Here’s hoping our next Prezzo won’t be a defeatist

It has been written time and time again, but for all the bravado, threats and machismo attitude, our political climate sure reeks of defeatism.

Case in point, President Duterte and his stance on the World Bank’s lowly ranking of the quality of education in the Philippines. True to form, the Prezzo was upfront, reasoning that the dismal finding was due to the country being poor.

‘We are poor. We are a third world country, classified as one. Our problem will always be the constraint of money’, admits Duterte. The Prezzo wishes his successor the best of luck, hoping that they will be more competent and productive than he ever was.

Now, being frank is a commendable trait. We certainly hate bullshitters. For all of his many, many faults, Duterte at least doesn’t sugarcoat details. He’s real, as many of his supporters would echo, because he isn’t afraid to admit that he’s inutil as he once did.

But acknowledging our shortcomings is only useful if these are followed by attempts to improve. If we’re not happy with our weight, do we mope? Or do we go on a healthy diet and exercise?

‘Mahirap lang tayo’. Alright, so what are we going to do about it? Will the budget be realigned to beef up the education system? Or do we simply say ‘f*ck it’ and let the next person deal with the problem?

‘Maliit lang tayo’. Yes, we know. But are we just going to keel over when we’re bullied? Or do we take courses of action despite our size, as proven by those who came before?

‘Ganyan na dati pa!’ ‘Hindi lang siya ang ganyan’ ‘Bahala na si Lord’. I could already hear the responses of an angry mob fueled by Duterte’s authenticity. But this misguided sense of realism speaks to the Filipinos’ worst instincts, where just chalk things to faith and accept things the way they are.

Never aspiring for something greater, never realizing that we, who pay taxes and who placed these people in power, are owed to be served, not the other way around.

With the presidential elections coming up, it is inevitable that we’ll hear the sweetest of words from the candidates. Most will prop themselves as men of action. Others will appeal to the sensitivities of the heart.

But in the midst of the pandering, here’s hoping we remember what we have learned in the past six years. Good leaders are not made of softboi tendencies and outlandish promises, but rather, of concrete, clear, and decisive actions.

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Source: we the pvblic