Corruption Has Pitifully Stunted

The Growth of the Philippines

By Apolinario Villalobos

The modern structures that are continually breaking the skyline of Manila and suburban metropolis such as Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, are not the real gauge of the country’s growth. The transformation that the Philippines experiences today is a “false development”. They may be perceived as invested ventures, but are made by foreigners, not Filipinos. If ever, Filipinos have insignificant share in multi-national corporations, with some even acting as dummies of their foreign partners.

The global trade has been glaringly used by the exploitive foreign investors as an excuse in milking the Philippines. Whatever financial gain that these foreign investors have amassed, they send back to their countries, leaving a pittance share for the Philippines in the guise of employment, but in reality, is hapless and consolatory low-paying in general. The trust given by the Filipinos to their leaders has been brazenly betrayed. Blame corruption.

Privatization of government corporations has been tainted with corruption. The government insists that the move was made to get rid of unproductive and corruption-laden responsibilities. On the other hand, government officials who are involved are suspected to have substantially gained financially from the scheme. Such effort has practically brought the control of the vital economic and industrial machineries of the country, directly or indirectly into the hands of foreigners on a silver platter.

Not a single agency of the government is free from the smear of corruption. Even those that are involved in the rehabilitation of the people after the devastation of calamities also stink with corruption. Even neophyte government officials and politicians who were thought to be “clean” have lately, been dragged into corruption-riddled issues.

The Filipinos are hopelessly left without any trustworthy prospective leader in sight with the 2016 Presidential election fast approaching. As a last resort, it would surely be a choice among the less corrupt, and not between the corrupt and the non-corrupt.

After the Marcos dictatorship was toppled, the administration that took over, accomplished nothing to resuscitate the dying economy of the country. It just provided another foundation for a more sophisticated corrupt system. The “lone corruption” during the time of Marcos has been upgraded to become “orchestrated corruption” that involves conniving venal and greedy parties, steadily taking root deeply, to become a hideous cancer that consumes the nation!

The promised relief and comfort by the Cory Aquino administration proved to be just a promise, without even a single ray of hope for the long suffering Filipinos. Those who were identified with Marcos went through a cunning change of color and held on to their posts in Malacaῆan Palace, the government agencies, the halls of justice and legislation – practically around the unsuspecting President. The Cory charisma did not last long, as it got overwhelmed by the corruption that just got worst and assumed a legal semblance. Even the EDSA People Power Revolution has become a shame instead of pride for those who enthusiastically took part and spent sleepless nights along with enterprising food, cigarette, and softdrink vendors.

The development of the country got stunted as humbugs after humbugs took center stage to deliver promises of progress and comfort while they cross their fingers behind them. The country degenerated from so much corrupt abuses to the extent that even the sanctity of election turned rancid, as the process has become identified with incessant cash flows from politicians, towards the waiting hands of voters during campaigns that chaotically precede elections.

World money lenders praise the current administration for the “economic growth” – based on statistics, making the present President smile impishly with pride. In reality, though, poverty and unemployment are steadily on the rise. The pat on the back given him by the lenders has put forward a strong signal that the country can borrow money again from them, which is what the government will eventually do as expected! This never- ending borrowing cycle has tenaciously tightened its deathly grip on the Filipinos’ throat. Noticeable too, is the seeming cycle of ineptitude that started with the mother and closed by the son…becoming a loop that strangles the Filipinos.

The country’s economic base – agriculture, has become inutile in sustaining the rice requisite of the Filipinos. Shamefully, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines trains rice researchers and technologists from other countries. These foreign scholars go back to their countries afterwards to enhance their rice production…with their excess sold to the Philippines to become NFA rice…. the poor man’s rice! Even common vegetables are now imported so that when the cost of garlic and onion rises, the Filipinos give out a harrowingly helpless howl!

Many projects that are supposed to alleviate the suffering of Filipinos are non-existent. For so many years, “businesspersons” who operate sham Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) have been proliferating all the while, under the very noses of lawmakers. Despite such knowledge, they failed to lift a finger, until the scandal has reached an uncontrolled proportion. To save their faces, they hold “hearings”.  As exposed by whistle blowers, spurious documents have been processed by corrupt agency officials to “legalize” the theft of the people’s money. When these officials and lawmakers are confronted during hearings, they swear to high heaven that they are innocent, while their ill-gotten wealth accumulates interest in banks, with some, salted in other countries. Meanwhile, legislative hearings in aid of legislation continue for show, with results archived to gather dust. If ever some have luckily been legislated into law, the proper implementation becomes the problem, so that finger-pointing again ensues.

As a consolation, however, the  Philippines is  left with the impressions such as: a country of more fun, a country where singers are found in every corner of its islands, the country of the living boxing legend – Manny Pacquiao, and the only Christian-dominated country of persevering and ever-smiling brown-skinned, beautiful people!

Well, if only the hungry Filipino can live on those impressions….!