THE NEW CASTE SYSTEM

Long ago we were divided into roughly five major castes, the Bayani (heroes), the Datu (Nobles), Maginoo (Leaders), Timawa a.k.a. Maharlika/Mahadlika (freemen), and the Alipin which has about three more subcastes. Since there are officially no more slaves here in the Philippines, I don’t need to delve into that. But in truth, there are. In this age of the internet and the cellphone, children are still being sold as slaves in certain areas of the Philippines.

Anyway, Bayani (heroes) are made. These days, what are regarded as Bayani’s are those who are made heroes by law as national heroes, and then there are our Overseas Contract Workers / Overseas Filipino Workers who are hailed as the Bagong Bayani or new heroes. Tapos, the soldiers of course who have been fighting our nearly 50 year old insurgency problem are all heroes also. So many heroes, diba?

Then andiyan iyung Datus. Yeah, they might not be called Datus anymore, but they sure act like them. These are the Oligarchs, the ones who own most of the land, have most of the Money, are the best educated, own buildings. They own the country. They become politicians, or own politicians, they are untouchable. They are the ones we all hope to be, or breed with at the least. I don't even need to name them. Stay a little bit in the Philippines and you already know who they are. A rose by any other name eh? Anybody who thinks the Philippines is a democracy is living in an illusion. We have been an oligarchy, we are still and oligarchy, and we will remain an oligarchy, until the last bit of land sinks into the sea.

The Maharlikas or Timawa, those would be the lot of us who are barely above the poverty line. Those who can afford cellphones and internet and regular meals. The rest, they're the alipin. In one way or another, we are all slaves. But at least we can live like we are not. The poor? They feel the chains everyday, every minute in their hollow stomachs. Why do they not revolt? Because in a country like the Philippines, when the poor revolt, they are killed. When the middle class revolt, the oligarchs give in. Because usually it is the Maginoo who lead the Timawa. And usually that's because another Datu wants it to be anyway. We are all but pawns in their game. But we take it in silence because we know the alternative. Just because the chain has been removed doesn't mean it can't be put back. So in which caste are you? Be honest now.