At the annual conference of the American Studies Association of the Philippines last Saturday, I started off with a borrowed idea (from Henry Jenkins of the Center for Future Civic Media, whom I read about through Ethan Zuckerman’s indispensable blog). I started with a question: What does democracy look like? And then offered the following photograph, by the celebrated Romy Gacad of AFP, as an answer.
I explained why, in the following terms:
“This Agence France Presse photograph was taken on August 12, 2006, when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo paid a quick visit to Legazpi City to survey preparations at a danger zone under the shadow of a restless Mayon. The next day, I wrote in my Newsstand blog:
This photo, taken yesterday by the peerless Romy Gacad of AFP in the vicinity of Mayon volcano, spoke to me on so many levels I knew I just had to use it … The composition is so exact it seems almost posed, until you consider the subjects involved: President Arroyo, of course, under the umbrella, facing (or receiving tribute from) Albay Gov. Gonzalez, Reps. Salceda and Lagman, and volcanology institute chief Solidum. (Note the triangle that the officials form.) Other photos, taken by Gacad and by other photographers too, remind us that this particular tableau was very much a product of the moment; in fact, most of the pictures taken at this volcano-gazing event yesterday show either the President by herself or in a huddle with officials. But the veteran lensman saw something different, perhaps a shift in movement, perhaps a blurring and then a coming-into-focus of color. Was it perhaps the presidential umbrella that drew his attention?
“In the 15 months since I wrote that, I have become more and more convinced that this candid portrait of the hierarchy of political power, caught on the wing, tells us something true about democracy, Philippine-style.
“But if this is democracy, where are the demos? Three possibilities. The people are implied; the leaders from the executive and the legislative branches are discussing their fate. The people have been warned off; note the sign that can be glimpsed in the space between the President and her umbrella-toting guard. If we fill in the blanks, we can read: Warning Don’t Go Beyond The Line. Not least, the people (and the press) are outside the frame, watching the scene.
“You may have other images in mind that illustrate democracy, Philippine-style. Any of the iconic photographs from the four heady days of Edsa Uno, for instance, would be similarly evocative. Familiar images of Philippine elections—yellow ballot box, blue-stained index fingers, seminarians in white—remain resonant. A photograph taken by Inquirer photographer Rem Zamora during special elections last May casts the eternal triangle of ballot box, armed guard, and election volunteer in a new light, literally through a different grid.
“But back to Bicol. I hope you will agree with me when I say that the Gacad photo does two things wonderfully well: It captures the elite nature of our representative democracy today, and at the very same time it recalls the datu-and-tribute origins of our history.”
The rest of my remarks can be found here, in Newsstand. But I would be interested to find out: For you, what does democracy look like? If you can’t post a photo, maybe you can post a link!
November 23rd, 2007 at 1:48 am
ernie
What does (real) democracy look like ? Certainly not the mangled rendition we see and experience daily in our hapless country !
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Bingo! You’re absulotely right.
November 23rd, 2007 at 1:46 am
Tanga Pinoy
Democracy is: The freedom to do everything bad or evil. Most of the time, “evil”
It materialized :
- when millions of people can stage bloodless people-power to depose a corrupt president only to replace him with a more corrupt president.
- when “the law” is violated by the “law enforcers” themselves
- when evil and caloused gov’t officials robbed public funds and still get away unpunished.
- When people like GMA, Erap, FG, Bolante, Abalos and people like them got $$$millions kickbacks from anoumalous deal got exposed and still claimed innoncence.
- when our justice system fell in the hands of another evil man in his “second childhood” state of insanity.
- when poor people pay more taxes and gov’t officials pockets them.
- when rich becomes richer, and poor takes their own lives because of poverty.
- when congressmen, mayors and governors can sold their honor and dignity for a “bag of cash-gifts”
And when church leaders treated it with “words of dismay”, when people look at it as just a “normal way of filipino life”.. that my friend is “Democracy”
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Hello, Tanga Pinoy: After reading what you wrote I don’t think you’re TANGA you know exactly what’s going on. And what you’re saying is true! But, That’s don’t mean there is DEMOCRACY in the Philippines. If there is why is it Gloria Arroyo, Won’t let Gov’t. Employee’s to attend the hearing in the senate? They always used the EO#464…..To protect their ass’s….The reason Gloria Arroyo, Doing that because she’s guilty of plumder and these idiots are protecting her ass, As well as their asse’s….
The only reason they kick the duly elected President Joseph Estrada, So that they’re the one can rob the country coffer. And that’s the filipino people fault for letting them get away with it.
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:01 pm
What does (real) democracy look like ? Certainly not the mangled rendition we see and experience daily in our hapless country !
November 22nd, 2007 at 7:18 am
Democracy is the rights to be wrong and the rights of distinguishing the wrong to be right. simply saying having correct opinion that is morally accepted by everyone from the Presidency,Senate,congress and the judiciary. so Honestly saying President GMA is a very democratic symbol of the philippines that represents the hidden true meaning of Jueteng Power not the original Edsa revolution of the true hero of the philippines Benigno Aquino.
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:16 am
Bert
Oh, certainly we are living under a democratic kind of government, as far as the picture would show, if democracy it is that we called it starting from the time of the American occupation to the present. Or even farther back to the Spanish time. The Philippine datus, or, the Egyptian pharaohs for that matter, have the fan-on-a-pole for fresh air held by their minions. But they were slaves. In the Philippine-Spanish time they called them ‘muchachos’, but now, in our Philippine democracy, servants. These servants are different from the ‘public servant’ that government officials mirthfully want to call themselves, even if they act as masters and lords. All these, however, are beside the points of what I want to say actually.
My point really is that John is ascribing politics to what otherwise a beautiful picture of a setting in a place from where I came from. I agree the president, in that picture, projects the image of someone of the upperclass type who can afford all the servant they want, which is very normal in the Philippine democracy we have. But I believe that the servant and the umbrella was there for a different purpose. The president probably had just taken a bath using likas-banana, or, block-and-not-so-white soap, for skin whitening, so, like all typical Filipina girl of any and all class, so very afraid of the sunlight.
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Bert. My friend, Your logic is okay, Except when you mention Gloria Arroyo, As being President. As we all knew it. Gloria Arroyo, Become President because she stole her title from the duly elected President Joseph Estrada, And she stole it again in May 10, 2004. President election from Fernando Poe, Jr. In my book she’s nothing but liar, a thief, And power grabber, She don’t deserve to be a leader. Don’t feel hurt on what I said you know I’m telling the truth. Amen: Salina