Blame rotten politicians and dynasties for OFWs’ plight abroad

Naaawa ako sa Pilipinas (I pity the Philippines). Because of political dynasties, graft and corruption, and voters who vote with their feelings instead of their head and who can be bought with a few measly pesos, we have have elected officials who, as they become richer, are leading our country and people deeper into economic morass. As a result, around 10 percent of our population has to work overseas to make a living. As a result, despite the billions of dollars they remit, which help keep our country’s economy afloat, overseas Filipinos have in effect become hostages in the countries where they are working. Any wrongdoing—real or perceived—by the Philippine government or any of its citizens against these countries or their citizens, leads to our overseas workers being held hostage by these countries or their citizens. Look at what happened in Hong Kong, Malaysia, some Middle East countries and, most recently, Taiwan!  Kawawa ang mga kababayan natin doon! (Pitiable are our countrymen there!) They are beaten, put in prison for the flimsiest of reasons, even sexually abused, etc.  These countries’ governments and citizens know they can spit on us, abuse us and trample on our national honor because we need their cash, and so in effect they hold us hostage.

Ultimately, the culprits who “sow the wind that turns into this whirlwind of abuses” are our corrupt dynastic politicians who enrich themselves in office, hold our country poor and helpless and extremely vulnerable against the onslaughts of more prosperous countries where our countrymen have to work to survive.

The quick remedy for this is for us to vote into office candidates who are propoor, pro-God, procountry, pro-environment, anticorruption, and not from political dynasties. They will then work really for our country and not for themselves, and make our country prosperous, and thus eliminate to a large degree the crying need to work abroad for bare survival.

Studies have shown that areas ruled by political dynasties become poorer as these dynasties become richer. Yet we still vote for these corrupt politicians. Look at what happened in the May 13 elections. Emerging from it is an abundance of elected officials coming from the same political dynasties.

In the last analysis, we, the voters, are to blame for this. We get the government we deserve. We vote corrupt people into office. And we expect them to suddenly behave like angels when they assume office?

—SAMUEL J. YAP,

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