By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.” — Cesar Chavez

In the neighborhood, a house owner was deep in conversation with a veteran “kabitero”. The Kabitero was criticizing a newly installed stonewall that collapsed during the recent rain. According to him, those who built the stonewall did not do their job well and that they were just after their pay. He said that they did not establish the foundation properly, they just put the stones back one on top the other.

He said that there was no change in the integrity and structural strength of the stone wall. “Isu met lang nga isu” (its still just same the old thing) he called it.

The kabitero explained to the owner of the house that the stone wall should undergo a complete change. He said that he will dig deeper to stabilize the foundation to hold in place the whole base of the stone wall. He also said that to strengthen the stone wall, he will put concrete posts and cross beams. The owner understood what the kabitero advised so he agreed that the stone wall will not just be repaired but will undergo a complete overhaul.

The 2010 presidential elections, the Filipinos were fooled by the words “daang matuwid” (straight path or whatever). The yellow president said that he will eradicate corruption which he said is the cause of the Filipino’s suffering from poverty.

He and his yellow brigade claimed they shall implement changes in the government for the better.

What Aquino did, he simply changed the people in government positions whom he did not like. He even brought back officials of the past who had records of corruption and other indiscretions or were involved in intrigues and other scandals.

There were no reforms, there were restorations of the old and the system remained untouched.

Like, the house owner said to the kabitero that the people who installed the stone wall after its collapse blamed the destruction to the recent rains and the to the people who constructed the first stone wall.

But instead of doing the right thing so that the stone wall will not again collapse, they simply put the stones back one on top the other.

The yellow president seemed to have done the same, instead of seeking the basis of why the people are suffering to come up with the proper solutions, he just blamed the former dwarf in the palace.

The kabitero was right, change the foundation. Put strong braces and posts to make the wall stronger against coming typhoons and rains.

The house owner was perceptive enough to take the advise and cause fundamental changes while building the stone wall.

If the Filipinos do what the house owner did, to cause fundamental change, there is no harm in that. # nordis.net