‘Whom do we look up to as models now?’

The pork barrel scandal has caused an uproar among Filipinos, including the young, as could be seen from the thousands of people who joined the Million People March last Aug. 26 at the Luneta. Even social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, were flooded with expressions of anger and disgust over the P10-billion pork barrel ripoff allegedly orchestrated by Janet Lim-Napoles in connivance with purportedly “honorable” public officials.

It’s unthinkable that leaders who are duty-bound to serve the country selflessly and with dedication would steal money from their very own people. The money could have been used to help the poor who compose the majority of Filipinos. Do these so-called “leaders” and Napoles not have any conscience?

The pork barrel, which is American in origin, started as a brilliant idea: funds set aside for projects that would benefit those with no or little access to government resources and essential services, most of whom are poor. When Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, it was scrapped, only to be restored by his successor, President Corazon Aquino, the mother of our incumbent President Aquino. But this time with another name, though with still the same intent and purpose.

However, it turns out now that pork barrel funds have been diverted by abusive government officials on a massive scale for their own personal enjoyment. Yet, the great majority of Filipinos have been struggling to provide for even just the basic needs of their families and to live even just a shade of decent life. And they didn’t object to being taxed despite their meager earnings that could hardly feed their families.

And to think that our politicians spend so much in election campaigns supposedly for a chance to “serve” our country, but obviously using kickbacks from their pork barrel allocations. It’s disgusting to have such leaders! They make us sick.

We, the youth, are supposed to look up to our country’s leaders as models. To whom shall we look up now? They vowed to serve us, and we trusted them. Instead, they took our money and enriched only themselves and their families.

We are very disappointed, we are among the outraged. We may not be working yet, but we see our parents doing hard work just for us to enjoy the best possible life.

We are tired of the corruption! We are tired of our leaders’ greed! We are tired of our government officials’ evil machinations! We want change in our society. We want to be guided and governed by good, moral, honest leaders. We want to be proud of our country. We want the pork barrel abolished.

Please give us, the youth, hope.

—CARMEN ANG, BEA BANSON, NICA LESACA, KEANA RUSTIA, BIANCA TORDESILLAS