Confusion

The filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) made headlines in all newspapers, TV and radio reports this past week. The media reports showed the affair was a national event. Supporters of candidates packed Comelec offices and surroundings including grounds in front of the Manila Cathedral.

Then came the different, even divergent analysis and interpretations from the the so-called political observers, sociologists and journalists.

On the positive side, Malacañang and Comelec issued statements saying what happened last week was a display of a vibrant democracy. On the negative side, the words like farce, circus, fiesta were used to describe the affair. Serious commentators branded the affair as immature democracy in all its worst. Others lamented it as a shame while one writer sadly wrote, Cry, My Beloved Country.

There is a seeming confusion here. Both the positive and negative commentaries point to a process of culturalization of the electoral process in particular and politics in general. My question is: are we witnessing a new culture in progress?

Two sober opinions appeared as editorial and a column in one national daily. The editorial maintains that what is happening is a moment of emancipation from American colonial influence. The columnist believes the need for true nationalism is being highlighted by our present political activities in preparation for national elections.

I am neither a political analyst nor a sociologist. My confusion arises from a concern about the role of the Church in the different cultural processes unfolding in our midst. Our religious culture cannot be separated from our political culture. Since values create cultures, most of these values are transmitted through our educational institutions and church-related associations.