The worst of times

ANOTHER political hullabaloo has swept the entire nation in total muddle. Everyday, we wake up as onlookers of massive uprising for PGMA’s ouster, endless bickering of trapos and jumping fences of politicians in an attempt to stay in power. All these contribute to the unceasing hardships of the common tao; everyday, we see the nation plunging into a deeper crisis.

It started with the exposure of the controversial “Hello, Garci” tape which contains the wiretapped conversations between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and COMELEC Chairman Virgilio Garcillano. According to the opposition, it was PGMA’s attempt to rig the 2004 Elections in order to lead by more than one million votes over the opposition candidate. Eventually, the scandal triggered various groups and political affiliations to form massive rallies calling for a full investigation of her alleged election fraud. And despite PGMA’s “I’m sorry” statement, Filipinos were not convinced of her sincerity and moral ascendancy to lead the country. As a result, the country is now divided into two opposing factions: the ‘pro-GMA’ who still believes in her administration and the ‘anti-GMA’ group which demands for her immediate resignation.

Now, amid the worst scenarios where extreme government and financial crisis drags us into a deeper quandary and where prices of commodities as well as oil and fare hikes rise due to deregulation, liberalization and privatization policies, can we afford to remove a president? Do we have a commendable, if not better, alternative who deserves to replace PGMA? Are the Partido ng Manggagawa’s call for Transitional Revolutionary Government or the debated Charter Change (Cha-Cha) effective solutions to the political crisis?

The answers depend on our own decision and actions. Politicians we put in positions during the election are showing their true colors after shifting sides and capriciously taking advantage of the situation. Their lusts for sheer power is always clear as crystal. They are the same fat cats who grow immensely fatter from tireless corruption. We, the major players in every revolution must think a hundred times of the consequences of our own actions. Let's not just put the blame solely to our leaders since we abet in the burden of the country. In fact, the mistake begins from us and we tend to repeat it over and over again. We must hope and cooperate for economic reform and exercise democracy at its advantageous form. Let not our personal interests hinder us from preserving good and honest governance. After all, we are all Filipinos and we live in the same country.

(Published in The Augustinian, July 1-Aug. 15, 2005)