Where does the problem of Filipino originate?

After watching "Probe" last time, I began to think once more, how come Filipinos have been suffering this much problem-from government to people.

I came to this sense of anxiousness that most of our fellowmen are really wanting, clamoring for help from the government. Indeed, they need help. They were relocated in an area far from their comfort zones. They thought that the house and lot were free but nonetheless, it was for rent with a written agreement to lease the place. The cost of the NHA Housing Project named “Erap City” was PhP 165,000.00 and was dedicated for the squatters relocated from demolition. That cost is neither small nor huge but can be high for families who can not even support themselves due to lack of livelihood.

But somehow, at the back of my mind, I thought that, just maybe, this problem emanated from themselves. I don’t wish to blame them for what they are suffering but I just thought that if they could think more of someway else to generate meager income or empowered more of themselves then it could lessen their worries. Helplessness has always been an excuse for most of us. Viewing this type of documentaries, I always hear people saying that because of poverty, they can not send their children to school. They can not buy the supplies their children need. What more, the money they earn is better bought as food to relieve hunger. They would rather die uneducated that die in hunger. Or maybe, why did they have more than enough children they could support? Who is really the culprit of all these problems?

In other countries, free education is really free. The case is different here. Even public schools have payments required. Me, I’m proud to have finished my elementary and high school in a public school. And I am a personal witness that it is really not free to have education. Although in high school, we were in science class so we do not pay at all, but the projects still would take toll on the budget of the parents. I am fortunate to have a supportive mother who has been with me all these years. What can the government do to help the rest of its citizen? I think the only way that these people can raise the level of their confidence is to give them education. Education to empower them to find better source of income, to alleviate their current socio-economic stature. But with all the controversies DepEd is facing and with all the underlying corruption beneath its bureaucracy has been reportedly have, can we expect more?

Sometimes I also blame the government for not having a good process of its own. I’m not a politician nor an attorney. I am not so versed in the context of governance but from what I see, there is an underlying dilemma in our society. Is this another discipline problem? We always see opposite sides in the government. For or against the administration. Never had our politicians been united for a common good, for its people. From the interview at Probe last night, the people living in Erap City are being recognized and heard only when its campaign period. After that, what? The promises that were given to them are left in vain. Is that the way it should be? Promises and always promises. There is no way that the people entrust their lives and future to a person who has no word. I can recall Manuel Quezon’s statement, “My loyalty to my party ends my loyalty to my country begins”. I just hope all our politicians have this attitude. How can we ever improve our state if our lawmakers can not standby the good of its people? Simple gesture of making their promises will surely make a difference.

I’m also not an economist but I always ask myself, why are taxes so high? I don’t even know where my taxes, or should I say, our taxes goes. Is the government really short of funds? Sometimes I also wonder why did the government sell the revenue generating departments? It’s not about “utopian” idealogy because I’m not really pro-communism but what I am trying to say is that, yes, the Philippines earned some amount in selling their priced agencies but now what? They have lost the chance to generate a recurring monthly income. But despite these, we still have loans from the World Bank. Do our taxes suffice the payment for these loans or not? Why do we need to borrow money every year? Can we find ways to generate more income and lessen our expenses? How about the pork barrel fund? Can we see significance on giving these huge amount to our lawmakers? Do we have an assurance that these hard earned money by us, Filipinos, are meant for public works and not for their personal use? But wait, how come so many people are attracted to vie for positions in the government whereas its salary is not even comparable to the current market value? So many questions but I always end up to one answer-discpline problem.

I also came across my the question: “Why are people united in a company or organization but can not be united as a whole?” I thought, probably it is because of the difference. Or maybe because each organization has a leader and the leader defines what his or her organization would be. I just hope that you are choosing the right leaders for our country. I say YOU because I still am not a registered voter. I hope I can register and I hope and pray that my voice counts. In the first place, I hope, there are good choices for the leaders for our nation.

Wait, I have always observed that most of us have “asa” attitude. We always want to have the government do everything for us. My gosh, the government does not have magic. It can not put to end everyone’s misery. Each of us has to be disciplined and willed enough to face problems on our own. Let us be ingenious to think of ways on how to survive this so called life. God has given us what we need. It is always upto us to make it or break it. I believe that poverty is never an excuse. There were a lot of people who has managed to raise the dignity and level of finances by striving to the best that they could. Our strength is never just physical nor mental but our willingness and dedication on our endeavors.

More than doing the best of what we can, we should not depend on anybody but to ourselves. The question of Where does all the problem of Filipino originate is still a mystery. Moving forward, let us strive to excel in what we do. This is just the way to uplift our spirits and make a better impression on who the real Filipino is. I hope that I can care more for my motherland. In the littlest way I can, I hope to make little changes for improvement. I will start now.