Now, this is wrong. Very wrong. I’m not a Gloria fan myself but hey, I won’t do such a thing. Not because I’m an elitist (how can I be an elitist when I don’t even belong to the “elite” myself?) but because it is indecent, downright dirty and stupid. I mean, come on people! How many times have we seen such display of rudeness? This is not helping anybody. In fact, it is adding problems to our already problematic country. If you want to do protests on the streets, then fine, do it anytime you want but do not destroy, and spray-paint public property! I understand you don’t like PGMA, I don’t like her either. But hasn’t it occured to these people’s minds that this is but a waste of time and energy? If you want change, start with yourself, damn it! You want to have an immaculate president yet you can’t even express simple discontent in a “clean” and acceptable way? Come on.

Grow up youth of the Philippines! If it is in your hands that this country’s future lies, can you at least make us look forward to it?

Is this how you want the world to see us? So, you think throwing paint on a president’s tarpaulin would make any difference? Lower inflation? Reduce crime rate? Propel us into “first-world-ness”? Ha!

If it is change you want, make a radical one — one that starts with you. You. Me. Us. You want change? Why not start cleaning your own backyards to eradicate dengue once and for all? Why not study damn too hard, find an honorable job, vote wisely, stop bribing public officials and start reporting anomalies as they happen, educate your children in patriotism..and many other things. There’s actually nothing new in what I’m saying here. I believe all of these have been said before. Nobody just cares to listen. I know why. That’s because it’s a lot easier to blame our country’s misfortunes to political leaders. After all, they’ve got the power, right? Wrong. Darn wrong. This is a democratic country. They are sitting there now because we elected them — we’ve always had the power. I’m not saying, “hey, let’s take that power! it’s ours anyway..let’s unseat this oligarch!”. Where were we when the election happened? Who did we vote for? Were we vigilant enough? Were we wise enough to vote for the deserving? Or were we easily swayed by SWS surveys and thought “hey, since my candidate is at the tail end of the survey, might as well vote for someone who has a better chance of winning, so my vote won’t go to waste..” What?! What mentality. What attitude — this is definitely the Philippines’ biggest problem!

*Sigh*. You know what, after all is said and done, the fact remains that this is our country. And what we do to it will hurt us. Maybe you’re unaffected now. But I’m sure you will be. It’s only a matter of time. So, please. Let’s behave, shall we?

As to the President’s SONA (State of the Nation Address) scheduled on Monday, July 28, I’d like to listen to what she has to say. It may displease me, sure. But I still want to know what’s happening and what her administration is doing to arrest all these issues that seem to be endless. Listening to the SONA is not so much about whether you like the president or not, it’s about whether you care for the country or not. And caring, mind you, starts from listening.