It has almost
been a week since I was given the challenge to write something about politics
and/or world events and issues. It was actually a simple request for sample
editorial writings from a multinational organization, basically for them to gauge
my writing capabilities and see if I am worthy of an opportunity to work with
them. However, I found it so challenging as it has been ages since I wrote
about something... real. When I’m not writing content for websites that sell
services and products that I oftentimes know nothing about, I would create
tales of my personal hullabaloos, inviting sympathies for my pathetic miseries.
I thank that
particular organization for waking me up from my slumber—for reminding me that
I am slowly losing my touch on the more important things and issues that
probably need more attention. I thank them (well, at least their HR arm) for
noticing that slight hint of potential that my resume might have exuded. I
thank them for challenging me to bring my fingers and brain cells to work
together to create what you people are about to read.
I am sending
a link to this exact post to the very organization I am talking about (yes,
they will also read this italicized part like I intended to). I don’t know if
they will like what they’ll read, or if they’ll like the idea of me talking
about the request for application they sent me altogether. But all the same, I
hope that they’ll find my writing (style) good enough for their standards, but
if not, I still thank them for helping me realize what I realized, which is
what I will be blabbing about in the next paragraphs.
********
It has almost been a week. I’ve been trying to think of a topic to write
about. I’ve been checking out digital editions of newspapers, clicking on the
featured headlines and making it a point to read the Opinion section. I’ve been
watching the prime time news, on three different channels, and since I stay
pretty late at night, I also watch the late night news (which is practically
just a replay of the prime time).
Writing can be easy. Any writer can put himself in frenzy mode as long
as there are adequate and proper stimuli. But how can I not create this sample
I am asked to submit? Why can’t I find a topic that interests me enough, and at
the same time, has sufficient literature for research purposes?
Literally, I’ve been asking myself these questions. And just this
evening, one question hit me and it stuck.
What Do I Know?
That was the question. I am a self-professed opinionated individual, so
much so that at times, I think highly of my ‘wise’ beliefs. I have opinions on
this and that, and my mind can even formulate unsolicited judgments based on
how a person sits or holds her pen, etc. And of course, I have my opinions on
just about anything that is currently in the news. I easily judge a senator for
his disability to write his own speech and allow his paid writer to commit
plagiarism in the process. I easily accuse DPWH of corruption as they ‘repair’
roads (during the rainy season, for Christ’s sake!) that do not look broken at
all.
I easily come up with conclusions and think that the Philippines is just
all it is: f’ed up. Then again, what do I know?
 |
| Strip courtesy of Daily of the Day |
How Can I, We
Know? Shedding Light on the Freedom of Information Bill
First off, why don’t I know? Is it because of lack of information or the
distortion thereof? Or am I just too busy or disinterested to look into
political issues that may be affecting me and everyone else in one way or
another? Will there be a solution to this void?
While I was arguing with myself on what topic will I write about until I
came up with the “what do I know” question, I immediately thought that I might
relate it to the now-hot-issue Freedom of Information Bill. It is not
particularly fresh. It has tried its luck in the last four Congresses, but
apparently, it didn’t make it in. Just recently, on July 1, 2013, as the 16th
Congress opened its doors, 18
groups re-submitted the “People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2013.”
Furthermore, FOI is not only-in-the-Philippines. For those who don’t know,
so many
countries have FOI laws and acts or something similar. It may even be safe
to say that we are lagging behind the race towards absolute freedom in terms of
establishing the right-to-know among citizens.
In a nutshell, the FOI, should it become a law, will give the Filipinos
the right to know about everything that’s going on behind the great curtain
that is the government. It will be like watching the politicians and officials
in an aquarium with transparent walls. It is said to “prevent
the government from hiding crucial information from the public.” And thus,
it is hoped to be a highly potent tool for fighting corruption and exposing the
many kinds of anomalies that basically run our country. It will also pave the
way to informed participation and better access to government services.
The idea of knowing what really happens inside government offices is
exciting. It may make many of us feel more involved into the honing of our
country’s present and future. Most likely, it will make the people feel more
powerful as if they can now hold something against abusive and power-tripping
officials. The radicals may now feel proud that finally, our culture is slowly
taking the leap towards evolution, trumping stagnant traditions.
 |
| Image courtesy of FreeSpeechDebate |
However, in so many ways than one, freedom
is dangerous. This freedom may be abused and used by a small, privileged group
to their own advantage. And, judging by how laws are implemented in this
country, the FOI may end up just another law printed in the Constitution,
unnoticed and unknown to both children and adults, several years from now.
What Do We Know?
I thought I knew a lot of things and that I am a better critical thinker
than half of the passengers on the bus that I ride to work every morning—until now.
Right at this moment, I see myself as uninformed as anyone could be. But the
sad truth is that everyone thinks that they know.
We think that posting and re-posting ideas and memes that either exalt
or ridicule the government and political figures on our social network accounts
is enough to tell the world that we care about our country. We think that our idealistic
and radical thoughts are enough to save the nation from starving and drowning
in debt. Clearly, we are far from fully-informed and we may be eaten whole by
our guilt as we realize this fact. Most of us don’t know the background behind
the issues that we give our opinions on, and that is not just my opinion.
Thus, will this Freedom of Information Bill, when it finally becomes a
law, be able to provide us with the knowledge that we need in order for us to
know our country better? Will that knowledge make us better citizens that truly
care about our fellow Filipinos and the welfare of the nation in general? Will
it give us the power to protect our motherland from modern-day invaders, the
corrupt authorities and officials, and political dynasties?
Or will it just give people another reason to act like they know
everything enough to impose their ideas on the more submissive and gullible ones,
guising their opinions and suspicions as facts?
What do I know? What do we know?
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment