Betrayed by the State

"The State We're In: A Comedy of Errors" explores the peculiarities of life in the Philippines through the lens of political misadventures and social absurdities. In a country often heralded for its vibrant culture and resilience, it seems the government has taken a detour into the realm of slapstick. Imagine a political landscape where the only thing more inflated than the egos of our leaders is the price of basic commodities. Every day feels like a new episode of a sitcom where the punchlines are tragic, yet somehow, we can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

Take, for instance, the endless saga of corruption, which has become a rite of passage for anyone daring to enter the political arena. It’s as if our politicians are competing in a bizarre Olympics, with events like “Who Can Steal the Most Without Getting Caught?” and “Bribery Relay Races.” The gold medalists? They’re the ones who manage to walk away with their pockets full while very little changes for the rest of us. Just when you think they’ve hit rock bottom, they surprise us with a new, unprecedented level of incompetence that leaves us both baffled and amused. Then there’s the smuggling scene, which could easily be mistaken for a well-scripted action movie. Picture it: cargo ships slipping past customs like ninjas, while officials look the other way, their pockets jingling like maracas. One wonders if the smugglers have a secret handshake with the authorities or if they’re simply using a “no questions asked” policy. It’s hard to keep track of what’s being smuggled these days—everything from rice to the latest gadgets—while the government insists it’s all in the name of “protecting the economy.” Maybe they mean the economy of their own bank accounts?

As if that weren’t enough to keep us entertained, we have the ongoing battle against drugs, which often feels like a poorly scripted drama. Picture law enforcement officers donning superhero capes, racing to save the day, only to trip over their own feet. The irony is palpable: while they’re busy making headlines for their “bravery,” the real issues of addiction and rehabilitation are left to fester in the shadows. The public service announcements promoting antidrug campaigns almost seem like a parody of themselves, with slogans that sound more like bad jokes than serious calls to action. Finally, let’s not forget the human rights violations that have become the punchline to our national joke. It’s as if we’ve found ourselves in a tragicomedy where the rights of the people are treated as mere footnotes in a script written by indifferent powers. Protests are met with an eye roll, and the cries for justice echo like a broken record that no one wants to hear. Yet, through all the absurdities, the resilience of the Filipino spirit shines through. We laugh to cope, gather stories to share, and hope that one day, the comedy will shift towards a more uplifting narrative. Until then, we remain both the audience and the unwitting participants in this ongoing, unpredictable play called life in the archipelago.