So what should we learn from this information?...
Divided we fall but UNITED WE CAN STAND!
The people of the Philippines and Brazil have come to recognize the true nature of their regimes through a combination of personal experiences, activism, and exposure to systemic abuses. In both countries, the populace gradually became aware of the authoritarian tendencies and corruption within their governments, leading to widespread disillusionment.
Philippines
In the Philippines, the realization of the regime's oppressive nature has been shaped by systemic abuses under successive administrations. Under President Rodrigo Duterte, extrajudicial killings during the "drug war" and widespread disinformation campaigns created a climate of fear and confusion. The Duterte administration used tactics like "red-tagging," labeling activists and critics as terrorists or Communist rebels, to suppress dissent. These practices intensified under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who weaponized digital tools and vague anti-terror laws to target young activists. Platforms like Facebook became central to these campaigns, making repression visible to a broader audience12.
The public's awareness grew as human rights abuses were documented and shared, often with tragic consequences for those involved. Activists like Hailey Picayo faced baseless accusations and harassment, exposing how the government misused its power to silence dissent. The erosion of democratic norms under Duterte and Marcos Jr., coupled with the visibility of these abuses online, led many Filipinos to question their leaders' legitimacy and motives1.
Brazil
In Brazil, the public's understanding of its regimes evolved over decades. During the military dictatorship (1964–1985), censorship, institutionalized torture, and human rights violations were pervasive. Despite these repressive measures, artists and journalists found ways to subtly criticize the government, helping Brazilians recognize the regime's authoritarian nature3. The transition to democracy revealed lingering issues such as corruption and inequality, further eroding trust in political leaders.
More recently, under President Jair Bolsonaro, democratic institutions faced significant stress tests. Bolsonaro's administration was marked by environmental degradation, increased violence in favelas controlled by militias, and impunity for crimes against Indigenous communities. His authoritarian tendencies were checked by judicial interventions, but his rhetoric polarized society. Events like the violent storming of government buildings in BrasÃlia in January 2023 highlighted the dangers of radicalized political movements and pushed many Brazilians to reaffirm their commitment to democracy4.
Corruption scandals involving multiple presidents and major political parties further fueled public distrust. Surveys revealed that 95% of Brazilians viewed corrupt leadership as a major issue5. This widespread dissatisfaction prompted many citizens to demand accountability and reform.
Conclusion
In both countries, public awareness grew as abuses became harder to ignore—whether through visible repression in the Philippines or systemic corruption in Brazil. Activism, independent journalism, and social media played critical roles in exposing these regimes' flaws, enabling citizens to see their governments for what they truly were: systems that prioritized power over people.
Citations:
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/10/philippines-authorities-using-facebook-to-red-tag-young-activists/
- https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclusive/why-philippine-politics-resembles-a-modern-day-telenovela/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dictatorship_in_Brazil
- https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/BRA
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/07/06/how-brazilians-view-their-countrys-economic-and-political-crises/
- http://socialsciences.scielo.org/pdf/s_rsocp/v2nse/scs_a04.pdf
- https://democratic-erosion.org/2024/11/04/the-militarization-of-government-and-policing-in-brazil-a-case-study-of-democratic-backsliding-under-jair-bolsonaro/
- https://www.international.ucla.edu/lai/article/266559
- https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/why-political-change-in-the-philippines-may-mean-trouble-for-the-u-s
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Philippines
- https://freedomhouse.org/country/philippines/freedom-world/2024
- https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7312/chu-14534-005/html?lang=en
- https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/the-philippines-an-overview-of-the-colonial-era/
- https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/PHL
- https://freedomhouse.org/country/philippines/freedom-world/2022
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_history_of_the_Philippines
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/philippines/
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/18681034241270270
- https://dfa.gov.ph/about/history-of-dfa
- https://thesciencesurvey.com/spotlight/2024/01/24/lessons-from-the-peoples-power-revolution-in-the-philippines/
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/americas/south-america/brazil/report-brazil/
- https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-04-01/brazils-dictatorship-repression-torture-slaughter-of-indigenous-people-and-censorship.html
- https://www.common-goal.org/Stories/Win-or-lose-but-always-with-democracy2020-09-15
- https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/09/23/brazilians-views-of-institutions-and-government-systems/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estado_Novo_(Brazil)
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/brazil/
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1267046/opinions-better-form-government-brazil/
- https://guides.loc.gov/brazil-us-relations/military-dictatorship
- https://www.eurac.edu/en/blogs/eureka/what-is-left-of-bolsonarism-the-many-faces-of-the-brazilian-far-right
- https://www.kcl.ac.uk/the-democratising-impact-of-corruption-perception-an-example-from-brazil
- https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2024/04/01/understand-the-us-participation-in-the-military-coup-of-1964-in-brazil-and-what-may-still-be-revealed/
- https://cccct.law.columbia.edu/content/brazil-laboratory-fascist-insurrection
- https://history.state.gov/countries/philippines
- https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/july-4-1946-philippines-independence
- https://acleddata.com/2023/07/13/the-communist-insurgency-in-the-philippines-a-protracted-peoples-war-continues/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2017/09/21/people-in-the-philippines-still-favor-u-s-over-china-but-gap-is-narrowing/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_(1898%E2%80%931946)
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-east-asia-and-the-pacific/philippines/report-philippines/
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/once-called-the-worlds-most-popular-politician-lulas-approval-in-brazil-plummeting
- https://guides.loc.gov/brazil-us-relations/getulio-vargas-era
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