Harder times ahead

There is a global economic crisis. And the saying is that when developed nations like the United States and Japan catch a cold, we get double pneumonia. On top of that we have a peace and order problem. The terrorist situation in Basilan has not improved even after Balikatan. We are expecting El Niño to trigger a drought that will affect our rice production. Now it seems as if we should also expect some problems from both houses of Congress.

The government cannot have the support of the people unless it has credibility and the only way to attain credibility is through transparency. That is what all past administrations lacked, from President Cory Aquino to deposed-President Estrada. People are questioning many of the past projects of, let us say, former President Fidel V. Ramos,. Erap is facing a plunder charge.

President Diosdado Macapagal proclaimed May 28 as National Flag Day. He chose May 28 as the date for the celebration because it was on that day way back in 1898 that Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo first unfurled the flag in battle. It antedated his official proclamation of our national flag on June 12, 1898 by 16 days. So Flag Day is supposed to be celebrated by a general public display of the Philippine flag from May 28 to June 12. But there is a minimum display of the flag. We just hope that this coming June 12 will be a truly patriotic celebration. It was also President Diosdado Macapagal who changed our Independence Day celebration from July 4 to June 12.

Times are hard and we must brace ourselves for harder times to come. For the generation that went through the experience of liberation, this is not at all difficult. Manila was the second most-destroyed city in the world, next only to Warsaw, and the Philippines was the sixth most ravaged country at the end of the World War II. Yet, look at the country today. Manila is now a Metropolitan City!

There is no question in our mind that the Filipinos can overcome the great problems that confront our nation today. How many nations can brag of a peaceful People’s Power Revolution? What really worries us is the present crisis in leadership. There is only one form of leadership – by example.

Our national leaders seem to be obsessed with slogans. What we need is a sound program for economic progress that the people can rally behind. Every politician says that he is for the poor. The reason is obvious. The poor represent the great majority of voters. What they need is, first, education, second, job opportunities. The reason why we have so many overseas workers abroad is the fact that there are no jobs available here. Even our teachers have to go to Hong Kong and accept employment as housemaids because there is no place for them in their own country.

We can overcome our problems. But each person must do his part. If we are not a part of the solution, then, we are part of the problem.