The Doubting Thomases in the Current Political Climate

It’s ironic, isn’t it? In the Gospel, Thomas said: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25).

In Philippine politics, we have the opposite scenario: we see the "wounds" (the floods, the empty coffers, the broken roads) every single day, yet we are asked to believe that the government has done a sterling job in governance.

Here is a satirical take on our modern-day "Douthing Thomases" navigating the stormy waters of 2026 politics.

1. The Miracle of the Invisible Flood Control
In the Philippines, we don't have Doubting Thomases; we have Drowning Thomases.

As the 2026 monsoon turns Manila into a world-class water park, the government points to the ₱500 billion state-of-the-art project.

The Drowning Thomas stands on his roof, waist-deep in murky water, looking at a DPWH sign that says "Flood Control Project: 98% Complete."

The Parallel: Just as Thomas needed to put his finger into the nail marks, the Filipino taxpayer wants to put his finger on an actual, functioning pumping station.

The Satire: The government’s response? "Blessed are those who have not seen the flood control gates, yet believe they are working." If you can’t see the project, it’s not because it’s a "ghost project"—it’s just underwater. It’s a matter of faith, Thomas!

2. The Impeachment: "I Will Not Believe Until I See the Receipts."

Then we have the Senate Doubting Thomases regarding the impeachment of VP Sara.

While the House of Representatives has presented alleged evidence regarding the misuse of confidential funds, including transported bags of cash, certain Senators are playing the role of the doubting Thams perfectly."

The Parallel: Thomas said, "Unless I see the print of the nails... I will not believe."

The Satire: A Senator looks at a mountain of COA disallowances and says, "Unless I personally count the ₱125 million in 11 days myself, I shall remain unconvinced."

In this version, even if be someone's"Truth" stands right in front of them, they’ll ask for a Notarized Affidavit from the Truth first—preferably one that doesn't affect their 2028 coalition prospects.

3. The "Stigma" of the Secret Wealth
Remember that "fake news" about you having money? In politics, it’s the reverse. We see politicians who officially own nothing but a "modest" hut and a 1990s sedan in their SALN, yet they live in mansions with gold-plated faucets.

The Parallel: Thomas doubted the divinity of a man who looked human. We doubt the "poverty" of men who look like billionaires.

The Satire: We are the Doubting Thomases when a politician says, "I am as poor as a church mouse." We want to see the wounds—specifically, the wounds in their bank accounts.

But instead of showing us the "holes," they show us "Non-Disclosure Agreements" and "Confidential Fund" loopholes.

In the Bible, Thomas’s doubt was cured by a Physical Encounter with the truth. In the Philippines, our doubt is permanent because the "Truth" is usually:

Under a non-disclosure agreement.

Hidden in a "confidential fund."

Or washed away by a ₱5-billion flood control project that turned out to be made of sand and recycled campaign posters.

Keep clapping for your blind idolatry that your idol can't be someone's gift from heaven!

It’s fitting, really—in a land of invisible infrastructure, holding onto a fake reality is the only thing that makes sense.

Where's Waldo ... Where's Is BBM?

It looked like Where's Waldo, The Pinoy Version had its comeback, and people had just that insatiable desire to ask: Is the President still alive?

 We have entered a fascinating era of "Selective Observation," where the rules of physics depend entirely on your political affiliation.

The DDS internet detectives are currently in a frenzy, scouring the earth for President Bongbong Marcos. 

The government releases a video of him in Bataan? "Edited!" say the vloggers. 

He appears at a televised event? "Deepfake!" scream the commenters. Has he been seen working by the mainstream media? "Mainstream lies!" they chant.

Apparently, for some, the President is like a ghost—even when he’s standing right in front of you, you need a paranormal investigator to confirm he’s not just a high-resolution projection from Malacanang.

But here’s the satirical twist: while everyone is hyper-fixated on BBM’s pulse, we seem to have a growing list of "Missing Persons" that nobody in the vlogger-verse seems to care about.

• Senator Bato Dela Rosa: Is he still among us? He’s been MIA longer than a summer vacation. He’s practically achieved a state of legislative Nirvana—existing only in the abstract, far away from the Senate floor or a timecard. Why aren't we checking his pulse?

• Gerald Bantag: Last seen... somewhere?

• Atong Ang: The man is like a mythic creature; everyone talks about him, but sightings are rarer than a sincere political apology.

• Harry Roque: Now, if we’re talking about AI, let’s look here. Every time a "regular" post appears from the former spokesperson, one has to wonder: Is that really Harry, or is it a sophisticated "Spokes-Bot" programmed to maximize sass and minimize accountability? 

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So, why the obsession with proving the President is incapacitated? Why the desperate need to find a "flatline" in every video clip?

The goal isn't "concern for the leader’s health.

" It’s a Senatorial Fast-Break. They aren't looking for a pulse; they’re looking for a vacancy. 

It’s the dream of the "Instant Presidency"—the political equivalent of a "Skip to the End" button on a long YouTube video. 

Why wait for the pesky 2028 elections when you can just "narrate" the current occupant out of the office and slide the Vice President into the big chair by Monday morning? It is truly impressive to watch the logic at play:

1. Marcos is seen working: "Fake news! He's dying!"

2. Dela Rosa is literally never seen: "He's just busy being a patriot! Leave him alone!"

3. Roque posts from an undisclosed location: "He's a hero!"

In the world of "Didilis" logic, being AWOL is a sign of strength, but being Visible is a sign of a deep-fake conspiracy.

 It’s a state-of-the-art innovation in mental gymnastics that would win a gold medal if "Delusion" were an Olympic sport.

The President is out there working, documented by every legitimate news outlet in the country. 

Meanwhile, a handfulof high-ranking officials have pulled a "Houdini" and  vanished from public view, yet the vloggers are silent.

Perhaps it’s time to stop checking the President’s temperature and start checking the Senatorial attendance sheet. 

But then again, a "Fast-Break" to 2028 is much more exciting than a boring old thing like "facts" or "constitutional procedure."