Legitimacy.

“There is nothing wrong with being leftist. It’s a legitimate political tradition."
- Liberal Party senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros.

by Carlo Cielo

Hmmm. So Leftism is just a 'tradition' to Risa Hontiveros. A 'legitimate' one at that. It's neither a point in an ideological spectrum, nor a choice in a so-called 'marketplace of ideas', nor a stance in a forum or debate. NOT LEGITIMATE POLITICS.

It is only a pose, a rhetoric that has to be assumed to simulate its existence in time of elections. Otherwise, the hegemony must still remain in all its oligarchy. Single type of rule is maintained. A status-quo persists, unchallenged, never to be replaced. There is only one trajectory for the nation, and that is one it has started with, and shall continue towards 'till the end of time. Each and every election circle is meant to produce the same set of platforms, the same set of agendas, the same set of formulations, as conducted by the same set of authors, and nothing else. No need to defend or to lobby for this or that on a parliament, since there's no one else to contend with. There is simply no other side.

But at least you get to keep face.

You get to go through these...plays and perform your part in them. You get to fulfill your bullshit role in these escapisms, these illusions of freedom due to the 'presence' of options and voting. One of which is democracy.

Leftism's individual dignity, integrity, and actual merit, as well as of those who live & fight under its Red banner, is disregarded, and is perfectly nullified.

That's why Leftist candidates here are treated as 'terror' suspects.

That's why Leftist groups are immediately being marginalized and disenfranchised. That's why Leftist views can only be vilified with no need for consideration. That's why Filipino Leftist activists, journalists, and professionals are repeatedly harassed, mugged, humiliated, or even shot down in the streets. Because they simply weren't supposed to be treated as real people. Because they simply weren't meant to be.

We will see then who is legitimate.