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Friday, May 13, 2005
King: And we let it go
By Kelvin King Lee
Babble On
"The country was wracked by mutinies and coups which destabilized the government and caused the deaths of many brave soldiers."
I HAD a conversation with a friend with a brilliant mind and a fantastic future ahead of him. He was among the top 3 to graduate from Ateneo Law School, was a consistent Dean's Lister and works in one of the biggest law firms in the country. His future seems set. Yet even he is planning to leave the Philippines.
I couldn't understand at first. I could see why others would want to leave the Philippines and start anew in another country, but my friend had a bright legal career ahead of him. To leave would literally mean forfeiting everything he had worked so hard for. He shrugs when I bring it up, and just says that he sees no future in the country. He points to a newspaper headline, as though that were explanation enough. He says he hopes to leave the country and perhaps practice law in the U.S. And with that, the country is deprived of another intelligent young mind capable of making a difference.
What is happening to the Philippines? Why is the country unable to keep its most valuable resource--its talented people? No amount of natural resources or sweeping infrastructure change can help the country if there are not enough capable citizens. Many experts have warned of the dangers of this "brain drain." The Philippines may be even worse off soon, if this keeps up. If we let this go.
Some would say that the present state of affairs started when the Filipino people became too complacent, too forgiving. I think it started when President Marcos let his wife run the Philippines into the ground. They both ransacked the country's treasury. Marcos, with his authoritarian presidential power, took out excessive loans from international financial organizations. These crippling debts are still haunting the country. The people, having enough of the strongman and his wife's antics, deposed him with a show of People Power. He and his family escaped, and the country had a chance to embark on a shining new path. But we let it go.
The country was beset by traditional politicians and Marcos loyalists who tried to gain favor in the eyes of the next few governments. We could have made an example of them, kept them away from the corridors of power and ensured that their collaboration with the Marcos family would shame them for good. In fact, we had a chance to keep the Marcos family OUT of the country and OUT of power. Instead many of them are back and serving as congressmen or governors. We had a chance to avoid this. But we let it go.
The country was wracked by mutinies and coups that destabilized the government and caused the deaths of many brave soldiers. The military rebels surrendered, but were unpunished, save for some push-ups Coup plotters are rarely punished in this country, perhaps to ensure the continued support of a restive military. We could have changed that. We could have made an example of them. But we let it go.
Muslim separatists, terrorists and Communist insurgents caused chaos in the country, also causing the death of many innocents and soldiers. We had many opportunities to either finish these battles through military force or end them through peace treaties (which arguably though, many rebels never followed). But we let it go.
We toppled a corrupt actor-politician from the Presidential seat. We had another opportunity to make sweeping changes in the land, to perhaps even renew hope and stability in the country. But, yet again, we let it go.
We had so many opportunities to reform the country's systems, make changes in the way things are done in many areas--taxes, bureaucracy, justice, wages, security, the list goes on. But we let it go.
Is it any wonder then, that so many of our brave and hopeful, our talented and hard-working citizens, are leaving the country? It's not the future of their country they are worried about now, but rather, their own future. They too, are now letting go.
We could still stop them. We can still make changes in the country. We can still improve, albeit with difficulty, but it can be done. At this point, it depends largely on the administration. And the people. Both sides still have a chance to change the country, even if many people think otherwise. We have to prove these critics wrong. We have to believe that we can still change things.
Otherwise, we will have to watch out countrymen go.
* * * * *
National Artist Ang Kiukok has just passed away. He was 74.Not many people know that he was one of us. A Dabawenyo by birth. He was born in Davao, though his roots were from China.
His paintings of mostly dark and rather mundane figures positioned him differently from other prominent artists in the country. His paintings were said to have gained widespread appeal among collectors due to their depiction of "the terror and angst of the times." His fame and prominence brought honor and prestige not just to himself and his country, but to Davao and the Filipino-Chinese community as well.
He was one of the "prized gems" of the Philippine art scene and a source of pride for the Filipino-Chinese community of the Philippines and of Davao. He is proof positive that a Dabawenyo can make it big even in the challenging world of art. He will be missed by Dabawenyos, Filipino-Chinese and Filipinos alike.
There is now a hole in the Philippine Art scene. But we must let go. God Bless you Ang Kiukok. May dainty angels as depicted in many paintings throughout the world, bring you to your place of rest. Rest well sir.
Email me at babbleon@atenista.net
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 13, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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