CORRUPTION: A shameful Truth!
To be honest, when CL class started today with a documentary about graft and corruption. I was still in doubt about it being our country’s number one problem. I was still standing up for my answer: poverty. I had a long list of reasons why, but I held my tongue and watched GMA’s Philippine Agenda episode on “Katiwalian”.
I couldn’t explain what I felt while watching the documentary. It was a mixture of anger, hopelessness and despair. I was deeply bothered by what I witnessed and I can really and surely say that it truly was an eye-opener. The documentary stated that one hundred million pesos is wasted on corruption everyday. One hundred million pesos! It’s preposterous. That’s an awfully large amount. Hearing this made me groan in great disgust. How selfish and egotistic can these people be? How can they stand seeing our country suffer and crush into ruins while they’re living in luxury, using someone else’s money.. someone who probably has barely enough. Filthy and insensitive thieves!
“Many corrupt acts are made in the name of the family”. This line is said to explain the reasons behind corruption in our country’s people. People are left with no choice but to lie cheat and steal.. according to them. But I believe that’s just nonsense. They’re just trying to justify their actions, and it’s a poor excuse. Everyone has a choice to do what is right or to do what is wrong. It’s unfair to let something innocent and right like a family be the reason for one’s personal mistakes and lapses. Besides, other people who are corrupt already have more than enough financially. Other people like our fraudulent government officials. They’re greedy insensitives who couldn’t care less as long as they get what they want. I can’t imagine what kind of conscience they have (if they do have one) to be able to stand a dying nation. How do they live with the fact that they’re the ones who brought this “death” to our nation? I simply couldn’t grasp the notion.
Right now, I don’t solely feel remorse. Instead, fiery rage also burns within me whenever the thought of us suffering in the hands of avaricious leaders enters my mind. Truthfully, a burden for my nation and country was planted deep in my heart. I had an impulse to declare myself as the president of the Philippines then “clean” our government positions, replacing them with non corrupt officials. I want and I will send to jail every corrupt person and improve the implementation of laws against corruption. Of course, I will practice what I preach. I wouldn’t be like our officials today who only run for candidacy because they desire the power the position brings. They only want it for themselves and not for the betterment of our country. I want to do all these right now! As silly and ridiculous as that sounds, I just deeply fear that it’s too late for our country.. that we can no longer turn this situation around.
Dana Benitez
LS 407
