Hi Francis personally speaking corruption is the more popular term for what it really is: exploitation. People who have more in power or position use their advantage to exploit those who have less and it exist everywhere developed or third world. When the typhoon hit Philippine last December the charismatic group, Bukas Loob sa Dios, or BLD, led by Ric Pascua of Bonifacio Land/The Fort fame, came with his wife, Rizza, who celebrated her birthday while building a house for a poor family. Another BLD member, Kiko Josef, president of the Philippine Public School Teachers Association, took pick and shovel, laying aside pen and paper for the meantime. He was supported by teachers from Marinduque, led by district superintendent Humberto Rey. Gawad Kalinga residents from several subdivisions in Metro Manila gave up opportunities to earn their daily income, found sponsors to shoulder travel expenses, and pounded away to construct for others what had once been constructed for them. People are paying back, and many more are paying forward. People helping people. Humanitarian. Bayanihan. Patriotism. Virtue after virtue, generosity abounding. Filipinos abroad are not lagging behind either. In America, Canada, Singapore and Western Europe are working and donating, courting support from others as they give land and funds for houses. Their aggressive support for Gawad Kalinga is dismantling the image of Filipino mendicancy, showing that Filipinos are first to help their fellow Filipinos before accepting support from foreigners. In fact generosity can be seem here in every corner of Gamu and Ilagan politician and business associates alike who had done their fair share of charity to improve lives like SB counselor Margette Chin of Ilagan who I personally witnessed were not hesitate to help under the poverty line and do not have the means to buy medicine for their sick family members in hospital. Corporate business like the hotel owner Pizza Zicareila Mdm Zenaida and the Roman Catholic church member were pay monthly welfare visit for the inmates of Provincial jail in Alibagu.
The Philippine Army also run a project CBAC which give free medicine and dental for the needed in the community in Guibang Isabela.
Just to name a few that I personally encountered and know of. Generosity breeds heroism, and heroism attains honor. At last, the seed of honor is planted and propagated by the Filipino sense of generosity is not so far cry from Singapore when coming to contribute back to the society.
