We’re no ordinary people

"We’re no ordinary people, we are citizens of the Philippines and we all have equal rights to be protected and to be cared for" that is the cry of every Filipino today. Even if the government seems to be working on its toes to get things done – we don’t feel it. Why? Because our basic needs have not been met and addressed for a long, long, long time.

Sure you see the MMDA trying to improve major highways and the traffic problem. You see the roads being improved and overpasses being added. You don’t see so much of the street people squatting in the sidewalks but look at what has become of all these projects? We seem to be like chickens fenced in chicken "pink" wires with big boulders suddenly appearing on the roadside. How I wish we could be more creative and more sophisticated in our choices of design…

What’s worse is so much focus is made on the metropolitan but what about the provinces? The far-to-reach places? The highway going to Baguio from Manila is still the same. Once a motorcycle or pedicab is in front of you, you’re stuck forever. There are no alternative roads for the barrio folks. They have to risk their lives going on the busy highway just to get to another town. At one point I saw a truck hit a motorcycle and the passenger riding the motorbike flew like a rag doll. Can you imagine what was next? No ambulance in that town nor a good clinic or hospital. The victim probably died because of lack of medical facilities. How sad. But it is happening in most of our small towns. Shouldn’t the local government focus on that? I think the President should have a good talk with the mayors and congressmen. She should direct them to work on the basic facilities and utilities of the people. And just in case they start doing that, please warn them not to put their names on any government property… like through the initiative of Mayor or Congressman… so and so. That just isn’t right. The money they use for such projects is the people’s money that is tax money not theirs. That is their job we are paying them to do so they should not have to brag and use the opportunity as a campaign scheme.

The problem is that most of our Senators, Congressmen and Mayors have not actually taken the jeeps, buses or pedicabs. Most of them don’t even probably allow their children to experience such. So, you do not have first hand information of how Filipinos suffer and sacrifice going to work or to school everyday. If you knew the hardship the people in the streets go through you would make it a personal advocacy to improve the situation. Someone has got to be affected in order to fight for the cause. Just like what happened to Joe de Venecia when his daughter died in a fire accident. After that traumatic accident, he and his wife pledged to help improve the Fire Services… I hope he is still determined to improve them or has he given up?

It takes "personal experience" and "personal trauma" for a politician to have more will power to get things done. It’s a sad fact but that is the reality of it all. Unless someone in the public sector really bends down and gets to the ground to see clearly the situation of how many of us are suffering in such an environment, then, that will be the day.

Imagine right beside the Philippine National Police Headquarters, Camp Crame my nephew got mugged by two men at the Santolan Station of the MRT. He was on his way home from Saturday classes at around 8 pm. Two men assaulted him with an ice pick and got his cell phone, wallet and school bag. There was no police on site (I guess because it was a Saturday night?) nor security people to man the station. So there! What can you say about our public safety?

Have you checked your electricity bills lately or your water bills? I am trying to figure out why they just keep on increasing? Can someone honestly tell us what’s going on? I use to pay only P250 on my water bill. Now I pay P1,200. What’s going on? My electricity bill has doubled. C’mon, is that a subtle way to drive our Filipinos from their country? Madame President do you get to see your bills?

I may seem to be complaining too much but I am sure many out there feel the same way I feel… I am just voicing out the common sentiments of the folks out there. The point is for so long we have been patient. But it has been a while now and things don’t seem to have changed. Even if the President has a direction in trying to improve our economy, I think she should meet with the local mayors and put some direction to where our country is heading. Cooperation and support of programs is the key. If the politicians will stop fighting each other and just try to work hand in hand, I think we will achieve more. You guys owe that to the Filipino people. Enough grandstanding and upstaging each other… just do your job and get things done!