CHIZ:  ‘LET’S FOCUS ON FINDING A COMMON GROUND, NOT DIVISIVENESS’

SENATE President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero urged Filipinos today to find a common ground to help the Philippines move forward rather than focus on divisiveness and conflict that only hinder progress and the goodness that the country deserves.

In his message as the guest of honor and speaker at the commemoration of the 127th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Barasoain, Malolos, Bulacan, the Senate President lamented how the country, after over a century of being independent, has not been able to develop in a pace and level as other countries with a much shorter history than ours.

Quoting the last poem of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, “Mi Ultimo Adios,” Escudero said the country remains as Rizal described, a “paradise lost” over 100 years after those words were written.

“Bakit nga ba mahigit isang daan taong lumipas mula ng isinulat niya tila totoo pa rin ‘yan sa ating bansa? Paraisong pinabayaan pa rin ang ating bansa. Mayaman ang Pilipinas, masipag ang mga tao, bakit hanggang ngayon, laganap pa rin ang kahirapan sa ating bansa?” the veteran legislator raised.

In his observation, the Senate President noted how Filipinos to this day are more focused on divisiveness than on finding common ground with their countrymen. The common theme in every generation that has passed has been conflict, which he said has led to a failure by the country to attain its goal of attaining sustainable progress and development that can be felt by every Filipino.

“Imbes na paramihin natin ang pwedeng pagkaisahan, pilit natin hinahanap ang pinag-aawayan natin. Imbes na magbuklod-buklod tayo tungo sa isang direksyon, sa paraisong minithi ng ating kababayan, pilit tayong nakikipag-away sa kapwa Pilipino na tila gustong-gusto nating pinapanood at pinagdadaanan,” the Senate leader said.

According to the Bicolano lawmaker, it is time to set aside political differences and try to find common ground in which to work together toward achieving what is good for the country. “Ang solusyon at ang hudyat para tuluyan na talagang maging paraiso ang Pilipinas at hindi pinabayaang paraiso ay kung ang bawat Pilipino, bata man o matanda … mayaman man o mahirap, nakapag-aral o hindi, may hitsura o wala, ano man ang kasarian ay magkakaisa, magtutulong-tulong,” he said.

Senate President Escudero said the youth should no longer be seen as mere symbols of hope for the future, but as active participants in shaping the nation.

“’Pag pinagsama natin ang karanasan ng pinanganak ng una sa mundo at ang lakas at sigasig ng pinanganak ng huli, walang dahilan para hindi natin malampasan anumang hamon, anumang pagsubok na kinakaharap ng ating bansa sa ngayon.

“Sana imbes na pinipilit nating inuulit ang pagkakamali ng unang henerasyon, pagpulutan natin ng aral ang ating kasaysayan. Imbes na pilit nating inuulit ang awayan at bangayan na nakita natin sa nagdaang dekada at siglo, sana baguhin natin ‘yun at hanapin natin ang pwede natin pagkaisahan,” the Senate leader said.