A sincere question to all people of the Philippines?

Question

Maybe I will get blasted for this because I am a foreigner.
People please don't get the wrong perception. These questions are sincere.

I was thinking how Martin Luther King's strong speech against the U.S. Government for racial equality in the nation caused the government to act proactively and opened many opportunities for black americans and people of color to advance in life.
Did the People of the Philippines ever have a strong positive and eloquent speaker who represents the poor and needy? Is there a gifted strong intelligent man or woman with a passion of fire like Martin Luther King in his day?
Should the people of Philippines rally together in millions peacefully with no violence and boldly demand the whole entire government body to change their hearts and mind to clean the corruption for the sake of the people and many generations to follow?
Will there ever be an historical non violent revolutionary event that will crack the hard rock of corruption in the P.I.

Answer 1

A lot of people would probably say that the person you're looking for is Ninoy Aquino, but he died way before my time, so I can't really compare. He was great though; he volunteered to cover the Vietnam war at the age of 17 (becoming the youngest journalist, I think), and the Philippines' youngest ever senator. If he didn't die, he would probably be a Philippine president, but then again his death inspired the first People Power Revolt, so we really wouldn't know.

"Should the people of Philippines rally together in millions peacefully with no violence and boldly demand the whole entire government body to change their hearts and mind to clean the corruption for the sake of the people and many generations to follow?"

Yes actually, this happened. They were called "People Power" and "People Power II" (I didn't include the so-called People Power III because it was anything BUT peaceful). Ask anyone who've been on the first People Power (like my father) and you'd see him/her reminisce and tell you every nitty gritty detail of those days.

Yes, this happened, they rallied. A fearful dictator was forced to seek refuge in Hawaii. A new government and constitution took over. If this is a novel, it would end with "and they lived happily ever after."

Well I know that you're asking this question because you know that the Philippines did not have that ending.

II hope that one day someone could, as you say, crack the hard rock of corruption in this country. But right now we're still waiting.

Answer 2

The politicians saying they are helpful to the needy are great pretenders after all. The ones fighting for the poor can't win awards in the Philippines' movie-like scenes as they are perceived to be the antagonists. Ideas can be easily sold to the Philippines and everything that's originally favorable becomes unfavorable.

Many Filipinos can recognize the facts you stated but we can't just unite to fight for own rights. Maybe some have resigned themselves to the idea that nothing's gonna change anyway because we, as citizens, being the lion's share in the government, are actually "small" as considered by elite-sided politicians when it comes to their priorities (how sad).

The fact that is becoming more and more transparent that the Philippines is a corrupt country has become a simple sentence requiring simple understanding -- and no politician feels guilty of that crime. It's just hard to erradicate that but it can decline by stricter implementations of new policies. However, policies than can serve as barriers to this don't exist yet. This is the problem. A revolution was made in 2001 but there was only one main involved politician who was greatly affected. This event didn't even scare others and corruption continued to happen stealthily.

The erradication of the said crime is very much needed but whatever ways we could think of for it not to keep it coming, it will never be erradicated if we don't identify our personal problems affecting social ones. I mean, there is a great need for the citizens to change their mentality and some of their ways before corruption gets knocked out. Technically, a physical problem is solved by physical changes but in a problem like this since it a social one, it would basically require changes of another aspect which is our attitude (before we can change the whole corrupt system)

Answer 3

i'm almost afraid to say my piece because of the great answers already given but rare opportunities like this should not be ignored... allow me to share my personal experience while i was a student at UP....i started as a pol sci major 'n was very vocal with my political viewpoints. but I was told often enough that i was a fake 'n too naive. they were saying stuff like "how could you claim to be maka-masa (for the poor) when you live in Greenhills?" "you can't change the system, nobody can. many have tried; all failed.", etc. that did it... i changed my major to accounting 'n have since been shy about expressing my political convictions, altho i still consider myself very patriotic.

i think the big difference between MLK 'n whoever will represent the poor 'n the needy people of the Philippines is this - MLK is black; he championed the cause of the blacks; he led his own people. does this mean that the Filipino poor are waiting for someone from their ranks to be their eloquent spokesman? maybe.

so while we wait, what can be done now? i wish i know.... that "creative corruption" idea is so far-fetched, almost funny 'n crazy (no offense)....but if it works, cool.



my longest answer yet....totally cool!!!

Answer 4

You don't have to worry about being blasted my friend. I am Filipino and I admit that the country is indeed corrupt and sad to say at all levels. You even need to pay a jail guard .30cents USD to visit an incarcerated relative. Not only do you have to contend with that, you have to worry about pompous government officials, their families and their extended families. Most of the time, people just mind their own business. I don't think rallying will work either, it's just replacing one corrupt regime with another. A lot of citizens even mention that times were better during our "dictatorship" days, where corruption only belonged to the higher up. People who bemoan martial law before bemoan the situation now. I actually don't see the light at the end of the tunnel here.

With the elections now over, I am aghast at the violence that was widespread especially in the provinces. If one were to make a closer analysis, we are moving into a defacto "Plutocracy" where people in power are all people of wealth. Who then will ascertain the needs of the poor? Even Aquino, a former president, refused to yield their lands to Agrarian reform to which a lot of people who clamoured for it were mysteriously killed. Maybe change will come but it's certainly not coming in my lifetime, it's gotten worse now. Imagine one province, wherein all the seats of power are controlled by one family? Bleak, very bleak.

Answer 5

I think the main difference between MLK & the current situation in the Philippines is the number of people who actually want change.

I was talking the other day to a friend in the states, and realized that part of the problem with corruption is that although we bemoan it, many of us exploit it on a regular basis. I myself (or people close to me) have: given money to a police officer (caught running a red), have a special ID that gets me out of color coding, called on friends in customs to gain special favor, called on friends in government for further special favors. Mind you, I am from the states and would never in a million years even think of doing any of the things I see done here.

I think the biggest way to make a change is to start with the individual. Start on a local level with your village or barangay. If you get pulled over (for doing something wrong), accept the ticket and pay the (higher) fine to the LTO. If you need papers pushed through some bureaucracy, wait and refuse to pay any monies to make it go quicker. Follow the rules. Treat the laws as a law and not merely a suggestion.

Answer 6

I know of one eloquent speaker but he's dead now. Ninoy Aquino is the best person you have describe. An eloquent speaker, intellegent senator, abhored violence, a brave man despite the odds of martial law during Marcos era.
The problem was he was left alone to criticize the martial law administration. Other opposition personalities started to lie low and gave up the fight, but not Ninoy Aquino.
Another person though not eloquent was Cardinal Sin. He has the charisma like Martin Luther King. When the Cardinal speak, all Filipinos will listen. This was exemplified by rallying his flocks to go to the streets to avert the civil war between warring factions of the military of Mr. Marcos. It became the world famous EDSA Revolution.

Today, sad to say, I find none. All of these political leaders are the same whether administration or opposition. They are all corrupt, and do not bring good prospect of a better Philippines.

When they talk, you hate listening to them.

Answer 7

filipinos have a big population,,,a lot of people there wanted to speak about the corruption in the government offices,,,but sad to say they were dismay,,,,,,because they tihnk what is the use of speaking out 2when there;s no one to hear you....they are the people who goes to the church to pray than rallying and making noises in the street. To add more the government itself will really not listen for the reason that a lot of non sense people like the oppositions making a thousands of fsase alligations,,,,,,,aheading those people who really have something to spreak about the true situation without any hidden agenda,

Answer 8

Great question, Big P.....worth tons of stars!!!
Great answers, everyone.....thumbs up to all of you!!!

It is indeed a frightening thought but fakebob's answer sure makes a lot of sense. We do cry out to high heavens for reforms and yet we are somewhat complacent about our plight. To casual on-lookers, it does seem that we're happy with the status quo. Thank you, Mr. Jones, for your sincere comments and fair observations.

I'd like to add too that Sirrah** is really passionate about her "creative corruption" idea. While neither of us really has strong views (on Phil. or Amer. politics), we remain deeply
concerned for the Philippines and its people. The citizenship we hold is a paper thing...we will always be Filipinos "sa wika at sa gawa."



**Sirrah is my cousin. She lives here with me in TX.

Answer 9

I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE BEST ANSWER.

Were filipinos are former slave, like blacks in America... We unite, and fight for our rights just Martin Luther King do to your people...

The world is crazy, the racist are all over the world, we cannot stop them but we can prevent!

Right now, i am still US immigrant here and its to hard for me to get what your country called "American Dream" (because its hard to find a decent job if you are not US citizen)

Answer 10

Ninoy Aquino.

Look at what happened to him. He's dead. The reason why people are scared to step up against the government. The Philippines is a democratic country, only by name.