To tell you the truth I am not the GMA follower but what I see in our country right now is what I get, You know what I mean is? POLITICAL problem!Nakikita nman po natin na until now hindi po matanggap ng mga kalaban ni GMA na hindi sila ang nakaupo bilang pangulo ng Bansa!At dahil dito wala na po silang nkikita kundi ang mga mali na nagawa ni GMA hanggang gumamit n po sila ng ibang tao para mag ingay tulad ng mga ralyista na yan!Nakahiya pero sabi nga po ng ibang bansa na mga Pilipino daw ay UTAK TALANGKA (CRAB MENTALITY) its SAD but we need to accept sa sarili natin.GMA resign ndi po yan ang solution kundi ang magkaisa tayo magbigay ng IDEA kung ano dapat gawin.Problema kase kanya kanya lalo na sa mga Senado at Kongreso!Magpaplano p lang ang pangulo andyan na agad ang ALSA RALYISTA so pano naman gagawin ng pangulo eh kung mas nagdudunong dunungan p tayo sa kanya! NAKAKASAWA NA!!!!!

Masyado kase Malaya sa ating Bansa eh.Sana magkaroon ng konting paghihigpit tulad sa ibang bansa....

Tama ka dyan sa sinabi mo kabayan, kahit nasino ang makakapalit ni GMA sa panahong ito..ang economiya ng  Pilipinas hindi aangat..worldwide crisis ang  hinaharap  natin ngayon..mas mabuti pa magtulungan para umunlad..hindi yung puro batikos..

Over Freedom and Democracy spoiled our nations which turns to violence, Self-Discipline has left behind, and the result of disrespect to someone else and much more to our parents. If we observed today, the young generations used Freedom and Democracy as there shelve's for their defenses which lead to Lies. That they easily brainwashed by Poloticians to seek the truth but the TRUTH is not with other people, the truth is with us.

The re-construction of the messes in our Country could not done in a click of our finger or even a Magic of Magicians, and this is the HARD part to a President, where, the other fellow Filipinos, the activist and other Politicians bringging down instead of helping the President to rapidly response to solve the problems in our Country..It is because of a common terms that they themselve's have Grievances and Self Interest.

Critics is needed as long as it is constructive rather than destructive, asking for Truth, Justice, Freedom and Democracy is Good but its became Bad if we used it in other aspect or hidden motive.

The intelligent people doesn't talk too much, Pretending to be intelligent talk as far as he/she can..miles after miles just to let other people believe in him/her.

Since the time of our Ancestors, this four words Truth, Justice, Freedom and Democracy still fighting until this moment..WHY? and WHERE is the problem comes along? to a Leader? or To all of Us?.

LET US BE AWARE THAT in the middle East example in Dubai or Qatar..This country is I can called as SEMI-DEMOCRATIC Country. This country is Ruled by the EMIR or KING and only few government officials seat in there respective office BUT there is PEACE but not totally of course because there are such problems in the country that could not be eliminated, and their RA/SA (Republic/State Act) and other Judiciary Policy are countable.

Maybe because of their so called "Honor Killing" which equivalent to Death Penalty?, that mostly done in Saudi Arabia as "Pugot Ulo" to those people who's committed sin..in which most people are scared to commit such act.

I'm not saying that we have to become a Muslims or Muslim Country, however, I'm stating the implementation of DISCIPLINE and comparing to a country with Freedom and Democracy, and not all Muslims country in general.

 We are calling of Unity but not Unity for the development of our country, yet we are calling Unity to Pull Down the Country. That's why I already lost my Hope to our mother land.

---

==============

Aking paumanhin Akoy isang hampas lupa lamang na makitid ang utak.

GOOD LUCK PHILIPPINES....MABUHAY ANG PILIPINO!!! "To vote is not an obligation, It is a Rights, and so it's my Rights not to Vote" MARCOS PA RIN!!

cachifox

I agree with you kabayan, PGMA resignation is not the right sulotion to our present problems.  Ano-ano ba ang present problems natin?

THE PEOPLE POWER ( a lot of people going out to the street and shouting... resign... resign... forcing the elected government officials to step down with the reasons that the concerned official is corrup even though that there is no concrete & strong evidence...) turn to be one of our problem. 

The main problem of our nation is " WE'RE LIVING UN-UNITED" we must be united in creating solutions to all of our social problems.

Another problem is how the present administration could convince the oppositions to help them together in bringing our beloved country out of miseries. 

If the present administration and the oppositions works hands in hands with the motive and goal of changing the life of every pilipino from misary to a better living, I WILL PRAISE THEM AND I WILL PRAY TO BLESS THEM ALL 

 

---

Jun Lim

tettay:

To tell you the truth I am not the GMA follower but what I see in our country right now is what I get, You know what I mean is? POLITICAL problem!Nakikita nman po natin na until now hindi po matanggap ng mga kalaban ni GMA na hindi sila ang nakaupo bilang pangulo ng Bansa!At dahil dito wala na po silang nkikita kundi ang mga mali na nagawa ni GMA hanggang gumamit n po sila ng ibang tao para mag ingay tulad ng mga ralyista na yan!Nakahiya pero sabi nga po ng ibang bansa na mga Pilipino daw ay UTAK TALANGKA (CRAB MENTALITY) its SAD but we need to accept sa sarili natin.GMA resign ndi po yan ang solution kundi ang magkaisa tayo magbigay ng IDEA kung ano dapat gawin.Problema kase kanya kanya lalo na sa mga Senado at Kongreso!Magpaplano p lang ang pangulo andyan na agad ang ALSA RALYISTA so pano naman gagawin ng pangulo eh kung mas nagdudunong dunungan p tayo sa kanya! NAKAKASAWA NA!!!!!

Masyado kase Malaya sa ating Bansa eh.Sana magkaroon ng konting paghihigpit tulad sa ibang bansa....

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

---

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

---

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

prince:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

 No, but there's what they call a "Noble Lie".

 

NOBLE LIE...JUST LIKE THE HONORABLE THIEVES!! 

Nicolette:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

 No, but there's what they call a "Noble Lie".

 

NOBLE LIE...JUST LIKE THE HONORABLE THIEVES!! 

Yes…they’re Oxymorons. Pretty ugly uh.

---

A journey always starts with the first step.

Resignation is supposedly a decision made by a person who wants ro get out of his/her job, right? Obviously, GMA has no plans of doing it. It's just RIGHT for people ask her to resign. But unfortunately, GMA had her final say. I'm absolutely anti-corruption and I also feel the IMPULSE of overthrowing her. I call for CHANGE but not at the expense of an uprising ! 

Lechero (Prison Break 3): Without rules, we are nothing but savages. Therefore, proper respect for rules.

Let's be guided by our constitution !

Justice for ALL !!! Mabuhay ang demokrasya !

 

Resignation is supposedly a decision made by a person who wants ro get out of his/her job, right? Obviously, GMA has no plans of doing it. It's just RIGHT for people ask her to resign. But unfortunately, GMA had her final say. I'm absolutely anti-corruption and I also feel the IMPULSE of overthrowing her. I call for CHANGE but not at the expense of an uprising ! 

Lechero (Prison Break 3): Without rules, we are nothing but savages. Therefore, proper respect for rules.

Let's be guided by our constitution !

Justice for ALL !!! Mabuhay ang demokrasya !

 

prince:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

Nobody can change a person's decision most especially if she/he loves what she does may it be for personal gain or for a noble cause. And nobody can easily stop a visionary from doing his/her job even it means losing popularity.Weak minded people ( including the mentally challenged ) and people who have no goals and visions for the future can be easily swayed by external influences, i.e. popularity/unpopularity, bribery, and other opposing forces.

All I can say about GMA, having overcome the test of her time and stood her ground firmly all though many external opposing forces including numerous controversies, is enough proof that she is still the right leader for the country. 
 

---

elgoog

elgoog:

prince:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

Nobody can change a person's decision most especially if she/he loves what she does may it be for personal gain or for a noble cause. And nobody can easily stop a visionary from doing his/her job even it means losing popularity.Weak minded people ( including the mentally challenged ) and people who have no goals and visions for the future can be easily swayed by external influences, i.e. popularity/unpopularity, bribery, and other opposing forces.

All I can say about GMA, having overcome the test of her time and stood her ground firmly all though many external opposing forces including numerous controversies, is enough proof that she is still the right leader for the country. 
 

wow....despite the corruption in her gov't, you still consider her the right leader for PI? Despite the poverty, unemployment, poor healthcare and education, she still the ONE? What am I missing here?

---

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

prince:

elgoog:

prince:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

Nobody can change a person's decision most especially if she/he loves what she does may it be for personal gain or for a noble cause. And nobody can easily stop a visionary from doing his/her job even it means losing popularity.Weak minded people ( including the mentally challenged ) and people who have no goals and visions for the future can be easily swayed by external influences, i.e. popularity/unpopularity, bribery, and other opposing forces.

All I can say about GMA, having overcome the test of her time and stood her ground firmly all though many external opposing forces including numerous controversies, is enough proof that she is still the right leader for the country. 
 

wow....despite the corruption in her gov't, you still consider her the right leader for PI? Despite the poverty, unemployment, poor healthcare and education, she still the ONE? What am I missing here?

 I am not implying that we should stop in erradicating all of the above problems, or stop you from doing your mission for a good cause for the country.

 On the other hand, I just want to point out, you may not have realized yourself, but like many other people, from time to time, they just say lots of things more than they can chew, i.e uttering  BIG words, not just one, but a HALO-HALO OF BIG WORDS in just one sentence.I hope you know what I mean. Let's be realistic in solving those problems for a change.

It is easy to utter big words but the reality is depending on the problem, solutions takes times, lots of people involved, effort, and  other resources to implement them. And implementing the solutions does not end there also. Sometimes solutions fails so resolutions must be taken until the desirable results are achieved.

We can only hope that as we recognize problems that we should provide the solutions also, that is the most desirable, patriotic and heroic thing for each Filipinos to do.

Kind of post-self-talk lang ito hehehehe:

With current state of the Philippines, with the corruption going on everywhere, compounded with other problems, it can be easy for us to get frustraded due to failures in addressing such problems and getting such reaction is explainable. Sincerely, most of us have same sentiments with respect to such isssues.
 

 

---

elgoog

elgoog:

prince:

elgoog:

prince:

Lolo Tapoy:

prince:

the sad truth is some pinoys loves to defend corrupt officials like gma...it's true!

 That is because these people are smart enough to balance the issues and go not for the truth but for the real truth.

even gma wont let the "real truth" reveal...hahahaha...may false truth ba? alam ko may white lies and false tooth...

Nobody can change a person's decision most especially if she/he loves what she does may it be for personal gain or for a noble cause. And nobody can easily stop a visionary from doing his/her job even it means losing popularity.Weak minded people ( including the mentally challenged ) and people who have no goals and visions for the future can be easily swayed by external influences, i.e. popularity/unpopularity, bribery, and other opposing forces.

All I can say about GMA, having overcome the test of her time and stood her ground firmly all though many external opposing forces including numerous controversies, is enough proof that she is still the right leader for the country. 
 

wow....despite the corruption in her gov't, you still consider her the right leader for PI? Despite the poverty, unemployment, poor healthcare and education, she still the ONE? What am I missing here?

 I am not implying that we should stop in erradicating all of the above problems, or stop you from doing your mission for a good cause for the country.

 On the other hand, I just want to point out, you may not have realized yourself, but like many other people, from time to time, they just say lots of things more than they can chew, i.e uttering  BIG words, not just one, but a HALO-HALO OF BIG WORDS in just one sentence.I hope you know what I mean. Let's be realistic in solving those problems for a change.

It is easy to utter big words but the reality is depending on the problem, solutions takes times, lots of people involved, effort, and  other resources to implement them. And implementing the solutions does not end there also. Sometimes solutions fails so resolutions must be taken until the desirable results are achieved.

We can only hope that as we recognize problems that we should provide the solutions also, that is the most desirable, patriotic and heroic thing for each Filipinos to do.

Kind of post-self-talk lang ito hehehehe:

With current state of the Philippines, with the corruption going on everywhere, compounded with other problems, it can be easy for us to get frustraded due to failures in addressing such problems and getting such reaction is explainable. Sincerely, most of us have same sentiments with respect to such isssues.
 

 

so you want solutions? so why not unite with us to fight corruption and stop protecting gma...puro palusot...

---

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

Philippine Culture Permits Graft

Cultural Aspects of Philippine Society Allow Graft and Corruption

© Gary W. Elliott

Feb 24, 2008

Cultural assumptions about rightness or wrongness of individual behavior, a point of religious doctrine, and Spanish colonial experience may influence Philippine graft.

Government institutions may create opportunities for corruption, but individuals are the perpetrators. Three cultural aspects of Philippine society possibly contribute to individuals taking advantage of the opportunities for illicit personal profit at the public’s expense.

Shame Culture vs. Guilt Culture

Rules and attitudes regarding wrongdoing, blame, and justice are not the same across different cultures and societies. Cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict, in her study of Japanese culture in the 1940s, perhaps first articulated two differing sets of assumptions and rules. In The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, published in 1946, she distinguishes between the "guilt culture," characteristic of the West, and the "shame culture" of Japan.[1]

Features of shame cultures include saving face, preserving family honor, importance of family name and reputation, etc. Cultural restraints upon individuals serve to maintain honor or avoid shame, but there is less concern for the rightness or wrongness of individual behavior, which apparently gives license to engage in secret wrongdoing.

Shame culture might be better understood by contrast with the guilt culture of Western societies. In the West, Judeo-Christian foundations provide an absolute standard for right and wrong, and even for truth. Guilt culture is concerned with truth and justice, and provides strong social restraints upon behavior: individual sense of guilt and conscience prevent wrongdoing, even if it might never be discovered.

Viewing Philippine society as a shame culture helps explain the endemic problem of graft and corruption. Government employees at all levels, along with businessmen involved in government dealings, obviously are not constrained by a sense of guilt or conscience prompting them to “do the right thing.” The only constraint may be to carefully hide illegal and unethical practices, to prevent them potentially being exposed and bringing shame upon the family.

Penance and Bribery

The Philippines is about 83% Roman Catholic [2], and the doctrine of penance is generally espoused and practiced. Is it possible this doctrine has increased national tolerance for graft, particularly in the form of bribery?

The faithful accept that wrongdoing, or sin, should be confessed, and that the priest can assign penance to be performed, and then give absolution for the wrongdoing. One might look at this concept, in simple terms, as paying some price (penance) to “get off the hook” (absolution) for wrongdoing (sin). In the case of a motorist being stopped by a policeman for a traffic violation (wrongdoing), he might think nothing of paying a small price (penance) to get off the hook (absolution). The logic works not only in the sphere of the local traffic cop, but at the highest levels of government. After all, if one can “pay off” the Creator of the universe, what earthly authority should be above bribery?

Colonial Experience

The Philippines was a colony of Spain for nearly 400 years, but much of the country was never assimilated into Spanish culture and society, nor really under control of the Spanish administration in Manila. Certainly much of the populace viewed the Spanish colonials as foreign oppressors, and developed an “us versus them” mentality. It seems that centuries, and many generations, of this colonial rule and negative attitude toward the government must have had an effect on the Filipino psyche, and perhaps taking from the government was not viewed negatively. Is it possible that after only about 60 years, and a few generations, of independence, the “us versus them” attitude toward the government has yet to be reformed?

Conclusion

Individuals in both the public and private sectors are robbing the country, apparently without guilt. Cultural aspects have hindered development of a healthy conscience, and changed attitudes toward wrongdoing would greatly benefit national development.

References

1. Atherton, James S.; Doceo:Shame-Culture and Guilt-Culture [On-line]; accessed February 24, 2008

2. Religion, General Information, Official Website of the Republic of the Philippines; accessed February 24, 2008

Philippine Graft and Corruption

Decades of Plunder Have Dramatically Stunted National Development

© Gary W. Elliott

Feb 9, 2008

The misuse of public money for private gain poses a very grave challenge to national development in the Philippines, and the magnitude of the problem is staggering.

Among the challenges to national development in the Philippines are graft and corruption, which are manifest in many various forms including bribery, kickbacks, embezzlement, vote buying, cronyism, and nepotism. Additionally, corruption facilitates criminal enterprises such as black marketing and illegal gambling syndicates, both also prevalent.

Corruption has both political and socio-cultural roots: the political system and its institutions allow graft and corruption to flourish, but it is people, not institutions, who are robbing government funds. This article attempts to give an idea of the magnitude of the problem, while subsequent essays will focus on how some political institutions foster graft and corruption, and on socio-cultural aspects which seem to encourage taking opportunities to steal public funds.

The Marcos regime, which has been described as a kleptocracy, literally “rule by thieves,” made the Guinness Book of World Records in the late 1980s as the most corrupt government of all time.[1] Fortunately, the situation has improved. In 2006, Transparency International, the Berlin-based non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1993 to curb corruption in international transactions, rated the Philippines less corrupt than 51 of 163 nations, but ranking among Asian nations is not good.[2] The only Asian nations in 2006 receiving a worse rating than the Philippines from the Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd. (PERC), a Hong Kong firm specializing in strategic business information and analysis, were Indonesia and Vietnam.[3] In 2007, the Philippines dropped to last place of the 13 Asian economies studied by PERC.[4]

So, the Philippines has a relatively poor ranking, but quantifying graft gives a better idea of the impact on the nation. In September 1998, President Estrada said stealing would waste roughly 100 billion pesos (approximately USD2.5 billion), which translates to about 20% of the national budget proposed for 1999![5] In June 1999, President Estrada consistently applied this percentage, stating that 24.1 billion pesos (about USD600 million), or 20% of all government project funds spent the previous year, were lost to graft and corruption. The following month, Philippine Ombudsman Aniano Desierto claimed the government lost 1.4 trillion pesos (perhaps USD100 billion, varying exchange rate over 11 years) since 1988 when the Office began investigating government corruption, and continues to lose 100 million pesos daily, or 36.5 billion (roughly USD940 million) annually.[7] (The Office of the Ombudsman is a special independent body to support the principles of honesty, integrity, and public accountability and to serve as the people’s protector and watchdog.) Although there is some variance in the figures, they serve to indicate the scale of graft.

It is difficult to quantify other costs of corruption, such as potential revenue lost to thriving black market industries, and foreign and domestic capital, businesses, and jobs these businesses would have created, all sources of new tax revenue, lost due to the high-risk investment climate caused by corruption. Additionally, it is likely that the many billions of pesos (estimated at 13 billion annually ) collected by illegal gambling syndicates, which could not operate without government acquiescence, come mainly from the poor who most need the government's help and protection.

Billions allocated to infrastructure projects, community development, and improving the lives and health of the Filipino people have gone into individuals’ pockets, or Swiss bank accounts, instead of designated projects. This travesty results in untold misery now, and guarantees more in the future. We can only imagine what the country would look like if these funds had been properly spent, but certainly there would be less poverty and more “island paradise.” The officials who squander the country's resources have a stranglehold on the development and prosperity of the entire nation.

References

1. “Graft and Corruption: the Philippine Experience,” Nelson Nogot Moratalla, Deputy Director/ Dean of Academics, Philippine National Police Academy, Philippine Public Safety College, 113th International Training Course Participants’ Papers, Resource Material Series No. 56, p. 501

2. Corruption Perceptions Index 2006 (Table 1), Global Corruption Report 2007, Transparency International

3. Corruption in Asia (Graph), Excerpt from Asian Intelligence Issue #701, March 1, 2006, Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd.

4. “Philippines More Corrupt Than Indonesia, Poll Says,” Katherine Espina, Bloomberg.com, March 13, 2007

5. Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 7, 1998, as cited in “Graft and Corruption: the Philippine Experience,” p. 502

6. Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 10, 1999, as cited in “Graft and Corruption: the Philippine Experience,” op. cit., p. 504

7. Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 10, 1999, as cited in “Graft and Corruption: the Philippine Experience,” op. cit., p. 504

8. “'Jueteng' back in 7 provinces, says Archbishop Cruz,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 29, 2005

Tama ka dyan, Flor. However, I have to say that reform must start from the very top. In order to institute a revamp, we need to catapult Fr. Ed Panlilio to the presidency via military coup because he would never make it in regular a mano-a-mano election. Once we have ethical leadership at the very top, declare martial law and clean up the pigsty that Phil. politics has become. Fire all of the senators and batasan, have all cabinet-level officers tender their mandatory resignations immediately, revise the horribly one-sided 1987 constitution that favors the filthy rich, jail or hang corrupt government employees (this is possible with military support), seize and sequester the haciendas and assets owned by the 134 ruling elite families (again possible with military support) and implement meaningful land reform, hire a new ombudsman group made up of seminarians and fresh law school graduates that will be a government watchdog answerable only to the president. This is called LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD to encourage Pinoy entrepreneurs to establish new businesses free from Chinoy meddling by giving them access to capital. To create good-paying jobs and develop our manufacturing and heavy industries, we need to invite foreign companies to invest in our country which means enticing them with tax breaks. This is the only way we can stop the hemorrhage of our highly skilled OFWs leaving to seek work elsewhere.

---

Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It's the courage to continue that counts.