Our challenges

There is a looming worker's and peasants revolt. The cries of these sectors are palpable. The secessionist movement in Mindanao is gaining steam. Some sectors of the Philippine military are also complaining with the inability of the leadership to address some major structural concerns. Civil society is complaining against government's plan to further militarize the already militarized state, while big businesses are losing their incomes and markets due to a rapidly deteriorating economic situation.

We also have a looming power crisis, reason is more of relational rather than supply. Government is trying to solve it by threats but sectors, especially LPG dealers are making government a fool. A financial crisis looms in the horizon, what with banks unable to make profits and pre-need and financial institutions closing shop due to liquidity problems.

On the social front, the number of Pinoy addicts rose to six million. Despite efforts by the government to wean youngsters away from prohibitive substances, the inability of enforcement agencies to strike back or kill these drug syndicates is causing the numbers to rise. There must be some resolutions here, or a creation of a supra national agency to address the worsening drug situation.

As drug addicts roam our streets and pushers reap more profits, crimes have risen to a Guinness book All-time high. Not just kidnapping for ransom or murders or robbery, there is also a significant rise in personal crimes, like adultery, concubinage and even, sexual sadism. More and more people are forgetting their traditional ethics and resorting to pleasures which lead to destruction of the soul.

Moral decay has indeed worsened, with government officials brazenly founting the law and in pig's fashion, raiding and pillaging the public coffers with utter boldness. Thievery of the highest order has influenced even the conduct of petty officials who now openly steal and rob people's monies. Meanwhile, kids as early as 11 years old takes drugs and sleeps with their playmates. Work weary parents are a useless lot, since kids are becoming more decadent, what with the pervasive and strong influence of media and peer pressures.

In all of these challenges, we, ordinary citizens, just slunk in one corner and rage within, devoiding our precious time either blogging or knitting. The lack of an inspiring leader, someone with the guts to express what we feel and act to our best interests, seemed to further deaden us to these challenges and leads to our inaction. Weak morale, yes, we all have it. That's why many of us are intending to work abroad or live permanently in some other place, abandoning even our loved ones, as an escape to this creeping dark, decaying morass.

As Gerry Lopez I think once asked--quo vadis General? Why is this all happening?