index - Philippine Free Line : No Kidding, Please!

If it was a sad fact, now it is becoming a test of will. The Filipino poor has never had such a bad fate. After Marcos, succeeding governments failed to cap the problem. And now that Erap came in. With style and clinging to old resorts that goes far beyond personal qualities. Announcing government plans without preparing for an eventual after effect. Pushing topsy-turvy agenda incoherent with the social realities and mass needs. Not mention those in house bickering. The privatization attempt the National Food Authority and the fuss about half million bribery attempt at the congress. Is just a tip of the problem. The Philippine leadership is turning shoulders it could lean on to. Cajoling former opponents shows indirectly the lack of men the government can now count to.

The issue is survival, both from in and out The first victim, the Filipino poor. The second, those poor Filipinos. In all two slots, the poor are loosing calories as much as their plates. Strange or very strange indeed. The last presidential elections were voted massively by the poor. Well it's always been like that in the Philippines. But now things seem to be getting different. With the general perception that the government is loosing control. Not because of confrontation but of indecision.

Empty. To paraphrase the present Philippine venture to guide the Filipinos for the next century. In Malacañang, we have an administration that continues to beef up the economy with foreign loans. Loans which are not directly benefiting the greater majority. A majority which is being used and utilized to guarantee more loans. A loan, which names of every Filipinos are written.

Of course, every country owes some debts, of billions in magnitude. However, they are made, conscientiously so, for a bigger purpose. For a long-term development, and eventually for the next generation to come. Investing for their children. To make them more equipped to brace the future. Too expensive to support for a small country like the Philippines. But with debt nearing the 50 Billion Dollar mark. Too much for education and rural development?

First world countries do not argue about the need of a strong nationwide education. It is a necessity. Education is therefore not only free and state sponsored, but also guaranteed. Creating conditions by which parents will send their children to school. Books are regularly updated and tops the shopping list. Teachers too, have their share of upgrading. Always trying to keep abreast of new information and the always-advancing technology. In such a way, future is on sight and not a million light years away.

We are conscious of the debt. However, what is very painful to accept, is that always we are the lasts to know. At worst new loans don't mean new books or development projects for the poor. Only glamorous ceremonies of handshakes and wide smiles. Photo operations for the people to pay latter, albeit their children.

Behind our backs checks are filled for necktied individuals. Corruption has sometime for now implicated the Office of The President. The House of Representatives too have been lately in the center of the controversy. Some cried foul when told to receive half a million peso. Just for doing what?

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