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(Filipino)NationalismREVISED5/26/2015
"Corruptionisworsethanprostitution.Thelattermightendangerthemoralsofanindividualtheformer
invariablyendangersthemoralsoftheentirecountry."KarlKraus,18741936.
....corruptionisthenecessaryconsequenceofasystemwherecolonialand
not
nationalisticvalues
prevail.IndalecioP.Soliongco(Editor,ManilaChronicle,19471971)
"ManyFilipinosarewhatIcallSundayreligious,thatistheygotochurcheverySunday,takein
confessionandcommunion,buttherestoftheweektheybribeanddocorruptdeeds..."
Dr.PuraSantillanCastrence(19052007)
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FilipinosinthePhilippines
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Addendum:formonthsnow,thecorruptioninvestigationsagainstVPJejomarBinay
occupythenewsheadlinesinourhomeland.Throwinsocailmediatoo.Givenourhistory
of
continuingpoliticalpast
,weordinarycitizensinthestreetareleftoutonlytofume,to
ventout,touselesslyspeculateandbegivenanotherridebyhighlyandpossiblyof
"thievesaccusingfellowthieves"
inourhallsofCongress,adnauseam.Wenative
citizensespeciallyussocallededucatedonesdeservesuchashowandnational
predicamentbecausewedonotknowourownselvesandworse,probablydonoteven
appreciatetheneedtoknowandunderstand.Sowegoourusualmerryways.
HiAll,
[NOTE:Iamnotaddressingherethoughbadandirritatingthepettygraftandcorruptionwe
experiencedailyorprivate/nongovernmentalcorruption.Myattentionisplacedonthemore
humongouscrimesofpublicgraftandcorruptionthathave
longterm,i.e.generational,and
broadlydisastrouseffectsonourhomelandandourfellownativemajorityasthese
crimesarefundamentallyactsoftreason
,unforgivableandunforgettable,deservinglife
imprisonmentandpreferablyfortheconvictedtobeputtothewallandshot.]
Inrecentweeks,wehavebeenwitnessingalotofemotionalreleasefromanger/disgustshown
byfellownativeFilipinosaboutthe
porkbarrel,euphemisticallyrenamedPDAF,scams
andmore
recentlyintheweekpast,theallegedbriberyforhelpingimpeach
SupremeCourtJustice
Corona
via
PresidentNoynoyAquinos
DisbursementAccelerationProgram(DAP)
.Letus
hopeandworkformoreconsistentandpersistentpressurebyanarousedFilipinocitizenryto
ensuresomethingtrulyeffective,intheshortandlongterms,andencompassingactionsto
happen.
Thatis,
forusnativeFilipinosnottolettheseprotestsinthestreets,insocialmedia,etc.
devolveintoanotherofourtypicallyrepeated
"ningaskugon"
reaction.
Aswehave
allowedthiskindofpopularoutragetofizzleoutlikeanyfadsooftenthroughoutthepasttwo
generations.
Our
"ningaskugon"
mentalitypersistentlyoccursmainlybecause
there'snodeep,systemic
understandingoftherootsofourproblems,inthisinstancethekindsofgraftand
corruption,mostespeciallyin
highplaces.
Throughoutourpoliticalhistory,fromthesmalltowntoprovincialfromprovincialtoregionalto
nationalpolitics,thecorresponding
governingelite/politicians
identifiedusuallywiththe
corresponding
s ocioeconomicelites
covertlyandovertlyemployillegalandsociallyimmoral
preandpostelectoralpracticesforsystematicallymaintainingandreinforcingtheirwealth,
politicalpowerandinfluence.
Examplesoflargescalepublicgraftandcorruptioninclude:
theelectiontime
3Gsgoons,gunsandgold
withbodyguards/goons,politicalkillings
andvotebuying,
allowing
juetengand/orsmuggling
toflourishinexchangeforelectoralfinancing
supportbyitsoperators,
the
spoilssystem,
wheregovernmentjobsareawrdedtosupporters,inlieuofthemerit
systemwhichnegatesthecompetitiveCivilServiceSystemandconsequentlyresultsin
governmentalmassiveincompetenceandinefficiency,
"porkbarrel"system
Filipinolegislatorsareallocatedlargesumsofthe
annual
budget
(200millionpesosforeachsenatorand70millionforeachrepresentative).Porkbarrelis
noweuphemisticallyrenamedasaprogramcalledthe
PriorityDevelopment
AssistanceFund(PDAF)
.
T hat'swhycandidatesseetheseporkiesintheir
electoralexpendituresasworthwhileinvestmentsandrationaleforusingthe
3Gs.
theallegedPhp50million(ormore)briberytoeachof20Senatorswhovotedtoimpeach
SupremeCourtJusticeCoronaviaPresidentNoynoyAquinos
Disbursement
AccelerationProgram(DAP)
.RememberJusticeCoronarulingforthetillers
againsttheAquinoCojuangcoclansHaciendaLuisitaandthusearnedtheireof
thelatterbloc.
theawardsto
rentseekingpoliticalsupporters
,moneyedconnectionswhoeitherare
orwanttobeinbusinessandobtainunfairadvantagesagainstanycompetition,as
describedinsocalled
BootyCapitalismorCronyCapitalism,
etc.
AllorsomeofthesepracticesarenotparticulartousnativeFilipinos,astheyoccurthroughout
theworld.
However,theyareuniquelydominantthroughoutourlocalandnational
politicallivesandtheoverallconsequencesofwhichmakeourcountrytobedescribed
asa
"softstate"
or
"weakandfailedstate."
thatis,thecommon/publicgoodbeingignored
andneglected.
The
"old"
premartiallawoligarchsmostlyfeudal/landedaristocrats,theMarcoscreated
oligarchs,andothermorerecentoneswhobenefitedfromthesubsequentpresidenciesof
CorazonAquino,FidelRamos,JosephEstrada,GloriaArroyoandnowNoynoyAquino
would
continuetothrive,remainandgrowstronger(includingthesepresidentsthemselves,theirkins,
croniesandpoliticizedmilitarysupporters).
Thereasonbeingthattheexistingoldoligarchsacceptthesenewones,regardlessofthelatter's
publiclyknownthieveryfromthegovernmentcoffers,thusprovidingsocalledlegitimacytothese
publiccriminals.
Forhowcantheseoligarchscondemnpeoplewhoemulate,behavelike
them,wouldliketojoinandbeamongthem,
byhookorbycrook?
Thosewhofollowpoliticaldevelopmentsinourhomelandareawareofgrossgraftandcorruption
inpastandpresentadministrations:
1. HernandoJ.Abaya
wrotethefirstbook
"BetrayalinthePhilippines"(1946)
on
postWW2
presidentialgraft/corruptionanddeceit
(includingthewartime
collaborationwiththeJapanese)committedby
M anuelA.Roxas
.
2. Therespectable,former
SenatorJovitoSalonga
haswrittenbookson
presidential
plunders
by
FerdinandMarcos
and
JosephEstrada
.Ihavenotfoundyet/wonderif
therewereotherbooksonpresidentialplundersinourhomeland.
Duetotheunquestioningacceptancebytheold,andnewgoverningandnongoverningelites
andbyoursocallededucatedmiddleclasswhoareusuallyemployedbytheelitesandthe
inutileignoranceofthemasses(sincetheyarebusilystrugglingfordailysurvival)
wenative
Filipinoshaveextremelyshortmemoriesandwittinglyorunwittinglyassurethatsuch
historywillrepeatitself...endlessly
.
BTW,letusnotforgetthe
Chinesetaipansandotherforeignbusinessmen
whoresideinthe
homeland,alsoheavilyprofitfromthismessystateofaffairs,whichinadvertentlyorincahoots
withthosenativesinpower,
quietlylaughtheirwaytotheirbankswhilewenativesprotest
inthestreets.
ThesetaipanscontrolandownseveralofthelargestPhilippinebanksand
practicallyournationaleconomyandhaveeventakenoveranumberofourschools,
colleges/universitiesgivingthemgreatercapabilitytopontificate,influenceandfurtherweaken
theFilipinomindtotheiradvantagewhilesimultaneouslyrunningthemascorporateprofit
centers.
TheissueforallofusconcernednativeFilipinosisnotwhois/aretheworstpublicthieves.
The
issueiswhywethesocallededucatednativeFilipinosallowthesecrimestohappen.
ItseemswenativeFilipinoshavegivenupanyrealstruggleforfundamentalchangesandsocial
justice.Itseems
wenativeFilipinosaretheonlypeopleonearthwhoallow
known,elected
officialsandtheirminionstostealourpubliccoffers,tocommitcrimewithimpunity,tonotonly
letthemremainfreebutalsotocontinueand/orreturntoruleus.
Andtherefore,knowingthesefacts
wenativesdeservetobedoomedthroughoutour
remainingyearsandunwittinglywedoomourfuturegenerations
unlesswewakeupand
actnotonlyforeconomicandpoliticalchangesbutalsoforthefundamentallynecessary,
radical,socialtransformation.
Inbelowarticleoncorruption,thelate
I.P.Soliongco
againprovidesuswithhiseasily
understandableandcriticallyanalyzedobservationsofPhilippinesocietyofhistimeallofwhich
stillresonatewithmuchrelevancemorethantwogenerationstodayallofwhich
indicatethatnothinghasfundamentallychanged
forthebettermentofournativemajority.
Soliongcocorrectlyalludesto
theabsenceofasenseofcommunity/nationhood,inother
wordsthelackof
Filipinonationalism
thuslackofloyaltytosocietyamongallofus:the
Filipinoelite,oursocallededucatedandmostofusnativeFilipinos
asamajorfactor
contributingtothemassivegraftandcorruption.
Wecanaddothersignificant,ifnotequally
major,factorsemanatingfromourcultureandinstitutions,suchasoursocalled
splitlevel
Christianity
"familycentered"
values,attitudesandbehaviorsinstitutionalizedcorruptible
systemmassiveignorance/illiteracy
"weakstate"
etc.)
Totheforeignerandthenotcriticallythinking,orlazynativeFilipino,whoseeandconcludethat
corruptionisinourblood,apartofourFilipinoculture,i.e.oursocalled
cultureof
corruption.
Istronglydisagree.
IagreewithSoliongcowhosawcorruptioninourhomeland,inallitsmanifestations,asa
symptomandnotarootcauseofourperpetualpoverty,
despiteourmanyhighlyeducated
nativesandrich,thoughdiminished,naturalresources.
Essentially,wenativeFilipinosneedtoidentifyandcriticallyexaminetheseinternal/cultural
obstaclestoprogressivechangesinadditiontothehistoricalandcurrentexternal/foreign
influencesandpressurescovertlyandovertlyimposedonus.Ibelievemanysocallededucated
amongusknowsuchneedbutbecausetheyprofitfromthestatusquo,donothaveempathy
andidentificationwiththenativemajority(anotherindicationofoursociety'seliteclassmentality),
theydonotworkforthecommongood.
ForthosenativeFilipinoswhodo,Iinviteyoutoread,toknowandtohaveadeeperappreciation
ofgraftandcorruptioninourhomeland.
Asalways,thepasthelpsustounderstandthe
presenttoplanandtoact.
Bert
InthelongruneveryGovernmentistheexactsymbolofitsPeople,withtheirWISDOMandUNWISDOM
wehavetosay,Lik ePeoplelik eGovernment.ThomasCarlyle,17951881,ScottishPhilosopher,Author
P.S.RegardingMilitaryCorruptioninourHomeland,pleasevisit(pointandclick below):
1. CorruptionintheAFP/Military,SuicideofGeneralAngeloReyesandNeedforMilitary
Reform
2. SinsoftheCavaliersPMACorruptionandGARCITapes
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CORRUPTION
WrittenbyIndalecioP.Soliongco,EditorialWriter/columnist,ManilaChronicle
Afriendofoursforwhoseviewswehavethehighestrespecthastakenexceptiontothe
observationwemadeinthisplacetheotherdaythatthelongexperienceoftheFilipinosunder
colonialruleisanexplanationbutnotanexcusefortherampantcorruptioninFilipinosociety.
Suchanexperience,ourfriendarguedwithsingularpassion,hasnothingtodowiththepresent
behavioroftheFilipinos,andhowtheyactasamanifestationofanaberrationincharacterand
nottheproductofhistoricalforces.
Howeverallthismaybe,
thefactstandsoutthatthesocalledaberrationintheFilipino
charactercannotbecongenital,forifitis
,thentheFilipinoarecursedindeedanddonot
deservetosurvive,muchlesstoprevail.Theyrefatedtoscroungetobeabletolive,tohave
mastersandtobeburdenedwithwhatNietzscheoncecalledthe
"moralityoftheserf."
Butweprefertothinkthatnopeople,noteventheFilipinos,wereevercreatedwithsofatalan
affliction.And
whilethefaultofwhattheyareliespartlyinthemselves,thetruththatmust
beadmittedinfairnessisthatpartofthatfaultliesintheirpast
.Thatpastconditionstheir
presentandexplainsthecuriousambivalenceoftheircharacter.
OneofthemostcommonaccusationshurledattheFilipinosbyforeignerswhoknownobetteris
thattheirobsessionisfinancialsecuritytothesatisfactionofwhichtheyhavesosacrificedtheir
senseofrightandwrongthattothemthemostimmoraltransactionshavebecomepardonable.
Inasense,thisistrue.ThemoralsensibilitiesoftheaverageFilipinohavebeenanesthetized:
firstbyhisdesiretofreehimselffromeconomicinsecurity,and
secondbythefinancialandsocialsuccessofthosewhohavenoconceptofhonor
andhonesty.
Theuglyresultofthisprocessisthatunlikethemembersofthemoresecuresocieties,
societiesinwhichrespectforlawandconventionistheconditionprecedenttosurvivaland
success,
themassofFilipinoshavelittle,ifany,capacityformoralindignation.
Theyare
notcapableof,say,thesamepassionandhatredwhichanimatedtheFrenchin1934when
Francewaswrackedbythe
StavinskyScandal.
ButthissingulartolerantattitudeoftheFilipinostowardmatterswhichinotherplaceswould
goadofficialstosuicideandcausegovernmentstofallstemsfromthecavaliermannerinwhich
theyregardthelaw.
Andthiscavaliermannerinturnistheconsequenceofthe
experienceoftheraceunderanodiouscolonialsystem
(ofSpainandpartlyoftheU.S.A.)
inwhichlawswereproclaimedandtraditionsdevelopedfortheprotectionandexclusivebenefit
oftherulers.
ColonialRoots
Inthiscircumstance,theFilipinoswereforcedtolookuponlawasanimpedimenttotheir
survivaland,asacorollary,tolookupontheviolationoflawasanecessaryvirtue.(Their
behaviorduringtheJapaneseoccupationistoorecenttoneedelaboration.)Finally,inasituation
whichsubsistedformorethanfourcenturiesandinwhichtheywereatthepoorreceivingendof
alopsidedcolonialeconomicarrangement,
theFilipinoscouldnothelpbeingobsessedwith
thelogicaldesireofcapturinginthebestwayopentothemwhattheyconsideredtheir
rightfulshareoftheproceeds.
Itcanbeargued,ofcourse,thattheseconditionswehavedescribedhavebeencancelledbythe
factthatthecountryisnowsovereignuntoitself.Onthetheoreticalplane,thiscannotbedenied.
Butonthepracticallevel,thetruthislessrosy.Forthetruthisfor16yearsafterindependence,
theFilipinosarestilltheeconomicallyweakmajorityintheirownland.Thus,
unlessthey
wrenchthemselvesforciblyfromtheeconomicchainandemergeastheeconomically
dominantmajority,
theyhavelittlechoicebuttoholduntothosevaluesandstandardswhich
hadenabledtheirforebearstosurvivecolonialrule.
Theprocessofgrowthanddevelopmentisalongandarduousone.Twentiethcenturyman,
despitehismillionofyearsofdistancefromhisbrutishancestors,hasnotlostthecapabilityfor
atavism.ThesamemustholdtruewiththeFilipinos.
T heyhavebeenfreeduringthelast16
years,yes,butsetagainsttheiralmostinterminablecolonialbackground,sixteenyears
istooshortatimewithinwhichtodiscardtheoldvalues,abandonthemoralityofthe
serfandadoptthemoralityofthemaster
.(8101962)
Noissueintheelectoralcampaignhasarousedmoreconfusionandgivenwaytofutilepassions
thantheissueofgraftandcorruption.Itisforthisreasonthatwehaveplaceditasthelast
discussioninaserieswhichbeganwithnationalismandcontinuedontothe
FilipinoFirstPolicy
andthequestionofcivilliberties.
(NotebyProf.Constantino:Thiscolumnwaswrittenduringthe
presidentialcampaignof1961.MacapagalsmainissuewasthecorruptionoftheGarcia
administration.SoliongcosupportedGarciabecauseofthenationalisticplatformofthe
incumbent.)
TheLiberalcandidates,from
VicePresidentMacapagal
and
formerSenatorPelaez
tothe
congressionalaspirant,havebasedtheircampaignongraftandcorruption,almosttothe
exclusionofotherandmorebasicissues.Theyhavedoneso,forgraftandcorruptionasa
politicalissuehasapowerimparttothosewhouseitasasenseofselfrighteousness.More,it
hasawayofinflamingthemultitudeandrobbingitofwhateveranalyticalcapacityitmighthave.
Now,graftandcorruptionareanevil,andasanevilithasnoplaceinawellorderedsociety.
It
shouldarouseourmoralindignationbutnottothepointwherewearerenderedblindto
itssocialandhistoricalcontext.
InitsPhilippinesetting,theissueofgraftandcorruptionisnotthepoliceproblemthatthe
Liberalshavetriedtopaintit.ItssolutioncannotbefoundinthecustomaryMacapagal
exhortationaboutputtingtheerringCabinetSecretaryorthemerestcrookedclerkbehindbars.
ThesolutionthattheVicePresidentsuggestsmaybeeffectivefordramatizinghis
claims.Butwearecertainthatitwillnotsolvetheproblem.
CorruptionandNationalism
Attheriskofincurringthedispleasureofthosewhocontendthatnationalismandcorruptionare
twodistinctandseparateissuesandthatthefirsthasbeenrenderedmeaninglessbythe
second,wewouldliketoadvancetheminorityviewthatinacountrylikethePhilippines,a
countrywhichhasbeenacolonyformorethanfourcenturiesandwhichgaineditsfreedomina
somewhatimperfectfashiononlytheotherday,thetwonationalismandcorruptionare
inextricablyboundtogether.Toputitmoreaccurately,
corruptionisthenecessary
consequenceofasystemwherecolonialandnotnationalisticvaluesprevail.
OurexperienceduringtheJapaneseoccupationshouldshedlightontheintimatelinkbetweena
colonialorderandcorruption.Duringthattime,theFilipinosconsidereditavirtuetoroband
cheattheJapanesenotonlyonthegroundthattheJapaneseweretheenemybutonthemore
cogentgroundthatthefruitsoftheirfarmsandoftheirlaborwereappropriatedbytheinvaders.
OurexperiencewiththeJapaneseisthetelescopedofourcenturiesofexperiencewithour
formerrulers.
T hevalues,therefore,whichwehaddevelopedduringthosecenturiesare
aresultofthatexperienceandhavebecomeingrainedinus.
W esuggestthatitisnotlikely
thatwecandoawaywiththematthesnapofVPMacapagalsfinger.Butthemoreimportant
reasonisthat
theconditionswhichonceformedthebackgroundfor,andthejustification
of,thosevaluesarestillpartlyinexistencetoday.
TothecreditoftheNacionalistas,theyhavenotallowedthemselvestobecarriedawaybythe
popularclamor
Offwiththeirheads!
Theyhaveconductedapunitivedriveagainstthegrafters
andthievesinthegovernment,butatthesametimetheyhaveendeavoredtoremovethe
causesofthieveryandgraftby
thehardbutnecessaryexpedientofimplementinga
nationalisticeconomicprogram.
TheapproachoftheNacionalistas,wesubmit,islongandhard.Butwecannotconceiveofany
other.
ForwhatisofgreaturgencyisthattheFilipinosmustbeshownevidencethatthey
arethebeneficiariesoftheirlaborandofthewealthoftheirland.
Afterthisisdone,itwill
beeasyforthemtoadoptthemoresofthemasterandabandonthemoresoftheserf.
(11131961)
CorruptionandImperialism
Wecannothelpbutbeconfusedthesedays.Wedonothavethecertaintythatmostofour
friendshaveandsowearelesscapablethantheyareofformingreadyconclusions.
Ourfriendshaveallcomeoutthumpingtheirchests,inamannerofspeaking,andcondemning,
withallthefuryoftheOldTestament,thosewhoarenowaccusedofgraftandcorruption.
Perhaps,weareassureastheyarethatthesegovernmentofficialsareasguiltyasanything,
butthen,
wearestruckbytheratherconsistentinternationalpatternofthisdecadence.
WeseemtorememberthatgraftandcorruptionhavealsopervadedtheofficialdomofChinaand
intherepublicsofSouthandcentralAmerica.Weneednotevenmentionherethesame
corruptioninEuropeandelsewhereeveninJapanunderthestrong,puritanicalarmofGeneral
DouglasMacArthurandGeneralCourtneyWhitney.
Wehaveobservedthatthisepidemicofscandalshasstruckwithmoreorlessthesame
virulencethoseregionswhereimperialismisintheprocessofstrengtheningitshold.Wehave
studiedthematteralittlemorethoroughlythanisourwontandweseemtoseealogicalpattern
runningthroughthewholething.
Weseemtoseealso,that
graftfollowsrathercloselythegraphoftheriseandfallofthe
imperialistadvance.
AndthenwerecallthecorruptionoftheKuomintang,ofthearmyandbusinesscliquesinSouth
America,ofthetremendouspowertheywieldandtheinfluentialpositionstheyhold.These
groups,wefind,are
notthegroupsidentifiedwiththerealnationalistmovements
intheir
respectivecountries.Rather,theyareidentifiedtoocloselywiththosewhoarereadytodispense
patronageandprotectiontoforeigninterests.
InthePhilippines,thosewhoprofitedfromcorruption,thosewhoreceivedbribesintheformof
concessionsfromtheFLCandtheUSCC,andlater,fromtheSurplusCommission,are
those
whoworkedfaithfullyforthepassageofParityandtheapprovalofthe
BellTrade
RelationsAct.
Today,whentheyhavebecomesocorrupt,theyhaveceasedtobeofanyusetoimperialism.
Theyhavebecome,instead,adefiniteliability.Andtheymustbestopped.Tooustthemfrom
power,anothergroupmustbesupportedandencouraged.
T heprocesswillgoonandyou
maybesurethatimperialismisalwayspreparedtoresolvethedilemmaofcorruption
.It
knowsfromexperiencethatcorruptionisdynamic,thatitprogresseslikecanceruntilitsvictim
becomesuselessevenforthepurposeofpuppetry.Thesolutionistotransferallegiancetoan
incorruptiblegroup,relativelyspeaking.
Thestoryofthebananarepublics,oftheChiangKaiShekregimeandoftheTsaldaris
administrationofgreeceshouldbeveryrevealing.Weimaginetheyareworthstudyingifonlyto
understandthatthecurrentwaveofgraftisnotonlyamatterofmoralsbutalsoofpowerpolitics.
(02261949)
DiagnosisandCure
Itisnodoubtan
intellectuallyexhilaratingexercisetotracecorruption
inadeveloping
countrylikethePhilippines
toitssociologicalandeconomicroots.
Thiswasdonetheother
daybyfourlecturerswhoareinManilatoacquaintbusinesswriterswiththenuancesoftheir
chosenfield.
Likemedicaldoctorsinconsultationovertheailmentofafastdeterioratingpatient,thefourone
aCeylonese,oneanIndian,oneanEnglishman,andthelastaFilipinodiscussedatlengthand
indetailthecausesandthenatureofgraftandcorruptioninPhilippinesociety.
Each,asonlytobeexpected,hashisowndiagnosisandcure,butallareagreedontheseldom
acceptedpropositionthat
corruptioninthePhilippines,whetherprivateorofficial,isdue
tothestateofscarcitywhichbedevils,theFilipinointhemass.
Thismeansthatbecause
ofthemarginalexistenceofthevastmassesofFilipinostheexistenceofwhichisbasedon
twomealsadayandonaforlornhopeforabrightfuturecorruptionhasbecomeawayoflife.
Butthesignificantdistinctionwhichthelecturersmadesignificantinthesensethatitisjustified
bytheactualityinthePhilippinesisthat
mostofthecorruptionheremaybefound
,notin
thebarriosorintheisolatedclustersofhamletsintheremoteareas,but
inthesuperblypaved
andairconditionedghettosofpoliticiansandtycoons.
Bythese,Iimagine,thelecturers
meantthe
membersoftheelite,
thedecisionmakerswho,indevelopingregionsoftheearth,
usuallycomposeamonolithclassanditsancillarygroups.
Thenthelecturerspointedtoanotherlevelofcorruption,thecorruptionwhichinvolvesthe
transferofpurchasingpowercashforshortfromonehandtoanotherinthebureaucracyand
inthelowerechelonsofthebusinessandpoliticalworld.
Noremedywassuggestedtocuretheevilwhichhasmadetheelitethatmuchmore
reprehensible,buttoerasethecorruptiontowhichthebureaucracyisaddicted,thesuggestion
wasmadethateconomicdevelopmentshouldbetheimmediategoalinordertodoawaywith
thestateofscarcity.
Inotherwords,industriesshouldbedeveloped,thevastnaturalresourcesofthecountry
exploited,andtheagriculturallandsrenderedmoreproductiveifmembersofthebureaucracy
andthepeoplewhocomposethelowermiddleclassaretohavetheirjustshareofthenational
wealthandinquantitiesthatwillmakethemantagonistictoanyformofcorruption.
Asanordinarylaymanwhoisinterestedintheemergenceofasafeandeconomicallysecure
society,
Icannotpossiblyhaveanyquarrelwiththesolutionssuggestedbythefour
lecturers
.Forsurely,theacquisitionofprofessionalprideonthepartofthemembersofthe
bureaucracyandtheabolitionoftheeconomyofscarcitywillbringusnearertothepreconceived
sunlituplands.
Butbeforethesunlituplandsarereachedbefore,toexpressitinotherwords,theeconomyof
scarcityisabolished
itisnecessarytoremovetheimpediments.
Unfortunately,thebiggest
impedimentstotheattainmentofasecuresocietyarepreciselytheformsofcorruptionwhich
prevailinthePhilippinestoday.Whatthismeansisthat
theformsofcorruptionplacedunder
scrutinybribery,nepotism,extortion,etc.aretheinsuperableobstacles
to
industrialization,professionalism,asoundcivilservicesystem,andgeneralcompetence.
ItisforthisreasonthatIinclinemoretothenotionthat
themostdrasticchangesshouldbe
institutedinthatechelonwherethosewhowieldrealandeffectivepowerarewell
entrenched.
Thisdone,itwouldbeeasytoeffectreformsinthebureaucracy,inthelower
middleclassandcertainlyinthatgroupofthedebasedproletariat.
Whatthismayentailisthat
radical,possiblyundemocraticmeasures,willhavetobe
appliediftheleadershipthatIhaveinmindistobemadecapable
ofshowingthe
membersofthelowerorders,bypreceptandexample,thewaytothedesiredUtopia.
(8301968)
NoSimpleTask
Removingcorruptioningovernmentisnotassimpleasraisingahowlaboutitorraidingitsden.
Norcanitberemovedbychangingonesetofofficialswithanothersetbutwithoutalteringthe
internalandexternalpoliciesofgovernment.
Forinstance,itisdifficulttoconceivethatourpresentcropofrulersderivetheirpowersand
supportfromthepeople.Whileitistruethatthesemenowetheirelectiontoanominalmajority
ofvotes,itcannotbedeniedthattheirentrancetoofficewasmadeunderacloud.Evenifitis
admittedthattherewasarealmajoritywhichwonthemtheiroffice,yetnoonecandenythat
theircorruptionfromthedateoftheirelectiontothepresenthasbeenprogressive.
Thereasonisthattheirservicestotheeconomicallypowerfulcanonlybepurchasedattheprice
allowingthemtohelpthemselvestothepublictill.Sincetheycannotpossiblygotothepeoplefor
support,
theyrelyontheeconomicintereststheyserveformaintainingtheminpower
.
Andsince,further,theyknowthattheirtenureisnecessarilylimited,
thelogicofthesituation
compelsthemtobemorecorrupt,
ifonlytomakethemostoftheiropportunities.
Buttheseobservationswouldbemoreclearifwecitedtheexamplesofthecorruptregimesin
thebananarepublics,inChina,andinthosecountrieswhereasmallrulinggroupfindits
greateststrengthnotinpopularsupportbutinthepropsofferedbyforeigninterests.Among
thesepropsare:
surplusgoods,
semigovernmentandgovernmentcontracts,
specialimportandexportlicenses,
bankloans,
exclusivetradingrights,and
alotofotherprofitablesidelineswhichforeigninterestscanaffordtodispense.
Totheextentthattheseofficialsarenotcorruptedtothepointofuselessnessinsofaras
protectingtheinterestofeconomicsisconcerned,theyaresupported.If,however,their
corruptionissoextensiveastodiscreditthemcompletely,therewouldbenohesitationin
sacrificingthem.Afreshsetischosenandtheprocessisrepeatedadinfinitum,
unlessthe
peopledecidetocomeinandintervene
.(5211949)
EvenTeachersCheat
Whoeveristhemastermindbehindtheracketeeringonjuniorandseniorteacherscivilservice
examinationquestionsdeservescommendationforhisorherkeenbusinessacumen.Wewould
advisetheauthoritiestogoeasyonhimorherandtoconsiderthecircumstancessurrounding
thecommissionoftheallegedcrime.
Onethingshouldbeobvioustotheauthorities:nopersonwithanybusinesssensewillindulgein
aracketwhichdoesnothavearichmarket.Wecontendthatwhoeverisresponsibleforthe
leakageofthetestquestionstooktheriskofviolatingthelawbecausehesawhoweagerthe
candidatesweretopayforthequestionsinordertopasstheexaminations.
Inotherwords,
theteachers,theverypeople,bytheway,whoareentrustedwiththe
trainingandeducationofthenationschildren,providedtheencouragementforthe
racket
.Itisreportedthatanumberofthemhavealreadypartedwiththeirsavingsjusttogethold
ofasetofthetestquestions.Thisishoweagertheyaretoqualifyasjuniororseniorteachers.
Thisisaverynaturaldesire,ofcourse.
Butwhatisinfuriatingisthattheseteachers,whoin
theclassroompreachhonestyandcatchwitheagereyespupils,whocheat,are
themselvesguilty
oftheverycrimestheytrytoabolish.wewonderwhatachildwouldthinkif
heweretoknowthathisteacherpassedagovernmentexaminationbecausehehadsecured
thequestionsinadvance.Andwewonderwhatateacherofthistypewouldtellastudentcaught
cheatingatexaminations.
Wehaveseenthetypeofquestionsusuallyaskedincivilservicetests.Theothernightwesaw
asamplesetforseniorteachers.Itisdoubtfulifevenahandfulofteacherscangivethecorrect
answers.Andweshallneverknowwheretheexaminergotthequestions.
So,rememberingourchristianupbringing,wedonotexactlyblametheteachers.Wenowknow
thatitrequiresaspecialkindofidiocytopassthecivilserviceexaminations.(6161951)
OurMoralRegeneration
Amongthemanycatchwordsinventedbythepresentdispensation
todistinguishitin
qualityandpurposefromitspredecessor,themostwidelyused,theonethatisintendedto
clinchanyargumentoversuperiority,
ismoralregeneration
.Inthesehecticdaysofpolitical
campaign,
itisoftenonthelipsofcandidatesandtheirleaders,asiftheactofutteringit
wassufficienttoestablishthemoralascendancy
ofeventhereprobate.
Butmoralregenerationisasumptuousphraseofvastandintricateconnotation.Itisaphrase
whichcannoteasilycometothelipsofthegreatmajorityofourpoliticians,
forinitsreal
sense,moralregenerationcannotbeconfinedtothemereabolitionof,say,thatpetty
thievery
thatusedtobeamajorfeatureinthedailylivesofgovernmentemployeesandofficials.
Itcannotmerelyrefertotheabandonmentofthehabitoffilingspurioustaxdeclarationsorofthe
practiceofavoidingthepaymentofcustomsdutiesontaxablegoods.
Allthis,wesuppose,isdesirable,forattheveryleasttheresourcesofthegovernmentwouldnot
beimpairedifthieverieswerestoppedandtaxespaid.Andinsohardupagovernmentasours,
theconservationoffinancialresourcesisalmostanaccomplishmentinitself.
Butameticulousobservanceofthepettymoralityofthesmallmanandofthevillagepreacher
andthissimplymeanstheelevationofthehonestyoftheclerktothecategoryofan
allencompassingvirtueislikelytodetracttheattentionofthepeoplefromtheotherand
perhaps
morevalidandmoreenduringaspectsofmoralregeneration.
Theseaspectsareconcernedwiththetimelessdecencieslike:
mentalhonesty,
loveofjusticeforitsownsakeandnotforthesakeofselfadvertisement,
capacitytoownmistakesandwillingnesstorectifythemevenattheriskofhurtingone
ownpride,
apassionatereluctancetolieandapassionatededicationtotellthetruth,
andmanyotherpracticeandhabitofthemindandspiritknowntoallcivilizedmen.
Ourhumblesuggestionisthatunlessthesedecenciesaremadeapartofthenodoubtgreat
objectivesofthemoralregenerationcampaign,thesocietythatwouldemergefromtheeffortsof
thepracticingmoralistswouldbecomposedofpettyofficialsandpettycitizensfreefromthe
taintofthe
NewEras
versionoftheoriginalsinbutdevoidofthatgraceandgoodwillwhichare
ultimatelythefirstprinciplesofacivilizedcommunity.
(NotebyProf.Constantino:TheNewEra
wasthenameadoptedbytheMacapagalAdministrationwithMoralRegenerationasthe
accompanyingslogan.)
Inaword,
whatwewouldhaveisaCalvinisticsociety
wheretheconversionofthievingclerks
intolittlehonestangelswasanendinitselfand
whichcouldbeusedtohidethemore
pervasiveimmoralityofdestroyingthegraceofjusticeandfairness.
Weshouldallrejoice,ofcourse,thataccordingtoofficialreports,therearelessthievesin
governmentthanusedtobe.Byallmeansletuscelebratethenewlyacquiredsenseofpetty
honestyofthesmallmen.
Butweshouldnotbesatisfiedwiththis.
Weshoulddemandthatthebiggermengivethe
fullestobservancetothebroaderandmoresophisticatedstricturesthatareimpliedin
thephrasemoralregeneration
.Andthissimplymeansthatthebiggermenshouldnotactlike
BigBrothers,andthattheyshouldnotsayonethinganddotheopposite.Shouldtheybecapable
ofthis,moralregenerationwouldceasetobeasemantictrapandbecomeameanstoliberation.
(9011963)
Source:SOLIONGCOTODAY,EditedbyProf.RenatoConstantino(1981)
FoundationforNationalistStudies,QuezonCity
NOTE:
Asalludedtointhe
Preface
ofthesourcebook:Mr.Indalecio(Yeyeng)P.Soliongco
waseditorialwriter/columnistoftheManilaChroniclefromthelate1940sto1971.Hewroteover
8000columnsinhis
"SeriouslySpeaking"
c olumn.Hediscussedvarioussubjectsbut
concentratingondaytodaysociopoliticaldevelopmentsexposingthehypocrisy,lackof
intellectualandmoralintegrityofmanypublicfigures.
Thefirstpriorityforanyunderdevelopedcountry,beforeitcanbegintheeconomicandsocialdevelopment
mostappropriatetotheneedsofitspeople,istheseizureofpowerbythemassesandthetotaldestruction
ofthecontrolandinfluenceoftheforeignpowerandlocalexploitingelite.Withoutthis,nothingispossible.
FelixGreen,BritishAuthor,1970
(torequestAbayabookfreecopyviamyemail:bmdrona@gmail.com)
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