Hoping ‘Change is coming’ not just another empty promise

“Change is coming!” is the clarion political promise of  President Duterte. At long last and, indeed, it is about time that real and substantial change—in governance and social habits—came to our country and people, from those at the top echelon of leadership in politics and business down to the grassroots.

Or is this just another ambitious promise most politicians are wont to make—though better than President Quezon’s option for the Philippines to be run like hell by Filipinos than to be run like heaven by the Americans, perhaps, in the earnest hope that Filipinos would ultimately change for the better as an independent nation? Or than President Marcos’ bold promise to make this country “great again,” as if it was already great before? Or President Cory’s vengeful cry, “Never again!”? Or President Noynoy’s half-hearted “daang matuwid”?

By the looks of it, President Duterte appears to be deadly serious about reforming our political leaders’ self-serving methods of governance, which have resulted in massive graft and corruption and transformed the self-defeating collective habits of our citizenry as a body politic. His initial attack against illegal drugs and criminality is already showing some positive results. His preferential attention and treatment toward the poor, the ignorant, the deprived and the abused, who compose the majority of our people, inspired massive popular support leading to his election as president of the Republic of the Philippines. He openly abhors the elitist and exclusive extravagance and pretensions of the rich and the powerful, particularly the practice of kleptocratic philanthropy veiled as public service.

Yes, President Duterte keeps on repeating his promise as if to constantly remind us that change is coming! We just hope and pray that it is not just loose change, but a chance for us to be a great nation.

While admittedly leading a country like ours will not be a walk in the park, our new President must “walk his talk.” He can even strive to change himself first for the better in order for him to do his best for the country and the people. After all, he may be the country’s long awaited light at the end of the tunnel. Again, we just hope and pray that the light at the end of the tunnel is not coming from an onrushing train.

Hoping for the best, let us welcome our new President Du and the change that is coming with him.

—AMAY P. ONG VAÑO, epov111@yahoo.com