Thursday, May 29, 2014

Fresh Air Amid Hopelessness: Isang Daang Piso Para sa Matinong Kandidato



There’s so much negativity on the news lately as a result of developments in the Napoles pork barrel case. Now a lot more personalities have been linked, including media, senators and congressmen. It seems there’s an effort to muddle the issue by who-knows-who.

Prior to this, the Ph took a roller coaster ride through 6 presidencies in recent memory: Marcos, Cory, Ramos, Erap, GMA and Pnoy. That ride was one brief spell of euphoria and hope, followed by a downward spin that would somehow be mitigated by a glimmer of fresh hope with every change in presidency. Then back to rotting in the gutters for the Pinoy.

So, What’s Wrong With Us as a People and a Nation?

I will venture to put up my own Perry’s Top 21 Ph Blackspots that may well describe the Ph, culled from a Libertas blog (http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2014/05/the-philippines-a-world-travelers-musings-and-ramblings-wtf-wheres-the-fun/) I’ve read lately. I can find this List quite believable without too much debate. I will not lose sleep over it, nor waste my time pondering on how it evolved over time. I would rather think of ways to improve myself, as well as the people around me if I can, so by the next reckoning, hopefully the Pinoy can stand a bit taller. Here’s the List:

1. The Ph is nation of 100 million people, where unemployment is 27% and 35% living below the poverty line. Many Filipinos want to get out of the country (70% according to the last poll), and many do (10 million Filipinos work overseas), sending money to their families, and this accounts for 12% of GDP;

2. Filipinos are very sensitive, emotional souls, and the slightest criticism will result in either tears, or anger, but perversely they do not mind being used and abused by their own politicians, and presumably having gone from past colonial dominance to the current feudal system, subservience is now part of their DNA.

3. It is the center of drug trafficking in Asia;

4. There are 1 million sex workers and has a thriving industry in human and child sex trafficking, many under 14 and working in cybersex dens;

5. There are 14 million child laborers;

6. 26 million people have no toilets;

7. The Ph has the lowest IQ in Asia – 86 – and one of the lowest in the world;

8. It is the 6th worst country in the world for crony capitalism;

9. There’s up to 8 hour daily brownouts during summer, and the most expensive in Asia;

10. It has slow and antiquated Internet service.

11. The Ph sits at bottom of the ASEAN league when it comes to FDI (foreign direct investment).

12. There are no major projects or groundbreaking solutions to well known and long lasting problems on Infrastructure;

13. It suffers from an income inequality that ranks amongst the highest in the world;

14. 76 % of the national wealth remains firmly in the hands of just 40 families;

15. Corruption is the main income generator (even low government officials, especially in Customs, drive new cars, as when recently, its employee got busted for road rage on a brand new Porsche – all on the equivalent of 400 US dollars per month);

16. It is estimated that up to 40% of the annual national budget is siphoned off by politicians;

17. Filipinos do not like spending their own money, and do not regard the environment as important (man-made, or natural). They prefer to play the victim, hold out the begging bowl, then scam the aid or investment from abroad, subsequently siphoning off most of this to off-shore accounts.

18. Manila is the world’s most densely populated city (21 million). People from the provinces gravitate here in search of any work. It is high on the lists for pollution, crime, and with, horrendous traffic jams, incessant road works, an overcrowded and breakdown-prone mass transit system, illegal bus operators, and antiquated fume-spewing 'jeepneys'. The city is dilapidated, and is a vast shanty town, complete with hordes of illegal squatters;

19. Ph newspapers headlines gives good and rapid insight. It is always dominated by corruption, drive-by motorcycle shootings of politicians or journalists, beauty pageants, and any part Filipino who has achieved success abroad. Pinoys focus more on Vicarious pride rather than developing their own self-worth;

20. It is a Catholic country and Filipinos profess to be god-fearing, but that hardly stops the murders, rapes, child trafficking, corruption, scams. The Church itself loves to get involved in politics, and prescribes to their flock who to vote for, as the priest takes delivery of a new SUV.

21. The center of life in the Ph is the tacky lives of ‘personalities’ and politicians. Cheating has to be a component of everything. Lying has become a national art form. Hypocrisy rules.

In the meantime, the Pinoy seems to be caught in a vicious cycle of hoping, then getting frustrated, then hoping once again. During the interregnum, they get by living in utter unending hopelessness, amid the sheer political hypocricy, social dysfunction, and business inefficiency.

As can be gleaned from above, my Perry’s Top 21 Ph Blackspots can be solved by an honest and strong president. By honest, I mean just that – honest, without necessity of qualifying. And by strong, I mean somebody who came by the presidency without selling his soul to the brokers of power.

It is at this time when I looked more closely at the Facebook Group - "Isang Daang Piso Para sa Matinong Kandidato" and spent a week pondering on who they are and what they stand for. Simply put, they are ordinary netizens willing to contribute resources, (P100 pesos to put a fixed square figure) so that when a qualified candidate comes, they can support this candidate and he does not resort to wheeling and dealing with power groups to step up with the exigency of elections.

Inspite of all the social malaise bugging the Ph, and in the face of myriad propositions from interest groups, the roadmap of "Isang Daang Piso Para sa Matinong Kandidato" is quite simple. Their first objective is to create a critical mass of 100,000 members, which should be accomplished by June next year (2015). It is in this endeavor that I am helping out.

So to all my friends, if you are on edge, eyes bulging out, hair falling, and too exasperated you keep chewing your nails due to the fact that only corrupt politicians, or movie stars, or cronies, or elites keep getting elected to run this country like hell, I suggest you go online and ‘Like’ the Facebook Group “
Isang Daang Piso Para sa Matinong Kandidato”.

Be relevant in the 2016 Ph elections. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.
Fresh Air Amid Hopelessness: Isang Daang Piso Para sa Matinong KandidatoSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend