On real democracy

There is no real democracy in a country whose result of election is changed by artful and unfair means and when the electoral process is not observed. Every vote is sacred, and when the truth is twisted, the will of the people is betrayed. No amount of justification can atone for such crime. An honest and clean electoral process and the belief that power ultimately rests with the people are the very essence of democracy.

On a Marcos

There is no law that prohibits a Marcos to run for post. Either, there is no law that prohibits a Marcos to enter a protest. It is Bongbong's right to make a statement in objection to what he has noticed. Well, democracy isn't about a person, but about how honest and clean the electoral process is. I hope that whoever the VP is has won in a way that is based on the will of the people and not on cheating.

Writers’ manifesto on the Philippine election

This manifesto, in English and Tagalog, is from a growing list of more than 90 Filipino writers around the world. Our values, and candidates, differ, but we set aside what divides us to unite behind our country. We invite all to stand, with us few Filipinos here, during these troubled times everywhere, for unfettered expression and the necessity of free speech.

A MANIFESTO
I am a Filipino writer.

I am one among journalists, fictionists, poets, essayists, bloggers, screenwriters, graphic storytellers, copywriters, playwrights, editors… Citizens, all—in a perilous place to wield a pen.

I stand for unfettered expression—to discuss, dispute, debate, dissent. For democracy is respectful disagreement—change persuaded, never imposed. And freedom cannot be dictated, for the right to speech empowers all others: to worship, and participate in society, to cry against injustice, and call for what is just. Speaking responsibly is my responsibility—but expression remains unconditional, essential to equality and universal liberty: To each citizen, a free vote; to every citizen, a free voice.

All of us, citizens, live in a world where the powerful thrive on secrecy and the privileged seek our poverty. Ours is a time when righteousness and faith are weaponized into fear and savagery, and life is dispensable to opinion and ideology. All of us, Filipinos, live in a country where facts are spun as black propaganda, and dynasties stage a masquerade of choice, and leaders prosper on our weakness and disunity. Ours is a society broken by those who benefit from its breaking.

I refuse to let that be the story of our people.

To our Filipino sisters and brothers—at home and around the world: I pledge my pen. My task is to listen, to give voices when you’ve none, and render us with all the humanity I can muster and the dignity you deserve. As a writer I work, and witness, inform, and incite. I shall concede my stance when proven wrong, aspire to constant civility, and safeguard our history from those who reap from its rewriting. This I vow. To this I will see.

To those who mislead for fake faith, profit, or political gain—the false prophets, corporations, and agents of disinformation: my enemy is your iniquity, rapacity, manipulation; my methods are clarity, creativity, careful investigation. I know, as you do, that your power sits solely in the pliancy of us people—and I refuse to sit idly as you crave our control. I shall match your inhumanity with plain and simple decency. This I vow. To this I will see.

To our leaders abusing power—elected or otherwise: I am watching, taking notes, recording for all time. I will mock you who’ve made a mockery of our democracy; yours will not be bronze statues in plazas, or elegies on brass plaques—for my words will outlive your influence, in a world that will know the ills you committed and the ugliness that you were. In life you’ve stolen from our country and our people, and in your death I will steal the respect you never earned and the dignity you never deserved. Try to censor me and I will find a way—to immortalize your infamy, defame your legacy, tell your children’s children with accuracy of what you did and precisely all you failed to do. Your punishment will stretch through the pages of perpetuity.

This I vow. To this I will see.

For all histories have shown: Elections pass, systems crumble, but stories remain. Assassinate one of us—but another speaks louder. Pass laws to make us criminals—but our writing blooms beyond their reach. For history has proven: Jose Rizal is always remembered, Marlene Esperat never forgotten. Your weapons may be violence and money, but our tools are vigilance and memory.

For I am a Filipino. I am a writer.

This I vow, and this you will see: I shall not be silent. I cannot be silenced. I am not alone—our writing remembers, our laughter reminds. The truth of you the world will know. And it starts right here, with me.

ISANG MANIPESTO
Ako ay manunulat na Pilipino.

Isa ako sa mga mamamahayag, kuwentista, makata, mananaysay, blogger, scriptwriter, komiks writer, mandudula, patnugot—mamamayang nabubuhay kung saan mapanganib magsulat.

Naninidigan ako na malayang makapagsalita—para magtalakay, tumutol, makipagtalo, sumalungat. Pagtatalong magalang ang demokrasya. Nag-uudyok ito ng pagbabago, hindi nagpapataw. Kailanman, hindi maididikta ang kalayaan. Karapatan ng lahat na magsalita: para sumamba, makiisa sa lipunan, tutulan ang kawalang-katarungan, at manawagan para sa katwiran. Sa pagbibitiw ng salita, may responsibilidad ako. Pero walang anumang kondisyon ang pagpapahayag. Esensyal ito para sa pagkakapantay-pantay at kalayaang unibersal. Malayang boto para sa bawat tao; malayang tinig para sa bawat mamamayan.

Nabubuhay tayo sa mundo kung saan namamayagpag ang laksang lihim ng kapangyarihan. Hangad nila ang patuloy nating kahirapan. Sa panahon ngayon, iniaambang sandata ang pananampalataya at katuwiran para manakot at mag-asal-hayop. Ibinubuwis ang buhay ng tao para lamang sa ideyolohiya at opinyon. Nabubuhay tayong mga Pilipino sa bayan kung saan mistulang black propaganda ang katotohanan. Mapanlokong palabas ng mga dinastiya na mayroon tayong pagpipilian. Malayo na ang narating ng mga namumuno sa bayan dahil sa pagkakawatak-watak natin at kahinaan. Iginugupo ang lipunan natin ng mga taong nakikinabang sa pagkakalansag nito.

Hindi ko papayagan na ito ang maging kuwento ng ating lahi.
Sa mga kapatid na Pilipino dito sa Inang Bayan at saan pa man sa mundo: para sa iyo itong panulat ko. Tungkulin kong makinig, magpahiram ng tinig kung wala na ang sa inyo. Ilalarawan ko ang lahat sa paraang makatao, puno ng dignidad na nararapat sa iyo. Bilang manunulat nagsisikap, sumasaksi, nagbibigay-alam, at nang-uudyok ako. Sakaling mapatunayang mali, isusuko ko ang posisyon ko. Ipagtatanggol ko ang kasaysayan laban sa mga nakikinabang sa pagrebisa nito. Panata ko ito; bagay na tinitiyak ko.

Sa mga nagbabalak iligaw tayo dahil sa pananalig, kita, o benepisyong pulitikal—mga bulaang propeta, korporasyon, at ahente ng tiwaling kaalaman—tutol ako sa inyong kagaspangan, manipulasyon, at pagkagahaman. Laan akong magpaliwanang, maging malikhain, at magsiyasat ng buong ingat. Tulad ninyo, alam ko na nakasalalay ang kapangyarihan ninyo sa pagtitiis ng tao. At hindi ako uupo na lamang para patakbuhin ninyo ang lahat. Hindi ako magsasawang magpakadisente para tapatan ang inyong hindi-makataong paraan. Panata ko ito; bagay na tinitiyak ko.

Sa mga pinunong abusado sa kapangyarihan—inihalal man o hindi: nagbabantay ako, nagtatala para alalahanin ito habang buhay. Kayong kumukutya sa ating demokrasya, kukutyain ko rin kayo. Walang rebultong tanso sa plaza o mga papuring plake para sa inyo. Higit sa impluwensiya ninyo ang bawat salita ko, sa mundong tutuklas sa katiwalian at kahalayan ninyo. Sa buhay, pinagnakawan ninyo ang tao at bayan. Sa kamatayan, babawiin ko ang respetong hindi dapat at dignidad na hindi para sa inyo. Busalan man ninyo ako, pipiglas ako para talunin ang kasamaan ninyo. Yuyurakan ko ang mga iniwan ninyo. Isalaysay ko nang tama sa kaapu-apuhan ang mga nagawa at hindi ninyo ginawa para sa bayan. Walang humpay ang parusa ninyo. Panata ko ito; bagay na tinitiyak ko.

Dahil napatunayan na ng kasaysayan: nagwawakas ang mga halalan, nagigiba ang mga sistema, pero nananatili ang mga salaysay. Itumba man ninyo ang isa sa amin, may isa pang aangal ng mas malakas. Magpasa man kayo ng mga batas para gawin kaming kriminal, yayabong pa rin ang panulat namin lampas sa mga hangganan. Dahil pinatunayan na ng kasaysayan: patuloy na ginugunita si Jose Rizal; hindi nalilimutan si Marlene Esperat. Pera at karahasan man ang sandata ninyo katapat nito ang aming gunita at mulat na pagbabantay.

Ako ay Pilipino. Manunulat ako.

Panata ko ito. Hindi ako mananahimik o mapatatahimik, itaga mo ‘yan sa bato. Hindi ako nag-iisa. Hindi nakalilimot ang aming panulat; nang-uusig ang aming halakhak. Malalaman din ng mundo ang katotohanan tungkol sa iyo. At ngayon magsisimula ito, mula sa akin mismo.

Signed, chronologically (as of May 4, 2016):

MIGUEL SYJUCO
CLINTON PALANCA
LISANDRO CLAUDIO
JOEL PABLO SALUD
MARCK RONALD RIMORIN
RANDY DAVID
ALMA ANONAS-CARPIO
JIM PASCUAL AGUSTIN
SYLVIA E. CLAUDIO
ROMANO CORTES JORGE
AMBETH R. OCAMPO
CAROLINE S. HAU
DANTON REMOTO
ROFEL BRION
MARNE KILATES
NINOTCHKA ROSCA
IAN ROSALES CASOCOT
PATRICIO ABINALES
SARGE LACUESTA
NEIL GARCIA
KIMI TUVERA
GEMINO ABAD
LOURD DE VEYRA
MARITES VITUG
LUIS FRANCIA
JESSICA HAGEDORN
D.M. REYES
MOOKIE KATIGBAK LACUESTA
NICANOR TIONGSON
ISABELITA REYES
ROLANDO B. TOLENTINO
LINDA FAIGAO-HALL
MERLIE ALUNAN
NENI STA. ROMANA CRUZ
KARINA BOLASCO
NICOLA SEBASTIAN
RENE CIRIA-CRUZ
KRISTINE FONACIER
CRISELDA YABES
JOSE DALISAY
DEAN FRANCIS ALFAR
RAMON GUILLERMO
PATRICIA LIM
MONA LISA YUCHENGCO
GEMMA NEMENZO
CRISTINA PANTOJA-HIDALGO
NICK CARBO
GRACE TALUSAN
ALBERT B. CASUGA
SYLVIA L. MAYUGA
CARLOMAR ARCANGEL DAOANA
M. EVELINA GALANG
FH BATACAN
CARLJOE JAVIER
FELIX FOJAS
NADINE SARREAL
SUSAN S. LARA
RHANDEE GARLITOS
EUGENE EVASCO
DINO MANRIQUE
LINDA NIETES
GRACE R. MONTE DE RAMOS
JOHN LABELLA
KARL R. DE MESA
YVETTE PANTILLA-CARPIO
JAN PHILIPPE V. CARPIO
ROGER B. RUEDA
OSCAR V. CAMPOMANES
CHARLSON ONG
NOELLE Q. DE JESUS
MAXINE SYJUCO
SHIRLEY O. LUA
PAULO ALCAZAREN
TWINK MACARAIG
DEE MANDIGMA
MYRZA SISON
SHAKIRA SISON
LUIS P. GATMAITAN
THELMA ENAGE
RALPH SEMINO GALAN
LUISA T. REYES
REBECCA T. AÑONUEVO
MICHAEL M. COROZA
GERALDINE C. MAAYO
RAMIL DIGAL GULLE
MALOU JACOB
RONALD REYES
DARYLL DELGADO
NONOY ESPINA
ELIZABETH ONG
LOUIE JON A. SANCHEZ
LILA SHAHANI

JOIN THE GROWING LIST OF SIGNATORIES BY CONTACTING MIGUEL SYJUCO AT miguel.syjuco@gmail.com.