MANILA - (October 2005) The outrage of the Filipinos cannot be masked by their beautiful faces and sweet smiles. The series of political turmoils for five months now are too much to bear and too difficult to bury under the rich soils of this land of heroes.
The multitude of events have created scandals over scandals. The "Hello Garci" controversy, for example, has disrupted our confidence on the electoral process and suggests that even major acts of fraud can be justified with an excuse called "lapse in judgment". Down the line, other insults to the Filipino dignity have taken their tolls - jueteng, aborted impeachment complaint, the Venable deal, violent dispersals, and more.
recognize the very truth that today's battle in national leadership is La Presidenta or nothing. It is so apparent that even the staunchest authors of the President's ouster do not have a clear image as to who should take the highest seat in the land. Even her constitutional successor is silent and unwilling to take the cudgel.
I hail and recognize the intelligent opposition. The young ones, especially, will go down to history for their cleverness, credentials, bravery, courage, commitment and performance. They have become instant celebrities with their brains and looks. One of them will even make a good President, mind you.
But these events say a lot about the country.
Behind these colorful and diverse stories on the Filipino life is a key word called DIVISIVENESS. It runs counter to the government's battlecry of convergence which all government agencies have been advocating and promoting in its efforts to beat the odds, specifically in combating poverty.
Divisiveness will never have its perfect moment in our country even if it manifests that we are the darlings of democracy. Freedom has taken too much toll on us. What we definitely should achieve at these times of crisis is unity in objectives, unity in purpose, and unity in achieving our goals.
Difficult as it seems, let not the present political crisis affect our daily toils and our views about nation-building. The storm in Manila and the PNP water cannons may not necessarily reach the provinces. The countryside is not compelled to join the bandwagon of rallyists in Mendiola or Ayala. These are autonomous units who can strengthen local governance with minimal influence and intervention from the national government.
To seek a deeper meaning in family values and child rearing, let not the power struggle in the face of a promising economy create chaos within our homes. The Filipino family is too strong and beautiful to be broken by wrong politics. I also went around and asked, and my guess was right - the Filipino family is already too tired of the cry for presidential ouster. It happened to the Marcos, to Aquino, to Estrada. History is a continuous process.
This is a time when we should break new grounds on understanding democracy within the context of social equality and the good of the majority of the Filipinos, than staging rallies and filing piles and loads of complaints to serve a few men whose primary concern is their political survival.
I am no Gloria fan. I still believe that Atty. Raul Roco is still the best president who we never had. But while President Arroyo is still holding the highest post and the impeachment trial has not taken off, let us submit ourselves to SOBRIETY. And RESPECT. By continuing to respect and protect the Presidency and our democratic institutions, we also sustain our respect for our race and ourselves. And while doing this, let us likewise submit ourselves to the quest for truth and justice.
And when all is well and the constitution is upheld and defended, we may pause for a little while and put on hold our plans for exodus in foreign lands.
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Maria Luthgarda B. Fabia is a Senior Economic Development Specialist in NEDA (the National Economic and Development Authority). She was formerly the Chief of Staff of Governor Vicente S. Gato of Batanes. |
