Why are we still broken as a nation? A foreign friend once told me that in his country, if events involving large-scale plunder of public funds occurred, the culprits would either commit hara-kiri or face life imprisonment. But here, we lost two trillion pesos after fifteen or more contractor companies, an unknown number of legislators, and a large, organized syndicate of DPWH officials conspired to amass a staggering amount of public money.

These individuals understand the system all too well; they exploited it to enrich themselves while leaving us to rot as a nation. Their plundering discourages both foreign and local investors, stalls critical infrastructure projects, and deprives millions of economic opportunities. The ensuing economic slowdown puts every Filipino’s life in jeopardy, driving up inflation, taxes, and interest rates.

The ontological security of the Filipino nation now hangs in the balance. Public trust erodes daily as our institutions reach a breaking point. Who benefits from this travesty? You guessed right—the wealth-hungry bureaucrats, private contractors, and their accomplices in the military and police, operating like a high-stakes syndicate.

As the state weakens, other major vice lords unscrupulously exploit the situation. The PNP might tout low incidences of minor crimes and possibly some index crimes, but they conveniently ignore the rise in syndicated crimes involving drugs, human trafficking, and illicit gaming. When authorities fail to address these illegal activities, they seep into our communities, exacerbating the cycle of poverty by preying on vulnerable youths and struggling families.

These victims have learned to navigate the system, keeping their voices and identities hidden from view. However, we don’t know when their pent-up anger will erupt against a government they perceive as having abandoned them. They may latch onto personalities who claim to oppose the current administration, even if those figures are just as corrupt at their core.

This defines the trap in which Filipinos have languished for decades. The system fails to produce the leaders we truly need; most political figures are entangled in compromises that sap their integrity. Why does this happen? Ascending the social rungs of power demands vast amounts of money for public appearances and campaigns, and this invariably invites the influence of the oligarchic elite.

Both social and political mobilization remain restricted to those willing to tolerate this rotten system. Meanwhile, those who dare to oppose face repression, deprivation of opportunities, or charges to silence them. This finely tuned machinery of exploitation shields itself from anyone with a genuine vision for change.

Deep down, those few Filipinos who truly love this country realize the only solution lies in dismantling this vast machinery of evil. Take note—dismantling, not merely reversing unliberal acts, but creating something new—a New Republic.

This New Republic must escape the clutches of so-called democratic forces, which often serve as defenders of the current elites. These self-styled reformers, while claiming concern for our situation, poison the minds of the masses by invoking “peace” while the elites ravage our nation.

These so-called pro-democracy forces have, whether knowingly or not, served as a protective shield for the very elite and oligarchs facing the masses’ growing anger. They emerge to shield their benefactors, such as the Marcoses and the Dutertes, from exposure when egregious acts come to light. Cloaking themselves as reformers, they mask their true agenda—replacing one set of elite beneficiaries with another.

We cannot allow these forces to occupy or ascend the rungs of power any longer. The path forward demands that we create a genuine political movement, one that establishes fair rules for the system operators and builds new institutions that reflect the true aspirations of all Filipinos.

For this movement to rise from the loins of our nation, it requires an event that will shake the foundations of the current regime. Those who love this country know what that event must be. We need it—now.

(My two books, ” Why is the Philippines still broken? ” and “Re-engineering Damaged and Rotten Filipino Institutions?” will be out very soon, possibly this July. Those who want copies of the book may email us at editorial@currentph.com or management@impactpubph.com, or marketing@impactpubph.com, or call/text 09171833200. Or place orders in our official FB page.)