Utang Na Loob Has No Place In Politics

2 years ago August 14, 2022 - 03:08 pm

I've heard many people say time and time again that one should not complain, get angry or say anything negative about the government and its officials if they are using highways, roads and other public infrastructure. People should be grateful to these politicians that they were blessed with the highways they drive their cars on, the airports they go to their planes to, and the services that they avail for.

Did they forget who really creates these infrastructures and services? Did they forget who funds these infrastructures and services?

Here's a hint. It's not the politicians.

It's you and me.

Every government project is done by the public, for the public. Our taxes go to each of these projects. Whatever involvement the politician has on these projects is them doing what they are hired to do. We don't kiss the ground they walk in just because they actually bothered doing the bare minimum required of them to get it going.

Some Filipinos live and die by the "utang na loob" system. I'm sure in other countries this is not new. Someone does something good for you, you go out of your way to do something good for them, even if it means committing grave crimes.

I may exaggerate but I think there may be a few that might actually believe that depending on the help given.

There is nothing wrong with this kind of thinking as long as it isn't exploitative in any way and it isn't applied to politics. Putting politics in the mix breeds nepotism upon nepotism to the point you don't even know who got appointed into a government position through their credentials anymore. People should stop looking at these politicians how we usually treat family members. They're employees paid to serve you. You hired them through the elections we go through every 6 years (and every 3 years if you count the midterm election). Always expect them to do their damnedest to make things better and make it very clear that if they try to stab you in the back, they won't come out of office alive...metaphorically speaking.