Entitlement, corruption, and public service

The Gospel reading yesterday taken from Mark 10:35-45 talked about the request of James and John for Jesus to grant that they sit, one at His right and the other at His left. As disciples of Jesus, they were emboldened to discuss their ambition with Him. They may also have felt entitled to this request, being constant companions of Jesus in His ministry.

These two disciples' request for entitlement reminds us of many of this country's officials who are on entitlement mode, especially upon appointment. There are even those who before and after their official term insist on their entitlement to privileges and perks.

Being officials, many even feel they are entitled to people's money. Look at the hundreds of millions discovered by COA that have been disbursed, without proper documentation and authority! Look at the cornered contracts amounting to millions, again by public officials feeling entitled to public funds and resources!

The feeling of entitlement is not only observed among the public officials. Many Filipinos also feel entitled and insist on their entitlement whenever they can or whenever they can get away with it. Drivers feel they are entitled to the free use of the streets many unmindful of traffic rules, safety, and welfare of the pedestrians. On the other hand, pedestrians feel entitled crossing the street ever so slowly, many texting or just leisurely walking as if they were royalty crossing busy streets!

It is not only lack of discipline when drivers and pedestrians do not obey rules. Lack of discipline is often associated with too much feeling of entitlement. Lack of discipline and arrogant insistence on entitlement mean the lack and absence of any sense or obligation about public service and public mindfulness, and yes, of respect for others and God.

Jesus Christ's reply to James and John are instructive for those feeling entitled:

"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all."

In a very unequal society like ours, one can see easily those who are feeling entitled, those who are feeling entitled and corrupt, those who are behaving as the entitled among public officials who yet have to learn to be humble public servants.

Our people are accustomed to seeing these entitled officials ride in their expensive public-funded cars with loud sirens, escorted by public-funded security, and ignoring traffic.

Those feeling entitled and corrupt need to be duly punished yet their numbers appear to be increasing especially now. The corruption is not only in terms of millions, as the new DOT secretary discovered. The stolen public funds are now in hundred millions, the corrupt getting bolder and more brazen.

Why? The laws are being ignored or their interpretation getting highly relative, favoring the powerful. Many of those corrupt and entitled are overly confident that they will be protected by their benefactors, by their patrons.

Delicadeza is long dead among the entitled and corrupt. No shame, no guilt even among these entitled and corrupt. Instead, they are boastful, arrogant, and they proudly flaunt their entitlement and power.

Do you think they can be stopped in their shameless draining of public funds? Will the guilty among those entitled corrupt be duly punished? Will there be public funds left for genuine public welfare and service?

‘Many of those corrupt and entitled are overly confident that they will be protected by their

benefactors, by their patrons.’