Hector R. R. Villanueva By Hector R.R. Villanueva   “If I join a funeral, I march all the way to the cemetery.”   — Fidel Castro   It seems that the people are befuddled and are asking what is happening as many problems and issues are unraveling simultaneously though the country is moving in the right direction under Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. While the nation appears to be pre-occupied with Charter change MRT glitches, corruption, rising prices, overseas workers, maritime issues, unemployment, tax reforms, population, and insurgency, there is now a need, so to speak, to put our act together under the leadership of Pres. Digong Duterte. First, the nation must have a philosophy or doctrine, or ideology that the people can understand and relate to even if they are not in total agreement. Moreover, we need distinctive political parties based on principles to obviate and discourage “turncoats” or“balimbings” from switching parties after every election. Thus, when DU30 cites “my country” or “my soldiers” or “my people,” they are motherhood statements and his personal views. They are not an ideology. Whether a person is an anarchist or centrist, or Far Left or Far Right, he will invariably stick to his principles and party. Secondly there are Conservatives and Labor, Gaullists and Socialists, Christian Democrat and Social Democrats, and other developing parties. Countries can be socialist or communist or liberal or capitalist and the people will adhere to or disagree on their respective philosophies. Barring “force majeure,” a card-bearing party member will not switch parties for opportunistic reasons as we often do in the Philippines. It will be noted that modern Europe is essentially socialist while remaining capitalistic, and had never resorted to land expropriation or agrarian reforms. Third, what should we do? Today, the PDP-Laban, led by DU30, is uniquely poised to consolidate and build a monolithic political party of clear cut principles and unwavering nationalistic policies, anchored on the establishment of a federal state. Moreover, by maintaining the super-majority and shift to a parliamentary system of government, continuity and consistency can be assured which is needed for sustainable economic development. In this manner, the ruling majority party can then undertake political, economic, and social reforms peacefully and democratically. When all is said and done, federalism and a parliamentary form of government will not guarantee successful solutions to national problems but a resolute political will and boldness will be a calculated risk to the present lethargic and oligarchic system. You be the judge.