When I was in college, filled with the idealism – and the naivete – of youth, I believed that the best way to make a difference in the world was to join the government. After earning my degree in economics, I entered law school believing that it was the best way to prepare myself for the job I ultimately desired: that of legislator.
Over a decade later, the harsh realities of politics have taken the naivete of my youth away. Whereas I used to think that the ballot was the end all and be all of suffrage, now I know that the voice of the people can be muted by machinations of the powerful few. Whereas I used to believe that government was the saviour of the people, I have seen that there are times when it is the government that abuses the efforts and tramples on the hopes of the masses. Whereas I once thought that if you worked hard enough, nothing could get between you and your goals, now I know that there are men – and women – who will attempt to ruin your integrity through rumors and false accusations just to prevent you from moving forward and finding your dreams.
I saw these realities in the last election and, now being in the center of political action as spokesperson of former President Joseph Estrada, I am witness and sometimes even victim to these realities today. It would be easy to give up this life and go back to being a mere private citizen, to live oblivious to the mistakes of the current government. Some of us in the middle class can still afford to live that way. But foregoing vigilance would be tantamount to idly watching our country die. To stand silent on issues such as the ZTE-NBN scam, the Mindanao conflict or the rice crisis would be tantamount to witnessing the pillage of the nation and acquiescing to it.
Indeed, it is tiring to fight for the truth. It is frustrating to hear members of the incumbent government pay lip service to the people, with the audacity of resonating your ideals while in actuality stealing from the government coffers and tricking the masses. To see government signs that read “Ramdam ang Kaunlaran” when poverty levels and experiences of severe and involuntary hunger are at their worst. To hear speeches speaking of economic progress for the Philippines when the quality of life of our people has not improved and in fact has even worsened. To be unable to get to the bottom of the truth on the numerous anomalies of the incumbent administration because of the constant abuse of the concept of executive privilege.
But we cannot afford to be frustrated. Because at the end of the day, this is where we live. The Philippines is our country, the Filipinos our people. And we must do everything in our capacity, be it large or small, to protect the nation from those who abuse it. I am not going to fool myself into believing that I can change the world with my current job. I am but a small voice. But I believe there are many of us who see what is really going on with this Administration. And we will speak the truth. And, hopefully, together, we will be heard and somehow make a difference in the history of our nation.
The realities of today have sunk in but the idealisms of my youth remain. Core values, like love of country, have not changed. And so I continue to speak, I continue to write, as my small contribution to ensuring that our leaders remain dedicated not to themselves but to the nation.
I want to thank Mr. Joe Leuterio for giving me the avenue to do this; space to speak of my ideals and to speak of the truth. I hope that this column will serve as a platform to voice not only my dreams for the Filipino people, especially the Mindorenos, but to serve as a means by which the Mindorenos will express their dreams as well. And I hope that in my humble capacity as writer, I will be able to fulfill that dream of mine in my youth of making a difference.
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