For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest, neither anything hidden that shall not be known and come abroad (Luke 8:17) and he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:16).
Greed, apathy and corruption, as confessed by another sinner, characterize Philippine society today as it was during the period before the First EDSA Revolution. Lies and deceit portray those regimes, coupled with the relentless pillage of the people’s money, utter disrespect of basic human rights, and grossly ineffective bureaucracy populated by corrupt bureaucrat capitalists and presidential cronies. Power is concentrated on the moneyed individuals, the landed elites and the bourgeoisie. Power is commensurate to the amount of wealth that you have.
On the other hand, the majority of poor Filipinos are actually rich, rich in the things that are LESS, landless, penniless, and hopeless. If there be something they do not have, it is a government of laws, of leaders that look for their welfare, and a free and democratic society. Furthermore, whatever little they posses, it is always subject to the ills of our society. Taxes! Fees! Duties! It is volatile to economic shocks, like inflation, oil price increases and market crunches. All these affect them, even without understanding what it means. Free market economists claim it’s the trend of globalization; I call it the ills of imperialism.
The Philippines have undergone two so-called bloodless revolutions. Full of hope for a new world, outlined by their collective desires, flamed by their communal passion, thousands, if not millions of Filipinos have trooped to the streets to shape their own destiny, under the blessings of democracy and true independence – only to find out later that they have been used by competing forces of economic elitists, who desirous to grab power, manages to clothe their faces with the ethereal wax of classical Greco-Roman dramas. In the First EDSA, we could have already shaped a new Philippines. Sad to say, when we replaced the overstaying dictator Marcos and his constitutional authoritarianism, we reinstated the ancient system of feudalistic oligarchy. Cory Aquino was from this social class, the landed elites. She failed dismally to rise over her class. Thus, the military men, who have been used to decision-making politics, decided to take matters into their own hands and launched seven coup attempts, to replace the housewife with a military junta. Fortunately, or unfortunately, American intervention halted the rightist advance. Thus, it began again – American intervention in a so-called “independent” country’s policies.
In the early half of the 1990’s, we were already recuperating from our ordeal with extra-constitutional challenges, FVR having managed to make peace with the MNLF and the RAM-SFP, significantly reducing armed threats. The economy went on an upward trend. Suddenly, the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 struck the Philippines. The bubble burst because of the weakening currency due to the overextension of the real estate market, as stated by economists. But from another perspective, it is because the system has been leaning towards an import-dependent, export-oriented economy. It was geared towards the benefit of foreign capitalist compradors who seeks maximum profit at the expense of other countries. I call it the crisis of neocolonialism.
In general, the poor Filipinos labor for the benefit of the few, the rich and the privileged. More than 85% of our population is below the poverty line. Centuries of disregard and decades of social degradation left many of our countrymen looking for a genuine leader that shall pull them out of poverty. Thus, in 1998, the DE classes voted the populist Erap Estrada to the presidency. Erap was his slogan; Laban sa Mahirap was his fighting line. He represented their utmost dreams for a better life. But Erap’s election was seen as a threat by the traditional politicians of their clout and control. Thus, the downfall of the masses’ President was predetermined by a group of rich elites and bourgeois who rode on the stream of social movements who came out to denounce the lavish lifestyle of Estrada. The Jueteng scandal was just a back draft of the true dilly-dally behind. Thus, together with political operators and military minions, the Second EDSA happened, bringing to power the ruler we so dreadfully abhor and despise today!
Again and again, Filipinos are called to defend the motherland. From the conquistadors of Spain to the conquering armies of Japan, from the dictator Marcos to the luckiest b*tch Arroyo, the Filipinos are shoved to the frontlines for the sake of freedom. Again we are engaged in this battle, a true and valid raison d'être. This time, let us learn from our mistakes. Let not the flame of freedom be dimmed by the dark plans of few. Let us not be used for their benefit. Let us start a new revolution - one that is etched in the hearts and minds of our people, one that is signed in blood.
Greed, apathy and corruption, as confessed by another sinner, characterize Philippine society today as it was during the period before the First EDSA Revolution. Lies and deceit portray those regimes, coupled with the relentless pillage of the people’s money, utter disrespect of basic human rights, and grossly ineffective bureaucracy populated by corrupt bureaucrat capitalists and presidential cronies. Power is concentrated on the moneyed individuals, the landed elites and the bourgeoisie. Power is commensurate to the amount of wealth that you have.
On the other hand, the majority of poor Filipinos are actually rich, rich in the things that are LESS, landless, penniless, and hopeless. If there be something they do not have, it is a government of laws, of leaders that look for their welfare, and a free and democratic society. Furthermore, whatever little they posses, it is always subject to the ills of our society. Taxes! Fees! Duties! It is volatile to economic shocks, like inflation, oil price increases and market crunches. All these affect them, even without understanding what it means. Free market economists claim it’s the trend of globalization; I call it the ills of imperialism.
The Philippines have undergone two so-called bloodless revolutions. Full of hope for a new world, outlined by their collective desires, flamed by their communal passion, thousands, if not millions of Filipinos have trooped to the streets to shape their own destiny, under the blessings of democracy and true independence – only to find out later that they have been used by competing forces of economic elitists, who desirous to grab power, manages to clothe their faces with the ethereal wax of classical Greco-Roman dramas. In the First EDSA, we could have already shaped a new Philippines. Sad to say, when we replaced the overstaying dictator Marcos and his constitutional authoritarianism, we reinstated the ancient system of feudalistic oligarchy. Cory Aquino was from this social class, the landed elites. She failed dismally to rise over her class. Thus, the military men, who have been used to decision-making politics, decided to take matters into their own hands and launched seven coup attempts, to replace the housewife with a military junta. Fortunately, or unfortunately, American intervention halted the rightist advance. Thus, it began again – American intervention in a so-called “independent” country’s policies.
In the early half of the 1990’s, we were already recuperating from our ordeal with extra-constitutional challenges, FVR having managed to make peace with the MNLF and the RAM-SFP, significantly reducing armed threats. The economy went on an upward trend. Suddenly, the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 struck the Philippines. The bubble burst because of the weakening currency due to the overextension of the real estate market, as stated by economists. But from another perspective, it is because the system has been leaning towards an import-dependent, export-oriented economy. It was geared towards the benefit of foreign capitalist compradors who seeks maximum profit at the expense of other countries. I call it the crisis of neocolonialism.
In general, the poor Filipinos labor for the benefit of the few, the rich and the privileged. More than 85% of our population is below the poverty line. Centuries of disregard and decades of social degradation left many of our countrymen looking for a genuine leader that shall pull them out of poverty. Thus, in 1998, the DE classes voted the populist Erap Estrada to the presidency. Erap was his slogan; Laban sa Mahirap was his fighting line. He represented their utmost dreams for a better life. But Erap’s election was seen as a threat by the traditional politicians of their clout and control. Thus, the downfall of the masses’ President was predetermined by a group of rich elites and bourgeois who rode on the stream of social movements who came out to denounce the lavish lifestyle of Estrada. The Jueteng scandal was just a back draft of the true dilly-dally behind. Thus, together with political operators and military minions, the Second EDSA happened, bringing to power the ruler we so dreadfully abhor and despise today!
Again and again, Filipinos are called to defend the motherland. From the conquistadors of Spain to the conquering armies of Japan, from the dictator Marcos to the luckiest b*tch Arroyo, the Filipinos are shoved to the frontlines for the sake of freedom. Again we are engaged in this battle, a true and valid raison d'être. This time, let us learn from our mistakes. Let not the flame of freedom be dimmed by the dark plans of few. Let us not be used for their benefit. Let us start a new revolution - one that is etched in the hearts and minds of our people, one that is signed in blood.
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