Political nightmare?

May 2013 is just around the corner and the bad smell of politics is now out and irritating the noses of the masses. Mudslinging, political alignments and positioning, meetings, and a lot of gatherings and picture-takings have been on the front pages of both local and national dailies. We are really in for a political nightmare.

The leading party in the province of Negros Occidental is on for a big split as reported in many papers and as per presumption. Now, one could already feel that public servants due for 2013 are no longer concentrating on giving public service. However, one could feel that they are now fighting one another to covet positions for the 2013 elections.

Also, families are grooming their younger generations to take the seats of their forebears. There are those that hold onto all public positions in their particular area. I thought that the 1987 Constitution and a Law was specific on anti-political dynasty and nepotism. However, it is now observed that the law is not observed in many parts of the country. Dynasties are felt in all corners of the country.

Politics has been a very lucrative business in this part of the world. If one should want to get rich in this country, all he has to do is to run for public office. Gone were the days of public servants. One seldom finds the spirit of service among Philippine politicians. Look at our local politicians. Many of them were not that rich but today, they ride on Special Utility vehicles and luxurious cars. Many of our legislators are flying around the country at the peoples’ expense in the name of legislation.

Here are some realities in the Philippines. While majority of the Filipinos have hardly a day’s meal and salary, our politicians waste money eating hearty meals in expensive restaurants. While the simple Filipino earns hardly a peso or his daily sustenance, our dear politicians spend the useless peso inside casinos and gambling dens in the country. While the husband cries and nervously looks for money to buy medicine for his child, the politicians spend money on their extracurricular and extramarital affairs. While the simple Filipino does not know how to stop the rainfall inside his house, the politicians spend their nights in expensive hotels. These are only a few of the paradox between the politician and his supposed master—the lowly Filipino.

As the famous saying goes—“only in d pilipins” is a famous cliché that would speak of the lifestyle and dignity of many of our politicians. We call them honorable, although we know that they are not. We call them men of integrity, although they do not have. We name them as our beloved, although we do not love them. We call them our servants but they do not serve us. We call them as caring individuals, but we know they only care for themselves. We are grateful for them in fixing our already fixed roads. We love them for they build half of our roads while they build their mansions on people’s sweat. We thank them, for spending our money. This is only in the Philippines.
The simple Filipino dreams of a simple life with government answering his basic needs. All he asks for is justice, love and a sense of common good. What does he get? A political nightmare.

Good Luck.

St. Ezekiel Moreno, St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Blesseds Pedro Calungsod and John Paul II, and Sir Faraon Lopez, pray for us.