My only country

I am now slowly recovering my love for my country. I am beginning to love the scenery, the different places which used to make me sick. There must be something great about having a change of leaders. Sometime two years past, I used to hate everything in this place. I could not stand seeing the pictures of cheating officials in the papers. I used to draw horns on their heads and fangs on their mouths to signify their kinship with Dracula. Although seeping blood among NGO activists and media journalists still occur, I am beginning to see the light - many sectors in our society are already awake to the iniquities -- the ordinary folks are no longer mum about so many issues. They speak out and show their concern if not disgust about the turn of events. (I used to be in a place in an urban poor area where I felt like a sore thumb talking about the need for change whereas many of the folks are just thinking of where to get money to buy their food.) The Church now has a daily program on air -- Veritas 846, although they seem not to be too critical of the types of advertisements that they churn out there. The ads are commercializing their programs. Then the media of course is brilliant -- everyday, worthy news is coming out and opinions are flying all over the place. The journalists - broadcast and print are no longer afraid to speak out. Would you believe Ellen Tordesillas called Gloria A, magnanakaw? That was printed in Abante and my mother was so shocked beyond belief. So I told her, perhaps Ellen had a journalist friend who either disappeared or got killed and belongs to the statistics of the extra judicial killings.

But then, the bigger problem I see is the militarization of the government. Too many soldiers are in key positions in the government bringing with them their black and white idea of life; or it is either war or peace. They are at war if the people are not for them, and at peace when people are quiet and not contradicting their positions. I think that military men should be allowed to hold office, unless they are voted into office like Trillanes IV, only after 5 years of being a civilian. It takes time for a militaristic mind to mellow down and appreciate the need for legal and non-violent means of resolving social and personal issues.

Another problem I deem to be difficult is the instant victory of former enemies of cheaters who have just won seats in the government through elections, but are now singing a different song. I read today that Allan Peter Cayetano, voted senator, who was in the past the "erstwhile" enemy of the First Gentleman because Cayetano had chosen to squeal on the latter's foreign accounts abroad (although still to be proven) is declaring that he will vote for bills that would emanate from Malacanang if it would help the economy.

Let us keep our fingers crossed that the interests of the people, their trust on these officials which they showed by voting them into office, would not go down the drain.

So do I still love my country? For all its potholes and the corrupt practices of its officials? Excuse me, but I see that the poor people are still hoping that something would happen to their lives. I maintain my Polyanna views because of them, not because of the people at the helm. I believe that so long as the majority of the poor people view their lives as not wasted although they are still in that struggling stage and are prepared meet head-on the problems of survival, then my positive view of life in our country is intact. I hope.

A phrase that is worthwhile saying when problems occur is to say "So what?" a psychologist said. But for me, I hum a tune to myself, and with it, I know the words that are in every note -- something about being patient becaus things will come to a head after all.

Have a nice day!