After the elections: Heartbroken, thankful, and excited

Psychologists tell us there are 5 stages of loss and grief. First, comes denial, followed by anger. Then one bargains, trying to find some way to make sense of what has happened. Depression and sadness comes next, a stage that could last for a while. Finally, acceptance is possible and one can move on.

With the election over, many Filipinos must be undergoing these stages. As an adviser to Grace Poe, who lost to Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential race, I am certainly heartbroken. But guess what, simultaneously I am thankful and excited too.

I am heartbroken because my candidate lost. I was hoping that our people would have the chance to experience Grace Poe as our leader. I would have wanted the country to see how intelligent and strong-willed she was. I was wishing more people saw the fortitude and integrity of this woman, something I saw directly on Friday night when she refused the unity talks offered by another campaign. It was very clear to her that an anti-Duterte coalition was not the right thing to do, that it was not right to bargain the right of the people to choose their leaders.

I am heartbroken because Grace Poe would have been so good for the Philippines. Her compassionate government would have touched many lives. And we would be a better, happier country because of it.

But I am thankful too.

I am full of gratitude that the Supreme Court upheld the candidacy of Poe and that the rights of foundlings and global citizens have been preserved.

I am grateful because of the graceful concession my candidate made the evening of the elections. More than the act, it was the manner by which she did it – a phone call first, where she offered her congratulations and support to Mayor Duterte (for now, he is still properly called by his current title until proclamation by Congress as president-elect), followed by a press conference where she explained that she was not surrendering but submitting to the will of the people. I was there when she made that statement. I knew the country would appreciate the gesture and would reward her in the future if she decided to continue to be in politics.

I am thankful that Mayor Duterte was gracious in victory. Even before Poe called, he had already extended his hand in reconciliation to all the political rivals and adversaries, including Senator Antonio Trillanes who tried to stop Duterte’s victory with last minute exposés.

It would be good for our country if everyone, including the supporters of other candidates, accepted this gesture of reconciliation from the victor and give the new administration a long governance and political honeymoon. Certainly, Secretary Mar Roxas will be doing so, knowing that Digong’s success is the success of all of us. Vice President Jejomar Binay, while not conceding officially, has also signaled acceptance of the results.

I am thankful that the margin of victory of Mayor Duterte is huge. This puts a stop to all the irresponsible talk about impeachment and military coups. We will not be a Thailand, thank God.

I am thankful to the Comelec led by its Chairman Andy Bautista, the public school teachers, the poll watchers, the law enforcers, and the PPCRV and Namfrel volunteers; your collective work delivered us honest and clean elections.

Sure, there have been glitches here and there, but they were minor and happened in random places. Certainly, there was no Plan B to steal the elections; not for the presidential race, nor for the vice-presidential, legislative, and local government contests.

There was also considerably less violence in this election which saw turnout at the highest ever of more than 40% of the electorate and a president elected with the highest number of votes ever.

I am personally thankful that, as divisive as this election was, many families and friends have begun coming together again.

Indeed, sometimes, politics separates families. Ours was not an exception; most of my Cagayan de Oro family supported Mayor Rody Duterte as a fellow Mindanawon and a distant blood relative. Among others, my older brother Pompee La Viña was the social media director of the Duterte campaign. My own nuclear family, following my lead, supported Grace Poe. Because of this, in the past few months, I made sure that there were no conditions that would lead us to situations we will regret. That meant limiting communication and physical encounters with each other while the campaign was going on.

But last Sunday, being Mother’s Day, I texted my mother, an ardent Duterte follower, a greeting. This is what I said: “Happy Mother’s Day! You will be even happier tomorrow because you might have the first Mindanao president by night time.” She responded graciously and reminded me again that Digong was a relative, but this time she did not scold me. In June, we will resume our weekly lunches and dinners, as I will be back teaching in Cagayan de Oro again.

Now that the election is over, I am excited.

I am excited that for the first time we have a president and possibly a vice president that come directly from the provinces to the highest posts of the land. Mayor Duterte has served only Davao City in the many decades he has spent in public service. Representative Leni Robredo, who I am pretty certain will prevail over Bongbong Marcos in the vice-presidential race, has also spent most of her professional life serving the people of Naga City and Camarines Sur as first lady to the latter, and as an alternative lawyer.

It will be so good for our country to have its top national leaders bring a grassroots and local governance perspective to the work they will be doing.  Manila imperialism was defeated, maybe even dealt a death blow, in this election. I hope it will not be resurrected.

I am excited that Filipino Muslims and global Filipinos are making such a difference in the vice-presidential contest. Never again will they be marginalized and taken for granted in future election. Bongbong Marcos would have won the VP race by now, if only he did not obstruct the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The administration candidates would have done much better with Overseas Filipinos Workers if not for the tanim-bala (bullet-planting) controversy and the awful state of our airports.

I am excited that the peace processes with the Moro revolutionary organizations, the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, will finally be completed under a Duterte government.

I am excited that a permanent and just peace is looming with the National Democratic Front, New People’s Army, and Communist Party of the Philippines. All political prisoners should be released soon and ceasefires declared so the final talks can begin. Given the sensitivity, I hope the Duterte government will appoint a well-respected military general to head the government panel that will negotiate with the communists.

I am excited that Mayor Duterte is decisively putting together a strong cabinet. There will be old and new faces in his administration. I am sure his appointments will not disappoint. Veterans like former agriculture secretary Sonny Dominguez, former presidential adviser Paul Dominguez, ex-press secretary and former Peace Adviser Jess Dureza, and former justice secretary Bebot Bello have solid credentials.

It would be so good to have the likes of Mayor Jun Evasco as executive secretary or other high position in Malacañang. With his background of being a former priest, ex-revolutionary, long-time local government administrator, and himself a town mayor in Bohol for 3 terms, here is someone who understands how to bring government to the poor.

I am of course excited that my cousin Peter Tiu La Viña will continue to be in the communications team of Mayor Duterte. Pete has an activist, media, local governance, and business background. Being a spiritual person, he takes on his new job with a sense of mission. To make sure, there is no confusion between the two of us, I will be taking a long sabbatical from political commentary starting June 1 to concentrate on teaching and writing about spirituality and environmental issues.

Finally, I am excited that Mayor Duterte is committed to constitutional change. It is about time we did that. For many years now, I have advocated that a federal and parliamentary system of government to replace our bankrupt unitary and presidential system of government. Finally, we now have a chance to pursue these needed reforms. For sure, the political elite will obstruct the convening of a constitutional convention; I am confident that Mayor Duterte will exert the needed political will to get this done.

I am heartbroken, thankful and excited. I do have some fears. But I am more than willing to give the new government a chance. Indeed, I will support it from my standpoint as a human rights lawyer, environmental advocate, and peace worker. As a fellow Mindanawon, I will do my part to help Mayor Duterte succeed. Certainly, you will not hear any nitpicking from me and I will refrain from criticism for a long time. And as a Filipino, I will encourage others to do the same.

I may not have voted for him, but Duterte is my president. And I am full of hope. – Rappler.com

Dean Antonio G.M. La Viña is outgoing dean of the Ateneo School of Government. He was an adviser to presidential candidate Grace Poe.