On trapos, bashers, and self-improvement

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy My current job as an assistant secretary at the PCOO has led me to learn new perspectives on how to help our society change for the better. I’ve been meeting people from all walks of life and it has been interesting to listen to their opinions and how they think the country could improve – without the politics involved. With that said, I was able to reflect on a few things, and now I open my insights about them.

On traditional politicians (trapos)

It is easy to put the blame on others when something is not going well, just like how it was in the previous administration and how some traditional politicians are now seemingly blaming President Duterte for the slow progress of passing the emergency powers bill.

Here, you will notice the difference between President Duterte and the trapos; while the former is more on action and taking responsibility, the latter seemed to have forgotten that like the president, the people elected and trusted them to serve and do what is best for the country. If they are already seeing that the traffic problem in our country is worsening, then should they still wait for Malacañang to certify the emergency powers bill as urgent before they act on it with haste?

These traditional politicians seem to have forgotten that they are also a part of the government that’s tasked to work for the benefit and comfort of all. Whether one is an elected government official or a hired government worker, we must always keep in mind that we all have a common mandate which is to serve the public. These traditional politicians should not just ask what the people can do for them or their ambitions come election time, but rather they must ask themselves how they can help uplift the lives of the people they serve.

On bashers

It is easy to judge and criticize someone just like how the leftist groups criticize the Duterte administration for stopping the peace talks and all the issues they throw at him. It is easy for people to question the government for everything that’s going wrong in the country and, sometimes, even in their own lives. But I wonder, have they ever asked themselves what they are doing to help resolve the problems of this country?

I believe that even if we are not part of the government, we are very much capable of changing our country for the better.

Take for example the traffic problem in our country. The Duterte administration is currently working on a plan to resolve this, but in our own way we can contribute by having the discipline to follow simple traffic rules.

On the issue of peace talks, we cannot expect the government to talk about peace with groups whose actions do not show their sincerity or desire to have peace. Personally, I see the actions of the leftist groups contradicting what they are saying. They talk about wanting to bring back the peace talks but there have been numerous reports of them attacking government forces.

It is also not forbidden to rally on the streets, the president himself said that you can rally all you want, but if you vandalize the streets, destroy government properties, attack the police who are just doing their jobs, then how does this show that you really want peace?

It is easy to criticize the actions of the government but remember that the Duterte administration is really keen on working for a better future for everyone, if we are one with them in their goal of bringing change in our country, then we must not just criticize but also work with them to achieve that goal.

On self-improvement

Again, it is easy to judge and criticize someone, especially those we do not like, but are we also promoting a culture where an individual cannot change and strive to be better?

Just last week I announced my intent to study law, and after the news broke out I have been mercilessly criticized for it. Everybody now attributes it to my socalled political ambitions, even if I have already stated it for the record that I will not run for senator. I decided to take up law in order to become more knowledgeable in the legal aspect, as I believe it will broaden my ability to help more people in a more efficient manner.

It’s just funny how some people reacted and said that I don’t even deserve to study law. With such statement, it’s like we’re saying that one cannot change and improve his or herself. But let me ask, is this the kind of mindset that we would want to live with? Though being stuck with such mindset we’re no longer going anywhere? Sorry but I’m not buying this “crab mentality” that’s been plaguing our society for generations. We are never in a position to tell someone else that there’s a limit to what he or she could be, and I believe that this is a mindset that we should stop passing on to our children.

We’re still held up by the sins of the past. Let us stop thinking like crabs, cease doing politics the traditional way, or stand in the way of change. I believe after all the roadblocks, there’s only one direction to take for this country to change for the better – forward.

It’s time for us to move forward.