Building the Anti-Trapo Movement (2): Who are the Masa?

EX-PRESIDENT Joseph Estrada popularized the term masa. In fact, it became the name of his party, the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). But before this, masa was already popular among political activists. It symbolized the ‘basic masses’ of workers and peasants, and activists in rallies used to sing with gusto the Masa song which went like this: “Ang masa, ang masa lamang ang siyang tunay na bayani…”

If trapos (traditional politicians) represent the dominant class forces in society, the other side of the class divide is the masa. In building an anti-trapo movement, we are in fact advocating the defense of the masa.

Today’s masa represents the vast sectors of the laboring classes and the lower sections of the middle classes. The laboring classes are composed of the industrial and service workers, the urban poor and the so-called informal sectors, the peasants, the agricultural workers, and all those who have no ownership of the means of production. The middle classes are composed of the professionals such as doctors, lawyers, engineers; the small entrepreneurs; the higher-paid employees; the small government bureaucrats. The masa also includes the youth and students: the young people who are not yet part of the production process, but who are destined in general to become part of the laboring masses.

The masa represents the dominated sectors, as opposed to the dominating sectors which are the trapos and the elite. In today’s parlance, the masa is seen as the most oppressed, exploited sectors of society. Or, according to Hardt and Negri (The Empire), the ‘multitudes’ who are made up of all the economically and politically marginalized sectors of society.

In Marxist terms, the masa represents the proletariat and the semi-proletariat and the lower ranks of the petty-bourgeoisie. In political terms, the masa embodies the class alliance of the forces seeking change in today’s elite-dominated system. While the trapo embodies the status quo, the masa embodies change and represents the forces which stand to benefit from dismantling trapo rule.

Revolution for change

The anti-trapo, pro-masa movement is the character of an emerging broad mass movement that is opposed to elite rule and desirous of system change. This movement is not only anti-Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but is opposed to the entire trapo-elite system. It is not only for regime change but for system change, a change from the rotten capitalist system (some call it semifeudal) towards a just and egalitarian system of society.

The over-all objective of the movement is the dismantling of trapo rule at all levels of state rule and institutions (from the “top-down”) and its replacement of the political rule of the masa, also at all levels of society. The ouster of trapo rule and the installation of genuine power by the masa reflect the political and class character of the struggle that all those seeking change should be waging today. Ousting the dominating class forces from power and installing the dominated class forces signifies revolutionary action, a genuine revolution for change.

Coalition of three forces

The anti-trapo, pro-masa movement can be built around the coalition of three forces that today forms the backbone of a new system replacing trapo rule. They are the laboring class forces, the radical and radicalizing soldiers (also called the ‘military rebels’), and the middle classes (especially those in the lower ranks). These three forces have every reason to join hands and unite around an anti-trapo, pro-masa movement.

The laboring classes, as previously mentioned, are the basic force of the masa, hence the basic force of the revolution for change.

The military rebels are a new phenomena. They have recently acquired a status of developing force in Philippine politics. Rebel officers and men of the AFP/PNP have formed themselves in groups which are calling for change in the military institutions, in the government and in society as a whole. These groups have been called, in general, the OMRs (organization of military reformers) which vary in their range of political vision and attitudes to revolutionary change. There are Right-wing groups that are formed around some generals and top brasses in the AFP/PNP. And there are radical groupings composed of junior officers and ordinary soldiers, for instance the Magdalo and the Para sa Bayan groups.

The differentiation between the top brass of the AFP/PNP, the junior officers and the rank-and-file soldiers also reflects the class stratification in the military hierarchy – the generals representing the ruling class; the junior officers, the middle classes; and the rank-and-file, the working class masses.

Lastly, the middle classes in the Philippine society are also becoming more and more disillusioned with the system of elite rule. They are a precarious force today. Majority of them are falling into the ranks of the working class masses as their businesses go bankrupt and their professions could not provide them the ample savings to earn capital and a comfortable living. They are composed of the growing number of professionals who have to leave the country to look for decent jobs abroad. They have correctly identified the problem of trapo rule and corruption as basic evils that have to be obliterated in society. This leads them to champion calls for good government/good governance in today’s elections.

Strategic movement for change

Hence, the anti-trapo, pro-masa movement is not only an electoral movement in time for the 2010 election. It is a strategic movement that represents the direction of the changes we want to put in place in our society. It is also strategic, in that it brings together the three major forces that aspire for systemic changes. The most politicized representatives of the three forces have pursued different strategies to advance their visions for change in society. But while they may vary in their strategies, they all can come together with unified goals and program under a broad anti-trapo, pro-masa movement.

[Next: Strategies for Change]