Becoming Isko
My news feed has been recently filled with action photos and videos of the new Manila mayor. He goes by the monicker of Isko Moreno, a child star back in the ‘90s. He grew up to be a fine actor and then ventured into politics. Everybody thought he was just some popular guy who wanted to try his hand in this new field, given the fame he already had. Now that he has taken down the patriarchy of the Estradas in Manila, he proved us wrong.
It seems like there is a new step that he takes on every day, and everybody is waiting for his next move. Nobody was able to clean up the streets of Manila and implement that cleanliness, despite the complaints of businessmen.
I'm sure by now they have already regretted voting for Isko, but the ordinary Filipinos are proud that their vote didn’t go to waste. The new mayor proved to everybody that he cannot be persuaded be bribed or threatened. If he wants to get things done, he will get it done by any means.
There are now pleas for the man to run for president in three years. But I disagree that he can change the whole country. I hope we have all learned that no matter how good a local chief executive is, the national level is more difficult and complex. I'd say the key here is having the political will to implement change. He is only one of the few chief executives who know the law and its purpose that it has to be acted on rather than just being sat on.
It’s not in the position that change will be implemented. It’s about how keen is the person in authority who wants it to happen. Strings have to be pulled somewhere, but these will all be worth it when it is done. Like some senators who have been in office many terms but have never authored a single law, but those who have worked hard have passed many.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to hard work and determination. There is no better way to stress this out and also, no shortcuts for the different type of country that we want. First, the political will of those in authority; second, the discipline of the people.
Although there is no golden formula for a country’s progress, baby steps would take us there. I feel sorry that our country had to go through the hands of the corrupt and indecisive. It breaks my heart that a lot of leaders have betrayed us from the start. Anyway, it’s part of the process, and the country is just too young as a sovereign one.
Wait, is it really? Or are we talking heads of some other powerful country? Well, it’s up for a different discussion. The truth is we are in a state of confusion if we should stand up for our own identity and country because of the state that we are in. They say time heals all wounds, I hope this includes the scar from the patriotism we once had.
- Latest
