Quilop at Patmos 12 years ago.

April 2001. Twelve years ago, a very insightful article that will later on merit attention for Filipino political thinkers was published in a small publication and it was circulated along the metropolis. Therein is a written explanation why Democracy does not work for Filipinos. According to Raymund Quilop, and I quote:

Democracy does not fit the Philippines! It has allowed personalities like Joseph Estrada to reach Malacanan and at the expense of the entire society. . . Indeed Democracy allowed Filipinos to choose their leaders. But it is the same democracy that will enable people to remove their leaders from office if they deem it necessary.  It may allow people to commit mistakes by choosing their leader. But it is the same Democracy that will enable them to correct such mistakes, if they are willing to do so.

It is certainly not the most expedient form of government or way of life. On the contrary, it is the most tedious, with power having to be shared among so many stakeholders and the rights of people having to be ensured.

Here, Quilop’s manages to suggest another form of convenience and this is by putting up an authoritarian form of government with an iron fisted leader that carries a single concentration of political power to maneuver this country back on track. Quilop is leaning to a more radical way of disciplining the undisciplined Filipinos. He continued by saying:

However, it does not necessarily follow that people simply don’t follow rules in a democratic environment. Even Filipinos, known for disregarding rules, toe the line when they are in foreign countries, and in democratic societies at that, like the United States and Australia. Why?

Because in these democracies, rules are enforced and enforced strictly. But people know that this is not the case in the Philippines. This is the reason why they blatantly ignore the rules.

The Philippines, under the 1987 constitution itself in Art. 3 section. 1 declares that the Philippines as a Democratic Republican State and Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

Idealistically, Democracy on one hand is a good system of government.

(1) It banners accountability and transparency compared to other forms of government because sovereignty or the supreme power and authority come from the people and since they are the one playing with these affairs, they are also exposed to these matters.

(2)  This relationship of people and democracy presupposes that this two are contiguous to one another, if they are, it is easy in a democratic system to respond to the needs of the people. Aside from that, democracy requires the ruler to ensure that the needs of his people are met.

(3) In a representative democracy, people can easily inquire about decisions taken by the government and the government should answer this query since, according to principle, sovereignty resides from the people.

(4) A democratic decisions are carried out not just by a single people. It involves number of people and they discuss and interact together, in effect Democracy strengthens the state’s decision making.

(5) One of the most eccentric and unique feature of society is itself runs a different variety of people with their own beliefs, interests, opinions, and philosophy.  We speak different languages and we practice different religion. In a society, a preference of one group might not be suited to the taste of the other group. So there is a conflict between two groups in terms of preference.  The role of Democracy is it provides a peaceful solution by applying methods to settle differences by balancing the playing fields so that all of them will be equal.

(6) Democracy is fair since it runs into the principle of political equality. People has there own voice, from people leaving a life like hell to people with substantial wealth, they all shares with this right. They are not subjects’ high risk for future abuses because Democracy safeguards them from these treats and accords them the dignity.

These are some advantages of a well enforced Democracy but we have to admit, on the other hand, that there is no perfect system of government. These imperfections constitute a decay and even death of that system.