In the preceding article I quoted the teachings of Jesus Christ about the Wise and Foolish Builders from the Book of Matthew Chapter 7 verses 24 to 27. It is vital to heed such Biblical admonition in our nation building so that we will have a truly strong nation which would not collapse due to so many challenges including the literal storms which our country experience from year to year.
So many interesting things are happening in our country
today that should inspire all of us to help in the nation building. We must all
be wise builders.
The pervasive
intertwining culture of corruption, patriarchy and impunity in our midst shaped our nation for what it is
today, weak and vulnerable. We have repeatedly mentioned that dirty politics
has a lot to do with our present system.
In Development Studies we are taught that we the Filipino
people, can re-shape our culture which includes the culture of politics.We can become a strong nation with upright people, that
value honesty and truth. We must be a nation respectful of Human Rights, Gender
Equality and the Rule of Law.
Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.
Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.
These provisions should remind us that no matter who we are,
whatever our age or sex, we have a role to play in nation building.
In the kind of work I do as a full time Advocate for the
Transformation of the Philippine Justice System, I am blessed to be able to
talk with various groups of people. I always treasure the many opportunities to talk with groups
of women and the youth. I always encourage them to take part in nation building.
We should not just leave that important task to the men as we
can all contribute even in the world of
politics. We cannot just continue to complain about how dirty is politics in
this country and not participate in transforming the same.
Personally, I was never enticed to get into partisan
politics. I simply find it not to be my line or as others say, “it Is not my
cup of tea.” Despite this, I am a keen observer of political developments not only
in the Philippines but other parts of the world as well.
As a doctoral graduate and as professor of Development
Studies, I am able to interact with other
people who are also interested in this field. I interact with academicians, lawyers,
medical doctors, business people, government workers, other professionals, and
non-professionals that come from all
sides of the political spectrum.
Many of us agree that the political system in our country
needs to be overhauled. If we really like to attain genuine peace and
development in our country, politics should not be left to the politicians.
We must all be involved not necessarily thru partisan
politics but in discussions that shall strengthen our political system. We
should also focus on issues and concerns that need to be advanced that can
ensure socio-economic development that will eradicate poverty in our country.
In order for us to have good political leaders we must stop
the practice of voting for the popular ones who do not have clear agenda or
platform of government. Our group has been closely monitoring who among the
candidates will uphold and respect Human Rights, Gender Equality and the Rule
of Law.
Foremost we ask, who among the candidates have clear understanding
of the need to counter the present intertwining culture of corruption patriarchy
and impunity and will push for the transformation of our justice system?
We need leaders who are visionaries. Our leaders must be
fully committed to serve our country and our people and not just an interest
group.
Our leaders must be firm believers of God but know how to
discern the concept of separation of Church and State so that appropriate
policies and legislation needed by the people are passed.
Our leaders must have basic understanding of the Philippine
Constitution and know the functions of the great branches of the government;
the concept of separation of power; the essence of checks and balances and how
the democratic system works.
Our leaders must be open to transparency, accountability and
responsibility in governance and will be judicious in their use and management of
the people’s money.
We like our leaders to be upright and honest but at the same
time we want them to be competent, fair, just, and compassionate.
To be realistic we cannot still find at this point in time the
leaders that will totally fit all that we want and so we will be constrained to
settle for the ones that will closely suit our criteria. Still, we need to openly declare to the public what we want
in our leaders. We need to articulate what platform of government and agenda we
want them to carry and subsequently implement. By doing this we will slowly but surely influence how politics will shape in our
country.
More than fifty percent of our population are women, if
women will do their role in nation building along with the youth, we can soon
achieve what the Preamble of the Philippine Constitution would like for us to
attain.
We can start by identifying who are those submitting
themselves for election in 2016 who are committed to build a just and humane
society?
Who are committed to establish a Government that shall
embody our ideals and aspirations, and promote the common good?
Who among them shall conserve and develop our patrimony ?
Who among them shall secure to ourselves and our posterity,
the blessings of independence and
democracy under the rule of law?
Who among them will advance a regime of truth, justice,
freedom, love, equality, and peace?
Who among those offering themselves to become our political
leaders for 2016 to 2022 have concrete plans, programs and projects that can
ensure the much needed social, economic, cultural and political development in
our country?
All of us, women, men, youth and everyone else must consider
seriously our role in nation building. Let us demand for quality leadership in
our country.
Here are some selected verses from Proverbs chapter 29 that
may guide us :
Verse 2. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when
the wicked rule, the people groan;
Verse 4. By justice a king gives a country stability, but
one who is greedy for bribes tear it down.
Verse 7. The righteous care about justice for the poor, but
the wicked have no such concern.
Verse 10. Bloodthirsty people hate people of integrity and
seek to kill the upright.
Verse 11. Fools give full vent to their anger but wise
people keep themselves under control.
Verse 12. If rulers listen to lies, all their officials
become wicked.
Dory Cruz Avisado
6-30-2015
