He has risen, what about us?
Happy Easter Sunday, Philippines. The significance of Christ rising, as celebrated today had me thinking about us, as a people and as a nation, making “bangon,” and forging our destiny. Next month is my birthday and I turn 69, so that’s a lot of years of observing how our country has evolved over the decades. I’ve often characterized it as a “two steps forward, three steps back” perpetual movement – and to be honest, I get very frustrated when I visit other ASEAN nations, as I can vividly recall visiting these countries 30 to 40 years ago, and where we stood in comparison to them back then.
All I’m hoping for now is that the future becomes bright for my sons, as the eldest is in his early thirties, my youngest in his mid-20s. I’m hoping we get it right (finally) and fulfill our potential… because when I criticize or bewail a local situation, I do so out of wanting us to improve, of us knowing better, and calling out those that continue to drag us down, of calling a spade a spade – because we don’t need to be a sea of sycophants and back-patters. Filipinos can be so brown-lipped because of all the licking we do, and you know where – in some political and corporate circles, it’s a national past-time. And that makes me sad, because how are we going to rise up if we’re still stuck with these attitudes?
The following make me sad and angry, and I resort to humor, as it’s too depressing otherwise. So, in the style of a current social media viral craze:
I’m a Filipino… because when there’s a natural or manmade disaster/tragedy, I’m ready to take advantage, and scam those who want to help the less fortunate. Fire at PGH on March 13, 2024, and we get a proliferation of fake posts for donations. And I’ll even give the scammers credit for making it all look so plausible; that those in the public eager to help, might not even question why they’re sending money to fake accounts. People I know shared the post, out of the goodness of their hearts, unaware that they’re inadvertently promoting the scam. My question is why should this predicament even arise, and who are these scammers, abusing the misfortune of others. There should be a special circle in hell for them.
I’m a Filipino… because heritage sites and protected areas are where, without the proper authorization, I can set up my tourism business. The eyesore of the Captain’s Peak Garden & Resort nestled in the Chocolate Hills of Bohol was the craze on social media earlier this month. It’s now “temporarily closed” according to its FB page. It’s neither accredited with the DOT, or in possession of a DENR clearance; both requirements before the LGU issues the construction permits. So why oh why, Sagbayan town, was this resort green-lit as far back as 2018/2019?
Bigger question left unanswered is how, with no ECC from the DENR, and reportedly other clearances from other government agencies, we have this situation of construction permits being granted in areas of protected and heritage status. Plus, why it only surfaced now, when those structures look like they’ve enjoyed being there for some time now.
I’m a Filipino… because
I like to sweep under the rug, alarming news and trends about sexual abuse of children, and child pregnancies. We make it easy for predators to escape censure and punishment; as we don’t like to talk about it. Shameful and “nakakahiya,” so let’s just ignore it – our fallback policy of “deadma.”
Close to 9,000 cases of child abuse reported in 2022 at the Center for the Welfare of Children (CWC). And let’s keep in mind, these are the ones reported; which logically, can mean it’s just the tip of the immoral iceberg, as easier to keep what’s happening under wraps. After all, which family is eager to expose their stink and dirty underwear to the public?
An alarming increase in child pregnancies of girls aged 13-14; up by 35 percent from 2021 to 2022, according to the Commission on Population and Development. The hard truth would be to realize this is most likely not consensual sex, or between a girl and a boy of roughly the same age. This is more likely a predator and/or grooming, taking full advantage of a young girl’s gullibility or naïveté. The most vulnerable in our civil society, and we’re not doing a very good job of protecting them.
We talk of arresting this alarming rise; and the conversation turns to sex education, health and social services. I’m left scratching my head as why aren’t we talking about arresting the scum who impregnated the young girls? Is it possible that the ones perpetrating these crimes are people of influence in their local community?
If they are, it would help explain why we’re not exterminating the root cause; and we speak more about helping the girls who are already pregnant – or at times, even making it sound like it’s their fault. Wrong, wrong, wrong….
Praying we can shake off a number of these lingering, detrimental ‘ugali’; and rise as one. Happy Easter!