Doy Santos

Doy Santos writes as "The Cusp" on propinoy.net. His background is economics so he brings a lot to the table in terms of understanding the mechanisms of wealth generation. Or lack thereof . . .

Hisrecent article challenges those  who are focused on Chief Justice Corona's half-baked SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilites and Income) to publish their own SALN's in as much detail as they are demanding from the Honorable Corona. The between-the-lines implication is they would be hard-pressed to do that, and would have to modify and re-jig prior SALN's to make the lies in them consistent with the current facts.

I Also read that even President Aquino's SALN history is apparently being reworked to align prior reports with the current one in a way that pretends to tell a forthright story.

But therein is the important point. The point that Mr. Santos never gets to. The bottom line truth that Filipinos either have not discovered. Or deny. Or ignore.

The culture of the Philippines is based on a distorted sense of right and wrong. That is its foundation. And you cannot straighten a crooked road if you insist it is straight the way it is.

This is a culture of favors, of cheating, of power plays. It is a culture of overabundant sensitivity to self and gross insensitivity toward others. It is a culture of blindness to the disciplines of integrity and responsibility. It is a culture of blames and excuses.

Until Filipinos far and wide, including the President and the educators, are candid enough to recognize the social system in which EVERYONE operates for what it is - warped in its sense of right and wrong, largely missing the key element of responsibility, and damaging to Filipinos and the national community - it is fruitless of Mr. Santos or anyone else to point out the flaws of others.

EVERYONE is a part of the problem and trying to blame someone else is just continuing to trudge along the easy road. The hard road would be to start a Civil Liberties Union, or a Tea Party. Take action. But no one takes it. Or no one dares take it. That would be a risky, tangible action in a society that DEMANDS subservient obedience to power and a sneaky, fuzzy, self-serving interpretation of laws.

There is a reason so many people intentionally do not follow civic rules.

Short of the courage to take explicit action, every complainant ought to hitch up his dignity and live his own life according to proper Christian, or Muslim, or other upright values. And see to it that his children do the same. Change the mode of behavior hereabouts from DEFENSE OF SELF (low self-esteem excuse mongering) to EXPLICIT ACTIONS that show acceptance of responsibility and commitment to courteous, honorable living. Like, you know, obey the rules. Hold to a sense of the Golden Rule and treat others fairly and nicely.

Get rid of the notion that I can cheat because everyone else is doing it. My God, do you know what a weak sap it makes you to coast along doing it the easy way, doing it the way that allows your friends to chuckle along with you about how cool you are when you cheat. Easy. Easy. Easy.

Not courageous and disciplined. And for sure not a good example for the kids.

I also hold to an irrational dream that sees the Senate adjourn, with Senator Enrile soberly saying:

"You know ladies and gentlemen, we are all pretending an honorableness here that we aren't living up to. This trial is adjourned until we can sit in judgment as leaders who know the difference between right and wrong . . . and prove it by living the ideals expressed in our words."

This article is not an obnoxious, arrogant point of view from an outsider. It is an extension of Mr. Santos' view all the way to the heart of the matter, without hiding, obfuscating, defending or denying.

I trust that you will exert every effort not prove my point by excusing cheating behavior or blaming me for this attempt at candor. If I'm wrong, simply tell me what the truth is. I am writing what I see and stake no claim to perfect vision.