[Filipinism Homepage] What will we become as a country after Cory (and Ninoy)?

[josephdream]

by Fr. Lito Jopson

This is a more personal reflection on the implications of the life of that great woman who served as the icon of Philippine democracy - Pres. Corazon C. Aquino.

Back in 1986, she took up Ninoy's fight to restore democracy back to the country. Tagged by many as a simple housewife, she was catapulted to the Presidency after her husband's assassination. It was as if Ninoy was at her side to guide her to take up the fight against a repressive regime. Since, then, she was the ordinary housewife no more, but a prime mover in the restoration of democracy.

When she became President, she was faced with the most threatening challenges - coup d'etats, blackouts, political and even economic instability. But the people supported her all the way, just to restore that freedom to be enjoyed once again by many. She didn't rely only on herself; she believed in the power of many - people's power to restore things to their proper order.

But alas! We could only do so much. The "balimbings" got their way back to Malacanang, wearing yellow clothes they detest like a hard pill to swallow. They had to do it for the sake of their survival. Time and again, Cory received reprimands from the late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, and the communication lines were getting thinner between the Church and Government. But at least, she stayed there till the end of her term. Her legacy: the smooth transition of power to Pres. Fidel V. Ramos.

What have we become after "the Cory magic"? After FVR, Erap, and now GMA, we may have been reaping small amounts or signs of democracy but like a sick heart struggling to beat, the trickles of freedom could hardly be felt. For in the face of "seeming" democracy, corruption still exists, like a cancer eating everything it can devour. They are found in the families of government, to their friends, beer pals, golf pals - almost anybody you can think of. What happened to the glorious days since the martyrdom of Ninoy Aquino that Cory painstakingly preserved and lived out?

Cory, as she struggled to fight with cancer, continued to fight against the remants of corruption, which by now is increasing at a rapid rate, proportional to the sickness eating her health away. Corruption has gotten back to government and is now in full force. These forces want to change the Constitution to fit their own whims, not wanting in any way to transfer that power to others who have the same capacity to lead as they have. Now, they're talking about dynasties as they thought about it in the past. It may be a dream for them, but a nightmare for the rest of us Filipinos. They want to get the blessings in an illegitimate way and make it appear "Constitutional" or "legal".

But Cory stood till the end, calling on the people to remain vigilant and preserve the gains of democracy. Now we are appealing to those in power, most especially in the incumbent President - provide the transition of power, state categorically that your time has come; make this country morally strong starting from yourself; and stop relying on false, even militarized power. For all elected and appointed officials and government employees - stop any tinge of selfishness and greed and stop siphoning the country's dwindling resources; think of the poor Filipinos in their own country; they have every right to live as anybody else. In other words, make our country great again.

To Cory, thank you for showing us the way back to normalcy. Now, the buck in on us, how will we perform as a country after you and Ninoy? Though the problem may seem insurmountable, as long as there is greed and corruption in people's hearts, at least, let us thank you for showing us thay to "dream the impossible dream and to fight the unbeatable foe." You will always remain in our hearts that will serve as our motivating force to pass on to our children and to the rest of the world, that dream mainly, that it is possible of a country to live in true freedom based on justice and peace.

God bless you, Cory Aquino!

--
Posted By josephdream to Filipinism Homepage at 8/01/2009 06:12:00 PM