Tired of Being Told to Stay Quiet
Let me just rant this here.
I am very vocal when it comes to politics, especially because I am practically one of the few people with different views in a family full of apolitical people and supporters of the other side. From that alone, you can already get a glimpse of the environment I live in every day.
These past few days, I have been very active in voicing out my opinions regarding everything happening in the Senate because honestly, who wouldn’t be? I have been speaking up, correcting misinformation, sharing facts, and trying to make people understand the seriousness of what is happening in our country instead of blindly believing propaganda and false narratives online. We all know how powerful social media is and how easily narratives can be twisted to fit certain agendas.
Then someone close to me suddenly told me to stop talking about politics because “it won’t help with anything.”
And honestly, that statement irritated me so much.
What do you mean politics will not help with anything when politics affects almost every aspect of our lives? Good governance affects inflation, wages, public services, education, healthcare, and the overall cost of living. If the economy worsens because of poor leadership, ordinary people end up carrying the burden through higher expenses, fewer opportunities, and increasing daily struggles. So yes, politics absolutely affects our present and our future.
Are we just supposed to stay silent and accept the delusion that everything is fine and that things will magically get better just because a certain family remains in power? Are we supposed to ignore corruption, misinformation, and self-interest just because speaking up makes people uncomfortable? Are we supposed to stay quiet while officials can be absent for months and still receive salaries funded by taxpayers, while ordinary workers immediately face deductions for a single absence?
And please do not tell students that they are not affected because they “do not pay taxes.” Every time we spend money, buy necessities, commute, eat outside, or purchase anything, there is tax involved. The public has every right to question where that money goes and whether it is truly being used for the people instead of funding comfortable lives for politicians while ordinary citizens continue to struggle.
What frustrates me the most is how normalized apathy has become. Some people would rather stay apolitical or blindly loyal than actually reflect on how their choices affect the country and future generations. Voting should never just be about protecting personal interests, political idols, or family loyalty. It should be about choosing what is genuinely best for the Philippines and for the people who continue to struggle every day.
The constant exposure to stressful news, misinformation, and emotionally charged discussions has only made everything feel heavier and more exhausting than before.