on worsening corruption: a call for change

On worsening corruption: a call for change

In the “Philippine daily inquirer, Nov. 20, 2008, A15,” a paid advertising was published. It called out for support for the five bishops' call for a “radical change.” Well, here's my version.

Yes! The time for Radical change is NOW. The time to rebuild this country's economy and fix the social and political flaws. But you could prepare for “ a new kind of governance” all you want but to change our leaders does not change who we are.

Yes! Corruption is bad for everything. True, corruption does worsen everything but the government is not the only ones responsible.

Yes! Corruption has become a moral and social cancer, but it is not a cancer that the leaders has spread. It is the kind that grew from the individuals as individuals. We know for a fact that we ourselves are corrupt and unjust in one way or another, but what have we done to be accountable? Did we turn ourselves in? Did we want to stand in trial? Were we jailed? I can not understand why we demand judgment for politicians but refuse to be judged ourselves. Is that equality in judgment? If we seek equality and justice, be ready to stand trial.

“The time for national transformation is NOW where all of us must do right as citizens...” As human beings. “Doing right by our conscience, the law, the people and country is a sacred duty...”

“A commitment to reform requires COURAGE” not only to speak out against other's wrongdoings but to admit OUR wrongdoings, stand accountable for all our actions and do something about it. “It starts with self.”

I call on all of humanity to demonstrate their being “human” and have the COURAGE to use the REST of your natural born lives to do what is right. To put ourselves before judgment and endure the sentence. To put humanity, love and peace above greed, power, politics and self.

“We can no longer afford to do nothing” In calling for a corruption free government, change, real change, must come from ourselves NOW!

Humanity, in desperation, can no longer bare our self annihilation.

Look not on the faults and crimes of others, if you wish to change the world, look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, “am I human?”

To scrutinize the deeds and misdeeds of others but consciously hide your every fault is not righteous, courageous nor is it justice. This kind of actions will not change the world nor uproot corruption. It will simply change the officials, their name, voice, height, face and fidelity (if any) to truth.

I call on all the self righteous(that includes me) judgmental and ignoramus to be, ourselves, accountable for our past crimes and injustice.

It's about time that humans adopt humanity.

_Orville "chubby" Basas

cry for the artist

(this next piece is written for and upon the request by Jaren Dalida
for what ever purpose it may serve her.)
“Cry for the artist.”
Today we live in a world of great progress. A world where the people converse with one another but not necessarily see each other. A world of business and entertainment right at the tips of your fingers. The cutting edge of technology has led us into an easy lifestyle. No more worries on word usage because of “spell check.” No more hassle calculating geometric shapes for architecture because of “auto-cad.” No more struggles on getting the right lighting for a photograph because there is always “photoshop.” I a word, indolence.
Do not misjudge, I have nothing against progress. Thanks to technology our output has become much stronger and our decisions much wiser. But what I speak of is the life of the future.
I know of a child who is only six years old. He knows his way around the computer. He knows the programs, the games, the application and such. I could even say he is a genius. But what about this child’s appreciation for beauty? His world revolves around computers and gadgets that he has not noticed the the beauty of the elephant carving hanging above his television set. He is so enthralled by the “reign of chaos” and “frozen throne” that he has not noticed the flavor of his dinner that his father cooked for him.
I remember a time when children picked up rocks because it strangely looked like faces. A time when a child stood in awe of a star apple hanging from the tree because its color was contrast to the sky’s. Those were the times when even the youngest of children appreciated beauty, love and arts. And These inspired them to be poetic, beautiful, artistic and loving themselves. That was the time of the artists. A time that, I fear, is growing old and slowly dying.
Is this the fate of our children? To drive around that rotunda on a daily basis and not notice that there is a fountain there? To live so fast in an even faster lane and not stop to read the powerful verses written on the pavement by a beggar on the streets?
This world is vastly overwhelmed by industrial and utilitarian arts that we slowly start to ignore beauty. My fear is not the lack of appreciation for beauty but the will to create some thing beautiful and the lack there of.
I am not trying to preach. But I believe we could teach these children. I believe that we could make them get of that computer, “PSP” and mobile phone. I believe that we could convince them to grab a pencil and pad, to write, to scribble, to sketch, to sculpt and to create something of beauty. That a new generation will rise and once again enthrone arts. And generations to come will still heed these thoughts. To create a wave of beauty and arts that will stand as a marker for every man, woman, and child that in them are beauty and poetry. Regardless of what you do for a living, you are artists. And with this, a hope that one day, in this industrial waste land, forever will resound the cry of the artists.

-Orville “chubby” Basas