Read this Letter from our Youth expressing a
challenging message to our National Leaders. This was posted in Yahoo! News
(October 5, 2013).
Editor's Note: This letter was
written by a group of six senior high school students from the Paref Woodrose
School when they were asked for their opinion about the "pork barrel"
scam for a theology class project.
In the early
morning of August 26, 2013, a sea of solid white flooded Luneta. Armed with various
signs, stickers, and posters, Filipinos gathered together to protest one of the
most dishonest schemes in Philippine history: the "pork barrel" scam.
In this recent political scandal, billions of Philippine pesos were stolen in
order to fund fictitious NGOs.
Fortunately, this
crime did not escape the people. Today, this issue has become so widespread
that it affects even the Filipino youth. As part of the youth, this is
something we can’t take sitting down. Today, we want an end to the injustice
that our country has been facing for the longest time because we are concerned
citizens who want nothing but the best for our country.
Face it: the youth
want a good future as much as any other Filipino citizen in this nation. Still,
we keep wondering: how will we have a future, let alone a good one, if
politicians keep spending money on themselves instead of for the betterment of
the society? We want you to know the youth have countless dreams and
aspirations for the future.
However, these
dreams will never come true unless we get the support of the government to
provide us with quality education and sustainable professions. Although there
are so many things that the government needs to spend on to improve the quality
of life in our country, they still misuse it for their personal benefits.
Many seem to have
forgotten that the youth are the hope and future of the country. With the
authorities constantly failing to be good role models to the youth, how can we
be expected to run the future Philippines well?
Ironically, instead
of solving the issues of our country the government exacerbates the problem and
soon, the disastrous state of our country will be inherited by the youth.
Really, how are we going to make a headway into the future if the government’s
problems are constantly providing obstacles? This scam has not only ruined the
image of the Philippine government; it has also shown the citizens of our
country that our officials serve no one but themselves.
To our fellow
Filipinos: this is your wake-up call!
To those honest and
innocent government officials whose intentions are to truly help our nation: We
applaud you for being firm in your morals and having the courage to be
different, despite external influences. To the other government officials: NOW
is the time to take action. There is still time to redeem yourselves and start
again.
Start by forming
values. If there’s one thing that a government official is supposed to have, it
is INTEGRITY.
To lead is to serve!
If you truly love your country, revive your nationalism! Open your hearts to the people and understand the hardships that they’re going through because of the wrong that you’ve done! Detach yourselfvesfrom the materialistic notions that revolve around money; do you even plan to use that for the development of the country? If your only aim is wealth, then know one thing: we would not have elected you if we did not believe in your ability to lead the country.
If you truly love your country, revive your nationalism! Open your hearts to the people and understand the hardships that they’re going through because of the wrong that you’ve done! Detach yourselfvesfrom the materialistic notions that revolve around money; do you even plan to use that for the development of the country? If your only aim is wealth, then know one thing: we would not have elected you if we did not believe in your ability to lead the country.
Know that we put
you in those positions because we want a good future. We want a change for
the better.
Ever since we were
children, we were taught that we should not take what is not ours. The
perpetrators of this scam must know that spending the Filipinos’ money for
their personal use is not only a severe blow to the reputation of the
Philippine government but also a great betrayal to their people.
From today onwards,
let the government officials remember that true leadership is not about wealth
and power. It is not about cash, cars, and extravagant 21st birthday parties.
Rather, true leadership is all about the true spirit of service.
From the concerned students of the Paref Woodrose School,
Camille Alvarillo
Anthea Anastacio
Rita Camacho
Abby Gutierrez
Steph Naval
Julianna Paul
– KDM, GMA News
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