'We must be politicized'

We've been told to avoid politics by all means—it’s dirty and it’s better left to, well, the dirty. When they tell us how dirty politics is, perhaps they are referring to the dirty tricks of sleazy and traditional politicians, known more commonly as “tradpols,” but most aptly called “trapos,” connoting as it does the garment used for wiping dust and dirt.

But avoiding politics is more than  irrational. It gives “negative bearings on nation-building,” says Asuncion David Maramba in her commentary "Change is us--now." Though we are by nature political, we are not politicized. So Mrs. Maramba exhorts us to be “politicized”:

We must be politicized. Sure we’re political, but we’re not politicized. There’s a great difference. Come election time from neighborhood associations to the presidency we become passionately political. Whispers, phone and text brigades, memos, meetings; hail or denounce this or that candidate. But after the election we retire as usual until something hits us in the pocket or “in the groin.” Like the phoenix we rise and melt into ashes.

On the other hand politicization is an abiding consciousness or disposition of being directly responsible for the state and future of the nation. It keeps an eye on the conduct of its leaders, its structural evils (like its web of corruption), justice-related issues breeding poverty, ignorance, etc; and when vigilance is not enough as in crisis times, politicization is readiness to act with others and chip away at the system until it yields to reform and retribution.

Partisan politics is seasonal and personal; politicization is perennial and for the common good. Partisan politics is flavor-of-the-month and quick-fix; politicization is long-term and long-haul. It never resigns to a plainly evil status quo as a “way of life.” Over-arching all is the sense of nation and love of country. “I, am, a, Filipino.”