Mabuting Pilipino Movement

[marlon cornelio]

The Mabuting Pilipino Movement (Good Filipino Citizenship Movement), a multi-sectoral, cultural anti-corruption and good citizenship movement,  has recently been launched in the the Philippines.

 

Taking part of this movement are youth organizations in the Philippines who are part of the GYAC and ANSA-EAP Philippine network, such as the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines and the SK (Village Council) Reform Coalition.

 

Below is the Manifesto of Unity read during the launch.

 

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We, individuals and representatives of different organizations, in the spirit of bayanihan and love of country, hereby declare that:

• The culture of corruption is so deeply entrenched in government and in the different segments of our society. This has further escalated during the past administration where corruption happened with impunity. We saw the ascension of corrupt practices to unparalleled heights, the weakening of our different institutions of governance, the degradation of public office and the subversion of public good.
• As illustrated in the previous administration, many government accountability mechanisms like the Office of the Ombudsman were rendered not only helpless but also tolerant of corrupt practices. Worse, these corrupt-ridden institutions acted as protectors of crooked individuals.
• Moreover, corruption threatened the lives of those who braved to tell the truth and fight corruption, whistleblowers who decided to join the people in the common quest to seek the truth, accountability and justice. Those that benefit from untruthfulness and corrupt ways always intimidate them and their love ones. In fact, fifteen years ago, corruption and plunder took the life of Philippine Navy ensign Phillip Andrew Pestano because of his refusal to yield in to the corrupt ways inside the Philippine Navy.
• But more than these, the deterioration of the values of many of our public leaders supposed  role models has also taken center stage. Due to rampant and systemic corruption, many compromised that bribery, pay-offs and patronage politics are a way of life in this country. From the often-perceived “trivial” issue of buying off a traffic enforcer to evade a traffic violation to people violating simple traffic regulations, we see a shift in our culture and values—from one that values the welfare of the common tao and the community to something that put premium to private interests over and above public good. 

Alarmed and concerned with the growing and unabated cases of corruption in our country; committed and supportive of the present administration’s campaign against corruption; sympathetic and dedicated to the just cause of whistle blowers and other truth-tellers, we come together in a movement for “Mabuting Pilipino”.

• Mabuting Pilipino is a cultural, citizen-driven, multi-sectoral anti-corruption and good governance movement embodying our collective fight for an honest and clean government.
• Mabuting Pilipino is a continuation of the Filipino’s strong desire for change as manifested in the recent presidential elections.
• Mabuting Pilipino represents every Filipino’s commitment and contribution in changing the course of our country, out from the culture of corruption.
• Mabuting Pilipino seeks to reaffirm and nurture good Filipino citizenship values, like truth-telling, ‘bayanihan’, concern for fellowmen and women, and love of country.

We, therefore, call on our fellow citizens, to work together for:

• A cultural transformation where good Filipino citizenship values are lived-by.
• Institutional reforms in constructive partnership and engagement with government while at the same time making all corrupt and erring public officials accountable.
• A people power birthing and rallying behind the whistle blowers and truth-tellers among civil servants and ordinary citizens.

In the coming days, we enjoin our fellow citizens to:

• Actively participate in “truth actions” in support of truth-tellers, campus and community cultural tours, a national day of action for truth and justice, and a shame-campaign against corrupt public officials.
• Intensify lobbying for the passage of the Freedom of Information Law and the Silip SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth) Bill as our primary tools for transparency and accountability.
• Be more vigilant on the campaigns against “midnight appointees” and the impeachment of Ombudsman Merci.

We call on our fellow Filipinos in a movement for Mabubuting Pilipino!

 

Signed on the 28^th of February 2011 in Manila, Philippines.