CEBU, Philippines - Filipinos are known for always seeing the brighter side of the picture.
“We are a happy people; with a ready smile and friendly nod to everyone we meet. We are optimistic by nature,” reads a primer provided by the Centrist Democratic Movement Federation Philippines during the “Reforming the Philippine Political System” lecture forum at the University of San Carlos-Main Campus last November 29, 2011.
Filipinos take time to help when we see that majority of our fellow Filipinos live in poverty. “This is evident in our enduring Filipino value, bayanihan,” it added.
Filipinos express outrage and denounce ignominious acts because we are a freedom-loving nation. “When we see the government failing our expectations with every reported case of graft and corruption, we do not sit idly by and let it pass.”
However, despite our optimism, the following truths remain: First, our democratic system is not functioning as it should. Second, substantial parts of our population do not understand the rule of law and participative democratic procedures because of an environment of patronage, corruption, social injustice, and, at some instances, even violence. Third, our economy is controlled largely by monopolies and the ruling class. Fourth, our government is too preoccupied with personality politics that it has fallen short in providing services to its citizens.
Repeats in history fail generations, repeatedly!
Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, one of the resource speakers, pointed out that “issues today are just repetitions of past news, with little modifications, but nevertheless repetitions.”
A century-old issue, for example, is the lack of representation in the legislative body. “Remember that the first revolution was sparked by the lack of Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortez – an anti-democratic process that encouraged Rizal to write acerbic notes against this discrimination,” Puno began. “Today, the lack of democratic representation is significant in various sectors of society. There is a continuing underrepresentation of Muslims in the Senate and even in our Supreme Court. This unequal treatment serves as the lynchpin in the formation of secessionist movements. Unless given solution, the cost to our resources and lives lost are beyond valuation.”
The second recurrent issue is electoral fraud, citing the use of violence and force. “Even the choosing of our first leader became catastrophic because it sent Bonifacio to his grave, being the first Filipino victim of electoral sabotage,” Puno stressed. “Prostitution of the electoral process is still news today.”
Other issues include complaints on overwhelming power given to the President, thereby ending up in abuses in the exercise of executive powers; conflict between the legislative and executive departments wherein the Chief Executive works in friction with his Cabinet, and that some legislators become hindrance to reform programs; lack of real independence of the judiciary; and that local government units can’t progress because of too much control of the central government.
“First, we labeled this control as Imperialism of Madrid. Then, we called it Imperialism of Washington. Now, it’s Imperialism of Manila. LGUs are given scant powers. They have no control of their natural resources. Governors and mayors still create a beeline to the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) ready with their begging bowls for the release of their IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment),” Puno added.
“As early as the Spanish time, Philippine society is sharply divided between the rich and the poor. Illustrados drank champagne, sent their children to Europe for education, collaborated with the colonizers. But even when colonizers had fallen out, division continues with Filipino oligarchs becoming stronger. Today, 100 families drive the future of 92 million Filipinos; 100 wealthy families who carve control of our economy,” he further pointed out.
According to Puno, the Philippines is a “black eye to democracy” with the degradation of democratic processes under present structure of government. “Let me reiterate the call of constitutionalist Vicente Cinco, then, to review structure of our Constitution which was patterned after the US. It could have been suited to our national character, cultural environment, social customs and political ideas. A US-patterned constitution is proof that we have never become Americans in our life and in our spirit.”
In concluding, he said that “after a century, it is ridiculous to argue, that though we are already familiar with our failures, we continue to live with it.” (FREEMAN)