WHAT those favoring a multi-party system did not reckon with when they framed the 1987 Constitution is the emergence of young political reformists.

Imbued with unique bravado, young politicians disdain idolatry to the lords of political parties.

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The notion of multi-party system came about as a popular reaction to the imperial two-party system that spawned the national leadership that declared martial rule in 1972 and installed the Marcos dictatorship.

To cure the problem in our political condition, reform-minded national leaders thought of a multi-party setting as one that would open political opportunities to a wider swath of citizenry.

And so, Sen. Chiz Escudero’s resignation from an established political party, the Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition, brought to the fore what is really a natural outcome of the unique provision in the 1987 Constitution.

It has given “birth” to groups of small factional political movements.

Evolution

Note that right off in the first election under the 1987 Charter, there was born in Cebu the unregistered political group called Panaghiusa, and set the pace for what new political movements developed afterwards, such as the Bando Osmena-Pundok Kauswagan, the Kugi Uswag Sugbo, and just a few days ago, the OUR Cebu City.

These groups were formed not out of personal whims of politicians but out of a serious pursuit of political goals.

The Escudero declaration of independence from a true-blue political party is a natural evolution from the multi-party innovation of the 1987 Constitution.

It is a national indication of the phenomenon that’s been sprouting in various areas of the country, movements and factions all formed in pursuit of a new norm of political conduct.

OUR Cebu

Indeed, the “birth” of the Atan Guardo-Mary Ann de los Santos’ OUR Cebu City is a recent instance.

The new group reportedly aims to raise the standard of political campaigning in Cebu City from “petty politics to politics of substance” and denigrated “black propaganda, name-calling and negative campaigning which are all from the mold of traditional politics.”

These are cleansing thoughts that appear a sound enough call so relevant to our people’s present pining.

They are sentiments no doubt shared by our young politicians.

According to the “OUR Cebu City proponents, “OUR” refers to opportunity, unity, and reform, all notions of political goals that in our contemporary times are quite difficult to controvert in our current pursuit of a defining new politics.