Viewpoints
“Unfinished Revolution”
By +Oscar V. Cruz JCD
NO. This is not a call for any uprising, any concerted action of dissent or any rebellious stance against any government, past or present. No. This is neither an invitation for another demonstration of “People Power” after no less than the so called “Edsa 1” and “Edsa 2”. Yes. This is deliberately calling attention to the fact that long since after the eviction of the Martial Law regime, the markedly adverse socio-political environ in the country remains. Yes. This is simply though seriously pointing out the added fact that after this and that populist uprising, the pitiful socio-economic condition in the Philippines rests basically the same—if not worse.
Thus stands the phrase “Unfinished Revolution” formally and intentionally, mentioned in the CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on Philippines Politics”. This full–length treatise was written and published on 16 September 1997. The truth of the matter is that after no less than more than a decade, there are still factual indications that the Philippines in fact has but an “Unfinished Revolution”.
With neither any dubious intent nor questionable design, the phrase means one or more of the following: The uprisings that then took place were filled with much hope and expectations which however eventually proved to be irrelevant to the longings for progress and development of the country in favor of the people. The repeated demonstration of “People Power” was admittedly not only exhilarating but also promising yet they ultimately became sterile in making the Filipinos even less poor and miserable. The veritable though bloodless revolts then staged are worth remembering—but not definitely worth the promises they proclaimed, nor effective of the vision they forwarded.
Question: The “Unfinished Revolution”—but what is really unfinished? What is specifically undone? And more importantly, what now? Answer: Integral human development. That is: The advancement of right and upright Philippine politics. The coming of honorable and altruistic Filipino politicians. The societal progress of the Filipino electorate not merely in terms of material prosperity but also and primarily so, in the matter of electing truly worthy and trustworthy political candidates for public offices.
As years pass by, with the coming and going of one government after another, the Philippines has grown older but not better. The Filipinos have become more in number but less in food, shelter and clothing. Over and above these frustrating local factors, the Philippine electorate has not yet learned their lesson in choosing their so-called “Public Servants” who instead have become adept in self-service. Truly, this country has an “Unfinished Revolution”!
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