Philippine Left's Engagement in/with Elections

Source: Indymedia

I was tagged on Emman Hizon's essay entitled "Two Months after the Midterm Elections: Some Initial Thoughts on the Left and its Electoral Engagement". I take the question of the left's engagement in electoral politics to mean the left's engagement in/with the structures and agents of poverty, patronage politics, clientelism, bossism, violence, oligarchical families, political dynasties, and money politics in Philippine national and local elections.

The following was my comment on Emman's essay.

Thanks for the tag, Emman! It's a good, reflective piece. Something we can build on. Some quick and random feedback here on your initial thoughts. 

1. Maybe it's a good idea to have a common thread/theme on this essay. I think that Akbayan, Makabayan, DemLeft, Risa, Kaka, etc. have its own individual dynamics and specificities so it's difficult -- if not inappropriate -- to lump them together. For example, to what extent has Akbayan impacted on the electoral performance of Risa and Kaka? 

2. I would just like to remind you of the importance of 'class analysis' and 'social-historical' contexts in understanding the left's engagement with the electoral process. Apparently, it's still the trapos and dynasties (i.e., ruling elite classes) that are able to identify with and mobilize the masses. For example, study Nancy versus Teddy, or Nancy versus Risa (but Risa is a different story than Teddy because Risa has A-B-C, issue-based, Team PNoy, personal fan votes, but she did not get the support from most poor and the non-poor just above the poverty line as much as Nancy got -- and even though Akbayan is a staunch supporter of CCT). Further, Akbayan's labor arm, Partido ng Manggagawa, Sanlakas, and many other left parties have not mobilized well the working class and make this sector a potent electoral force. 

And yes, what is missing in the analysis is 'money politics', which has long been the lifeblood of our electoral system! While we have not yet succeeded in the struggle for electoral reforms, engaging in Philippine elections also means engaging in money politics. I think it's also important to have an honest reflection on how the 'left' and its candidates engaged in the use of money in campaigns and elections. 

3. Academically-speaking, Akbayan has been akin to stories of social-movement-turned-political-parties in Latin America. It's an interesting phenomenon and experiment. First, it's like left parties in Nordic and Western Europe that has forged coalition with other (mainstream) parties participating in 'national' elections/government. At the same time, it has grassroots strategy in 'local' politics -- a long-term political strategy which has made many left parties successful in Latin America. 

4. I think that 2016 will be a different ball game! The person to beat is your brod -- Jojo Binay, who remains strong and popular! Indeed, 2013 was not a 'reform election'. On the basis of the personalities and political background of the elected senators, I consider this mid-term election not really a vote of confidence for Team PNoy, but more of a continuation of anti-GMA assertion and sentiments of the masses which was first articulated in 2010 with the election of PNoy. 

My guess is that Akbayan will continue to be part of a coalition that will run against Binay's bloc. On the other hand, I could sense that Makabayan would most likely join Binay's coalition. Amid the historically entrenched social structure of elite democracy and the stalled process of electoral reforms, Akbayan's position thus far in 'national' politics is so uncertain; but you're right that the party should continue to strengthen its local mass base while strategically building cross-class and sectoral alliances. 

Ok, dito na lang muna. Tulog muna ako. Sana makatulong sa pagtatasa't pagmumuni-muni natin.