“Nothing turns out to be so oppressive and unjust as a feeble government.”
— Edmund Burke

It is hard to ignore the palpable frustration brewing among the Filipino people, a frustration rooted in the undeniable fact that those in power seem indifferent to the hardships faced by the masses. The most glaring example of this is the government’s failure to take meaningful action in addressing the continuous rise in the prices of fuel and necessities. As many Filipinos struggle to make ends meet, the administration’s lack of urgency is not only disappointing; the President has even said that “everything is normal.” It is a betrayal of the very people who voted them into office. For a government that promised to prioritize the welfare of the Filipino people, its lack of tangible action in curbing inflation is nothing short of negligent.

The situation is further exacerbated by a decline in interest in flood control projects. Every year, the Philippines faces catastrophic floods that leave families displaced, homes destroyed, and livelihoods shattered. And yet, flood control, one of the most essential infrastructure initiatives, is continually put on the back burner, and the investigation into those in power who robbed the masses is not taken seriously as it should be. When this issue is brought up, there will be people saying to “just move on” and that nobody would actually be held accountable. That is exactly what those thieves want the Filipinos to do: to forget it.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte, who was elected to serve the Filipino people, seems to be living in a world apart. Instead of focusing on the myriad of responsibilities she has back home, she is often seen globe-trotting and offering interviews to just land a blow to the opposition instead of giving concrete answers to the people. While she enjoys her international travel, Filipinos continue to face daily struggles, from the unaffordable cost of living to a lack of job security, and no one seems to care enough to fix the system. It feels as if she is more concerned with creating an image for herself than actually fulfilling her duties to the people who elected her.

We watch the news and see all the new price hikes, then see that those elected not doing anything can leave a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth. We count the money we have left after paying bills and ask ourselves what saving method we need to practice to make this fit up to the next paycheck. Filipinos are not lazy; they are among the most hardworking people in the world, but the government we have sets all of us up for failure. 

I can’t help but remember a tweet that once went, “This economy is so f*cked you’ll be sitting here thinking you’re bad with money – and all you did was buy food.” This is because it’s true. Even buying the things that you and your family actually need makes you feel guilty because it can feel like you are overindulging yourselves.

At the end of the day, hardworking Filipinos are left to deal with a government that is failing them on multiple fronts. It’s enraging and heartbreaking to watch. People wake up early each day, work multiple jobs, sacrifice their time and energy – only to find that their government is too busy with personal agendas and distractions to focus on their needs. This government’s apathy towards the plight of its people is nothing short of a betrayal, and it is a reality that many Filipinos cannot accept any longer.