I NEEDED A TAXI to go from Makati City to the domestic airport. Before I could sit comfortably at the back seat, the driver told me that I had to pay 250 pesos. I told the driver that I was getting off the car if he would not use the taxi meter. When the meter was flagged down, I felt more at ease. It did not take a few minutes, however, after we left Makati that the driver told me that I had to pay him 150 pesos even if the taxi meter was on. I was furious at the driver because I thought that he understood me. Instead of confronting the driver with harsh words, I told him sincerely that I was not happy with his attitude of taking advantage of passengers. I kept quiet throughout the rest of the trip to the airport. Upon arriving at the domestic terminal, the driver told me that I would give him the exact amount as shown by the meter which was only 85 pesos. He was very sorry for what happened. I thanked him. I urged him not to do it again.
I am taking this recent personal experience to illustrate that no amount of sipag and tiyaga can change our country, thus end poverty when even ordinary citizens take advantage of one another. Renewal of our country does not depend on our politicians with their political utopias promising better life for Filipinos. A new Philippines can only come from Filipinos who do not only think of themselves, and of their own families. This entails not using others for selfish interests and gains. In fact, our political culture is so corrupt because of the penchant of many of us Filipinos to use or even to exploit one another to further our own selfish interests. Unless we take the path of moral regeneration in which genuine human values of honesty, generosity, sincerity, reciprocal solidarity marked by a deep concern for others, and an acute sense of unity are developed, then nothing can truly change. The failure of the basic institutions of our society, including the Church, to inculcate values need to be addressed if we were to hope for a structural change in our society.
My encounter with the taxi driver who was trying to take advantage of me taught one important lesson, that is, not to close my eyes to tolerate wrongdoing and not to shut my mouth to speak honestly what ought to be. Had I tolerated the taxi driver, I would have contributed to the further moral decadence of our society. It is necessary that every Filipino begins with the person nearest to him or her in making our utopias for a new Philippines a reality. The upcoming election will not change the many structures of dependence (Paolo Freire) and systemic corruption in many sectors of our society. Pope John XXIII says that utopias serve as a critique to the present sinful structures that exist in the world (Octogesima Adveniens).
I think change should come from each Filipino. It is extremely urgent to understand that politicians are not the saviors of the Philippines. You and I will save this beautiful country. I simply need to be committed that what I can contribute to make Philippines a better place, I have to do it now.
The only way out is the way of the human person. Authentic human development rooted in God's call to be fully human, by being gifts to one another (Caritas in Veritate), can be our present challenge and even beyond 2010.