Political trash

MANILA, Philippines - Much akin to the Filipino spirit, tarpaulins are also waterproof. You’ve probably seen hundreds of these plastered across the bare walls of your municipality: “Happy Fiesta,” “Congratulations, Iglesia Ni Cristo!,” new city ordinances, and trifling announcements in barely readable fonts next to gargantuan images of your friendly politicians, smiling their way into your hearts (and off-handedly, towards your ballots).

But in the wise words of Donna Summer, enough is enough is enough. A Facebook page named “Anti-EPAL” has paved the way for the citizens to stop these shenanigans. Supreme talked to the instigators of the Anti-EPAL Movement: Tado of SuporTADO ka Namin Movement and the Dakila Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism.

Tado’s Ideology

Tado’s ideology found resonance in P-Noy’s inauguration, in which the President vowed to stop corruption starting with the “Wang-wang” culture of most politicians.

“Sa ugaling wang-wang na-develop ang pagiging bully ng mga politicians,” Tado explains. Using the SuporTADO Ka Namin Movement Facebook page, he started posting pictures of infrastructures and ambulances that are covered with the names and faces of politicians and noticed that there was a collective hatred towards this trapo activity.

“Sobrang galit ng mga netizens,” he adds. “Makikita mo sa site yung galit at talagang ayaw na nila yung ganong klaseng pag-uugali ng mga pulitiko.”

Premature campaigning has long been an issue in the country. While Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code indicates that political shindigs and partisan pa-pogi outside of the campaign period are unlawful for voters and candidates alike, there was a baffling Supreme Court ruling that states that a person is not considered a candidate until s/he has filed a certificate of candidacy. Because there are no candidates before the campaign period even starts, this year is basically a free-for-all campaign shebang for those with political interests. What the actual frak?

Stupid Voters?

Tado himself admits that there are no stopping politicians for being bonifide epals, but perhaps shaming them is a good way to go. “Tinututulan namin dito ay yung pakiramdam na ginagawang ‘stupid’ yung mga botante dun sa pamamaraan nila na akala nila ay nakakadagdag sa kanila ng boto,” he quips. It’s true that these activities went by unnoticed before, but the people are much smarter these days. Furthermore, printing costs much less than before, thereby enabling EPALiticians from propagating their propaganda.

“Sa palagay ko ngayon, habang ginagawa nila yung mga pre-campaiging na style nila na merong larawan, yung style ng epal, ay nakakabawas pala sa kanila,” Tado says.

Last July, Tado, along with his buddies from Anti-Epal, started their “Epal Hunt,” a bike tour around the metro to take pictures of infrastructures, ambulances, unnecessary tarpaulins that caught their attention. More recently, a five-city tour from Marikina to Cainta, Ortigas, San Juan, and to Quezon City merited their biggest turnout. “Ngayon balak namin gagawin na namin per city yung Epal Hunt. Gagawin naming mas organized. Meron nang ‘Epal Points’ kung saan na meron silang masusundan kung hindi sila makahabol,” Tado says.

Epal Hunts

These Epal Hunts proved to be effective as Anti-Epal’s recent Parañaque tour shamed various politicians to take down their posters. And these “Epal Hunts” are just the tip of the iceberg. Tado is pushing to hold an “Epalympics,” where people from various municEPALities can participate in fun activities such as “Spot the Epal,” where they can rack up points from signs of epal, and “Paint my Epal,” a guerilla graffiti contest where participants are urged to show their creativity by vandalizing these epal monuments. “Kakapalan lang yung kilay, lalagyan ng pangil, susungayan. Hindi naman gagaguhin… bigyan naman natin sila ng art,” he adds. While it sounds fun, Tado admits that it’s challenging, and he wishes that the support for Anti-Epal continues to pour.

“Yung pagiging epal, para-paraan yan. Maraming paraan na gawin para hindi ka maging epal,” replied Tado vigilantly. True to this, he points out that there are still politicians out there who erect projects without their names and faces intact. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson strictly prohibits this practice, which is why most signs from the DPWH are emblems of transparency with their mug-free construction notices. Politicians are here to serve and not to self-serve, right?

Tado urges the people to do what they think is right. “Kung gusto mo yung lugar mo na maraming epal, let it be. Pero kung ayaw mo na maging epal yung lugar mo, gumawa ka ng paraan. Kunan mo nang litrato, i-post mo sa Facebook mo.” Through this, maybe someday we’ll rid of Golezeums, lightposts with the mayor’s initials, politician-flavored and fauxlitical-enriched sardines, and annoying music videos that feature more of Mayor Girlie Ejercito’s face than the bangkeros that she’s singing about. In this epal world, shame is the game.

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Like the Anti-Epal Facebook Page at facebook.com/nomoreepal. Tweet the author @junellhernando.