The Pork, the Barrel, and the Good People in between

Yesterday, according to Reuters, “tens of thousands of Filipinos angry at official corruption marched through the center of Manila and other cities to demand the abolition of a misused fund for legislators’ pet projects…” (Rosemarie Franco, Manila, August 26, 2013).
The Wall Street Journal wrote: “Mr. Aquino said that he would abolish the so-called pork-barrel funds after a month long groundswell of anger stirred by reports in the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper and across social media about how millions of dollars had allegedly been allocated to dubious or fictitious development projects. About $140 million allocated to several legislators was diverted over three years to questionable groups and projects—many of them allegedly linked to businesswoman Janet Lim Nopales, the government’s Commission on Audit said on Aug. 16. A court has issued a warrant for her arrest. Her attorney couldn’t be reached for comment, but she has previously denied wrongdoing” (James Hookway and Josephine Cuneta, August 25, 2013).
Formerly known as priority development assistance fund, primarily designed to help the people, it allegedly “helped some people”, most of whom do not need help. So I wandered through social media and browsed through internet news while I grazed on the “Pork Barrel’s” various nuances. Google recorded more than 4 million entries. Bing had around 2 million while Yahoo barely included anything related to Philippine politics.
And then I started my interview, knocking on people’s virtual doors through instant messages and forums. I asked, provoked, proposed and queried on facts, thoughts and feelings regarding the background, goals, and proposals behind the march. As there are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, the “Pork Barrel” march also had various shades in different degrees of spices. Most people I talked to echoed a diverse voice, but the most was a sentiment of indignation and a sense of disgust against the systemic misuse and abuse of taxpayer’s money. From very educated friends to totally friendly strangers (whose educational level I cannot verify), responses ranged from the left (radical change and violence if needed), to the center (those who sit on the fence) and all the way to the right (those who preferred to pray instead). Some advocated prudence, some screamed for a radical change (without a clear understanding of what “radical” meant), and others were all gung ho to the extent of embracing a possible violent aftermath to the point that they wrote “a last letter” note. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported and the rally concluded peacefully, so peaceful that there is nothing indicates a “next move”. Or maybe there is. Correct me if I am wrong.
Since I was merely a distant voyeur, watching without the ability to be physically at “Rizal Park” (they still call Luneta), I tried to nudge and stir some thoughts on what could be next after the rally. Either I did not ask enough or a right response truly does not exist. If the march was simply meant to send a message to the government, and the crowd, short of a million, as some people predicted, were there to manifest unity, then perhaps the goal was met. Yet is that enough to reform if not abolish the “Pork Barrel” sautéed with the wide spread and deeply embedded putrification of the Philippine government and the people who voted for it?
There is anger in the collective Filipino soul, an anger ignited by so many imbalances entrenched in our systems, a frustration that emerges from unfulfilled promises and broken hopes. Corrupt government officials, either elected or appointed, are culpable and deserve the guillotine. Unlike the old aristocrats of France, they do not have any birth right. They are disposable than a paper cup. If the electorate stops voting for putrid government officials, such government officials will not be able to appoint second hand putrid cronies under their helm. But we do not vote for voters who vote properly or who vote for corruption, intentionally or not. This time, akin to the old aristocrats of France, as citizens of a sovereign nation, they do have the birth right to vote. Are they equally culpable and guilty for choosing corrupt and corruptible government officials?
Who am I to ask? I have given up that right when I opted to embrace a different citizenship. Although I share the blood of the Filipino race and a Philippine history I grew up with, most of the readers will be right if they considered me as an outsider. Like myself, there are so many others who are in the same plight.
On second thoughts, there was a time during the Spanish era when propaganda writing flooded a circle of folks desiring for social change. Most of those writers did it from the periphery, many of them stationed across the sea. It is undeniable that the Philippines is once more in dire need of another change. Instead of a rampant flooding of journalistic efforts to disclose the grime of corruption, isn’t it for writers, journalists, poets and other word smiths to unite once more with something that could inspire, motivate and change the dysfunctional political system and thwarted social values that our beloved motherland suffers from? If so, then perhaps we also need a new breed of readers and critical thinkers who will think twice and act decidedly with the efficiency and productivity of a well-planned movement. The law of large numbers is impressive but cannot be effective when they are spaced and distanced in between with different intents and diverse approaches. The flame of anger is easily placated through time. Without a second act, it fizzles out.
There are certain matters I cannot accept. The vicious circle of finding blame cannot go on forever. A nation cannot exist when all it does is execute corrupt leaders, hang culprits and hunt for thieves. The radical system that requires changes lies deeply in the heart of the people. Every value counts, every detail to purify the illness of greed and expel any trace of self-serving political schemes can convert a march of even ten people to a giant leap of social change.
We are in need of Filipino political leaders who knows the poverty of our people, the soul of our culture, and the heart of our nation. We need leaders with a patriotic zeal so strong that his love for the people will be above and beyond his love for his own self. And we need voters who will not care whether these possible leaders are from their clan or not, who will not mind if they belong to their tribe or to their family, and will not fall into the same old school of “tayo tayo” and “sila sila”.
Is this possible? I hope it is. What do you think?