In one of Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD’s books — Just a Moment — he asks a powerful question: “Was there a moment in your life when you experienced God in a very real and personal way?” My answer is a wholehearted yes — not just once, but many times. I didn’t grow up religious. I wasn’t taught to rely on God’s grace. As a child, life felt messy, hopeless, and out of control. I wanted to grow up fast so I could fix the things I hated most — especially the way we were living. Back then I didn’t know it, but God was already working behind the scenes. The first time I truly felt His presence was in 2008, when I passed the bar exam. That year, the passing rate was unexpectedly adjusted — something I saw as God’s perfect timing. Honestly, if that didn’t happen, I don’t know how I would have survived it. It was a turning point that made me believe God sees us, hears our whispered prayers, and knows how much we struggle. From that day, I promised myself to live ri...
Corruption doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. Nobody wakes up one morning already corrupt. Most of the time, it starts small—through little acts we don’t take seriously. Remember those small white lies as kids, or the way we fought over toys just to get our way? We laughed at them back then, parents brushed them off as harmless, but if those habits aren’t corrected, they grow into something else: greed. Not just for toys or attention, but eventually for money, power, and influence.
Even on social media, we joke about “ghost projects.” As students, some of us asked our parents for extra money—pretending it was for school when really it was for hanging out with friends. It looked innocent, even funny. But think about it: when we normalize getting something through deception, it plants a seed. Small dishonesty can turn into bigger dishonesty, and bigger dishonesty eventually affects society.
The Role of Parents and Families👨👩👧👦
I often remind couples during marriage ceremonies: parenting is not just about raising children, it’s about shaping future citizens. Parents play one of the biggest roles in fighting corruption. The values we teach at home—honesty, discipline, accountability—are the same values our children will bring into society. If we fail here, corruption will always have fertile ground to grow.
Substandard Roads and Endless Kickbacks
Look at our roads. Every year, especially near election season, there’s always road widening, expansion, or repair. We’ve gotten so used to it that many think it’s normal. But in reality, a properly built road should last decades, not just a year or two. The truth? Corners are cut, materials are substandard, and money is siphoned off.
It’s not just roads. Government buildings get “repairs” that don’t last. Equipment and supplies are overpriced. Sometimes, even private companies copy the same system. And because this has gone on for decades, people start thinking: “Ganito na talaga” (That’s just how things are). But it’s not supposed to be this way.
Is It Really in Our Culture?
Some say corruption is part of our colonial past. But if you look at the countries that once colonized us, they’re now progressive and developed. So maybe the problem isn’t them—it’s us. We’ve accepted corruption as normal for too long.
Band-Aid Solutions
When corruption in one sector is exposed, funds just get redirected somewhere else. For example, moving flood control budgets to another project doesn’t solve the problem. It just opens another door for money to leak out.
Healthcare programs are another example. Free medicine and checkups sound good, but often they’re limited to only one class of society. What about actual taxpayers—the very people funding these programs? While they are not formally excluded, the project’s implementation appears impractical and inaccessible to ordinary taxpayers. Many simply cannot spare the time, and the arrangement may compromise the very quality of medical care they deserve. Shouldn’t they, of all people, enjoy the benefits of their own hard work? If access is unfair, if medicine is low-quality, if hospitals are limited, then it’s just another half-baked solution. Worse, if people can’t claim the benefits, where does the unused budget go? We already know the answer: corruption finds a way in.
Teach Us to Fish, Not Just Feed Us for a Day
The Bible says: "Teach them how to fish and you feed them for a lifetime." That’s what we need. Not handouts that make us dependent on politicians, but long-term solutions that empower us. We’re tired of short-term fixes, tired of laws that look good on paper but do nothing in reality. Leaders should revisit existing laws, amend outdated ones, repeal those that no longer work, and make sure the ones we already have are actually enforced.
A Call for Change
Corruption is not just about missing billions in government funds. It’s about broken values—values that start with the smallest lies and grow into a system that cheats us all.
So the question is: are we going to keep laughing it off, or are we finally going to take it seriously? Because every time we excuse dishonesty, every time we accept “substandard” as normal, we help corruption live another day.
Change doesn’t begin with some future politician promising the world. It begins with us—parents, teachers, workers, students, leaders. If we want to give the next generation a better Philippines, then we must stop normalizing corruption and start breaking the cycle now.
The time to change is today.
Disclaimer: This article reflects general observations and opinions on societal issues. It is not intended to target, accuse, or malign any individual, group, or institution.
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