“Rise above principle and do what’s right.” – Walter Heller, Council of Economic Advisers (1985)

The time will come when the Philippines must assert its principles and rise to the occasion not from a position of weakness but based on firm resolve, sovereignty and economic viability.

Needless to say, before we arrive at that point, the nation, and its national leaders, must first reexamine its basic concerns and fundamental principles.

That is, observers of the Philippine scene, whether they be political commentators, economic advisers, civil society advocates, or anthropologists – foreign and local – are either shocked, amused, bewildered, or exasperated – at the way Filipinos handle or manage critical issues and scandals that start with a bang and melt like ice cream in the end.

These exercises in futility are tethered on the nation’s inability to rise above its principles and do what is right.

Alternatively speaking, we often find ourselves in a mess or quandary either because we are hostage to lingering colonial mentality, immigration priorities, vested interests, religious bigotry, or foreign intervention.

First, while the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) provides for all contingencies and processes that may be encountered with visiting American troopers when they are on joint military exercises or when on Rest-and-Recreation to include sanctions and penalties for all kinds of infractions, including alleged rapes and assaults, the Agreement favors the United States more than the Philippines.

For these reasons, the long and short of the Nicole and Marine Smith rape case saga is that the Philippines cannot impose its will – though Smith was convicted – as to where Smith will be confined. For the United States government, it will be unthinkable and unacceptable to surrender Smith to Philippine custody.

With Nicole recanting her testimony, soldier Smith will eventually be exonerated, and repatriated to the United States which is really to be expected.

The United States will never allow their nationals to rot in a foreign jail unless the other Government has the political will and gumption to assert its authority.

Is this not an exercise in futility?

Second, as the economic recession takes its toll on returning OFWs facing unemployment and over one million new babies born every year, cumulatively, Catholic parishes are busy asking for donations to feed the indigents and street urchins which are of their own making.

That fact is that the Catholic Church in the Philippines is the main obstacle and deterrent to a sound and progressive population policy to slow down the population growth rate.

With unemployment rising, new babies to be fed, and displaced OFWs increasing, is this not an exercise in futility when a population policy is the answer to overpopulation?

The Church is adamantly opposed to contraceptives.
 
Third, what has happened to all the Congressional investigations, scams, scandals and corruption?

They all seem to have passed on to oblivion or purgatory when the television coverage has ceased.

They have been frustrating and another exercise in futility.

The list is too long to enumerate in this piece.

When all is said and done, the Filipino people must address the fundamental issues of population control, democratization of wealth, agrarian reform, constitutional changes, and electoral reforms before we can stand up for our principles and rise to the occasion with courage and dignity. First, back to the drawing board.

You be the judge. (For comments and views, please send to chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)