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There was a lot of hoopla, flag waving, speeches and celebration today all over the nation. I ask.. What's the fuss about?
Government officials caught with their hands stuck in our cookie jar are not being brought to justice. One of them is even planning to run again for president next year. Moreover, convicted murderers, rapists, assasins, etc are being granted presidential pardon. Is it just me, or is something glaringly wrong with justice in this place? Without justice, are we really free?
The government is spending less and less on education. Opting instead on spending more and more on our national defense. Hoping the militant student groups would just shut up so it can go ahead and privatize even our country's education. No wonder everyone is asking themselves if our country is really moving forward despite the government's indignant insistence. Uhhh.. this train's not moving madam president.. a carabao pulling a cart just overtook us. Without education, how can there be freedom from poverty, ignorance and crime? Without brains, would arms bring about progress? Without education, are we really free?
Those who can turn this country around though are fleeing this land as fast as they can - like rats jumping overboard a sinking ship. The brain drain.. makes those of us left behind feel like we're missing something important.. it's like everyones running away from a bomb, and we're happily munching on potato chips - headphones stuck on our ears, looking at the scrabbling people with a big question mark on top of our heads. Without viable options for our future right here, how can we say we've gained independence? By being forced to leave behind the familiar, our families and our country, how can we say we are free?
Petron, our government owned oil company, sold and the spoils divided among local crocodiles. Meralco, government owned electric company, sold to the highest bidder and the cash promptly swallowed by government blackhole. PNB, Philippine Airlines, Maynilad, NAPOCOR and the list goes on.. Let me ask then... Is there any income earning government owned utility left? And.. How exactly do you fuck up a utility company that has the whole country as its customer base and is enjoying complete monopoly??! O_o Without any safeguards from cartels, rampant inflation and non existent price controls, can we still say we are free?
The nations money handed out in paperbags during a government meeting, our hard earned money traded and deposited under the table in other countries during international conventions, our land (spratleys) sold so that our honorable government officials can dip their fingers through gigantic loans (such as the ZTE deal) now and let us pay later. I ask, without any protection from glaringly corrupt government officials, are we really enjoying freedom? Without any will to vote and choose our next leaders wisely, are we really free?
EDSA shrine, the place that served as the fulcrum of our country's history, now off limits to rallies and demonstrations. Our own police force and military, undergoing urban warfare and crowd suppresion training. Rallyists being beaten to death. Journalists gunned down in cold blood. Outspoken government dissidents hunted like animals. Without real freedom of speech, without meaningful ways of protesting against the government, do we have liberty? Are we free?
And the apex of all hypocrisies regarding our supposed freedom, the constitutional change through the con ass, where congressmen are brought one by one like cheap goods in a flea market. Where congressmen are made to decide our country's fate in direct contradiction to the people's voice. Where our honorable congressmen are joined under one banner to stamp down our basic freedom.. Our freedom to vote.. To choose our next leader.. To choose change..
They say a frog will willingly submit itself to death if the water is boiled in slow increments. We laugh at the frog's stupidity while we submit ourselves to the same fate, being slowly boiled to serfdom through terrorist threats, sex scandals and boxing matches.
So if you, by chance, took part in today's hypocrisy.. waved little flags, sang our national anthem, set off fireworks..
Ask yourself...
What the fuck were you celebrating? O_o
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