I AM no fan of GMA. I abhor what’s going on in Philippine government and politics now, but I choose to see things from a higher plane.
I often wonder, if GMA is so evil and corrupt, why is GDP growth the highest in 31 years? Why is inflation in the low 2 percent? Why is the peso at P40.50 [to the dollar]? The problem with many is they think corruption can go away overnight. Why don’t we try to place ourselves in Malacañang and imagine funding a P6-billion presidential campaign, a P200-million-per-senator campaign, P20 million per congressional bet, local, etc., etc. from our own pockets?
We drag GMA out of Malacañang and you think all our problems are over. Haven’t you considered the biggest potential winners in such a scenario are the rightist military or the extreme left? Sadly, we may be playing to the tune of rightist and leftist power grabbers… and unknowingly leading the nation to the way of Burma!
Unfortunately, GMA is about the best this rotten political system can produce. She is a small part of the problem. Someone said the opposition can’t seem to gain any headway because nobody is above the fray. Of course no politician is above the fray. They are all part of this extremely flawed political system. To fix the system, we must first work long and hard to attain an economy that will support a principled political system. The only way there is sustained economic growth. Somewhere along [the way], we change the electoral system so one does not have to steal or sacrifice his/her principles to get elected and do his/her mandate.
After a sustained 10-year growth, for example, government may be able to partially reimburse election expenses. It will be able to pay government employees wages that afford basic necessities and more dignified lives. By then, ordinary Filipinos can afford to donate part of their growing disposable incomes to help elect competent and principled leaders.
My call to media and so-called moralists: Think!
– Gerry Ditching, Makati City, Philippines (via e-mail)
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April 7th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
What a shame! A beautiful country, a beautiful people… we owe it to God to do better than this. Yes, we pride ourselves to be the only Christian nation in Asia, but we are “Catholics” in name only. We do not really practice what we teach. Start with the 10 commandments for example, especially the 7th? Yes, Spain itself disobeyed this and pillaged our country…What an hypocritical model! Is it our religion our downfall? Why did the Japanese who were non-Catholics do the same thing to our country? Do we blame the Americans then? Marcos? Aquino? Estrada? Whoevers in between? and now Arroyo? Do we keep on blaming others?
I think we have to look inside ourselves. Are we spiritually inspired enough to rise over our past; to be better than our parents and our grandparents? To actually practice whatever good our religion teaches; to actually be the “light” amongst our neighboring countries? Is this the moment? Is this finally the time?
We Filipinos have a high tolerance for pain. That’s why our biggest export is compassion (nursing). This is intangible and innert in us. Maybe it is a lucky product of our Catholic religion - we actually practice the first four commandments? The rest of the world seems to be lacking in this now (compassion). Our human nature fits the high demand. We go away to another country, hoping for better income, but we always keep that sweet spot in our hearts of our beautiful motherland! Hope she will still be there…
Well I tell my kids, it’s a beautiful place, but just a rotten government. It’s a mismanaged paradise… until our tolerance breaks?
April 7th, 2008 at 11:04 am
to maria makiling.. tnx for replying. sana wg ntin personlin ang ating conversations. plitan lng tyo ng opinion, ok? tnx.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
our military war freaks? how bout un mga NPA n cnusunog un mga trucks or buses 7 even binibigyan ng death threats un mga negosyanteng ayaw magbigay s knila ng revolutionary tax? d b inaambush din nila un mga military? minamasaker din nila un mga civilians n napgkamalan nilang mga informers.. dpt binibigyan pansin din ang mga iyan. cno cno b un mga organizers ng mga rallies? d b mga politikong mka oposisyon? kya nga d ako naniniwala s mga accusations nyo kc nga walang basehan puro allegations lng. expected ko nang mdming crisis n ddting s ating bansa. mdmi png mga strategy n ggwin ang oposisyon para idiscredit ang present gov’t for their own interest para s 2010 presidential election.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:12 am
ronald, you should answer your own questions…may alston report na re political killings involving military and police abuses…
hearsays? dami evidence coa report re anomalies, irregularities mga contracts na pinapasok govt pero they keep the docs themselves para maduktor at baka ma tamper pa wherein this govt is notorious…re leftist hindi na malakas ang kilusan ng maka kaliwa for any arm struggle they already join the political arena to fight for their ideologies…terrorists and bandits na ang main enemy na ng afp and pnp
and most human rights abuses ay kagagawan ng military kasi war-freak nga si esperon di ba?
nag-iingay sa pulitika? oo meron, may mga ambisyosong oposisyon pero most of those people who are on the streets ay hindi pulitiko, they are same as you…ordinary people who wants to know the real situation of this country and struggling to know the real truth of those anomalies, scandals, controversies and whitewash and etc. that continues to bother this illegitimate regime of gma.
may hangganan din ang lahat..mga panloloko, pagtatakip at pagtatago ng katotohanan, pangaabuso sa karapatan ng mas nakakaraming pilipino,patuloy na pagnanakaw at pagdarambong…
huag kang magbulag bulagan..di mo ba pansin battlecry ni gma etal “show your evidence” “put it in the proper forum”…eh dami na nga pero lahat ng paraan ay ginagawa nila mapagtakpan lang ang mga pagkakamali at kung sakali mang dumating sa korte..masyadong bias ang desisyon pabor sa political appointees.
at pag tama naman ang masigasig mong pagtatanggol na gma til 2010 ako mismo hahanap sau to congatulate and shake hand with you for your strong conviction and loyal support…sana nga mali ako sa aking mga pananaw at paniniwala at sa takdang panahon makikita mo at mararamdaman ang paparating na krisis bunga ng pamumuno ni gma.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Maria Makiling, makiling ka nga. Iyong kinikilingan ang mga oposisyon na gustong magpabagsak sa administrasyon.
Tama ka, dapat na tumayo ang mga nabubulagan at mangapa. Ang mga malilinaw ang mata, di na kailangan pang tumayo.
Kaya kapansin-pansin kung sino ang mga nakatayo at nag-iingay, sila ang di nakakakita ng liwanag dahil ayaw nilang idilat ang kanilang mga mata. Teynga ang kanilang ginagamit, hindi mata at isip.
Huwag mong sabihin sa akin na ang mga nag-iingay ay dahil sa sa kahirapan, harassment at oppression. Idilat mong mabuti ang iyong mga mata at bilangin kung sino ang mas nakakarami sa mga nag-iingay. Karamihan dyan ay publisidad lang ang hanap, ang iba ay nabayaran, lat ang natitira ay napadaan lang at nagmamasid lang.