Lent, corruption and resolving our crisis
‘We need a systemic reset. We need to address corruption at its roots, not just its symptoms.’
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‘We need a systemic reset. We need to address corruption at its roots, not just its symptoms.’
We are now in the Lenten Season, when we are reminded of our inevitable mortality. From dust we come and to dust we shall return once more, to paraphrase Ecclesiastes 3:20. We reflect on what we have done, what we have failed to do, and we repent for our misdeeds. But as Christians, we resolve and renew our hope in our eventual Redemption because of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
I often wonder why our country is somehow always in an endless cycle of Lent because of the misdeeds of man and the periodic curse of nature that always befalls us like clockwork. And then hope emerges, from the din of prayers, repentance for our omissions, renewed resolutions, at times luck, and every election season, a never-ending dream for the emergence of a white knight to guide us out of the morass we always find ourselves in.
However, almost always, it inevitably only provides a momentary lull in our misfortunes, until we fall back again to disillusionment for the failed leader due to his frailties and, always, our own doing.
Perhaps it is high time we stop looking for someone to save us, but simply just to help ourselves. What do I mean? Pre-eminent economist and, undoubtedly, the father of Good Governance in our country, founder of the Institute of Corporate Directors, Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, shares with us his views and how we can achieve this.
For today’s article, I give way to him.
A Way out of our crisis: A perspective for ordinary Filipinos
By Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao
Our country is going through a serious crisis. The corruption scandals that have come to light did not happen overnight. They revealed deep and longstanding problems — not only in government systems, but also in how we, as a people, have allowed those systems to weaken.
Many Filipinos are rightly angry. We hear loud calls to “jail the corrupt,” and these calls must continue. The outrage must be strong enough to be impossible to ignore. Justice must be served.
But shouting slogans is not enough.
Many groups are now proposing concrete actions: an anti-dynasty law, reforms to the 1987 Constitution, and renewed voter education so Filipinos can make better choices in future elections. These efforts are welcome. If pursued seriously and consistently, they can improve our political system.
Still, we must admit a hard truth: Jailing the corrupt is only the first step. It does not automatically fix a broken system. If we do not change the system itself, corruption will simply return — just as it has in the past.
This means we need a systemic reset. We need to address corruption at its roots, not just its symptoms. And the most effective antidote to corruption is good governance.
Corruption and governance are two sides of the same coin: when governance is weak, corruption thrives; when governance is strong, corruption has no place to hide.
Ideally, this kind of reform should be led from the top. But today, many of those in positions of power are themselves implicated in the problem. This makes it difficult to expect strong moral leadership from government alone.
When government fails to lead, citizens must step up.
This is why the idea of a national multi-sector governance council matters. Such a council—made up of respected, non-partisan citizens from different sectors—can help guide a long-term national transformation. It can coordinate efforts across government, business, civil society, and communities. This is not about politics. It is about responsible citizenship.
Where do we begin?
We begin by calling on ordinary Filipinos who feel lost, betrayed, and discouraged. The call is simple but demanding: be part of the solution. Live by the core values our laws already recognize—maka-Diyos, maka-Tao, maka-Kalikasan, at maka-Bansa.
These values must stop being mere words recited in ceremonies. They must shape how we live, work, and relate to others every day—at home, in offices, in schools, and in our communities. Our values and our daily actions must become one.
Institutions do have a crucial role to play in promoting the observance of core values, Companies, government agencies, cooperatives, schools, and civil society organizations must pursue their own transformation programs, grounded in values. As they form employees and leaders, they must connect institutional values with national values. This is what the crisis demands of every institution today.
In cascading values, institutions then work on their internal operating systems so they meet performance targets that are set to transform them over a few years. This is how institutions become stronger: solid, financially viable, and sustainable over many years.
Strong institutions then reach outward—to families, schools, and community centers—helping form responsible citizens over a lifetime. In doing so, institutions themselves become governance assets for their communities, industries, and the nation.
And when institutions work together in solidarity, real change happens.
Communities become cleaner, safer, and more resilient. Industries become more efficient, transparent, and productive. The nation becomes better equipped to fight poverty, corruption, and civic apathy.
To succeed, we must focus on three national priorities:
Social equity-–giving the poor real opportunities to rise permanently out of poverty.
Productivity-–fixing broken processes, using technology wisely, and removing corruption-prone bottlenecks.
Growth-–unlocking the full value of our natural, human, and financial resources.
This crisis should not paralyze us. It should push us to act.
Even without ideal national leadership, we can move forward—through values-driven institutions, citizen solidarity, and coordinated governance.
If we do this together, we can turn today’s crisis into an opportunity for laying the foundation for our Dream Philippines, as we journey toward 2046, the centennial of our independence as a Republic.
Until next week… OBF!
