As we write this column, the first day of mammoth rallies—scheduled to last three days in several parts of the National Capital Region and across the country—had just ended. The public listened to fiery speakers in huge assemblies. During this time, I received several messages asking how I felt about these developments. Many also wondered if the country would remain in a state of political stability.

Our view is that our country remains “politically stable” and large public gatherings where people express discontent and indignation actually contribute to that sense of stability. The huge assemblies, spearheaded by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), have been described by the Philippine National Police as “generally peaceful.” Moreover, the leadership of the INC had made it clear that the rallies are in no way intended to be a call for the downfall of the legitimate constitutional government. They also made it clear that they do not support actions that create “instability,” including calls for snap elections and a coup.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) made a similar stance as its leadership warned against unscrupulous parties who would “exploit” the recent developments in the unfolding flood-control projects controversies.

In sum, the larger mass actions that took place in the past few days are not meant to “destabilize” the country. From where we stand, they contribute to the stability of our socio-political life.

Let me explain.

“Political stability” refers to the ability of the government to sustain its functions without disruption. There are factors that contribute to that sense of stability. Among them are the state of the people’s rights and freedom, the rule of law, and what political scientists call “creative tension.”

Let's discuss the last item: “creative tension.” Political scientists say “political stability” does not mean the absence of discord or disagreements. They warn that stability should not be confused with “political chill.” “Protests and participation are a cornerstone of long-term stability,” they point out. They add that “a truly healthy and stable society is a “little turbulent” and this helps a nation develop resilience to political turmoil.

Stability should not be confused with the absence of discord, or where “group harmony” is imposed and discord is not tolerated.

We must admit that our nation is now in the midst of discord. In the face of the raging flood control projects controversy, the public is divided, perhaps even polarized. Other political observers say the public is actually “angry.”

If the observations prove correct, then the leaders of the INC and the Catholic Church are doing a great service to our country. They are providing our countrymen with an opportunity to go through “creative tension” – to express their indignation and anger over the current issues. Anger must be vented out. When public anger is bottled up, that would be more dangerous. Bottled-up public anger is what political scientists call a “social powder keg” that can explode at some point in time.

We laud the leaders of both churches for making it clear that they are against the exploitation of public indignation by selfish political interests. They made it clear that they will support only the options that are within the parameters of our constitution. After all, the expression of indignation is meant to get the government to act faster and more meaningfully to what the public is clamoring for.

When the public is able to freely express sentiments and the government acts on them, that is proof of healthy and creative tension that results in continuing stability.

Who wins when stability prevails? Our answer: the ordinary Filipino.

When the system remains stable despite discord, the government, at all levels, is able to continue providing basic services. This, in turn, allows ordinary Filipinos to go about pursuing productive endeavors, including enterprise, education, and other activities that result in meeting their needs.

When the system remains stable despite a discord, the business sector would not be afraid to sustain operations and even to expand. This way, they assure ordinary Filipinos of access to consumer products and services while protecting the employment of their workforce.

When the system remains stable despite discord, ordinary Filipinos are spared from anxiety.

They can focus on nurturing their dreams for a better life.

We, therefore, laud the efforts of the religious sector and other sectors that have openly rejected unconstitutional and extra-constitutional options. Their actions are obviously meant to protect the interests of the ordinary Filipino. We believe they share our view that when our system remains stable, the ordinary Filipino wins.

The ordinary Filipino must do his share to ensure that the political system remains stable.

The first step is to reject the manipulation and machination of entities that will obviously benefit from the destabilization of our social and political life and structure. They must advocate for the use of the processes that have been put in place by the Constitution for the redress of our grievances. We must work to improve and refine the system, not to demolish it.