THE Leni-Kiko rally in Bacolod last Friday (March 11, 2022) was the biggest to date and impressive in all aspects.
It was reminiscent of the pre-86 Edsa times when various forces of the broad anti-Marcos movement would constantly battle the regime’s security forces on the streets and at the gate of Malacañang, where at times turned violent and bloody.
The only difference with the recent wave of huge pro-Leni rallies around the country is that these were peaceful, issue-driven and fun-filled.
More than the usual big turnouts, the Leni-Kiko rally in Bacolod was apparently an outburst of frustrations against the hated Marcos regime re-lived by BBM’s presidential bid. As I already stressed countless times, Negros, especially the sugarworkers, farmers, fishers and vendors, were the worst victims of Marcos's anti-poor, anti-development and fascist policies and programs.
The sugar planters likewise suffered the most from the looting of their sugar coffers by the Marcos cronies, Benedicto and his gang in the Philsucom and Nasutra.
Even the churches were not spared. Their strong voice and programs in defense of Christian communities were responded by brutal attacks, demonization propaganda, and even filing of trumped-up criminal charges against the most active priests, bishops and the Christian lay leaders, like the infamous “Langgoni 9” and the “Hiyang-hiyang” massacre, to name a few.
I still hear so many stories around the island about how the Marcos regime has broken families, incarcerated activists and innocents, and destroyed local economies.
And despite the payment of claims of thousands of victims of Marcos regime human rights violations in recent years, the wounds and pains left by the Marcos era remain unhealed among the thousands of survivors and their kin, and the fear of the return of the nightmare continues to haunt many even those in economically well-off circles.
On the other hand, I can also hear the cries among the Leni rallyists waving a collective message of discontentment to the ruling administration’s failed promises to restore sovereignty, wipe out illegal drugs and crimes, expand basic services to all, transform to federal government, and improve the quality of life of the Filipinos.
From this perspective, the undercurrent struggle in this election season remains between the forces seeking control of the state to advance the agenda for real system change and the forces so bent to perpetuate the same old and failed order.
This is not just about Leni versus BBM, pink versus red-green, north versus south.
The real story here is the unfulfilled, unfinished Edsa agenda of the sovereign Filipinos for right historical identity, and for national freedom and democracy.
In Negros, this is not just about who are the local government units (LGUs), incumbents and aspirants for Leni or for BBM, but who are the real forces fighting to disband the corporate and political rule of the landed elites, big business and political dynasties, working for the democratization of lands and resources, and advancing the agenda for truly diversified, inclusive, sustainable, progressive, industrialized and resilient economy.
Back on the national front, if you go for Leni-Kiko so be it; if you are for BBM think again; If you are for Sara with various combination, why not you might be in for a big upset; if you are for Isko, or Pacman, or Leody, go for it, it could brighten your day.