Last week, a contingent of about 200
Filipino leaders from various countries overseas, mostly from the
United States, who attended the inauguration of Benigno S. Aquino
III as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines,
convened at the Sofitel-Philippine Plaza for the First
Worldwide Conference of Overseas Filipinos for Good
Governance.
Amazing as it may seem, these
Filipinos, who have lived abroad for decades, many for almost half
a century, never lost their love for their land of birth. Out of
necessity they went, out of love they are returning to better help
their suffering Motherland. Though they left the Philippines, the
Philippines in them never left.
As successful citizens of
foreign lands, they never forgot, never abandoned, their
Motherland. Majority of those who left to save their family from
hunger, and others to further their education, never returned when
the corrupt dictator Ferdinand Marcos, chained and plundered the
entire nation for 21 years --- two decades marred by massive
authoritarian rule, despotism, political repression, human rights
violation and nepotism.
Like their brothers and sisters in
the Philippines, the overseas Filipinos felt the painful betrayal
of a leader who had sworn to serve them and protect them, not
realizing that after Cory had liberated them and restored
democracy to the country, there would be further betrayals along
the way.
Obviously, to most of those left the country and
family behind, the material lure of the milk and honey abroad was
only a means to a nobler end. They could have turned their back
and simply continued to enjoy the peace and glory of success
abroad, but almost all of them, felt incomplete, half full. They
longed for their Mother Pilipinas. Many leaders, representing
their fellow overseas Pinoys came home and lobbied hard for
decades for the proposals and final passage of the dual
citizenship and the absentee voting rights bills, a manifestation
of what’s in their heart, the longing to be Filipinos
again.
The more than 11 million Filipinos abroad, around 3
million of them in the United States, constitute the Sleeping
Global Filipino Giant. They have been providing the life blood to
the Philippine economy for decades with their remittances. The
annual remittance of nearly $18 billion (and rising) is what has
been keeping our nation’s economy afloat and saving the
Philippines from drowning in bankruptcy. When united as dual
citizens with the ballot in their hand, the Sleeping Global
Filipino Giant would be a powerful force that could change not
only the economic, but the social and political, landscape in the
Philippines.
The trillions of pesos plundered by shameless
government officials could have significantly minimized the
massive poverty among the 25% of our poor people languishing in
the gutter of poverty. Many of them get their meals from garbage
cans. Most go to bed at night hungry, not only with empty stomach,
but with empty dreams.
Except for a handful few, the
majority of our officials during the past administrations were
obviously crooks and criminals, who protected each other. They
were members of an elite organized crime syndicate, an exclusive
club, the SOP (Society of Plunderers), disguised as the Philippine
Government.
The unprecedented overwhelming landslide
victory of Noynoy, who garnered more than 42% of the votes, was a
clear mandate from the people, who joined his noble vision of
“Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” (“No corruption, no
poverty”). It was also a testament to the extreme hatred the
majority of the Filipinos felt for Gloria and her cronies, who
gave the country the shameful distinction of bring one of the most
corrupt in the world.
The massive victory of President
Aquino was nothing but People Power 3, albeit not waged on the
street of EDSA, but on streets leading to the polling places
around the country. It is also a wake-up call to all dishonest
people in the government, from Malacanang down to the Barrangays.
The padrino and payola culture must go, and the perpetrators put
behind bars. Only when justice is served can our people be truly
served and can our country regain the world’s respect as a nation
where no one is above the law.
The inspiring “arrival” of
President Noynoy Aquino is starting to usher in a new outlook, a
renewed interest, and hope among Filipinos at home and abroad. The
overseas Filipino leaders are more determined than ever to give
whatever support they can to President Aquino in his war against
graft and corruption, social injustice, and poverty.
The
theme of the conference at Sofitel last week was “Harnessing the
Overseas Pinoy Power for Good Governance.” This is a healthy sign
that the overseas Filipinos and those at home are getting out of
their stupor and, together, are beginning to flex their muscles.
Since we were the ones who put Noynoy on the hot seat, it is our
individual obligation to help him succeed in achieving a new and
better Philippines for all of us.
In his inaugural address,
President Aquino eloquently stated that he could not do the job
alone, and that “We, the People,” are his “Boss” and partners, the
pillars and strength he needs to rid the government of corruption
and save the Philippines. The awakened Global Filipino Giant
overseas, and their brothers and sisters at home, have accepted
the P-Noy challenge.
Alas! a beautiful new dawn has come to
our land, a hopeful tomorrow for all Filipinos. With honest
government officials leading the country, each of us no longer has
any excuse for not disciplining our self and for not contributing
our share to help transform the Philippines into a nation with
integrity, social justice, peace, prosperity, honor, and
pride.
Please visit:
www.FUN8888.com
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Dr. Chua is a cardiac surgeon based in Las Vegas, Nevada,
and the Chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA
(www.FUN8888.com) Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com