November 23, 2009, Monday, proved to be a day darker than the year 2012 in the movie.
http://www.newsday.com/news/world/death-toll-at-57-in-philippine-massacre-1.1621662?qr=1
It is inexplicably darker because of the 64 persons massacred in Maguindanao. The despicable act of human carnage happened as the convoy of Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu’s wife and two sisters were heading to the Provincial Capitol to file his certificate of candidacy for governor. Along with the convoy were supporters and journalists. Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. is the alleged mastermind. His father Andal Ampatuan Sr. is currently the governor of Maguindanao province and is planning to run again despite term limits. He has won all three terms unopposed. The Ampatuans are close allies of the Arroyo administration, with their region contributing to her win in the 2006 elections. Before her death, Mangudadatu’s wife was still able to call him and attested that it was Ampatuan’s men who have blocked their way.
Much is to be said about this atrocity. We can question the culture of impunity in our country, the tradition of the“utang na loob” the people’s lack of values and faith in the Almighty; but five days later, we still have no answers. Life in areas apart from the site of the massacre has continued with people seemingly nonchalant about the monsters of people that are living among us and playing God over people’s lives. We have become overly desensitized to terror and crimes that we cannot identify anymore when enough is enough. It’s the hopelessness at the back of everyone’s minds that’s eating our souls and spoiling our feelings. The perpetrators of the crime are despicable, but how about us? Do we care enough to effect change? Do we care enough to seek individually a way to make this country better? Is it not despicable that we care when the news comes out and then forget about it the next day?
After we identify with the problem, we look not for solutions but for the easy way out. We see ways to get out of the problem but not ways to address its very root to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. This massacre should open our eyes to the vicious cycle of passivity and irresponsibility especially with regard to the votes we cast during elections. We have all become part of the cycle and this has lead to the mass murder of those who were courageous enough to go against the tide. We are all in danger, directly or indirectly. We are in danger of handing over this country to the blood-stained hands of criminals; thereby becoming accessories to the crime we detest.
http://www.newsday.com/news/world/death-toll-at-57-in-philippine-massacre-1.1621662?qr=1
The only way to rise above the danger is to be strong enough to take responsibility for our actions. The elections is not the end all and be all of good citizenship. The fate of our country lies in our diligence to safeguard the welfare of its people from corrupt practices and a dysfunctional system. It starts from us refusing to tolerate the malpractices we see are happening in our daily interactions with institutions like the government. It starts with us building our awareness about societal issues and actually wanting to do something about it. We are to work on believing that we still can make a difference, that we will not be swallowed by a corrupt system and that ultimately by changing for the better, we can turn things around.
