Is There Still Hope for My Motherland?
By safrabay
@safrabay (75)
Philippines
September 9, 2009 7:47am CST
I am Pinoy and I have lived in my land, the Philippines, for 50 years. I have seen its struggles to gain and regain the so called "democracy". I've heard and watched our leaders over the radio and television saying this is good and this is bad. Yet I've also seen many of my countrymen clinching their fists towards heaven seemingly praying that the moon would fall down wishing that someone's head would be crushed onto the ground.
I've heard and watched in my TV that billions of pesos were amassed by few men of the anointed ones; and I've watched how these so called "hatchet men" were investigated live over my small screen, only to find out that after that roller coaster, they still go scot-free.
I have encountered an authority who blew our company with unbelievable penalties. To avoid serious complications that may deter our operations, we humbly settled the dispute with utmost humility; only to be crushed with the entire earth when they bluntly told us to pay the basic violations(?) with receipt and bargain half of the penalties without. We brought our case to the higher office hoping for a reconsideration only to stumble in a deeper pit and haggle with a higher price (that all penalties shall be paid without any document).
Report to authority? I was asked, "which authority"? The highest authority?
I have my remorse and irreparable despair with the people in the so called "public trust". The hopelessness of millions of Pinoys has infected me like a virus. And why not? While the farmers in the countryside where i live are digging bones to improve their production, millions of pesos has taken its tool to the pockets of the few in authority to feed their whims and caprices.
Is Noynoy Aquino Worth It?
The Aquinos in the Philippines are well known to be stalwarts of "democracy". If there is a modern hero that I would brag to the whole world, it should be Ninoy. If there is one Philippine President whom I excessively admire when the dictatorial time was already beyond endurance, it should be Cory.
Early today, September 9, 2009, my heroes' son, Noynoy, accepted the challenge to run for the Philippine's highest office. In that forum, the entire nation was watching. I heard the questions and Noynoy's answers.
In this context i should tell Noynoy, and I believe many if not few of my fellow Pinoys would agree, that there are yet thousands of questions he has to listen to coming from the hearts of the simple and ordinary people that he may deal with in the future; that there are still fresh wounds that he should take into account for them to heal; that the people in authority who have caused these wounds to bleed profusely are still encased in their luxurious air-conditioned "public offices".
And Noynoy should know that these people are in battalions, like the armies of Genghis Khan who besieged the face of China in the middle ages.
3 people like this
8 responses
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
10 Sep 09
Very nice post in here. In my opinion we may not see it now or in the near future but but I believe that for as long as there is life there is hope. I heard Noynoy saying in his speech yesterday that the biggest sin that a man could commit for himself is hopelessness. That just means that if man is giving up on hope there is really no future for himself and his country. So right now you may be 50 years and you have seen so many things bad about your country do not die living that life of yours. In you own capacity do what you need to do to at least make this country a better place to live in. If you would allow yourself to be in that space of hopelessness you will stay there and will make you life harder to live with.
@safrabay (75)
• Philippines
10 Sep 09
Your views in here, friend, served as a light in a pitch-black tunnel where the grassroot Pinoys are now groping. Thank you so much! An atom needs several other atoms to become active. And, hey, your comment inspired me. I am not totally depressed with our situation but a lot of my Pinoy kabayans are. I'm not a politician to blow my whistle away. It just happened that I have some grassroot Pinoys working with me who shared their sentiments to me. I know a "miracle" could still happen and strike our leaders their brains. When a pit is full, it stinks! I was writing this hoping that even one Pinoy leader could smell this stink! I'm not certain anyway if one of them has registered here in myLot. I hope somebody could invite them here in myLot to be able to read this message. Thanks again.
@neelianoscet (9615)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
Senator Noynoy have still have a long way to go and I think he should listen to the general masses before the people who surrounds him at the moment, some are trust worthy and others are simply trash. He is the better alternatives to the traditional politician"trapos" and I too is getting enough of the artificial charisma of other politician publicity is too much a waste of money. Why do they do their campaign in a simple ways where they should know that many are in poverty, lower class, and under privilege..So far he is the only politician I know whose credibility is not yet tainted. With God grace he would won the 2010 election if cheating will not prevail...He is the hope and the voice of the general masses..
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
9 Sep 09
Again, your country, just like every other country, has to fight for Democracy if they want it. My country (the United States) has Democracy, but we are always in fear of losing it.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
10 Sep 09
I think there is still hope though. I know it may seem as if there's none, but who can really say that their government is not corrupt? There will always be some form of corruption regardless where you'd be staying or residing.
Problems could not be fixed at one time, one person cannot fix everyone's problem but if we could just work together (which is highly difficult with our crab mentality and all) they perhaps there could be change.
But my question now is, what are YOU doing to give hope to your motherland?
I for one am doing the following to help motherland:
a. I no longer have interest in the government and politicians because all they are are talk, there will never be action. Therefore, I refuse to listen to the news, refuse to vote and am trying to influence every one else not to vote anymore. Apathy is the greatest enemy of the government. If we choose not to participate anymore and ignore their qualms for power, then their ballots would not be at quorum.
b. I try to earn as much as I can without paying taxes. Hehehee. Well, it's a legal thing anyhow, I'm not doing anything illegal.
c. I don't listen to the media because they obviously aren't there to show you what's real, they're there to show you who pays them.
d. Listening to the negative things about your country will only de-motivate you to do anything. You'd succumb to the negativity thus you'd be stuck worrying about something you can't fix.
Let your country help itself by you not putting more stress or negative things about it. Do your share instead of complaining (that's what we're good of usually, like the opposition, they're there to oppose but they're not doing anything at all to resolve problems of the government or doing something for the people aside from influencing the people that our motherland is hopeless).
@sleuth (37)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
there is still hope for our country. it's not the government that has a problem, it's the filipino's attitude. the action must come from the subordinates, not the government. filipinos used to blame everything to the government. they never realize that they elected corrupt officials to represent them on the government. the hope lies on our hand, not on the government or alien. the change must come from us -- the filipinos.
@forptc (287)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
It does seem that every effort given to improve this country is futile, but I'm still hopeful some person out there could and will definitely make the difference and turn the tables in our favor.
It's just so saddening to know that the minority who are in power could easily manipulate the majority who remain slaves under their soles. In this case of our government and situation of our country, it's like a house owner hiring and paying a maid to actually control him and dictate everything he is to do in his own home instead of the other way around. Very ironic indeed when the idea of public service is defiled and jumbled causing our demise.
Idealism doesn't have any place in the government, specially when you're alone because the system will eat you. The best way to change everything in the government and possibly make this country's situation a lot better is to white wash the government and pitch in new blood.
But hey, there isn't much we could do but to think that everything has a purpose just as these snakes and crocs being up there and us winding up down here. It's all about balance and purposeful events leading one after the other. It may be a struggle but it's probably for the best.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
Honestly, I do not see any good future for our country. With the way we handle things and the way we choose during election, there is no hope at all. I have yet to find someone worthy to lead our country and bring our economy up. I have nothing against Noynoy, but I just do not see anything special about him. In fact of all the people who are running for president in our country... There is no chance or hope at all. I know that some or many might not agree with me on this, but how many times have we placed someone on top hoping that there will be change and improvement? Well, I just hope and pray that one day we will finally find someone that will bring back our country on top.
@Redhornet117 (1248)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
My answer would be a firm and heart-felt NO. No hope at all. I'm not usually pessimistic but with this issue I see no light at the end of the tunnel. And also I want to say that though this is my answer, I'm not insisting that this is the right answer. I'm expecting others would say that my answer is a negative one but, hey, it's my opinion and nothing will change that. I've been a citizen of our country for 33 years now, and I've seen past generations fade away without seeing the "light" of our country. For me, Noynoy is a great man, but he is a sacrificial lamb that the corrupt would use. And democracy would be their lure for Noynoy. I think the betterment of our country would really depend on us. If we could change the majority of our population then we could see hope for our country, specially if the first to change would start from those that govern us. 
