Padaca sees Pinoy ‘maturity’ in controversial Pacman win

A text message from an ordinary Filipino expressing doubt about the latest victory of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao has given hope to former Isabela governor Grace Padaca, member of the good governance movement Kaya Natin. In a symposium on Filipino integrity at the De La Salle - College of St. Benilde on Tuesday, Padaca recalled a text message she got after Pacquiao’s fight that supposedly went, “Alam ko napanood mo ang laban ni Pacquiao kanina. Para sa akin, talo si Pacquiao." “Tuwang tuwa ako sa text na ‘to," Padaca remarked. “Lalo lang lumakas ang pag-asa ko sa ating mga Pilipino na kaya nating gawin o sabihin kung ano ang tama kahit na ito ay mahirap para sa atin." In her column in the tabloid “Abante" on Wednesday, in which she recounted the same story, Padaca pointed out that she does not intend to debate about the boxing champ’s contested victory over Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez. “Ang gusto ko lang ipagbunyi ay ang nakikita kong ‘maturity’ ng mga Pilipino na hindi nagmamatigas na angkinin ang panalo kung sa kaibuturan ng kanilang puso ay alam nilang hindi ito totoo," the broadcaster-turned-politician explained. ‘Worst’ in govt leaders During the same event at the College of St. Benilde, Padaca also noted a prevailing negative attitude toward politicians that she observed during her gubernatorial term. “They have been conditioned by their experiences and observations to believe the worst in their government leaders. It is easier for them to believe that they are receiving jueteng money or commissions from contractors than to believe that they do not," she said. “Nahihirapan silang maniwala na mayroong mga uri ng opisyal ng gobyerno na hindi masisilaw na tumanggap ng pera katumbas ng kanilang makapangyarihang posisyon," Padaca added. Padaca, who ran against the powerful Dy clan of Isabela on an anti-corruption platform, said it takes more than a good personal “moral compass" to change these perceptions. “The system should also require you to be good," she said, quoting fellow Kaya Natin member and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo. “Kasi baka kung ikaw lang, baka good ka ngayon, mate-tempt ka na bukas." Not just ‘anti-corruption’ A priest also advocating good governance, Fr. Albert Alejo, added that discussing “anti-corruption" is not enough. He said good governance movements should also start taking a positive turn. “Kung mapapansin ho natin, ‘yung corruption ang kalaban, at ano ang solusyon? Anti-corruption. Ibig sabihin ‘yung lenggwahe ng paglaban sa korupsyon ay corruption pa rin… Ang kailangan ho natin ngayon ay bokabularyo ng integridad, ng dangal," Alejo said. In particular, he urged a search for new words and real-life examples to stand for the opposite of corruption. “Teach integrity. It is more than fighting corruption," said Alejo, a Jesuit priest who leads his religious group’s movement for Filipino integrity (watch video below). Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Danilo Lim, who likewise spoke during the symposium, also emphasized the importance of individual efforts to fight corruption. “Kung talagang mahal natin ang ating bayan, hindi sapat na sabihin na hindi tayo kasama sa problema. Dapat tayo ay maging kaparte ng solusyon," Lim said. In an interview with GMA News Online after his speech, the Customs official revealed one of his bureau’s more radical moves to reform the agency – that is to dissolve some units allegedly notorious for corruption. The government has a long way to go, however, with a recent survey having noted public dissatisfaction over congressional and judicial anti-corruption efforts. - KBK, GMA News