By Julie L. Po
Concerned Artists of the Philippines
First National Conference-Festival on Corruption
Dec. 8-9, 2008
University Hotel, UP Diliman, Quezon City
Corruption is a complicated issue.
It is not simply the abuse of public position for one's personal
gain, because how one becomes a public official can be a product
of corruption.
Corruption can also mean the manipulation
of or circumventing the law to serve one's interest, usually one's
personal monetary gain. But this does not necessarily mean that
there is no corruption when the procedures of law are followed,
or things are done the “legal” way, because the laws
themselves could also be products of corruption.
The election process itself can
be a motivation for corruption. It is common knowledge that political
candidates spend a lot of money for campaigning and during elections.
Financial support is sought from the moneyed elite and business
corporations, who in turn would seek favors from elected officials
to further their vested interests.
Public officials “profit”
from their positions as well, as more favors come to them for a
fee. Moreover, their political power grants them access to public
funds, loans and utilities, which they can use to further consolidate
their political power and for personal luxuries.
Their political positions are galvanized
by their use of the armed forces, who receive, more often than not,
a share of the “loot,” either directly or through the
benefits granted by a corrupt process and system.
More often, corruption is attributed
to culture, such as greed, immorality, selfishness, individualism,
etc. Indeed these negative traits bring about devilish outcomes,
but negative human attributes are not innate, in general, these
are cultural effects of a rotten political and economic system.
The Concerned Artists of the Philippines
and other progressive organizations subsume culture under the broader
political and economic dynamics of society. However, culture is
recognized as indispensable and cultural work as imperative for
the realization of genuine societal change.
The fight against the culture of
corruption should go beyond the issue of corruption, and cultural
programs should be waged together with nationalist and people's
issues, with the aim of spurring nationalism; concern for the people
(especially the workers and peasants-- the majority of the populace);
and a progressive viewpoint of nature and events.
These should give us the reasons
and motivation for our anti-corruption advocacy and activism.
CULTURAL Program*
The challenge for all is to support,
promote, popularize, and participate in the production of creative
works that espouses a nationalist, scientific and mass culture.
Nationalist Culture
Nationalist culture means defending
and promoting the national sovereignty of the Filipino people; fighting
colonial mentality and the culture of submissiveness; giving importance
to Filipino identity; endowing value to the rich national cultural
heritage of the different regions and of the national minorities;
promoting patriotism; respecting and depending on the strength of
our own nation; and celebrating the victories of the Philippines
as a nation.
Mass Culture
Mass culture comes from and serves
the interest of the Filipino people, specially the workers and peasants--
the majority of the populace. Mass culture mirrors and expresses
the state, the needs and the aspirations of the people; struggles
against the reigning decadent, bourgeois, feudal, anti-people and
anti-women beliefs and ways; and emphasizes the role of the Filipino
masses as the builders of economic strength and the creators of
history.
Scientific Culture
Scientific culture is the promotion
of scientific views and ways; the development of critical and analytic
thinking; prioritizing of education; and opposition to backward
ways and thoughts that block analytic thinking and the creation
of new technologies or scientific developments which are useful
to society.
Specific Tasks for Cultural Activists
In particular, cultural activists
are encouraged to produce works on social realities, presenting
the needs and aspirations of the people, and with a scientific analysis
of the situation. These should arouse a reaction, not of despair
or submission, but of indignation against an unjust system.
Thus, it is important for cultural
activists to deepen their knowledge of society. They should learn
and discuss history and current events, politics and economics,
and its relationship to culture, society and humanity.
The following are some specific
tasks for cultural activists:
