To be sufficient

Sufficiency, this is what the new president of the Philippines kept on repeating during his inaugural speech, Thursday. It was a grandiose event with guests donned in traditional barong and Filipiniana. The world was watching the son of a dictator as he was sworn into office. In that same speech, he managed to thresh out the different issues that we are facing. The only catch is, his plans of addressing them are still quite vague. They are close to motherhood statements.

But what does it really mean to be sufficient? It is to be able to produce without aid from others. When we are producing for ourselves, it means we are independent from binding agreements because we can survive. However, looking at the current state now, it seem like we are far from sufficiency. Our farmers are the least appreciated workers in the field and parcels of land that should have been areas for food production are turned into multi-million commercial properties.

The hands of the next president will be full, as agenda after agenda will be discussed with him. He calls on for help as he admits that he cannot do it on his own. But we should also call for accountability on the big responsibility that he placed himself into. We cannot work like soldiers or like robots, operating on baseless orders. We can instead collaborate, give our ideas, and see where we can fit into the bigger picture. He promised us unity, not a dictatorship.

Being sufficient means that we have an educational system that would no longer need the approval of other nations. Our scholars would be satisfied with the kind of teaching that they get here, rather than going abroad for further studies. The plan on how to address that must be forward-looking as he mentioned. No more looking back to the past, but that does not mean we will forget. The events that took place during martial law will never be erased from history.

The inaugural speech wasn't even sufficient enough to explain his six-year plan and there wasn't much talk about it during the campaign. He claimed to have not offended his rivals, but his supporters exhibit otherwise. It is indeed a time of misconception and spirals; truth has lost its essence and is subjective.

But this I say to the president; make do of what is given to you. He has the benefit of the doubt. If indeed he finds it in his heart to help others, especially the Filipino people, then he will leave his comfort zone and his luxurious life to be with others in need. The next six years might be a facade of a continued legacy of impunity. It’s only about to begin, who knows what gains it will bring us. If only the 31 million voters said this kind of leadership is sufficient for them.