PhilHealth shouldn’t be about its group, infrastructure, institutional experience, and even its funds. It embodies a dream—a fabric lifeline for survival. This dream is probably not shared by all Filipinos, however it represents the hopes of many within the center class, the bizarre, and the poor. PhilHealth represents a important dream for the survival of many Filipinos, but it’s underneath menace by these in energy who’ve by no means wanted it.
Sadly, within the Philippines, there exists a privileged minority who can afford healthcare without having PhilHealth. For them, what’s PhilHealth after they can fly to Singapore, Europe, or the US to obtain top-tier medical remedy? This disparity is unlucky as a result of, except they present real concern for the Filipinos who can not entry such privileges, they solely exacerbate the struggles of the bulk.
It’s much more troubling that the important thing decision-makers within the Home of Representatives, the Senate, and Malacañang Palace are a part of this privileged minority. They don’t depend upon PhilHealth funds or assets to entry the perfect medical care. This creates an anomaly: selections about PhilHealth’s destiny are made by those that haven’t any stake in it. This isn’t consultant democracy—it’s autocracy or oligarchy.
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For many years, since gaining independence from direct international rule in 1946, the perennial problem of Philippine governance has been how you can serve the pursuits of the bulk. These majority pursuits are synonymous with nationwide pursuits. In distinction, the pursuits of the rich minority fall into the class of particular or vested pursuits.
Particular or vested pursuits, in themselves, usually are not inherently improper; they’re regular for many who maintain them. Nevertheless, when these pursuits override or subvert nationwide pursuits, they grow to be felony and even treasonous. Right this moment, we face a harmful actuality: these with particular or vested pursuits now maintain the ability to determine over issues of nationwide significance, comparable to PhilHealth.
In our pursuit of nationwide pursuits, our fledgling democracy has all the time needed to be vigilant, exerting each consciousness and political will to guard these pursuits from being undermined by the privileged few. Nationwide pursuits ought to all the time take priority, as they symbolize the overwhelming majority. But, the focus of energy and authority within the fingers of a minority with particular pursuits disrupts the perfect stability wanted for a simply and useful society.
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The battle for actually consultant governance has all the time been measured by the degrees of corruption and poverty within the nation. Over the previous 70 years, successive administrations have tried—whether or not by means of lip service or honest effort—to deal with these twin challenges. Every Filipino should critically assess how nicely every administration has carried out in decreasing corruption and poverty and vote for leaders accordingly.
Trying again at our nation’s journey since independence, the general efficiency has been disappointing. Why? Basically, the measure of independence lies in how free and empowered every Filipino feels right now. Judging by the rising reliance on ayuda (authorities help) and the stagnation of human growth, it’s clear that our progress has been dismal. The cumulative efficiency of our leaders within the so-called independence sport has been nothing in need of shameful.
I ponder if our political and enterprise leaders are conscious that we’re deep within the Christmas season, with Christmas Day simply across the nook. These weeks are purported to be the happiest and most hopeful time of the yr. If there may be already noticeable dissent and resentment within the air, it means that the underlying state of affairs is way worse than it seems. By the second half of January, when the positivity of Christmas fades, we could face an much more troubling actuality.
The Filipino individuals are now not overly bold. They nonetheless dream, however many know their goals are unlikely to come back true—or will solely come true in the event that they go away the Philippines. Nevertheless, there are minimal aspirations that Filipinos cling to, irrespective of how troublesome life turns into: meals and well being safety. To frustrate these fundamental wants is to play with hearth.
Meals and well being usually are not simply aspirations; they’re survival elements—primal and pressing. There’s yet another hope that retains many Filipinos going: the assumption that training can free their youngsters from the hardships they’ve endured. This hope, although fragile, is anchored within the aspiration that the following era may need a greater life.
The nationwide funds should prioritize these three important considerations: meals, well being, and training. When Filipinos see their leaders specializing in these elementary wants, they’re usually extra affected person and forgiving. However to use or pollute these priorities is to threat triggering indignation and unrest, like a spark igniting a dormant social and political volcano. I pray that the nation’s leaders stay delicate to those points and keep away from severe missteps in these areas.
There have been moments in our historical past when quiet disappointment and resentment boiled over, reaching a degree of no return. It appears now we have not discovered these classes nicely, as nervousness is as soon as once more constructing. This unease is being stoked by the political fracas between the Marcos and Duterte factions. The powder keg is dry, so to talk. The price of residing has grow to be insufferable for a lot of, and belief in sincere governance is eroding quickly.
It’s clear to me that we, the folks, are our solely saviors. Let this Christmas carry households nearer collectively and notice that the instances forward are troublesome. We should confront the storm collectively, assist each other, enhance what we are able to do for the great of our households and group to strengthen our meals and well being safety. Let Christmas awaken in us not solely the enjoyment of the season, however particularly kindness and the sense of group.