Beyond my lifetime

by Jose Ma. Montelibano

| Photo by Christian Bowen on Unsplash

We are going around in circles. Unfortunately, the circles are spirals, and they are going downwards. I cannot say what lies at the bottom.

I have never been to war like my parent generation, those who lived through World War I and II. Luckily, too, I have been spared the worst, like those caught in conflict areas where government troops were at war with communist rebels or Muslim insurrectionists. So, I cannot say how bad things can go at the bottom of the spiral.

At my age, too, while the possibility is there, the odds that I will experience World War III are very slim. Our growing conflict with China is more delicate. If what self-claimed pundits are saying that we are in a proxy war between China and the United States is true, then a nuclear confrontation between the two remains slim as well. The two know it will end their worlds as they know it now.

Beyond our shores, however, turbulence can erupt into pocket wars. Listing all the countries with internal or regional armed conflicts would take up too much space. If we are interested, we are mainly in the know because of the speed and volume of international news available locally. It is enough that we know there are enough trigger points that can light a global fuse leading to World War III.

The Philippines has fewer problems in terms of a variety of issues. Almost all our challenges stem from two significant roots—corruption and poverty. Corruption is the cancer metastasizing, while poverty is its most visible consequence. Poverty, though, is not only a result; it also plays an active role in deepening and spreading the cancer of corruption.

Because of corruption and poverty, Filipinos are grappling with new cancer growths everywhere, as is the case when cancer metastasizes. It used to be that corruption was only in the hands of the Executive Branch, mostly confined to government projects that would favor cronies and demand kickbacks. In other words, it was specific and few. Today, corruption is everywhere and, as a result, is generally tolerated.

And there lies the most painful and sinister wound – the gradual shift of the very meanings of right and wrong. Our value system, our very soul, must now undergo the perversion of accepting what is wrong and slowly letting go of the strict adherence to what we once regarded as correct.

Again, because of my age, notwithstanding my active objections to this lowering or debasing of virtues and principles, I see no hope of seeing its reversal in my lifetime. However, I see it worsening. It is like a monster set free from its cage and hungry to devour everything and everyone that kept it there. Prayers or hypocritical lip service cannot stop the cancer of corruption. Only a purging can, when it comes.

Going against the odds, however, is not new to me. I would prefer not to. It is always easier to ride the tide as long as I do not create an unbearable inner conflict within my beliefs. When I lose hope for myself, it is only in accepting that I may not see the irreversible beginning of meaningful change in my lifetime. Woe to the virtues and values on which our ancestors built the character of the Filipino.

“Man cannot defy the natural or divine order without consequence. My sense of time differs from life’s sense of time – like in the popular saying “in God’s time.” Time is not mine, and I must let it go. My life and actions are mine, and I will pursue what I believe in.”

However, as there is day after night, I am sure the moment and process will come. Man cannot defy the natural or divine order without consequence. My sense of time differs from life’s sense of time – like in the popular saying “in God’s time.” Time is not mine, and I must let it go. My life and actions are mine, and I will pursue what I believe in.

How, then, can I proceed in a mission whose favorable ending I do not think I can see? With so little time and resources, I must move forward like a sniper and let go of the shotgun approach. There is no problem with my motivation. Having long dreamed about an ideal country, I needed to think of decades, not just years. Despite that, and knowing change comes slowly, I remained motivated.

The cancer of corruption has spread from one place to another, and there is no sure medicine to stop the metastasizing. To save what is left, I think of focusing on the healthy cells and organs. They have remained healthy in a very unhealthy environment because of one fact—their immune system. A strong immune system is the first order of the day for me. Its strength must be enhanced to keep resisting the spreading of cancer.

I have two target audiences that I can continue to target in my advocacy work. From 1983 in the hills of Quezon to semi-retirement today, I have focused on community development work for the last 22 years as part of Gawad Kalinga. This work and a mission that calls for zero poverty, zero carbon, and zero exclusion have sustained my sanity. This work has kept me beside much younger workers from whom I continue to receive inspiration.

Community development work, however, naturally flows to nation-building, a faith and patriotism partnership for me. Thankfully, it is just as accurate for Gawad Kalinga, its many partners, and the armies of volunteers I have engaged with.

Nation-building, however, touches on governance. Any work addressing poverty ultimately brings one to governance simply because of the vast numbers and resources involved.

My other audience must be the idealism of mostly younger Filipinos, who are the true hope of a brighter tomorrow. I pray that I can encourage them to stay the course.

The poor and the young. So be it.

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