This nation will forever be miserable unless...

Can your teacher read, does your preacher pray, does your president have soul? – from the song Used to Be by Stevie Wonder and Charlene Duncan

What is happening to our country? It seems like we are stuck and can’t move forward to real progress and prosperity. From the Marcos times up to the present, it has been a slow, hard climb severely interrupted by coup d’etats, shocking corruption exposés, hilarious Senate hearings, and senseless killings. Add to that terrorist bombings, political mudslinging, currency devaluation, money laundering, and more.

I am starting to believe that Filipinos don’t like, trust, or even love themselves or their own. Otherwise, they would be prosperous like most of the surrounding countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. We have the intellectual capacity for success; we speak English, which is a great advantage. But sad to say, we are lagging far behind politically, economically, technologically.

We Know What’s Wrong, But...

The trouble with Filipinos is that we complain about the sorry state of things but don’t raise a finger to alleviate them, even if we had the power to. We know which things are wrong yet we don’t rectify them. We are generally lazy (of course, everybody blames the balmy tropical weather). There’s too much greed (kanya-kanya), partisan politics (siraan nang siraan!) and padrino/palakasan system impeding the smooth and efficient functioning of the government. Worst of all, we forget easily and pardon easily. Those who have in the past ransacked our national treasury or debased our dignity are still around living the champagne life.

Is it a hopeless pursuit or can we emancipate from the political quicksand we are caught in (Claro M. Recto did speak too soon – "a government ran like hell" by Filipinos!)? The future depends on us today. If we want a bright future for our children, let’s start the change right now.

Progress and prosperity won’t shine brightly over the Philippines unless we have or do these:

Strong political and economic will of the people. We need to create an intelligent and wise electorate. The quality of the people who end up in office depend on the voting population. We must educate our people to be able to see beyond the clever advertising campaigns and digitally retouched smiles. To be economically prosperous, our people have to badly want to be prosperous. Only a unified effort could get us out of our economic rut.

A dynamic, lovable leader whose relatives don’t meddle in government affairs. Most of all, like the song Used to Be says, we need a president with "soul." A president who speaks with kind, uplifting, loving words to his people, easing away all mental, physical, and even spiritual fears and concerns. A president who is a father, a mother, an elder, whose sole aim is the continuous bettering of his people through his wisdom and magnanimity of heart. Ideally, we need a president without a wife, a husband or relatives who just ruin the national picture.

True (or at least, reasonable and legal) separation of executive, judicial and legislative powers. One of the most beautiful features of democracy is that these three major sections of government provide check and balance to maintain their optimum working efficiency. In the Philippines, there is too much political interrelationship between these sections that "check and balance" is sacrificed.

People in the government who truly care. We don’t need people gossiping or doing their nails on the job. Or people out to make a killing and sap government resources dry from kickbacks and illegal deals. We need selfless people who find happiness in serving. Bloated egos and chronic greed are the true roots of all evil.

Kill the concept of utang na loob (debt of gratitude). This is the major cause of corruption in business and government. When a person is made to believe that he owes someone a favor for a past favor, he will feel obligated to repay. Pay back time indubitably means corruption. Gratitude is a virtue but not when it feels like blackmail.

Erase the lagay system from our national psyche. Lagay (bribery) has become a way of life and it corrupts absolutely. This stems from the typical Filipino desire to ease (that’s why the term padulas meaning grease or lubricant) things. Filipinos love short cuts, a trait that is closely related to another national flaw: the pwede na ‘yan (mediocre) mentality.

National discipline. The old Marcos adage still rings true: Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan (Discipline is needed for national progress).

Honesty. It is still the best policy. We must inculcate honesty among our citizens. To cover up one lie, you’ll need to make up more lies.

Full enforcement of the law. Transgressors of the law should be prosecuted to the full power of the law. We need a fast judicial system devoid of palakasan (influence) and lagay (bribery). The I Ching says, "Thus the kings of former times made firm the laws through clearly defined penalties." Supreme Court, are you even listening?

Education. This is very basic but very important. After all, everything starts in the mind. We must give ourselves, especially the Filipino youth, the best education we can get. Give scholarships to exceptional students even if they belong to rich families. (Scholarships should not only be for the poor!) Give recognition and incentives for scholastic excellence.

Social or community consciousness. We must realize that what is good for others is good for us, what can hurt others will inevitably hurt us, too. We are all in this socio-ecological environment together. Pick up trash even if it is not yours, follow traffic rules, pay taxes, etc. Be glad for others’ success. Don’t be a crab that envies, puts down, and pulls down other people.

A clear national vision or a unified national dream. Without vision, there is no direction. A nation is only as rich as the vision and plan of action designed by its forefathers. We must realize that we in this generation won’t be here forever. We must lay a solid foundation for our children’s future. Can you honestly rest in eternity knowing the future generations of Filipinos are suffering while the rest of the world lives in great abundance and prosperity?

An Impossible Dream?

Despite all the seeming destruction and negativism in the Philippine political and economic scene today, I would like to conclude with another quote from Stevie Wonder’s Used to Be but with a little twist in the ending line:

But I believe that love can save tomorrow. Believe the truth can set us free. Someone tried to tell us but we nailed Him to the cross. I hope things won’t stay the way they used to be.

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