Forgive, Forget, and Move On Philippines
Isabel P. Ball
August 12, 2005
I can’t believe what is truly going on in Philippines. As if they haven’t gotten enough turmoil to keep them appear like an accursed country, the political situation has not stabilized either, even after the popular EDSA uprising that hacked out the blight of Marcos.
Wasn’t it only an administration ago that the former President Estrada, popular leader of the Filipino masses, was toppled down on allegations of corruption. Poor guy, he is presently languishing in captivity, however, in a house arrest comfortable than a typical prison.
And the one before him was neither effective to have uplifted the country from its economic malaise. Fidel Ramos, as a leader, used the position to travel the world on the auspices of the presidency acting as a salesman, for the country that needs nothing but a brand new attitude. Further back, there was the first woman instituted to the presidency, and she was squeaky honest, in comparison. Cory Aquino’s, a housewife, her administration was historical in terms of honesty, being the wife of a slain Philippine hero, Ninoy Aquino, but proved mediocre in performance. It was a time when the country was like an infirm individual needing more than a medical miracle to fix, after having been summarily looted. The culprit was the 20-year rapacious leadership of the granddaddy of larceny committed in the world by a political leader, the infamous Marcos era.
So, if it is not political, there is also Mother Nature that perennially lambastes the country with frequency, in calamitous magnitude. Typhoons and earthquakes often leave the country in periodic devastation.
And now, again, Filipinos are witnessing a political melodrama occurring in the Philippines as political factions, like the powerful Mt. Pinatubo, convulse in their call on President Gloria Arroyo to resign. Her admission of guilt in the saucy “Garci Tapes” scandal that accuses her of having rigged the election, did not sit well with the rambunctious political nature of the Filipino populace. Like a besieged Queen, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, (GMA), though, is staying put in power.
An economist, GMA’s administration has apparently performed well in improving the economy, though peony has been given a positive mark by the IMF. For this, GMA, according to some reports, are being revered by the farmers in the provinces for having made an impetus to the once unproductive agriculture industry.
As a political office, the Presidency should be made politically chaste, incorruptible position in the country, or in any other countries in the world, for that matter. But as in the past, in the Philippines, it has been the seat of runaway corruption, beginning in grand scale with the Marcos protracted term. With the country coffers almost empty when Marcos was forced out of office, the succeeding source of corruption has been Jueteng (illicit gambling popular in the barrios). Former President Estrada was the classic downfall in the controversy. At present, it is alleged that the gambling contamination also includes GMA’s husband, Mike Arroyo and his Congressman son, Mikey, also being described as immature and noted for his tantrums, in what is called the Pidal Case. Both father and son have volunteered to leave the country to calm down the cauldron-hot scandals.
As though the Jueteng scandal is not enough to torment GMA, the controversial “Garci Tapes” emergence is also shaking the presidency with an uncertain force. Specially, having formally admitted herself as being the voice in the seeming politically motivated innuendo, GMA is in a hot seat.
But unlike most Filipinos, her admission has registered a different affect on me. It takes much gut than ordinary to have and make a person admit on his/her guilt, let alone, a President in stature. Though I’m least to condone corruption in office, but in the Philippines, corruption has now become a cultural cancer. On this note, GMA, I feel, deserves respect and compassion for having admitted the transgression, when most politicians, like Ramos, alleged to have also stolen the presidency from Miriam Defensor Santiago, in 1992, and also elsewhere, in America when Bill Clinton, while wagging his index finger, he vehemently denied under oath his affairs with Monica Lewinsky.
In the Philippines no one politician could come up, let alone, declare with a clean conscience, before the people and to the observing world, of their purity in deeds and intentions. But what is actually being displayed by some of the political headhunters in the Philippine political arena is a hyped up, illogical act, a seeming paranoia to a reality confronting them that corruption is indeed ailing the entire country, much like an HIV virus is devastating many nations in Africa.
While I may appear bias to GMA, it is for good reasons. As a leader, she is fit for the presidency because of a higher education in Economics that she has obtained in America. It is a credential worthy of platitude for a female leader to have, especially in midst of economic crisis. She has hailed from a reputable clan, in fact, the daughter of a good past President Diosdado Macapagal. As a woman she is a mother and a grandmother, family centered, with simple values. She is therefore, much preferable than anyone of those male politicians around coveting for her seat.
The disturbing pattern of mentality gripping the Filipinos, since the time of Marcos that led to this implosive stage, is a manifestation of their inability to select good leaders. Are they not seeing, and able to predict from a marked pattern of political behavior that the Filipino politicians, are of one and of the same cut from a block of power and wealth hungry bunch? Maybe the true reality there really is no more selections of good political personalities, possessing the ideal values to lead the country, because of the contamination of corruption. Nowadays, everybody is in frenzy doing an activity to maintain their status quo, regardless of the source. The poor also, pitifully, ekes out for a daily living, much the same way, maybe having to steal for food.
I question the wisdom of ousting GMA as the right solution to the political crisis that is part of the Philippine political tapestry. I would like to know, who are in the line up, questing to be the next President of the country? Have they sworn in to a total abstinence in the engagement in any form of depraved political activity? Have they pledged to steer clear from dishonesty while in office?
So, GMA has committed a grievous transgression against the country. But the admirable and respectable thing is that she had admitted it, in spite of an uncertain political consequence. That is more than magnanimous for an individual to do, much more, for a President. After all, as mortals, we have been programmed to commit sins and to seek for forgiveness. Maybe, GMA's admission should be admired instead of being vilified.
What the Filipinos should watch out for are those who commit violations, but remain scot-free, only because lying to their teeth has proven them a safeguard, and worse something that the people and the culture have developed a seeming tolerant mindset. GMA, by admission, has showed her frailty as a mortal, with a winning heart that is typical of a woman, still naive and basic. Aren't these traits much more acceptable than the Trojan-type personalities sly, guileful, sleaze characteristics of the politician men?
Admission and forgiveness in a society where corruption is the standard of morality, I'd claim, is a more saintly act, and could be explored as a beginning of the cleansing of the long-standing moral depravity, that like a parasitic vine has engulfed the entire nation.
Hope a Christian heart coupled with logic, would prevail among the Filipinos, and as Catholics they have the propensity to forgive.
Wasn’t it only an administration ago that the former President Estrada, popular leader of the Filipino masses, was toppled down on allegations of corruption. Poor guy, he is presently languishing in captivity, however, in a house arrest comfortable than a typical prison.
And the one before him was neither effective to have uplifted the country from its economic malaise. Fidel Ramos, as a leader, used the position to travel the world on the auspices of the presidency acting as a salesman, for the country that needs nothing but a brand new attitude. Further back, there was the first woman instituted to the presidency, and she was squeaky honest, in comparison. Cory Aquino’s, a housewife, her administration was historical in terms of honesty, being the wife of a slain Philippine hero, Ninoy Aquino, but proved mediocre in performance. It was a time when the country was like an infirm individual needing more than a medical miracle to fix, after having been summarily looted. The culprit was the 20-year rapacious leadership of the granddaddy of larceny committed in the world by a political leader, the infamous Marcos era.
So, if it is not political, there is also Mother Nature that perennially lambastes the country with frequency, in calamitous magnitude. Typhoons and earthquakes often leave the country in periodic devastation.
And now, again, Filipinos are witnessing a political melodrama occurring in the Philippines as political factions, like the powerful Mt. Pinatubo, convulse in their call on President Gloria Arroyo to resign. Her admission of guilt in the saucy “Garci Tapes” scandal that accuses her of having rigged the election, did not sit well with the rambunctious political nature of the Filipino populace. Like a besieged Queen, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, (GMA), though, is staying put in power.
An economist, GMA’s administration has apparently performed well in improving the economy, though peony has been given a positive mark by the IMF. For this, GMA, according to some reports, are being revered by the farmers in the provinces for having made an impetus to the once unproductive agriculture industry.
As a political office, the Presidency should be made politically chaste, incorruptible position in the country, or in any other countries in the world, for that matter. But as in the past, in the Philippines, it has been the seat of runaway corruption, beginning in grand scale with the Marcos protracted term. With the country coffers almost empty when Marcos was forced out of office, the succeeding source of corruption has been Jueteng (illicit gambling popular in the barrios). Former President Estrada was the classic downfall in the controversy. At present, it is alleged that the gambling contamination also includes GMA’s husband, Mike Arroyo and his Congressman son, Mikey, also being described as immature and noted for his tantrums, in what is called the Pidal Case. Both father and son have volunteered to leave the country to calm down the cauldron-hot scandals.
As though the Jueteng scandal is not enough to torment GMA, the controversial “Garci Tapes” emergence is also shaking the presidency with an uncertain force. Specially, having formally admitted herself as being the voice in the seeming politically motivated innuendo, GMA is in a hot seat.
But unlike most Filipinos, her admission has registered a different affect on me. It takes much gut than ordinary to have and make a person admit on his/her guilt, let alone, a President in stature. Though I’m least to condone corruption in office, but in the Philippines, corruption has now become a cultural cancer. On this note, GMA, I feel, deserves respect and compassion for having admitted the transgression, when most politicians, like Ramos, alleged to have also stolen the presidency from Miriam Defensor Santiago, in 1992, and also elsewhere, in America when Bill Clinton, while wagging his index finger, he vehemently denied under oath his affairs with Monica Lewinsky.
In the Philippines no one politician could come up, let alone, declare with a clean conscience, before the people and to the observing world, of their purity in deeds and intentions. But what is actually being displayed by some of the political headhunters in the Philippine political arena is a hyped up, illogical act, a seeming paranoia to a reality confronting them that corruption is indeed ailing the entire country, much like an HIV virus is devastating many nations in Africa.
While I may appear bias to GMA, it is for good reasons. As a leader, she is fit for the presidency because of a higher education in Economics that she has obtained in America. It is a credential worthy of platitude for a female leader to have, especially in midst of economic crisis. She has hailed from a reputable clan, in fact, the daughter of a good past President Diosdado Macapagal. As a woman she is a mother and a grandmother, family centered, with simple values. She is therefore, much preferable than anyone of those male politicians around coveting for her seat.
The disturbing pattern of mentality gripping the Filipinos, since the time of Marcos that led to this implosive stage, is a manifestation of their inability to select good leaders. Are they not seeing, and able to predict from a marked pattern of political behavior that the Filipino politicians, are of one and of the same cut from a block of power and wealth hungry bunch? Maybe the true reality there really is no more selections of good political personalities, possessing the ideal values to lead the country, because of the contamination of corruption. Nowadays, everybody is in frenzy doing an activity to maintain their status quo, regardless of the source. The poor also, pitifully, ekes out for a daily living, much the same way, maybe having to steal for food.
I question the wisdom of ousting GMA as the right solution to the political crisis that is part of the Philippine political tapestry. I would like to know, who are in the line up, questing to be the next President of the country? Have they sworn in to a total abstinence in the engagement in any form of depraved political activity? Have they pledged to steer clear from dishonesty while in office?
So, GMA has committed a grievous transgression against the country. But the admirable and respectable thing is that she had admitted it, in spite of an uncertain political consequence. That is more than magnanimous for an individual to do, much more, for a President. After all, as mortals, we have been programmed to commit sins and to seek for forgiveness. Maybe, GMA's admission should be admired instead of being vilified.
What the Filipinos should watch out for are those who commit violations, but remain scot-free, only because lying to their teeth has proven them a safeguard, and worse something that the people and the culture have developed a seeming tolerant mindset. GMA, by admission, has showed her frailty as a mortal, with a winning heart that is typical of a woman, still naive and basic. Aren't these traits much more acceptable than the Trojan-type personalities sly, guileful, sleaze characteristics of the politician men?
Admission and forgiveness in a society where corruption is the standard of morality, I'd claim, is a more saintly act, and could be explored as a beginning of the cleansing of the long-standing moral depravity, that like a parasitic vine has engulfed the entire nation.
Hope a Christian heart coupled with logic, would prevail among the Filipinos, and as Catholics they have the propensity to forgive.
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