An Open Letter to my Cousin in Asingan
Dear Cousin,
I'm sorry that my little business call regarding the lot purchase would turn into such a heated debate with you. I don't take it personally and I know that you don't take it that way either. Let's just say that we got entangled with one of the most contentious and most exasperating topics of discussion – Philippine Elections. If not for the mounting phone bills that ticked each second, I would have loved to pursue my case to the end. And so, just as I promised, I would like to continue our conversation thru e-mail.
I am a little irked when you said that I am convincing you to vote for losers. That it's a waste of your vote to write the names of these unknowns in your ballot because they're going to lose anyway. That it's better to just vote for those who are sure winners so that you will end up in the winners circle. You sure have a reason.
But you entirely missed the point. Before I tell you why, allow me to introduce the "losers" - my non-trapo senatorial candidates.
One is a doctor of medicine who returned from a very successful stint in the US. For some 17 years, despite a very lucrative practice, he never for once thought of applying for a green card or renouncing his citizenship so that one day he could come home to repay and serve his country. He could have stayed and lived comfortably with his family in the land of milk and honey, but his innate patriotism prevailed on him to return and make a difference for our country.
The second one is an outstanding lawyer whose luminous career in law is outshone only by the brilliancy of his character and idealism. In a profession least known for scruples and most renown for opportunism, he had too willingly carried the cause of the downtrodden against the exploitative powers that be. While most lawyered for money, he lawyered for the truth. While most are willing to hide behind legalese for some profitable consideration, he is willing to forego a legal right so that compassion could be dispensed.
My third candidate, set the standard for public servants by upholding foremost at all times the interest of the people. Despite being an appointed official in his last assignment in a long illustrious career in the military and in the civilian government, his loyalties are never those of the lackey but undoubtedly that of a patriot. He blows the whistle even when it is more convenient and infinitely more rewarding to turn a blind eye. He raised dissent when his country's sovereignty is threatened by the vagaries of political expediency – even if it means losing his bread and butter.
All three of them are principled, courageous and selfless individuals whose common vision is to break the stranglehold of the trapo and the vicious cycle of patronage politics. Money is never their motivation in joining politics, they could make more oodles staying out than coming in.
Now, tell me who among Gloria's candidate could hold a candle against anyone of them? Not Cesar Montano, not Michael Defensor, not Pichay, not Angara, not Sotto, not Singson – they would pale, no – they would bleach, in comparison! Not anyone of them – from TeamUnity or from GO.
The trapos whom you plan to vote for were there from the very start and look where we have ended up – in a heap of the most unflaterring, no, insulting superlatives – poorest country, most corrupt government, most dangerous place after Iraq, kidnapping capital, nation of maids and nannies, nation of mail-order-brides and hookers, country of cheats and liars, etc. Who would be proud to be associated, much more, to be counted as a citizen of such a country? Who wouldn't like to change all of that? Voting them into power would only perpetuate more of the same.
These are the people who would take loud and immediate credit when the peso appreciates against the dollar because of OFW remittances and the quirk of worldwide economic forces - certainly not because of them but despite of them. The truth is, even a dunce could run the government the way they do and the results would still be the same. Wait until the dollar appreciates. We should see the most creative and the most convoluted excuses. We have to give it to them though– no one comes close when it comes to making alibis.
They are the same people who are first to indict the undocumented overseas worker when the latter are caught in crossfire in Iraq and Lebanon. They are the people who would refuse to help them or take responsibility because of a paper technicality. They asked, "Where is your proper visa?" when the correct questions would have been:
- Why did you prefer to work in a war zone rather than in our country?
- What happened to the billions of OWWA funds intended for such exigencies?
They, of course, would not dare to ask these questions and you know why.
These are also the very same people who would be breast-beating in self-righteousness in your tv screen while they proudly announce the conviction of a lowly employee for committing petty graft. Not that they should let up on petty grafters – it's just that they should not let up on big-time grafters as well.
Is justice served when an employee goes to jail for padding his meal receipt by a thousand pesos while comelec commissioners embezzling billions in computerization funds are all cleared except for the one who squealed?
Is justice served when an opposition mayor is kicked out of office for awarding a coco lumber supply contract worth a paltry 20,000 to his son while hundreds of millions in fertilizer funds that went to ghost farms in concrete jungles like say, Navotas wont even merit an investigation?
How about the plight of a teenaged shoplifter caught spiriting out infant formula for his hungry baby sister? He is jailed much, much longer than the punishment for his crime because the clogged courts could not even start an inquest. Yet, the justice department went out of its way to act posthaste - without delay, spared no remedy to release a convicted rapist from the US Marines?
If these things could not outrage your sense of justice, then I think nothing will. And you, like all Filipinos who refused to be scandalized by these, probably deserve your lot.
If you vote for these people then you are sending the message that everything is ok with them and that what they are doing is ok with us. That its ok to cheat and to lie and to make fools of all of us. We will be sending the same message to our young and impressionable children. Soon they will be picking up the same culture of indifference and nonchalance, the same culture of injustice and one-upmanship, the same culture that accepts and perpetuates the idea that "some are smarter than others". Then we will become, finally, truly and deservingly, a nation of crooks.
What I am asking you really is not to vote for my candidates but to vote for anyone and anybody except the trapo. Even if we will be outnumbered in the end. Even if we will be cheated in the end. We will lose but we will win. Who eventually comes out is rather inconsequential at the moment. What is important is to make a statement and a stand. Enough to give them second thoughts – well… initially. Evil triumphs because good men do nothing. Yes, it is a cliche but it rings truer now than it has ever been.
I know that I don't have to lecture you on these. I have grown with you and know that you cling to justice and righteousness like you would your skin. I know that your cynicism is grown out of frustrations with the present system. But we could not be deaf, mute and blind while we keep to ourselves. Take courage and let us speak out while we can. If those who can will not speak, then who will?
Many thanks and best regards to Ofelia and my inaanak. I shall see you soon.
Very truly yours,
Sonny.
1 comment:
Sonny, this is so poignant and very touching. I hope you don't mind if I forward this to others as a reminder and an eye opener. Let's move on, election is fast approaching. Thanks.
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