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Demagoguery of the 'Movement for Better Bacolod' Posted: 31 May 2021 08:15 AM PDT SOCIAL movements have always tickled my interest because our history is basically a history of social movements. Social movements are the articulation of people's aspirations, like those in the 50s and 60s that sparked peasants' uprisings, those in the 70s in what left scholars called the first quarter storm that laid the grounds for the rapid growth of the revolutionary movement, and those in the 80s that decisively ended the Marcos fascist regime. The reason for the success of these social movements are their genuine articulation of people's problems, fears and anxieties, needs, hopes, and aspirations, attributed to the leadership Other social movements failed or were defeated because of the accretion of vested interest and opportunism of certain cliques and factions manipulating mass frustrations or discontentment for their end. Others failed because of the reformism of their leaders who could not establish the right strategy and program, and who flip-flopped on the issues and demands of the people. A few social movements wanting to change the status quo failed because of the millenarian thinking of their leaders which could not distinguish who the real enemies and who are not, and which entrusted the change that they wanted as destiny, and some sort of unseen powers and spirit. Unlike most of the social movements, I've mentioned which had clear causes, strategies, and alternative platforms, the so-called movement for better Bacolod has demonstrated nothing substantial but only manifestations of demagoguery as shown in its repeated and recycled issues and sentiments against the administration of Mayor Bing Leonardia and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran. While some of their issues may sound legitimate and rational like incidences of flooding in the city in past years, SAP distribution problems and lack of basic assistance during the height of pandemic last year, crimes and drugs problems, stricter health protocols – they quickly became a manipulative and opportunist propaganda tool because at the end of the issues hurled is the repeated charges of a crook and corrupt officials, and call for an end to the ruling administration – charges which have been quashed repeatedly by courts. It appears not a mass movement for change, but a network of small mix group of political losers, partisans of ambitious politicians, frustrated civic leaders, reluctant expert in social media operations working like cyber guerrillas flooding the internet with concocted stories of biases, prejudices, and fake news, poorly packaged to become palatable albeit bitter ammunition against the administration. It is even less of a movement for better Bacolod as its name says because there is no clearly laid down coherent and comprehensive development agenda that will make Bacolod better than it is now. At its best, it keeps on recycling old issues and charges already in the court dustbin, or picking up on petty and disconnected issues including personal ones and packages them to appear as issues of governance, question of leadership character, and what have they. I appreciate much better hundreds of civil society organizations (CSOs), the people's organizations (POs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and even church-based organizations, who despite their own agenda and priorities that sometimes run in conflict with the city administration, still have much better engagement fighting for their sectoral, community and socio-economic, and political concerns and needs in the City Development Council, Local Special Bodies, Sectoral Committees, provided by the Local Government Code, and enforced by the DILG and other agencies. I have personally documented stories of their success and failures, and each time they fell, they are challenged to stand up, pursue and strengthen better their social movements so their next battles would give them another round of advances, and so on. Others who are short of strength to engage in these mandated bodies, connect and forge alliances and social movements with those in, and fight their agenda courageously and resolutely. The movement for a better Bacolod is no better social movement. It is a new form of reactionary populism appealing to some people's biases and prejudices for certain vested interests of some small circles and cliques. I hope they realize the futility of their strategy and medium, and instead join the real social movement of CSOs, POs, NGOs, engaging the local government to have their issues, concerns and needs be heard and responded to positively. Such movement of so-called better Bacolod achieves nothing but foment hatred, distrust, contempt, division, and even unnecessary violence. We don't build a better society from hatred and distrust but from the anvil of hope, love, care, and support for each other. More so during this pandemic, and even more, through the fluidity of times. 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