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By Rome Jorge, Lifestyle
Editor
On July 28, President Gloria
Arroyo delivered a State of the Nation Address to Congress that was
an accurate assessment of a nation’s state as well as a feasible
plan for growth and prosperity. However, there is some confusion as
to what country she was referring to. The State of Gloria is a
country much like the Philippines, except that over there, all her
words absolutely ring true.
In her speech, she sees herself
sacrificing her own approval rating and braving to implement
unpopular yet correct measures that are beneficial in the long term.
She invokes the Divine and says, “For the guts not to flinch in
the face of tough choices, I thank God.” However, an even bigger
sacrifice would be for her husband, her children and her cronies to
divest themselves of business interests and shun public office in
the pursuit of holiness. After all, they and their audience in
Congress—be they administration or opposition—all do not
practice nepotism and cronyism. None among them hail from a
political dynasty.
“Panahon pa ng Kastila bumibili
na tayo ng bigas sa labas,” she reminds us. She justifies the lack
of food security and self-sufficiency by stating it has been the
norm since Spanish colonial times. Yes, those olden-day oppressors
really knew how to run and develop a prosperous country. Look at the
crisscross of railroads, industrial complexes and efficient
educational system they left us with. Their haciendas that
sacrificed rice production for more profitable export crops led to
social equity that has lasted to this day. Why break it if it
ain’t fixed?
Oh, and that Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program drafted, enacted and implemented by
landlords works like a charm. With such scam-free programs as the
P728-million fertilizer fund, it’s no wonder we’re exporting
rice all over the world today.
She also reminds us that the
regular battery of storms are to blame for poor rice production. For
sure, when the Philippines exported surplus rice from 1978 to 1981,
we were absolutely weather-calamity free.
Mrs. Arroyo also reminds us of
the global nature of the food and energy crises: “This is a
complex time that defies simple and easy solutions. For starters, it
is hard to identify villains, unlike in the 1997 financial crisis.
Everyone seems to be a victim, rich countries and poor, though
certainly some can take more punishment than others.” But our
neighboring countries sure are doing mighty fine compared to us.
She notes, “Even unfriendly
polls show self-rated poverty down to its 20-year low in 2007.”
But she needn’t cite statistics. You can feel and see the
prosperity all around you. It’s so obvious.
She Arroyo prominently quotes
Pope Benedict’s encyclical Deus Caritas Est. She also concedes to
the demand of the Catholic Church and says, “Informed choice
should mean letting more couples, who are mostly Catholics, know
about natural family planning.”
In Gloria country, there is no
separation of Church and State. People who are not democratically
elected are allowed to sway government policy.
But if Gloria is in another
country, then the Church is out of this world.
On Planet Church, land is
limitless and natural resources are infinite, so population growth
is never a problem. People there don’t create pollution and cost
nothing to feed.
After all, more people mean more
offerings and donations as well as more churchgoers and clergymen. A
population growth rate that outpaces economic growth ensures more
poor people. And it’s the poor that give the most.
There’s a reason why in
advanced, prosperous and democratic countries people hardly go to
church. They know something we don’t. More Filipinos forced to
work overseas because of local economic conditions also mean more
churchgoers the world over.
On Planet Church, people only
have sex when they need to procreate—like animals that only rut
during mating season. Making love out of tenderness, passion or
pleasure is unheard off. This most basic act, responsible for our
existence, is still a source of shame and guilt. Abstinence and
rhythm method are practical and foolproof. And on their planet,
priests are truly celibate and no sacristans are molested.
In their world, consenting adults
don’t mind supposedly celibate people meddling in their sex lives.
And parents are okay with people who supposedly took a vow poverty
charging exorbitant tuition fees for education.
Any other institution that
forbids women from holding the same offices as men or discourages
the children of single mothers from entering its schools would be
charged with sexual discrimination. But on Planet Church, time
stands still and the same norms that applied during Spanish
Inquisition—when the Philippines was Christianized—still
applies.
Any other institution with a
massive network of properties and assets would be taxed properly,
especially in these difficult times. And any other institution that
collected money from its members weekly would be held
accountable—literally—with public audits. But that’s too far
out for these guys.
The lands of dreams and the
territories of fantasy, the State of Gloria and Planet Church are
much better places than the Philippines. With things so wonderful,
there’s no need to change the way thing have been for ages. Thank
goodness for traditional politicians, haciendas and the Church. They
all put us in our place.
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