SPECTACULAR CHANGES

Spectacular governance? Are we looking for one where instantly we can make poverty disappear -- meaning vagrants will be sent to a house, that children asking for alms will be directed to go to a museum or a playground to play so as to stop their parents from making them sources of income; that breast cancer will be obliterated; that jobs will be available to everyone from 18 to 65; that senior citizens will be provided escalators at every overpass; that ads like Solmux which denigrate the efficacy of our herbal native products will be banned from being aired; that ads, especially in the morning shall include those about our great, unique and original inventions instead of foreign products all the time, and worst of all -- about products that cater to vanity of vanities; and many many more.

Folks, we are dreaming! And dreaming is good if our dreams are realizable. If not, then forget them. This is because there seems to be mistaken definition of what is a new administration.

New means nuovo, nova, nueva, bago, novel, fresh, and possibly original. Hence a new administration means it consists of fresh new faces in old positions. But that is hardly the case right now. Those occupying sensitive and high level posts, except for those in Malacanang are people, either identified with the former administration, or promoted from the ranks who had served in the same.

Therefore, given that situation, we cannot expect much new ideas filtering in our government, except a rehash, a repeat, or a recycled idea. Why is this so? This is because there seems to be a great fear of new people being placed in those key positions. The new administration leaders are afraid, suspicious or tend to be conservative relying on old faces to dot the roster list of officials. Why are they afraid? Because they have seen how Marcos was booted out of office, and how Erap was unceremoniously deposed; so the reality of their suffering from the same experience could possibly be difficult or they find it difficult to overcome.

What does all these mean to us? It is not possible, to my mind that the Filipino people shall allow another dictator or permit another deposition of a leader without proper procedures being followed. We had gone through them and we know how horrendous it had been falling under a fake commander-in-chief and "president." Up to the last minute of sitting in that position, GMA was doing things according to her own selfish purposes and not according to the will of the people.

The people saw through that and so elected a new set of leaders. However, as we have said. being new requires having new faces, especially in the military and the police. Before elections, I had been told by Dr. GE that the safest military officer would be from the level of colonels down. Those above, meaning generals are already CORRUPT. They know the ways of the world and it is very difficult to change their attitudes because they have become robotized according to the methods of milking the bureaucracy.

I think there is no room nor basis for suspicion when getting new people to occupy posts. It exists only in the mind because the bureaucracy has checks and balance systems to arrest any kind of corruption or attempt to grab power. All it takes is the will of the people.

But if the people are wary of supporting this administration, why by all means, they will support anything that will overturn the leadership. But if they see sincerity and honesty so necessary for being in government, then they will support it wholeheartedly -- as now they, or we have learned our lessons well.

Hence the bigger problem of the new administration is how to make the people strengthen their belief in the new leaders. And many psychology and sociology books will offer ready solutions.

For myself, I want a spectacular turn-around of our society, of our lives, and not piecemeal solutions. I want faces which will move us to act and cooperate with them at any time for the good of the people and their welfare. I want new faces brave enough to confront any misdeed of their colleagues or any corrupt act right away.

In other words, we want a humane society -- sensitive to our needs, wants, desires and dreams for a New Country.

Is this attainable? We can see it coming through -- the way the investigations of past misdeeds are being done. Let us keep it up. And please, let us have NEW FACES.