi K. Gloria, and Reynaldo Ileto provide the historical context. Dr. Christopher Ryan Maboloc, who is recognized by Dr. Julio Teehankee as the first to use Chantal Mouffe's agonistic politics in interpreting the rise to power of President Duterte, is cited by the likes of Wataru Kusaka, Karl Gaspar, and Fr. Jose Mario Francisco, SJ. Dr. Maboloc, who teaches philosophy at Ateneo de Davao University, argues that the contested nature of politics in the country can be traced to the unjust structures of post-colonial Philippine society.  In a recent talk, Prof. Menelito Mansueto of Letran suggested that non-dominant narratives have been silenced after EDSA. In an online article, UP Cebu Prof. Regletto Imbong wrote a critical but fair comment on Maboloc...

By Christopher Ryan Maboloc & Gerry Arambala Development, according to Amartya Sen, “can be seen as the process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy.” As a matter of principle, it has been argued that democracy is firmly rooted in the way it empowers ordinary citizens to achieve the kind of life that is worthy of their dignity as persons. Sen believes that the just and equitable approach to human progress must be anchored on the capabilities of people. The fundamental freedoms of individuals are intrinsically and instrumentally important for them to be able to choose those things that they have a reason to value.