He was born with a burning passion for change, his fiery tongue honor-bound to the truth and the country it served–until a dark, twisted system forced him into silence.
Few instances in history have witnessed democracy being endangered into faltering. Just last September, seasoned radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa (“Percy Lapid”) was inside his vehicle when his assailants gunned him down, his murder being the latest among a slew of attacks against Philippine press freedom. Despite the constitution protecting freedom of speech in Article 3, the Philippines ranked 54th in the 2021 Democracy Index and 147th in the Press Freedom Index. It has never been so dangerous to speak up and stand for your beliefs, yet it has also never been more critical.
For years, the media has been the cornerstone of democracy—giving voice to the silenced and hope to the weak. With the prominence of government disinformation, the need for reliable information is becoming more pressing. However, increased media censorship has made it harder for journalists to speak the truth.
Just last 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte launched a war on drugs—subjecting drug addicts and suspects to violence and death. He shaped it as an act of national glory, despite various accusations of human rights abuses. The various journalists and mass media personnel who took to investigate the cases were wrongfully red-tagged, harassed, and incarcerated by the government.
The media has been at the frontlines of this war against truth for decades. However, with journalism now under attack, it needs the public’s help in countering falsehood. When the lines of truth are blurred, power-hungry politicians can easily twist reality into one that works in their favor. Allowing disinformation to prosper can lead to the erosion of our democratic institutions and give rise to authoritarian regimes. Thus, the individual matters, and your voice is needed to counter the lies within our system.
As it happens, the mark of a healthy democracy has its citizens voicing their varying opinions, allowing the government to make more beneficial decisions for the people. Staying silent would send a signal of approval to governments. However, through speaking on the internet or joining rallies, one can express one’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the current situation, thereby influencing politics. The government would be made aware of problems that might otherwise be overlooked, prompting them to make decisions that serve the people’s best interests. Moreover, sharing one’s point of view would challenge the common way of thinking, and can empower others to play a more active role in fighting for what is right. One of the most notable instances was the EDSA Revolution in February 1986. Millions gathered along Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue to peacefully protest the dubious re-election of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ending in his abdication.
Similarly, expressing one’s opinions helps identify and correct underlying problems in a system and holds leaders accountable by scrutinizing their every decision. By holding back one’s voice, one is abandoning the opportunity for social reform. Freedom of speech and expression are critical to highlighting mistakes made by the government that could have otherwise created or aggravated a problem. Well-founded opinions help turn the wrong into the right, improving society. For instance, when impeachment had failed in congress, Filipinos protested to remove former president Joseph Estrada from office based on accusations of perjury and corruption.
Democracy is a system that can only work for its citizens because of its citizens. Throughout history, we have fought for a democratic society, desiring more rights, choices, and freedom. Thus, speak up and be proud to protect what you stand for. After all, silence should not be an option in an age where spreading and accessing information is easy. When the people’s voice falters, democracy crumbles.