The ARA Crusade

What is the ARA Crusade? It is a personal wish, actually, based on a democratic principle, that rightfully belongs to each and every Filipino. It remains a personal wish because it is not yet a collective endeavor, even if it should be in our determination to be a democratic country. One day soon, however, I hope it will be a growing reality if the Philippines strives to be a strong nation.

A is for Ambag, the responsibility of a Filipino to do his or her share for the common good, the national well-being. Ambag is a native term that is so succinct and captures the essence of a citizen’s duty in a democracy.

R is for Resibo. Originally a term introduced to Filipinos by the Spanish language, Resibo means receipt, a written acknowledgement that something of value has been transferred from one party to another. Resibo in the context of the citizen’s participation in a democratic life is not necessarily written but definitely verifiable and measurable. After all, a citizen’s contribution is of value, a vital necessity, a fundamental part of the common good and the national treasury of beneficial goods and services.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), of course, will insist on the original form, the written acknowledgement. The intent and the spirit, though, is the same, that each adult Filipino is expected by law to contribute his or her share to the collective resources of a democratic country. The Resibo in the context of the BIR is most critical both ways, that the citizen formally contributes and the BIR formally acknowledges it has received the contribution and is duty-bound to submit it to the national treasury.

Abonado means to go beyond the minimum requirement of law or society in the citizen’s participation in democratic living. It is the spirit and act of the Abonado that becomes the special component in building a strong nation. Abonado incorporates the essence of a personal sacrifice for others or for the whole, an individual decision to respond to the greater need or higher cause for the people and the motherland. Abonado also manifests the Filipino culture and character of service beyond monetary considerations, the generosity of a noble person.

Ambag, Resibo, Abonado – ARA, a crusade to which all Filipinos can unite, for our own sake, for the sake of our families and communities, for the sake of the motherland and the vision for a strong nation.

This is the gift of the last presidential campaign and elections that we participated in – the articulation of the terms Ambag, Resibo, and Abonado among erstwhile partisans for a common angst. They did not plan it. But when the terms Ambag, Resibo, and Abonado were expressed, there was a spontaneous and spirited resonance. That is the way it is when a spiritual recognition happens between two forces – external expressions and fundamental virtues.

For decades, I had involved myself with advocacy work, from community development to anti-corruption activism, even participating in radical initiatives that sought to remove sitting presidents. Whatever conventional or historical options there were during such times when there seemed no other alternative for change, I did not say no. But even when success blessed our efforts, the results were mixed at best but then turned much worse when the backsliding happened.

My conclusion has come to this: political reform in a democratic country must involve the citizenry even more intensely than political leaders or the institution we call government. Of the people, by the people, for the people as the central theme of democracy can never put the people in the sidelines, never as onlookers, but always front and center. If true and sustainable reforms have to happen, the people must be the main actors.

In our own national setting, there is great need for reform. The poverty remains massive, and corruption continues to be an ugly active demon in governance. It is crucial to understand that the dynamics of poverty and corruption at levels we have invite the worst kind of alternatives in a democracy. They attract thoughts of removing the powers-that-be more than the corruption that infects people and systems. If it does not happen, it is only because the chances of success are slim and unfavorable.

But even if the odds for success favor sudden change, and change does happen, would the people be more responsible, more productive, more generous in their contribution to the national well-being? Will Filipinos be more determined to be accountable for their shortcomings and accept more sacrifice beyond the call of duty in order to further the cause of democracy? But why would they do that when they had not done so before a political emergency had arisen?

The primordial responsibility and duty of the people is to each and together pursue their aspirations for a healthy and strong nation. People either become masters or servants, and weak people will never be masters, only servants. The strength of a people is not measured by how easily they can remove their leaders but rather how they are always respected and feared by their politicians and public servants.

An impoverished people as we largely are at this time, 45% acknowledging they are poor and only 20% accepting they are not, means that the balance is afraid of being poor rather than determined to be unafraid of poverty. A strong people seek to grow capacity and production rather than seek more aid and subsidy. When we are that, when the majority is like that, we can and will demand better performance and service from the government.

There is no other way, then, but to instill the fundamental democratic values in ourselves – Ambag, Resibo, and Abonado. We have to give more before we can demand more. There are no shortcuts to being a strong people and a strong nation. There is only the daily grind of effort and sacrifice, driven by a clear vision for a better Philippines.