So, let’s talk about corruption. It’s like this massive, looming buwaya in the room that no one wants to acknowledge but everyone knows it’s there. And you know what? It’s about time we shine a light on it.
I mean, I’ve seen it myself, growing up in the Philippines. It’s like this insidious disease that infects every level of society, from the top government officials down to the local barangay captain. You can’t escape it. It’s there, staring at you with its menacing grin, ready to snap at any moment.
It’s frustrating, you know? Because you see these people, these officials who are supposed to serve the public, lining their pockets with taxpayer money instead. They build these lavish mansions while the people they’re supposed to represent struggle to put food on the table. It’s infuriating.
And what’s worse is that it’s become so ingrained in our culture. It’s almost like we’ve accepted it as the norm. We joke about it, we make memes about it, but deep down, we know it’s tearing our country apart.
But here’s the thing—I refuse to be complacent about it. I refuse to just sit back and let these buwayas run rampant. We need to hold them accountable, demand transparency, and push for real change.
It starts with us, with me and you, refusing to participate in bribery or turning a blind eye to corruption. It starts with voting for leaders who have integrity and a genuine desire to serve the people. And it starts with speaking up, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.
Because here’s the reality: corruption affects all of us. It robs us of our potential as a nation, it deepens inequality, and it erodes trust in our institutions. But if we come together, if we refuse to be silenced by fear or apathy, then maybe—just maybe—we can finally slay the buwaya once and for all.
So let’s roll up our sleeves, let’s raise our voices, and let’s fight for a Philippines free from the clutches of corruption. Our future depends on it, and I, for one, am ready to do my part.
Mrs. Claire Gutknecht 
Great article, Claire! 👏👏👏
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Thanks a bunch Kevin!
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I really felt what you said about the corruption eroding trust, very important to overcome that if we can!
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During elections, voters tend to easily believe what candidates promise. Many end up selling their votes for next to nothing. Then, when the candidate fails to deliver on their promises after getting into office, people get all riled up and start blaming the candidate, without realizing they’re partly to blame for buying into the hype in the first place.
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Very true! You have to be very discerning in this world. It’s hard sometimes, I think people want something nice to believe in but need to pull the wool from their eyes, sometimes and see things for what they really are.
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This is such an important post, Claire. And it isn’t only the Philippines that has corruption. We certainly have it in the United States. I believe it would be difficult to find a country that can’t improve in this area.
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Absolutely, you hit the nail on the head! Corruption unfortunately seems to be a global challenge, cropping up in various forms across different nations. It’s a complex issue that demands constant vigilance and concerted efforts to address. But recognizing its presence is definitely the first step towards fostering change. Sadly, as long as there are greedy politicians stealing public money and citizens willing to sell their votes, this won’t end.
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The United States also benefits greatly from corruption in other countries such as the Philippines. Corrupt governments can easily be bought. US tax payers money is lining the pockets of the corrupt elsewhere.
The Chinese government has done fantastically well in getting corruption within its ranks under control over the last 25 years. The US might do well to consider their methods. Execution!
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