We have repeatedly criticized and denounced the game of politics prevailing in our country. We have inherited this from the American colonialists who tutored our politicians how to perpetuate themselves in power. This is how it works. The strategy and tactics consist of the following.
When electoral season approaches, the hair whorls of politicians—big and small—start to itch. It is like a mini-whirlwind that won’t stop threshing the brain tissues of politics-minded men and women until concrete steps are made preparatory to one’s candidacy for an electoral post in government. This brainstorm starts among the bigwigs and gradually gains strength as it “landfalls” on the entire political landscape from up and down below. Of course the small politicians learned the whys and wherefores of the game from what they have witnessed in the practical laboratory of the big politicians.
But the foundation or premise of our political affairs has always been deception or swindling. Why is it a swindler’s act? What really is the principal purpose of the swindler in pursuing his/her trade? It is to divest someone of something the swindled holds as valuable and which the swindler grabs in satisfaction of his own need. Usually money.
And the swindler relies solely on his tongue as his marvelous device. By his rare talent in the art of persuasion or sleight of tongue, he entraps the victim to willingly part his precious possession in favor of the swindler.
The Trapo politico is no different from the swindler in the street. He ensnares the electorate with his sweetened words encapsulated in a very catchy slogan. Gimmickry is the bottom line of the gambit employed by the Tradpol. And so, such slogans as what Noynoy made into a signage—, “matuwid na daan” and what Binay versified into a jingle “gaganda ang buhay”—came into being. And these have mesmerized the voters who just woke up one morning to find that they were duped.
However, what befall to the victim of the swindler on the street and the victims of the swindler politicians differ. The street swindler’s victim realizes his/her loss—sum of money perhaps, or a car, anything valuable smoothly taken away by the swindler’s sleight of tongue. And he/she has learned a lesson and vows never to be victimized again.
But the electorate or the people, by reason of their lack of intelligent information, or ignorant of the real nature of our politics, have been repeatedly swindled but have never learned their lesson. Every election time, they fall into the trap installed by the Trapo politicos. No critical study and understanding have been made to settle in the minds of the people the true character of Philippine politics.
For the approaching electoral season, already certain candidates have exhibited their identical wares of campaign gimmicks. The oil in the political frying pans are steaming to sautee the main menu for the campaign. And here the essence of “bata-bata poliics” (patronage polictics) starts to exude its obnoxious deceptive smell.
Why the term bata-bata politics?
First of all, this game in our politics was given birth during the Commonwealth period when Manuel L. Quezon served as the head of state. At this stage of our political history, the Filipinos were supposedly tutored by the Americans for self-government. In short, our Filipino leaders.were made political puppets of the Americans who were the real patrons in our political life.
Under this system, our politicians were divided into political parties, chiefly meant to congregate all the supporters of the big politicians for electoral purposes. There is no essential difference between the different Trapo political aggrupations. Turncoatism is as frequent as where the hook hangs that holds the bait. All of them serve the interest of the US. Their respective strengths rely on the number of their members and or supporters from the top down to the lowest levels of their organizations. Under this set-up, the bigwigs call the shots and rely on the small fry as their “bata-bata” (retinues) to insure the retention of their positions as the party in power.
It is here that the “political dynasties” emerged in the national, provincial, or municipal level. Only one or two families control and or influence the outcome of the political contests within their turfs.
Candidates who are not cradled by the big political dynasties hardly win. The graces that the small ones receive depend on how effectively they can gather votes for the top guns during elections.
Truly, the Trapo politico has always in mind the elections all the days of his career, and so he always pampers his “bata-bata” and constantly delivers the necessary ”perks” for them. Here, the ”pork barrel” becomes the most desired and most expected item in the political agenda of the Trapo politicos, for as long as you belong to the party of the President in power. If not, “sori ka na lang”!
It is well to remember that the grand deception lies in the empty promises and or the vaunted benefits that will supposedly accrue to the nation once the particular party and candidates are tossed to their posts. This is the snare meant to dupe the people into the belief that they should remain in power. This is the big swindle that makes patronage politics a major menace in our socio-political life.
And this is the main reason why even in the barrio or barangay level, so many would love to feign as leaders or to serve as ”bata-bata” of some politicos, because it is here that the so-called “trickle system” finds realization—not as an outcome of economic growth or progress, but as a bribe pittance from the Trapo politicians. And not the grassroots are beneficiaries, but only the opportunist “bata-bata” pseudo-leaders.
Is it any wonder why the Trapo politicians under the ruling party who are occupying seats in Congress have become all millionaires?—including those who have become rich among governors and other local politicians who are close to the powers that be?
Today, only the congressmen and women in the Makabayan Bloc are truly in the service of the Filipino people. And only the Communist Party of the Philippines has so far established itself as a real political party with a clear vision of society and program of government.
