"Kung kaya mong isipin, kaya mong gawin
Isa-isang hakbang lamang at ika’y makakarating
Tulad ng puno na galing sa binhi
Ang mga dakilang gawa’y nagmula sa guni-guni..."
- from “Kung Kaya Mong Isipin” by Joey Ayala
Today I am featuring several emailed letters from this column’s readers. Many of the emails I received in the past days are in reaction to my previous article entitled “The Tentacles of Evil”.
What is common in many of the reactions I received is that despite of what is happening in our country, many well-meaning Filipinos are still ready to stand up for what is right and willing to act for the future of our nation.
Definitely you can sense the tone of hopelessness, of surrender to the seemingly bleak future ahead. We are buried in a very dark hole indeed, but let us hope that we Filipinos can muster enough wisdom, courage and sense of unity to choose the path that will lead us back to the light.
* * * * *
Kabayan,
We all desire to achieve our objectives....
What about those overnight critics/enemies of PGMA who were with her many years in their post and took advantage of enriching themselves? Should we also run after them...or just let them go scot free, as if nothing happened?
If we want to get rid of the scalawags in our society, we should consider the option of reaping them out also....and sow a new seed. Don't let the old weeds remain.
Just my thoughts...
From: maltares@kfupm.edu.sa
* * * * *
I feel so helpless seeing and hearing all this mafia function that’s been happening ever since she (Gloria Arroyo) was in power.
And to realize that she used those money for her own good, sacrificing our Inang Bayan. It saddened me to realize that those projects are good projects, broadband, North and South rail projects to name a few. I'm saddened because it hit me when I think the good impact of such. Broadband means good communication, faster link, same with the road construction that will boost our economy. Look at our neighboring Asian countries, Japan has the Bullet train that transport people faster, good roads and airlines, same with Singapore, Hong Kong and the like.
It’s so frustrating to know, that this unfinished projects cost this much $$$$ and our mahal na INANG BAYAN was in debt for millions AND millions of dollars. Seems like the Philippines was sold to China for the benefit of this hypocrite, and as you well said, FAKE president.
I agree that its time to stand up now before it’s too late, we will soon be carrying China's passport.
From: asilag@arrow.com
* * * * *
Just like many Filipinos, I am appalled by the latest events in our country. This administration just as the previous administrations has committed big crimes against our nation – corruption, corruption and corruption. I do not know if we can even live to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I agree with you that it not correct to swallow the corruption of President Arroyo simply because all of them are corrupt anyway. We cannot trust any of those dirty politicians. It is time to move and bring out alternative leaders for our country’s future.
From: janreyes123@yahoo.com
(Send your comments and reactions to: for text messages to 0919-348-6337 and for e-mails to ianseruelo@gmail.com)
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Friday, March 07, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Tentacles of Evil
“Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change.”
- Andre Gide
So what has our nation become after more than 100 years since the Philippine declaration of independence? Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini and all our heroes for sure are turning in their graves as the nation is plunged deeper unto this pit of corruption and greed.
What has our nation become after almost a quarter century since the first EDSA people power? The spirit of EDSA, our dreams of social justice, is now drowned into the abyss of inequity and elite politics.
It seems that whatever good that is left is overpowered by the powerful stench of mafia-style governance. Our nation has been marinated for so long in this concentrated pulp of sleaze such that as time passes, the flavors of greed and corruption seeps deeper and deeper into its matter. Now, it seems that this concentrate has fully invaded the very core of our nation’s culture, spirit, and consciousness.
What is apparent is that the tentacles of evil have now reached all corners of our society. It is so entrenched that even those who are well-meaning are even blinded by the real issues.
Take for example those who would rather turn a blind eye on the substantive issues and say “Well, let the opposition prove the accusations against Arroyo in an impeachment case or a legal proceeding. Let the rule of law prevail.”
The assumption here of course is that Gloria Arroyo will submit to the “rule of law”. Could a government operating like a mafia submit to the rule of law? We have seen several times already how Gloria Arroyo manipulated our laws to suit her and her cronies. We have seen how Arroyo breached the spirit of our laws just to push her family’s agenda. Now what “rule of law” are we talking about here?
Further what this rule-of-law argument is saying is that removing Arroyo from Malacañang through another people power is a violation of our laws and constitution. The presidency, as all public offices, is a public trust. Now, is the exercise of the people of its sovereign power to withdraw this trust and oust a corrupt and fake president outside the scope of its political rights?!
Or take also the example of those who will simply tolerate Arroyo and defend her by saying “Well, all of them are the same anyway. Let any one who is clean cast the first stone.”
The problem with that premise is that it is okay for their beloved Arroyo to steal since all of these trapo (traditional politicians) are thieves anyway. I don’t know how in heaven’s name could one accept such kind of reasoning.
We should stand up now not for the benefit of the other thief, but for the sake of our nation’s future, for the sake of our children. We should stand up now not because we want to install another trapo, but to push for a social justice agenda that will benefit the poor and the marginalized, our nation as a whole.
This is I think one of the lowest period in Philippine history. A point where the nation is still divided in condemning corruption in its grandest scale. A point where we don’t even tremble in indignation as we are faced with one big blatant attempt to defraud the nation.
(Send your comments and reactions to: for text messages to 0919-348-6337 and for e-mails to ianseruelo@yahoo.com.)
- Andre Gide
So what has our nation become after more than 100 years since the Philippine declaration of independence? Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini and all our heroes for sure are turning in their graves as the nation is plunged deeper unto this pit of corruption and greed.
What has our nation become after almost a quarter century since the first EDSA people power? The spirit of EDSA, our dreams of social justice, is now drowned into the abyss of inequity and elite politics.
It seems that whatever good that is left is overpowered by the powerful stench of mafia-style governance. Our nation has been marinated for so long in this concentrated pulp of sleaze such that as time passes, the flavors of greed and corruption seeps deeper and deeper into its matter. Now, it seems that this concentrate has fully invaded the very core of our nation’s culture, spirit, and consciousness.
What is apparent is that the tentacles of evil have now reached all corners of our society. It is so entrenched that even those who are well-meaning are even blinded by the real issues.
Take for example those who would rather turn a blind eye on the substantive issues and say “Well, let the opposition prove the accusations against Arroyo in an impeachment case or a legal proceeding. Let the rule of law prevail.”
The assumption here of course is that Gloria Arroyo will submit to the “rule of law”. Could a government operating like a mafia submit to the rule of law? We have seen several times already how Gloria Arroyo manipulated our laws to suit her and her cronies. We have seen how Arroyo breached the spirit of our laws just to push her family’s agenda. Now what “rule of law” are we talking about here?
Further what this rule-of-law argument is saying is that removing Arroyo from Malacañang through another people power is a violation of our laws and constitution. The presidency, as all public offices, is a public trust. Now, is the exercise of the people of its sovereign power to withdraw this trust and oust a corrupt and fake president outside the scope of its political rights?!
Or take also the example of those who will simply tolerate Arroyo and defend her by saying “Well, all of them are the same anyway. Let any one who is clean cast the first stone.”
The problem with that premise is that it is okay for their beloved Arroyo to steal since all of these trapo (traditional politicians) are thieves anyway. I don’t know how in heaven’s name could one accept such kind of reasoning.
We should stand up now not for the benefit of the other thief, but for the sake of our nation’s future, for the sake of our children. We should stand up now not because we want to install another trapo, but to push for a social justice agenda that will benefit the poor and the marginalized, our nation as a whole.
This is I think one of the lowest period in Philippine history. A point where the nation is still divided in condemning corruption in its grandest scale. A point where we don’t even tremble in indignation as we are faced with one big blatant attempt to defraud the nation.
(Send your comments and reactions to: for text messages to 0919-348-6337 and for e-mails to ianseruelo@yahoo.com.)
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