I've Been Enslave of a Tyrant Called Me

It was my first day in Singapore. Since I’m new to the place, a place of multi culture and races, there were lots of food to choose. To make sure that I will like what I'll eat, I looked for familiar restaurants and in less than two minutes I found one. The popular fast-food chain with the initial letter “M”.

As I entered the facility, I immediately queued up in a line next to 5 or 6 persons. There were lots of people inside, so, I browsed on where to find a seat. When I was looking around, I did not notice someone already had inserted himself in front of me. Since it’s a usual scene for me, in the Philippines, I just let it pass. But I was surprised, when the lady that used to be front of me noticed that it wasn’t me anymore on her back, she confronted the guy to line up next to me since I was there first. The guy just followed and I thanked the lady for doing it for me.

This is not an unusual story for everyone, especially for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). We Filipinos bragged ourselves to be peace-loving people, and we tend to back out from a fight just to keep the peace and harmony. However, is it really the reason for not fighting and standing up for what is right? Or are we just afraid because we are just second or third-class citizens in their country. If that is the reason, I don’t blame anyone for that. For me, it’s a perfect excuse. We go abroad to work and earn money-- or visit for fun. Then, looking for trouble is not part of it.

What I don't understand is that we let this happen to us in our own country. It’s not just in queuing up instances, but in also in bigger situations like seeing people blatantly cheating, shoplifting, having favoritisms, and a lot more. Here is one example: I think all of us already know the situation when one is applying for a passport. People starts queuing in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as early as 3am just to make sure that they can get a number for the allocated seats per day. When the office opens at 7:30am, people would have to wait for their number to be called. If you're lucky to get the first number, you can go home as early as 10:30am the soonest. On your way out, someone comes in, so fresh and newly bathed, going directly to one of the department’s room. After chitchatting with the staff, he'd go straight to the cashier to pay for his passport application fee. I'm sure you're frustrated and disappointed upon realizing it, but you will let it pass.

So, what’s our alibi in this case? We are peace-loving? Nahh! It’s not an excuse in the first place. We’re afraid of trouble? Eennk! Not good enough. We have the same citizenship and rights with these people, what are we so afraid of? Or we just let this pass because we are afraid they won’t let us pass too when we’re caught in the same situation. I admit. In some instances, I am the guy who came in late yet, got what I want the soonest. It’s all about connections inside the office. I know, you are also using yours sometimes and you fear you can’t use it anymore in the future.

So, what can we say to ourselves now? I’ve been enslaved by a tyrant called me.

Isn’t it the main reason why our current government is doing bluntly their selfish acts on us? Isn’t it the reason why pirated CD’s are selling like hotcakes anywhere and sometimes even in front of the city hall? Isn’t it the reason why businesses can tell you directly how they evade taxes by giving you discount if you won’t ask for receipt?
Yes, it is. It is because no one can look to them in the eye and tell them, “I’ve never done anything to you, how come you’re doing this to me?”

But how long shall we let it pass? How long shall we treat a student, who told the teacher that someone’s cheating the exams, a traitor? How long shall we keep on paying the “trisikad” higher rate for them to take us where we want to, just because it too much of a hassle to complain with no result? How long shall we keep on evading our taxes just because we know our money don’t come back to us when we pay correctly to the government?

You may say, why bother? It’s happening everywhere. Situations likes these are not just happening in the Philippines. Yes, it’s true. Extortion, red-tapes, “under-the-table” policies, graft and corruption are also happening in other countries. However, I’ve been to some countries also that they were able to minimize it to the extent that you won’t even feel it’s existing. And the good news is: They also once had a situation like ours.

So, it is possible then. We can change it. We can let our children and our children’s children don’t suffer it any longer. Because if we still let it pass for more, no one can stop them anymore.

We must act now. We must save our future and our children’s future. We must not let the fight for independence that our heroes died for be gone to waste, because even if we are already an independent nation, we are still being enslaved by tyrants of our own. And what is worse, is that we allowed them to do it to us. We allowed them to treat us like a second-class citizen of our own country. We allowed them because the “them” that we are referring to, is the same as the “us”.

I don’t say that you go out there and bring your banner against the current government. I don’t think we need to do another EDSA Revolution. We already tried it two times and yet it did not give the results we need. We don’t need quick fixes. Replacing our leaders by force won’t help the situation. But helping them will do.

So how can we help? We can help them by doing our part in a vigilant society, a society that stands up for their rights and never compromises their freedom. A society that has a standard which is acceptable worldwide.

In other countries, if you see a person that is working on any of their government agencies, people look up to them. People know this person passed their government standards, so, you can trust this person. People also know that this person is earning good money because their government is taking good care of him.

How about in our country? How do we look at our government workers? Do you trust your local policemen? Do we look up at our politicians? Do we see our government agency workers as high earners? For me, if you work in the government, its either you just had given up their dreams of having a good life or you may have some crooked plans and ways on doing your job so that you can earn a lot. I’m sorry if I may have offended my friends in the government agencies but that is just how I feel for you.

And how about our government standards? Do you think it is acceptable worldwide? Have you tried calling our government agencies’ hotline numbers? If not yet, please try it and you will know how frustrating it is.

What if, from now onwards, you won’t let any acts of bad faith, big or small, pass you? What if you tell your friends not to let you see them cheating or else you will report to the authority? What if you will report to LTFRB the taxi that cheats you by not using the metered rate? What if you report to BIR all of your taxes and report all that you know that are still evading theirs? What if every time you are not satisfied with any government agency services, you let your voice be heard by filling up they’re survey form or if they don’t have, report it to any local media? What if you start buying original CD’s and DVD’s rather than the pirated ones and report them to the Police? What do you think would happen? Do you think you had helped?

Maybe you would think, why bother? Its only one small act and I am not creating an impact. If I’ll do it, I still cannot change the current situation anyway.

But what if I tell you this? There are millions of Filipinos who are reading this book right now. And all of you will be doing it. All of you will start to fight for what is right, right now. Does it give you courage? If it does, then do it.

If a Police station receives one report about a case, they may not act on it. But if they receive hundreds of calls about the same case, surely they will act on it. But a hundred still starts with one.
Are you ready to be the one? Are you ready to be the initiator of good will? Are you ready to be the spark that will ignite the flame? The flame of prosperity in our country.

I know it will be difficult. All beginnings are like that. However, we all need to sacrifice sometimes to have the results that we want. Our elder generation had let it pass before that is why we are suffering it right now. That is the reason we must fight right now so that our next generation won’t suffer it anymore. Don’t be afraid. Consider yourself a Patriot. We are not just doing this for ourselves and our families. We are doing this for our country and our people. And the more we do it; sooner or later everyone will think the same way as we do.

They say repetition is the mother of all skills. Practice makes it perfect. These phrases are still applicable in our situation. Start doing small things every day. It is okay to start small, as long as you do it and its everyday. Small things like asking proper receipts for any purchases. Small things like calling the attention of the person who threw their candy wrappers to the floor, to throw it in proper trash bins. Small things like sharing this book and its ideas to a friend. And any small things you may know.

Our small things can go a long way as long as many of us are doing it. And what is even better? When we keep on doing it, we will see ourselves as a different person. A different Filipino. A better Filipino.

And one day, you will be ready for the big things. And when that day comes, you can look at the tyrant’s eyes and confidently say: “I won’t let you pass this time!”

My Dream.

What if I tell you there is a way we can let our highly qualified OFW's working abroad, to come home and rebuild our nation, will you believe me? Is it possible?

Is it possible for a Filipino family to stay together in the Philippines without any financial worries? Is it possible for a Filipino to serve a fellow Filipino and yet still earn the same reasonable pay as what they receive in other countries?

You may say yes or you may say no. But I tell you this, it is POSSIBLE!

It may not now. It may not next year. It may not within the decade. But it is ACHIEVABLE! We can achieve it, but it depends on how soon we will act. How soon we can show our fellow citizens that we are ready. We are ready for the bright future ahead. WE ARE READY FOR THE CHANGE!

By changing how we see ourselves, we are making a big leap on completing our families by making our loved ones come home to our beloved nation. And we are answering the prayers of each of our OFW who had endured a lot of sorrows and pains of being so lonely abroad.

Every Filipino around the world loves to stay in the Philippines if our country can give them the opportunities other countries can provide. However, these opportunities are not just talking about the compensation that they earned but also the trust that the compensation will never stop because of the stability of their company and its government.

Good companies would only want to invest in a country with a good government that is run by good people which are demanded by the good citizens who are the good employees of the good companies. Meaning, attracting these opportunities into our country, which good companies are providing, is a cycle that starts and ends by being good citizens.

So, how can we consider ourselves as good citizens? Here are four characteristics I know:
1. A good citizen knows his rights and stands up for it.
2. A good citizen obeys the law and respects the rights of others.
3. A good citizen creates decisions for the good of many, not just for himself.
4. A good citizen demands justice to prevail.

If all Filipinos have these characteristics, I know in the near future we will be seeing permanently the faces of our loved ones in our country because these are the keys that will bring peace and harmony into our country and eventually bring prosperity.

And maybe it will also be the time for me to go home. Please let my dream come true.