As the 2022 elections knock on our doors, most Filipinos are divided between two Presidential Candidates, Vice President Leni Robredo and Former Senator Ferdinand 'BongBong' Marcos Jr., who were also tight rivals during the 2016 Vice Presidential Elections. To secure the win of their chosen bets, the supporters often engage in online debates and discussions in hopes of enlightenment, but fail miserably when said discussion includes name calling and hostility.

Robredo supporters, or Kakampinks, are often labelled as elitist for looking down on a person who supports Marcos Jr. Even though the other party uses the same approach, labelling them as “bobo, tanga, bulag” without hearing their reasons, as quoted by Gideon Lasco, would only convince them to cement their votes and stand by their first choice regardless of material benefits (the article talks about the marginalized favoring Marcos Jr. because of the material benefits that they could get by supporting him). 

Instead of using “Oh, basahin mo ‘yan ng matauhan ka” as Facebook captions, use a less hostile approach in correcting fake news. Angering and labelling them as inferior because of their preference only fuels their determination to shun arguments instead of making an objective judgement. 

According to a 2010 Northwest University study titled “When in doubt, Shout!: Paradoxical Influence of Doubt on Proselytizing,” when a person feels less confident in their opinion, the more they would labor to prove themselves correct by cherry picking evidence and employing an incorrect context.

The same could be said to the BBM supporters who refuse to listen to arguments, and change one’s behaviour in order to justify their candidate’s actions. I have seen supporters smart-shame people when they are being called out, or degrade someone’s social status because of their inability to emphatize with the Marcos family’s private jet rides, or bearing the shame of having to fly home in coach. Instead of changing one’s behaviour to satisfy your political stance, or using the usual “respect my opinion” narrative, I urge you to open your minds when you are being corrected. Admitting to mistakes is not a sign of weakness, rather a mark that you are willing to receive criticism and strive for improvement.

These are the very reasons why BBM supporters are labelled as ignorant and blind. All the needed evidence to debunk your claims are being presented yet it is often ignored and labelled as a waste of time. Is it truly a waste of time, or are you simply avoiding the ruination of the narrative stuck in your head? 

Alas, a few authors noted the factors that might have affected their choices. 

In a Nikkei Asia article, Criselda Yabes brought up the term Tribal spheres, or the people working closely with the said politician. These tribes would vote and promote the candidate so they could share the politician’s benefits when they gain a seat. The Ilocanos, or the north for example, are expected to vote for BongBong Marcos because he is an Ilocano. Anyone voting for the other party is considered a traitor. The same goes for the Bicolanos where they are expected to vouch for Leni. Large corporations, politicians and religious groups also participate in these tribal spheres for personal gains. Regular citizens who benefitted from these leaders opt to join these spheres as a sign of gratitude.

Education also plays a role in being politically aware. Joel Ruiz Butuyan pointed out the schools’ failure to portray the real horrors of the Marcos Regime. Whitewashed versions of the original tale are what children see in books, causing them to take the Marcos Regime lightly.

With this in mind, Filipinos are easily swayed by fake news. Not to mention, our low reading comprehension and our tendency to skip the long, boring posts and news articles prevents us from being well-informed. One analyst offered an explanation that after losing the Vice Presidential bid last 2016, Marcos and his supporters released concise write-ups, brief documentations and online short videos containing martial law myths. These misleading news materials are light and emotionally appealing compared to the heavy documents, court rulings, and articles. All of which are posted in TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. 

Unfortunately, these tales also reach the ears of those who do not have access to the internet. Without the luxury to access information, the masses had little to no proper source of information to check the facts themselves.

But one thing’s for sure, Filipinos are tired of corrupt officials and injustices donning the government. Our country loses 700 billion pesos from the yearly budget because of corruption alone, and with our very low score of 34 in the Corruption Perception Index, we cannot blame Filipinos for wanting a strongman, or a leader who uses authoritarian rule to discipline the corrupt and the Filipinos. 

Joel Ruiz stated in his article that Filipinos held a very flawed view. Filipinos think the Philippines suffer poverty, violence, and corruption rooted in the undisciplined nature of people. Inday Sara Duterte’s announcement that she will require the youth to participate in ROTC as a form of youth engagement, if given a chance to win the elections, proved this to be true after adults and teenagers expressed their excitement over the idea. 

As Joel Ruiz puts it, Filipinos suffer a “battered wife syndrome” wherein one blames themselves as to why their husbands commit such heinous crimes. Filipinos blame themselves for the poverty they face, and not the government for their incompetence to deliver service to its people. This has been demonstrated millions of times by Filipinos who prosper after migrating in foreign countries. 

So to Kakampinks, remember, in the PasigLaban People’s Rally, we saw one of the best placards that remind us of the essence of fighting against problematic officials taking over the government. Take it from the Architects for Leni: “BBM fans club, hindi kayo kalaban, kayo ang pinaglalaban.” 

At the end of the day, even if we have different political stances, we all unite under the concept of building a better nation for ourselves and the future generations. 

Let us deepen our understanding and let our “mas radikal ang pagmamahal” slogan preside in a fight to free our country from oppression.