Political Campaign Finance Reform: A Vital Legislation which needs to be enacted

The notion that money influences the political process is not, nor could it ever be, exclusively associated with contemporary politics. It has long been asserted that money drives politics and that graft is often a by-product of holding political office.Here in the Philippines, there are different traditions with regard to campaign finance - some regulating contributions and spending practices, others allowing candidates to collect and use money as they see fit.

Generally speaking, elections are expensive. This is particularly true in the country, with long campaign period, without a pre-defined set of rules on pre-mature campaigning. Money is needed to pay staff, buy advertising on radio, television and other media, and even to raise more money. Presidential campaigns often cost billions of pesos.

Thus, this nature of elections cause those elected to pursue schemes at achieving a high rate of return for costs incurred during the elections. And there is no better way to do so, at a fast rate, than corruption.

Today, I will underscore the need for true blue political campaign finance reform, and how much it can be influential in the behavior of our institutions and our people.

- Reform has the effect of leveling the playing field for candidates. Candidates of enormous leadership potential but small wallets have failed due to the lack of resources. Under a reformed campaign finance system it will be more difficult for well-financed candidates to win purely because of the money they have. Incumbent candidates have a unique advantage over challengers in the present system because of their direct connections to important sources of money.

- Campaign finance reform advances the goal of a broader marketplace of ideas, advancing the objectives of free speech, assembly, and thought. Under the present system, minor party candidates voices are trampled by the booming voice of large, well-funded campaign operations. The heavy cost of campaigning discourages many potential candidates from entering contests.

- Campaign finance reform gives the individual donor a voice more comparable to other interests. At present, the enormous amount of money channeled into campaigns by large corporations, unions, and special interest groups overwhelm the smaller, limited contributions of individual donors. Under many campaign finance proposals, limits are suggested for these large group donations. Such limits increase the significance of donations by individual voters, likely increasing the responsiveness of candidates to voters/donors and accountability. Additionally, the increased significance of individual contributions encourages voter participation and activism.

- Campaign finance reform will make elections more competitive, thus resulting in more turnover or "fresh blood" in politics. This is valuable in challenging old orthodoxies and bringing in new ideas. It will also make it easier for members of ethnic minorities and the working class to seek office - such groups are disproportionately deterred from candidacy by the current need to raise huge sums of money.

- Campaign finance reform will reduce corruption in government by discouraging candidates from "selling themselves" to special interests bidding for their votes. Candidates will be less beholden to special interests, and thus, more amenable to listening to good reasons when making decisions about public policy.

In this modern day, all pre-tenses at reform should be supported, because every movement at such shapes, influences and motivates the behavior of the main democratic participants, the people.

To Inspire others to be HUMAN...

I remember saying this to a friend last night, and I was really at awe with what I was able to say about being with different people, and being able to adapt to their kind of environment.

"Bilang isang taong nakakaintindi, dapat mong mabatid na hindi mo mababago ang isip at patakbo ng ibang tao sa kanyang buhay. Bagkus, dapat mong ibigay ang malalim mong pang-unawa at nararapat na paggabay dahil bilang isang taong nakakaintindi, higit mong nauunawaan ang buhay. At kung matatanggap mo ang kanilang mga kakulangan, at kung makikita mo ang busilak na katangian na nananalatay sa kanilang pagkatao sa kabila ng kanilang karupukan at kahinaan, masasabi mo sa sarili mo, ako nga'y isang ganap na TAO."

I was able to say this, whole heartedly, and I was suddenly reminded of the various people I've worked with this past year. Its so easy to say thats a thing of the past, but who I am now was shaped by my experiences in the past. Its so easy to suffice that relationships, friendships, more often than not, do come and go, and change is the only permanent thing in this world. And so, I realized that everything that happens in life matter, and there's no absurd or meaningless occasion that comes to a man's existence. Thus, I've become a person who values... values time... values experience and values relationships.

A person who values time is someone who sees to it that everything he does is productive, from eating down to sleeping, and even taking a comfort room break. He is someone who sees time as a vehicle to maturity, to knowing some things that testimonial nor intuition cannot teach us. He is someone who views time as a way to appreciate life much better given its limitations.

A person who values experience is someone who looks keenly at events more than personalities, who sees the bigger picture that lessons gained are more important than building networks. He is someone who doesn't become bitter about bad turn abouts in life and doesn't become too big when he achieves something, and instead, looks for opportunities to better himself, taking into consideration the learning he has gained from that event in his life. He is someone who views experience as the catalyst to humanization.

A person who values relationships is someone who sees others lives in the same way he looks at his. He is someone who doesn't pass judgment and criticizes destructively, yet someone who understands the plight of all peoples. He is someone who makes friends out of the worst and the best of people, and someone who readily accepts rejection when one doesn't feel comfortable with his presence. He is someone who gives his heart to people whether they do him good and bad. He is someone who views relationships as the soul of human existence.

A person is one who upholds the dignity and integrity of life, creates a personal conviction that above necessity, man was tailored to be God's steward and an extension of His holy presence. Therefore, a person, in all of his words and actions, must preserve and promote the sanctity of his existence, with regard to his fellow man who shares the same responsibility to himself and to others.

Time, experience, relationships, personal convictions- these are variables that always go along together. These provide the vitality and strength of human life. At the end of the day, we find company when we establish these variables all together, and with this commonality amongst everybody, we will always find ourselves at the company of everybody, and at peace with ourselves: tested by time, strengthened by experience, binded by relationships and revitalized by a higher view of human life.

Folks, this is the way to become part of the world, and to be HUMAN.

Putting a HEFTY Price on a PUBLIC GOOD: An explanation on why a hike in the MRT/LRT fare should be the last option

I am recently disturbed by the pronouncement by DOTC Sec. Jose "Ping" De Jesus that a hike in the fare rates of the MRT and the LRT is inevitable, just because the government is losing an estimate of P7 billion a year in maintaining the operations of this form of mass transport. Let me remind them that the MASS TRANSPORT SYSTEM is a PUBLIC GOOD.

A characteristic of a PUBLIC GOOD is that it is non-rivalrous and non-excludable. The mass transport system that we currently have right now is essential to this economy, and perhaps, the only direct public service benefit for everyone, not just for the rich or poor, that augments for the small minimum wage, high taxes and pricy commodities in the market.

If this administration were to hike up the fare in the MRT/LRT, there will be so many negative externalities it would cause not only to our consumers, but to business in general. If we were to analyze, the only reason why government is doing so is because it is losing a lot of money.

It has an indirect effect in the prices of basic commodities, the demand to increase wages, and also perception of the international community, particularly foreign investors, of the high cost of mass transport in the country.

My question is, first, why does government subsidize for power and the ERC allow power rates to increase if it was the fault of companies like Meralco that they incur operational losses? One, it is Meralco's responsibility to go after houses that use jumpers, and its failure to exercise its authority on its own business leads to passing on of additional charges to customers who have faithfully obliged to their duties of paying their electricity bills. Government must make power companies like Meralco accountable to its own misgivings, and must not allow them to continuously pass on the burden of paying its operational losses to the general consumer base.

Why did I mention such? Because Government subsidizes for P13 billion in power rates, double than what it does for the mass transport system rates. The government must exercise its power by making companies like Meralco accountable to its own operational losses, and prohibit these companies from perpetually increasing the rates of electricity in households. Under that suggestion, a stiffer punishment for illegal tapping of electricity (use of jumpers) must be put in place, to discourage people from committing those offenses. In turn, Meralco must have the capacity to oversee its operations and significantly reduce the cost of electricity once a negative balance does not show up in terms of operational expenses.

If we were to re-channel half of that towards filling up the losses incurred by the mass transport system, then the problem would have been solved, rather than passing on the burden again directly to its general public.

Another source to downsize the gap is for state to impose more taxes to fund the operation of a public good, such as the mass transport system. This is where tax collection efficiency must be improved, and introduction of new tax schemes can be further looked upon.

The reality is we are a developing country, and most of our people are cash strapped and the alternative of using private transport like buying cars, automobiles is not a priority, especially if people cannot even afford to eat three times a day. The Aquino administration has to be more dynamic in plugging the gaps, instead of always resorting to strategies of passing on the burden of paying deficits to consumers.

There should be constant communication between the DBM, Customs, BIR and the MRT/LRT Management Group in finding ways and means to consider increasing the price of fares as the court of last resort. They have to institutionalize a mechanism of dialogue, most especially, if they so decide to increase, so that all stakeholders can have their inputs, especially that the decision to be rendered involves a public good.

Mass transport, such as the MRT/LRT, is a public good, and it is a direct benefit to all classes, without discrimination for rich or poor. Thus, a significant increase or decrease in its availability poses an impact to their capacity to consume and avail of basic goods and services.

Contra-SONA: A Perspective on the Recently Delivered SONA by Pres. BSAIII

Character of the Speech

P-Noy truly lived up to his character and personality of being scrutinizing on the use of the budget and to his platform on anti-corruption. Most of his speech was spent on the prosecutive capacity of the government to pursue cases against those who mismanaged public funds. He provided a litany of examples to show the extent of how corruption has led to the loss of money that could have been spent on basic social services. There were a lot of guarantees during the speech, trademark to his "walang tong, wang-wang" statement during his inaugural. This time he said wala nang tong pats.

While it may be true, it is only a reiteration of what has been echoed in previous SONA's, or even in investigative shows, perhaps the latter being more detailed when it comes to scrutiny and going through the detail.

Mismatch in Problem-Solution Approach

However, there was apparently a disproportion in the way he overwhelmingly expounded on the problems compared to thoroughly enumerating various means he intends to solve them. That mismatch could lead to a shortfall in terms of effort and result from the government's perspective. It is not enough to say "I will instruct, I will lead, I am saying now", because some of the ills are not borne out of one's moral capacity to live a corrupt-free life alone, but are embedded and deeply rooted in our institutional frailities to encourage honesty and discourage corruption in government. A hungry person will most likely not steal if he has an honest means to eat. A working person will most likely not cut corners if his salary is enough to more than cover his personal expenses. There is always an ulterior motive more than the act itself, and the President, known to be a morally upright one, failed to analyze that it is not only his behavior which is important, but the way that behavior is managed under a system. You can expect people to admire, but you must not expect them to follow if you have a system that is all stick or a system that is all carrot. There should be certainty of punishment, and at the same time, an incentive scheme to facilitate an environment of balance.

I would have personally loved to hear a reiteration of the need for congress to approve the FOI Bill, where we are guaranteeing the citizen access to official records and documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transaction and decision of the government which capacitates the people to be fully enlisted in the decision-making and legitimizing process.

It would have been better as well if we also took into consideration the report of the United Nations Against Corruption in its entirety, not just focusing on the enactment of a Whistleblower's Act, but also to work some sort of amendment to the Bank Secrecy Law.

The backlog of Public-Private Partnerships when government shows an overly excited atttitude towards the proposition

Public Private Partnerships I believe, is good, but must also be met with a lot of skepticism. Why? Because these investments are ultimately embedded with personal/business interests. A person would not just go to government and say, I want to build an expressway, without a sufficient understanding of the gains he intends to have on this. This, in fact, can be very dangerous if we are to show our overly excited attitude towards this prospect. It would have been nice if PNoy stressed that while we are hard pressed for finances, we will continue to uphold the dignity of this government by ensuring that we will carefully look into these proposals, perform a cost benefit analysis to all stakeholders and decide if it is good for the general welfare of the people, even as we venture into partnerships with the private sector.

Government's Financial Constraints

In terms of the budget, we must also try to find new ways of expanding the pie of revenues used to cover public expenditure. The solution must not only be prosecutive, but also preventive in nature. There is a great need to cut down the costs of government, and if that is through the merger of several replicating agencies, that should facilitate it well, along with ensuring efficiency in terms of operations and strategies. We must also try to review and reform GOCCs. Some GOCCs have constituted a heavy drain on the government’s finances, through subsidies and other budgetary allocations while others sustained heavy foreign exchange losses. Given these observations, a review of the GOCCs’ mandate, functions, and financial and operational viability is warranted and should be undertaken to address chronic problems encountered by GOCCs. We must also rework and re-rationalize our fiscal incentives in maintaining fiscal sustainability in the country. The challenge for policymakers is to design a fiscal incentive system that is competitive with the country’s ASEAN neighbors and one that is supportive of fiscal reforms. Identifying redundant investments – those that would have been made even without incentives in place – is an important step in designing the system. In addition, there is a need to re-examine the tax privileges of economic zones/freeports to avoid instances of leakage and abuses. These are reform points I expected to PNoy to deliver, but did not.

Generally, the speech was not all that bad, but it warrants more dynamic and specific solutions to the growing number of problems our country has. He made a good remark on people participating in the solutions (nakikibahagi), instead of just purely complaining (nakikialam). Hopefully, the next SONA will bare the blueprint of his term as President.

ABDL'S State of the Nation Address: The Missing Middle and the Poverties for All

Today, we stand in front of a generation, in front of a people still mired in the continuous adversity of facing multifarious social, moral and political problems as we head along in this second decade of the 21st century, a problem that we've inherited for many years, and for many generations.

The gaps are greater, the divide between rich and poor has grown wider, the number of middle classmen has sustainably deteriorated as the incidence of poverty continues to increase. The troubles we experience does not only lie in our capacity to sustain for ourselves, but in our capability as well to uphold our moral standards presented the challenges of surviving everyday life.

I do not need to elaborate further, since many leaders have already enumerated the growing number of problems this country has faced and will be facing in the next few years.

Our struggles do not confine itself in the social landscape, more over, it is just one piece of a big puzzle that confronts all of us, that is our pursuit to live a normal and noble life. This is the reason why some politicians steal, why some employees cut corners, why some of our poorer brothers resort to crime, because our livelihood cannot sustain the growing demands of an evolving time.

However, the hope of the Filipino's, despite their homes being lost at the mercy of Typhoon's Ondoy and Peping, despite continuous increase in the price of commodities and other basic services, despite the somewhat unlivable circumstances our fellow Kababayans have been reduced to, remain unbreakable and steadfast. The hope they hold on to is the reason leaders are elected, and trust remains that governments can help them lead better lives.

This foundation of hope is what drives us, leaders of each generation, to continue to persevere in search of solution, instead of more problems. This virtue is what fuels our passion to be role models for the older and younger generation.

I belong to a middle class family, a family who experiences often the life of an elite class when we have more than enough, and a family who goes through tightening of finances when the going gets tough. It is the middle class family who experiences the best, often, of both worlds. I take personal inspiration from middle class families, who still manage to send their sons and daughters to respectable institutions and pay their taxes and obligations to government at the same time.

This is a speech and a platform I'd like to offer for the forgotten middle, who seem to be highly disregarded because of the great divide between the poor and rich's interests, and the mileage this controversy attracts, for politicians to take advantage.

It is the middle class' industrious nature which steers our economy. It is their big contribution in our tax system which fuels government funded projects and it is their exemplary service in the private sector which increases the profit of big businesses, yet, they never get enough credit for what they do for both sides of the spectrum.

This is the kind of attitude we want to influence our people with, an attitude of participation and contribution to the national well-being, an attitude that attracts inspiration, an attitude which renders great service not just for self-interest, but for the general welfare of the country they live in.

We thank the middle class for we enjoy the trust and confidence that they render to our government. However, they can only do so much to that extent, and this is where, we, in the leadership divide, must fulfill our obligations, not only for them, but for the entire population of our country.

The State of the Nation has been echoed many times on National television, and more than anything else, we have heard the pulse of the people through many mediums, most popularly now on social networking sites and other interactive channels. However, there is a need for us to elaborate further on those already mentioned.

The state of corruption in government can be best described in one word- Gargantuous. The state of poverty in all levels can be best put in three words- lack of opportunity. The State of the Nation can be a countless litany of problems- that i will not dare enclose in any statement.

INSTITUTIONS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS

First things first, the only way we can get to an agreeable solution is when we have the proper facility to do it. The facility of discussion between the citizens and the government lies in our institutions, the one that governs all our actions, may we be politicians or simply ordinary people. Our institutions today, as we speak, are over problematic. Let me explain this to you further.

How much does a government employee earn versus its employee counterpart in the private sector? Isn't it double or triple compared to the latter? How many ghost employees get their salaries from Malacanang directly in the past few years? Do they contribute to the delivery of services to our people? These are simple questions we need to ask ourselves, especially those in key leadership positions.

In today's government, people who are dedicated and perform are not given reasonable incentives, while others enjoy the privelege of getting salaries without doing anything for national development.

However, the dilemma to increase the basic salaries of our government professionals would mean an additional budget to cover for those expenses. We do not have the luxury of a big budget to accommodate this salary movement.

RATIONALIZE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAUCRACY

We must task the current government's Executive Secretary to review and examine the performance of all government agencies, and if the need arises to merge some of these agencies to cut down cost in government, we will do so. In short, there is a need fo re-engineer the bureaucracy by rationalizing the functions of each agency. We will send recommendations to the legislature to merge the duplicate functions of some agencies to ensure we can cut down on the expense of the national government, and at the same time, increase the efficiency of these agencies. For example, to harmonize the efforts of the Education sector, in particular, we can put the DepEd, CHED and the TESDA all in one Agency of education, to ensure that there is well-managed collaboration in our pursuit to facilitate quality education from Kindergarten to the Collegiate level. This may go for other government agencies, to serve two purposes- cut down cost and increase efficiency in governance. I am against the creation of new task force commissions that only replicate the functions of Constitutionally commissioned agencies. This pads the bureaucracy in government, which usually increases the proportions of committing corruption.In this way, we can re-channel a portion of those funds to provide reasonable and due benefits to people in government who render exemplary public service.

What do we do then with previous allegations of corruption in government? Billions have been lost due to anomalous contracts, and millions to projects whose costs have been doubled to accommodate various interests, also known as the red tape disease in government.

The solution must always be two-pronged- prosecutive and preventive. The first one, which is prosecutive, must be dealt with independence on the part of the executive, but must give empowerment to those agencies which will undertake necessary action to charges against those irregularities. Our interference will come by increasing the necessary technology, through evidence collation and collaboration, the deployment of manpower and the complete functioning of all government agencies to ensure that there is a speedy resolution of these cases. The executive still has a hand in the prosecution, not in executing trial by publicity against culpirts, but by ensuring that the prosecuting agencies will have the power to perform its functions well and that the government exercises its will once a decision is rendered, may it be in favor of it or not.

The building of trust in government can only begin when institutions are working properly, and functioning to support the delivery of basic services to our people.

However, corruption should never alone define the existence of an administration. Poverty continues to be the major problem most Filipino's experience. Poverty is not as simple as what the common Filipino understands it to be, because even a middle classman also undergoes through it, and often a rich guy also experiences.

MY FOUR DEFINITIONS OF THE FACES OF POVERTY

I would like to improve on the IDEA of poverty that Gilbert Teodoro spoused for during his Presidential campaign, and I would like to put my blueprint on the idea of poverty. Poverty in this country has four faces- poverty of lack of continuity, poverty of opportunity, poverty of information and the poverty of healthy relationships. These forms of poverty are manifestations of the backward attitudes previous leaderships may have presented to our people, and it is now time to evolve our solutions from one face to an inter-disciplinary one.

POVERTY OF LACK OF CONTINUITY

This administration should be humble enough, to admit, that there were several projects of previous administrations that have worked. Now is not the time to put a stop to those, but to continue to expand the coverage of those programs so that it can be experienced by many more Filipino's. The previous administration's programs on Education can be continued, particularly on the Conditional Cash Transfers (4P's program) of the DSWD which has granted some sort of financial relief to families which cannot provide ably for the studies of their children, at the simple cost of responsibility on their part. This has provided benefits to more than 3 million families, and this investment is not restricted to the social dimension alone, but it is also geared towards the development of our human capital. Previous work on Interactive forms of education, particularly on Interactive Education through modern technology, must be pursued, but this time with more scrutiny on the process of procurement, to provide up-to-date information for our students.

- On Infrastructural Development

We must continue to build Roll On Roll off ports to link many more islands of the Philippines, develop more farm to market roads to ensure social services reach the smallest barangay/municiplaity in the country, and foster public private partnerships in terms of building more roads that will fasten the mobility of goods between provinces and cities in the urbanized areas. Given the limited amount of public resources, government must focus on prioritizing critical infrastructure undertakings in the countryside and identify those that can be better provided by the private sector. In particular, government can focus on measures which will bring down exorbitant transportation costs, particularly sea transport, and improve the flow of inter-regional trade. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is similarly important to increase productivity and promote social equity. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of families living below the poverty line are found in the rural sector and engaged in agriculture and other agri-related industries. Improving the productive capacities of rural areas through the provision of critical infrastructure facilities such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation, and post-harvest facilities will go a long way towards encouraging development in the regions and improving the lives of millions of poor Filipinos living in the provinces. Continuity is essential in ensuring uninterrupted service to our countrymen, despite the shift in power.

POVERTY OF OPPORTUNITY

Poverty of opportunity, or the lack of a conducive business atmosphere in the country, is what disables our kababayans to find jobs here in the country and for businessmen to invest in the country.

- Employment Issues

Employment acts as a major route out of poverty because labor power is the principal, and most often than not, the only asset of the poor. Unfortunately, the Philippines’ track record in employment creation over the years has been generally inadequate relative to its rapidly increasing labor force. The current government is strapped with financial constraints, thus, we must still leverage on the trust of private enterprises and promote a stronger public-private partnership in developing an effective labor market information system. This would facilitate the determination of the supply of skills needed by the economy, shorten the period and reduce the cost of job search, and effectively lessen the job-skills mismatch.Direct government interventions in the labor market such as the Public Employment Services Office in every local government as well as private initiatives such as the Job Matching Radio Program, which regularly air job openings in different companies, must be encouraged.

For Investors, I would open up two current problems that we are facing- the lack of an efficient regulatory environment and our poor science and technology mechanism in the country.

- Systemic Efficiency for those who want to engage in business

The Philippines is considered to have a restrictive regulatory regime for setting up businesses, hiring and firing workers, enforcing contracts and closing a business. A productive regulatory environment should allow the easyentry and exit of players in the market. In the Philippines, it takes an average of 40 days and 11 procedures to start a business. Another critical aspect of creating an efficient regulatory environment is the proper definition and protection of property rights. Businesses must also be protected from unfair trade practices that lead to market inefficiencies such as monopolies and/or oligopolies. This particular reform area has to be strengthened particularly in the ports, airports, shipping and telecommunications industry. It does not help that in some industries, government participates both as regulator and owner. We must then establish a comprehensive competition policy that diffuses the control of a few players and encourages private investments particularly in capital-intensive industries. This policy should properly define monopolies and oligopolies and anti-competitive behavior, clarify penalties and sanctions and establish a regulatory body that can efficiently implement the competition policy. Considering the intricacies innate in developing a competition policy, government must start the process.

- Improve our Technology Management

In Technology Management, The Philippines’ overall record in terms of science and technology has been poor. The Philippines does not invest enough in research and development activities. The country needs to spend a minimum of one percent of GDP per year on research and development in order to have a significant impact on the level of development, that is a view we share with the UNESCO. The Philippines also suffers from a huge deficiency in terms of science and technology manpower. In the past few years, the country has had only less than some 150 scientists and engineers per million population engaged in research and development. This is not only a factor that should spur up the tame business environment in the country, but should also help in our efforts to provide better opportunity for our people to live safely in their own homes, as these people are also essential in terms of their expertise in the field of disaster prevention/mitigation and climate change. Therefore, Increasing investment in science and technology education is the most crucial investment to spur and sustain long-term growth.

- Power Crisis must be resolved immediately

Opportunies cannot be maximized as well if both businesses and citizens do not have a power sector supportive of their productivity. The high cost of electricity in the Philippines has been discouraging foreign investors. We are in the midst of an impending power crisis, and an investment of around P500 billion is needed to prevent this to happen. This government,no matter how financially difficult its situation is, must invest in expanding the country’s generation and transmission infrastructure, and encourage greater private sector participation in the power industry. The country must begin exploring alternative sources of electricity such as biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and ocean energy or hybrids of such, and the possibility of opening up a nuclear power plant, without reviving the old BNPP (Bataan Nuclear Power Plant), because there is no use in reviving a worn-out structure.

POVERTY OF INFORMATION

The poverty of information, which now brings to a front problems of education, must also be dealt with. We must provide a wide range of alternatives, aside from Government funded programs, and at the same time, focus on the curriculum design of our education institutions, to ensure that we meet the ends of the goals we have set for Education. Building classrooms, adding books and other material supplies are necessary, but we must also look into investing in the capacity of our human resource, our teachers, administrators, to efficient school management techniques to ensure that information is spread properly to students, using well ran systems of teaching and well designed courses suited to the competencies of their students. Aside from their usual subjects in school, there must be an increased effort to raise their consciousness in terms of their Mother-Tongue Language and their technical and vocational expertise, and this must be reviewed and integrated to be part of the regular curriculum in High School, so that they can bring along practical skills should they seek employment after high school, at the same time, have a better appreciation of their own linguistic history towards a better understanding of the bigger context of society.

POVERTY OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

The poverty of relationships, perhaps, is the toughest nut to crack amongst all these, considering our various origins, the diversities in our pluralistic societies and the differences in our personal and political views. These solutions that we have mentioned cut across the interests of the classes of society. This is where national interest comes to play. Politicians have a great role to play in exemplifying that a consensus can be arrived despite ideological differences, and that is something we can start on. Hopefully, these solutions can be a start of collaboration between all people, all classes of society. Government, in its totality, may you be allies of the administration, fiscalizers, oppositionists, and the citizenry, may you be rich, in the middle or poor, can still function according to your societal roles, but must work under the principle, that without one, there can be no me, there can be no us.

This relationship between the people and the government must be viewed in the light of a body, that without one part, the whole cannot fully function.

In this time of our age, the call for national unity goes beyond the want, because it stems from a great need for a collective vision, a vision of a better and brighter Philippines. Hopefully, our call does not remain a perpetual asking for cooperation everytime there is a State of the Nation Address, but a start of a unified action, that hopefully, the next versions of the SONA will just be an addendum of solutions to the evolving problems, instead of a re-hash of old challenges.

Problems will never end, and so does our pursuit for solutions. Dynamism is what we have, and when we put them all together, the spirit of the Filipino will bring out our collective greatness, as individuals, as communities, under ONE FLAG, UNDER ONE NATION. One Day, we will make each other PROUD of what we have done, and we can look back at this day as the START of the RENEWAL OF OUR GENERATION.

Systems of Failure- A deeper look into why the FOI Bill and other Important Legislation failed to pass the previous Congress

The most recent tragedy in Congress to pass the Freedom of Information Act is only a symptom of a bigger problem, which can be found in the inherent systems of government institutions in the country, a failure which combines both the behavioral deficiency of our politicians and the lack of continuing and evolving engagement of our people.

The Freedom of Information Bill would have allowed the general public to have access to government-held information, in particular, for the citizens to track where their taxes are going. Many things have been said already, that this should have been passed, but the real question now becomes, who elected these Congressmen in the first place? Again, a wrong attitude towards the electoral process can be the first and ultimate step towards passing legislation of great importance such as this. We put forward demands that this Congress pass the FOI Bill, but again, isn't it too late a hero considering that the citizens put themselves on the spot by electing these no good politicians?

I continuously laud the efforts of NGO's and other civil society groups to pressure outgoing Speaker Boy Nograles to pass this bill, but then again, isn't it that efforts of mass protest should not be centralized only in Manila, but instead should spread in the constituencies of these absent congressmen to where their interests and their political survival lies? I'm sorry, but rallies and mass protests have peaked in such a way that the general public doesn't want to engage anymore in these movements, but they are looking for a more EVOLVED way of making POLITICIANS accountable for their wrongdoings, and everyone is looking for some sort of more legitimate and productive exercise of practicing democracy. I'm not saying the right to assembly should be shut down, but then again, we have to sort of re-invent the convention of going out, doing street theater and shouting our lungs out, often in vain and only for media consumption. In fact, signature drives can be more effective tools in making these politicians accountable, in their very own districts, as to the reason why they should perform effectively and why they should pass important legislation pending.

I would not say much about our politicians, because it's really common knowledge what they're made of, and even an uneducated person would know how terrible most of them are. However, it is the institutional frailities that make it such for these people to take advantage of it. First, there's no accountability in attendance of Congressmen. If regular employees have timecards and are fired from their jobs if they fail to meet the required number of days in work, how come we can't institutionally demand that failure to attend in Congress' blockout days (which should really be chartered) can be a ground for impeachment in office? We need to institutionalize a BLOCKOUT DAY every session week where ALL of our CONGRESSMEN would be compelled to attend by law to attend, or else, reasonable punishment would be dealt with them accordingly.

There should be stop gap measures which should be implemented institutionally so that these politicians would be more accountable to the people.

However, if we still keep on putting the same people in the 256 seat Congress, we expect nothing out of institutionalization of this kind of transparency or even important bills pending would be passed.

It always starts during Elections, the kind of people we vote is reflective of our individual views and perspectives in governance. Whether we like it or not, OUR vote or MANY who voted for these absent congressmen is also REFLECTIVE of the kind of perspective we want for our government. The lack of ownership in terms of faults here in the country is also what is lacking in our citizenry, thus the TOTAL blame should never just be pointed to these absent congressmen.

Institutional Reforms should be coupled with Behavorial Change, something that all citizens must be willing to accept and imbibe, because it is also the false expectations and wrong notions we have in our responsibilities which set a precursor for disappointment amongst many in the system and thus, apathy towards governance. Unless we demand our electorate to be more wise, discerning in choosing all those who will represent them in government, from the national up to the local level, then it will always happen to us that we will be in a perpetual state of disappointment and hating government.

The FOI Bill will never be passed unless we get things done right, in choosing our leaders, in making them perform their job properly not just by mass protest, but making them accountable through their very own constituencies in their own districts to be liable come next election, should they fail- and in making our fellow Filipino's more involved, more discerning and more responsible with their own participation in our democratic processes.

Its time to be more dynamic, its time to go out of the box and re-think our strategies and its time to change our attitudes, not only towards our government, but also towards our own.

"Be accountable, be responsible, and don't just look into other people's actions, when your eye is also a problem."

UNITED THROUGH HOPE (Youth Philippines' Statement on the Incoming Inauguration of the Aquino-Binay Administration)

June 30th shall be a new beginning for all of us, Filipino's, and this day shall give birth to the next chapter of our history, as President-Elect Benigno Noynoy Aquino and Vice President Elect Jejomar Binay take their oaths as the next leaders of our country for the next 6 years. They shall inherit not only the positions of President and Vice President, but also high expectations from a people clamoring for true change in the country.

However, this exercise shall not only be a transition of power, but a transition of roles for all of us, after a divisive conduct of elections, to having more defined roles in governance, with many going to the opposition and likewise, to the administration.

Poverty remains to be the most serious problem in our country, but unless we solve the poverty of good relationships in our government and amongst our people, nothing can be achieved and we would remain dredged in this misery of non-development.

We, in the Youth Philippines, compose of young professionals and students, a mix of different people, coming from different walks of life, hailing from various provinces, and most importantly, having chosen different political candidates in the recently concluded elections, have come together to work as one, to work in one- one vision, one mission- to bridge the ever growing gap between civic and socio-political involvement and our youth, to strengthen the core of our citizenry and to build our future and the next generation's.

We have led through this example, and with high hope, may our actions send a resounding message to you, the people, the youth, that despite our personal and political differences, we can co-exist harmoniously, we can work together, we can achieve something better.

We have treated ourselves to endless promises of change, but unless change is coupled with action, these shall always remain in vain. Thus, we must not only remain to hope, but we must remind ourselves of what we must do, in any we can, to improve our own lives, and the lives of the people around us. Change is not dependent solely on the leaders of the country, but it rests in the hands of people who want and desire it.

We extend our congratulations to those who have initiated that change by casting their votes in the recently concluded elections, a milestone in our modern day democracy, and we now call all our youth and our people to support the legitimacy of the incoming Aquino-Binay administration, strengthened by the proclamation of both the Lower House and the Senate.

We in the Youth Philippines, are one with you, in this victory of our democracy, and we express our support for the success of your incoming administration.

However, our manifestation of active support shall not always be favorable to the government, and from time to time, we see ourselves constructively criticizing the actions of this administration, but this only means we care about our country, and we care about the future of our families, ourselves, our people. However, our right to express shall never be meant to find fault in what is bad, but to bear solutions to improve what has been made. It is but high time the the youth take the lead in seeking answers and instead of looking for more problems, and we in the Youth Philippines shall initiate that undaunted task.

The Youth Philippines shall institute a programmatic mechanism so that our organization can be a hub for the development of better laborers, better students, better citizens, because our duties, while roles may vary, does not end in our graduation nor in our promotion in the natural progression of life.

In this country, there is only one flag, and that symbol should represent our common commitment for whatever change we desire this country to experience. Let not our political colors, let not our personal differences be a hindrance for majority of our countrymen to experience a better life, a better future for their families and their children.

Our call is for everyone to respect our individual differences, to remind ourselves of what we are called, and to fulfill our obligations towards ourselves, our families, our communities, because no matter how Orange, Green, Red or Yellow we are, no matter how diverse our opinions/views maybe and no matter how much we differ in origin and religion, we belong only to ONE YOUTH, and ONE PHILIPPINES.

Excerpts from Keynote Speech at EAC Forum on the Youth's Participation in Building an Active Democracy

"The evolution of linguistics, from the early 21st century's text language, to the 2nd decade's jejemon language, indicates that there is indeed dynamism amongst our youth today. It is the product of the young's imaginative manner of expression. That energy of innovation and recreation is what drives a generation's motivation to achieve newer things, to rediscover conventions and to reinvent history. The challenge is to channel that energy into something productive, something that will not only benefit their current generation, but the next one as well."

In 1986, we achieved something that evaded us for almost 20 years, that is Democracy. We became students, often our predecessors became teachers of what democracy is and what it meant to a country like ours.

24 years ahead, our leaders stand on the same platform of achieving a fully functional democracy, a country hoping to be free from the poverties of the mind, pocket, environment and relationships. We, the youth, no longer have the luxury of statesmen like the old times.

We stand on the forever promise of being the hope of our motherland, expected to provide the fruits of what our forebearers and heroes have fought for.

Our lessons of the past are now part of a large volume of archives- of books, videos, documentaries, thesis.

Today, as we stand here, and as we are gathered here together in this hall, let us write our own history, our own commitment, our own pledge for this nation.

If 24 years ago, we were students of democracy, today, we should be living examples of what democracy can bring to a society- a democracy that has enabled us to style our own language, a democracy that has allowed us to set trends, a democracy that has supported every ounce of our right to self-expression.

We are young, we are vibrant, we are skilled, we are energetic. But gratitude is not a sufficient repayment for what the struggles generations ago had to endure for all of us.

Gone should be the days of us just being students of Women's Studies, Philippine History and Political Science, for today, the new challenges of our democracy have evolved greatly.

It asks of us to become living examples of what we are being taught, it asks of us to become what they were, not to die for another war again, not to risk life for the welfare of the majority, but to be fully functional citizens of our time, and often go the extra mile.

To be fully functional does not only mean that we must pay our dues, that we follow laws, that we abide by the common laws of the State and Church.

We are skilled to re-invent, to re-discover, and so, let us channel our energies from inventing the jejemon language into something that would provide better communication, better understanding not only amongst us, the youth, but more over, between Christians and Muslims, between Manileno's and Cebuanos, between Luzonians, Visayans and Mindanaoans, between all ethinicities and cultures, a communication that would ensure peace and that would support co-existence in a country like ours.

We are skilled to re-discover cultures and norms, and so, let us channel our energies from setting fashion trends into something that would make socio-civic work as cool as going to parties, social events and clubbing, where cooperation, pace and camaraderie between and among the youth can be further solidified. We have that power, and now is not the time to be modest about it, because the youth of today is typically not shy, and has the guts to go for something without restraint.

We cannot right away change the behavior of people in government, but through our endless pursuit for accountability and our indomitable spirit of vigilance, it is more likely that encompassing interests can be achieved, between government and its citizens, that both their mutual interests can be filled.

We have been handed down the gifts of a democratic country, and while we are still far fetched from achieving a Utopian Society, from achieving what everyone was expecting after many revolts, mutinies, we shall forever have the spirit of re-inventing, the spirit of re-discovering, the spirit of a vibrant and vigilant people- something that cannot be taken away from us, because it is the personality that the Youth of today possesses.

And because we choose never to quit on this persona, 20-25 years from now, we would have written our own History of success, according to our own terms. By that time, we would have already re-defined our generation of democracy, not as had been students, but as the lifeblood of a Democratic Philippines.

Kasalukuyang Estado ng Bansa: Isang Panimula

Sa mga nakalipas na ilang dekada, marami ng mga nanungkulan, nabigyan ng pagkakataon, nabiyayaan para maglathala ng kanilang mga plano hinggil sa pagreresolba sa iba't ibang suliranin na kinakaharap ng ating bansa, at marami na rin, kung hindi man lahat, ay nabigong makamtan o maabutan ang ganap na kalutasan nito.

Mula pa noong panahon ni Aguinaldo, hanggang sa nakalipas na administrasyon, maraming mga binitiwang pangako na siyang naiwan at nanatiling pangako hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Hindi pa rin ganap ang kasiyahan at kaligayahan ng mga mamamayan sa paglilingkod na siyang ipinagkakaloob sa kanila ng pamahalaan. Hindi pa rin buo ang mga pamilya, ang mga komunidad, ang iba't ibang partido sa pulitika, ang ating bansa. Hindi pa rin tayo tuluyang malaya sa iba't ibang antas ng ating pamumuhay

Ang pagtayo natin dito sa araw na ito, at sa panahong kasalukuyan, ay inaasahan ng nakararaming Pilipino na makapagdudulot ng malawakang pagbabago, at higit na inaasahan nila na ating tatapusin ang lahat ng uri ng kahirapan, mula sa kawalan ng maayos at kalidad na edukasyon para sa ating mga kabataan hanggang sa maayos na mga pribelehiyo at benepisyo para sa mga nakatatanda.

Hindi lamang ito ang kasalukuyang estado ng ating bansa, ito rin ay paghahayag ng isang tala ng napakatagal na kasaysayang pagkabigo ng bawat pamahalaan na mapagkalooban ng isang mas maginhawang buhay ang bawat isa sa ating mga Pilipino.

Hindi magiging madali ang ating pagtahak sa susunod na anim na taon, ngunit hindi rin ito magiging mahirap kung lahat tayo ay magiging mapagkumbaba sa pagninilay-nilay sa mga tunay na problema ng ating bansa.

Hindi tayo magsisimula sa anumang sektor o industriya, dahil naniniwala tayo sa higit na makapangyarihan at higit na makakakonekta sa bawat isa sa inyo, ang kakayahan at kakayanan ninyo bilang isang indibidwal. Ang bawat indibidwal ay binigyan ng likas na galing at talento ng ating Panginoon, at ang lahat ng nakapaligid dito ay ginawa upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang bawat isa na mapayabong ang ganoong talento. Ang bawat tao dito sa Pilipinas ay binigyan ng iba't ibang angking talento, base sa kanyang pinanggalingan, kultura, tradisyon, tribo at lokasyon, kung kaya't walang iisang solusyon ang makakapagresolba sa iba't ibang interes na kumakatawan sa iba't ibang tao ng Pilipinas.

Ang Indibidwal na hindi nakapag-aaral ay parang isang sundalong walang armas pagdating sa tunay na digmaan ng buhay, sa labas ng silid sa mga paaralan. Hindi lamang nakasasapat na ang indibidwal ay nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral, ngunit higit na mahalaga ay kung ano ang kakayanan niyang mailapat ang mga teorya't konseptong natutunan sa paglikha ng mga bagong ideya, bagong inisyatibo, mga bagong solusyon sa mga lumang problemang kinakaharap ng makabagong lipunan. Hindi nakasasapat ang pagdaragdag ng paggugol sa libro, pagdadagdag sa silid-aralan, pagbibigay ng benepisyo sa ating guro, sapagkat ang puso ng edukasyon ay nasa programang inilalatag at itinuturo natin sa ating mga kabataan. Kailangan nating palakasin ang karunungan ng kabataan sa mga paksang magbibigay kakayahan sa kanila para maging mga makabagong entrepreneur, mga bagong maghahaligi sa ekonomiyang moderno, sa mga paksang magbibigay kasanayan sa kanila sa larangan ng bokasyunal at teknikal na edukasyon, sa mga paksang magsasanay sa kanila sa kasalukuyang kahinaan sa agham at matematika, di lamang para iangat ang ating kinatatayuang kapantay ng Tanzania, kundi para matuklasan ng kabataan ng ang agham ay buhay ng isang malayang lipunan at ang matematika ay bumibilang ng sari-saring kasanayan para sa ikauunlad ng ating kabuhayan. Para sa mga di kayang magtapos sa elementarya at hayskul, dapat ipagpatuloy ang pagpapalawig ng Conditional Cash Transfers Program para suportahan ang mga pamilyang di kayang tustusan ang pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak, ngunit nagpakita ng determinasyong maiahon ang sarili sa kahirapan. Para sa mga nag-aaral sa kolehiyo, dapat ay magtayo pa ng karagdagang mga teknikal na kolehiyo para ang di kayang mag-aral sa mga unibersidad ay mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral sa isang marangal na institusyong susuporta sa kagalingan ng kanyang katawan- ang kanyang kamay na may galing at paang may gilas. Marapat din na ang tunay na maging mag-aaral ng mga State Universities and Colleges ay yaong mga kabataang walang sapat na kakayanang makapag-aral, ngunit likas na magaling at marunong, imbes na ipagkaloob ang mga oportunidad na ito sa mga taong may kakayahan namang magbayad ng sarili nilang mga pangtustos. Ang polisiya ng gobyerno ay dapat pantay-pantay, ngunit may pagkunsidera din sa kung ano ang kaya at hindi ng bawat indibidwal.

Ang pagpapalakas ng indibidwal ay hindi lamang natatapos sa pagkakaloob sa kanya ng disenteng pag-aaral, bagkus ay dapat siguraduhing may sapat na suportang pangkalusugan, di lamang ang mag-aaral, kundi pati ang mga magulang na sumusuporta sa pangtustos ng kanilang pag-aaral. Ang bawat pamilya ay di lamang may karapatan sa kalusugan, kundi ito ay pangangailangang nagbibigay dangal sa kanya bilang isang tao, kung kaya't pangunahing responsibilidad ng bawat pamahalaan na siguruhing may kapasidad ang bawat isa sa libre, at kung di man ay murang polisiya sa kalusugan. Dapat ay bigyan natin ng sapat na pokus ang pagkakaloob ng Philhealth coverage batay sa pag-aanalisa ng ating mga ahensiya ng gobyerno sa mga taong wala o hirap sa buhay. Palakasin natin ang institusyon ng mga pampublikong ospital sa ating bansa, at bigyang diin sa mga ito, na bilang mga naglilingkod sa pampublikong institusyon, ang pangunahin ay iligtas ang bawat buhay mula sa kapahamakan, kung kaya't walang dapat pinagbabawalan na magkaroon ng karapatang magamot at gumaling, lalong lalo na ang mga mahihirap.

Ang paglalakbay ng indibidwal ay hindi lamang natatapos sa edukasyon at kalusugan, dahil higit dito ang kanyang pangarap, upang maiangat ang yaman o hirap ng kanyang estado, mayaman man o mahirap. Ang gobyerno ay hindi dapat nangangako ng trabaho, ngunit dapat ay gumagarantiya ng pagkakataon para ang mga masisipag at matitiyagang maghanap nito ay mabigyan ng isang marangal at disenteng trabaho. Ang ugnayan ng mga institusyon sa edukasyon, mga kumpanya at ng gobyerno ay higit na mahalaga sa pagtukoy ng mga trabahong angkop sa kakayahan ng bawat indibidwal. Ang isa namang nagnanais na magtayo ng sariling negosyo ay dapat mabigyan ng sapat na tulong, mula sa mas atraktibong pautang hanggang sa mas madali at hindi maburokrasyang pagkuha ng mga permit sa mga ahensiya ng ating pamahalaan. Dapat ang bawat magsasaka ay mapagkalooban di lamang ng lupa, ngunit sapat na kakayahan para mapamahalaan ang lupa upang mapakibangan niya ng husto ang pinakamataas na halaga ng lupang ipinagkaloob dito. Dapat ang manggagawa at mga kumpanya ay may mekanismo ng pakikipagdayalogo, upang maintindihan nila ang pangangailangan ng bawat isa, para maiangat ang mga sarili nilang interes tungo sa isang mas maayos na pagsasamahan.

Higit dito, para mas maging produktibo ang indibidwal, dapat ay may kakayahan itong makapaglakbay ng malaya at sa pinakamadaling panahon, kung kaya't dapat ay bumuo tayo ng mga imprastrakturang maguugnay sa bawat pulo, bawat probinsiya, bawat lungsod, sa pamamagitan ng mga tulay, teknolohiya at daungan para sa mga sasakyang pandagat at mga pampaliparan na siyang mas magpapagaan sa buhay ng isang indibidwal, di lamang para makapagtrabaho, kundi para maramdaman ang maginhawang pagtahak sa iba't ibang magagandang likas na tanawin sa ating bansa.

Ang indibidwal, bukod sa pagkakaroon ng kapasidad nitong mapatibay ang sarili at makapagdulot ng kabutihan sa kalakaran ng ekonomiya, ay dapat maprotektahan mula sa mga masasamang loob na pumipigil sa pagtamasa nito ng malayang pamumuhay. Dapat ay magkaroon ng "community policing" o mariing pagbabantay ng may sapat na kapulisan sa mga lugar na matahimik para manatili itong ligtas sa kapahamakan, at higit na bilang sa mga lugar na may kaguluhan, para puksain ang mga kriminal sa pangmatagalang panahon, nang may sapat na armas at napapanahong kagamitan para makasabay sa progreso ng teknolohiya. Dapat rin nating bigyan ng sapat na sweldo ang mga manananggol, dahil di lamang nila pinangangalagaan ang katahimikan ng indibidwal, ngunit ang kaayusan at kapayapaan ng mga nagkakatipong indibidwal na naninirahan sa isang bansa.

Ang indibidwal ay hindi kayang suportahan lamang ng sarili nitong pamahalaan, kung kaya't dapat din nating patatagin ang relasyon natin sa iba't ibang bansa, hindi upang mapakinabangan lamang at maabuso ang ating likas na yaman, kundi para alamin natin kung anong aspeto lamang tayo makatutulong, na malaya sa pananakop o pang-aabuso, bilang pagtupad sa mga kasunduang ating nilagdaan na siya rin naman nating pinakinabangan at papakinabangan.

Higit sa lahat, ang indibidwal ay hindi lamang nakikipagrelasyon sa sarili nito at nabubuhay sa malaking konteksto ng lipunan, kasama ang nangangalaga dito, ang pamahalaan. Kung kaya't kung ibig nating maresolba ang korupsyon sa gobyerno, dapat din nating maintindihan ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga tao dito. Ilang milyon kaya ang matitipid ng gobyerno sa pagtataas ng sweldo ng mga kawani ng pamahalaan laban sa pangungurakot ng iilan dahil sa pangkasalukuyang kalagayan nila sa gobyerno? Hindi ba't marapat lamang na ihanay ang sweldo ng mga tauhan ng pamahalaan sa mga katumbas nito sa pribadong sektor, na binibigyang konsiderasyon na ilang milyon/libo ang pinaglilingkuran nila sa araw-araw. Hindi rin lamang dapat ang ibang sangay ng gobyerno ang kumikilatis sa iregularidad, kundi kasama dito dapat ang mga taong bayan, kasama dito ang indibidwal. Panatilihin dapat ang pagbabantay at pagsusumbong at proteksyon para sa mga naglalakas-loob, at paganahin ang mabilis na pagreresolba sa mga kaso para makamit ang agarang hustisya.

Ang buong talumpating ito ay nakatuon sa indibidwal, sa bawat isa sa atin, sa bawat isa sa inyo, dahil minsan, nakakalimutan nating bigyan ng dangal ang ating mga sarili sa labis nating pagkahumaling minsan sa mga materyal na bagay. Hindi ba't ang lahat ng ito ay nilikha lamang para mapasaya o madagdagan ang halaga ng pamumuhay ng isang tao? Dapat nating balikan ang pinakasimpleng bagay sa ating bansa para nasa tamang direksyon ang lahat ng polisiya, programa ng ating gobyerno, at yan ay ang pagpapahalaga natin sa ating sarili bilang indibidwal at sa mga taong nakapaligid sa atin, bilang kapwa indibidwal. Kabilang dito ang pagtatalaga ng paggalang sa iba't ibang pinanggalingan, kakayahan at kakayanan ng bawat isa, dahil lahat naman tayo ay pwedeng mamuhay ng sama-sama, bagama't may mga pagkakaiba tayo, sa iisang lipunan at sa iisang bansa.

Bukod sa pagpaparangal na naibigay natin sa iba't ibang indibidwal na nagbigay halaga sa pagiging isang Pilipino, bakit hindi natin pag-alayan ng panahon ang ating mga sarili na maitaguyod ang ating mga sariling pangalan, sa pamamagitan ng ating mga likas na talento, galing, husay at pagkamaabilidad? Bakit hindi natin pasiglahin ang ating indibidwalismo upang lumikha ng mga makabagong pamamaraan sa pagtugon sa iba't ibang suliraning nagbabago sa araw-araw?

Tayo ay binigyan na ng napakaraming pagkakataon para ituwid ang ating tadhana bilang indibidwal, bilang isang taong nabubuhay sa Pilipinas, bilang isang Pilipino. Lahat ng mga programa at polisiya ay ibinatay sa ating indibidwal na pangangailangan, lahat ng mga bagay na ating nakikita ay ginawa para sa indibidwal nating kasiyahan. Wala na tayong panahon para maghintay pa sa susunod na henerasyon na simulan ang mga hindi natin natupding pangako sa ating bansa, sa ating mga komunidad, sa ating mga pamilya at sa ating mga sarili.

Ito na ang panahon na kung saan ang indibidwalismo ng Pilipino ay dapat umusbong, upang pagandahin ang nilikhang katawan ng Diyos, upang makamit ang mga sarili nitong pangarap, upang matupad ang isang Bagong Pilipinas na matagal na nating ninanais makamtan. Walang madali sa pagsisimula, ngunit kailan ba naging madali ang buhay para sa ating lahat?

Ang pagkasawa natin sa kabiguan, at ang paghahangad natin sa isang mas maayos, marangal na buhay ay ang siyang sandigan ng bawat indibidwal, bawat Pilipino, sa pagsagot sa hamon ng panibagong bukas.

Mababago natin ang Estado ng ating Bayan kung tayo'y maniniwala sa indibidwal, na siyang kumikilos, na siyang lumalaban, na siyang aasenso, sa gitna ng kasaysayang walang hanggan, sa kabiguang walang kasingsakit, para sa ikauunlad ng Bayang matagal nang napangakuan.

Tapos na ang panahon ng pangangako, dahil ito na ang panahon nang patuloy na pagkilos para sa ikauunlad ng Bayang Pilipinas.