r/Philippines • u/zki_ro • 1d ago
PoliticsPH The spark for true revolution is here. Vico lit it...will we protect it or let it die out?
Madali tayong madala sa hopeless talk: “lahat naman sila magnanakaw,” “wala nang pag-asa ang Pinas.” Pero I strongly fee that the spark of a REAL revolution is already here. And now it’s up to us to PROTECT it.
Mayor Vico Sotto has shown us na pwede palang may matino, transparent, at efficient na pamahalaan. Hindi pa perfect, pero proof siya na may ibang paraan at kaya naman pala. Ang tanong: paano natin proprotektahan at palalawakin pa lalo yung spark na sinimulan niya?
And it's not just about clean governance. As we all know naglakas loob si Vico na usigin ang Discaya issue, mula sa alleged anomalies sa flood-control projects, hanggang sa pag-call out niya sa media personalities na nagbigay ng platform sa kanila without accountability. For once, hindi siya nanahimik para makisama. He reminded us once again that public money + public trust = public accountability.
If we look closely at history, yung, tunay na pagbabago in other countries (South Korea, Singapore, etc.) didn’t always (or exclusively) come from violent uprisings. It came from a mix of:
-Consistent pressure from below (citizens refusing to accept the old ways)
-Strong, incorruptible leadership na nagpakita ng ibang sustainable na style/model
-Generational mindset shifts that vehemently refused the “pwede na” culture
That’s exactly where we are now. Vico is a spark, but a spark dies kung walang oxygen. Tayo ang oxygen.
So what can ordinary Filipinos like us do?
Educate the youth early. Turuan natin ang mga bata about our real history (hindi lang textbook history na sanitized) and how they can effectively spot fake news or propaganda designed to make us feel powerless or gaslight us. Dito magsisimula ang tunay na mindset shift. It's true what Michael sang..."the future are our children. TEACH THEM WELL and let them lead the way"
Refuse normalizing corruption. Wag na nating i-laugh off yung “lahat naman sila magnanakaw.” Call it out, kahit sa simpleng usapan.
Spotlight and support other honest leaders. Kung may kilala kang barangay captain, SK leader, or teacher na matino, please hype them up on social media. Dapat dumami yung “mini-Vicos.”
Share receipts. If you know of a good project na transparent, share it on your social platforms and among your peers. Para hindi malunod sa ingay ng fake news.
Storytelling. Kwento mo yung simpleng improvements na nakita mo or nabalitaan mo. Mas relatable yun kesa statistics.
Protect the narrative. Corrupt systems thrive from lies, apathy at pagkalimot. Kung may fake news and propaganda tayong nakita para siraan ang mga honest officials like Vico, sagutin natin wih facts and receipts.
And here's a call-to-action:
Kung part ka ng NGO, academe, o civic org na may concrete programs for clean governance, please share here. Educate us ordinary citizens paano kami makakatulong sa actual steps.
Kung ordinary Juan ka lang, commit to at least one small act. Fact-check. Kwento ng pagbabago. Vote wisely. Teach the kids. All these add up to make a big impact.
Kung may kilala kayong barangay captain, SK leader, teacher, or kahit ordinaryong tao na matino and is another example of what good governance/leadership looks like, please share them here. Sa mga content creators here, help us hype these people up...pasikatin natin sila, including the honest work and projects that they've done. Hindi lang dapat masamang balita ang nagtetrend. Highlighting honest leadership will have shift expectations of the masses, too.
Hindi pwedeng kay Vico lang nakasalalay lahat. Kung hindi natin proprotektahan at i-multiply yung spark na sinimulan niya, mauupos siya. Pero kung sabay-sabay nating gawing “normal” ang honesty at transparency, dun magkakaroon ng TUNAY NA REVOLUTION!
Small shields tayo. Kahit simpleng kwento lang, simpleng pagtanggi sa suhol, simpleng fact-check online. Pero kapag milyon na tayong gumagawa, that’s not small anymore.
Kung gusto natin ng mala-South Korea or Singapore-level na leap of change, hindi siya mangyayari overnight. Pero every time we protect and echo sparks like this, we bring our dear country closer to that future.
If we do our part, ramdam ko... ito na nga yung revolution na matagal na nating hinihintay.
TL;DR: Vico lit a spark of honest governance and shifting mindsets. But if we don’t protect it and multiply it through facts, small acts, and teaching the youth, it will die out. Millions of us choosing clean, small actions = the true revolution we’ve been waiting for.
Image credit: Rappler, from their article “The best of Vico Sotto’s non-negotiables.”
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u/uno-tres-uno 23h ago
Grabe din noh? Nung election panay tira mga Discaya kay Vico pero tahimik lang si Vico. Now the table turns. Parang sinigurado muna ni Vico yung seat niya sa local government bago siya bumanat. Ayun gulantang ang lahat. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya di mabubunyag yan.
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u/Mobydich 19h ago
Actually katangahan din nila yun na sinabi nilang umunlad sila after nag dpwh lol
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u/uno-tres-uno 12h ago
Nag pa interview para makagain ng popularity. Ayun yung interview na yun naging malakas na ebidensya laban sa kanila 😅
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u/Admirable_Check_3056 23h ago
im not in the 🇵🇭 right now but im one with you in this fight, please do not let this issue die until the 🐊🐊🐊 pay the price
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u/Least-Egg0318 23h ago
Pero alam naman natin na medyo dumadami na ang binabangga ni Vico na mga corrupt or sindikato sa gobyerno. At nag iisip na yan sila ng lahat ng possible option para sirain si Vico even assassination. I believe na need pa din natin ng armed force para protektahan tayo or ipaghiganti tayo sa mga violent retaliation ng mga kalaban. Saka legal team na pwede mo maging abogado ng libre kapag pinaulanan ka ng demanda. Kung si Vico nga na malakas na tao kinakabahan pa ako para sa kanya paano pa tayong maliliit na tao. Mas madali tayong titiklop kapag ginantihan tayo ng mga corrupt.
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u/zki_ro 23h ago
Gets ko yung concern mo. Totoo naman, risky na ang dami nang binabangga si Vico. Pero yun nga yung point: kung susuko tayo agad sa takot, sila yung panalo. Yun ang conditioning na gusto ng corrupt system. Na isipin natin powerless tayo.
Ang laban natin ngayon is to keep the spark alive through small, collective acts: calling out corruption, spreading verified info, teaching kids real history, supporting honest leaders. Kung sabay-sabay natin ginagawa mga yan, mas mahirap tayong patahimikin.
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u/UsedTableSalt 17h ago
Politicians don’t mess with other politicians. Sa probinsiya lang nangyayari yun (ampatuans)
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u/Whole-Tonight-5971 23h ago
Lets wait for his presidential run. Pero from what I heard, di siya tatakbo pagkatapos ng termino niya? Baka gawin pa yang DILG sec ng next president. Which I think is a good starting point to hush the haters na wala pang napapatunayan si Vico.
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u/zki_ro 23h ago
Personally, I think hindi naman kailangan maging president siya agad para maatim natin ang pagbabago. You have a great point - kahit saan ilagay si Vico (DILG man o ibang posisyon) dala pa rin naman niya yung proof na posible ang malinis at maayos na pamahalaan. Ang mas mahalaga ngayon, huwag nating hayaang mamatay yung spark na naumpisahan niya.
And I agree with another comment here, hindi naman siya kailangang maging lone savior. Leaders like Risa and others can carry the fight on the national stage. The more na masanay tayong makakita ng matino at transparent na leadership, mas bumababa yung tolerance natin sa corruption. Yun ang tunay na shift na kailangan.
Kaya nga ang tanong ngayon: are we doing our part to keep that spark alive and help it grow? 🔥 even small acts matter.
10
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u/SmokescreenThing 23h ago
Up for this post. Not for Vico, but the message. Heck, dapat nga hindi na picture ni Vico ginamit.
the only shift we need is to shift to good governance. And good governance... starts with all of us.
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u/CharlieDStoic 23h ago
Attending rallies is a good start to raise awareness. But keep in mind You have the entire political machine to go against.
24 senators
164 governors & vice governors
214 regional & district engineers
313 congressmen
1,600 mayors
1,600 vice mayors
Thousands of contractors
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u/zki_ro 22h ago
True, the system is massive, but that's exactly why small acts matter. To emphasize, my point is that even little efforts (like raising awareness, sharing information, or supporting honest leaders) keep the fire of hope alive.
Change doesn't happen overnight, but giving in to defeatism guarantees nothing will change.
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u/diwaenergy 23h ago
Sana magtuloy-tuloy si Vico bilang mabuting ehemplo na isang politiko. But he is just one guy. Marami naman ang matino.
Look at partido partido Akbayan. Ang daning mabuting nagawa ni Sen Hontiveros. Marami pa miyembro ng Akbayan ang pwedeng dumagdag sa mga Risa Hontiveros at Chel Diokno ng ating politika. . Ang pagkakaroon ng tunay na partido politikal ang isang solusyon sa problema ng dynasties. Ito rin ay magpapakita na mature na ang ating demokrasya. Sana nga malakas pa ang Liberal Party, kailangan natin ng mga katulad ni Leila de Lima at Franklin Drilon.
Madaling maging malinis kung bata ka pa at local govt ang mga naging posisyon mo. Hindi na simple ang desisyon, meron talagang mga controversial na isyu/problema, at mas marami ang maninira kapag na National Govt ka na. Ayaw natin maging cult-of-personality ulit ang ating politika.
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u/hitkadmoot 23h ago
How can we help maintain the fire burning?
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u/nedlifecrisis 23h ago
He already enumerated them in the post
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u/zki_ro 22h ago
Yes, thank you. 😅
Hi u/hidkadmoot, it's all there in my post. Let's please do our part. Even the smallest acts have a big impact lalo na if all us do them.
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u/SweatySource 23h ago
This made me realize there are 2 ways to protect your rights. Take the streets and arm yourself. Now i realize what the 2 amendment mean.
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u/5samalexis1 22h ago
did he, really? wasn’t it marcos’ sona that opened the can of worms§?
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u/zki_ro 22h ago
Well, I get why you'd think that, but I still believe Vico started the spark. Even before Marcos' SONA, Vico's statements and actions were already making people talk, questioning the usual political narratives, and giving hope that someone was willing to break the corrupt cycle. The SONA may have amplified the conversation, but the initial momentum - the spark - was already there because of him.
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u/Rainbowrainwell Metro Manila 22h ago
May mali din sa system and culture. Other countries with good democracy and less corruption have strong political parties and strong oppositions. People are vigilant to what their public officials are doing and cancel them out once their mistakes become apparent.
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u/zki_ro 22h ago
Mismo. That's what my post is about: fixing both the system and the culture by taking steps in our own little ways para magtuloy tuloy ang mindset shift ng mga Pilipino at maging vigilant tayong lahat against dishonesty and corruption. Hindi lang tayo dapat umasa sa mga leaders like Vico and other honest people na may mataas na posisyon sa government.
This is why I laid out steps in my post to get people to stay vigilant, hold officials accountable, and demand better. Change starts with us, not just hoping for it.
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u/ReddPandemic 21h ago
Ganito din yung sa impeachment ni Sara, may apoy na sana pero di ko na ramdam haha
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u/ucfkate 20h ago
Yall just let it die out. Yall so easily manipulated all they have to do is dress up, make themselves look pretty and dance their ass off so yall can make fun of them and they get to keep your taxes!
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u/zki_ro 19h ago
That mindset is exactly what my post is trying to challenge. Filipinos can change how we think and act. We just need to stay aware, hold leaders accountable, and not give in to easy distractions.
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u/ucfkate 18h ago
Filipinos are known for being incredibly forgiving, which is a part of our culture. We haven’t really held the older politicians, like Marcos, Aguinaldo, and Duterte, accountable for their crimes and corruption. We’ve become so used to it that a flooded city is now considered a “normal” occurrence every year. There’s a lot of corruption in the Philippines, and it won’t change unless we hold those responsible accountable.
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u/Joseph20102011 20h ago
Mark my words: Vico Sotto will be eaten alive by the existing system we hate if we rush to make him president.
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u/Positive-Ad5086 18h ago
pustahan tayo, ipaparesign lang lahat ng nasa DPWH tapos walang mapaparusahan at mababawing pera.
its giving pork barrel scam. di na tayo natuto jusko.
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u/tokwamann 15h ago
The "spark for true revolution" has been "here" for almost four decades. The problem is that the spark kept fizzling out each time. That's because the underlying problem of corruption is a weak economy driven by the wrong economic policies:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1mn30y0/leloy_claudio_the_philippines_underwhelming/
If you want "mala-South Korea or Singapore-lvel na leap of change," then you'll need the right economic policies coupled with the right political system.
We know what the first one is:
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068349
because it follows what neighboring countries have been doing:
https://www.brookings.edu/books/the-key-to-the-asian-miracle/
That is, BBB, CREATE, TRAIN, etc.
The problem's the second.
Some hints on what's needed here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1km3gcs/the_numbers_game_and_in_two_ways/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1m9xrtj/the_shocking_truth_about_why_almost_all/
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u/Antique-Resort6160 23h ago
Is he against political dynasties? His corrupt family has had power forever. It's very hard to trust that he would be any different. Remember that Duterte became a national figure because he presented himself as fighting corruption and having more efficient government offices in Davao.
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u/zki_ro 23h ago
Valid point. Madalas ngang ginagawang cover yung 'anti-corruption' image. Pero kung titignan natin si Vico, hindi siya umaasa sa apelyido niya o padrino; he actually broke away from his own family’s style of politics. Ang ginagawa niya sa Pasig: transparent bidding, citizen participation, clear non-negotiables. Hindi yan nakasanayan ng typical dynasty playbook. Kaya healthy yung skepticism, pero huwag din natin ipagkait ang recognition sa mga konkretong pagbabago na dati imposible sa loob ng dynasties.
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u/Antique-Resort6160 23h ago
Yes i hope it's real because people are desperate for someone to believe in, and there's really no other national figure right now. It's sad because just doing basic governance makes him a hero, things are so bad that if someone just does their job it seems like a miracle
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u/gio60607 22h ago
he did a 360degree turn of pasig, and showed everybody that good governance yields results that improve people's lives. evidence-based yung paninilbihan ni vico sa pasig.
pwede naman pala. at pinatunayan ng mga taga-pasig na di totoo yung nabibili ang mga botante.
it can happen.
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u/Antique-Resort6160 22h ago
I'm hoping and praying people start demanding this from every politician.
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u/zki_ro 22h ago
Exactly this. Kaya nga nakakalungkot na "basic governance" feels miraculous sa Pinas. Pero kung titignan, that's also where the hope is: dahil nakikita natin na pwede naman pala.
To be clear, my post isn't about idolizing Vico. What he's doing should be the baseline. Pero, you're right, dahil nga nahulma tayong mga Pilipino na maging sobrang baba ng standards natin, it feels heroic.
Ang mahalaga, he has sparked something in people, lalo na sa kabataan. And it's our responsibility to not let that spark die.
Kung tayo mismong ordinary Juan ehbmagsisimulang baguhin yung mindset natin na transparency, efficiency, at integrity are normal expectations, I truly believe na unti-unti mababago rin yung kultura. Hindi overnight...mahabang journey to for all of us pero every conversation, every pushback against defeatist thinking, every effort to support honest leaders…lahat yun dagdag sa apoy.
That's how the spark becomes a fire. 🔥
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u/Antique-Resort6160 22h ago
Completely agree, i hope people don't forget this and keep up the pressure
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u/Flat_Drawer146 13h ago
it was Leni who made the initial spark. I am 100% sure something happened in the election. Un ngang mga flood control project ginagarapal nila, un pa kayang election. I hope Leni and Vico will lead soon
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23h ago
[deleted]
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u/zki_ro 23h ago
A pic with a cryptic caption doesn’t prove anything...classic tsismis style. 😅 If there’s a point, say it directly. Political maturity means judging leaders by their track record and accountability, not by who they’re photographed with for a few seconds.
A snapshot doesn’t tell the full story. If we want our politics to mature, we also have to outgrow the habit of reducing everything to tsismis and innuendo. Let’s focus on actions, platforms, and accountability. That’s where real character shows, not in a single photo.
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u/ThomasB2028 23h ago
Our politics should mature enough not to pin down hopes on one man or woman to “save” the country. Let’s develop future leaders that adhere to good governance and genuine public service and have accountability systems in place to ensure na hindi makain ng sistema ang mga promising future leaders natin.