Why we must reform our political parties

Just a week ago, the Arroyo Administration tried to sell the nation (without benefit of consultation) that poorly-planned GRP-MILF agreement brokered supposedly by Malaysia with the concurrence of the United States that would have granted the MILF its ancestral domain under that animal dubbed, “Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE)”. This breaking news startled many Filipinos who were still concerned about the scandal that rocked the Court of Appeals (CA). This was one piece of news that took the limelight away from the news of the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars, which incidentally also took out of the front pages the bad news about the oil price hikes and the food security problems we were having.

Well, with the Supreme Court (SC) hearing the CA scandal in the meantime, let’s focus on the planned charter changes (Cha-cha) that Malacañang is now selling to the Filipino people. Obviously when the Filipino people did not embrace the BJE, Malacañang suddenly announced, all is set for the cha-cha, but through a Constituent Assembly (conass). Do we trust our politicians to change our constitution, just because the Arroyo Administration has their back against the wall? Changing the constitution should be the job of delegates duly voted in the coming 2010 Presidential elections.

Our political problems are so enormous which is why I should caution you that our shifting towards a Federal System isn’t going to result in an overnight change in our politicians. So before we make that shift towards a Federal form of government, we should already demand to a return to the old, tried and tested two-party system like the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Liberal Party (LP). Back then, a politician rose to the top and became the party’s Presidential standard bearer after careful scrutiny and great debates. Today’s Presidentiables or Senatoriables are chosen not by careful scrutiny, but by the point system, where someone either points you or you point yourself!

Currently our political parties are based strongly on personality politics, which is why political parties sprout up and disappear depending on the popularity of its leader. When the leader is out of power, the party loses its luster because our political parties do not have any ideology; its sole purpose is to launch their leader into political power.

Our shift towards a Federal System of government would mark a huge change in our political system, which can lead to better governance. However we must also simultaneously reform our political parties, which today has not brought political stability to this country. What we need are responsible politicians who truly deserve their real title as servants of the people, not our masters.

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THE BLACKBOX:

Last Wednesday Aug13th was the 43rd Foundation Day of the Cebu Society for Crippled Children, Inc. (CSCCI) that operates the Guardian Angels Support Center at the Southwestern University Basic Education Department. It also coincided with the 2nd Anniversary of my mother, Mrs. Ascension S. Avila’s passing into eternal life. It was just a simple ceremony. It started with a Holy Mass followed by a short ceremony where the Guardian Angels Students who are physically challenged gave us a song and dance routine, something that some people think children with disabilities can’t do.

But when Mrs. Justina “Bebe” Alcoseba (mother of Councilor Yayoy Alcoseba, CSCCI Board Secretary) gave a short tribute to my mother, I was really touched as she told us that my mother was a true club woman, who never spoke above a hush, nor spoke anything ill of her fellow members, even the difficult ones. How true! Even when we were boisterous young boys, our mom never raised her voice.

I’m sure that my mother is now looking at the organization that she founded 43 years ago now under its new President, my sister Mrs. Adela A. Kono. I’m sure my mom up there approves of what’s going on with the CSCCI. Special thanks to Mr. Andrew Aznar, SWU President, for partnering with the CSCCI. They gave the handicapped children a chance to a good education. CSCCI also has a new homeroom teacher, Nigel Glenn Javier, a DOST scholar and member of Opus Dei, who is running the class with professionalism and a true Christian heart.

Tomorrow is also a Red-Letter day for our Marriage Encounter Class 29 for it is our 10th Anniversary when we joined the Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD) that two-day seminar that we took at the Don Bosco Retreat House in Lawaan, Talisay 10 years ago. We were about 28 couples then. Today we can count on more than 50% to join us in a Recollection on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning at the OAD Seminary in Tabor Hills. It’s a recollection-reunion.