The 1987 Constitution Is Indeed A Huge #ChangeScamming, Filipinos Should Be #SilentNoMore About That!

This could be quite an unpopular article especially when I'm using the hashtag #ChangeScamming. Before people think I've defected to the Dilawans - I confess I was once a Dilawan, became a DDS, and now I'm NEITHER because the presidential system REALLY SUCKS! I was thinking about not just one but TWO FAILED PROMISES. The late Noynoy Aquino promised that if there are no corrupt people then there are no poor people. Later, President Rodrigo R. Duterte promised to clean the country in three to six months which is IMPOSSIBLE. Yet, people bought both platforms in two different scenarios. Should the DDS actually thank Noynoy for making a Duterte presidency possible? Noynoy can get lauded left and right but he too had some really questionable appointees. Duterte claimed to hate corrupt officials yet Ramon Tulfo now comments that there's so much corruption under Duterte's watch. Before the DDS and the Dilawans will start another debate - it's more than time to think about how presidential promises are usually better labeled as #ChangeScamming. No, I'm not referring to that stupid website that's part of Cocoy Dayao's network. Instead, I'm going to use this hashtag against them and the DDS because both sides are JUST AS MORONIC. Fake news left and right, right?

The 1987 Constitution was said by Christian Monsod that there are three basic functions - social justice, democracy, and economy at the hands of the Filipinos. I really am finding this funny because I'm feeling like the claim is far better on paper than in practice. Unfortunately, the promised change of the 1987 Constitution was indeed a #ChangeScamming. How was it a #ChangeScamming? One must continue to think of claims vs. reality. It's really stupid how Hilarious Davide Jr. said, "There's no need to amend it! We've got the best constitution in the world!" Unfortunately, the pandemic proved that the 1987 Consitution is otherwise. Before that, we need to take a closer look at several regimes too. One must think of the "peaceful" years of the late Corazon C. Aquino's regime. Cory was fitter to represent the Filipino people than to lead yet she was made to do both - not good! Cory should've remained symbolic while Fidel V. Ramos acted as the head of the Philippine government. True, businesses were returned to the rightful owners yet the lousy "Filipino First" policy of Carlos P. Garcia and Marcos' rampant protectionism still remained. Both Garcia and Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. are RIGHTFULLY buried right next to each other. Davide kept claiming it's the best constitution in the world yet history has proven it to be a huge #ChangeScamming. 

The so-called claims of social justice and democracy are becoming laughable. One needs to re-understand the definition of democracy before we even say that democracy is dead. Anybody who at least finished high school (or eleven ELEMENTARY or MIDDLE SCHOOL now) should know what it means. A democracy is a government OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, and FOR THE PEOPLE. However, the presidential system in its real practice ends up as a government of the MAJORITY, by the MAJORITY, and of the MAJORITY as if minorities aren't part of the people. If it's a government that doesn't listen to the minority then how is that even democratic? Minorities are part of the people and they too take part in democracy. Even worse, both Noynoy and Duterte won by PLURALITY OVER MAJORITY. Now, it seems that the Philippines is in the danger of becoming a dictatorship when the Liberal Party reigned supreme and when PDP-Laban still reigns supreme. This really shows that democracy is far more in danger in the presidential system. 

The promise of better governance under presidential over parliamentary is a lie. Is it really just a coincidence that most of the countries that are in the best place are PARLIAMENTARY? All the vilifications against the parliamentary system can be refuted today by simply reading about them online from ACADEMIC websites. The presidential system in the Philippines causes COMELEC to look like a joke. If I were president, I would totally abolish the COMELEC and make the PCSO in-charge of elections. It's because presidential elections are a gamble for the future. It's already betting and gambling. People's votes are treated more like gambles since the winner takes all. Meanwhile, a parliamentary system would set a better way to do things. Instead, the minority is truly given a voice by the Opposition party. For example, if PDP-Laban wins then the Liberal Party as a minority represents the minority. 

Their purpose of the term limits was to ensure that there won't be another Marcos-type dictatorship. I agree that Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. is a DICTATOR - no questions asked. However, the framers of the 1987 Constitution didn't realize that first-world countries usually have no term limits. An example is how Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore is ruling as prime minister during the reigns of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Noynoy, and Duterte. The late Lee Kuan Yew also ruled Singapore for 31 years. One must wonder how much did Noynoy do in six years to bring the Philippines to the Top 30 best countries in six years or could Duterte really do much in six years. Did you know some of the projects Duterte is finishing right now before his term ends are from Noynoy? Yellows should be thankful that Duterte didn't cancel those projects out of spite. Daang Matuwid in just six years created a rising tiger but not a vicious tiger. A study of the history of Singapore would tell you that Lee Kuan Yew didn't transform it into a global superpower in just six years. A parliamentary would've allowed Noynoy to continue Daang Matuwid with as many terms as possible as a prime minister - that's as long as he doesn't lose the confidence of the Parliament. Noynoy could've created a tiger ready to hunt during another term but definitely NOT during his first term. Duterte right now can't truly bring much change either and it's even more evident at the end of his term.

Even worse, economic protectionism doesn't truly put the economy in the hands of Filipinos but in the OLIGARCHS. Are Filipinos truly in control of the economy if they fly to other countries looking for jobs? The idea of the OFW phenomenon as "conquest" is just wishful thinking since Filipinos working abroad will be working for FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS UNDER FOREIGN FIRMS. The idea that protectionism puts the economy in the hands of Filipinos is BOGUS. Developed countries like Singapore and Malaysia have economies in the hands of locals. A landowner doesn't lose control of one's commercial space by renting it out but gains MONEY from it. Foreign investors are just like tenants - they do business but they're required to pay all the necessary papers from permits to taxes to continue doing business. Foreign investors are at the hands of the Filipino people - either they follow the law or they can forget about doing business. It's like a tenant doing business is still answerable to the landowner - either they follow the rules of the contract or they're out. The 60-40 provision is just ridiculous for this reason - would you rent a space if your lessor will let you own only 40% of your business in that space for rent? Such a provision would be ridiculous. Also, any lies against foreign investors are already getting more and more disproved with the histories of first-world countries. Try watching the history of Singapore and China for a change. Notice that both Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiaoping invited FOREIGN INVESTORS to do business without the ridiculous 60-40 provision. Today, Singapore and China emerged from statuses worse than the post-Marcos Philippines while the Philippines still has a long way to go in spite of the growth rate under Noynoy. Noynoy did work to ease restrictions in certain sectors but should've removed it ENTIRELY to allow utilities to become cheaper. I mean, Noynoy could've focused on inviting first public utilities to invest before other sectors instead. Duterte should've focused on that too instead of the drug war.

The lies have been there for more than 30 years. It's really wrong to be still silent. It's more than time to be #SilentNoMore about how the 1987 Constitution is indeed a HUGE #ChangeScamming. This is really a fight for a better Philippines. It's time to really change the constitution for a better one.