Ohohoy!

The Marcoses did not only steal from the Philippine treasury, violate human rights and put their friends and relatives in positions of authority. They did something far worse. The Marcoses taught everyone how to do it.

Our country is experiencing right now a culture of corruption that seems to be more widespread than the Marcos years. Graft and corruption seem to be present in every contract starting from the barangays up to Malacañang. It is so rampant that commissions, bribes, patong, lagay, suhol, grease money and other terms have been replaced with the operative name – SOP or Standard Operating Procedure. Just ask any government contractor and he will definitely know what SOP means. What’s even worse is how corruption has already seeped into private organizations. It is not unusual to encounter purchasing managers asking for commissions from contracts from their suppliers.

I honestly don’t believe that electing a new president alone will change the destiny of the country, although this is a good first step considering the current president’s (lack of) moral leadership.

Just looking at the possible replacements makes me shudder. There’s the convicted plunderer, the self serving senator, the media hugging bachelor, the crony’s son who was taught to talk like a politician from birth, the voice over announcer turned anchorman turned second highest official of the land and his anchorwoman rival/peer, the devil’s minister, the politicizing priest who can’t get any support, and the lesbian nuisance candidate. There’s also the apprehensive heroes’ son who will probably get my vote (even if it means that I will be supporting the annoying gossip girl). Not one of them will change the country.

I admire Mr. B’s optimism but sorry to all the hopefuls out there - change is not coming.

To be continued…

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