FROM TIME to time I would usually hear either from the administration or the opposition about their political bickering and how one is better than the other. However, I’ve been observing lately how politics is actually practiced in our country, and let me emphasize that this is from a college student point-of-view.
I am studying at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas taking up Political Science and I believe one of the precursors for you to be a student of politics is for you to love politics. That is why, let me share my opinion about Philippine politics.
When the Arroyo administration previously called for a change in the Constitution through constitutional assembly, it eventually failed. Next here came Lambino et al who started this people’s initiative; eventually it failed also. Later on, the administration then called for a constitutional convention but eventually election time came.
Now let me ask this question: Why is the government so obsessed with this charter change? Is it not that the present democratic system is already the best that would exemplify democracy? I think what’s only needed is to practice genuine public service to the people, and its priority is social services and not foreign debt nor military funding.
Now, here comes election time and the adminstration is calling for national unity and reconciliation. I believe that it is true in its very essence that we need unity and reconciliation, that we need to stop all this political bickering and all for our country to move on. However, I think it is ironic for a government to call for unity and reconciliation if its instruments for peace, i.e. the military and police, are primarily the cause of disunity. How many activists, students, priests, lawyers, women have been killed allegedly by the military?
It is also ironic that a government is clamoring for economic reforms that would lead to economic stability and development, but has failed to see who is directly affected by the expanded value-added tax or E-VAT and the oil deregulation law — none other than the masses.
It is also ironic for a president to call for sincere and honest public service if she has not answered yet the all-time box office hit “Hello Garci” scandal, which by the way the very institution that is supposed to be independent in the electoral process has even let Garcillano run for public office. I wonder how much it would cost to buy konsensya in the depratment store, because definitely I’ll save my entire allowance just to buy one and give it as a gift to Madame President and her little scalawag Garci.
Sometimes, I would think that the heroes of the past like Gat Bonifacio would most likely lead another revolution if he’s alive right now; heck, there is a revolution happening. Maybe, during the Marcos regime, the principles and ideas of the Communist Party were needed to have genuine political and economic reforms. That is why maybe, sometimes, I would think the New People’s Army is actually the real army of the people. If this government can’t do anything to stop its mediocre political and economic reforms, I think the Left is the only remaining answer to our problems.
Nonetheless, I still hope that the likes of Satur Ocampo and Liza Masa may change the system without violence and let democracy work at its best.
– Lean Porquia, University of the Philippines in the Visayas
May 31st, 2007 at 12:51 am
wanda
To Salina:
Can you please stick with the topic? Kung saan saan galing mga pinepaste mo eh or better gumawa ka ng sarili mong topic, i find you annoying sa tulad kong mambabasa. I know that you only voicing out your opinion like everybody does pero OA ka na…Kung ako sayo magtatagalog na lang ako.
Peace Out!This is only my observation, matalo pikon
***********
Salina
Wanda: What I paste here is none of your business if you don’t want to read it. Nobody forcing you. What I paste here is something I would like to make comment on it. Not atleast you don’t know how to read. Its and everyone of us have every right to post in this blog.
And its too bad you don’t like my english either. sorry! Wanda: I write whatever I feel to write. If you don’t like reading my posting please don’t read it. Go to the next post. As simple as that. Tuloy ang ligaya!
May 30th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Lean
Don’t be misled with some historians making past heroes to be ideal. Although most of them had sacrificed themselves and their families for the sake of the country, many also had motives that were self-serving. Read as many history books as you can. Don’t be biased in making past Filipinos to be righteous. Many of the ills at present are similar with the past ills of their time. Filipino attitude in the past persists until today, only sublimated.
Neither a change to Communism will solve the problem. You just don’t know what’s happening within the ranks of CPP-NPA. Why do they many factions right now?
Reforms start with the individual, not with the government. Study hard, finish college, post-graduate if possible. Think outside the “box�. Start helping yourself before helping others otherwise, you can’t be a help either.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
The political atmosphere right now is created by none less than the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The majority is “politicized� in a sense that everyone is bragging to express his opinion here as “righteous opinion� and should be followed as a law (although I’m a little bit exaggerating here). Nevertheless, what young opinion bloggers and voters had not realized is the fact that we are the only country in Southeast Asia that has a Presidential form of government in a multi-party system. That’s why we cannot elect a majority President, many like to be President (including some of the bloggers here), and many are party hoppers, like Lacson, just to be President.
If we want reforms, start with the fundamental law of the land. If Presidential form then two-party system, but if Parliamentary, multi-party. Not half-way. Gugulo talaga.
May 30th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
The root cause of most of our political and social ills is the ECONOMY!!!
Name me one problem that you all have been whining about which a $20,000 GNP can not solve or minimize.
When we had the strongest economy in Asia (ex Japan), a golden arinola was already a big scandal.
When the economy is strong, wages are high and people have so alled “principles.” When majority are employed and compensated justly, crime rate and corruption naturally go down. People can afford to pay higher transport fees so we get mass transit alternatives, well maintained and disciplined public transport system, etc, etc….
Ordinary people could then afford to donate money to principled and competent statesmen and principled political parties. Government could also afford to reimburse qualified candidates/parties for election expenses so our politicians do not have to dip into pork barrels and suck up to business and vested interest groups.
So please:
1. Do not tell me the Filipino character is flawed.
2. Quit whining and wasting your energies barking at wrong trees.
A SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH is the only way out of our current woes.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
To Salina:
Can you please stick with the topic? Kung saan saan galing mga pinepaste mo eh or better gumawa ka ng sarili mong topic, i find you annoying sa tulad kong mambabasa. I know that you only voicing out your opinion like everybody does pero OA ka na…Kung ako sayo magtatagalog na lang ako.
Peace Out!This is only my observation, matalo pikon