CORRUPTION AND

DESPAIR
Posted on

December 10, 2008 under random

(This piece is based on the speech

delivered by Rebecca T. Anonuevo as a
reaction to the speech of Dr. Alice
Guillermo on the first National Study
Conference on Corruptionary. An
Innovative Tool for Good Governance held
at the University Hotel, University of the
Philippines, Diliman Quezon City noong
Disyembre 8-9 2008. Please click here for
the Filipino version of this piece.)
Good morning every one. I am here to share
my reflections to you about the worsening
problem of our country; it is a problem whose
name even street-children who have learned
how to speak can pronounce.
I am not here to define the word. I am not also
here to give examples because we are very
tired of it. As a writer, I have formed the habit
of reflection. I believe this is the only thing a
writer has, the ability to reflect about the
things that happen in the world. Otherwise,
how can poets like me write something unique
out of the ordinary?

Wherever I set my eyes to, I see traces of this

problem. Like you, I am also getting tired. For
a change, I thought about thinking the reason
why human beings are able to do the things
that destroy of corrupt us.
We know the meaning of hope. The newlyelected 44th US president Barack Obama, said
that hope is not blind optimism. It is the
courage to face every day trials knowing that
we will overcome and accomplish the things
we long for and dream of.In other words,
Obama was saying a person who has faith has
the ability to look at not only the things that
occupies him at the moment, but also the
things that are not there yet. He is able to see
beyond today, tomorrow, the day after
tomorrow, a week from now, a month, a year,
ten years, one generation from now.
Corruption is so widespread in our society I
believe we have lost hope in eradicating it. I
compare corruption to garbage. All my life I
have not littered but the streets are still full of
it, so what for? A candy wrapper could no
longer aggravate the piles of garbage in the
streets. The shortsightedness of this view
leads us to despair, and despair pushes us to
commit acts not done by people who hope and
continues to hope. The mind that thinks this
kind of thoughts no longer believes in the

saying what we sow we reap. His vision could

not extend far enough to the harvest season,
so he does not believe in will come, why plant?
Hunger and despair are his only motivation;
not hope anchored in the belief that tomorrow
brings an opportunity to ease the sadness,
feed the hunger, and fill the need.
What I really want to say is this: corruption is
a symptom of a soul who has lost hope and
direction in life. If we really want to eradicate
corruption, we need to toil to bring back hope
and faith in our lives. Let us believe in the
power of good deeds, and let us hope that the
integrity we planted will bear abundant fruit
so that all may prosper.Thank you very much,
and mabuhay

A CHANGE
WITHIN Half a century of oppression, tyranny, and cruelty had passed.
Foreign battleships, artillery, and military left our land. Our flag raised in full
dignity and colors. An independent government formed and fortified by laws.
A nation formed by people with its own rights, language, and identity to be
proud of. The Philippines is free at last, or is it? Corruption, poverty, dirty
politics, and other national problems both minor and major are present and
imminent nowadays. Moral and character crisis is sweeping around the
country. We are in need for a change, a change that will not come from others
but with you. We have to eradicate the image of a common Filipino which is
still bound to the old culture of being idle and going through the flow. We have
to become a new Filipino bound with the new culture of being disciplined,
righteous, and persevering, a new Filipino which is honest and loyal, and a

new Filipino full of patriotism for his country. The Filipino youth is the
answer and the fulfillment of this dream. We will be the future leaders and
forth runners of this nation. The future of our country is at our hands and it is
on a hanging balance. If we fail to change, our country will continue to
deteriorate. But if we succeed, our country will shine again with its full glory.
So why is it that Im persuading you to change? What is the true dilemma of
our society? The truth is corruption and other problems are just contributors
in the deterioration of our country. Our culture is the one to be blamed of.
Many countries such as the Koreas were once full of corrupt political leaders,
but where are they now? They rose as the 13th largest economy in the world.
The secret lies in their culture of being hard working. We too have our own
hardworking people but what becomes imminent is the culture of
consumerism. We tend consume our gains faster than we produce. We dont
think for the future but just think of today. Many say that immigrating and
Filipinos abroad must go back and work for their country instead. But what is
the use of patriotism if their stomachs are empty. We have to admit that our
minimum wage is so low for a growing economy tied up with growing
population trend that eats up our economic gains and low job availability or
jobs mismatch. Filipinos also tends to give importance to white collar jobs and
ignore blue collar jobs like welding, gardening, and etc. which are the basic
jobson a society. We also didnt pursue agrarian reform like what our Asian
neighbors had done like Japan and Taiwan to give importance and lift the
current situation of our peasants and farmers. We also lack in
implementation. Our laws are nearly perfect but cannot be implemented and
enforced properly. These are the problems of our society and do need an
immediate change. The effects of these problems tend to amplify because of
the culture of idleness. There was a time when I passed along the slums of
Waterman early morning and saw how the people there are just so idle,
sitting, gambling, and even drinking alcoholic drinks early morning. They are
just wasting time and energy doing nothing instead of searching for
opportunities. This culture is perpetuating and sometimes we even take pride
on it uttering the quote: Filipinos are lazy people. These problems are also
sometimes considered as the norm. Because everyone does it I will do it, a
common idea of Filipinos. We are also great show-offs. We are always fond of
extravagant clothes, bags, and shoes with expensive product line. We are
always saying that we love our country and we are proud of it but do nothing
to save it from its demise. These effects conjugate together and form an
impassable barrier towards a better future. The enemy and the one to be
blamed for are our own selves. And we have the capacity and the decision to
change and prosper. Reform in the educational sector can be an answer to

these problems. On a hundred kids only five will proceed to college and 2 will
have decent jobs. If we focused on education we can and we will purge the
root cause of these problems. Social revolutions can also be done to induce
reform. Not the bloody one but a peaceful one. But I am not provoking a
revolution to overthrow the government but a revolution inside our selves.
Educational reforms and social revolutions will not succeed if we ourselves
will not change our attitude, values and perspective in life. The sole solution to
these problems is a change within, a change that will start at us, a change
that will create an unbreakable chain of changes among others, and a change
that will break that impassable barrier. We can become a new Filipino. And
when that day comes, I assure you the Philippines is free at last.