floods and real governance

4how do we know if we have had a real change in governance? how do we know if we are into a new setting already where we can be sure that our vision of a humane society is here?

after the people power phenomenon in 1986, we expected a lot from the Cory government and wanted almost an overnight visible transformation of our society. that was why we had a series of rebellions by the military idealists whose field, with the use of bullets and dynamites could easily grab power, except if the people thwart their plans. well that was just what happened to the rebels. the people's desire for peaceful transformation towered over the dangerous method that the rebels had used. 

however, until now, as before, we seem to be still on that level of a media that is hyperactive and the government going oh so slow in terms of really giving the people's lives a real facelift. we still see vagrants, families living in carts, children without playgrounds, the elderly still working when they should already relaxing and taking their last years on this earth more lackadaisically. worse, the youth do not seem to care so much about the elderly and the changes in society. they are more after the fulfillment of their personal liberties, their personal relationships and how they look sexually to others. i pity the elderly who would be contending with these youth turned adults.  

real governance should be visible whereever we are. for example, if we are in a city, we expect that the sidewalks would be walkable, that men would give way to women especially the elderly and the children. Unfortunately, gallantry has become passe in our society. "bahala ka sa buhay mo," seems to be the philosophy.  am i lucky that when i get to the overground trains, i still find gallant men and girls giving up their seats to me, seeing me with my brownish with some white hair in-between.

real governance also means that the central parts of the city, for example, the key areas that are famous as gathering points of the people, will be spic and span, with a 24-hour sweeping and of the street and constant educational reminding of the vendors and the consumers to mind their garbage. we also expect the priest at quiapo church to be cognizant of the churchgoers' need for air, and a soundsystem that is pleasing to the ears, apart from having sermons that uplift the soul not just a literal takeoff from the Bible. 

real governance is having safe playgrounds in every barangay complete with toys that can be borrowed by the children. it is not enough to have grounds but that a vault should have a bunch of toys that the children can play with, so that they would not be lured into nefarious games. 

real governance is removing all those electric cables that go haywire all over metromanila and embedding them underground. those cables are so unsightly and disgusting considering that meralco is the top earner in the country. where do the profits go? nothing left to care how their equipment and supplies destroy the beauty of our landscape? excuse me but the department of energy should require that 30% at least of the profits should go into the development of underground electric system so that we no longer have to view ourselves as pathetic victims of unbridled profitmaking. 

real governance is having boxes all over town, at highly visible places where the people can drop their comments, and such being read immediately after a day by the authorities. the Filipino people are so wont to just chatting but i am sure by honing their skills in writing they would be more analytical of their lives, instead of being passive viewers of what is happening around, or being viewers of noontime shows that i really cannot fathom what it could teach them at all except how to be adept at making money. (by the way, i pity those people who receive gifts from a noontime show and then microphones are shoved into their faces as if the holder of the mike is really waiting for them to express their gratitude in front of the camera. i think that charitable acts should be respectful and not like that. if people want to give gifts, let them do so, without making the act appear "hallelujiah they have given me money." the tv screen could make them appear as pathetic, too needy,  their dignity lowered to the depths. and then the recipients could only cry because they could be feeling revolted by the idea of thanking the givers right in front of the camera. "mukha naman akong kaawa-awa e sila lang naman ang nagpunta rito," maybe she or he would be thinking inside. 

by the way, shouldn't the mtrcb be regulating these charitable segments of tv programs and see if they give the people the dignity they deserve? what other ways of being charitable could these tv programs do without necessarily trying to use the people for their own propaganda? 

real governance for me is no longer having to experience flooding. but yesterday, i was told that  floods visited our home, and that was the same time i was writing yesterday's blog. so is there any change at all? not much i should say.