The past semester was eventful to say the least. It began with A (H1N1) and the cancellation of classes in different universities (except this one) as a result. A few months later, the king of pop passed away and in the middle of the semester, former president Cory Aquino bid goodbye to the Filipino nation. As if that wasn’t enough, Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc on the country a few weeks before the semester would finally end.
Of those events, two are pivotal moments in our nation’s history. Cory Aquino’s passing reminded this generation of an era long past. The devastation caused by Ondoy and Pepeng made both rich and poor bow down to Mother Nature.
While hundreds of people were busy helping the victims of the flood, however, the customary blame game was being played. Granted, the amount of rainfall Ondoy brought was the most that has been recorded in history; but why weren’t our esteros able to cope even just a little bit? They were clogged because of the trash we threw the day before, weeks before, months before.
The government had many slip-ups, such as the failure to have sufficient warning systems and a ready plan to cope with the emergency. The typhoons not only ruined the lives of thousands upon thousands of families; they also exposed the inefficiencies of the government.
We can crucify and question those in power all we want, but we have to remember that in situations like these, blaming other people is never the solution. The accusations we throw around only come back to us. The need to institute change and reform in the country has never been greater. We clamor for change, but just how do we get it?
Change can begin with everyone fulfilling their roles in the 2010 elections. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, change can be as simple as registering to vote, reading the candidates’ platforms, joining a political campaign, or running for a position (if you have what it takes, why not?).
The easiest among the options however, seems to be where most people fail the most. Thousands of Filipinos nationwide crowded Comelec offices in hopes of making it to the deadline. Complaints were broadcast through different media about Comelec’s inability to accommodate everyone who came out to register on the last few days of registration. It is Comelec’s fault that its systems were unable to cope with the sudden rush of last-minute registrants. But it is not Comelec’s fault that all these people decided to register only when the deadline drew near. Registration began December last year, giving people eight months to register.
Again, it comes back to us. For those who failed to register at the last minute, the chance to make their voices count in the 2010 elections is gone. But we wanted change and we still want change. Voting isn’t the only way we can make a difference.
So now, whether you’re voting or not, what are you going to do?
