It's In Your Hands!

Bawal magkasakit was the battle cry that one pharmaceutical company based in the Philippines used to advertise their products. Indeed, nowadays it’s almost a ‘sin’ to get sick; sickness equates to loss of time, effort, and money. The last one particularly applies to those who are employed on a ‘No work, no pay’ basis.

As a parent, I have always prayed and strived to keep myself healthy. But there have been times when ‘I did my best, but my best wasn’t good enough’. I had a cold two weeks ago and, sadly; Chiara got one too - from me! Parents could pass on anything to their kids, be it their name, their values, their virtues and vices, their strengths and weaknesses.

This coming Monday, the Filipino electorate will be selecting our leaders for the next six or three years. We have always considered the Philippines as our Inang Bayan. No pun intended, but we seem to have abused how we regard our country as a mother. It’s like a ‘give and take’ relationship - with us on the receiving end almost all of the time. Our country gives us natural resources but we consume them as though they will not run out. She gave us laws, but we (most especially those who should uphold them) have devised ways of getting around these regulations.

I think it’s time we think of our country the way we think of our own mothers. Incidentally, it’s Mothers’ Day on the eve of the elections. As we honor our moms by thanking them and treating them like queens even for a single day, let’s also give something special to our country by choosing the persons fit to lead us, persons who will whip the country into shape.

On another angle, it might be beneficial if we consider the country as our own child. A child that needed to be looked after so it grows pleasing in the eyes of God and men. A child that deserves nothing, but the best!

In the past, we have seen how those we elected have made a mockery of justice and truth. We have witnessed how our leaders have abused their authority at the expense of poor Mang Juan De la Cruz. We’re still seeing them masquerading like clowns during the campaign period.

We have seen how our country has suffered like a helpless child inheriting its parents’ debilitating diseases: injustice, poverty, graft and corruption, debt servicing, environmental degradation, etc, etc, etc.

If you want the best for our country, if you want the best for your children, please vote wisely. The country’s future is in your hands!