Statement of the Department of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University
about the May 2022 Election
The upcoming May election is a critical moment in our history. Our precarious future will be determined by our choices for new leaders. In the meantime, social media is being bombarded by discordant voices vying for our support – from flowery promises of a more prosperous future to voices of steely confidence of discipline and integrity to the voices of those with no real platform or thought offered beyond superficial slogans for the good of the country. In our online classrooms and social media spaces, we hear the voices of the youth, awakened to the plight of various sectors of society, speaking up, clamoring, and working with hope for change.
Many are promising change, but what direction should we pursue and whose platforms should we support? While we uphold that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to their conscience, we must seek the truth and make judgments according to it for “without trust and love for what is true, there is no social conscience and responsibility.” Conscience’s dignity is compromised when it shows little concern to seek what is true and good. To follow our conscience equally requires the obligation to form it, anchored in God’s vision of justice and inclusive love revealed in the Gospel.
Hence, we are called to reflect on the future we want for our generation, one that is a “strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life….secure in the knowledge that we have enough for our daily needs and unexpected expenses, that we can plan and prepare for our and our children’s future” as described by NEDA. How committed are we to realize that dream? For the past six years, we have endured a government associated with rampant impunity and corruption, incompetent leadership, and the failure to deliver real change. It is now time to face the future with courage.
Hindi na sapat ang mangarap, kailangan nang magtaya.
Over and against power that forces us to forget, we have to remember the dangerous memories of the atrocities of Martial Law, and make hard choices, even at the risk of being misunderstood or judged. We have to act now even if others think our efforts may prove to be futile. Despite the price we have to pay, we continue to hope not only for ourselves but for everyone who believes that “another world is not only possible, she is on her way” (Arundhati Roy).
“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” For them, we envision a world where there is justice and social participation for all, commitment to the common good, and special care for the vulnerable and marginalized. Integral human development includes not only care for the human person but also for the Earth, our common home. We hope for leaders who will hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. We continue to hope in the promise already accomplished by Christ’s Resurrection that “God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
The world we envision stands in contrast to the Philippines today. Many poor Filipinos have fallen victim to the war on drugs. The pandemic exposed the limits of populist campaign promises. Institutional gaps in our economic, social, and health care systems worsened an already dehumanizing poverty. Countless more have lost their security, their livelihood and their lives. Courageous voices of dissent are red-tagged. Women are ridiculed in public speeches. Our economic and political elites continue to prosper at the expense of our natural resources, our indigenous peoples, and our farmers and fisherfolk. We have seemed to have forgotten our vow to never again tolerate impunity and oppression.
The signs of the times call all of us to prophetically defend the truth, even at the risk of being labelled “divisive.” The call for “Unity” is empty at the expense of Gospel values. Authentic unity is grounded in truth, inclusive justice, and good governance. While there may be a myriad of voices calling out for change and more than one candidate and their platforms espouse the principles and vision of hope, we strongly endorse the candidacies of Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan, which embody the ideals of exemplary leadership untainted by corruption and the needed competence to address society’s many social ills. A vote for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem is not just a vote for viable candidates, but it is also a vote for the ultimate good of our nation. One such vote is a vote for candidates who espouse the Gospel and Filipino values. It is a vote against the return of the Marcos and Duterte Dynasties in power which destroyed much of the nation’s social fabric. It is a vote against those candidates who destroy the integrity of creation and the dignity and rights of peoples, distort the truth, and perpetuate unjust systems and structures that continue to beget the kinds of evil that continue to oppress the Filipino.
Kay Leni at Kiko tayo magtaya. Mangarap… magtaya para sa Pilipinas.
