Culture now a weapon against social malaise

We must commend President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for organizing a cultural program that confronts the biggest problems facing our nation. When we say biggest problems, we mean graft, corruption, poverty, pollution and violence. Culture and the arts have always played a major role in the development of our nation. Rizal, for example, fought for our freedom from Spain by writing two novels. Art now should be used to expose the true conditions of the country and give the solution to our present problems.

We have seen how television has projected Catholicism by showing the late Pope’s contribution to world affairs. We, too, can maximize the use of television for nation-building. Right now, sad to say, most of the programs are about sex and violence. It could be about the nation’s ills and the people’s answers to these problems.

The blackboard was a major contribution to education. Radio and TV have been even bigger contributions. Unfortunately, neither is being utilized for education. Both mediums are used to project sex and violence. Even our ads do not project a good image of the Filipino. Most ads show Filipinos in a poor light. What a way of trying to sell a product – downgrading the very people they are trying to sell their products to.

We hope that President Macapagal-Arroyo would stage her program by calling the owners of tri-media – the press, radio and television – to adopt a new policy for all their programs. They should deal with the real problems of the nation and what each and every Filipino can contribute to their solutions.

One of our biggest problems in Metro Manila are the street children. They are the Holy Innocents of our time. Definitely, we can provide homes for them so that they will grow in a way they will be able to contribute to the progress of their country. We have yet to see a good dramatic program on our street children on TV.

Right in Manila and Makati, we also have the problem of families squatting along the sides of railroad tracks. Surely, something can be done to evacuate them to decent homes in areas where they can find suitable employment.

We should think of all people as extensions of our families. The Tagalogs have a term for it – Kapamilya.

Right now, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts along with other agencies are organizing a Cultural Summit on the Power of Arts and Media in Breaking the Cycle of Corruption and Poverty. We hope and pray that they succeed in their endeavor to upgrade society.