"We must win our freedom by deserving it -- exalting reason and dignity of the individual - loving what is just -- what is good -- what is great -- even to the point of dying for it." -- Jose Rizal

Today, with 2010 fast approaching, our people are again clamoring for good governance under the rule of law from those we elected to lead us. The street protests by cause-oriented groups and ordinary Filipinos plus their manifestations of discontent, anger and outrage towards the PGMA administration must be seen as people's hunger for freedom from poverty, deprivation and bad governance.

Needed: Sustained national effort

The challenge to be confronted and fulfilled is a higher quality of life for all Filipinos -- the sooner the better. It is a daunting objective which can be achieved only by a sustained national team effort against the forces of greed, complacency and corruption and the maximization of opportunities arising out of our comparative advantages in our geo-strategic location, Christian-Muslim democratic culture, English language proficiency, and deep bench of human talents.

The immediate tasks are to effectively reduce poverty, advance our economy, reinforce our democratic institutions particularly the electoral process, position the Philippines into a competitive niche amid the global economic turmoil, and insure our sustainable development under an enduring environment of peace and harmony.

Needed: Exemplary, sacrificial leadership

As the elected President who is also the Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and National Police, PGMA must lead in the mobilization of our human resources and equally valuable assets to maximize such a relentless and total effort in order to achieve the desired outcomes. In other words, the President herself should not become so inutile as a controversial and unfocused leader, to the extent of being seen as the core of our problems. On the other hand, she may still regain her positive trust ratings as of January 2001 and leave an acceptable legacy by motivating the nation -- which could happen by reforming her negative image into an exemplary and sacrificial kind of leadership.

Needed: Unity and solidarity

Filipinos, working together in solidarity, have overcome greater challenges, as did our heroes of the Independence Movement. Their example of unity and solidarity against overwhelming odds provides both our anchor and our inspiration for Filipinos to achieve a better future.

Self-sacrifice over vested interests, and teamwork in nation-building instead of political divisiveness can make all this happen eventually. But if not much change is happening now -- because PGMA has failed to harness the opportunities afforded her in the past eight years of her Presidency -- then our people must persist in their pursuit of a better future.

Let us recall that on 12 April 1895 (Good Friday), a year before the word "Revolucion!" would inspire every patriotic Filipino, eight leaders of the Katipunan met in the secrecy of the Pamitinan Cave in Sitio Wawa, Montalban (now Rodriguez, Rizal Province) and inscribed on its walls: "Viva La Independencia de Filipinas!" There, they agreed to revolt for the cause of freedom. But more than that, they organized a fighting force against the Spanish colonizers. They chose the letter "K" as their symbol of defiance and, in their battles, that Katipunan label became a weapon in itself -- a concrete image of what had, for centuries, been a deep but often unspoken longing for freedom.

Needed: patriotic inspiration

What took place at Pamitinan Cave was, essentially, a blood compact, a ritual of commitment to a future of struggle, sacrifice, and early death. Within months, the Katipunan under Andres Bonifacio had gathered enough strength to challenge the Spanish administration, and launched a series of battles around Manila starting with the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" on 23 August 1896. Its culmination was Emilio Aguinaldo's Declaration of Independence at Kawit on 12 June 1898.

Today, as we reflect on the first historic footsteps of the Katipuneros made holy by their covenant with God, country and people -- as manifested in the Katipunan's "Decalogo" (10 Commandments), we realize that they were driven by both their patriotic fervor and a holy cause -- that of Pamathalaan -- or Pamamahala na Kasama si Bathala (Governance with God as Companion).

Needed: freedom from poverty and bad governance

Can the Arroyo administration, local government units included, performing in tandem with Congress and mobilizing the private sector still carry out such a historic turnaround? With precious time fleeting, PGMA must now make a clear and positive declaration to our people that she as President will transform herself and the nation, and not anymore delude our people, in particular her select circle of Congressional cronies and family advisers, with titillations about CON-ASS and her future role as a Pampanga Representative come 01 July 2010.

Under Pamathalaan, dictatorships, monopolies, and dynasties do not endure. Neither do self-serving and distrusted national leaders.

What Rizal, Aguinaldo, Bonifacio, Mabini, among many others, envisioned for our beloved Inang Bayan was a government to protect their inalienable and fundamental rights to liberty, equality, fraternity and the pursuit of happiness. Indeed, Filipinos today clamor for their independence from poverty and bad governance.

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