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 27th, 2007 at 12:41 am
nice photo nga. but democracy? please! looks to me like a gender divide, pure and simple. the women wanted protection from the elements, perhaps it was drizzling? or threatening to? the men just didn’t care as much. and the distance they kept, well, mahirap namang lumapit sa nakapayong, diba, masusundot ka sa mata.
November 26th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
nagwawala si salina hahahahaha
ang nasa picture po ay isang presidente at isang myembro ng Presidential Security Group…kahit saan ka magpunta meron talagang ganito…kasa yan sa trabaho ng PSG ang pangalagaan ang presidente..kahit sino pa ang presidente gagawin nila yan..hindi yan isang amo at isang katulong…hehehehehe
eto na ang probable presidentiables para sa 2010:
Villar — elitista, billionaryo, hindi daw nagnanakaw pero simula nung naging senador lalong lumago ang negosyo whoaaaa….bakit kaya…
Roxas - Elitista din, bilyonaryo din…simula nung nagkaroon ng ambition na tumakbo ng presidente biglang kinalaban ang administration at kumampi sa opposition..pero kadalasan tahimik lang..kung saan maraming pilipino kumakampi..dun din sya kumakampi…hhhmmmm balimbing? walang paninindigan???
Erap Estrada - Elitista din, bilyonaryo din..lalo na nung nakakuha ng gambling money…maka masa daw…makamasa??????? ewan ko lang…dating presidente…natangal sa pwesto dahil sa pera..mayaman na nga gusto pa yumaman pa ng husto..huhuhuhu
Legarda - ewan ko kung ano to sya..d ko na alam hahahahaha
Lacson - lagot kayo..kung noong chief PNP pa sya..dami ng naexecute…pano na lang kung maging presidente na..babalik na si michael ray aquino…at iba pa nyang mga alipores para sila naman hahawak ng jueteng, robbery at iba pang pagkakaperahan..hahahahaha
GOrdon .- sabi nya at mga suporters nya..magaling daw sya..dami daw natulungan kasi chairman daw ng RedCross…eh kahit naman sino pa chairman ng RedCross madami pa din matutulungan tlaga sila…gamitin daw ba ang RedCross hahahahahaha at ang tawak sa kanya DICK!!! whoaaaaa
ayan na po!!!! mamili na kayo…choose the best mandaraya, the best magnanakaw, the best kurakot at the best killer…
ay meron pa pala…
Jinggot Estrada — hhmmmm wala ako masabi sa taong to…hindi dahil sa wala akong alam tungkol sa kanya..KUNDI AY WALA SYANG ALAM..AT MAGIGING PRESIDENTE NATIN SYA???? hahahahaha
well…salamat sa mga taga cebu ug majority sa mga taga visayas…kasi di sila uubra sa mga botante doon…buti na lang..
dapat siguro maghiwalay na lang ang Luzon at magsama ang Visayas at Mindanao..karamihan ng mga kurakot kasi puro taga Luzon hahahaha peace sa mga taga luzon!!!
November 26th, 2007 at 10:45 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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Exactly!!! I’ve saying it all alone but nobody believe me.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:40 am
clipmaster
hoy salina:
palagay ko ay hindi paramihan ng post dito……….
pare pareho ang post mo maski iba naman ang topic……
walang kakwenta kwenta naman ang mga post mo…….
well, anyway thats democracy na ang sabi mo ay wala………
tanga lang ang magsasabing walang democracy sa pilipinas……..
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Hay, Naku! ako na naman ang nakikita mo. Gago na kong gago! Is not my fault if you’re too slow posting. If you still believe that there is DEMOCRACY in the Philippines, So be it. Mg coffee ka muna w/hot pandesal to go with it.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:36 am
cvj
Nine months ago, i described what i how i saw our political system in a State Chart diagram:
http://cvjugo.blogspot.com/2007/03/state-chart-of-philippine-democracy.html
There i saw our post-Marcos democracy as you (and many others do), i.e. an elite-based democracy. After Hello Garci, however, i believe we are now in the cusp of an elite-dictatorship with our democratic institutions becoming ceremonial shells.
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As far as I know Philippines is not democratic country anymore because the way the Philippines government run.