By: Gilbert M. Forbes
DepEd QUEZON, CALABARZON
Through the years, corruption has been one single factor why our country has stagnated. But many don’t know that corruption has its roots other than politics and government. but understanding its beginning would somehow serve as basis for preventive measures in the future through massive advocacies intended to battle it including its negative effects. Here are some of them.
The Family
Unconsciously, corruption starts at home. Whenever parents or guardians give or promise a return in every services child does, it creates a bad signal. Every time we tolerate them in not returning changes or bribe them in doing errands, slowly, corruption is tolerated. The same thing when parents promised a reward if the child will do something the right way, if he wins in a sports or academic competitions, or if become the top or first in class.
As a person moves out of the comforts of home, all the values he processed and learned from it, he carries with him. So, strong moral foundation at home supplanted by strong character education in schools and churches is significant so that actual events happening in the community may not weaken individual’s desire to be righteous. But as family values deteriorate corruption is evolving. This is very evident in the overwhelming importance we tend to give to families over the interest of the many. Selfish desires are coated by the way we value one's family.
The School
Teachers and non-teaching personnel in school may not be aware but they too contribute to the destructive culture of corruption. Many times, the habit formed at home or the parenting attitudes as parents themselves are brought and practice at school. Other behavioral patterns both conscious and unconscious may also be a contributing factor like always coming late to class and going home or dismissing classes early, utilizing instructional time un-productively, tit-for-a-tat during class hours, and others that primary pupils could be unaware of but intermediate pupils, secondary students, their siblings and guardians are aware of already.
Aside from this is the negative onslaught and extreme of hospitality school teaching and non-teaching personnel usually do during visitation of higher officials which tend to be extravagant. These officials are bequeathed with tokens too as part of seem to be an established culture in every towns and communities. Failing to practice it is considered shameful even when there is very limited financial resource and there is other more immediate and pressing need.
The Peoples Attitude Towards Establish Values and Popular Culture
Through the years, the common people have established a popular culture, even values and traditions which have become a fertile ground for corruption. These include our version of pakikisama or friendliness which is not open to rejection even in the midst of unrighteousness. Utang na loob or gratitude to favors received, fixing, giving of grease money, political patronage, apathy, and materialism and consumerism.
Because many lack patience and diligence, many patronize fixers and bribery just to fast track transaction in government or get fast approval and release of important documents like licenses, contract, projects to the detriment of the public.Bribery is very rampant among traffic violators, gambling lords, tax payers, illegal business owners, etc.
Political patronage on the other hand has become the way of life to the masses that are unaware to their misfortune from these misfits leaders whose best interest are for themselves and their families. Whoever could satisfy their basic and simplest needs, these voters consider their hero.
First world materialism and consumerism in a developing or developing country like ours have exacerbated the situation. If before, the main reason is survival why some get involve in evil things, now material wants have become the reason why many have become corrupt. Almost everybody now needs a cell phone and of course money to load it and be able to text. It is just crazy to think that ours is the texting capital of the world overtaking more progressive and economically affluent countries than ours.
The Filipino values being “successful”, i.e. having a lot of money and also prestige, as very important. This was explained by Jerome Nadal in his article entitled The Reasons Why Corruption Persists in RP.. For example, every Filipino that leaves his place of birth is expected to come home successful and moneyed. Thus, even if their existence abroad is hand-to-mouth, Filipinos, when they go home, pretend and act as if they are successful and have lots of money. The pursuit of success, money and prestige is a goal that is expected of everyone. Despite the social pressure to be “successful”, the vast majority of the Filipinos realize soon enough that the “opportunities” that will make the goal of success possible is narrow or that he or she has little access to it, whether it be by reason of status, education, training, beliefs or simply geographical location. Given the pressure to be successful and moneyed in the face of severely limited opportunities, the Filipino rejects the “rules of the game” and attempts to achieve his goals of becoming successful and moneyed through illicit or corrupt means. The social expectation to be successful and moneyed pushes the Filipino to corruption.
The second has to do with the overwhelming importance we give to the “family”. Corruption is an expression of particularism – “the felt obligation to help, to give resources to persons whom one has a personal obligation, to the family above all but also to friends and membership groups” (remember the fraternities?) This overwhelming importance given to the family creates a society that is “deficient in communitarian values.” There is little loyalty to the larger community or acceptance of behavioral norms that require the support of others. "This is the soil of corruption as group or family interests are upheld over and above universalism and meriT," he concluded.
Political Survival
Many has also exploited election season to milk politicians even the new ones. For a typical and ordinary income earner even middle class and average businessmen, to get involve in politics, so as to serve their country men better is an economic suicide. Again indeed, it is a great loss to the public for them to have a better alternative and opportunity to have a better public leader and government for who will be in their minds will stumble to gamble their livelihood in this kind of battle even in a fifty-fifty chances. For the politicians who want to stay in power, even the good ones have to embrace some sort of corruption to save enough funds to be given away once election campaign starts. There is a belief among the common folks that has become popular which state that "mangungurakot din naman ang mga iyan kaya samantalahin na natin ang panghihingi." During election campaign season, it is no longer surprising that lots people, even organization are soliciting. From Basketball uniforms to even parties here and there. Wines are flooding. now, who is to blame for a corrupt government and society like ours?
Corruption involving the AFP is not limited to them alone. It is but common in all agencies of government where pabaon to retiring officials is but a common practice. The only difference is the amount and the sources of pabaon.
Until when our people will learn their lesson is also worth dying for. Indeed, a contradiction for a society whose majority called themselves Christians and the minority Muslims who all believe and profess the existence of God.
DepEd QUEZON, CALABARZON
Through the years, corruption has been one single factor why our country has stagnated. But many don’t know that corruption has its roots other than politics and government. but understanding its beginning would somehow serve as basis for preventive measures in the future through massive advocacies intended to battle it including its negative effects. Here are some of them.
The Family
Unconsciously, corruption starts at home. Whenever parents or guardians give or promise a return in every services child does, it creates a bad signal. Every time we tolerate them in not returning changes or bribe them in doing errands, slowly, corruption is tolerated. The same thing when parents promised a reward if the child will do something the right way, if he wins in a sports or academic competitions, or if become the top or first in class.
As a person moves out of the comforts of home, all the values he processed and learned from it, he carries with him. So, strong moral foundation at home supplanted by strong character education in schools and churches is significant so that actual events happening in the community may not weaken individual’s desire to be righteous. But as family values deteriorate corruption is evolving. This is very evident in the overwhelming importance we tend to give to families over the interest of the many. Selfish desires are coated by the way we value one's family.
The School
Teachers and non-teaching personnel in school may not be aware but they too contribute to the destructive culture of corruption. Many times, the habit formed at home or the parenting attitudes as parents themselves are brought and practice at school. Other behavioral patterns both conscious and unconscious may also be a contributing factor like always coming late to class and going home or dismissing classes early, utilizing instructional time un-productively, tit-for-a-tat during class hours, and others that primary pupils could be unaware of but intermediate pupils, secondary students, their siblings and guardians are aware of already.
Aside from this is the negative onslaught and extreme of hospitality school teaching and non-teaching personnel usually do during visitation of higher officials which tend to be extravagant. These officials are bequeathed with tokens too as part of seem to be an established culture in every towns and communities. Failing to practice it is considered shameful even when there is very limited financial resource and there is other more immediate and pressing need.
The Peoples Attitude Towards Establish Values and Popular Culture
Through the years, the common people have established a popular culture, even values and traditions which have become a fertile ground for corruption. These include our version of pakikisama or friendliness which is not open to rejection even in the midst of unrighteousness. Utang na loob or gratitude to favors received, fixing, giving of grease money, political patronage, apathy, and materialism and consumerism.
Because many lack patience and diligence, many patronize fixers and bribery just to fast track transaction in government or get fast approval and release of important documents like licenses, contract, projects to the detriment of the public.Bribery is very rampant among traffic violators, gambling lords, tax payers, illegal business owners, etc.
Political patronage on the other hand has become the way of life to the masses that are unaware to their misfortune from these misfits leaders whose best interest are for themselves and their families. Whoever could satisfy their basic and simplest needs, these voters consider their hero.
First world materialism and consumerism in a developing or developing country like ours have exacerbated the situation. If before, the main reason is survival why some get involve in evil things, now material wants have become the reason why many have become corrupt. Almost everybody now needs a cell phone and of course money to load it and be able to text. It is just crazy to think that ours is the texting capital of the world overtaking more progressive and economically affluent countries than ours.
The Filipino values being “successful”, i.e. having a lot of money and also prestige, as very important. This was explained by Jerome Nadal in his article entitled The Reasons Why Corruption Persists in RP.. For example, every Filipino that leaves his place of birth is expected to come home successful and moneyed. Thus, even if their existence abroad is hand-to-mouth, Filipinos, when they go home, pretend and act as if they are successful and have lots of money. The pursuit of success, money and prestige is a goal that is expected of everyone. Despite the social pressure to be “successful”, the vast majority of the Filipinos realize soon enough that the “opportunities” that will make the goal of success possible is narrow or that he or she has little access to it, whether it be by reason of status, education, training, beliefs or simply geographical location. Given the pressure to be successful and moneyed in the face of severely limited opportunities, the Filipino rejects the “rules of the game” and attempts to achieve his goals of becoming successful and moneyed through illicit or corrupt means. The social expectation to be successful and moneyed pushes the Filipino to corruption.
The second has to do with the overwhelming importance we give to the “family”. Corruption is an expression of particularism – “the felt obligation to help, to give resources to persons whom one has a personal obligation, to the family above all but also to friends and membership groups” (remember the fraternities?) This overwhelming importance given to the family creates a society that is “deficient in communitarian values.” There is little loyalty to the larger community or acceptance of behavioral norms that require the support of others. "This is the soil of corruption as group or family interests are upheld over and above universalism and meriT," he concluded.
Political Survival
Many has also exploited election season to milk politicians even the new ones. For a typical and ordinary income earner even middle class and average businessmen, to get involve in politics, so as to serve their country men better is an economic suicide. Again indeed, it is a great loss to the public for them to have a better alternative and opportunity to have a better public leader and government for who will be in their minds will stumble to gamble their livelihood in this kind of battle even in a fifty-fifty chances. For the politicians who want to stay in power, even the good ones have to embrace some sort of corruption to save enough funds to be given away once election campaign starts. There is a belief among the common folks that has become popular which state that "mangungurakot din naman ang mga iyan kaya samantalahin na natin ang panghihingi." During election campaign season, it is no longer surprising that lots people, even organization are soliciting. From Basketball uniforms to even parties here and there. Wines are flooding. now, who is to blame for a corrupt government and society like ours?
Corruption involving the AFP is not limited to them alone. It is but common in all agencies of government where pabaon to retiring officials is but a common practice. The only difference is the amount and the sources of pabaon.
Until when our people will learn their lesson is also worth dying for. Indeed, a contradiction for a society whose majority called themselves Christians and the minority Muslims who all believe and profess the existence of God.
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