In the simplest sense of LIBERALISM, which is always correlated with “freedom from slavery of any form”, it is a broad class of political philosophies that consider individual liberty to be the most important political goal. Further, humans are naturally in ‘a State of perfect Freedom to order their Actions…as they think fit…without asking leave, or depending on the Will of any other Man’ (Locke).

With the given definition, let us examine whether it fits to the Philippine set up.

On the question of being free and not of slave, we could say that it fits to our set-up. However, if we look closely to it, are we really individually free? Are we on the state of perfect freedom to put into actions what we think are fitted?

We see the rampant poverty here in the country. If the Filipino people wanted to eat three times a day with sufficient nutrition, could we? The answer is sadly no. We are indeed enslaved with the poverty we are facing today. Not only poverty, we are also enslaved with justice, truth and freedom.

These virtual slaveries are not mere abstract of reality. These are the situations we are facing everyday, these are hardships we bear on our shoulders time to time.

Why?

Due to the policies and succumbs mind of our people who do want more than what they need. In turn, they have more, and we have less.

But chill! There’s always been a lighter side...

You know what’s the most fitted liberalism we could opt to describe the Philippines?

It is the liberal way of dressing up, courting, relationships, etc.

Without this notion, we will never have the tubes, spaghettis, micro-mini skirts, and the so-called “pekpek shorts” (more commonly known in English as short shorts,, ok?), which are very “in” today…

We will not be that open and have these same-sex relationships...

We will not have a minute of “Wag ka nang manligaw, tayo na.”…

Ergo, we shall not accept the title of this article, Liberal mind won’t maketh a liberal man without an action.

It shall be, “Liberal mind without action, won’t makes us a liberal man.”

“The struggle for freedom is the next best thing to actually being free.”

- Leandro L. Alejandro

Submitted by:

Bitang, Maria Lucila d.R.

Calugay, Sam Terence

Mapanao, Joan Michelle B.

Sapallo, Careen L.