The CBCP challenge to PNoy

Since it’s nearly the half of June and therefore it is officially the 3rd year of the Aquino presidency, no less than the leaders of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) gave PNoy a failing grade for he has failed miserably in his promise to curb poverty. His campaign slogan “Walang mahirap kung walang corrupt” is a monumental failure for corruption is still very much around and poverty under his watch has worsened even if the Philippine economy is on an all-time high.

But hey, didn’t we warn you about PNoy who was a non-performer in Congress and in the Senate? No doubt many top business leaders are reaping the benefits from the current state of the Philippine economy, which grew better than most countries. But as everyone is asking, why is this great economic blessing benefiting the poor?

Our banking system was strengthened and protected because of the 1987 Asian Financial Crisis so that a decade later, when most of the economies of the world figured in a financial disaster, the Philippines was spared from this. It is for this reason why the CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action (NSSA) Chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo and CBCP President Bishop Jose Palma is asking Pres. Aquino what really is the true state of the Philippine economy?

I know enough that Bishop Jose Palma is a very patient man, who is rather cautious and acts only when he believes he already has the right information about certain issues. But this time, Bishop Palma challenged the President to tell us the truth about the economy rather than just mere trumpeting our 7.8 Gross Domestic Product. Indeed a great economy is nothing to crow about when more than half the people live in dire poverty! Yes, the rich are getting richer, while the poor remains the same.

Bishop Palma pointed out, “Now, the people are hungry for the truth. What is really the truth? Up to what extent is the so-called development?” The CBCP President also warned Pres. Aquino that any secret that his administration is hiding would always come out in the open. Clearly he was referring to the recently conducted May 2013 elections where there are more questions that remain unanswered by the Comelec like the 60%-30%-10%. Of this, Bishop Palma said, “There are still a lot of questions in the recent election. It is very crucial, how do we address the anomalies?” Let’s wait for the response from Pres. Aquino on the CBCP’s challenge.

*  *  *

It’s the 115th celebration of Philippine Independence and another occasion for me to remind the Filipino youth that the people in my generation always celebrated Independence Day on July 4, 1946, so in effect we should only be 67 years old as an independent and sovereign nation. Remember that when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo unfurled the Philippine flag in the balcony of his ancestral home in Kawit, Cavite, he wasn’t committing any crime because of that dictum that every house is a man’s castle and therefore he can display anything inside his property. This act of supposedly declaring independence from Spain did not result in any recognition from any foreign nation.

On the other hand, when the United States of America granted us our independence, the United Nations (UN) and all its member nations recognized Philippine sovereignty. Which Independence Day should we all e celebrating? Again, this is the problem with us Filipinos… we allow our politicians to change our history. Honestly, I’m getting sick and tired of writing this piece year, after year, after year. But then someone has to write the truth about Philippine Independence.

Mind you, one can say that Philippine Independence actually began during the Battle of Mactan when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magallanes, in the employ of the Spanish Crown, claimed these islands for the King of Spain. But Chieftain Lapu-Lapu, a fellow fromMactan, refused and fought that historic battle and killed the foreigner and they all left to make world history by being the first people to have circumnavigated the world.

But then, there are Filipinos here who insist that Lapu-Lapu was not a Filipino hero because the Philippines was not yet a nation at that time. This is why when Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon, who was then Tourism Secretary, set up a huge statue of Lapu-Lapu at the Agrifina Circle in Rizal Park, there was a strong opposition to place the statue of Lapu-Lapu on what certain nationalists insist was “hallowed ground.”

As a Cebuano journalist, I’m proud to say that I fought this battle through our columns here and in The Philippine Star and in the end, we won the day… the statue of Lapu-Lapu stands firm today because we believe that he has his place not just in our history, but in the hearts of Cebuanos. But did Cebuanos even vote for former Sen. Richard Gordon?

*  *  *

Email: [email protected]