Wow. It’s truly inspiring, these so-called Honorable Public Servants.

Honorable, because they put themselves first. Public servants, because the only public they serve is their own wallets.

Look around: roads that fall apart after the first rain, bridges that lead to nowhere, classrooms that exist only in shiny banners and “groundbreaking” ceremonies. But the ribbon-cutting? Always done on time. It’s a world-class show of pretending.

And we, the taxpayers, should really be grateful.

Thank you for showing us that cement disappears faster than trust.

Thank you for teaching us how billions can turn into potholes.

Thank you for reminding us over and over not to expect too much.

Every ghost project, every poorly-made road, every structure that crumbles too soon; these aren’t accidents. They are monuments, not to progress, but to greed.

And so we pray:

May every bite of food your family eats remind you of the blood, sweat, and hunger of those you took from.

May you wonder, with every mouthful, how you can swallow so easily while millions have nothing on their plates.

May your expensive watches remind you of the time you’ve wasted on this country’s future.

May your luxury cars carry the weight of every child who walks barefoot to school.

May your self-serving selfies, flashy branded clothes, and lavish lifestyles always reveal the truth: that all of it came from people’s stolen.

Mga limbarok nga inatay nga yawa, mga kanahan nga baga ug nawong — may your conscience, if you still have one, haunt you louder than our cries.

Amen — if your conscience still works.

By: Abu Bakr Tasio Espiritu
for PATNUBAY – HAGIT