This article has been written by Elle, co-founder of I-Rise.
“I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos…” – Manuel Quezon
Look, Quezon got his wish. We have a government run like hell! And the end of hell is nowhere in sight.
The Philippines has been facing different kinds of hell for as long as I can remember. But I personally have not yet felt this level of pain and fear for the country.
Duterte administration has been very explicit with its ‘War on drugs.’ Although drugs may be one of the problematic areas in the country, I strongly feel that this war has gone too far.
A death of a 17-year-old boy, Kian Delos Santos have recently spark outrage among Filipinos. 2 shots in the ear, 1 at the back killed Kian. “First at the inside of the ear and second at the back of the left ear. Third entry at the back of the body of Kian,” said PAO chief Acosta. Although Kian could not cry anymore for help, his wounds speak for itself. There were reports that said Kian was shot while lying down. The killing was intentional.
But this is only one half of the reason of my despair for the country. What gives me more pain is the reaction and comments of some of the Filipinos after a news came out that Kian might be a drug runner—comments which are borderline heartless.
Let’s say the news was true. If Kian was really a drug runner, was it really necessary to kill him? The same question goes for the thousands of Filipinos who were killed in this ‘so-called war.’ Thousands have died. Now what? Does it solve anything?
With that question in mind, I would like to quote a statement from Einstein:
“We cannot solve problems using the very same consciousness that created the problems.”
The government’s ‘solution’ to drugs is creating a larger problem. And the consciousness of some of the Filipinos tolerating and supporting it is a huge part of that problem.
If people continue with this state of consciousness, can we really solve the problem of this country?
Despite this, I choose to be hopeful. I have seen a growing number of people who are expressing their revulsion on the injustice of the system. People are switching on to compassion. Many are changing their consciousness.
A rally dubbed “Himagsikan para kay Kian” was held yesterday (21 August 2017) at People Power Monument demanding justice for Kian and the merciless killing of all the innocent victims in the land. This is not the first time a rally was held to stop this EJK. More and more people are becoming awake. And this time might be a spark to rise and change our consciousness with the issue.
We can change structures, including systems of governance. But first, as cliché as it may sound it to be, change starts with the self. As long as we have the same consciousness as the government which breeds corruption, nepotism, and egotism; we will carry the same old dysfunctional and hellish country as before.
I am with Neville Goddard when he said:
“The biggest illusion of humans is to look to external reasons for life’s ups and downs. Man’s chief delusion is his conviction that there are causes other than his own state of consciousness.”
And it can be done. We can change. Inner change begins when we care about what is happening in the world. When we have the drive to make a change, a new self can emerge; and if we can have a collective goal to make it happen, we can have a new society.
In the end, it is not really the governance that I am concerned about. Ultimately, I am more concerned with the consciousness of the people behind and supporting these structures. So, are we going to continue letting ourselves bring hell to our lives and to the country?
