Opinion: Is the Philippines Hopelessly Corrupt or Is There Hope? By Manuel L Caballero

ON MY WATCH

By MANUEL L. CABALLERO

IS THE PHILIPPINES HOPELESSLY CORRUPT OR IS THERE HOPE?; MARCOS AND DUTERTE DAMAGED PH DEMOCRACY; OPINIONS FROM NON-PINOYS ABOUT THE  PH; LOIDA LEWIS  BOOK- SIGNING DURING UPAAA REUNION/CONVENTION IN NJ

In a recent speech in Manila, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. rejected the notion that the Philippines has "damaged culture." Mr. Marcos, Jr. based his rejection on an analytical article about the PH written by James Fallows of the 186-year-old The Atlantic Magazine on Nov. 7, 1987. 

The president may have referred back to the article,  which was written one year after the Marcoses were ousted by Filipinos and exiled to Hawaii after 20 years of what observers commonly described as corrupt, cruel and extravagant rule. The Fallows article itself was critical of the Marcos rule. He even mentioned about the "conjugal rule" of Marcos, Sr. and Imelda. 

Damaged Culture

The Asia correspondent  wrote a sad view of a nation "not only without nationalism but also without much national pride."

This damaged culture could be traced back to the dictatorial rule of Marcos Sr., according to the magazine.

Perhaps this was the reason why Mr. Marcos Jr.  opted to cite the article and rejected the author's observations written 36 years ago.

Recently, however, another analytical article written by Peter Wallace of Business Forum circulated in social media on why some younger countries are richer than some very old countries. And why smaller countries with limited natural resources are richer than big ones with plenty of natural resources.

The PH was classified as a poor nation in the article.

Wallace said that to a large extent, "the attitude of the people molded by education and culture" makes a country rich or poor.

The author gave the following 9 Life Instructions that separate the rich societies from the poor ones:

1. Ethics, as basic principles.

2. Integrity.

3. Responsibility.

4. The respect for Laws and Regulations.

5. The respect from majority of citizens by right.

6. The love for work.

7. The effort to save and invest.

8. The will to be productive.

9. Punctuality.

Based on all the above, you, the reader, can answer the 2 questions I posed in the lead titles of this column. Is the PH hopelessly corrupt? Or is there hope for change. Remember what Alexander Pope said long ago, "Hope springs eternal." That people always hope for the best even in the face of worst circumstance. Let's hope so inspite the current situation of the native country.

***

Did you know that when the late Pres. Cory Aquino started to assume power in 1986, she had to send a team of Malacanang lawyers to Washington DC in order to research and study how to revert the Philippines again into a democratic political society?

My esteemed friend, Atty. JoeNono Tale , former Chair of CFC International, was one of the team members who told me this story.

Mr. Marcos, Sr. ruined democracy in the country that it needed "resuscitation" and major surgery and study in order to bring it back to health and normalcy.

Then, came Rodrigo Duterte. I would say, in a way, he also messed up the institutions of government with his style and politics. Unfortunately, a political ally took over. So, let's see what happens next.

***

I was informed by Loida Lewis  herself, author of the now popular "Why Should Guys Have All The Fun?" that she will do a book-signing at the UP Alumni Association in America Reunion and Convention on Oct. 20, during the Oct. 19-22, 2013 Reunion at the Regency Hyatt in New Brunswick, NJ. 

UP Alumni in our area are invited to attend. Tickets are still available by going to Eventbrite or Google or UPAAA Web Site.

As announced earlier, Former PH VP Leni Gerona Robredo  will deliver the Keynote on the 20th, while UP President Angelo A. Jimenez will speak on the 21st.

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