I am Juana Change

I hope you are, too.

These past months and days, I've been whining about the political activities in this country; the lack of interest in our needs of our supposed public servants; the obvious and hidden corruption everywhere.

I whine about our century-old problems. It even came to the point where I declared to my family, friends and those who care to listen, even those who don't care to but have no choice but listen, that I will live in the mountains the moment GMA has a legal possibility of retaining any public office.

But then I realized that it will serve no purpose. She gets to her throne.... and I will be a broken young person who will suffer from self-inflicted wounds in my heart and soul.

All the whining will end today. I feel helpless no more. I feel enlightened, inspired and a little ashamed. While I was losing hope about everything in this country, many of my fellow Filipinos are fighting (in different ways) for a better Philippines. Seeing them has given me the drive to be a soldier and to fight for a very worthy cause. Together, we will drive the evil away.

I have seen and experienced enough problems to break my heart and soul.

My father is an elementary principal who was assigned for three years in an elementary school in the mountains. He had to drive for an hour and a half every morning just to get there. In his first year, there were only four teachers, including himself. The usual "six grade levels" system was not practiced. Only three classes were held. Grades 1 and 2 were in one class and so on. No books and facilities were available to them. Many of the pupils there had to walk many kilometers just to get to school. The turnover is high. Pupils and/or their parents either get tired or they stop believing that getting an education would bear anything.

Whenever people learn that I come from GenSan, they would immediately associate it with Manny Pacquiao. They never fail to ask if I get 'balato' from the boxing champ. Really, it never crossed my mind to ask balato. But many of my kababayan think that they deserve a portion of Manny's fortune. If they don't get anything, some would hold grudges. What a mentality! If we want something for ourselves, we must earn it.

I had an amusing yet very sad experience a week ago. I was headed to Mall of Asia from Makati to join my relatives. The bus got off at Baclaran; and from there, I was to ride a jeepney to get to MOA. I had to cross the highway through an overpass to get my ride. The rain has stopped but the water in the overpass was still high. There was no other way to get to the other side. I was cursing until a boy offered us a ride, for P10.00, in his cart. I almost laughed. I was relieved. The others were hesitant. We took the risk. We got to the other end safely. I gave him P20.00. The drainage problem has become an opportunity for this lad to earn. But the points are: the local government did not address the drainage problem and why do these boys make a living in the streets when they should be safe at home.

My sister is abroad. I (and she) could claim that she went there for the experience - to travel, to meet other people, to live a dream, to satisfy whatever desires she has, etc. But the sickening truth is, she is thousands of miles away from her home and loved ones because she has to earn big to support our family. She is making a sacrifice!!! Both my parents are professionals. And they are two of the most intelligent and hardworking people I know. They've been servants of this country for a long time. And they literally earn servants' wages. Families have to be separated because of lack of compensation, support and opportunities in this country.

I see cruelty, abuse, corruption and many forms of violence everyday. But I also see hope, commitment and love; and these keep me going.

I demand change and I pledge to be the beginning of the change I want to be. I have a voice and I will make it count.