lets redefine our values

politics and politicians do not have to carry the stigma of a definition with a negative stereotype. but it is the dictate of third world economies that governments carry a subculture of greed and self preservation.

this subculture creates a rippling effect on all subalterns of politicians and government workers who cannot deviate and preserve their moral fortitude to do what is right and what is true.

take the civil service oath as a classic example of wanton disregard. the whole republic every monday pronounces in unison with right hands held upright to symbolize the promise of obeying the tenets or the fundamental convictions of a civil servant. this is an exercise in futility where after reciting such phrases like "papasok ako ng maaga at lampas sa takdang oras kung kinakailangan" (only if there is over time pay); "magsasalita ako laban sa katiwalian" (ow c'mon, only in chismis circles); "hindi ko gagamitin ang aking katungkulan para sa sarili kong kapakanan" (then why is the ombudsman awashed with a deluge of complaints on charges of graft and corruption?) do we need to continue?

the pathetic state of indifference towards real service to the community and the people who need it most has created a similar condition of selfish disregard of duties sworn to by those in government.

even the young minds "visionaries" who join philippine politics as sangguniang kabataan have their own share of this subculture when they are exposed to corrupt practices in the communities they serve. how do we expect to be led by them in the future?

it has become most imperative now that we, the filipino people who still value all that is good and right, talk about doing what is essentially and basically correct. let us create examples in our communities, in our workplace, in our homes and in everywhere we can serve to create the witnessing of goodness. after all we are all basically good until . . . bad things happened along the way. simulan natin, simulan nating lahat ang muling pagbabago. let's forget about EDSA and just act out what the real essence of that spirit of EDSA was all about.