A party with a vision for change, a party that merged Christians and Muslims, and a party that developed a unique system of leadership is now recognized as the most dominant party in the country – the Lakas-CMD.
With the collaboration of two known parties namely Partido Lakas ng Tao, spearheaded by Former President Fidel V. Ramos, and the National Union of Christian Democrats, which was fore fronted by Raul Manglapus, Lakas-NUCD was created in preparation for the 1992 elections. A couple of years after, it formed a coalition with the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino for the 1995 elections and was then known as Lakas-Laban coalition. By 1998, the party was bonded with the Union of Muslim Democrats of the Philippines and formed the name Lakas-NUCD-UMDP. And by 2001, the party was renamed to the current title Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). And to make the party stronger, it merged with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s mother party, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI).
Albeit this party was formed from different races in different times, they still proved their dominance by sticking to their number one obligation which is to serve the country; yet issues, questions and intrigues seem to put a crack on to this democratic stronghold. One of which was the act by the Palace to remove Jose de Venecia as Speaker of the House, and the issue that he too, for delicadeza, should let go of Lakas party due to the trouble he had made. A strong force that can really put a crack to the walls of the party, can they really stand still and recover from it?
All people have their weaknesses, even the strongest person in the world would have an opening of his weakness, yet Lakas-CMD can still shove all these intrigues and problems. The question here is how long will they hold the position of dominance? How long will they prove everyone that merging is not just about sticking to the strong but about sticking for a good cause? They have merged Christians and Muslims, yet Muslim leaders can’t be seen in the picture. Can this be just sort of a part of the game or just nothing but a show off to gain the sympathy of the mass?
No one can really tell how people play in this game of politics. Lakas-CMD may be the best party so far, but until when can they hold their advocacies? As of now, proving this recognition would be a better way to drive all these dragging concerns that doubt the most dominant party’s power. Acting in our country’s worst may let us, the Filipino people, feel what it is to act on our country’s best. With great power comes great responsibility.
