Lagot si Ligot and what Hiya means

Lagot, err, former General Ligot's wife was unable to answer questions about how she acquired two properties in the United States. Ligot's wife was so afraid, her blood pressure shot up. 


It was different for her brother, who just suffered amnesia when asked how he manages to enjoy a high-roller life despite having no visible means of income. Ligot's brother-in-law maintains several multi-million peso accounts in three of the country's largest banks, amounting to about 300 million pesos plus-plus, yet does not fully remember how these several millions of pesos just got there. Maybe God was so generous, God deposited these millions out of pity since Yambao does not have a job back then?


And these people had the gall to lie before millions of Filipinos watching the Senate hearings yesterday. 


Just one word to describe these exploiters of the Filipinos' trust---nawalan na ng hiya.


This word "hiya" differentiates us Filipinos from foreigners. Hiya means more than its English equivalent of "shame". Hiya is more than "shame". It means "losing face" or trying not to lose face. 


For the past two decades, we lost this traditional trait--hiya. Our government officials lost it when they assumed power. 


Hiya is also the feeling of "accountability". Our government officials do not feel "accountable" simply because their concept of "public service" differs from the popular perception. Officials perceive themselves as petty lords and petty princes. 


When these people steal and use other's people's monies to fund their lifestyle, hiya dissipates. They don't feel ashamed that they are doing the stealing and the lying and they don't feel accountable for their illegal acts. Why? Because no one has really been held accountable for stealing public money. Those who do steal big-time escape the arms of justice also in big fashion. 


It is time for us, the People, to campaign for the restoration of this valuable Pinoy trait of hiya.