You sometimes wonder why children, at their tender age, dream that one day, have the opportunity to be elected, even if they really have no idea on how exactly they can serve the country.
When I was ten years old, I asked the very same thing to my mother.
“They wanted to help Filipinos who are in need,” she answered.
I never asked anything back, dreaming that one day, I can also have the chance to help others. I never dream big, thinking that the likes of a President has the whole country deal with. I only wished to be a Councilor, creating or proposing small projects that can help the people that I serve. Back then, I can honestly say that I am inspired to become a public servant.
“When you grow up, you will find out that there is different reason,” my mom added. “People who wanted to gain more power will do everything that they can to be elected not because of serving the country or its people. It is on what they will earn once they are in office.”
Her answer only made me ask more questions, and I wanted to find out myself.
Why drop your current job for a position that only has a term of three to six years? Why spend millions during the campaign period? Why do some of these people even tend to kill their electoral rivals for the sake of winning the election? Why is serving the country so important?
I would rather ask Janet Napoles for answers. Better yet, it is more appropriate to ask every elected official in this country.
We all know the answer.
It is not about serving the country.
It is serving one’s own wallet.
Imagine a financial market wherein, if lucky, guarantees you to have a small share. Think of having the chance to have only one percent of that market. Augment the situation when you realize that this is more than a trillion-Peso industry per year. How much will you earn?
Almost every one of us already heard of that amount, and it will surprise you. Ten billion Pesos.
The amount is not even ironic, as that trillion-Peso industry in reality is all the taxes that our very own government collected for 2012. It makes the concept of public service to turn into nothing more but a blur. Moreover, serving the country only becomes an opportunity for an underground business venture.
Come to think of it, I only mentioned one percent of our taxes. What happened to the remaining 99?
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