The journey of Jireh Bautista (Cebu Daily News/April 4) tugs at the heart. His father is a shoemaker and his mother, a homemaker. The parents of five children had difficulty making ends meet, more so funding their kids’ education. The family at times learned to be happy having rice and soy sauce for their meals. The kids regularly walked to school. Jireh had to set aside P10 a day to use the internet for his schoolwork. Yet, he managed to graduate as Class 2013’s valedictorian from Cebu City National Science High School. Despite the daunting challenges, against all the odds, he emerged victorious.
I was told that their house has a wall packed with medals earned by him and his siblings. Amazing feat indeed. How did he do it?
His parents who did not finish high school ingrained in him and his siblings the sheer determination to secure a better future through education. There were also good Samaritans such as a parent who treated him like his own and gave him regular allowances and the CCNHS Alumni Foundation who gave him and other less-privileged students educational grants.
For sure, Jireh would not have gone this far without the embodiment of the values of persistence, courage, patience and fortitude to achieve his dreams, and be forever hopeful. For him, “The best is yet to come.”
There is strong parallelism in the odyssey of Jireh and those of the Filipino people. Yes, we all aspire for a better tomorrow. But a myriad of issues confront the here and now. Despite budgetary allocations that now run in the trillions, poverty is widespread. Progress has not trickled to the communities.
We have strong social justice provisions in our Constitution that would have made our marginalized sectors feel that they are protected by the State. But, are they? The poorest of the poor and the most malnourished remain the children of the farmers and fisherfolk who ironically help us acquire our daily provisions. Being inadequate in education and knowledge of their rights, the poor are susceptible to threats, manipulation and displacement by the powers-be.
I had a chance conversation with a driver whose clan’s tenancy relationship with a political lord’s family dates decades back. Fear of being displaced from their homes within the hacienda compelled them to vote for him and members of his family because the consequences are dire; in his words “no vote, ibot.” While we had a big laugh about it, it is sad that many still feel strangled by the strong hands of masters holding vast economic and political power.
One need not be a tenant, however, to be shackled by the domination of vested interests in the political landscape. Political dynasties have mushroomed, despite a ban in the 1987 Constitution.
Here are the startling facts from a study made by University of the Philippines Prof. Roland Simbulan:
1. Of the 15 million families in our country, 200 families have dominated Philippine politics at the national and local level. They have shaped the past and present. Will they still be allowed to shape our future?
2. There is an increase in the number of political elites. While 56 percent come from the old political families, 44 percent flourished after the 1986 Edsa revolution such as the Binays, Angaras, Villars, and Garcias.
3. Ninety-four percent of the provinces have political dynasties. In other words, in 73 out of 80 provinces, political dynasties are lording it over the lives of our people.
4. Fifteen out of 23 senators have relatives in elective positions, with 11 of the 15 having relatives in the House of Representatives. (https://www.halalan.up.edu.ph/index.php/multimedia/infographics/political-dynasty)
With political interventions common in the decision-making process in the country, no wonder our institutions are still weak. Those in government service are hesitant to make decisions that will earn them the ire of politicians; the Law, the people and the environment can wait.
Do you then wonder why environmental laws are not implemented?
The antidote to this unhealthy situation could only be the Rule of Law and empowered citizenry, with the help of patriotic leaders and public servants who put God and country before personal and family interest.
Some have given up on our country. We read the blogs and tweets and we feel sorry for those who feel that all is lost. The most challenging poverty to tackle is the poverty of the spirit. Learned hopelessness is the best climate for political dynasties to thrive a hundred times. The vacuum of leadership that engaged citizens should have filled in are easily gobbled up by those already entrenched with their position, power and resources. One glaring example is the fate of the Sangguniang Kabataan, perceived as controlled by political families. Aren’t we partly to be blamed as there are still many citizens who hesitate to be involved in governance?
More Filipinos are needed to give of themselves—their time, skills and expertise—for this most-politically challenged country of ours. It is not enough to complain. Action is needed, especially now, bombarded as we are with all sorts of climate, governance and moral crises.
We, who clamor for servant and ethical leadership from those holding public offices to steer our country to be one we all should be proud of , would like to see that dream fulfilled. Yes, in our lifetime. But, it is largely up to us, citizens, with the support of sincere and genuine leaders, who can make it happen. Our growing voice for good governance boosts the spirit of those in government, and there are many of them who are dedicated, sincere and selfless.
Just like Jireh, we should never give up. Just like Jireh, we say, “the best is yet to come” in this stirring journey of nation-building.