| Home| Personal BLog| Compositions| Health Avenue| Places| UnEditedMe| Philippines| Monk|

Monday, March 10, 2008

The Unending Question: Who is to Blame?

As a student in the country’s subsidized university few years back, I was listening to an fm radio while I was doing my accounting worksheet assignment/homework. The dj at that moment have an opinion – related program where there is an issue at hand and listeners can share what they think about. That particular time, the question was something like the responsibility of politicians in our country, the Philippines.

As a strongly opinionated person, I immediately joined and got on air with my views. The same view I had then and now, which if I can count, it was about 5 years back! Is it really the responsibility of politicians? With the fact that they are called “POLITICIANS” and not “statesperson”, I don’t think there is a responsibility that they carry with their position. Don’t get me wrong on this, you nee to continue reading!

Who is to blame? Why is the political situation of the Philippines is very lousy and dirty? I never blame any side. Nor I do not blame any side. Sounds absurd? It is! It’s a big paradox that you need to untangle of what I mean.

First, people in the Philippines about the corruption of officials in the government. But here, I don’t put all the blame to the officials. Why? Because Filipino people are corruptible as well. Who the official would corrupt if each and every Filipino stands for the right? If one in authority asks for Php100, take the bill and slap on that person’s face! We will see what happens. When one politician retires and that politician is poor and never stole the public money the Filipino people would say, “He is so stupid! Look at him, he is still poor when the others simply enriched themselves while in power. If others keep on stealing, why he did not do the same? Poor guy!” It is in the attitude already that we Filipinos are so used being corrupted that we would likely react this way. I don’t see a big percentage of Filipino people clapping their hands for the effort of that retired politician, especially now that he is poor. Whether we admit it or not, MONEY moves the Filipino people.

Second, I don’t blame the Filipino people for putting dirty officials in the power. The voting public don’t have any better choice anyway. Whoever they vote, the same results happen. People run in election for public office and public authority with a financial gain in mind. Whoever disagrees with this note is blind and deaf of what is the situation in the Philippines. SUHOL! That is the term! Nasusuhulan ang lahat, from a child to an old man. I don’t know why. In the rallies, I often see old people, who seems ignorant of everything around them, yet they hold placards saying something. I don’t even have any idea if they have taken a look what the writings in the placards say!

For sure lots of Filipinos need education. For most the word “corruption” only refers to government officials and to the government together with people in authority. But this is not true! This is absolutely a wrong belief! The moment you give money to your child for a perfect score in school that is corruption! That child will be get used to that system and now, see what’s the nation is all about…CORRUPTED! How many parents use this practice in the Philippines? Millions, I am sure! Who is to blame then?


We are angry and felt oppressed of the government officials and people in authority when it’s in the news that they did something against our belief. But 99% of those who became politicians themselves get “dirtied”. People only clamor when they have nothing in them, no money given to them, but all have mouth shut if they are shoved with money! Look at the clamoring MNLF before… all clamors, all long to be given a representative. They had their leader put in power, and when that leader was in power, what he has done to his people? Never! All have their hidden motives, self interest and own goals. No one really stands for the real cause! All in the goal is the possibility of having money, thus, others use the organizations and the people. Who is to blame? If you let yourself be used, you are to blame as well.

Now, who is to blame? Look at yourself in the mirror before you can examine others!

38 comments:

  1. gheeeh corruption its unendless
    i really dont know who's to blame here
    my mother told me that even in the time of the previous presidents corruption existed already but unfortunately evry time another president(im not blaming the presidents iam after their time in service and happenings during their admin.)corruption is getting to be bad to worst and still getting more than worst
    i wonder what will happend to the next generation of the filipino

    ReplyDelete
  2. u r a brilliant writer. have a great day. salamat sa bisita

    ReplyDelete
  3. the reason why corruption is rampant in the government is because the society itself is corrupt! guess, i have stated that already on one of my articles... the problem in the philippines is that everyone has his/her own personal interest...you want to change the president because you yourself wants also to be in the position. we hate corruption and any kind of irregularity in the gov't yet we are not making any moves to correct what should be corrected! we are loyal and faithful to the officials but not to the government!*sigh*

    we always blame the government in all that is happening in our state but we didn't even bother to ask ourselves "what have i contributed for the progress of my country?/society"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Corruption, I agree with blue and alje (or alle) that it has already been inculcated in the Philippine culture. the only way to wash it away or "to clean the Aegean stables" is to start the change in your own self. Generations and new one come and go... if we at this young age change and disallow corruptible practices and we start to instill it on every young's heart then it would be possible to clean the Aegean stables.
    The problem however is, will those corrupt now teach their young generation NOT TO CORRUPT? though absurd, my answer is in the negative. Their money, their source of living comes from a dirty money and since they're used to eating dirty money then change would be difficult for them.
    Who is to be blame? THE PARENTS OF THE CORRUPT ANS THE VOTERS WHO DOES NOT HAVE PRINCIPLES IN LIFE!

    how's your writing @ writers going on?

    ReplyDelete
  5. You have highlighted the problems. Hope all people are willing to change, start from each individual can gradually change the culture.
    Surely, with changed mindset, one day one of you will lead the country, he will lead the country with the good example.
    Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. POLITICIANs: yaay.. coruption is EVERYWHRE.. anywhere you go, we just can't get rid of it... That's the worst of being a politician.. not only one, but everyone.. can't we see it..? politicians are in the higher level of society... are they recieving a big salary...? not only them, but also goverment workers.. stereotyping...? i know NOT all, yet most are...

    FILIPINO citizens: com'n guyz.. do you know why our country seems so static...? because we lack discipline... all of us are thinking how we can get one step ahead of the person next to you... second, lack of education... especially in voting... arrgghhh.. third, rebels and oppositions.. can't we just support each other and help each other.. ang hirap nmn kasi minsan, tumulong kana, inapakan ka pah.. tsk tsk tsk....

    i dont know.. goverment issues are everywhere.. no matter how good or bad the leaders are, complaints are everwhere.. they should have spend thier time in something more resourceful than spitting their nonsense complaints..


    btw.. regarding my post in blue's.. hikhik.. im not talking about you.. i know u dont log-n in friendster coz i have my tracker... :D hahaiz.. i just can't understand why friendster blog dont allow anonymous comments.. and haloscan told me that they don't support Fs/typepad blog... hmn.. ill still try to make it work.. but for sure i cant make it work in every entry.. i need to look for compatible scripts to notify my readers about the commenting thing.. thankU btw... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I appreciate you for dropping by..

    ReplyDelete
  8. hi! bloghopping and checking for new posts. happy thursday!

    ReplyDelete
  9. hello just making a blog a visit have a great day btw im done with you link around the world tag

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Blue! You're always first to comment ah! Well, you are right, actully, meron na ding corruption even at the beginning of the world... just see how Adam and Eve got corrupted? It means it runs in the blood of humans... we are only trying to lessen it a little for the sake of our country and for our own sake as Filipinos too, sana!

    Blue said:
    I really dont know who's to blame here
    my mother told me that even in the time of the previous presidents corruption existed already but unfortunately evry time another president(im not blaming the presidents iam after their time in service and happenings during their admin.)corruption is getting to be bad to worst and still getting more than worst
    i wonder what will happend to the next generation of the filipino

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Blue! You're always first to comment ah! Well, you are right, actully, meron na ding corruption even at the beginning of the world... just see how Adam and Eve got corrupted? It means it runs in the blood of humans... we are only trying to lessen it a little for the sake of our country and for our own sake as Filipinos too, sana!

    Blue said:
    I really dont know who's to blame here
    my mother told me that even in the time of the previous presidents corruption existed already but unfortunately evry time another president(im not blaming the presidents iam after their time in service and happenings during their admin.)corruption is getting to be bad to worst and still getting more than worst
    i wonder what will happend to the next generation of the filipino

    ReplyDelete
  12. Binobola mo yata ako Mica! Hay naku! BTW, i am always in your page, but sometimes its very hard to post or use cbox when i am using a mobile phone to log..

    Noemi "Mica" Watson said...
    u r a brilliant writer. have a great day. salamat sa bisita

    ReplyDelete
  13. As I have said, yes. People are thinking crookedly actually. We make wrong opinions towards things... What is important in the Philippines is money... We can even see it how taxi drivers and the general public fool and treat tourists...If you can see and read it from reactions in the cosmo site, you will really see how the public is corrpt too..

    Alle said:
    the reason why corruption is rampant in the government is because the society itself is corrupt! guess,

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bingo! How can we change this existing system? People are dying for power with a BIG sign of PESOS in mind when they are in power and how they can get back to their enemies!

    The Meliorist said:
    The problem however is, will those corrupt now teach their young generation NOT TO CORRUPT? though absurd, my answer is in the negative. Their money, their source of living comes from a dirty money and since they're used to eating dirty money then change would be difficult for them.
    Who is to be blame? THE PARENTS OF THE CORRUPT ANS THE VOTERS WHO DOES NOT HAVE PRINCIPLES IN LIFE!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Actually, no one wants change if they have to start it in their own...or if they find change to be not in their favor! That is the very sad thing to consider, Coolingstar..

    Coolingstar said:
    You have highlighted the problems. Hope all people are willing to change, start from each individual can gradually change the culture.
    Surely, with changed mindset, one day one of you will lead the country, he will lead the country with the good example.
    Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I disagree with you here April...they are NOT receiving big salary...they are taking BIG KICKBACKS! Actually, the salary of Gloria is only around Php65,000... not so big... kaya ayan, daming scandals,.... but even we have small salaried officials, they are in great numbers! What are barangay officials doing? Actually nothing...and the SK? Someone told it is only SOurce of Korruption! Sigh..

    April said:
    POLITICIANs: yaay.. coruption is EVERYWHRE.. anywhere you go, we just can't get rid of it... That's the worst of being a politician.. not only one, but everyone.. can't we see it..? politicians are in the higher level of society... are they recieving a big salary...? not only them, but also goverment workers.. stereotyping...? i know NOT all, yet most are...

    ReplyDelete
  17. im sick and tired of polity talks... waaahh!

    ReplyDelete
  18. If you have thoroughly read islander, you would know that this post is not plain polity.

    ReplyDelete
  19. it's not actually salary, it is just an honorarium...

    i guess not all barangay and SK officials..."most" actually.. i would really disagree with that because i can see that the brgy officials in our brgy are really doing their duties and functions as public servants..but i would agree that not all of them are performing well... saka yong SK dito, maganda ang performance.. 2 SK chairmen na dito ang nbigyan ng award as the most outstanding in the province kasi kmi lang(the rest, ewan ko) ata yong only brgy. na merong "youth festival"(in RA 7160, it's called linggo ng kabataan, that should be held annually) held 5days every year and other programs intended for the youths like seminars and symposiums and etc...
    now the new SK chairman, my brother is kinda pressured kung papaano nya mapapantayan o hihigitan yong performance ng 2...kasi when it comes to the SK masyadong hot yong tao samin especially the youth.

    i have a friend din na SK chairman and maganda din ang performance nya. but sad to say, halos lahat talaga ng mga SK official eh walang ginagawa--totoo yan!

    the only thing i can't understand and cannot even rationalize eh kung bakit kailangan pa ng representative ng youth sa province and cities and held as an ex-officio member ng sangunians eh sobrang bata pa nila at mahihirapan silang makilebel sa mga matatanda and professionals and experts na with the fields--what i mean is during deliberations and argumentations in the session. i have seen a provincial session once and the SK federation president is not participating in the session--she's just texting!
    parang (actually)useless lang sila..and for the information of everybody 'yong kanilang honorium is tulad din ng mga board members(for the province) and councilors(for the city or town)... omigosh, ang laki kaya non para sa isang bata!

    di ko gid maintindihan...kasi if you would read the the local gov't code(RA7160), was not really stated there their specific duties and functions as ex-officio member of a province of municipality---just just don't know lang if my mga ratification na kasi old copy ang meron ako...and based on my observation, mas WALA silang gnagawa compared to the sk brgy.

    ReplyDelete
  20. (A reply to the preceding comment)...

    Wow! What a long discourse. But yes, you are really stating good points. Not all but I have to say almost 99 percent. Simply from observation. And in the case of SK, lucky are those youth who have responsible leaders and SKs who does uses the funds and the honorarium or allocations for the right purpose. Do you know why I said someone told “Source of Küraption”? We had a friend/classmate before who was the SK Federation president. During the election, she gave out around at least 11 mobile phones to all other SKs in the district giving her a landslide vote. Since there were only around 14 of them, the opponent had only two votes. We saw this corruption unfold before our own eyes as our friend/classmate told us how she had won. She gained at least Php 18,000 a month and she was crazy with every latest cell phone that comes out of the market! Well, just like what you have said, not all are good. Your purok/barangay is lucky to have this culture of very good SK’s. Actually, I can smell it how participative you are when it comes to youth activities and how you value and want the youth to be better…. But as we have said, this kind of situation is exceptional.

    Ah right, honorarium, as the code says, because they are “public servant” and servants does not really deserve that “salary”.. but whatever we may call it, they receive that amount. What I say about the barangay stuff, I have seen the LGU code of 1991 that barangay and its officials can actually make ordinances. And if indeed all barangay officials are reading, and knowledgeable, and know what their duties and responsibilities, since all places in the Philippines are within a barangay and population belong to each basic barangay, our country will be really better off. Only at the barangay level, we would have progress already…not have to climb up to mayor, congrssman, governor or any other higher officials. Of course aside from very big projects like bridges and infra structure of which the congressmen have more power when it comes to this.

    Moreover, it is not that bad if there are ex-offico SKs if they have been properly delegated of their responsibilities. Of course, at young age they need guidance. The bad thing is, and the sad reality, those who happen to be Fed Presidents are sons of “THIS”and daughters of “THAT”who are more often than not, are already in power. This is another dirty training that they do to the younger generation, through this SK. The activities which are supposed to be by youth have been joined in by thse who are already “Tra-Pos”, the traditional dirty politicians.

    Good luck to your Bro, buligan mo lang eh, para maka award kamo for the third time. Buwenas gid inyo nga barangay kay ara kamu nga naga guide.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi,

    Thank you for stating your opinion bravely about the political situation of our country.

    Former President Estrada was ousted due to Jose Velarde case. Now, people wanted Gloria Macapagal out of Malacanang Palace.

    Is there really someone who can lead the Philippines with clean conscience and without a plan to steal money from Filipinos? I don't there is. All of them especially the trapos are greedy of power, money & fame. They all want to be in the limelight.

    Everytime we drive out someone leading the Malacanang Palace, we're putting our country in shame.

    The political situation here in PI is hopeless. Poor Filipinos, poor country.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Aidisan! Thank you for reading and sharing your opinion. Sad to say, I am not pinpointing to politicians alone here. It is our culture and not everything depends on our progress. I have to say that the public itself has big participation why they suffer. If we have an iron law for this thievy people and if the public is strong enoug with good discipline, it is only the time when we can breath into the air of progress.

    AiDiSan said...
    Hi,

    Thank you for stating your opinion bravely about the political situation of our country.

    ReplyDelete
  23. hello ? gheeeh what should i call you now hehe
    just dropping b y to say have a great day

    ReplyDelete
  24. pahabol kung pwede pa... i agree to alle... SK are useless! if ill be sitting in congress, ill pass a bill to abolish it. sa amin wala akong makitang magandang ginawang SK. instead of having SK officials ill divert the budget to other purposes that will be useful to the youth. sa ngayon puro pasyal lang ginagawa nila besideshindi naman lahat ng youth eh member ng SAMAHAN NILA.

    some SK officials are sons and daughters of CORRUPT officials

    ano pa kayang pagbabago ang aasahan mo



    hey panalo ako sa fil blog of the week. salamat sa suporta

    hugs hugs hugs for you friend. sana magampanan ko ang intergenerational responsibility ko. sana...

    ReplyDelete
  25. hahaha..laba2 gid man gali, subong ko lang napansin.

    yah tama, the SK fed are usually sons or daughters of those people who have the SAY on the society..the SK fed here in our province is the niece of the governor...and according to my brother, they(the candidates) wasted more than hundred thousands of money. he(my brother) was actually, advised to run on the said election but he didn't take the advice because he knew already that he wont win because mas malakas yong influence ng kalaban at mayaman.

    may ara pud gali ko classmate last sem who was an SK fed in their municipality...she's so brilliant, i mean she's really an intelligent being but according to a classmate, who is living in their municipality too, she had done NOTHING...just enjoying her big honorarium-- she has 3(i guess) phones(the latest models) and and had already her own car... oh dba? and that's because of her being an SK fed...

    well, there's nothing wrong with that naman actually eh so long that they are performing well.

    ginabuligan ko man manghud ko ah..pero hambal ni papa hindi ko lang daw sya pag-unahan...i let ko daw anay xa nga i-ask ko to help him para indi nya pag-isipon nga gna-intrahan xa or gina dictahan xa para makatuon gid xa. naluoy gani ko sa iya kay everytime na my mga activities sa mga purok sponsor xa and permi na lang gnapangayuan, tambak ang mga solicitations sa balay...mahuya man xa mangindi maski wala xa kwarta... minsan ako gani gareklamo ah...he had no plan of running actually..he just granted the request of the youth who kept on going in the house for him to run as an SK chairman...haaaaaayyyyzzz...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Yes Gina. Congratulations! I am happy that you have won! Congratulations. I hope you win again this week.

    Hmmm... Abolition of SK is also good but if the rules for their functions would be more defined, and there is a level of examination for their performance before they can receive an honorarium, i think it's also an alternative. As Weng (Alle) have said, not all...but yes, more than 90 percent really are only waiting for the honorarium...

    Gina said:
    pahabol kung pwede pa... i agree to alle... SK are useless! if ill be sitting in congress, ill pass a bill to abolish it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. To Alle, I admire your father talaga. He guides you very well, no wonder you have this kind of outlook in life. There are very few lucky individuals like you and your sibling(s) to have a father like yours. I agree with your father, at least your brother will also be proud of his achievements. Here we are again with the bad culture, like the solicitation that you said, once someone helps, inaabuso na! Ang sama talaga ng ugali natin.....haaaay

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Blue and Mica. Ill be in your site soon. Thanks for the frequent visits. Take care, you two.

    ReplyDelete
  29. hey, hey, hey - nalilito na ako kugn ano talaga name mo...hehehe. but anyways, yup - sa lahat naman ata ng parte ng mundo - me "hole" somewhere when it comes to politics. Pero whatever happens, at kung sino man ang namumuno - pagdasal natin na hindi mapariwara. And i definitely agree with you na before we expect a change in government - we should start in our own backyard ika nga.

    ReplyDelete
  30. hie! droppin by before a new day breaks

    ReplyDelete
  31. hello po! hmmmm... musta na? hope your ok there.. hmmm... have a tag for you pala...do it na lang pag di ka na bz or pag my bago ka ng pc or naayos na yong pc mo! :)posted the award na din..sowee late ko na napost... nways, slamat! halong lang permente ah!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi there Please upgrade my url link to http://www.micawatson.com/

    ReplyDelete
  33. hi to all of you, emotera, alle and mica. thank you so much for continuing to visit here despite my short absence. Mica, i have changed your links here na. dont worry girl. and emotera, just see my name here, redrogue...hehehe...well, that is my blog name....only blog name and profile names...Redrogue.

    Alle, i am still in the process of transferring ... have not began the journey...well, medyo ok na din ang pc.. kasi i am here now, posting.

    ReplyDelete

Leave your comment and I will get back to you. I suggest if you want me to comment back on a specific post of yours, use the "name/URL" option and put your exact link so that I will be on that post and I can share my views through your comment form immediately.

Don't forget that unrelated or irrelevant comment to any post will not be publish.

Check the following out as well:
My original writings as both an author and a poet
Some of my travel logs
Just trying to be healthy
Be a Webbie individual: check this out
Personal Site
Photo WebSite