While the giants fight

For every nation, unity is that invisible glue that holds its society together. It’s not forced, nor is it uniform; it is simply that collective decision made by diverse groups, regardless of political, religious, ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds and all for a cause – a shared future that stands strong and resilient.

National unity is composed of three pillars – a shared identity, civic trust and collective responsibility. In short, we know we belong to one nation; despite differences, we aim for the common good and we are responsible for one another by looking out for each other, as citizens of this nation. For any nation to survive, therefore, unity is an essential component for its survival.

Unity is also key to a nation’s economic success and it is also the most valuable asset in times of crisis.

To date, the state of division in the Philippines is deeply felt and the political rift between the two parties (Marcos and Duterte) has polarized the public tremendously. Filipinos are not uniting behind a single national vision.

In 2016, the Philippines was surprised by one man with one slogan – Change is coming. I remember the discontent in those days leading to Election Day and with one interview after another (by me over AM radio) on how influential people significantly rated the administration at that time as a failed one. Yet, I was not impressed by whatever change was coming. Perhaps because I was not used to the idea of a non statesman.

But Duterte came. The Philippines was not just different; it was radical. At least , compared to what I was used to. Fast forward to today, the Filipinos are once again finding themselves in a difficult situation where public order and public trust are at stake.

So here we are, wanting change yet again. With school shootings and other violence-related events going viral on social media, not to mention the lingering flood control mess, the real question still remains – are we going to be part of the solution in the long run?

General manager Nicolas Torre III of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) posted a video the other day about a young individual assaulting passengers in a jeepney, but he did not stop there. Instead, Torre added that while the incident is horrifying, we must get past the video taking and instead act by calling 911 or MMDA 136. He also said that people must not just be witnesses but also part of the solution.

Agree? I do. What is change if we are not going to be a part of it?

The political feud that is shaking the Philippines is beyond a war of words and it is crushing national unity. The great divide has not only polarized us; it has inhibited us from trying to do our part in being the solution. We are still waiting for change and it ain’t coming if we are not ready to be the change we are looking for.

That’s the ultimate solution to this longstanding problem of change. We must be it.

The concept of waiting for a political leader to fix the Philippines is to me one of our most enduring illusions as a nation. We are always hoping that the the next president, the next slogan or the next political savior will finally usher us into the golden age. Simply put, true lasting transformation in the Philippines must be driven by ordinary citizens from the bottom up.

The middle class is one catastrophic typhoon or one major illness away from a fatal economic crisis in their home life but the crux of the matter is, the most life changing solutions occur at the grassroots level. When people start taking ownership of their communities, the dynamic changes. Citizens stop viewing politicians as masters or saviors and start viewing them as public servants.

Being the change means participation and it demands daily civic discipline such as calling the MMDA hotline instead of just merely taking a video as Torre said.

The hard truth to swallow is, any government is a reflection of its electorate. True national unity and progress cannot be institutionalized by a campaign slogan like unity. True ultimate power to shape our country’s destiny belongs to the people on the ground and until we realize this, we will always be waiting for a miracle with a savior in tow.

True bayanihan does not wait for an executive order and if we want a nation that works, we must begin by making our own communities work – one barangay assembly, one sustainable local choice and one act of civic discipline at a time.

The story of Nehemiah teaches us a powerful lesson on civic ownership, resilience and leadership. Upon return to Jerusalem, he found its protective walls completely destroyed, its gates burned to ash and its people shattered and vulnerable to surrounding enemies. Nehemiah did not wait for a grand army or a life-saving treaty but instead, he assigned ordinary families to rebuild the section of the wall right in front of their houses, including the priests, the merchants, the perfume-makers and the everyday citizens who worked side by side. Nehemiah himself held a trowel in one hand while holding a sword in the other and in just 52 days, the wall was finished. Every citizen took responsibility for the piece of ground directly beneath their feet.

We have spent decades treating our votes like lottery tickets hoping for the grand prize with a savior magically delivering us into the golden age.

Our country is not built from the top down, rather, it is carved from the bottom up born from the collective habits of its citizens.

When we look into the mirror, we see the only savior who can actually deliver on the promise of a better nation. It is the citizen who realizes that if the government is too distracted by its own civil wars to enforce order, we must create order ourselves.

The destiny of this country has always belonged to the people on the ground. It is time we stop waiting for change and become it. The hero we have long been waiting for has been looking back at us all along.