Who sets the rules? Who watches the watchers? When even the angels and gods are asked to answer for their actions, the self appointed judge and jury of the state must also answer for theirs. In the issue of the pork barrel, no hands are clean. Either by our actions or inactions; tolerance and condemnation; hatred and our love, we are all at fault and as a nation, together we have suffered and we shall continue to suffer. We might not have benefitted directly from the fruits of the corrupt tree as much as we have accused the principals and politicians involved, but that does not excuse us from the accountability that we have incurred for our failure to be vigilant. In the face of our complacency and false trust in a system that we all know is flawed, we point a convenient finger at those that we perceive as clearly identified to be guilty. Once again, we resort to condemning the evident evil and refused to see the root that stemmed from the seeds that we have planted. Let this be a call to all of us, we are all at fault, we put this politicians in their place, we have prostrated ourselves to them in exchange for pittance forgetting that we are gods among insects, we hold the power - we are the power. The respect, power and influence that these people wield are cloaked in the mandate that we have vested upon them. Let us educate ourselves and be responsible and informed voters, let us be vigilant. In this day and age, ignorance in current affairs is tantamount to sin. But along with all these, let us not forget that there is a thin, blurred line between vigilance and taking the law into our hands. It saddens me that we as Filipinos are quick and vindictive judges when it comes to other people’s transgression; but very, very self-righteous and "smart" lawyers for our own misgivings. We elected Marcos as president and deposed him through EDSA; we installed Cory and organized coups to depose her; we replaced her with FVR and demanded accountability from him over his decision’s; we elected Erap via a huge and historical margin and rallied against the same which paved the way for GMA; we eventually asked her to step down and was horrified over her scandals. Now we elect PNoy - again – through a huge margin. Do we not understand that “we” are a part of the vicious cycle that a communal paradigm shift could fix? We are the problem and we are the solution. In the end, collectively we shall live and die by the choices we make as a nation and not as single self-righteous individuals that we pass ourselves off to be. This is not a passing of judgement upon the guilty few and the equally guilty many, this is a reminder. More than anything else, this is a manifesto. In the course of all the problems that we have as a nation, this is my fervent prayer: Dear God, I have a 10 month old son, whatever problems and illness this country might have, let it be in my days so that my child will grow up in peace and with the honour and pride that comes in calling himself a Filipino. I am Eduardo Pelicano Reston Jr., a father, a husband, a taxpayer; and still a very proud and hopeful Filipino; and this is my prayer.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 04:54:24 +0000
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