by Harvey S. Keh
Contributor
JUST a few weeks ago, I listened to a National Situationer report given by the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), the socio-political arm of the Jesuits here in the Philippines.
SLB is known to be one of the most credible institutions who can give an honest to goodness analysis of what is the real state of our country and in their report they emphasized the following:
a.) Yes, the country’s economy continues to grow and, in fact, we have one of the highest growth rates in Asia. However, despite the economic growth, more than 25 million Filipinos continue to languish in poverty.
b.) 62 percent of Filipinos actually die without even having the chance to be seen by a healthcare professional. To make things worse, medicine prices are 5 to 45 times higher here in our country compared to other countries in Asia like Thailand, Pakistan and India.
c.) 3.7 million families continue to be homeless in our country despite efforts being done by non-profit organizations, such as Gawad Kalinga.
d.) P1.2 trillion had been lost to corruption in the last 5 years.
e.) Out of 10 Filipino students who enter Grade 1, less than 2 will be able to finish College.
f.) The brain drain continues in our country as 121 Filipinos leave the country every hour. By the end of this year, we can expect that there will be approximately 8.5 million Filipinos abroad.
These sad realities made me discern the reason why we continue to remain a poor country, despite the fact that we have such a beautiful country blessed with the brightest people in the world. Is it because many of our best people choose to work and live abroad?
Was Conrado De Quiros correct when he mentioned in one of his columns that the middle and upper classes of our country couldn’t care less about what happens because we always have an escape hatch of migrating and living abroad when all else fails in the Philippines? I don’t think that these are entirely correct assumptions since I continue to believe that majority of Filipinos still want to see genuine change and reforms in our country.
Many Filipinos living and working abroad whom I have talked to and corresponded with via email still continue to hope and dream that they will one day be able to come back and live in a Philippines that can provide them and their families with the right opportunities to live a just and prosperous life.
In the end, I think everyone will agree with me that one of the major reasons why we are here is the fact that we continue to elect poor leaders who would rather protect vested interests of their own families and those that have supported them in the last elections.
It’s depressing to note that the reality of Philippine politics is that a good, competent and decent person cannot be elected to power if she or he doesn’t have millions of pesos to use in the campaign.
Of course, we have already seen some exceptions to this “rule,” in the persons of Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo. All three have clashed with moneyed and well-entrenched political dynasties and have come out victorious. But their victories remain only at the local level and it seems that we will need a more herculean effort to finally elect a President that will not become beholden to a few individuals, interests and families.
According to some friends who have had experience in being part of a national campaign, they say that you need at least P1 billion to have a chance at the Presidency.
Is it impossible then to elect a President that will not become beholden to a few wealthy families and will genuinely serve the interests of Juan dela Cruz?
I don’t think so but if we want that to happen, we should all make that happen starting with the growing Filipino middle class who are mostly living and working abroad.
Imagine if every single Filipino living and working overseas will pledge to donate at least $5 each to support an upright, ethical and God-fearing candidate who has a proven track record in public service, then that would amount to $42,500,000 or a whooping P1.9 billion!
This candidate could then have a fighting chance of being our next President and if she or he wins, she or he can govern properly without being beholden to a few people and their vested interests. As soon as we have enough pledges from Filipinos all over the world, we can then do something similar to a primary process to select the right person whom we can all support.
I propose this idea to every Filipino working or living overseas who still dreams of a new Philippines. I think it’s time that we all invest in choosing the right President for our country. We have less than two years to go before the 2010 National election. Thus the time to act is now. The power to choose our next President should not be in the hands of a few but rather it should be with each and every Filipino.
If you believe in this idea and proposal, please send me an email at harveykeh@gmail.com so we can work together in choosing the right leader for our country who will run a government that will genuinely work towards promoting the common good.
Harvey Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government, and is also the Executive Director of AHON Foundation, a non-profit organization that builds public elementary school libraries all over the Philippines. Harvey also teaches Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University-Loyola Schools.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:21 am
We are ready, we have now a candidate just in case.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Even in my high school and college days, I have always volunteered to help educate the less fortunate children in our slum areas. Thus, I agree with anseljr’s comments to rehabilitate/build good public schools using the money/contribution sent by OFWs and by Pinoys who are now residents/citizens of another country. Let’s not waste the donation by using it to finance a political dream because CORRUPTION is already in the blood of these politicians who make themselves richer but make the poor even poorer. You have a very good intention Mr. Que but the only peron I know who can change the lives of Filipinos and restore Philippine image had passed away - Mr. Raul Roco. It’ll be a better idea if we donate the $$$ to some worthy NGOs who can manage with transparency, the building of modern schools, all the way to the most remote cities/towns of the country, so that our youth can compete globally in their adult life, and of course, administer extensive training to teachers who need higher salaries too. We can also use the money to provide medical care to people who can’t afford (in the squatter & provinces.) I know a lot of our doctors there who volunteer & provide services for free. God has given us so many resources, but the leaders opted not to use them for the good of the people but for themselves & their families only.
Good luck Mr. Harvey Que, we are with you. God bless us, God bless the Philipines!
August 8th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Hindi niyo kasi binoto ang Kapatiran candidates. Handa dapat natin bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga kababayan nating handang maglingkod. Hindi na lang basta puro mga trapo.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Thank you very much to all those who responded to this appeal! Please email me at harveykeh@gmail.com if you want to join us in helping elect a President who is not beholden to the interests of a few people.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:57 am
This is a feasible idea that has potential to make needed changes for our country. We are currently ruled by the so called elites, moneyed and powerful who would like to maintain status qou because this is the system which perpetuates them or their relatives and friends to power. When in power their main aim is to protect their own interests and to recoup their expenses -of course with a big big profit via corruption. The projects are then subtandard or not even the one that is needed. The main priority is how much they could milk out from that project. The people I am sure know that but can’t do anything individually as he is poor and has no power.
I believe that the OCW like me should and could become the catalyst for change in our beloved country. We have the numbers and some money to spare. What is 5 USD to us when it could mean a chance for a better Philippines where we could finally go home and enjoy our retirement? But we need to act as a whole group. We need to have a party with a platform to change our political system and many other systems in our government.I am sure many of us who are living or working in different countries of the world could compare our country and learn where the defects in our systems are. I think that no matter who you put in a defective system the outcome will be defective. We probably had the brightest and the dumbest President of our country but it didn’t make much difference. Our country continued to deteriorate and had progressively over the years. Time and again it has been proven that many Filipinos behave and excel well in foreign countries with the right environment or systems. What we need are proper systems that we need to identify and adopt as a platform of government of our party. And since its the congress and senate which makes and changes laws/systems, there is a need that we finance the campaign ( not the traditional politician way please) and elect the majority to these legislative bodies who adopt and support our platforms. People who will not be beholden to a few with vested personal interest but beholden to our party whose main goal is a better Philippines. If there is enough contribution, we can then also consider supporting our own Presidential candidate. I am sure there are many skeptics and suspicious amongst us but who would’nt be? We have heard so much of scams thru the internet and could this be another one? No wonder only a few so far have shown interest-at least based on the number of comments submitted to date. But as I have mentioned earlier, what is five USD or even ten for an OCW in exchange for a chance for change in our country.
Lastly, I must commend Harvey for his good ideas and the way he is trying to convey and gain our support. But Harvey, I think you need to give more details on who you are (are you or your group the people we can trust?) and how this will work. I also suggest that you should think of better ways to propagate your ideas. I must admit that I have never read blogs in the newspapers in the past and it was just accidental that I clicked on your blog today. Is there a way how you can make your blog more eyecatching or interesting so that more OCW will read it?