Ever heard of the joke that Romulo Macalinlang of #OtsoDiretso was the world's greatest magician? Macalinlang or Mac the Magician (as I prefer to call him) probably did the greatest magic trick in history - the evidence that could've led to Leni Loud Robredo's defeat was ignored and Bongbong Marcos lost the protest. However, in 2019, the magic of #OtsoDiretso was definitely a failure. The latest post of Get Real Philippines namely about Isko Moreno's "magic show". This gave me the idea to think about writing about one of the biggest problems of the presidential system - it's like a MAGIC SHOW! The person who performs the best trick wins, right? It looks like Isko will have to keep that in mind if he expects to be president this 2022!
The magic show isn't exactly a new problem either...
If you happen to be a 90s child then you may notice the first magic performance was by Joseph "Erap" Estrada. Erap, like a magician, managed to win the hearts of the Filipino people by his charismatic popularity. It was amazing how Time Magazine placed him in the cover and said, "Is he unstoppable?" as he managed to stomp down SEVERAL candidates and became the president of the Philippines. The magic show ended with him getting deposed during the second EDSA Revolution - something that could've been avoided if he were prime minister instead of president. I mean, Erap could've lost the confidence of whole legislative of how he would answer during the Weekly Question Hour. However, the impact never left him as Ispup aired by ABC-5 still continued to make fun of his stupidity until he was deposed.
Another magician showed up last 2010 namely the late Noynoy Aquino. Okay, Noynoy may not be as charismatic as Erap but he certainly had that magic show going on. If Erap had "Erap para sa mahirap." then Noynoy has, "Kung walang corrupt ay walang mahirap." Noynoy did this and that better than Erap, managed to sit through an entire term, but nobody can deny that he once again won by magic. Noynoy seemed to have the charisma of Mao Zedong (thankfully, he didn't have Mao's brutality) which might pave way for a Noynoy Aquino Memorial Center. His magic allowed him to win as the top leading candidate - even surpassing the magic show of Erap who also ran against him. Erap running again is just stupid - something that would've probably not happened under a parliamentary system since he'd be too shamed by a vote of no confidence.
Maybe, we can also include President Rodrigo R. Duterte as a magician. Duterte promised to solve this and that but what's next? Some even say it's worse under Duterte than Noynoy. Duterte promised to fix the country in three to six months and he won. The promise of doing so is very impossible. Yet, Duterte won with that promise. Duterte, like Noynoy and Erap, also won by being a magician. It's because winning a presidential system is about being a MAGICIAN.
Now, it looks like Vice President Leni Loud Robredo might be attempting to be that magician. Right now, Leni Loud seems to have the traits of a magician. Maybe, just maybe, Leni Loud's victory over Bongbong is nothing more than the result of foul play. In short, it's a magic trick. Leni Loud seems to be viewed by her admirers as some kind of wonder worker. It might only be a matter of time before Leni Loud may become the world's best magician defeating any magician to hold the title of best magician.
Mostly form, very little substance in presidential systems
Not all tasty food looks good, right? I was thinking about the Filipino delicacy known as sisig doesn't look good but it tastes good. Paella Negra, a paella made from squid ink, doesn't look good but it tastes good. I'm really thinking about how some restaurants are known for their ambiance and culinary arts but NOT for their delicious food. I remembered how I once ordered expensive food from a fancy restaurant and it didn't taste good. I really wished I ate the delicious lower-priced food from a non-fancy restaurant after that experience!
The presidential system puts on a magic show every campaign period. There's a lot of fancy campaigns. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. got jailed, danced butots, and then won the race again. Erap, though he lost the presidential elections last 2010, used some of his magic and served as mayor after that. The magic show is very prevalent. Filipinos then start to vote based on ELECTION CAMPAIGN rather than performance. Erap was voted by popularity. Noynoy was voted by popularity. Duterte was voted by popularity. Who can even forget the allegation that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cheated on the late Fernando Poe Jr. in the presidential race? Again, letting FPJ run is just stupid since he knows NOTHING about politics. Then again, isn't that the presidential system runs on popularity platforms?
The proof of very little substance can happen DURING the terms of the presidents. True, Noynoy had some compliments but he seems to have the nasty habit of blaming Gloria. Maybe, Noynoy set up such a brilliant show it misled the international community. Now, Duterte still hasn't fulfilled his promise of the three to six months because of its impossibility. Erap's short-lived term was also mostly form and no substance too. You can expect more form and little substance because of the presidential system.
How the parliamentary system is more substance than form
One needs to observe the very nature of REAL parliaments and not the mockery made by the late Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. The late Ninoy Aquino's status as a hero might be very debatable but I'm going to focus on what he said. Ninoy even mentioned that the whole idea of a parliamentary without a parliament or a prime minister who is also the president is a sham parliamentary. A real parliamentary would've dissolved Marcos during his term. A real parliament may have installed Ninoy as the leader of the opposition. A bit of research will have real empirical data that the Marcos years were NOT a real parliament.
A real parliament is all about competition between the majority and the minority. Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia even stated that an opposition is needed. Yes, we need an opposition but wanting a real opposition under the presidential system is a BUMMER. A real parliamentary would have the Government (majority) face to face against the Opposition (minority). Unlike a presidential democracy - the parliamentary democracy gives the minority a voice in the form of the Opposition. Even better, the Opposition Leader has his or her cabinet to scrutinize the Government. This is much better than having mixed appointees which is nothing more than mahjong appointees. For example, Michael Aguinaldo of the Commission on Audit (COA) is from the Liberal Party while Francisco Duque is an appointee by Duterte.
Instead, the formalized roles will engage in a debate. Duterte's cabinet faces off against Gordon's cabinet. Gordon, as the Opposition Leader, is the bark-dog that holds Duterte accountable for his shortcomings. Gordon, for example, points this and that and must prove it before the national audience. Duterte's Government is held accountable by Gordon's Opposition. Gordon's Opposition appointees such as let's say Kiko Pangilinan (agriculture), Aguinaldo (audit), and Dr. Willie Ong (health) will all scrutinize their actual equivalents in Duterte's Government.
Do you think it would be possible to do magic shows? It would be very hard to do so because both sides are holding each other accountable. The weekly question hour is all about transparency to each other. The government audit will be scrutinized by the opposition audit. The performance of the health minister will be scrutinized by the shadow health minister. Both sides are required to answer each other. We can expect much less magic shows under a parliamentary system.
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