The HAKOT FACTOR

The HAKOT FACTOR
By Reymundo Salao
Askal Projection

One indication that Democracy has indeed been corrupted is that the concept of People Power and or mass demonstration is now tarnished with what I would call The Hakot System. Hakot is one slang term that has come to be known in Metro Manila as those numbers of crowds who join &/or comprise protesters, who do so, not for some firm ideological cause, but only for some compensation. Protesters with a price tag. These are crowds who really don’t care whether they join an administration or opposition rally, don’t care if it’s a cause of Pro or Con, but does so for cash in return. One of the rallies that was expected to spark the ouster of PGMA was said to have failed because the rallying crowd was not "paid" enough. While in strictest terms, that is mere hearsay, one cannot ignore the testimonies of those who revealed this in the TV and Radio news reports that covered said rallies. On the other hand, there may be organizations that do not treat it as a form of compensation, but mere aid. Surely, in defense, protesters may have come because of their own personal ideological drive, and not because of some bayad. The pressures of rallies take such a toll on a person. While the spirit may be willing, physical fatigue may render d body to bog down to fatigue. The aid, in the form of food and drinks, may only be there, offered by some organizations, so that the body may resist the fatigue and physical stress of rallies. However, it does not erase d existence of hakots who only comprise a rally because of monetary compensation.

The essence of People Power is not People Power after all. In a grim point of view, some schools and universities have seemed to join in on this ugly practice, by requiring some students to join in on the rallies. There were those interviewed during the rallies who were students, saying they were just there to have their attendance checked. School authorities should have their school attendance checked on curricular activities, not on events that serve a partisan cause. In addition, protest demonstrations have a tendency to boil into violence. The schools are recklessly risking the safety of their students by requiring their presence in these demonstrations.

In another way of expressing the unreliability of People Power is the simple fact that the nation is an archipelago. If a People Power brews up in Manila, it does not necessarily reflect the same sentiments of those in Visayas and Mindanao. It is Manila Mob rule trying to inject its cause upon the more than 90% that embody the rest of the nation.

Interestingly, the Hakot can be an interesting symbolism for the poverty-stricken Filipino, which embodies majority of the citizenry. It doesn’t care anymore for patriotism, or partisan cause, or even utang-na-loob, but for some cash-up-front that will feed one and his/her family/s. It sadly does not contemplate upon the consequences of its action, understandably, because it cannot afford to do so. How can the poor and starving say No to solid cash right then and there? True and undeniable that it exists, Democracy cannot rely on mere headcount anymore. Strength is not in numbers. Not anymore.