I had been blogging for about five years already and I could not see that much change on the photos of people, places, and events that I am capturing and using on my articles. From my hometown in the province of Batangas going to the city of Manila, aside from the slightly improved expressways, everything seems to be the same as what they are five years ago.
When I wrote “The Truth that Liars Know: the Highways to Poverty” back in 2011, there has always been a time for me to think again on the reasons why I wrote such an article whenever I traverse these SLEX and EDSA highways. These highways have been my path in the past fifteen years whenever I go back and forth to this city of Manila from my hometown, country side destinations, and current residence in Cavite. I can still remember the days when I was working as a part-time waiter in a food catering company in Batangas City.
Each week, we are heading towards Manila via SLEX where our next function or project is about to happen. The speedy buses and swerving vehicles during that time are still the same scenario up to these very days. Although the highway tracks where expanded, SLEX has not changed that much in terms of the drivers’ discipline on traffic rules and road safety. The toll fees have increased a lot in the past five years and what I can understand right now is that the government is still on-going with construction of the next superhighways in the Philippines. It’s a positive indication of progress but not much of change of the society as a whole.
As of this writing, I left Manila going to my workplace in Singapore with the contents of the news on television channels centering on “pork barrel” or the much better to hear “Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF”. Today, politicians are continuously debating and battling to defend each others’ post against this serious crime of the decade. The government has filed cases against three senators, former government officials, and the woman they pointed out as the mother of pork barrel scam.
On the Photos: South Luzon Expressway Toll Gate and Toll Fee Rates
As of this writing, I left Manila going to my workplace in Singapore with the contents of the news on television channels centering on “pork barrel” or the much better to hear “Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF”. Today, politicians are continuously debating and battling to defend each others’ post against this serious crime of the decade. The government has filed cases against three senators, former government officials, and the woman they pointed out as the mother of pork barrel scam.
In other words, this is all about corruption of the taxes and revenues of the Filipinos right in their own land. The newspapers and television can define everything for you if it’s all about corruption as this has been the topic for many years already in this country. Corrupt people keep on doing it and therefore the content of the news remains unchanged. Different people have their claims against corruption and this just leads to nothing but fooling one another.
But the good thing is that today, something right is happening about it. The former president of the Philippines was found guilty on corruption while the former supreme court chief justice was impeached for failure to declare his dollar accounts on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth or SALN. People’s awareness and participation on exposing malpractices of former government officials triggers more action from the government to fight corruption.
But the good thing is that today, something right is happening about it. The former president of the Philippines was found guilty on corruption while the former supreme court chief justice was impeached for failure to declare his dollar accounts on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth or SALN. People’s awareness and participation on exposing malpractices of former government officials triggers more action from the government to fight corruption.
Within the past three years since the present president of the Philippines started his leadership, some big names linked to corrupt practices were removed from their position and some big projects with anomalies and controversies were put on hold. In a sense, corruption was lessened a bit and improper use of public funds was corrected somehow. And the fight against corruption keeps on going up to this very moment. People are not tired yet and they want to see more changes in this country in the next few months, or even years.
I always have this realization and agreement on what our current president’s political campaign is saying that: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” (if there is no corrupt there will be no poor people). I also remember that time when I tried reversing this slogan and which then states that: if there are no poor people, there will be no corrupt. My slogan might be quite impossible to achieve even in any other countries. But my president’s slogan, I firmly believe that it can be achieved.
On the Photos: Typical Everyday Scenario in the Philippines Streets and Public Places Today
I always have this realization and agreement on what our current president’s political campaign is saying that: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” (if there is no corrupt there will be no poor people). I also remember that time when I tried reversing this slogan and which then states that: if there are no poor people, there will be no corrupt. My slogan might be quite impossible to achieve even in any other countries. But my president’s slogan, I firmly believe that it can be achieved.
I am a witness to the suffering of the poorest of the poor people in this country. In fact, a tiny portion of my life has been in a situation where the only way for me to eat a day meal is if I will find the food myself elsewhere. And these foods are the “kangkong”and “talbos ng kamote”, edible green leafy vegetables growing on riversides and backyards. This is the real situation in rural areas where farming and dependency on forest resources is the way of life of many Filipinos. In the city, these green leafy vegetables are also there and they are the same food poor people in this place are looking for in order to feed their stomach. One of the main reasons is that these are the cheapest foods that can be found in the market. And what is sad is that I cannot believe that this is still the situation today, thinking that this is the situation about twenty years ago.
With all these odds, I really can’t avoid to establish a link between my reverse statement of the president’s slogan and the future of this country. In my own perspective, I want to see no poor people and I believe that if it happens there will be no corruption. I know that this state of a country needs mindful thinking and tremendous effort in order to be achieved. But I will try to do my part, at least for the president’s slogan if not of mine.
Corruption is a criminal and brutal offense against the tax payers and even to the innocent people. It did kill thousands of lives because the social benefits of taxes were taken out. It did put millions of lives in debts because the access to medicine, fair transportation fees, affordable prices of food, and capacity to pay housing loans were denied. It did cause thousands of uprisings, rallies, revolutions, court hearings, and political killings in many parts of the country because people felt that they were robbed by justice and equality.
On the Photos: Effects of Corruption to the Filipinos Way of Life
Corruption is a criminal and brutal offense against the tax payers and even to the innocent people. It did kill thousands of lives because the social benefits of taxes were taken out. It did put millions of lives in debts because the access to medicine, fair transportation fees, affordable prices of food, and capacity to pay housing loans were denied. It did cause thousands of uprisings, rallies, revolutions, court hearings, and political killings in many parts of the country because people felt that they were robbed by justice and equality.
Corruption brought the Philippines down many times in the last one hundred years and many nations in Asia, Europe and America are witness to this history. Corruption is stealing the money of the people and what’s worst about this is that people behind it are spending it for their own interest. Corruption sinks down into the culture of the Filipinos and this is why it keeps on happening today in this country. Many have the mentality that if they did it, he or she shall do it too. For them, it is just being fair. You can obviously see the hunger of many politicians on running over and over again for the position in the government that they want. You can see how dedicated they are when it comes to spending millions of their money, or maybe the people’s money, just to win this game of politics. What you can see now on the city streets, remote provinces, squatter areas, public places, government offices, superhighways and media channels is the effect of corruption. As what Dr. Jose Rizal said, “the obvious does not call for proof”. The Philippines is a country of poor people.
Because of corruption, the Philippines had become a dangerous country. Literally, wars between the rebels MNLF and the government just happened a few days ago in Zamboanga City in Mindanao. The never ending pursuit to the rebels Abu Sayaff and New People’s Army are still happening today. Not only Metro Manila is the city of daily crimes but also the many cities in many parts of the country. But despite of that, no wonder why Philippines is still beautiful in many other aspects. It produces beauty queens, great singers, winning boxers, and many other talented people. The coral reefs, mountains, beaches, and other lovely tourist spots are here. I have written a lot of articles about top tourist destinations in this country and they are enough to prove that Philippines is a beautiful country.
The dangerous side of the Philippines is the effect of corruption and you can witness them anywhere. The photos I am sharing with you are the proofs even if I said that there is no need for such as they are obvious already. Putting an end to corruption would mean putting an end to the dangers in this country, if not all. Justice and equality will eliminate poor people, at least a big percentage of them. I am still looking forward to the day where I am back in this country as a worker paying my taxes and at the same time enjoying the benefits of those taxes I paid. And so are every Filipino and even the foreigners, they deserve to enjoy the benefits of their hard labours and contributions to this land. With no corruption, I think there will be no way for this country not to regain once more its true pride as a holistic nation. And if that happens, I will be among of those citizens who will rejoice because this is the reason why I am contributing these ideals of mine through blogs. And one of these ideals is to change everything from bad to good in this country. I am one of you who want to abolish corruption in this country.
About this Post
Do you have any comments or question about this blog? Send Noriel Panganiban an email at norielpanganiban@gmail.com. Together, let's fight corruption in the Philippines.
On the Photos: Worst Effect of Corruption - Street Kids Everywhere in Manila
Because of corruption, the Philippines had become a dangerous country. Literally, wars between the rebels MNLF and the government just happened a few days ago in Zamboanga City in Mindanao. The never ending pursuit to the rebels Abu Sayaff and New People’s Army are still happening today. Not only Metro Manila is the city of daily crimes but also the many cities in many parts of the country. But despite of that, no wonder why Philippines is still beautiful in many other aspects. It produces beauty queens, great singers, winning boxers, and many other talented people. The coral reefs, mountains, beaches, and other lovely tourist spots are here. I have written a lot of articles about top tourist destinations in this country and they are enough to prove that Philippines is a beautiful country.
On the Photo: Mt. Malarayat - One of the Philippines' Beauty Seen from SLEX
On the Photo: View from SLEX Lane - A Simple Beauty of Philippine Environment
On the Photo: Motor Parade of One of the Finest Restaurants in the Country - Proof that Philippines has Beautiful Food Recipes to Offer
The dangerous side of the Philippines is the effect of corruption and you can witness them anywhere. The photos I am sharing with you are the proofs even if I said that there is no need for such as they are obvious already. Putting an end to corruption would mean putting an end to the dangers in this country, if not all. Justice and equality will eliminate poor people, at least a big percentage of them. I am still looking forward to the day where I am back in this country as a worker paying my taxes and at the same time enjoying the benefits of those taxes I paid. And so are every Filipino and even the foreigners, they deserve to enjoy the benefits of their hard labours and contributions to this land. With no corruption, I think there will be no way for this country not to regain once more its true pride as a holistic nation. And if that happens, I will be among of those citizens who will rejoice because this is the reason why I am contributing these ideals of mine through blogs. And one of these ideals is to change everything from bad to good in this country. I am one of you who want to abolish corruption in this country.
About this Post
Do you have any comments or question about this blog? Send Noriel Panganiban an email at norielpanganiban@gmail.com. Together, let's fight corruption in the Philippines.
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