Third world woes

NO water, no lights, no internet. Welcome to Cagayan de Oro.

Those three didn’t happen at the same time, though, and not in the same CDO barangays. But woe to the Cagayanon who experienced all three at the same time.

In this age of politically correct terms, a Third World country is now known as a developing country.

Developing sounds optimistic, makes the developing-country citizen believe that his country is indeed developing and is on its way to becoming a developed country. If there’s total acceptance that Pinas will remain a Third World country, the only way out is to get outta here and immigrate to a First World country, or at least a Second World country.

Still, better developing than underdeveloped, whose development is way down there, and only its graft and corruption is so way up there.

Graft and corruption is supposed to be happening also in First World countries. But at least they can afford the loss. It’s worse in Third World, er, developing countries where checks and balances are difficult to implement among family members, relatives, and friends who are occupying government thrones. Say, how can Junior, the incumbent president, audit Senior, the past president? Let bygones be bygones would be the younger one’s favorite line in dealing with the older guy’s alleged sins.

But all presidents allegedly have their own share of sins. If it’s their respective family members, relatives, friends, and teams doing the grafting and corrupting, there’s still this thing called command responsibility. Even Tita Cory, whose persona was that of a saint, had her share of grafting and corrupting allegations care of some family members. So, no one has been spared.

The grafting and corrupting allegations in Pinas have been around since forever. Only a miracle can banish them to Siberia. Don’t dare suggest another peaceful revolution a la the 1986 People Power which didn’t exactly banish the suspected culprits to Siberia, but to Hawaii.

Pinas has been there, done that with all sorts of People Power. It’s time to grin and bear it, whatever it is. It’s time for the Pinoy to do his part instead of complaining about the government and government services. How about offering to fix CDO’s water system for free? You know, be the next Pinoy hero. After all, governance is not a spectator sport.

But being a hero can be too much effort. Two words: Jose Rizal. So, if fixing the water system is worse than another firing squad at Luneta, how about cleaning CDO’s streets? Or at least throwing garbage into trash bins instead of throwing them around like frisbees. Help keep CDO clean. Don’t wait for the city government to get their act together.

With emphasis on the word “act”? Like, acting na acting. Oops.

Acting as if they’re working together. Oops.

Acting as if there’s peace and unity. Oops.

With politicians and political wannabes now prepping for the 2025 elections, the more political rivals and potential political rivals will create intrigues out of nothing to attract the attention of…no one. Haha.

Woe to those who are still starting to make a name in Pinas politics. They will need loads of public relations and money to make themselves relevant otherwise the madlang pehpohl will ask, The who?