The ills of the nation have grown from malignant to terminal – like cancer that slowly but surely eats into the bodily system, attacks and weakens its immunity until it succumbs and dies.
I asked the question because while the incumbent administration is doing its best to respond to the needs of the times, it appears it still comes up short in fulfilling its mandate, if the avalanche of partisan criticism is to be the gauge.
Pardon this parallelism but the situation has even gone down to a damn-if-you-do and damn-if-you-don’t affair.
If one carefully sizes up the present conditions and comes up with a fair and judicious assessment, you will realize that the present circumstances that plague the country have metamorphosed from a dwarf of a problem to a menacing giant.
Consider the trafficking of illegal drugs.
The mainstream media and all the previous administrations failed to notice the alarming growth of illegal drugs because they either refused to acknowledge its existence or were scared to confront it face to face. That the illegal drugs trade flourished in this country was the result of the cold shoulder treatment that the past regimes gave it.
The culture of corruption permeating all levels of society very obviously encouraged drug syndicates to establish their operations here.
Today, I would like to believe that a great majority of Filipino citizens are now awakening. That without a leader who possesses positive political will to transform this government, the country will continue its plunge deeper into the abyss.
Support from the citizenry is mounting and continues to pour even as partisan elements from the political opposition are creating obstacles to impede the institution of reforms and change.
At this time, we cannot just wait and watch from the sidelines.
Patriotic Filipinos who want to sustain the reforms initially started by PRRD must come forward and join the movement.
A revolutionary government is the only solution to fast-track the constitutional reforms in our political system and pave the way for the cultural renaissance that should ideally come along.
Recall that the revolutionary government first established by the Katipuneros during the fight for independence against the Spaniards was weak, divided and thus wavered and fell.
Likewise, the revolutionary government instituted by the late Cory Aquino after booting out the Marcos dictatorship cracked due to power play, greed, corruption and the rise of a new oligarchy.
Hopefully, these twin episodes in our governance history can serve as models for PRRD to think about to avoid committing the mistakes of his predecessors and fall into the same traps.
First of all, a revolutionary government will effectively take down basic notorious political institutions where corruption dwelt and thrived. At the same time, it will get rid of the millions of deadwoods in the bureaucracy and take in fresh and progressive minds into the government service.
A revolutionary government will hasten the country’s shift to federalism; empower the citizens to draw directions to self-determination; to cultivate
positive values that have eluded us because of the negative effects of foreign colonization; and give rise to a new breed of young, energetic good leaders who have otherwise been sidetracked by the vicious cycle of the trditional political system and patronage.
A revolutionary government will also get rid of the unfair business cycle where only a few (called the oligarch) has risen to peaks of success while the millions of small Filipino micro-entrepreneurs painfully struggle to earn a decent living.
In my view, a revolutionary government will create fair and just living conditions among the citizens and level the playing field. This has been a national aspiration.
I find the circumstances today very encouraging as the Duterte government carefully moves to re-chart the political directions of the nation. The Marawi conflict mirrors the need for federalism, people empowerment and united stand against abuses and mal-governance.
Will I see hands raised for a revolutionary government? (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Ps.90.12: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
