My Dear Senator Rene Saguisag

May 10, 2013 Oh dear, my dear Senator Rene Saguisag, If only our schools, colleges, and universities have more to do with the power of knowledge, the values of Filipino intelligence, and the endless pursuit of the truth and happiness and improvement in the here and for the now. Indeed, if only our system of education have been more about what it means to be intellectually rich in spirit rather than just be religiously poor in spirit - we Filipinos should already be ahead as a nation in all of Asia today. Unfortunately for us, we only continue to be famous as the "Sick Man of Asia." We have neither integrity and nor sagacity in our social, political, and cultural responsibility. We are only proud in having concocted for ourselves a Republic of mediocrity as inspired by the teachings of Christianity. Especially for the few rich to get richer, while the many poor get poorer! Jesus Christ in the holy bible neatly summarized it for all of us Filipinos in this only Catholic country in Asia: "I am a way, the life, and the truth." John 14:6 And to think that all of the corrupt officials in our government even before the Marcos dictatorial years - were all faithful and still are faithful followers of Jesus who declared: "If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26 Of course, let us not forget Jaime Cardinal Sin - the Archbishop then of Manila - always present during the birthday celebration of the Marcos children at the palace. Blowing up party trumpets and passing out colorful balloons! Indeed, the same Jaime Cardinal Sin who, after the criminals in Washington rescued Marcos and his vast wealth out of the Philippines - immediately blessed Cory Aquino as the new President of the Philippines. With Cardinal Sin as her adviser, she started a series of reforms. That is, to organize more effective "prayer rallies" - to end the never-ending troubles historical in our country: those more fortunate in our sick society continue to exploit legally those who are less fortunate. I said it before, I say it again: We are all born ignorant; not corrupt. We are made corrupt by a system of education. La Salle, Ateneo, San Beda, UST, Assumption college, AIM and, indeed, University of the Philippines, etc. They are places where we Filipinos learn how to be indifferent to fellow-Filipinos; how not to stand up for ourselves as a free and independent people; how to ignore love of country in order to defend and protect nothing except the wealth, power, and glory of Christianity in the Philippines. Oh yes, corruption is endemic here, pandemic there, and is satanic everywhere in the Philippines. The only kind of freedom we Filipinos know how to enjoy is the freedom to enjoy corruption. Corruption is reflected daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly in the Filipino way of life! We even call it: free will. But who cares? After all, there is always Jesus up there ready and willing to forgive our thoughtless sins and mindless crimes at any time down here. We have only to repent. In the ultimate analysis, thanks to our corrupt system of education, life in general in our country can only be characterized as the corrupt competition to be the criminal or be the victim of the criminals. Again, such horrors are often referred to as the Sick Man of Asia gifted with a free will down here as inspired by a kind and loving God from up there. Cheers! Poch Suzara, La Salle high school expelled student