“Nasa Kabataan Ang Pag-Asa Ng Bayan.”
~ Jose Rizal
I am born American.
Born to two hard-working Filipinos who took the daring jump across the Pacific to find a life for themselves in the land of opportunity. Though I am American by birth, I have the blood of the Filipino. With such a thing running through my veins, through my very being, I can't help but to be totally and utterly aware of a glorious vision. A vision known to every Filipino born on Philippine soil.
I see the vision of a better Philippines.
This vision is best exemplified in the heroes who carried it on their backs. They exist throughout the entire history of the Pilipinas.
In the times of Spanish Rule . . . Jose Rizal saw what I see.
In the reign of Ferdinand Marcos . . . Ninoy Aquino carried the vision that I see.
I see the vision of a better Philippines.
It can be perceived that to say something can be better indirectly means that something isn't good. When something isn't good and has existed for decades, it is often forgotten that this non-good thing - this problem – is an actual problem A single person may be aware of the problem but the masses do not know that the problem even exists. A foreign power. A dictatorship. What perilous situation does the Philippines currently face?
Corruption. Everywhere. From the lowest levels of your typical traffic cop taking bribes for running the red light to the upper tiers where Congressmen fund projects to pocket the cash that is skimmed off the top, not to be missed. And they do this, against the good of the Filipino people. Why? Money has become the dominant force of Filipinos in the upper percentiles of wealth, Filipinos who are in control of the Republika Ng Pilipinas. Except it is no Republic. On the license plates of every car on a Philippine road it is written: Matatag Na Republika
It should instead say: Matatag Na Pulitika'ng Korap
The politicians of the Philippines have long been filling their pockets with money off the false deeds and the hard work of the less-wealthy, the poor. These corrupt politicians continue to do so to feed their insatiable greed for the almighty peso. The Bible says, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” [Ecclesiastes 5:10] Their love for their own countrymen has been made dim, overshadowed by the grandeur of exceeding wealth and in doing so, the very idea of the good of the Filipino people has been put asunder.
I say to you it was better back then. Back then when the Philippines was ruled in the name of Spain. At least it was known that the trespassers were of foreign origin, the rape of the Filipino cast by Spanish hands. The modern era has seen a far more debilitating, humiliating affair. With each corrupt action, there is defeat. For now it is seen that it is the Filipino raping the Filipino.
Yet they continue to do this. These broken politicians wear showbiz smiles to cover their true intent. It is not to make the greater country, oh no! It is to make the greatest bank account. Their tunnel-vision for the unlimited accumulation of monetary wealth has replaced the truest noble vision known to all Filipinos.
Although I am not a real Filipino, I see what every Filipino sees . . .
I see the vision of a better Philippines.
With money as God, these ugly politicians have shattered their own people, a spiritual wealth forsaken for monetary gain. What did your heroes die for? Did Rizal fall upon that sandy shore with a look towards the sky only to see his own people disrupt themselves? Did Ninoy step out of that plane to return to his country in blind support of corruption? NO!! And yet they are celebrated and glorified in ceremonies of government, the same government that spits upon what they have died for . . .
a vision.
I see the vision of a better Philippines.
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