Pork: Unhealthy for the country’s diet

“Though I’m asking only for  a little amount to start a small business, they are not giving me any attention,”this was the cry of Dante Macarubo, a humble taho vendor, who admits his current state of poverty. P20 billion of the national budget have been pocketed by senators and congressmen. They are getting our taxesbut they have not been helping us,” he adds.

This poor taho vendor is not alone. In fact, both rich and poor Filipino taxpayers are affected by the pork barrel. The Filipinos are bereft of quality education, sufficient healthcare services, financial assistance, better roads and infrastructure, and innovative technology. We are deprived of progress. WHILE? However, at the same time these government officials live such lavish lifestyles, drowning themselves in seas of Gucci, Prada, and filthy money. Little did we know that these luxuries were bought using the money from our own pockets.

Why does the Filipino have to struggle tirelessly against poverty and corruption? The Filipino could be an honest worker. Day in and day out, he works hard to support his family and willingly (or unwillingly) gives up part of his sacrifice to the government through taxes. Perhaps, he believes the government would use the money to build more classrooms, improve the roads, provide programs to help the poor, among others. Besides indirectly being of service to his countrymen, he could probably also gain something from the government’s projects. However, what is reality? His money does not benefit his countrymen but the very people whom he elected and trusted to lead the Philippines towards progression. His leaders grab the money like it’s theirs and attend to satisfying their craving for more luxuries, while neglecting the cries of the poor suffering like Dante Macarubo, who is craving for just a bit more money to sustain his family for another month. Why is it so difficult for the senators and congressmen to give, but it is so easy for them to take? Are they not ashamed of stealing from people who have next to nothing?         

As the youth, we are one with the rest of Filipinos in the nation protesting with such revulsion and fury against the pork barrel scam. How appalled were we to find out that 30% of our parents’ earnings are used to pay for an egocentric man’s sports car or new house.

Even with numerous advertisements of projects headed by our leaders, we notice how these projects not only fail to fully reflect the allocated money provided for these programs, but also are badly implemented. This makes us question their budget allocation and leaves us wondering where the money really is going. We, students, speak for the youth. Neither are we taxpayers nor of legal age, but we are still greatly affected and disgusted by this scam. Leaders like these are incredibly intolerable, and because of them, we fear for the future of our nation. Aside from causing more chaos among the Filipino people, the people in authority leave a distorted example of what it truly means to be a leader, holding the nation in their hands.

If we continue to let the pork in our Filipino diet, what will become of us, the Filipino youth? The officials will fatten themselves through our taxes and feed themselves by consuming all our cash, to satisfy their personal wants. In fact, they will be disgustingly corpulent that our country’s economic health will deteriorate. As the youth and concerned citizens of this country, we refuse to be subjected into this kind of future. This is not just a matter of money. It is a question of going against what is immoral and unjust, living on the Filipino spirit and setting the ideals for the leaders and citizens of the Philippines of tomorrow. We, the future leaders, will not lose hope. — NICOLA ARCENAS, MONINA ELAZEGUI, FRANKY GUERRERO, NICA JAUCIAN, and KAMILLE TAPIA, PAREF Woodrose School