Since 1984 up to the present I have been holding a continuous dialogue with Filipino friends on the Philippines'  changing condition particularly as it touches the pulse adn temperment of its people whom I consider one of the nicest I have ever met.

     Our dialogues have touched issues and events such as the dark days of martial law, the martydom of Ninoy Aquino, EDSA revolution, the fall of Erap, the recent elections, and recently the stashing of thousands of dollars by the son of General Garcia. Like the Philippine situation, the temperature of our recent conversations has been changing worrying to alarming stage and we hope it will not reach the panic level. This continuing deterioration came about due to my friends' perception on public sentiments on socioeconomic conditions.

     My friend feel that deep despair and disenchantment seem to be pervasive. They think that due to economic difficulty and the blatant graft and corruption among government officials, people seem to have lost hope of their lives getting better. Most of their countrymenbelieve that the political system and its present leaders seem to be inadequate to combat the causes of poverty and criminality.

     They add that what's worse is the belief that even if by violent or peaceful revolution the Pinoys change their formof government and their leaders, nobody among the younger set of leaders seem to have integrity, capability and charisma needed to become their rallying point and lead the Filipino to a more promising future.

     Moreover, even if such a leader emerges, the culture and the values of Filipinos have been so badly influenced and tainted that similar to the story in the Bible, the modern-day Moses might, with exasperation, just throw away the CD in which his planned sweeping changes and widespread reforms are contained. Also the Philippines, like a ship sinking due to myriads of holes in its hull, may find its new captian so overwhelmed that he may not even know which holes to plug first.

     The feeling of being in a sinking ship is so widespread that the richer minority have started preparing to abandon ship. The general whose son was caught bringing to the U.S. several thousands of dollars from the Philippines is just "the tip of the iceberg" of the rich minority stashing their enormous cash overseas.

     Some of the departing cruel millinioners are even suggesting that the present leaders be crushed by the panicking mob. They perhaps want that while they are enjoying their vacation in distant shores, the rest of the Phiippines will be plunged into chaos that will cleanse the country not only from the bad but also from the good elements. They hope that going back after their prayed-for purge will ensure their continuous sontrol of the Philippines.

     With this depressing national scenario and the imminent suffering that will come to pass, what will the poorer majority who are sure to be left behind do?

     Like the overwhelmed captain of the sinking ship, we likewise have no ready answers except to keep our faith in Divine Providence strong and help fan back to health the dying but patriotic and fighting spirit of Filipinos. Only an optimistic collective spirit will revive hope, froge a vision and start a crusade towards better future for the Filipinos.

     For I believe that neither all the wealth and power of the wolrd nor the surfeit of brilliant managers can pluck out the Philippines from the deep economic abyys if its citizens lack the spirit and the will to rise from its present situation.

     Even the newly installed government of Iraq with their abundant oil feilds and support the modern firepower and technology of th U.S. cannot seem to stop the day-to-day killing among its people. Saddam and the ruling fewhave so damaged Iraq's culture and sense of nationhood that neither persuasion nor threats seem to attract Iraqis to take their initial steps towards democracy. Instead terror and bloodshed seem to be more acceptable to them.

     Let's pray that the Philippines will not be another Iraq.