“THERE IS EVIL ever around fundamental systems of government, quite incidental. So go where you’re able and stay there unstable, lift up your hate in some tottering states, but not here dear.” So sings Eva Peron in the Broadway musical Evita as she waltzes with her number one critic Ernesto “Che” Guevarra. This lyrical genius of Tim Rice in this particular segment of the musical with Eva and Che exchanging barbs on the grand plan of the Perons to stay in power as they waltzes is like the present debate on the pros and cons of Malacañang’s move for a charter change that would, if successful, transform the Philippines from presidential to presidential-federal form of government. Of course, we all know that during the time when the Perons were in power in Argentina, Che was an apolitical medical student.

So, whatever form of government we have if it is still run by the same people guarantees us no better change from evil to good. We have shifted from presidential to parliamentary form of government during the time of Ferdinand Marcos. But it was not successful because the same people ran the government. Maybe, after all, parliamentary system is only good for England considering its history, the temperament of its people, and the maintenance of the monarchy as its unifying factor.

We abandoned the parliamentary system and shifted back to presidential in Cory Aquino’s time. It was smooth sailing. When Fidel Ramos succeeded, he attempted to pursue a charter change. The Filipinos, paranoid of any move to change the constitution, were successful in thwarting FVR’s plan. He exited gracefully after his second term.

The present charter change move initiated by Malacañang does not invite approval from even the allies of President Gloria Arroyo in the House of Representatives. Majority of the members of Senate are also opposed.

There is nothing wrong to try other forms of government like federalism in our search for a system that would auger well with our needs as a diverse nation. In Asia, Malaysia is a federal-constitutional monarchy-parliamentary state and it is successful in this form of government considering its diverse cultural background that is predominantly influenced by Islam and Hinduism, not to mention the concentration of Chinese in the State of Penang which is 46.5% of the population and Kuala Lumpur with 43.6%. The large concentration of Chinese in Penang was due to ethnic struggle between the Malays (Bumiputra) and the Chinese who carried out a long and bitter insurgency before and after Malaysia ’s independence from 1948 to 1960. Eventually the Chinese insurgents signed a peace accord with the Malaysia government.

I made a trip to Malaysia in 1987. Starting from Singapore by train, my destination was Penang, an island state off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia . After my mission, I took a rented car back to Singapore, thus, I had a chance to observe its people. With Penang almost dominated by the Chinese is almost like some areas in Mindanao dominated by the Bangsa Moro people. Well, with regard to Kuala Lumpur , it is a cosmopolitan area and its diverse population is living peacefully among themselves.

Personally, I am open to charter change—from presidential to presidential federal system of government. However, it should be after 2010. GMA should not, by delicadeza, benefit from such change that she indorses. Or we can have it before 2010 provided as incumbent president she be barred from running as president of the Federal State of the Philippines . Well, maybe, in this way, peace in Mindanao may be achieved at last. The Bangsa Moro people will run their own autonomous state on their like as the ethnic Chinese are comfortable and undisturbed in their own Penang State .

But as Eva Peron sings in Evita, “There is evil ever around fundamental systems of government.”

3 Responses to “Charter Change and Federalism”

• 1
  Peter G. Jimenea
  August 19th, 2008 13:04

  I am happy that you are back in form. Now we will never miss The Right Fit of the Daily Guardian. Welcome back Kune!
• 2
  Tim Rice
  August 19th, 2008 19:03

  Thanks for the lyrics credit. I think you come to the conclusion I (through Eva’s lines) intended but you have eliminated all punctuation so the sense has been slightly changed. I had Eva saying: “There is evil ever around - fundamental. System of government quite incidental.” Eva is saying that there is evil everywhere - it’s fundamental, it’s part of life and of the human make-up. No system of government will change this. Also the other line is slightly misquoted - “So go, if you’re able, to somewhere unstable and stay there..” i.e. she is telling Che to shove off if he wants to start a revolution - she’s doesn’t want (another) one in Argentina.
• 3
  Cornelio P. Panes
  August 20th, 2008 09:04

  To Mr. Rice

  Thanks for the correction. I took it from the lyrics sheet distributed during the premiere of “Evita the Movie” here in Iloilo City. Although I had the one distributed at the gala premiere night of the musical in Manila in 1986 (the one presented by the Repertory Philippines which may be the accurate one), I misplaced it when I settled in Iloilo City in 1994.

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