What is the future for the Philippines with China lurking at its door, waiting to pounce and grab more Philippine territories while the ordinary Filipino, stuck in poverty and desperation, is more focused on day-to-day survival, mindful that he or she can only pray and hope for employment that pays decent, livable wage, which realistically is only available overseas?
It is one thing to hope, even pray; but to wait for and expect divine intervention to make one’s wish come true is an exercise in futility and delusion, for we have more than 500 years of history as manifest proof that only rational ideas, when acted upon, could make a positive difference in the outcome.
For instance: We have so-called institutions of learning that are supposed to teach the mind to think, not to memorize, but because the latter is all they know; that is all
they teach.
Meanwhile we have a justice system that is expected to uphold equality and fairness for all; not to perpetrate injustice and perpetuate power in the hands of a few, but sadly those who preside over the system are more likely to corrupt it than sublimate it.
Sadly, we still cling to archaic and irrational notions, like electing political leaders based on their appearances, superior athletic skills or popularity in the entertainment field, without considering competence and aptitude.
I think it is time we revised and made more liberal our system of electing political leaders from president down to members of Congress starting with the 2016 elections.
Those of us who live overseas and have adopted new citizenship are still Filipinos at heart and no one can deny we have a lot of ideas to share that our fellow
Filipinos citizens can chew over.
I care for the country of our birth and, having been born in in Dampalit, Malabon, will forever identify with those living in poverty. For in my mind no Filipino deserves to live a life of indignity, and only by changing our electoral system to allow more progressive ideas can the country’s future be made brighter.
—ONI SIOSON,
12 Wilkenda Avenue,
East Haven, Connecticut 06512