The likes of Milan...
I watched the movie "Milan" over the weekend. It was a love story with a social commentary twist. It's sad how Filipinos would leave their families behind - even a decent job in the Philippines to risk being an illegal worker elsewhere. Working two or three jobs at a time to support their needs overseas, plus to support a dependent family in the Philippines is the norm for an overseas worker. Most become domestic helpers, entertainers, and worse, prostitutes...
This wasn't what our national hero, Jose Rizal, dreamt for the Filipino youth. It certainly wasn't what Ninoy Aquino died for. Why leave everything for a chance to go abroad? Lots of things - money, the opportunity for a better life, a chance for a better future for their families, the hopelessness of Philippine politics, corruption in the government, a measly paying decent job in the Philippines which isn't enough to support a family. These are sad but startling reality.
The Presidential election is coming up again. As usual, we have celebrities running for public office. As usual, they have leading edge over their opponents due to their popularity and "masa" appeal. The last one ended in jail for corruption, not to mention incompetence. Didn't we learn our lesson? Didn't we just stage another People Power in Edsa to overthrow that kind of government? Then why, oh why, vote for another one like him? What's worse, they're kumpadres! For the life of me, help me understand...
Should I be proud that I am a Filipino when we are the laughingstock of other countries because of the kind of politics we continue to support, and the people we vote over and over again? The peso continues to drop against the US dollar. For someone like me who works overseas, but supports a family back home, it only meant that I am getting my money's worth. For a common Juan dela Cruz who works for a modest wage and feeds a family of 12, they will probably suffer from starvation and malnutrition. They are, however, the same people who vote for incompetent people to power. It may be the lack of decent food on their table that the "masa" continues to vote for these celebrities who know only to entertain, but who know nothing of resurrecting a dying econony to life.
I wonder if Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino are tossing and turning on their graves right now. I can't really blame them. We need a miracle to save our economy. We need divine intercession to resolve corruption in the government. Most of all, we need brain surgery to change our way of thinking and of voting.
God help us all!
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