THEY say if you love your country, join the army. Wear that uniform, sling that rifle, and protect the weak.
A month ago, joining the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) was a popular idea. A photo went viral showing around a thousand young people lining up for application to join the Academy.
That time too, government took that opportunity to juxtapose PMA applicants to activists, saying this is the way to love your country, not like activists who are brainwashed to hate the government.
But all those ideals and propaganda died with Darwin Dormitorio and in the hands of his fellow PMA cadets. Whatever arguments we have about the nobleness and patriotism of the PMA is drained from Darwin’s blood.
Both the Philippine National Police chief and the former PNP chief turned senator ironically defended this tradition and culture in PMA. It made them what they are, they said. It is all about brotherhood and discipline.
So that culture includes beating up a freshman cadet until he is bruised and blue? Does it include electrocuting his organs with a taser? Does it include framing up Darwin for a “punishment” of losing the combat boots of an upperclassman?
It seems it makes sense now why state security forces are reportedly applying torture and tanim ebidensya, because it’s a tradition. That’s what they’re implying.
Again, they talk of tradition, brotherhood, and discipline. Where is the love of country in those lines?
We have to consider that taxpayers’ money, which is our money, goes to subsidize the education of one PMA cadet worth P2.98 million for four years. Compare that to the P507,000 a University of the Philippines scholar gets for her education.
Which is the good investment here? We go back to that question about loving our country and let’s ask that question to our government. Do they care about our youth and our future? Why so much effort and money to train trigger-happy soldiers and not the scientists, teachers, engineers and thinkers to help build our country?
Cuba is a socialist country that’s poorer than our country. But they spend their resources not in building a fighting army, but rather on a medical army. They are one of the healthiest country in the world and they send their doctors and health workers all over the world in solidarity.
Government must know where to put our money in. If we love our country, build it not with guns. Build it with good minds. Invest in the youth and they build our future.