BARANGAY: A Breeding Ground of Dirty Politics in the Philippines?!

Barangay is the smallest administrative unit in the Philippines and it consists of Cabeza de Barangay or the Chief/Captain  and seven followers, I mean councilors and all of them shall be elected at large, shall be serving three years in office and can be re-elected upto three times.
 

You know, honestly I don't want to dig deeper into the creation of this unit because to begin with,  I am just for the abolition of this another corrupt unit of government. I am so frustrated watching the news report on how this Barangay level election turned out to be so barbaric and bloody in (some?) areas and I am certain that there are other the same scenario in other parts of the  archipelago which were not reported.

I would say Barangay becomes obsolete at present and can no longer serve it's mandate. It is supposed to be a community-oriented unit and should be free from partisan politics, it's officials should not be influenced, dictated upon or a shadow of a City Councilor, Mayor, Congressman  and the likes with self-serving interests. Well, it is the smallest political unit based on grassroots and can be manipulated anytime in the name of MONEY especially those in rural or slum barangays with high number of voters.
 

I don't want to be biased with my opinion. Yes, there are performing and good barangays in the entire country out of almost 42,000 as of present count. But out of that figure, How many percent are those performing well and can still deliver its mandate? How many percent are still committed to its function as supposed to have a community-based/oriented undertakings? How many are those running independently without political influence behind them? How many of them are just running to improve their community without considering of running into a higher position later on? So many questions better leave unanswered because we know what is true and what is not. Come on people, let us not be hypocrite about it. These people are running because they want more afterwards. I am not saying all of them but majority of them!
 

I am a Filipino and I know what is to be a Filipino. We do not confront issues like this in a manner unacceptable to us because it is shameful, corrupt and it truly hurts. I am just fortunate that I belong to a minority  who understand and brave enough to face, accept and acknowledge the status of our society. You would understand better if you would see it from outside looking in. Literally!

I am not convinced that Pinoys have changed. We only aspire and do very little about it. We want change yet we do not start within ourselves. We may have elected and voted the best our conscience dictates but what have we done next? We are becoming a mere spectators waiting what is the going to be the end of the show just like watching our favorite soap opera in prime time bida.

There is nothing really much difference about our favorite  soap opera and our society. Both are controlled by the personalities in power or in the position. When can we learn from our shortcomings and mistakes? There should be consistency in our actions. Once we have put someone in the position, it should be us controlling what is going to be the end. The people we elect or put in the position are just intruments of what we want to achieve and sadly, most often than not, the person we have elected is the one achieving his/her wants and harvesting what we have sow. 

The recent Philippine barangay election is a clear indication of our rotten society. A reflection of a bigger picture where people running to get the position are hungry for more and would do everything to grab the position by hook or by crook. Yes, some may have clear intentions but why it has turned out this way? Why is it that there are crooks, there are still goons, and guns? Let us examine ourselves. We ourselves can only answer it. Truth is, WE ALLOWED IT! As simple as that. 

The barangay has become a breeding ground for future crooks that one day will become part of a bigger circle and eventually manipulate our society. A barangay that is supposed to be centered on delivering community-oriented services like maintain PEACE AND ORDER, promote HEALTH and WELL-BEING,  encourage YOUTH to be involved in SPORTS and other socio-civic affairs to veer them away from DRUG-ADDICTION and other JUVENILE delinquencies and even help promote TOURISM  as it is mandated by law. If by any luck, all of these basic mandates were followed and implemented, then, since it is based on grassroots level, there would have been a harmonious Philippine society. Please do not misunderstood me saying harmonious, I am not implying a perfect society but then what I want to say is that, the barangay level have FAILED to execute its mandate for the longest running time and it is but RIGHTFUL to say, ABOLISH the law creating a BARANGAY.