Freedom: Think Again

Few more days to go and those registered voters will cast their votes for who they think deserve to be in public service. However, not all of us voters will be exercising their freedom to vote; some sold their rights to vote and some are threatened. It is saddening that this kind of problem is still existing yet we consider our country democratic. 

We celebrate our Independence day every year. In addition to that, we also celebrate the People Power which led to the exile of the late President Marcos and ended his dictatorship. Many believed we were given "freedom." What kind of freedom is it? I can't deny that fact that yes we are free in some ways but we are also handcuffed in many. 

We have the freedom of speech but we also have the freedom to destroy people with hate speech. This kind of scenario can be heard and read everywhere especially this coming election. The goodness of this freedom is buried with the worst of it. The bad is more prominent than the good. We have the freedom to do business to improve our lives but we also have the freedom to do illegal business. We have laws, yes, we can read different codes and RA's but not many follow them. The worst part, those who are educated enough to know and understand the law are the ones breaking the law. We have the freedom to study but not all have the right to do so. In the Philippines, education is now considered a privilege for not all of us have the capacity to go to school. I know there are many ways to learn and to go to school but not all are capable of finding those ways. This kind of freedom is limited to those who have access to power. Lucky are those who stood up and did their best no matter what kind of storm comes their way just to finish their studies. But it doesn't end there, the competition in looking for a job is also saddening. Those who are in power can easily find jobs because they have relatives or friends already in the inside. Even though it's undeniable their qualification doesn't fit the job, they are just closing their eyes for them to avoid the reality. We are free to think the rich are gods and we are also free to exploit the poor.  We are free to roam around our communities but some people think they are also free to rape and worst kill people. Those who are under the poverty line are free to have benefits from the government but those who are in charge are also free to pocket them.  We are free to vote, but we are also free to buy votes and threaten those weak to chose what the strong wants. 

How much goodness have you experienced because of freedom in the Philippines? I would like to ask this from those people I saw in Mindanao who are sweating and almost restless just to have food on the table and from those people on the mountains hungry for change and the homeless I met during my travels.  I would like those people who are exploited because they are under the below poverty line to answer  this question. 

Will the select few just be experiencing the light of freedom and the majority be covered in its darkness? 

It seems to me that we are craving for sunrise because it's been a long time we are stuck under the sunset.