We’re going round in circles. Sadly, the circles are spirals, and they’re going downwards. I can not say what lies on the backside.
I’ve by no means been to warfare like my dad or mum era, those that lived by means of World Warfare I and World Warfare II. Fortunately, too, I’ve been spared the worst like these caught in battle areas the place authorities troops have been at warfare with communist rebels or Muslim insurrectionists. So, I actually can not say how unhealthy issues can go on the backside of the spiral.
At my age, too, whereas the chance is there, the chances that I’ll expertise World Warfare III are very slim. Our rising battle with China is extra delicate. If what self-claimed pundits are saying that we’re in a proxy warfare between China and the US is true, then a nuclear confrontation between the 2 stays slim as nicely. The 2 know will probably be the tip of their worlds as they comprehend it now.
Past our shores, nonetheless, there may be turbulence that may erupt into pocket wars. If I listing down all nations with inside or regional armed conflicts, it’ll take up an excessive amount of house. And we’re principally within the know due to the velocity and quantity of worldwide information out there regionally – if we have an interest. It’s sufficient that we all know there are sufficient set off factors that may gentle a worldwide fuse resulting in World Warfare III.
We have now much less issues within the Philippines when it comes to the number of points. Nearly all our totally different challenges stem from two main roots – corruption and poverty. Between the 2, corruption is the most cancers that’s metastasizing whereas poverty is its most seen consequence. Poverty, although, is just not solely a outcome; it additionally performs an lively function in deepening and spreading the most cancers of corruption.
Due to corruption and poverty, Filipinos are grappling with new most cancers growths in every single place as is the case when most cancers metastasizes. It was once that corruption was solely within the fingers of the Government Department, principally confined to authorities tasks that may favor cronies and demand kickbacks. In different phrases, they have been particular and few. Right this moment, corruption is in every single place and, consequently, is now usually tolerated.
And there lies probably the most painful and sinister wound – the gradual shift of the very meanings of proper and fallacious. Our price system, our very soul, should now endure the perversion of accepting what’s fallacious and slowly letting go of the strict adherence to what we as soon as considered proper.
Once more, due to my age, however my lively objections to this reducing or debasing of virtues and ideas, I see no hope to see its reversal in my lifetime. Nonetheless, I see it worsening. It is sort of a monster let loose from its cage and hungry to devour every little thing and everybody that saved it there. Prayers or hypocritical lip service can not cease the most cancers of corruption. Solely a purging can, when it comes.
Going towards the chances, nonetheless, is just not new to me. I would like to not. It’s all the time simpler to trip the tide for so long as by doing so, I don’t create an insufferable internal battle inside my set of beliefs. After I lose hope for myself, it is just in accepting that I could not see in my lifetime the irreversible starting of significant change. Woe to the virtues and values on which our ancestors constructed the character of the Filipino.
Nonetheless, I’m certain as there may be day after night time that the second and course of will come. Man can not defy the pure or divine order with out consequence. It’s simply that my sense of time is just not the identical as life’s sense of time – like within the well-liked saying “in God’s time.” Time is just not mine and I need to let it go. My life and actions, although, are mine and I’ll pursue what I imagine in.
How, then, can I proceed in a mission, the favorable ending of which I don’t assume I can see? With so little time and assets, I’ve to maneuver ahead like a sniper and let go of the shotgun method. There isn’t a drawback with my motivation. Having lengthy dreamed about a really perfect nation, it was obligatory for me to think about a long time, not simply years. Regardless of that, and realizing change comes slowly, I remained motivated.
The most cancers of corruption has unfold from one place to a different, and there’s no certain drugs to cease the metastasizing. To save lots of what’s left, what involves my thoughts is to give attention to the wholesome cells and organs. They’ve remained wholesome in a really unhealthy atmosphere due to one truth – their immune system. A powerful immune system is the primary order of the day for me. Its energy should be enhanced to maintain resisting the spreading most cancers.
I’ve two goal audiences that I can proceed to focus on in my advocacy work. From 1983 within the hills of Quezon to semi-retirement at this time, I’ve targeted on group improvement work, the final 22 years as a part of Gawad Kalinga. My sanity has been sustained by this work and by a mission that requires zero poverty, zero carbon, and 0 exclusion. This work has saved me beside a lot youthful staff from whom I proceed to obtain inspiration.
Neighborhood improvement work, nonetheless, naturally flows to nation constructing, a religion and patriotism partnership for me. Fortunately, it’s simply as true for Gawad Kalinga, its many companions, and armies of volunteers I’ve engaged with.
Nation constructing, nonetheless, touches on governance. In reality, any work addressing poverty finally brings one to governance merely due to the massive numbers and assets concerned.
My different viewers should be the idealism of principally youthful Filipinos who’re the true hope of a brighter tomorrow. I pray that I can encourage them to remain the course.
The poor and the younger. So be it.