Show, not tell
Asia's first republic is second to the last, a mere notch higher
than Bangladesh and below previously war-torn Vietnam in growth
performance. As Asia's basket case, the Philippines is wallowing
in poverty, corruption, mediocrity, divisiveness, crime and internal
strife. This is the country and people that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
rallied in her recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) before
the 12th Congress.
President Arroyo's speech focused on four underlying concerns:
the promotion of free enterprise, the modernization of the agricultural
sector, poverty alleviation, and the strengthening of moral standards
and the rule of law.
Not surprisingly, these are the same tasks that previous administrations
have trumpeted and have exceedingly failed to fulfill. And this
is the reason why rallies and demonstrations always mar the SONA.
The bottom line is that the typical Filipino is still poor, hungry,
homeless, not properly educated, and possibly, in despair.
Because of government's empty rhetoric and gobbledygook, the Filipino
diaspora that began in the 70's continues. Some of the country's
best and brightest are abroad, while we still export the most number
of domestic helpers, entertainers, computer programmers and other
skilled hands. As such, overseas Filipino workers send home as much
as $6 billion annually, accounting for about 9% of the country's
GDP.
Yet despite that, the welfare of overseas nationals is not in the
president's SONA, and therefore, not in her list of immediate concerns.
However, she said that she would ask Congress to enact a law giving
overseas Filipinos the right to vote. How much dent would this make
if the masses at home still have the sick sense of electing showbiz
personalities into high office? Is this all that the Arroyo administration
can offer to millions of overseas nationals?
Fine, just as long as there are results back home. But the vicious
cycle continues year after year, SONA after SONA. The problems and
concerns are still the same. The desperation lingers. The Filipino
still jumps ship at the slightest opportunity. And as he watches
from a distance, from a land not his own, almost forgotten by his
country, he has only one message to the president.
Show, not tell.
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