“And it arose not because of mystical ‘ghosts from the past’ but as the result of specific actions of people who disliked their existing democracies. They disliked them because they were too weak or too imitative, too indecisive or too individualistic – or because they personally were not advancing fast enough within them.” — Anne Applebaum, Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism.
Too many lavish parties since the Great Dictator came to power twenty six years ago. But at the end of the year, the Christmas party tops them all. No one year is the same but the current year always costs more than the previous years. After all, the Great Dictator deserves the merit of running the country to its extreme poor economic conditions year after year without much grumblings from the lowly masses. They are resigned to their fate for in heaven, they believe, they will fare better. The Church reaffirms the message during its huge Christmas Eve mass celebration so people won’t forget. For this act of public service, the Great Dictator allows the Church to be a state within a state just like the Vatican Church in Rome.
The Great Dictator is getting bored so he slips unnoticed and leaves the noisy feast for the quietness of his massive bedroom. He changes his formal clothes to silky pajamas and slides through the comfort of his king-sized bed. Within a minute, he is into a deep sleep. But suddenly he feels a breeze enveloping his body. He freezes momentarily as a reaction to his fear of the unknown. He’s about to shout for help from his bodyguards when the Ghost of Christmas stands before him and hushes him for silence.
—There’s nothing to fear my dear Great Dictator for I am here to enlighten and give you what your heart desires: the love of your people. Hold my hand and let’s start our journey before the morning light pierces its way to disturbing the sleep of every creature on earth.
—You better not waste my time. Remember, I am the Great Dictator and no one, I repeat, no one has defied me without escaping the bad consequence of his folly.
—I realize that Great Dictator but nothing will happen to me no matter how powerful and strong you are. You should know I am passed that in my appearance alone. Besides, there’s no point of you resisting, for I can will you to follow me wherever I want to go. But be reassured I wish you no harm.
—That’s very comforting indeed.
Stave one
The Ghost of Christmas takes the Great Dictator to the mansion of his second in command. The spacious ground is full of Christmas lights and decorations as if competing for The Great Christmas Light Fight. Inside the big house, another lavish party is ongoing. It seems that dinner has been served and some of the guests are rollicking to the hip-moving music of Dua Lipa while others are enjoying the overflow of caviar and champagne. But far from the maddening crowd, in the silent confine of the library, there’s a meeting being held. Heading the meeting is the Second Commander with his allies of businessmen and generals. That’s where the Ghost of Christmas and the Great Dictator are ensconced without being seen and noticed.
—Gentlemen, we have a record-breaking prosperity once again. On top of this table are your bonuses. Our kickback schemes work to a T without the Great Dictator detecting any of it. Let me remind you to watch carefully for a leak. If the Great Dictator smells a whiff, we will be in great danger.
—Don’t worry, Commander, speaks the highest ranking general. When it comes to that I have a plan to protect us all. I can set the takeover quickly. I just hope it’ll not be bloody and messy.
—I think we have a better option, says the Commander. We all know that I set my ambition aside because you thought the Great Dictator was the right leader for the country and you were proven right. I waited long enough. Next year, if you all agree, it’s time to launch our Lazarus Project. If we play our part just as we plan, the Great Dictator will never know what hits him until it’s too late. I serve you well for the past twenty six years. I like to cash my mark right now. I am ready. The corruption of the Great Dictator smells rotten all over the country, thanks to our brilliant machinations. People can only take so much. With a little push, we can lead them to clamor for change and reform. I will be a refreshing replacement. If I succeed we all succeed; our power and status will remain secure for a long time. Nothing can be further from the truth. The Great Dictator is sliding. He cannot last that long without us enabling him. He must go, gentlemen, before it gets bloody!
Stave two
Before the Great Dictator can shout expletives, the Ghost of Christmas transports him to an elite military headquarter where the best junior officers with the ranks of captain, colonel and major are discussing their careers. They have been disgruntled for a while with the corruption of the generals.
—Another year is about to end and yet here we are with the same status quo.
—We all know the reason why. We are professional soldiers to the core and serve the country the right way. We don’t participate in the corruption that permeates in the highest ranks of the military.
—Not only the generals but the Great Dictator is all in, too. The chance of our situation changing is nil.
—I think it’s about time to stage a coup d’état. Timing is everything. If we can move lightning-quick and control the forces of the Great Dictator and his generals before they can do anything else, then our coup is half-done.
—Hold on. It’s not that simple as you just describe. Coups are bloody and complicated. Do you have any idea what the success rate is?
—We cannot be worried about statistics. We’ll suffer from inaction and indecision if we do.
—Are we all in agreement to act now? Remember, only those who dare win. We have shown our bravery in the battlefields. Everyone here knows how to fight and die. Let’s conquer our own destiny. It’s now or never!
Everybody stands up, puts their right tight fists in the air and shouts “Now Or Never!”
Stave three
Again, before the Great Dictator can say something, he’s transported quickly to another place. This time in a small house with no room and used as dining, sleeping and entertaining visitors. Cooking, bathing, washing, and relieving oneself are done at the back of the house. The family of seven is seated in a small, round dining table sharing a Noche Buena meal of pandesal, keso and kape. Everyone is subdued.
—There’s no bonus again this year just like the previous years. No matter how hard you work, it doesn’t mean a thing. Only the bosses, the owner and the investors get to share in the profits. Next year I wish we get unionized because that’s the only way our demands are heard. But time and time again, the owner always finds a way of subverting the path of our movement to legality. I heard there will be a countrywide protest being organized. I am sure to participate. It is anticipated that the police will be heavily present and disrupt the peaceful gathering. Once the police get violent and brutal, we have stashed some weapons secretly to counter them. It may come down to a popular uprising with the ultimate demand of removing the Great Dictator out of office and perhaps out of the country. It doesn’t have to come to this. But the Great Dictator has lost his way. He used to love his people and have a great vision of making the country great. But in spite of all his cleverness, he can only see absolute power as the end-goal. He can erect many monuments and busts of himself, but history will not be kind to him. His legacy will be tarnished. But knowing the kind of people we are, I bet you he will be redeemed. History books will be re-written to make him look good. And the future generations who have no memories of the past will clamor for a change, elect his descendants to run the country like a family dynasty and subject us once again to miserable economic conditions. The politics of this country is just an endless cycle of grief, disappointment and frustration. We’ll always lose out.
Stave four
The Great Dictator wakes up on Christmas morning a changed man. He calls on his most trusted aides for a meeting. Nobody else knows where they are. For days the Great Dictator plans, discusses his ideas and instructs his subordinates what to do discretely for the next three months. Most days he can be seen in his private study poring over legal books and historical documents. Sometimes he will call on legal experts to answer his questions with a strong warning not to disclose what’s been discussed and a threat of jail time. Now he has his final plan and is ready to announce it.
Stave five
Four months after the Ghost of Christmas visited the Great Dictator, the country has been notified of an important public announcement by the Great Dictator. On that day, schools will be shut down, businesses and workers will have a holiday, travelling is restricted, and all media outlets will be required to cover the event. Here’s what the Great Dictator proclaims:
My Dear People
Today will be remembered as a glorious day for democracy. For the past twenty six years, I willed myself to be an authoritarian because you want things to get done fast. You preferred efficiency than too much talking. I am just your humble servant and obeyed your wish. Well, that efficiency has created a bigger monster: CORRUPTION. It runs through all the arms of the government, businesses and the military. I find the hard way that some of those I highly trusted have succumbed to its temptation. I am signing before you a list of those people I have fired and dismissed, stripping them of authority, power and ranks and seizing their assets as well, in the country and abroad. As I speak, I have instructed my soldiers to take them in solitary confinement for now until a more appropriate way is found to make them harmless. Another document I am signing today is a list of promotions for the dedicated soldiers whose professionalism is unblemished. They deserve to be treated fairly. And the last document I am signing is a proclamation of true democracy in our land. Dictatorship is outlawed forever. An election will be held on November 7, limiting campaigns to 160 days. Campaign donations will be capped at 100,000 pesos for businesses and 15,000 pesos for individuals. I will not be a candidate but will maintain the authority and power to ensure a peaceful transition. I am doing all of these to safeguard the prosperity we have gained so far in my administration; for there’s nothing more important to me than the best interest of the country. I’ve given you all what my skills and talents can reach. Now I let history judge me!
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True to his words, the Great Dictator has made the transition of power smooth and peaceful. Right after the official swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government officials, the Great Dictator has vanished without a clue as to his whereabouts. One rumor says he’s spotted walking along the soft, white sand beach of the Caribbean; another in an isolated island in the country. No matter where he is, someday there’ll be a lot of debates about his legacy. Was his reign a golden era or a decadent and corrupt one?
7 December 2022