Two requirements
Before I write, as promised in a previous column, my take on the question whether or not Federalism is the answer to our social problems. I thought I’d first share what this other resident foreigner wrote me on some pertinent issues that bear discussing some more and at length.
Incidentally, he says he’s writing me because other than deportation he also worries that “Filipinos they associate with either as business associates, acquaintances or friends will consider any criticism - regardless of how obviously truthful it may be - a personal attack on them.” His fear is justified because to our great loss we do tend to take criticism more personally than objectively.
On pedestrian sidewalks, he observes that “there is no reason why sidewalks cannot exist here.” And I agree. Yesterday’s paper reported that the country will spend P843 million for the PUV modernization program. Why not for more sidewalks and for clearing existing ones of all obstructions? Why not for bicycle lanes? We are making cities livable more for ordinary folks than for the rich who have their own livable enclaves.
On the bigger issue of corruption, this foreigner considers the “pervasiveness of corruption ironic because the Philippines sets itself up as a highly religious and moral bastion, to the point that the Church seems to totally dominate the life of citizens.”
Interestingly, he blames confession for the Church’s inability to help stop corruption. To paraphrase him, politicians confess their sins to Catholic priests, promise not to sin again yet soon resume their thieving, confident that their sins are safe with priests who cannot testify against them in court because of the seal of confession.
On elections, he correctly opines that “an election requires a politically astute or at least informed public.” He puts the blame for the fact that we don’t have such a public “squarely on the country’s educational institutions and the all powerful Church.” He is right on in continuing that “so long as political dynasties exist in the country, voting will remain a meaningless exercise since voters vote either and/or for a name or the money.”
He concludes by agreeing with me on the two requirements for a more politically democratic and more economically inclusive Philippines. In his words: “Firstly, caring citizens and secondly a sincere politician- neither of which seems to exist at the moment.”
Of the two, a “politically astute” citizenry is the more critical. We will never have sincere politicians as long as citizens don’t care, let them get away with corruption and re-elect them for a sum of money. To sum up our fundamental problem, greedy politicians lord it over us and we let them get away with it.