TRUTHs WE CAN (or CAN'T) BELIEVE IN..

Why Jun Lozada has been embraced by the majority of the Filipinos despite his confessions of his share of corruptions, indiscretions in his married life, etc.? The truth is, Jun Lozada personifies what the majority of us have long been wanting but too afraid to articulate—CHANGE (for the better).. Lozada articulates NEW IDEAS in a country that has so gotten used of recycled and old routines and habits—“old” dirty politics and traditional politicians. We have gotten used of what is familiar and routinary, and continues to find comfort in a system that fails to bring out the best in us. We have gotten used of what little we have and what little our leaders are giving us in return after giving them the mandate to govern us when we know that we deserve more and only the best from them. The truth is, many Filipinos have imprisoned themselves into thinking that they cannot hold their leaders accountable because they are powerless and it is wrong to question those who are in authority and those who wield it. The truth is, it is the culture of silence and indifference that perpetuate the abuses of our public leaders. The truth is, it is your silence and indifference that make crook leaders thrive; leaders who have no qualms nor conscience in amassing so much at the expense of those who have so less or nothing at all. The truth is, Jun Lozada hit the majority of the Filipinos at their very core; that is why he is being embraced; he is marvelled anywhere he goes; AND that is what this government has been angry about; this government has been both shakened and threatened by the bravery of an ordinary probinsyanong instik. What made the ZTE-NBN controversy so distinct from the Hello Garci, Fertilizer scam, Jose Pidal, etc.? The truth is, there is NONE. All of them belong to the same category of corruption and deceit. And all of them cried for one thing--the TRUTH. And all of them were meted with the same fate and verdict—SUPPRESSION and DEMISE of the TRUTH. The truth is, the ZTE-NBN has shakened us at our core, because we have witnessed from the hello garci, fertilizer scam, jose pidal, etc. how this government has trampled over legal processes and the rule of law. We have given them their day in court and the benefit of due process, but we all have witnessed that there is more supreme than the rule of law. The truth is, our experience had taught us that neither the senate nor the courts are the best forum to ferret out the truth. And it is very clever for Malacañang and the pro-GMA supporters to argue that the proper resolution of the ZTE-NBN controversy rests exclusively with our courts of law. The truth is, our experience had taught us that reducing every issues and controversies hurled against this administration, as purely legal matter is a way of suppressing the many other faces of truth. The truth is, the ZTE-NBN scandal does not simply confine itself on the legality or illegality of a contract. Far more than this, what is at stake here is the power of ordinary citizens like us to hold our leaders fully accountable for decisions they have made in this country’s name. Have our elected leaders been transparent and faithful to their mandate & oath of office? Or have they, misused & abused the powers and prerogatives we entrusted to them? Such crucial questions are decided not by the institutions of our government nor within the exclusive domain of our courts nor in the consecrated walls of the church; definitely not by the priests, bishops nor by the judges--but by every citizen of this country--by YOU and ME. The truth is, we are all called upon to positive actions cos our quest for a better world has long been overdue. No more excuses, no more escapist attitude. Let us put an end NOW to the days of apathy and indifference. OUR CALL NOW, as Jun Lozada has impressed, SHOULD NOT BE DEFINED BY HATRED, RAGE NOR VENGEANCE FOR THESE ARE SHORT-LIVED EMOTIONS; BECAUSE IF THE PEOPLE WE HATED ARE ALREADY REMOVED FROM OFFICE, THEN, WE WILL BE COMPLACENT AGAIN. BUT IF OUR ADVOCACY IS FOUNDED ON LOVE FOR COUNTRY, WE WOULD ALWAYS ENDEAVOR TO DO GOOD NOT ONLY IN OUR PUBLIC LIVES & IN TIMES OF NATIONAL CRISIS, BUT ALSO IN THE PRIVATE SPHERE OF OUR EXISTENCE. OUR BATTLE NOW IS TO NOT ONLY DESPISE EVIL NOR OVERCOME IT, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ALREADY CONQUERED EVIL, WE WOULD BECOME COMPLACENT AGAIN, BUT IF WE HAVE ENDEAVOED TO BRING BACK GOODNESS TO OURSELVES, EVIL WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE A PLACE IN OUR HEARTS. AND THE ULTIMATE TRUTH IS, THE POWER TO MAKE A CHANGE IS NOT DICTATED BY THOSE WHO ARE IN POWER COS THE REAL POWER IS NOT THEM NOR IN THEM OR WITH THEM-- BUT it is US, WITH US and IN US.