EDITORIAL — Nepo babies and netizens

Aside from the contractors, suppliers, and Department of Public Works and Highways officials who have benefitted from alleged corruption in the building of flood-control projects, the public has also turned its ire on another group of people.

Yes, we are talking about the so-called “nepo babies”, a term borrowed from Hollywood and used now to refer to the children of those who allegedly enriched themselves from overpriced and sub-standard flood-control projects.

There are several of them online who flaunt their wealth, regularly posting pictures of themselves in foreign destinations and with clothing and items too expensive for the minimum-wage earner to acquire.

As predicted, netizens went up in arms, shaming them for their ostentatious displays of wealth and excess when so many Filipinos cannot even afford the basic necessities.

There are things to be learned from this development. On the side of the so-called nepo babies, they must learn that pride will have its price.

Sure, some people say “flaunt it if you have it”, but this shouldn’t be done in a country where many people can barely afford to put food on the table, or at a time when people are questioning how the hard-earned money they pay to the government is being used.

What they are doing can be misconstrued as rubbing it in the faces of poorer people how they can never be like them.

On the side of those who shamed nepo babies, what exactly did they have to do with cornering contracts or buildings sub-standard flood control projects? Were they directly responsible? Maybe some netizens are just plain jealous they have never been to Paris, flew business class, bought a bag worth more than a car, or paid for a meal more than half a million pesos.

Because it can also be that some of these alleged nepo babies actually have their own sources of income and don’t depend on their parents.

One the one hand, no one like a braggart. Sure, we want to attain the level of security they have in life. But we don’t like them and wish for them to eat humble pie.

One the other hand, it’s not a sin to be rich. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labor --as long as it was honest and clean labor.