“TAMA NGA KAMI. TANGA NGA KAYO.” These were words in a graphic art seen online as various Kakampinks, supporters of former vice president Leni Robredo and former Senator Kiko Pangilinan, posted this online at the start of the month. These posts circulated after the continuous lapse of the government and the breakdown of “UniTeam,” the political party of President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, who seemingly lost their unity after its win during the elections.

Undeniably, the current government needs to be more competent in doing its duties considering that they are suspiciously fulfilling the roles of their office. From issues on confidential funds, historical revisionism, red tagging, extra-judicial killings, corruption, and allocating 4.4 million budget for t-shirts and memorabilia that will have the president’s face on it, it's all but a blur. Nothing’s new. It's the same old trapo we have in the government. No Bagong Pilipinas, as promised during the elections, it's the same rotten system we have long had. 

With this, it begs the question, is it justified to prove that you indeed voted for the right person during the elections even though he or she lost? This seems to be a longstanding trend among Kakampinks and even supporters of other presidential candidates who lost during the 2022 elections. Every time the government, especially Marcos and Duterte, fail to do their job, some members of the opposition rant on social media and tweet the exact old phrase, “tama nga kami” signaling that the country’s elected officials are nothing but a product of a corrupt political dynasty. 

In a Facebook post, former Senator Kiko Pangilinan urged his followers to stop posting these types of publication materials with similar messages as it does not advance the causes he fought for during the 2022 elections and is continuing to fight for. 

What do we get out of doing this anyway? 

Don’t get me wrong. Calling out the government and demanding a better system is not bad. I’m not encouraging you to be a die-hard Marcos or Duterte supporter. I’m not saying that we must not voice our opinions on pressing issues; that’s what we're supposed to do. We are supposed to clamor for a better government because the law promised us “to have a just and humane society.” But, while we are at it, it's imperative for Filipinos, regardless of who you voted for, to work towards achieving a better Philippines. If this type of shallow thinking continues among Kakampinks and supporters of former candidates, rather than encouraging people to break down the current system, it will push them away. 

Instead of wasting time tweeting on social media, “tama nga kami” supporters of these candidates must use the platform and voice that they have to correct the corrupt system that is currently prevailing. Micro-positive actions, done together, can have a ripple effect on having macro impacts on the current state of our society.  By resetting focus on what matters, which is the 2025 elections, members of the opposition can campaign for their candidates as early as now and hope for a better government. As Maria Ressa expressed during her acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, “To be the good, we have to believe there is good in the world.” 

Yes, you're right, tama nga kayo. But, at the end of the day, there is no pink, green, red, or blue. In this situation, there are no winners or losers. We are all Filipinos, and if this type of mentality, irrational thinking, and shallow mindset continues, we will all end up losers.