*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM
There comes a point in one’s public life when neutrality becomes not a sign of indifference, but of courage. I have reached that point. After years of walking through the narrow bridges of Philippine politics, I have learned that true objectivity cannot coexist with permanent political affiliation. Thus, I have chosen to be partyless—not because I reject the essence of organized politics, but because I want to observe it with clarity, conscience, and freedom from loyalty to colors or names.
To be frank, I was once part of the political system I now objectively study. As a municipal councilor, I belonged to a political party. Later, I served as a deputy secretary general of another, driven not by personal ambition but by a vision to promote an ideological advocacy I genuinely believed in. Those experiences were meaningful—they gave me perspective, patience, and pain. But they also opened my eyes to the shifting winds of our political climate. The truth is, Philippine politics changes like our weather—formed by the heat of interest, moved by the monsoon of influence, and disturbed by low-pressure areas of self-serving ambition. What is true today can be false tomorrow; what is loyal today may turn its back in the next cycle of power.
That is why I chose independence. Affiliation at this point offers me no personal gain. I am not a politician seeking public office, nor am I applying for a government position. My interest is not power—it is understanding. I leave partisan battles to those who live and breathe the campaign trail. I am merely a citizen—an observer, a critic, a thinker—guided not by allegiance but by conscience.
However, independence does not mean isolation. It doesn’t mean I will never affiliate again. When a political party stands on principle—when it shows moral strength, national vision, and genuine service to the people—then I will not hesitate to lend my voice, perhaps even my name. Because in the political arena, especially during elections, neutrality can only go so far. In moments that define a nation’s destiny, silence becomes a form of choice.
Even in mature democracies like the United States, citizens eventually align with values represented by either the Republicans or the Democrats. It is not about blind partisanship—it is about belief. Similarly, in our country, if one is not for democracy, then one is against it. In times when truth, justice, and integrity are at stake, neutrality loses its meaning. One must take a side—not for a person, but for a principle.
As a Filipino who deeply loves my motherland, I believe that vigilance is our greatest duty. We must stay conscious of what is happening around us, for the future of our brothers, sisters, and children depends on the decisions we make today. The nation’s fate is not solely in the hands of politicians; it rests in the moral awareness of its people.
We live in an era where propaganda drowns reason, and loyalty is mistaken for silence. But loving the Philippines means speaking when others choose not to. It means questioning when blind obedience is demanded. It means believing that patriotism is not about who shouts the loudest, but who stands the firmest for truth.
So I remain independent—but not indifferent. Objective—but never detached. For I am, above all, a Filipino whose love for country is larger than any party, deeper than any ideology, and stronger than any tide of political monsoon that comes our way.
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