Oration Piece

A Change Within

Half a century of oppression, tyranny, and cruelty had passed. Foreign battleships, artillery, and military left our land. Our flag raised in full dignity and colours. An independent government formed and fortified by laws. A nation formed by people with its own rights, language, and identity to be proud of. The Philippines is free at last, or is it? Corruption, poverty, dirty politics, and other national problems both minor and major are present and imminent nowadays. Moral and character crisis is sweeping around the country. We are in need for a change, a change that will not come from others but with you. We have to eradicate the image of a common Filipino which is still bound to the old culture of being idle and going through the flow. We have to become a new Filipino bound with the new culture of being disciplined, righteous, and persevering, a new Filipino which is honest and loyal, and a new Filipino full of patriotism for his country. The Filipino youth is the answer and the fulfillment of this dream. We will be the future leaders and forth runners of this nation. The future of our country is at our hands and it is on a hanging balance. If we fail to change, our country will continue to deteriorate. But if we succeed, our country will shine again with its full glory. So why is it that Im persuading you to change? What is the true dilemma of our society? The truth is corruption and other problems are just contributors in the deterioration of our country. Our culture is the one to be blamed of. Many countries such as the Koreas were once full of corrupt political leaders, but where are they now? They rose as the 13th largest economy in the world. The secret lies in their culture of being hard working. We too have our own hardworking people but what becomes imminent is the culture of consumerism. We tend consume our gains faster than we produce. We dont think for the future just think of today. Many say that immigrating and Filipinos abroad must go back and work for their country instead. But what is the use of patriotism if their stomachs are empty. We have to admit that our minimum wage is so low for a growing economy tied up with growing population trend that eats up our economic gains and low job availability or jobs mismatch. Filipinos also tends to give importance to white collar jobs and ignore blue collar jobs like welding, gardening, and etc. which are the basic jobs in a society. We also didnt pursue agrarian reform like what our Asian neighbours had done like Japan and Taiwan to give importance and lift the current situation of our peasants and farmers. We also lack in implementation. Our laws are nearly perfect but cannot be implemented and enforced properly. These are the problems of our society and do need an immediate change. The effects of these problems tend to amplify because of the culture of idleness. There was a time when I passed along the slums of Catarman early morning and saw how the people here are just so idle, sitting, gambling, and even drinking alcoholic drinks early morning. They are just wasting time and energy doing nothing instead of searching for opportunities. This culture is perpetuating and sometimes we even take pride on it uttering the quote: ³Filipinos are lazy people'. These problems are also sometimes considered as the norm. ³Because everyone does it I will do it', a common idea of Filipinos. We are also great show-offs. We are always fond of extravagant clothes, bags, and shoes with expensive product line. We are always saying that we love our country and we are proud of it but do nothing to save it from its demise. These effects conjugate together and form an impassable barrier towards a better future. The enemy and the one to be blamed for are our own selves. And we have the capacity and the decision to change and prosper. Reform in the educational sector can be an answer to these problems. On a hundred kids only five will proceed to college and 2 will have decent jobs. If we focused on education we can and we will purge the root cause of these problems. Social revolutions can also be done to induce reform. Not the bloody one but a peaceful one. But I am not provoking a revolution to overthrow the government but a revolution inside ourselves. Educational reforms and social revolutions will not succeed if we ourselves will not change our attitude, values and perspective in life. The sole solution to these problems is a change ³within', a change that will start at us, a change that will create an unbreakable chain of changes among others, and a change that will break that impassable barrier. We can become a new Filipino. And when that day comes, I assure you the Philippines is free at last.

"Q18L