Ang Bagong Bayani – a fitting tribute to the heroic sacrifice you endure by having to work abroad. Undoubtedly, it is your remittance that keeps our economy afloat, inspite of the misgovernance of the GMA administration.

But you are as much a victim as you are a hero. Many of you are forced to work overseas, because there are no jobs available locally to provide a decent life for your family. This comes at a high social cost – dysfunctional families brought about by an absentee parent.

Unfortunately, this administration is becoming more and more dependent on your remittances to sustain the illusion of economic advancement. And it has become de facto policy to send out literally thousands of Filipinos everyday to join your ranks, without improving the infrastructure to protect and support you when you get into trouble in your host country. Neither is there any program to reintegrate you when you do decide to come home.

Worse, your contributions are being squandered through unabated corruption. Our country is now considered the “most corrupt” economy in Asia. That is why, inspite of the trumpeted economic performance of the GMA administration, more people are getting hungry, and a good majority – even within the AB socio-economic sector, have not felt any improvement in their quality of life. Only a limited few within the inner circle of the powers-that-be are benefiting from your hard-earned remittances.

Ever since the “Garci tape” challenged the legitimacy of GMA’s presidency, political survival has become the dominant agenda. They have resorted to all sorts of political machinations and legal acrobatics to distort the rule of law and suppress the truth. To muzzle any form of opposition, they have filed a record number of libel charges against journalists and oppositionists, and resurrected decade-old rebellion charges against militants.  

To top it all, we see a record-breaking number of unresolved extrajudicial killings and disappearances – over 800 plus by last count, that number surpasses even the dark years of the Marcos regime. Philip Alston – UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings attributes many of these incidents to the military.

The situation will get much worse... unless we do something about it.

Fortunately, there is something that you can do.

In the coming May elections, you can help elect 79 men and women of moral courage into Congress. That is the number required to initiate impeachment proceedings against GMA and make her account for the unabated corruption and extrajudicial killings, as well as for the cheating in the 2004 elections.

You exert tremendous influence over your loved ones back home. The Black and White Movement has published a black list / white list in 100 Congressional districts and party list groups. Enjoin your loved ones to be actively involved in campaigning for those in the white list and against those in the black list. Ask them to be vigilant in protecting the ballot and ensuring our votes are counted correctly.

Be a hero once more. Together, we may yet secure a better future for our country.