The Uncovered War

by Niko T. Manalili

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Institute of Nursing

The Philippine situation has been in continuous survival in the midst of financial,

political, social and economic crisis. It was an irony of a democratic country where there is

freedom and justice. Thought we were free from colonization and second world war, but the

real struggle for liberty and peace is still at stake as we, Filipino's continue to shatter the

tranquility of our mother country.

When I was in elementary, I really don't know or care about politics, economics and

society. All I need to do is that I need to go to school, study, eat, play and watch television.

That was still in the Ramos' regime when my young mind thought I thought the Philippines

was so peaceful and free. I can still remember what my mom told me when I attempt to went

out late to play, “Huwag kang lalabas at may nangunguha na bata dyan!” Still, I don't follow

her because my Id told so. What a snobbish thing right? As I now critique this thought, I have

understand the Philippines from then on was unsafe even just in our own homes. It was not a

threat but a form of protection. The childish act of disobedience must be removed by all, and

follow our leader's like our mother. But what if the credibility our mother or father leader was

questionable? That has been a problem when I EDSA 2 emerged in 2001. I was in grade 5

when people went out of their homes and gathered to EDSA shrine to ask for the resignation

of the Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada who was accused of graft and corruption.

The protest succeeded and he was finally been replaced by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In her

9 years of service, were never ending protest for her to be ousted. The first major protest was
a so called EDSA 3 that has brought injuries to many of them; and then the rest was history.

Almost every year, the opposition were submitting impeachment complaints but noting

succeeded. She had experienced major expose such as Hello Garci, ZTE and Fertilizer Fund

Scam, but through enough, nothing has able to removed her from the position. From that long

years of service, I have wondered if those party list groups were not being tired of going to

streets, shout and fight for a right that was not really succeeding. In Recto, almost every one

or two months, a protest was being done. But what has changed? Nothing right. The freedom

of speech was not already a right but a privileged. Its such that, even though I speak or file a

complaint, nothing will happen because I think that the justice system in the Philippines is

somehow injustice.

I remembered the news that I have watched last Wednesday in TV patrol when there

were students, protesting in Malacañang for the latest issue of the administration on

consumption of P39 million on their state visit in the USA. My eyes were widened when it

ended up with a fight between the protesters and the security. Police have no gears yet they

have sticks to hit the protesters who are struggling. They kicked, hit and punched them to the

extent dragging of some of them into the vehicle to be captured. That was very rude and

against the bill of rights. For so many years it has been a problem and yet has not been

resolved.

I am neither anti- nor pro- to the administration but I think she was good managing our

economy and making such projects but her morality in the image of some Filipino made her

unwanted. As the president, she must be the main advocate of peace, and be vigilant in

promotion of organization and unity of all Filipino's and not merely a leader who only focus on

the economic side of the society.

 Mrs. Arroyo's leadership has been always compared to Former Pres. Cory Aquino, and

with her death early this August 2009 was a sound of sorrow for the whole Filipino nation. I

was really touched for all that she has done for country. She has sacrificed her privacy, life

and family in order to live out her legacy in accordance to the fight that her husband had

started. With her faith and courage they had won a peaceful revolution. Truly she was a true

symbol of democracy and great advocate of peace. She must be an inspiration and model to

us as we will be selecting the future leaders in 2010. She has lived the ideals that prayer is

the most powerful thing on earth.

For so many years, peace negotiation between the military and the MILF has never

been successful. It has been very odd that our nation was noted not only as a corrupt country

but also unsafe. I can still recall the hostage taking of Martin and Gracia Burnham.

Unfortunately, Martin was killed by the heartless terrorists. In 2008 Ces Drilon and his camera

man was hostage for 9 days by the Abu sayyaf. Later this 2008, the Red Cross Volunteers

also experienced the same, but luckily they were freed. They were missionaries, innocent

and of good heart. The bombing of the LRT and in Cotabato has caused death of many

civilians. Now, can we say that Philippines is really safe? If these people can't be safe, why

not also us? The responsibility of the government is now to address the peace talks because

many innocent people are affected by terrorism. They must solve the problem, and make

solutions on how can negotiations can take place for the benefit our our nation.

I will be hypocrite if I will say that Philippines is peaceful. Well, it is the truth. Anywhere
in the metro one's life is being at risk. Even in mountains, NPA (New Peoples Army) can even

kidnapped us. Snatchers are always ready to grab bags; and the holdapers waits for their

victim to come out. Crimes are always around, thus, making some parts of the country,

especially in the metro unsafe. The greed of people has been an emerging problem because

these people have no worked. They have no money. Poverty has been an exact connection

for many crimes happening in the country. For some, they disobey the law because they just

want to or they were just evil. But I believe that If these people have good jobs, they will no be

provoked to do such illegal acts. They can't find jobs because they aren't qualified and doesn't

finished college nor high school; worst they don't have a formal education.

Education in the Philippines has been problematic for the past decades. There were

no enough classrooms, books or school supplies. Facilities were unhealthy; and rooms were

really congested. For some rural areas, they struggle for walking two to three hours from their

home just to finish their studies. Even though, education is free, still families aren't able to

send their child on schools because they struggle for their day to day allowances because of

lack of financial resources. That's why the government must come up with more scholarships,

build better facilities and rooms, and come up with programs that will boost the excellence of

a Filipino student. Also they must improve the teaching on GMRC and make Filipino students

great advocate of peace. A bright student with morality will move the nation to its boundaries

because as Dr. Jose Rizal has stated “Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan.” Right education

plus right behavior and attitude will make person qualified for a job and a good life, thus

making him lesser at risk in doing acts against the law.

Our mother earth was crying and begging for her peace. As we now experience the

consequences of our careless approach to our environment, I am calling everyone to please

act now. As I am writing this article, our home is surrounded with flood due to heavy rains last

night. I have no food so I need to get the nearest eatery even though its flooding. I put plastic

on my feet to protect it but then its useless because the water was deep. As I went on, I have

noticed a lot of trashes floating, and even rats swimming in the flood. This phenomena was

very usual here Sampaloc, Manila. This has been an effect of improper disposal of wastes

that clogged the canal systems. The pollution we have caused result to global warming that

eventually cause mass calamities such as flash floods, landslides and forest fires. The earth

was on the process of unwanted destruction due to global warming. It was an unleashed war

between the people and the earth. A revenge that will cause death and demolition of nature

that might be never seen by the future generations. We need to act on helping our

environment. We must clean our surroundings, dispose wastes properly, save energy, recycle

and restore our environment.

Filipino nationalism in promotion of peace is still weak. We are still on the process of

finding our consciousness of what is really happening to our country. As if watching a tv show,

we only think and comment but we don't do something. It is like eating sandwich but we don't

recognize its value. People must be aware that they must take part in the upbringing of the

society. We must look, listen and feel the situation. Indeed we must become advocates of

peace.

Peace starts from within. We can never be advocates if there are conflicts within

ourselves. We must know our self awareness so we can properly deal with others struggling

for their consciousness. We can be peacemakers as we save people in the depths of

immorality. In simple ways we can help them through our prayers. Let us help those human

who are suffering, the needy and the one being lost. We must become good son's and
daughters and commit to our responsibilities in the family. The parent's must teach their

children to become peacemakers, avoid fights and become responsible member of the

society. For the media, they must provide educational programs for the youth promoting

peace and harmony.

Peace can never be achieved alone. Each individual must take part in the upbringing of

our nation. The islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao must unite as one in active

participation of bringing peace to our self, environment, society and the whole nation.