No, not at all. The Philippine government claimed to have spent 1 Trillion Pesos (about $18B USD) to create flood control projects to help protect citizens from catastrophic floods. In the last few typhoons to hit the islands it became clear to the citizens that absolutely no work was done anywhere in PHL to create any flood control measures. It seems the Trillion Pesos lines the pockets of increasingly more wealthy politicians and was not spent to help the citizens.
The younger generation in the Philippines are more educated, have access through smart phones to resources around the world, and do not have the cultural resignation to corruption that the elders have. The attitude among older generations in RPL is that “the government has always been corrupt, it will never change.” But the Gen X’ers don’t think like that and want to see the nation they will inherit start taking care of its people.
This is the beginning of a new era in the Philippines that is moving the Philippines into a modern era where government is held accountable, efforts are made to create transparency and this new generation will quickly let the government - and the citizens - of the Philippines know when officials are corrupt and change must happen.
I hope they succeed. The Philippines is a beautiful nation, the people are warm and welcoming, and the work ethic is strong. So many in the lower class (there is virtually no middle class) work countless hours, have only a very modest lifestyle, and have no way to lift themselves out of the endemic poverty that characterizes most of the country. They deserve better and the protesters are starting a movement to make the Philippines a better place.
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