oki so imagine this. imagine the worst person you know politically, like ever. big evil dictator vibes. someone who is personally responsible for the deaths of many over a span of like i dunno 2 decades or so. now imagine that that dictator got overthrown by a people's revolution and said revolution becomes this like, very big thing that is known all over the world as inspirational and an act of bravery. imagine that the whole world is now aware of how much shit that dictator brought upon the country, how much money had been stolen from the people and how many of those very same people were tortured and slain and massacred for no good reason. imagine that period of history being known as one of the bloodiest eras to have ever occurred - all the while said dictator prides upon this era with a song that conveys their wish to make a "new society" under that dictator's control.
now imagine that the dictator has a son. imagine that that son, strangely enough, still holds a lot of political power, like his siblings and relatives and thrives on the ill-gotten wealth that has yet to be returned to the people they've stolen from. now, imagine that 3 decades after the fall of the dictator, that dictator's son decides to run for presidency alongside the daughter of the current president who very much emulates the same spirit the overthrown dictator had 3 decades ago. imagine that despite numerous accounts that verify the injustices that occurred under that dictator's era, the son and his supporters profusely denies any of that and instead chooses to paint his parent's rule as that of success and prosperity and promises to bring back that era if he were to win presidency.
now imagine that same son being paraded in the streets to formally announce the start of his presidential campaign to the very song that became the anthem of his parent's more-than-a-decade long rule: a song that played as soldiers gunned down farmers, journalists, lawyers and more as the dictator and his of-age son looks down upon them, pleased.
that is the reality of the Philippine political sphere right now. Ferdinand Marcos' son, Bongbong Marcos, formally announced the start of his campaign while accompanied by the tune of Bagong Lipunan - a song used to further along the Marcos Martial Law era of 1972-1985.
and the worst part of it? out of the top 5 presidentiables, he's in second place and has a very strong chance of winning if the truth is distorted enough.
may God save the Philippines if that happens.
