5 o’clock am, July 27, 2009. It was a rainy Monday when I woke up. Too cold to do my morning routine, I thought of turning on the tube and watch the morning news break. As clicked on the remote control and as I switched to other news channels, the same issue on the SONA and the rally of various cause-oriented groups were the days menu.
The public seemed not only concerned with what Mrs Arroyo would have divulged in her last State of the Nation Address (SONA). What was disturbing was the seeming street party of various rights groups in along Common Wealth and Batasan avenues, who were either out-of-school youths ages seventeen and below, who were made to believe that they are to enjoy the short roaming of live stream cameras. Indeed, it seemed more of a party other than a gathering for a cause.
This phenomenon only explains the sad plight of cause-oriented groups in the country today. Gloria had been lambasted for her supposed machination of the law for her benefit. But had these moralists been looking at themselves in the mirror lately? Bayan Muna, to name one of the mobilization’s organizers was dragging unwary civilians and sadly teeners to a social effort they do not even comprehend.
Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo had long claimed that Gloria was never true to her word. He openly accused the administration of its oversights particular on efficiently providing the people’s basic necessities. But what did Ocampo make of himself when he chose to play on random civilians to pose as his protesters other than creating laws that would alleviate the marginalized sector that he was sworn to represent in Congress? Is it not prostitution of the oppressed, when Ocampo and his rights groups tempt these masses to sell their democratic liberties?
Incidentally, I live in an area where various people of different status in life dwell. Some call it a slum but I call it home…and it has been my home for almost 35 years now. As I stood by my window, I saw Mang Pilo, a father of seven and a janitor in a nearby public school, about to bring his kids to school. On the other side, I saw Munyen in tears because her father Mang Felipe, who was at that time busy playing “tong-its”, wont allow her to go to school for reasons only God-knows. And from afar, I could see able-bodied “tambays” playing their guitar over a bottle of gin. The scenery only elicited a smile. I pondered.
Time and again, Gloria’s critics had somehow focused on her seeming frailties and inadequacies. Others were disgusted with how PGMA ran the entire government with corruption and issues about transparency. I have no problems with critics, lashing out against the administration for corruption, inefficiency, bureaucratic red tape among other things. However, I believe that we should give credit where credit is due and that we should be more constructive in our criticism instead of being obstinately and unreasonably critical. Reality bites: corruption in the government is very apparent and vultures in the administration are seemingly only into politics just to make money. They don't give a damn about those in poverty, as they just want to feather their own nests. Not a single leader, anywhere in the world, had miraculously led a perfect government. And that’s a fact!
In fairness, I would say that the government did a nice job in its strategy on to address the global economic crisis, as we weren’t as badly hit as the rest of the world. Critics may disagree with me but believe it or not, the job of the President in balancing the budget, balancing GNP and GDP growth achieving inflation targets among other things is no small feat. The administration may have bean rocked with scandals, graft and corruption but at least, Gloria had somehow contributed to getting us through this global fiscal mess. The President may not have totally addressed hunger and poverty, but there were programs to as much as possible alleviate it.
To solve every Filipinos problem on money, education, and finances would, at the least, be a miracle for any president. It is impossible! There are only some who would strive hard for success while others would just wait for the food to be served. Now I understand why the likes of Mang Pilo enjoy their work so much that they send their children to school, and why the likes of Mang Felipe and the rest of the able-bodied “tambays” spend their time doing nothing when there are a lot of worthwhile things that still need to be done.
We must all remember that we shape our destiny and the future lie in our own hands.
Mothering a struggling country with more than 80 million children with diverse characters is no joke! After everything has been said and done, it is still our responsibility to make this country a home where there is peace, love and justice for every one.##
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