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
July 7th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
To: MBM
Please stop your sacrilege against that reverred institution UP by citing your negative accomplishments. You said ‘From Metrocom days, to facing Gen. Tadiar, to seeing Erap off, up until today……’. From the frying pan straight into the fire, done in what you think is your love for your country. What do you think, Sir, have you got to show for it? You delivered your beloved country down, down, down, and deeper into the innermost labyrinth of the sink hole.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
To: MBM
Please stop your sacrilege against that reverred institution UP by citing your accomplishments. You said, ‘….from Metrocom days, to facing Gen. Tadiar, to seeing off Erap–up until today……’. From the frying pan, straight to the fire, done in the name of what you thought is love of country. My goodness, Sir. You delivered your beloved country down, down, down, and deeper into the innermost sanctum of the sink hole.
May 31st, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Lean, keep up that fire my boy. If there is anything that UP taught me, it is seeing how important that fire is in me in all of the things that I do.
From the Metrocom days, to facing General Tadiar, to seeing Erap off, up until today - love for country still kindles.
My advise to you though is to keep up with the issues. Many of my peers still have that “makibaka” mentality. Leave that with the younger ones as you grow older because by then, you will be equipped with more substantial contributions to our society.
Your generation gives hope in breaking this cleptocracy and corruption as a way of life.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:11 pm
It saddens me to read about Philippine politics. It seems like our leaders are more focused on lengthening their stay and getting more out of the people rather than coming up with policies that would help improve our way of life. There is so much greed and corruption that the victims (we, the people) are led further into poverty and despair. The few officials that we have who started with a goal to improve our politics are now tainted with the same greed and corruption they so abhor. What’s gonna happen next? I kind of agree with bisayang tate’s comparison with saddam hussein. Our people are being abused and manipulated and whoever has the guts to stand up for his rights gets silenced. Where is freedom and democracy when the people we chose to protect and defend us are the ones guilty of violating our rights?
May 31st, 2007 at 7:32 am
Root causes of our Social and Political ills are our poor economy, corruption, and abuse of power.