The Philippine Online Chronicles

One boring Monday morning, a colleague thrust a thin old book into my hands – one of his spoils from Instituto Cervantes de Manila’ book sale (had to sit that one out to attend to other social matters). It said on the cover, Editorial Cartoons from 1969. Interesting.

[Note: Editorial Cartoons '69 was published in 1969. Edited by Andres Cristobal Cruz and with an introduction by Renato D. Tayag, it featured collections of editorial cartoons from the Manila Press - some of which are now defunct broadsheets. My colleague bought it for P10. A copy was being sold in e-Bay.ph for P850.]

And so as I rode the MRT home, I flipped open the book and started browsing the pictures. This time around, I appreciated the fact that most of those sitting and standing around me were reading along (at least through prolonged stolen glances). I even caught a couple smiling at the hilarious pictures. I’ve always wished that the Filipino people would have more time and more accessible resources to re-discover the pleasures of reading and writing. But then I digress.

I was surprised to find that some – if not most – of the cartoons could easily be reprinted and pass of as today’s editorial cartoon. More than four decades old, the images were still relevant. Besides showing the ingenuity of the cartoonists, it somehow tugs at the heartstrings of Philippines Society. Tackling social problems, it seemed to say, “Hey, we’re still here. Nothing has change, still full to the brim with problems of politicking, empty reforms and double standards against the poor.”

Focusing on the elections, it featured several images of the cut throat competition that the Nacionalista Party and the Liberal Party embarked upon. Of course it had slightly different connotations with Ferdinand Marcos and Sergio Osmena at the helm of the cat fights – Manny Villar and Noynoy Aquino have their own symbolic or image representations – but imagine replacing the caricatures with Villar and Aquino and you can definitely see the semblance and at the same time the shallowness of their mudslinging.

A politician getting ready for another dirty attack. Politicians then and now – still wallowing in dirty and muddy politics

Of course they have their own in-house media and propaganda men to hurl accusations and dig dirt against the other camps – not to mention the columnists, media officers and celebrities that immediately defend and endorse them.

In one of the pictures, both parties pointed at each other as pro-American. We can see the same anathema alliance with the Villaroyo and Gloriaquino accusations.

Here another cartoon shows the eagerness of candidates when it comes to survey results. Unlike in 1969, however, this year, the survey companies were questioned on their credibility. A couple of presidentiables refused to believe them (a good idea if you’re actually the one trailing behind) and questioned their methodology.

With the hype about automation, no one would perhaps disagree that power and money are still in play and that election problems such as bribery and other tactics still exist. As long as there is human intervention, automation cannot really prevent bribery and other forms of cheating. Money and power are sought after by those who are able to bag positions – to replenish their treasure chests and to pay back those who have helped them during the campaign period.

While the images were amusing, it is interesting to note that none featured issue-based debates between the two camps. The elections of ’69 and perhaps the same could be told of this year’s, seemed more like a mere power tug-of-war. The presidential race, as shown in another cartoon, is like a football game where the contenders fumble to get hold of the presidency until one of them manages a touchdown.

Most of the other cartoons, merely echoed century-old woes.

This one shows the youth as an expected torch-bearer – a new generation that will continue to carry the hopes and aspirations of the Philippine revolution.

Another relevant image is the multiple and increasing school fees. As early as this month, parents are already flocking Divisoria and other affordable retail stores to buy school supplies and uniforms.

This one refers to the long-standing problem of agrarian reform. This will definitely be highlighted because of the Hacienda Luisita case lodged against Noynoy Aquino and his family. People will be expecting that he fulfill his promise to distribute Luisita and at the same time address other land-distribution cases.

And finally, the problem of health care. There has been no news of an increase in funds for indigent patients. And people, especially those in rural areas, are still clamoring for at least one health center in their area.

You would think that the editorial cartoons were drawn in 2010. Déjà vu indeed. It seems that the Filipino people have been through the same problems administration after administration. Now the question is, “How will we achieve change?”