Essay 2

The Uncovered War by Niko T. Manalili Bachelor of Science in Nursing Institute of Nursing

The Philippine situation has been in continuous survival in the midst of financial, political, social and economic crisis. It was an irony of a democratic country where there is freedom and justice. Thought we were free from colonization and second world war, but the real struggle for liberty and peace is still at stake as we, Filipino's continue to shatter the tranquility of our mother country.

When I was in elementary, I really don't know or care about politics, economics and society. All I need to do is that I need to go to school, study, eat, play and watch television. That was still in the Ramos' regime when my young mind thought I thought the Philippines was so peaceful and free. I can still remember what my mom told me when I attempt to went out late to play, “Huwag kang lalabas at may nangunguha na bata dyan!” Still, I don't follow her because my Id told so. What a snobbish thing right? As I now critique this thought, I have understand the Philippines from then on was unsafe even just in our own homes. It was not a threat but a form of protection. The childish act of disobedience must be removed by all, and follow our leader's like our mother. But what if the credibility our mother or father leader was questionable? That has been a problem when I EDSA 2 emerged in 2001. I was in grade 5 when people went out of their homes and gathered to EDSA shrine to ask for the resignation of the Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada who was accused of graft and corruption. The protest succeeded and he was finally been replaced by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In her 9 years of service, were never ending protest for her to be ousted. The first major protest was

a so called EDSA 3 that has brought injuries to many of them; and then the rest was history. Almost every year, the opposition were submitting impeachment complaints but noting succeeded. She had experienced major expose such as Hello Garci, ZTE and Fertilizer Fund Scam, but through enough, nothing has able to removed her from the position. From that long years of service, I have wondered if those party list groups were not being tired of going to streets, shout and fight for a right that was not really succeeding. In Recto, almost every one or two months, a protest was being done. But what has changed? Nothing right. The freedom of speech was not already a right but a privileged. Its such that, even though I speak or file a complaint, nothing will happen because I think that the justice system in the Philippines is somehow injustice.

I remembered the news that I have watched last Wednesday in TV patrol when there were students, protesting in Malacañang for the latest issue of the administration on consumption of P39 million on their state visit in the USA. My eyes were widened when it ended up with a fight between the protesters and the security. Police have no gears yet they have sticks to hit the protesters who are struggling. They kicked, hit and punched them to the extent dragging of some of them into the vehicle to be captured. That was very rude and against the bill of rights. For so many years it has been a problem and yet has not been resolved.

I am neither anti- nor pro- to the administration but I think she was good managing our economy and making such projects but her morality in the image of some Filipino made her unwanted. As the president, she must be the main advocate of peace, and be vigilant in promotion of organization and unity of all Filipino's and not merely a leader who only focus on the economic side of the society.

Mrs. Arroyo's leadership has been always compared to Former Pres. Cory Aquino, and with her death early this August 2009 was a sound of sorrow for the whole Filipino nation. I was really touched for all that she has done for country. She has sacrificed her privacy, life and family in order to live out her legacy in accordance to the fight that her husband had started. With her faith and courage they had won a peaceful revolution. Truly she was a true symbol of democracy and great advocate of peace. She must be an inspiration and model to us as we will be selecting the future leaders in 2010. She has lived the ideals that prayer is the most powerful thing on earth.

For so many years, peace negotiation between the military and the MILF has never been successful. It has been very odd that our nation was noted not only as a corrupt country but also unsafe. I can still recall the hostage taking of Martin and Gracia Burnham. Unfortunately, Martin was killed by the heartless terrorists. In 2008 Ces Drilon and his camera man was hostage for 9 days by the Abu sayyaf. Later this 2008, the Red Cross Volunteers also experienced the same, but luckily they were freed. They were missionaries, innocent and of good heart. The bombing of the LRT and in Cotabato has caused death of many civilians. Now, can we say that Philippines is really safe? If these people can't be safe, why not also us? The responsibility of the government is now to address the peace talks because many innocent people are affected by terrorism. They must solve the problem, and make solutions on how can negotiations can take place for the benefit our our nation.

I will be hypocrite if I will say that Philippines is peaceful. Well, it is the truth. Anywhere

in the metro one's life is being at risk. Even in mountains, NPA (New Peoples Army) can even kidnapped us. Snatchers are always ready to grab bags; and the holdapers waits for their victim to come out. Crimes are always around, thus, making some parts of the country, especially in the metro unsafe. The greed of people has been an emerging problem because these people have no worked. They have no money. Poverty has been an exact connection for many crimes happening in the country. For some, they disobey the law because they just want to or they were just evil. But I believe that If these people have good jobs, they will no be provoked to do such illegal acts. They can't find jobs because they aren't qualified and doesn't finished college nor high school; worst they don't have a formal education.

Education in the Philippines has been problematic for the past decades. There were no enough classrooms, books or school supplies. Facilities were unhealthy; and rooms were really congested. For some rural areas, they struggle for walking two to three hours from their home just to finish their studies. Even though, education is free, still families aren't able to send their child on schools because they struggle for their day to day allowances because of lack of financial resources. That's why the government must come up with more scholarships, build better facilities and rooms, and come up with programs that will boost the excellence of a Filipino student. Also they must improve the teaching on GMRC and make Filipino students great advocate of peace. A bright student with morality will move the nation to its boundaries because as Dr. Jose Rizal has stated “Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan.” Right education plus right behavior and attitude will make person qualified for a job and a good life, thus making him lesser at risk in doing acts against the law.

Our mother earth was crying and begging for her peace. As we now experience the consequences of our careless approach to our environment, I am calling everyone to please

act now. As I am writing this article, our home is surrounded with flood due to heavy rains last night. I have no food so I need to get the nearest eatery even though its flooding. I put plastic on my feet to protect it but then its useless because the water was deep. As I went on, I have noticed a lot of trashes floating, and even rats swimming in the flood. This phenomena was very usual here Sampaloc, Manila. This has been an effect of improper disposal of wastes that clogged the canal systems. The pollution we have caused result to global warming that eventually cause mass calamities such as flash floods, landslides and forest fires. The earth was on the process of unwanted destruction due to global warming. It was an unleashed war between the people and the earth. A revenge that will cause death and demolition of nature that might be never seen by the future generations. We need to act on helping our environment. We must clean our surroundings, dispose wastes properly, save energy, recycle and restore our environment.

Filipino nationalism in promotion of peace is still weak. We are still on the process of finding our consciousness of what is really happening to our country. As if watching a tv show, we only think and comment but we don't do something. It is like eating sandwich but we don't recognize its value. People must be aware that they must take part in the upbringing of the society. We must look, listen and feel the situation. Indeed we must become advocates of peace.

Peace starts from within. We can never be advocates if there are conflicts within ourselves. We must know our self awareness so we can properly deal with others struggling for their consciousness. We can be peacemakers as we save people in the depths of immorality. In simple ways we can help them through our prayers. Let us help those human who are suffering, the needy and the one being lost. We must become good son's and

daughters and commit to our responsibilities in the family. The parent's must teach their children to become peacemakers, avoid fights and become responsible member of the society. For the media, they must provide educational programs for the youth promoting peace and harmony.

Peace can never be achieved alone. Each individual must take part in the upbringing of our nation. The islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao must unite as one in active participation of bringing peace to our self, environment, society and the whole nation.