Pope’s views on corruption in PH ‘valid, timely,’ say ordinary folk

MANILA, Philippines—A “wake-up call.”

“Valid observation about corruption in the Philippines.”

“It’s about time the government really heard the voice of the people, especially the poor.”

These were some of the reactions of Catholics to Pope Francis’ speech at Malacañang on Friday morning.

Those interviewed were among the thousands of people who lined Roxas Boulevard to see the Pontiff on his way back to the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue after he celebrated a Mass at Manila Cathedral.

Most of them agreed that corruption in the government was mainly to blame for the diversion of state resources from the poor, and the state should exert efforts to improve the lives of poor Filipinos.

Marlon Bacong, 51, who makes a living selling bottled water and soft drinks at Rizal Park and the neighboring Ermita area, described as “valid” the Pope’s call for an end to corruption.

A native of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Bacong said “poor people like me are among the victims of corrupt people in the government.”

He said he had “on several occasions fallen prey to policemen and security guards demanding tong, ranging from P20 to P50” from vendors before they were allowed to sell their wares on Roxas Boulevard

Lilia Dionisio, a 54-year-old housewife from Molino, Cavite, observed that the reported delay in the distribution of cash and material donations to some survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), which ravaged Eastern Visayas in November 2013, was a “case in point” of corruption in the government.

“Some media reports said that aid had yet to reach some of the victims more than a year after the natural disaster hit that area. Why? I think everyone knows why,” she said.

‘Help the poor’

Dionisio, who is also a volunteer worker at St. Joseph Chapel in Barangay Molino IV, appealed to the government to “really work hard to eliminate corruption, as well as make extra efforts to help the poor improve their lives.”

Teresita Delgado and Sosita Pureza, vendors and neighbors at the Parola compound in Manila’s Tondo district, believe that “efforts are being made by the government to help the poor.” But both said they wondered why many poor people were getting poorer.

Like them, Ma. Melissa Alolong, a nurse from Guiguinto town in Bulacan, said government assistance to the poorest of the poor could hardly be felt.

She expressed the hope that the state would “double its efforts in helping the poor improve their place in society where the rich seem to get richer and the poor get poorer.”

But Winnie Reyes, an eye doctor from Pasig City, and Senior Insp. Melanie Redon said they believed the poor should not be totally dependent on the government to improve their lives.

Let’s all act as one

Redon, of Pinili, Ilocos Norte, said “poor Filipinos should also help themselves, that is, by working hard.”

For Dionefred Tabusan, a housekeeper at the University of the Philippines Infirmary in Diliman, Quezon City, the Catholic faithful “should find time [to do] even random acts of kindness to fellow Christians.”

Tabusan was wearing a T-shirt with the message: “We must spread our hands in feeding the hungry… Let’s all act as one.”

Fernando Sengco agreed. The 66-year-old retired businessman from Navotas City said “charity and compassion are basic Christian values.”

“Being Catholics, we should adhere to them,” he added.

Singer and antipork activist Ito Rapadas said the Pope’s message on corruption should be a “reminder” to all politicians of the “reason why they are in government service.”

Rapadas, who brought along with him his two sons, said the Pope’s views on the importance of family would have a lasting impression on Filipinos.

“The family as an institution is under attack and he’s conscious of that by [reminding us] to take care of our own families,” he said.

He also expressed hope the government officials’ encounter with the Pope would have “a positive net effect [on] them.”

“I just hope that those involved in plunder would have a change of heart and try to refocus their attention on truly serving the people,” Rapadas said.