War-a na bang pag-asa?

by Inksteady

Unexpected Side Characters: War On Drugs 

In the high-stakes drama of the Philippine government’s War-On-Drugs, the last thing anyone expected was the side characters— the ones who weren’t originally part of the plot—to take the center stage. Policies were rolled out with intense seriousness, but as with many grand plans, reality had a funny way of throwing curveballs. What was intended as a tough action on illegal drugs has instead left us with some of the most unexpected, and occasionally ironic, side characters and consequences. 

The Rise of the Barangay Avengers

One group in a quiet town was particularly diligent. Their patrol schedule? 24/7. Their uniform? Matching neon vests. Their mission? Spotting potential “drug addicts” based on criteria only they seemed to understand. The result? More people were called out for eating balut at odd hours— mostly at dawn— than for actual drug-related activities.

Aling Marites 

Aling Marites is your local typical gossiper who knows everything about everyone— and that includes the so-called "secret drug dens" that no one else has seen. She hears the barangay’s faintest whispers and always has a new conspiracy theory. “Oh, I heard the bakery owner next door might be hiding something under the pandesal dough,” she says, sipping her third cup of 3-in-1 coffee for the day. Her endless storytelling sessions often leave the neighbors wondering if she’s talking about fiction telenovelas or real actual events.

Amid the seriousness of the War-On-Drugs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s those colorful unexpected side characters that sprinkles a little bit of humor in this so-called War. 

Just like the Barangay Avengers and Aling Marites, they serve as a reminder that life doesn’t always need to be a serious narrative. 

So, as we go through this chaotic journey, let us not forget to chuckle at the quirks along the way. Yes, we face real challenges, but who says we can’t roll our eyes at the absurdity of it all?

Embracing humor reminds us that even when the world seems heavy and feels like on “war”— we can still share a laugh— or at least a good story, with unexpected side characters, over a cup of 3-in-1 coffee.