Whoever suggested that the second Marcos administration adopt the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ tagline as the government’s slogan must have very little understanding and appreciation of how governance in the country has been played out in the last century.

The word ‘bago,’ which means ‘new,’ is actually a misnomer because of the repetitious blunder national leaders commit in the name of partisan and personal interests. In fact, the only new in our political cycle are faces that surface every election, nearly all of them part of a dynastic structure that has devoured democratic processes in favor of corrupt domination.

Defining the new slogan as new is even weirder given that the national headship is a chip off the old block who was booted out of office by popular uprising on account of a disconcerted romance with military rule and authoritarianism.

Even in our electoral processes, the idea of new innovations is presumptuous at best. As technology enters the more complex facet of its development, so are the tricks of pollsters who program automated machines to suit the vanity and avarice of politicians and their parties.

Moreover, the slogan, even if the intent is good, is anything but a superfluous highlighting of a bureaucratic direction that has failed time and time again. The reason for this is that those who handle the reins of power are not man (or woman) enough to confront challenges, enter new uncharted territories, and pursue an agenda of growth bereft of partisan accommodation.

Michel Tenner, a Brazilian politician, once said: “When you have a new government assume power, everyone, without exception, has to work for the benefit of the common good.” What an exhilarating advice! But the facts on the ground simply do not favor that pursuit but the personal goals of those who hold power.

The second Marcos administration has certainly gained some positive inroads in its maiden year of administration. But the level of performance has largely been overlooked due to various reasons. And if we go by the surveys that came out recently, especially the Davao poll, PBBM is licking the bottom line. Even his ‘uniteam’ partner, Sara is getting walloped.

To create a new Philippines, as the slogan suggests, means pursuing an innovative agenda that goes against the traditional perspective of running a government. If good governance is defined as the removal of pork barrel resources and confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs), that’s a welcome change. A good leadership can only acquit itself fairly and beautifully if it can dutifully remove the barnacles that have made our democratic goals even more difficult to navigate.

Marcos should take a lesson or two from Dr. Jose P. Rizal who once said: “I may be what my enemies desire me to be, yet never an accusation are they able to hurl against me which makes me blush or lower my forehead; and I hope that God will be merciful enough with me, to prevent me from committing one of those faults which would involve my family.”

Beyond cleansing filthy images of people who populate it, the new slogan should also take into account the need to embrace or adopt new policies that truly reflect the public will and weal. If the laws remain favorable to those who corrupt the state, then there is really nothing to argue on how to create a new nation given that management is also shaped by the way the state lieutenants create their own pillar of support for their leader.

Adopting neutral strategies that strengthen the legal foundation of a state is always a must. If the President declares a war against any form of fiscal abuse that is exempt from audit, surely the uproar will be in contradiction of it. But if he invokes the Constitution in removing unwanted allotments that are clearly funneled to private pockets, then the resistance can be tempered.

Still, the matter of politics needs to be restudied and reviewed.