WITH the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States, change has finally arrived in America. More than America, the Philippines does not only need change, the country is desperate for it. Since the birth of the nation, the trajectory of the Philippines is downward and its capacity for self destruction is boundless.

For each Filipino today, the most urgent question of the time is, when will change ever come to the Philippines? Obama was propelled to the presidency by hope, and his vision for a new kind of America was a shot of inspiration in a time it badly needs new direction. Is there hope for the Philippines?

Looking at the current social, economic and political landscape of the Philippines, it is still deep into midnight and it is uncertain if ever the dawn of a new day will ever come to the country. Are Filipinos forever condemned to a hopeless, miserable and desperate kind of existence?

It is useless for Filipinos to be awed by what happened in America recently if we continue to ignore the reality in the country. Now is the ripe time to effect genuine and real change in the country. The present generation cannot consign the future generation to a wretched life that we currently have.

Thieves have always ruled the Philippines since the time Filipinos governed the nation. From generation to generation, the looting of national coffers has gone for the worst. Stealing on large scale and in shameless manner has become the favorite pastime of almost all Filipino politicians. They ran for public office to enrich themselves by raiding the national treasury. Self service and not public service is their prime motive. Filipinos thought the much despised Marcos dictatorship was the apex of national kleptomania but now this is already uncertain.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) is determined to oust and replace the dictator Ferdinand Marcos as the most corrupt leader of the Philippines and the biggest thief in the world as entered in the Guinness Book of World Record. In fact, current developments indicate the present administration had already succeeded in exceeding the greed of the Marcos regime.

Under the leadership of PGMA, Philippines replaced Indonesia as the most corrupt country in Southeast Asia. The ranking of the Philippines has been steadily going down in global corruption index and it is already a member of the elite club of select countries considered as the most corrupt in the world.

The current national preoccupation on Joc-joc Bolante once again reminds Filipinos of how moral bankruptcy and the venom of corruption had poisoned national life. While the statement, “What else new?” is the usual reaction to the fertilizer scandal involving Php 728 million used to steal the 2004 presidential election, should Filipinos resign themselves to this tragic fate?

It may be convenient to lay all the blame to politicians and national leaders but the Filipino people in general cannot escape responsibility for the sad state of the nation. Hoodlums, hustlers, crooks, criminals and all sort of shady and dark creatures would not be able to capture top positions in national leadership of the country if the people did not vote for them – either by ignorance, irresponsibility or outright selling of suffrage.

True, this country is desperate for change but it is a change that must first start with the people themselves. PGMA and her gang are lording over the country because Filipinos allowed them. It takes two to tango. If this cabal of robbers holding the levers of power is on rampage – blatantly abusing power, mindlessly sucking national funds and destroying the moral fiber of society, the Filipino people are to blame. By indifference, apathy or even outright approval, this madness had this country firmly under grip.

Desperation for change must not remain at the level of emotion only. Concrete steps must be done to remove the present evil holding this country hostage. If the scale of corruption under the present dispensation makes the vast majority of Filipinos puke, this feeling must be translated into action. Let not desperation immobilize Filipinos. On the contrary, desperation should serve as a powerful motivation to sweep away the filth of corruption enveloping the land.

The American people, groaning under Bush Jr.’s misrule used their desperation to effect change in their country. Filipinos can use the dark situation of the nation in similar way. While there is no figure like Obama in the horizon, Filipinos should not wait for a messiah to arise and deliver the country from a horrible leadership. Through collective action, Filipinos can defeat the evil that has been stalking the land for almost ten years.

There is still hope for the Philippines as long as the Filipino people are willing and determined to effect change. The answers to the disturbing questions raised earlier lies within the people themselves.

One Response to “Desperate for change”

• 1
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  November 18th, 2008 01:41

  Too bad, the King of Iloilo, who is the arm of the law, rules by deception and fear, that you are doing seditious act when you voice your right to express your views for government change. Change works here in the States, and it will surely empower you when you raise you collective voice. I encourage every Filipinos to read this book.

  Where are you going, Philippines?
  Philstar.com - Saturday, November 8Judge Jose T. Apolo has written a beautiful little book entitled: Quo Vadis, Philippines? - “Where are you going, Philippines?”
  It is an effort to present solutions to our great national problems of peace, justice and poverty. . . . to make this country one family, one undivided nation, one in mind and in heart. His sub-title is: “A Call to Love through Sacrifice.”
  It is a plea for People Power, within the ambit of law . . . . recognizing that the change must come from the ground up, and not from the top down. . . . from a deep conviction in the minds and hearts of the rank and file of our people. . . . from a willingness to reach out to one another… from a willingness to share what we have with those in need. . . . from united action.

  On the front cover he writes:

  “Our country is like a fruit bearing tree crowned with leaves of beauty - but within her trunk live the tree killing anays of graft and corruption, dishonesty, dirty partisan politics, insatiable greed, violence, crab mentality, Godlessness, and the culture of death.”
  The book is a service to the nation, for at least these four reasons:
  1. It tackles the principal problems of our country. . . .At least it will get the reader thinking about what he can do, personally, to help solving them.
  2. It is not only honestly critical, facing reality. . . it proposes practical solutions.
  3. Judge Apolo is ideally prepared for this. . . . in his experience as a judge he has gained intimate knowledge of how these national problems affect the common man.
  4. It is a voice for the voiceless. . . . it expresses the quiet thoughts of many Filipinos who have no way of communicating their ideas to the rest of the country.

  The book Quo Vadis: Philippines might not be able to achieve any substantial national change, because it will not have that much circulation. But it could affect journalists, TV and radio producers, politicians, and government officials in high places.
  Of course it is discussing common problems that everyone knows. . . going over ground that has been presented a thousand times. . . but it would contribute strongly to the tidal wave of discontent that is sweeping the nation.
  The deep resentment of our common people for the ghastly greed of those in power is real! It is a strong undercurrent, like a surging sea, about to envelope the offenders. The national change of heart must include those who have, as well as those who have not.
  The hope of Judge Apolo is that - by the grace of God - the universal change will come spontaneously, like the two million people on Edsa in 1986, stopping the tanks with their hands, without one drop of blood.
  If we could rise as one to stop the evil of dictatorship and to restore freedom. . . . we can also rise as one to stop the evil of greed and to restore love.
  The national virtue of the Filipinos is hospitality. But it is more than that. It is generosity . . . a willingness to share whatever we have, even with strangers. . . . It is a willingable ness to give . . . . It is love. All the world wonders at this - the kindness of the Filipino.
  If we turn that beautiful virtue into compassion for each other. . . into sharing with each other. . . . into love for each other. . . . that is the national change that would solve all our terrible problems, without violence, without revolution, without shedding one drop of blood. We would stop greed the way we stopped the tanks.
  At least it is a dream . . . . And everything that changes the world begins with a dream in the heart of a man.
  “Quo Vadis: Philippines” will be available at all National Bookstore Outlets in Metro Manila, and in their provincial outlets in the later part of November.
  Also at the publisher’s office: 4368 Rosemallow Road, Sun Valley, Parañaque City; telefax: (632) 8231330.
  It is soft bound, 138 pages, P250

  And it is worth reading!

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