Opinion: Has 'Woke Politics' Started to Emerge in the Philippines, as Evidenced by Certain Election Winners and Losers? By Manuel Caballero

ON MY WATCH

By MANUEL L. CABALLERO 

HAS "WOKE POLITICS"* STARTED TO EMERGE IN THE PH AS EVIDENCED BY CERTAIN ELECTION WINNERS AND LOSERS?

**(In political discourse, "woke" refers to any awareness of and a stance against social inequalities. It often implies a commitment to social justice and activism). Google

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Opinions/Observations On Recently-Held Elections in the Native Country:

1. The victory of former Vice President Leni Robredo as mayor of Naga City in Camarines Sur is a victory for the people of Naga City because the winning mayor is people-centered and has promised to revive and implement the proven "good governance" program of her late husband, the late Naga City Mayor and Local Government Sec. Jesse Robredo.

2. The election of ex-pres. Rodrigo Duterte as mayor of Davao City will not affect, in any way, the ICC process that has begun against the detained former president. The Hague, where Mr. Duterte is detained, is 7,000 miles away from Davao City. He is not even allowed connections to the Internet. 

His  communications to outside of his cell is controlled and limited. How can he be mayor with his situation? He should have ended his candidacy the moment he was arrested by ICC for the sake of the citizens of Davao City.

3. The victory in the polls by progressive individuals, like Robredo, Aquino, Pangilinan, De Lima and Diokno, and the defeat of certain celebrities and "trapo" politicians, especially in the race for the Senate, are encouraging indicators that "woke politics" has begun in the country.

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I won't be truthful if I don't say that I'm disappointed by the non-election of Filipino Cardinal Tagle as Pope. It does not mean, however, that I'm disappointed by the election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.

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