The Land of the Hopeless Hope

The Land of the Hopeless Hope
- Sanfelli Marius Michael C. Hortelano -

For the land of the free and the home of the braves…this was the legacy that Uncle Sam had instilled as it granted Juan dela Cruz’s freedom. An agreement fashioned under the glitters of a holy covenant that freedom will be granted if the Philippines is ready and committed to build a just and humane government. Stamped under American influence, our colonizers acceded to the proposition. And, as a result, gave the freedom that we deserve. Hence, we adapted American governance on the hope of forging a new civilized nation under a free and independent government; a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

With the new dawn of leadership at hand, the battle cry of our immortal heroes was finally put to rest. After centuries of assertion, freedom from implied bondage has finally come. Finally, the land of our forefathers is now the motherland of the free and the hope of the hopeless – for now, and for this moment, we are America’s protégée. Since the day the Americans settled for a graceful exit, a new light has beaconed which lifted an empty land into the ranks of melodious states and prosperous nations. From then on and onwards, our Philippines transcended as a promising nation conceived with the liberty of a promising future.

Suddenly, corrupted by greed and egoistic desires, our Philippines, has now been downgraded as a sour grapping government, living in a hopeless miniature. As the news busted out in public that the Philippines ranks second amongst MOST corrupt nations in Asia, many got hysterical. Well, instead of feeling humiliated, we should rise in exaltation for this rare distinction comes never in a lifetime. Thus, to shield off the ridicule, the Gloria administration insisted on charter change to ironically, set our contaminated nation in redemption. In reality, “chacha” is not the answer for even if we put in execution the Government of the Christ and mount our nation as the land of the New Jerusalem, nothing will change. Suffice it to say, no matter how ideal a government is, if those governing are infested with termite - like instincts, a strongly built edifice will surely and always fall. What should be resolved is the attitude of greed for power and money; the very essence which every royaled warthog wish to possess for eternity.

Worse, dominated by stupid electorates who crave for popularity rather than capacity, our motherland continues to loom near a definite downfall. Headed under the leadership of an incapacitated tyrant who feeds on the bounty of his office and beyond, doom is definitely coming. For, once more, a reincarnation of a familiar monster has risen to harness the same dread that the past has died for. What a pitiful weak. We tend to envy the recently concluded U.S. elections and were astonished in the Obama fever. Truly, what we envy the most is the sanctity of their democratic solace. For, for the first time, no protests were filed nor moans of fraud heard; it was sacred through out. Truly, it was not democracy but love of country that pave the peace all through out. The reason is that, Americans love America; but we, do not. Truly, if we would have chosen to stay under the rule of American suzerain, we would have enjoyed the same pride of a common race, of a common people living in a true free world. This is the true freedom.

“Blessed are the Crocodiles camouflaged in honorable prestige who steal under the shiny noon light, for theirs is the money of the people.” This is the paramount of all great beatitudes crafted by the dark lord himself intended for those who advocate the consecration of our country’s dehydration. Never have we seen the corrupt jailed nor have we seen the dishonest crucified. What is commonly and frequently seen are those criminals who get jailed for shoplifting a can of sardines, or caught stealing a bunch of coconuts to save his person from dying in hunger. Is this the price we bear for not being in power? Sadly to state, Patriotism has ceased to serenade the melody of our national theme. The tune “ang mamatay nang dahil sa ‘yo” is nothing but a mere defunct artwork, buried in oblivion, fashioned in a futile but iconic masterpiece which is reflective of the otherwise. The question is: Why do we steal from our own country? The answer is simple but we are just too dumb to grasp the conscience.
It seems that the pearl of the orient has ceased to weave its magic. It now roams as a misplaced pseudonym which suggests an ironic salutation. If only time can turn back its hand, it would have been better if we choose not to assert freedom. Better be an American colony and reap a well-loved government which can reciprocate the taxes we pay. Better be the fifty-first state and enjoy the grace of a proud nation than to be an independent State suffering the consequence of immature governance. It would have been better if we remain Americans and enjoy the best life possible than living in a hallucinated free nation ruled by gluttonous leaders whose devotion is to devour our sacred sweats. Truly, it is our own assertion of FREEDOM that has killed us and put the blood of our gallant heroes to shame. Hence, let this be the rule, if we had become prisoners of our own freedom, then let bondage be our pathway as freemen for there is freedom beyond the senses of bondage. The freedom enjoyed in solitary confinements. The freedom enjoyed amid closed cells and fortified asylums. The freedom reaped amidst colonialism.