Filipinos urged to free selves from ‘illusions’ of PH politics

Father Robert Reyes, also known as the “running priest”, meets with Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. Friday, April 12, 2013, after a mass at the Comelec head office where he called on Filipinos to free themselves from “illusions” when they choose who they will vote for in the elections in May. Matikas Santos/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos have been urged to free themselves from “illusions” in Philippine politics, especially during the campaign season and when they choose who they will vote for, Father Robert Reyes, also known as the “running priest”, said in his homily Friday during a mass at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila.

“I think we are driven, not by the truth [nor] by reality. Some candidates are driven by illusions, they might win but [their] illusion is that they are needed by the people,” Reyes said.

And the people, unfortunately, believe in the illusion that they need a certain candidate, he said.

“I urge candidates and voters to lessen their illusions by going someplace that is quiet and where there are no people, no fans’ clubs, no supporters, and no media,” Reyes said.

“In their solitude, they should pray to dispell their illusions … about candidates, political parties, politics, and a lot of other things,” he said.

There are some candidates who go to church to pray but they are accompanied by their supporters as well as the media because they announced they are going to church, Reyes said.

“If you are always surrounded by your admirers, you will lose sight of who you really are,” he said.

Reyes also shared his personal experience in his home province of Isabela where he said there were “so many road bridges reported finished but do not really exist and roads reported constructed but are still unpaved.”

“When people were asked if they voted for the candidate who promised such infrastructure, they said that the candidate ran unopposed,” Reyes said.

“In certain places it’s not even an illusion, it’s a painful reality that people have resigned themselves to. It is even worse that entertaining an illusion,” he said.

The belief that there was nothing people could do about their current state was another illusion they become victims of, Reyes added.

“Our people are afraid, our people are resigned, our people very easily consume lies and illusions,” he said.

Even the campaign propaganda of candidates are mere illusions because the photos of candidates have been heavily edited using photo editing computer software, Reyes said.

He cited a certain candidate whom he met before the campaign period that had warts and wrinkles, but with the help of photo editing software, suddenly had smoother and younger-looking skin on the posters and tarpaulins.

“People looking at [the candidate’s] face on a tarpaulin or on a poster, because [it] face has been photo-shopped, they will vote for an illusion again,” Reyes said.