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alegrianamarie · 2 years

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a rant/kinda vent about the ph elections, ft. my personal thoughts in no order

This election season so far has been a true test to how much modern democracy is really “for the people”. I think a lot of us know what the answer to that is already. We all know the simple act of voting isn’t enough to ensure that our needs, as citizens of a society, are met.

“Be thankful for the chance to choose,” is what my past teachers would usually say about this, and they would extend this sentiment to real-world politics outside of the classroom. With that, they’d usually follow with some comment about how ~it’s the people’s fault~ if the elected leaders underperform.

It’s so easy to say that, no? Easy to give the “simple answer” and put the blame on others. In reality, it’s so much more than that.

I’ve always hated class elections, from primary school to the present day. Idk if this is how it goes for most schools, but in my experience, it’s always been the same thing: it happens either on the first day or somewhere within the first week of school, random students are nominated (some even unwilling), the class is asked to vote, then majority wins, or whatever.

Sometimes they choose students who have already proven themselves in the past. Sometimes they choose based on gut feeling if they don’t know anyone well enough. Heck, sometimes they would vote for the least qualified person for a certain class officer position for laughs.

They say training for the “real world” starts in the classroom. Well, that explains a lot. Seeing people treat the elections like some horse race or another Miss Universe pageant makes me sick to my stomach. I feel like we’ve been taught that the elections is just some spectacle to watch, or a fun little thing to participate in. Filipinos’ thirst for entertainment and drama has seeped into our fucking national elections.

In my experience, history isn’t taught properly in most schools. It’s just watered down to memorizing dates and names, and developing critical thinking isn’t really a priority. If you got a teacher who really cares about teaching history, consider yourself blessed. The way history is taught sets a risky basis for future learning.

Then there’s the issue of historical revisionism. Oh boy, the disinformation networks work hard. This is what makes me really upset, honestly. Most Filipinos are badly misguided and not stupid/ignorant. It’s really annoying when people, especially non-Filipinos, ignore that. A common sentiment I see is how we “are quick to forget history”, when I don’t think the issue is in forgetting history, it’s that little care is given to teaching it properly.

And I better not hear foreigners act like they’re better than us, by the way. Remember Cambridge Analytica? Yeah. This isn’t just Filipinos against each other. Foreign aid was involved in manipulating our social media networks.

And now, look. The simple fact that they have been allowed to file for candidacy shows how fragile democracy is. How easy it is for people to manipulate.

I’m so sad and angry for my country. The place I grew up in. The place where all my friends are. Many people are saying the country “deserves this” or whatever but it doesn’t. She fucking doesn’t. One way or another, we will survive. Things look really bad right now, but I’m still holding onto hope that good things are possible.

Laban lang, Pilipinas.

(p.s. if you wanna show this to other people, please hide my username. medyo natatakot ako haha. also don’t share it on other socmed platforms please.)

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alegrianamarie · 2 years

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Kulay rosas ang bukas 🌷

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alegrianamarie · 2 years

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“You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it.”

— Albert Einstein

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alegrianamarie · 2 years

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My bb’s 😘🥰😍

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alegrianamarie · 3 years

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To Marcos loyalists/apologists

DISCLAIMER: Mahaba ‘tong post, 10-15 mins. read more or less (kung di kasama yung mga articles and links sa baba). And this is politically charged (saka may mga corny jokes, sarcasm, at ilang pilit na pop-culture references). Kung di kayo nandito para sa ganon, then that’s alright, naiintindihan ko nang lubos. May choice kayo para lampasan 'to. Feel free to scroll away po. O kaya, skip to the TLDR at the end, although you’ll miss some of the points I stated, saka yung mga shared online articles. If you do intend to read, then thank you very much. I’ll also accept criticisms. Di tayo ipokrito. And I know, and understand, na magkakaiba ang political views natin. Pero we can disagree na po when it comes to the ethics and morals attached to our political views.

Ako, ayoko rin magmukhang keyboard warrior kasi bihira lang ako magpost, pero eto na nga. Nakakapanlumo lang kasi na marami akong kakilala na bilib sa Marcos apologists and loyalists. This post won’t sway hearts and minds, I know. Di ko pati to sinulat in an academic or formal manner (this is very informal, rambly, at puro rhetoric hahaha), but if the following arguments and counter-arguments will make you pause and think, pwede na rin yun.

So let’s address some of the common arguments, posts, and comments being thrown around:

“DI NYO NA KAMI MAUUTO” o “FAKE NEWS YANG GMA/ABSCBN/OTHER NEWS OUTLETS”

Sure ba kayo na di rin kayo nauuto o nagpapadala sa sabi-sabi ng Marcos loyalists and apologists? Aba, dapat eh napakasipag nyo din mag fact check at research. Aba, dapat reliable din sources nyo. Certified at official. Kung maduda kayo, then pakiusap, double check nyo rin mga sinasabi nila. Saka nung nag research ka ba, yung mga articles na pabor lang kay Marcos binasa mo? Articles na pinapaganda pangalan nya? Eh baka naman yun lang gusto mong basahin, kasi gusto mo tama ka (confirmation bias po tawag don). Basahin mo rin yung mga masasamang nangyari nun, para patas. Kasi patas po ang totoong research. Both sides, tinitignan. May cross-referencing at pag double-triple check ng sources; at sources ng sources. Yes ganun kalalim dapat. At oo, because of such principles sa research, alam din namin mga magagandang projects nun. Alam namin yung potensyal ng Pilipinas to rise as an economic tiger sa Asya, at the time. But at what cost? Tambak na utang? Makapal na missing persons lists? Mga nakaw na salapi? Mga sipsip at balimbing na cronies? Pano na? Pride na lang labanan, kahit parang tanga na?

“DI KA PA NAMAN BUHAY NON” o “DI MO NAMAN INABUTAN PANAHON NI MARCOS”

Really? Don’t let that be your best reasoning hahahaha. Di ka rin naman buhay nung panahon ng mga Kastila, pero alam natin na binaril si Rizal sa Bagumbayan. Ano, ang pilosopo ko ba? Ikaw rin naman, pag ganyan arguments mo. And what’s next? Fake news na rin ang Spanish occupation dati?

“SABI NG LOLO/LOLA KO” o “SABI NG MAGULANG KO”

I’m sure na naging mapayapa buhay nila. Kasi yan din sabi ng mga mas matatanda sakin. Surprise! Hindi naman kasi nila binatikos dalawang dekadang pamumuno na hindi na demokratiko eh. Saka baka yung iba sa kanila, wala sa urban centers, wala sa sentro ng gulo. At kung hindi man sa kanila nangyari yung gulo, it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen somewhere else. Eh pano yung mga murang bilihin kamo? The gov’t that time was well-funded, and the economy was booming on the surface. Dahil sa ano? Sa utang. Towards the end (ibig sabihin po DURING Marcos’ term pa rin) nagsimula nang mag crash ang ekonomiya. Na-expose na rin mga kinuha nilang pera.

“HISTORY IS WRITTEN BY THE VICTORS”

Okay, easy sa quotes Lt. General Shepherd (MW2 reference wink wink). Tama na pa-astig natin, okay? Half-truth lang yan. More aptly siguro, history is written DESPITE the victors. Marami pong unbiased saka objective na pagaaral sa usaping yan. Kaya nga alam natin na di rin naman malinis ang mga Aquino. Kaya alam natin na involved din pangalan nila sa massacres. Gusto mo ng sources no? Wow look at you, you fact-checking golden child. Keep it up, dapat ganyan lagi. Sana binasa o tinignan mo rin sources ng apologists. Sana dinobol check mo rin mga sinasabi ng may first hand at second hand accounts. And friends, never magiging victors yung mga biktima ng torture, rape, at extra-judicial killings. Oh, hindi sila biktima kasi nanggugulo sila?– I hear you say. Dear, yung pagbatikos lang sa gobyerno kinoconsider na nilang panggugulo. Maraming inosenteng nabiktima. And if you think na walang inosenteng nabibiktima– Are you serious? Naive ka ba?

“PAST IS PAST” o “MOVE ON NA”

Don’t use these words lightly. Wala sa iisang playing field ang feelings mo saka feelings ng isang collective. Magkaibang pahina yan. Hindi po parehas ang history ng isang taong broken hearted o na friendship over ang history ng mga biktima ng human rights violations saka political injustice (at marami po sila ah). Wag basta basta magbitaw ng past is past kapag may mga taong di na natagpuan ng pamilya nila, mula noong past, hanggang present. Unfair. Unfair sobra. Para bang okay lang na maraming namatay saka natorture, o kaya naman missing, kasi mayaman naman Pilipinas, maraming infrastructure projects, saka mura bilihin. Bad yun.

“HINDI NAMAN YUNG MISMONG PRESIDENTE ANG GUMAWA"

Oh so ganyan tayo? No accountability for the head of state? Commander-in-chief of the military? Sino ba nag empower sa mga high ranking officials? Officials, who in turn, nag execute ng directives? Suddenly, nakalimutan ba natin ang chain of command? Or naniniwala ba tayo na covert lahat ng yun, at di alam ng presidente? If so, pano naging magaling yun at effective ang pamumuno? Ganon ba ang best president? Nganga tayo sa ganyan mga kapatid.

"HINDI KASALANAN NG ANAK ANG KASALANAN NG TATAY” / “SINS OF THE FATHERS” argument

Totoo. Totoong totoo. Kaya dapat ina-acknowledge ng anak ang ginawa ng mga magulang nya to establish separation of beliefs, at di sana pinagtatanggol. Oh mga amigo amiga, double-triple check nyo yan ah. Mahusay naman kayo sa ganyan di ba? Smart kayo. Di kayo mahilig magpautot. *uto. Teka pati, running mate nya si Digong. Okay lang sayo yun? Ay baka okay lang sayo yun, kasi okay din si Digong para sayo. Figures. Paalala lang: Unfair sobra, para sa mga casualties ng current regime. At kung sasabihin mo na 'ganun talaga eh mga adik mga yun eh’, aba. Okay din pala talaga sayo na may namamatay outside the boundaries of law. Tanggap mo rin talaga nangyari during Martial Law– which is ironic, dahil hindi lawful kahit kailan ang rape, torture, at suppression. Wala kang pake eh (past is past). At pag wala kang pake, wag kang magpanggap na makatao. Lalong wag magpanggap na maka-Diyos.

“KAYA NGA NAG MARTIAL LAW DAHIL SA MGA TERORISTA EH”

Yes. Except hindi lang yung mga terorista ang naapektuhan. Kahit yung mga critics lang saka nagboses ng opinyon, nadali din. The collateral damage was too much FROM BOTH SIDES. Where to draw the line?– I hear you ask again. It’s one thing po na makita ang realidad ng law enforcement at war on terror/crime/drugs/beliefs etc. It’s another to look away from too many casualties. Not fighting or voicing or even THINKING against collateral damage IS too much.

“EH BAKIT DI INALIS ANG MARTIAL LAW SA BATAS?”

Dahil kaya po yang i-implement na hindi naaapakan ang human rights at judicial system. For example, despite the criticisms towards the current admin, yung implementation ng martial law during the attacks in Marawi, was arguably justified. Oh ayan ah patas tayo.

“EH FAKE NEWS NGA KASI MARAMI SA NANGYARI NUNG MARTIAL LAW NI MARCOS"

Luh eto na naman? Sabi nang dapat sure din kayo na di kayo napepeke ng mga binabasa saka pinapakinggan nyo eh. Dapat double check nyo rin 'real news’ nyo.

"EH PANO SABI NG LOLO/LOLA KO?"

Eh ano bang sabi ko kanina tungkol jan? Sige basahin mo ulit sa taas. Makinig ka pa rin sa ikukuwento nila, kasi we respect our elders. But we shouldn’t be beholden to everything they say (luh English na naman). May sarili po tayong isip at kakayanang magaral.

"DILAWAN KA”

Nakakakilabot ah. Ayoko rin sa kanila. Whew pareparehas lang silang may ginawang masama. I’m sure na gustong gusto mo rin na kastiguhin mga Dilawan. Tara sabay tayo. Kaya nga di umunlad bansa eh, lalo pang nalugmok. Involved nga din sila sa killings ng mga magsasaka saka protesters. And duh, as if wala ding namamatay o nawawala na union members and leaders sa current regime. Pero di yan excuse para pagbigyan mo na lang mga Marcos loyalists.

“AKTIBISTA KA"

My school mates and friends at the time can attest na hindi ako nagparticipate. Naniniwala din marami samin sa diversity ng ETHICAL methods and ETHICAL political views. Still, I must admit that my stance only changed drastically by the time na umupo si Duterte. Nagsisisi ako na tinamad ako so many times, and I wasn’t informed or mature enough to make a choice, to make a vote. Di ba nga, you can stay neutral until you’re not.

"EH ANONG GAGAWIN KO?”

Pagbanggain po ang mga nabasa o napanood na ebidensya at accounts from both sides (and 3rd party/international sources din), hanapin ang mga overlaps, then form an informed opinion. If somehow napaisip ka at nakaramdam ng konting hesitasyon sa pagboto kay BBM, wag ka munang magpanic at pagdudahan lahat ng bagay. Maghintay ka muna ng iba pang tatakbo. Wag yung bilib na bilib ka rin kaagad kay BBM. Maghihintay ako, at sana, maghintay ka rin. Wow romantic no hahahaha. De, sana may additional confirmed candidates pa.

“DI NA LANG AKO BOBOTO” o “WALA NA KONG PAKE"

Kasi evil is evil, lesser, greater, middling? Hindi ka si Geralt (wink wink sa mga nakakuha ng reference). Bumoto ka pa rin if you can, please, and if it’s safe (taking into account this pandemic). It matters. Evidently, nag matter yung mga boto towards Digong. Nanalo sya nun eh. So by the same token, may halaga yung boto mo, even if it’s counted against sa boto ng iba. It will be one less vote laban sa ayaw mong maupo. It may seem like there’s only few against many, pero pag mas maraming taong informed, mas dumadami yung.. yung few.. so magiging many sila. And of course, mas maraming may informed votes saka educated na desisyon, more chances of winning.

"NADADAYA ANG BOTOHAN"

True. Very true. Pero mas mahirap dayain pag mas maraming legit na boto. Pahirapan nyo man lang sila, kahit pano. At pag nahirapan sila, mas madali silang papalpak. Mas madali silang magiging subjects to scrutiny.

I’m sure na meron pang mga arguments na di kasama sa mga nabanggit, pero pwede nyong kunin yung sagot sa ibang points na na-raise ko. If you’ve ever used any of those arguments above before, and somehow, medyo napaisip kayo after reading the counter-arguments (which is the best I could hope for), then take some time to rethink your decision.

Hindi kailangang maging matalino para magkaron ng informed opinion. Dapat masipag lang manaliksik. Otherwise, madali ka ring mapaniwala, which is the very thing that you accuse others of. At kung sa tingin mo, napagisipan mo na nang maigi, then sige. Buo na desisyon mo eh. Baka well-informed ka na. Pero kung medyo napatigil o napaisip ka sa mga counter-arguments kanina, then walang masamang magisip pa ng konti.

—–Additional articles po, past this point—–

For infinitely less rambly, more reliable, data-driven works, eto po mga pwede nyong basahin. Remember, don’t judge too hastily na fake yang mga yan. A lot of the articles have been around for years, for people to read. Also, remember that these are from people with experience, expertise, and credibility, more so than a lot of us, including our own lolos and lolas (bless them, still).

Galing po itong mga to sa internet– for goodness’ sake. Mag search lang tayo with intent to look for proper journalism and academic studies. From Brittanica yung unang dalawa, no less– which is highly accessible, very digestible, concise, and still manages to present the good and bad (non-biased representation po). Easy to read na po yang mga yan ah:

The Marcos and early post-Marcos era (scroll down po kung gusto nyo magsimula agad sa Marcos era)

Martial law

And hindi mawawala ang mga nagsasabi na golden age ang Marcos regime. They saw those times with rose-colored glasses (idiomatic expression yern). Pero you’ll notice something. Very anecdotal. Very similar sa mga nagkukwento sating matatanda. Medyo tricky maghanap ng ganito, sa totoo lang, from an online article na galing sa news outlet.

30 Years After Revolution, Some Filipinos Yearn for ‘Golden Age’ of Marcos

But this. This is easy to find. An apologist fb page. Non-academic and very fanatical, no surprise there, pero isisingit ko so you can check.

WE Love Ferdinand Marcos

Whew there are some interesting videos and posts here, primarily dahil sa mga footage and photos na meron sila. Watch or check those footages and photos ah, then ibangga nyo po sa mga alam natin from history. See how eloquent and compelling Ferdinand Marcos was, and you’ll see kung ano ang isa sa mga kinabibiliban ng loyalists and apologists. There’s value there, para makita mo kung anong hook nya sa mga tagasunod nya.

You want more? Okay sige. Search mo sa Google yung Department of National Defense’s web page for Ferdinand Marcos’ biography, for some more heroic representation. You’ll notice na nalimitahan sa iilang sentences yung Martial Law saka change of legislation.

But it gets more bloody and not so heroic, with the other pages and articles ahead. It’s true, mahirap nang maging non-biased when confronted with cruelty and injustice, but KEEP IN MIND, the numbers and statements na mababasa nyo from these links came from the security forces na appointed dati. Official numbers and statements po ang raw data nila. So there.

Let’s start off with a view on the economy. Opposite to the fanatical page earlier, here’s an academic fb page post, para po alam nating numbers ang tinitignan nila, at hindi nostalgia at conspiracy lang. You can check the primary source na meron din sila for the compilation.

Econcepts: The Economy under the Marcos Era

For a slightly more detailed breakdown of the declaration of Martial law, with links or hypertexts in each section of the article:

Declaration of Martial Law

For the more sinister side na hindi kailanman bibigyan ng transparency ng mga security forces at the time– here are some more readings:

‘San Juanico Bridge,’ other tortures detailed

3,257: Fact checking the Marcos killings, 1975-1985

Pano kamo mga massacres during the Aquino admin? Di po makacancel out nyan nangyari nung Martial Law, pero sige, para makita na rin natin na hindi natigil ang gulo. And ohoho, they’re just as bad.

The Mendiola Massacre: Decades on, Philippine Land Reform Movement Remains Mired in Blood

Hacienda Luisita Timeline

Ayan online na po yang mga yan ah. No need to download anything as well. Kulang na kulang pa yan though, dahil this post is waaaay too long na po para mag accommodate ng ibang in-depth articles, let alone studies and published PDFs, and books! Physical and digital books! Pero di ba, may internet na pipol. There are loads of historical fiction as well, if you want to look at it from a literary angle, and even music and movies! Meron at meron po pag naghanap. Conspiracy theories nga nahahanap eh. But for my friends or colleagues na marami pong additional articles, readings, downloadables, books and media suggestions– please po, do share if you’re inclined to comment. Malaking tulong po yun. Maraming salamat!

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TLDR; Ang bottomline po, wag basta basta susuporta sa political dynasties ah? Yung bagay lang na umuulit sila, nagpapasa-pasa ng posisyon sa angkan, dapat mapaisip na po tayo, oki? Di po dapat family business yan. If you have to make a decision to support someone from said families, make sure lang po na at least, nagresearch po tayo. Lesser evil and all that.

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alegrianamarie · 3 years

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Ang aga-aga may nakikita akong Marcos apologist sa dashboard. I'd like to respond to him directly, pero ayoko na kasing magkaroon pa ng traction 'yung misinformed opinion niya.

So, I'm making a new post altogether. Kulayan ko na rin at i-bold 'yung ibang parts para maganda rin sa mata. 😂

Kasi una sa lahat, hindi maitatago ng literal na colorful words niyo 'yung part na ipinagtatanggol niyo ang pamilya ng mga magnanakaw.

Pero para maiwasan ang mahulog sa misinformation, please take time to watch Batas Militar on YouTube. It's free, it's informative, and basically answers most of the questions and clarifies wrong impressions on Martial Law.

Bakit idineklara ang Martial Law?

Papano ito humantong sa ganung sitwasyon?

Anong mga magagandang bagay at paglabag sa batas ang mga nangyari noon?

I swear, hindi sayang ang oras niyo rito. Watch it HERE!

And then ask yourselves: "Bakit ba ako nasasaktan na may iilang hecklers ni Sandro Marcos, pero hindi ako nasasaktan para sa mga taong naging biktima ng batas militar?"

Ito rin, itanong niyo sa sarili niyo: "Bakit ako nagagalit na nabastos si Sandro, pero hindi ako nagagalit para sa kapwa Pilipino kong nanakawan at ibinaon sa utang?"

Ito pa: "Bakit ang response ko lang sa mga kasalanan ng mga Marcos ay 'to accept and to prayers sa mga family mo at mga biktima,' pero gumawa ako ng dedicated rant sa mga bumatikos kay Sandro Marcos?"

You can't repetitively talk about human ethics, say you're pro-country and then defend a family of murderers and thieves. Make it make sense, dude.

One more thing, stop hiding in the guise of "neutrality" maipagtanggol niyo lang ang pamilya ng mga magnanakaw at mamamatay tao.

Wala pong gitna rito, either you're against them or you're enabling them. Make a stand.

—and no pressure, but make it fast. Kasi may garapal na nais bumalik sa kapangyarihan and we cannot allow that to happen.

So ayun—now let's talk about the arguments that he raised.

1. "Hindi pa ipinanganak noong Martial Law."

I don't think anyone in this platform lived during that time naman. But historical accounts exist, and you cannot discount them with the argument na "victors write history."

Why? Because history can be revisited, history can be revised, history is only relatively true until new facts come up.

The thing is, lahat kasi ng mga lumalabas tungkol sa mga Marcoses only support the fact that atrocities were committed against the country. One of the most recent ones that I've heard of is this:

Imelda Marcos convicted of graft, sentenced to prison

Kung hindi ka naniniwala sa first-hand accounts ng mga biktima, sa mga history books, documentaries, and news archives back in the day — then tell us kung saan at kanino galing ang information para hindi ka tinatawag na misinformed.

2. "Gitna ako. May mali mga Marcos, may mali mga Dilawan."

Then condemn then both! Hindi neutrality ang pagbi-bring up ng kasalanan ng mga Aquino just to make the Marcoses look good.

Ang issue kasi rito ay pinagtatanggol mo ang Marcoses and you're giving them the benefit of the doubt when in fact history makes it completely clear that atrocities have been committed. This isn't about the Aquinos, but kung para sa'yo ganun 'yun then:

Pareho silang mga oportunista who do not deserve a position in the government. Period.

3. 'Yung nangyari lang naman kay Sandro Marcos ang issue. Ano bang kasalanan ni Sandro Marcos?

I'm extremely sensitive about this subject kasi I was one of the people who fell for the Marcos propaganda prior to 2016. I was one of those who repeatedly said na "wala namang kasalanan si BBM/Sandro, bakit niyo siya sinusugod?"

I even debated with this logic back in college — and in retrospect, fuck, that was so embarrassing. And thank rold hindi pa ako nakakaboto noon.

Here's the thing kasi, BBM, Sandro, and the rest of their family have been living off the money that has been stolen from the country and then refuse to acknowledge it. They turn a blind eye on their misgivings in the past and then just expect the rest of the nation to forget.

Wala man lang acknowledgement, wala man lang apology — kahit na bare minimum na ang mga ito.

The biggest insult of all: ipinalibing pa ang family patriarch sa Libingan ng mga Bayani na parang deserve niyang ihimlay roon.

So yeah, balik tayo sa original question kanina:

Bakit mas galit pa kayo sa hecklers ng pamilya ng magnanakaw kesa sa mismong mga magnanakaw?

4. May freedom of expression tayo.

I'm bringing this up kasi I saw him use this argument in one of his replies.

Ironic, too, kasi freedom of speech was one of the rights attacked by Martial Law back in the day. Media was state-controlled and outlets were not permitted to post anything critical against the administration. Dissent was also silenced by fear after the writ of habeas corpus was suspended.

Nakakatawa, kasi the freedom that allows you to post your misinformed opinion was the one of the things that were restored after Martial Law was abolished.

Anyway, I've seen his recent posts that he's willing to learn naman from a couple of people. So this post isn't just directed towards him, but to those who agree with his opinion para may opportunity rin kayo to re-evaluate your take on this issue.

Anyway, good day and best wishes to everyone! Get registered and please, please, vote wisely.

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