The changing frontiers of Juan dela Cruz’s mindset have been prevalent since the sharp political changes were made by pure will. As the year closes, a glint of hope is seen anew for his country especially that indifference has become a customary reaction to the mobility of the Philippines’ political atmosphere. These are my lamentations as one of the Juan dela Cruzes in the country.
Peace is a way of life but I do not appreciate it when somebody offers me one just because it’s the birth of Christ. Who knows? The day I beheaded somebody may be really the exact date of His birth. Anyway, after the Yuletide, we’ll kill each other again. And it happens as a cycle. The meaning is gone because it’s coated with the notion that we only offer good deeds on Christmas day.
I do not condone political absolution of grave crimes. When I started to do so, I could have freed all of my incarcerated countrymen for them to get back their freedom. I work with the principles of Democracy but not with the system which aims at getting a smiley from the sticker pad of my detractors.
If I am fighting to oust my President, I’d better do it someplace where my political ambitions can be well appreciated. I know getting booked in a hotel entails comfort and significant attention but if I have to be called a hero, I’ll risk being hungry to give justice to the purity of my intentions.
The irony of mediocre living rests on my choice to march down the street for one whole day instead of earning for my next meal. It’s not just about my own poverty and I hope they understand. I see a family of street urchins and beggars around and I do not believe they have nothing to say about it. All I ever wanted is to silently feel the reality of poverty alleviation without blunting my point.
The quest for truth exemplified by the media means their lives are on shaky grounds by those who want to shut them up. I am fighting for intelligent Filipinism and awareness and it makes me so scared that while I am writing this, I will not be a free man tomorrow.
On the other side, the idiot box, which is supposed to be one of the instruments of my judgment, is making me more stupid because all I ever see are exaggerated soap operas. It’s not drama. It’s comedy. It’s not a fantasy; it’s a misaligned notion of ambition. And it’s not a reality show, it’s a circus. I need not to stay up late just so I can see investigative journalism on the move. I need to learn so I can appreciate the power of media.
In connection, I do not care about Kris Aquino and Ruffa Gutierez. They’re just products of sensationalism. I do not delight in publicity just because my marriage is a wreck and then smile before the camera because of a broken home. I care about the discrepancy between their bulky paycheck against the dime rarely occupying the beggar’s cup.
I do not want to be called a hero just because I left the country to work for those people who does not even empathize with me. It’s all been fixed in the law and I found out that sacrifice is such a strong word while employment is not.
Finally, being an ordinary Filipino, I do not smile over the evolutionized form of indiscriminate corruption: my boxer briefs have gone missing along with some of my clothes prior to Christmas Eve.
I do not assume that I can speak for every Juan dela Cruz with all the infinite grievances I hear and see around. At one point, I was even tempted to think of a real medicine that can cure my country’s illnesses. I love the Philippines but for now, I can only save myself. So will I still be blamed if I do not find ways to save the world?
Published: The Baguio Midland Courier. 13 January 2008
Thank you to Igor Ovsyannykov for the featured image.