Dear PNoy ( A message to the president)

DENISE NICOLE B. ZOLETA
Quezon National High School

 

Cases of plunder and betrayal of public trust repeatedly filed against officials, the endless story of the chief justice’s impeachment trial, the cries of teachers and students yearning for school necessities, the agonizing state of poverty in the country and the oozing bid for infrastructure development like those in transportation, tourism, health and trade fairs—these center today’s state of society from what the TV screens flash during news programs.

It’s in the middle of the first commercial break when someone muttered displeasures about certain issues to date. She’s pretty close by for every word she speak was clearly registered by my audible senses. I was about to concur with her remarks when I found out there’s no one in the room but me. Gasp. Sigh. Torment. So, the familiar voice was mine after all. Funny, how I could overreact at times and suddenly drift into my subconscious state. It’s just that I can’t fully accept the fact that whatever the government does, however we, Filipinos act, still things don’t turn out the way they ought to be.

Who dares to stroll on a rubbish place, be hopeless on a chaotic land, or dwell in solitary claptrap this nation will actually turn out in the not-too-distant future? As a vigorous youngster, a concerned civilian, it is essential to know the reasons behind this nation’s cries and took part in resolving issues in little ways. This calls for social awareness to bear in mind, especially for the youth whom our forefathers believed to be the hope for a fruitful future of the country. Children need to grow; teens need to act mature enough in dealing with social matters. No one really wants to be left behind for far too long. Easy steps to lead on a well-defined society with a built purpose for the grand benefit of fellow countrymen shall be a good start.

The great thing in this world is not so much on where people stand but in what direction they’re moving on with. Each chose whether to be a better citizen of this country, enthusiastically forsaking an invisible nemesis of ignorance towards unfolding the trail of the social domain, or be one of the culprits of slow-based ride to the zenith of socio-economic progress. Filipinos have equally-divided power and much as to have a say on every issue tackled in congress, whether diminutive or not. All’s fair, majority wins as it is democracy the Filipinos still pursue.

This republic in lexis of governance may be constantly detained by the many hindrances and complications that have existed since who knows when. But, on occasion, a ray of hope would emerge, such as the May elections last 2010 (perhaps a new People Power in disguise). In this awe-inspiring exercise of suffrage, the Filipinos have thrust unto power a person whom they know they could trust: the scion of the late Corazon Aquino who ousted the dictator in what seems like eons ago, most lads have neglected and forgotten about.

P-Noy, as Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III is so affectionately called, has brought with him a platform, “If there’s no corrupt, no one will suffer.” He believes he would salvage the country from corruption and return to the Filipino people what is due to them. Among them is Presidential Decree No. 1, the very-well known establishment of a Truth Commission which will scrutinize the actions of the past administration. It is very frustrating indeed, that the Supreme Court, supposedly the bulwark of Filipino justice, will disgrace itself by junking such a noble first act that they believe to be unconstitutional due to some technicalities that they may well have made up themselves. It is an obvious truth that leaves the Filipinos again, frustrated.

In connection to this tragically failed justice system, the Office of the Ombudsman has agreed to a plea bargain agreement with former military comptroller, Carlos Garcia, who has mysteriously amassed a large sum of money. Pleading guilty to lesser crimes and walking free with most of his supposedly ill-gotten wealth, the Filipinos now plead angry to this farce they call justice. Filipino culture places a high value on justice, but the very people in the justice system betray the public trust that must proudly call itself Filipino. It is another obvious truth in the sad part of the Filipino story.

What about corruption? Will the Noynoy government be able to eliminate corruption, which is what it has promised to do? P-Noy himself, unlike GMA, will no doubt attempt to set an example of an honest presidency, but what about the rest of them? Corruption has been the essence of elite rule, of the trapo system, in this country. To get rid of corruption Noynoy has to confront the system of elite rule itself. To believe otherwise will be a fundamental error.

President Noynoy’s victory is a confirmation that the main issue in the election was the high-handed corruption of the Arroyo regime. People voted for Noynoy because they were sick and tired of the never-ending cases of graft and corruption involving the Arroyo family and their sycophants. Noynoy’s campaign slogan `Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap’ [No corruption, no poverty] rings a bell and has attracted a broad number of people to support Noynoy in the election.

People expect Noynoy to run after GMA and her cohorts who are responsible for all those gargantuan corruption scandals which marred the latter’s presidency. His chances of success? Fifty-fifty is my estimate given GMA’s continuing clout in Congress, the Supreme Court and the Ombudsman.

As to the national dream of deliverance from poverty for the majority and the huge social inequity of wealth and opportunities, the Noynoy presidency has more limitations than the watch of his mother, Cory Aquino, to accomplish anything significant in this direction. For one, he studiously avoided making any tangible promise to solve the Hacienda Luisita agrarian reform case. His promise to provide decent jobs to the millions of unemployed and underemployed simply cannot be realized without a radical departure from the neoliberal framework of the Philippine state, without industrialization and strong social justice measures, all of which he never touched in his campaign.

However, Filipino society is yet tantalized by many more domestic disputes. Insurgents continue to sow fear and violence in Mindanao. If environmental destruction continues as shown by smoky Metro Manila, global warming will be the first to destroy the country, not corrupt politicians. Above all, the social evolution that has occurred resulted in the degradation of traditional Filipino values. This is amusing, as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are prized all around the world for their discipline and work ethic. Here at home though, Filipinos cannot seem to follow simple traffic rules. The moral issue extends to such religious sides of the story, such as the RH bill. P-Noy and P. Damaso are still in dispute, leaving a rift in the once unified faith of most Filipino Catholics.

How often have we heard “Fight!” (Laban Tayo!) in our lives? Do we actually consider this statement as a part of our mutual lingo or is it something that can actually make a major difference in our lives? Some of us may be intimidated by the “leading towards the righteous path” buzz-words norms hear the critiques and politicians talk about, and shut our minds to the rhetoric. Let’s all open our minds. Here’s why: In this new humanity of everything’s fast-paced, the new president has a lot of fixing to do before all efforts gone to waste again and again for old time’s sake. But at least, the Filipinos may just grasp a reason to be proud and lively again.

There will be no turning around of the objective situation under a Noynoy presidency. The economic and social crises will continue. The masses will continue to be beleaguered by grinding poverty in their daily lives. P.Noy now has acquired so many options since he has taken on “the most difficult job in the land”. He can continue with what GMA has started in order to achieve continuity; improve on the policies; or sit down with those who are clamoring for the change in the Constitution and discuss the merits of removing and replacing some parts that prevent our country from moving forward.

The Philippines is P-Noy’s oyster. He has to prioritize the things that will benefit every citizen in the long term not just those who supported and financed his campaign. It would be too disappointing if P-Noy devotes most of his State of the Nation Address to the blame game. It is time for P-Noy to put his sleeves up and get his own hands dirty. He has to make up his mind about whether his administration will be about spending to stimulate the economy or about austerity if he prefers to have an image of false humility. He just has to be careful not to get stuck in analysis paralysis because of his preoccupation with maintaining an image of someone who is the opposite of the GMA or any other traitor to the country. It’s just plain unproductive.

Philippines. Look! Behold our snail-inspired stature to development due to scarred rules of authority with their ‘midnight appointments’ at hand. We are being left behind, in the shadows of vast forth-thrusting of other pursuing league of communities called “countries.” We are working on it, as we all perceive. Our country bears geniuses that can withstand an outnumbered population of history-encrypted roots of inventors, scientists, philosophers, and others. But there is one thing I think we’re all missing in this visage of advancement: we barely nor never look back.