A Wake Up Call

“Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

Ever since democracy found its way into the Philippine government, corruption, seen or unseen, came with it. We do not deny this fact; why else would our country be poor when it is considered as a “potential Asian powerhouse”?

The resources around us are proof that we could have a better economy. But the government is improperly using these resources, leaving the Philippines poor and deprived. Take it any way we want it: whether the government is stealing it or not, our country has enough potential to relieve us the title of being a third world country. But we must stress on this… if it truly is a time for change, the Philippines is in dire need of it.

Where will the change start? The government, we say. The government, we blame. Yes, our government may be corrupt, but it seems that only a few Filipinos are trying of making change. The People have grown accustomed to poverty, to corruption.

The Philippine History. When we first encountered foreigners, they conquered us and ruled over us for more than three hundred years. Filipinos were deprived of their rights, and the rebels died. Then, we were fooled into thinking that we were being educated. And Filipinos were again deprived of their rights. A few years after, the Philippines was again dominated by foreigners. These outsiders slaughtered our countrymen, and the Filipinos were again deprived of their rights.

Over and over again, the Filipinos have been subjected to suffering and affliction: and sadly, most of us have been used to it. We are not anymore bothered by the issues of dishonesty and corruption that occurs in out government. We have grown blind to the thieves that steal from us everyday. We have developed deaf ears, that hears not the troubling signs that our country is about to fall.

No, the Filipinos are adapted to the corruption of our government. We are not ignorant; we know of the wrongdoings in our society. But we make no effort of changing this. Few Filipinos still do remember that we must fight, that the Philippines is truly worth dying for.

Life for the Filipinos has grown dull and dark. Like slobs, we ramble on through our lives living without a damn to give about our country. If this is truly the case, then we truly do deserve the poverty we have! Have we forgotten that life is not simply existing, but living like there’s something to die for?

We must wake up, Filipinos! We must prove that we truly are the descendants of Rizal and Bonifacio! The growing poverty of the Philippines is a wake up call for all of us. The time has truly come for change; let us live differently.

Let us open our eyes, fellow country men, and show the world the true meaning of nationalism.

We Can, Again

The tragic loss of former President Corazon “Cory” C. Aquino has sent the whole country spiralling into a cloud of mourning: a nostalgic memory of the time during the assassination of Tita Cory’s husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. But because of Tita Cory’s passing, a spark has been sent into the hearts and minds of the Filipinos: my country needs me.

The Philippine Revolution of 1986. This is also known as the People Power Revolution or the first EDSA Revolution. After the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, the Filipinos revolted against the dictator Marcos, and succeeded. This revolution made an impact on the world: unity is the strongest tool the People have to attain freedom.

Today, are we free? Yes, we are free from the foreign hands that wish to steal our lands. There are no more Spaniards who wish to conquer us with Christianity. There are no more Americans who wish to colonize us with their democracy. There are no more Japanese who want to overcome us with their weapons. Those days are long gone.

But no, we are not free. We are not free from the creeping vines of poverty. No, we are not free from the government officials who, instead of helping us, feed on the taxes we pay them. And we are especially not free from the reign of “Gloriath”.

The People have to act.

Faith. Passion. Nationalism. Concern. Unity. These are all the tools we need for us to overcome those who suppress us, to defeat those who neglect our needs, and to help the needy people of our homeland. We must ignore the fear of those with position, and believe that the People are still more powerful than the Government. The People have to act.

“Maharlika” is dying. Those in office steal from us everyday. They steal the money we have earned with our very sweat and blood, and feed on them as if they were pigs. Ironically, the ones chosen by the People to help the country are the ones who couldn’t give a damn about it. Has the Philippine government completely forgotten its purpose?

Ironically too, the People don’t seem to care. Few out of a whopping 90 million Filipino population may be expressing themselves through revolt and literature. But is this enough? I beg your pardon. I asked a rhetorical question.

We must give all the oxygen we have to turn the spark into roaring flames, feed passion and love for our country to our hearts, and let is show us that the Filipinos are victors. Let us drive ourselves to a road less taken, a road that might very well lead to that of freedom. We have to show the world that Filipinos do not give up, that the People Power Revolution was not a merely a one-time shot. Let us show the world and ourselves exactly what we can do.

Filipinos, we can, again.

Integrate or Segregate?

For the past few decades, the country has always relied on the opinion of the Catholic Church on implementing laws concerning issues such as “Family Planning” and “Death Penalty”. In the upcoming 2009 Presidential Election, should religious people be running?

In dark times, our government must choose even the rashest of decisions, as long as it saves the country from economic depression. This includes that the government must make its own decisions, not ones that are influenced by a single Church. The decisions must be beneficial to the whole Filipino population, disregarding each religion. The government must act according to the country, or else.

Our country has religious diversity. The Filipinos cannot be united by only a single church; though Catholics may be the majority, we cannot ignore the voice of the other Churches in our country. Therefore, we cannot let the government rely its decisions only upon the Catholic Church. Alternatively, we still cannot let the government rely its decisions on all the religions. Decisions will be very difficult, if not impossible, to be made.

Religious diversity is not necessarily an Achilles’ heel. One of the many reasons our country has a rich and living culture is because of the many religions our country has. But because religion plays a large role in every Filipino’s life, this becomes a reason for the Philippine community to divide. And when division occurs, the community starts to descend.

And so, the government has to rely on its own views. The country is in poverty, no doubt about that. The Philippines is at a crucial point, and things must be done, quickly. No more is the mañana habit. Why? Because there may be no tomorrow for our country. The people must open eyes and see the state of our country: the Philippines cannot survive a bigger crisis than this. If the government does not start to act, let’s just hope our children and grandchildren still have the Maharlika to call as their homeland.

To quote an RnB song, “what ever happened to the fairness in equality?”

Yes, what DID happen to fairness in equality?

The government is clearly disregarding the voices of the other religions. Why does the government make its decisions with regards to the Catholic Church’s opinion, and not the others? This is a clear example of bias judgement. Disregarding equality and respect for others’ religion, has the Philippines stoop that low?

Let’s say that a religious person will be elected into office. This person makes his decisions entirely on his own beliefs. What shall happen?

The country will be more divided than ever. There will be those who agree with that person’s religious beliefs. There will be those who disagree with that person’s beliefs. And there will also be those who wish to remove that person from office. The country, already at a crucial point, will fall; for the reason that unity is the strongest tool we have. And if we lose this, our country will descend into depression.

We must choose now. Do we want progress in society, or choose our own religion and beliefs? What is best for the Philippines: equality or diversity? What do we want for the Philippines economy, to rise, or to fall?

Fledglings Soaring

We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

For a country like ours, the future is not to be taken lightly. With the government heavily infected with corruption and the economy gradually descending, the Philippines is practically live bait for the jaws of economic depression. And at dark times such as these, the only light that shimmers in the distance is hope: hope that our country will be saved by the generations to come.

What CAN we do? Ask no one this question; for the real question must be: what CAN’T we do? We are young Filipinos, the sculptors who will shape our country to what it will someday be. Whether the country will fall deeper into poverty’s dark hole, or rise to be globally competitive, we have that power. And this is a power none can take from us.

No doubt! We cannot help our country if our mind is clouded with doubt and disbelief; this is the trouble every teenager runs into, self doubt. How many times must we hear that we are the future of our country? How many times will it take for the message to sink in, that the country’s fate is in our hands?

They say the youth is arrogant; this is true. We’d rather believe in what we think, than what mature adults are sure of. No point in denying it. But determination and willpower will help us, determination that is rooted upon nationalism. Use nationalism as a tool to drive us to our goal. Nationalism will pave the path to saving the Philippines. And we must have courage to take it.

Nationalism also creates concern. When we love our country, we will have concern for it. And when concern is present, so is the need to be aware. We should have awareness of our country’s status. Once we are awake to the troubles our country endures, we can help it more, and have a better chance of saving it.

Countless times, we teenagers have always heard adults advising us to study harder and reach for our goal. Realize this: we should not aim high only for ourselves, but also for the society. Eventually we will grow up and hopefully have fruitful jobs. But when we gain income and help our family, we also help our country. Simply, when we work, it is not only us who are benefited, but also the Philippines.

And to quote former USA President Kennedy: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

And so, fellow fledglings, let us soar and show the world that we truly are the Pearl of the Orient’s future.