The Corrupts

Yenna Julia B.
Baranda BSED 3A Major in English
Good day! Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, I'd like to speak about a vital subject that affects all of us: the state of our
government and the need for accountability and change. To help guide our
conversation, I'll start by reflecting on our history, particularly the Martial Law era.
The discussion will then shift to current challenges, such as the lack of
transparency in government expenditures and growing inflation rates.
"Does our government truly represent us?" We must confront the realities of our
government and ask ourselves,Do they truly serve the Filipinos, or are they self-
serving "buwayas" who pocket our country's money? Incompetent and corrupt
leaders are not new in the Philippines; decades have passed, and we can still
escape this situation in the hands of politics.
However. We can’t blame the people who voted for them, because we all just
want a good and transparent government. These issues are rampant in other
countries, not just the Philippines. Should we always be like this? I always think
that our generation deserves better; we are always called “pag-asa ng bayan,”
but even young people today don’t even care who will be the leader of our
country.
This is not the first time that the Philippines has had land in the hands of
incompetent leaders. But every time there’s hope, we always fail to take that
opportunity. That’s because we are easily fooled and manipulated by their
promises, a common trait of most Filipinos. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to
discuss a topic that is now very relevant to our country and why I am not pleased
with those who are in positions of government. Let us begin by looking back at a
pivotal moment in our country's history.
Our country endured a horrible time known as martial law decades ago.
Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines authoritatively from 1972 until 1981. Our
people's rights and liberties were severely restricted throughout this period.
75,370 people filed claims as victims of human rights violations; 70,000 people
were detained; 34,000 people were tortured; paying a heavy price for goods;
plundering of national wealth; and P395.51 billion in national government debt at
the end of martial law in 1986. The legacy of corruption and incompetence in
government throughout that time period continues to have an impact on us today.
It harmed our leaders' credibility and left wounds in our political environment, and
the People Power Revolution: It was the Filipino people's combined determination
and courage that eventually brought martial law to an end.
As we look back on our history, we must ask ourselves, "Have we truly learned
from our mistakes in the past?" Let us now turn our attention to the important
concerns we face today.
On September 4, 2023, a budget hearing was held about the 2.5 billion and 500
million in confidential and intelligence funds that our president and vice president
were seeking. According to a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, both sides
were unable to explain where they were going to use this large amount of money.
Why can't the president and vice president say where they are going to use this?
Why? The public deserves to know, since it is our money. Are they really using
the money in the right way? Or they are using this for personal interest. Do you
think it is right for them to use this money without informing the public where it will
be used? If they want people to trust them, they should be transparent.
If that’s not enough reason to stop voting for incompetent leaders, then let's talk
about the inflation rate. According to the Philippine Statistics of the Philippines
(PSA), the Philippines' headline inflation rate jumped to 5.3 percent in August
2023, up from 4.7 percent in July 2023.
While the government claims prices have fallen, the reality is that prices remain
high, and no effective measures have been taken to combat inflation. Some
people are okay with this since they are privileged and not affected by it; they can
easily afford goods without questioning the price. But what does this mean for
everyday Filipinos? Consider a minimum-wage worker who is struggling to make
ends meet. With costs rising at such a rapid pace, their small income is no longer
stretching as far as it once did.
This is just a few problems that our country is currently facing, but whatever the
problem is, the future of the Philippines depends on our overall commitment to
protect it from corrupt officials who are wasting our taxes. We should voice our
concerns, criticize wrongdoing, and question them. We fight fairly even when life
is miserable; we keep working until we are tired, but those who sit in government
just use our money without our knowledge. Now, do you still think you voted for
the right candidate?
I don't even want to be arrogant and say, "I told you so," because this
circumstance impacts me just as much as it does you. But if you just listened and
let people educate you, then maybe, just maybe, we can improve our government
by voting for a good candidate. However, one thing is for sure: they ran for
themselves, not for Filipinos, but some people choose to overlook the obvious
truths. We wish you were right, and we wish we were wrong, because the truth is,
we are right.
Finally, we've traveled through our past, evaluated today's challenges, and
questioned our leaders' actions. We've seen how our country's mistakes in the
past continue to cast shadows on our present, but we've also seen our people's
persistence in making change.
We've talked about the critical importance of accountability and openness in our
government, the pressing issue of inflation, which affects the lives of ordinary
Filipinos, and the power we have as a generation hoping for a better future.
I urge each of you to make concrete efforts to effect this change through voting
responsibly, staying educated, encouraging others, holding leaders accountable,
and not being afraid to question our leaders. Transparency in government
spending and decision-making processes should be demanded. and never lose
hope.
But it does not stop there. We must keep in mind that transformation necessitates
more than simply words; it necessitates action. As we leave this room today, let
us join hands, take action, to build a nation that we can be proud of. Let us be
the generation that demands change, that holds our leaders accountable, and
that paves the road for a better future for the new generation.

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Yenna Julia B.

Baranda BSED 3A Major in English

Good day! Ladies and gentlemen,

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