We have been witnesses to a political telenovela in the past few weeks.

This time, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, a former chief executive officer of the Philippine Forest Corporation, surfaced to expose not only some influential government officials’ involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, but the corrupt, rotting system that has long been haunting the lives of the toiling Filipino people, led by no one else but Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

We have been slaves under a regime who does not care and does not even think about the people’s future. As of today:

1 out of 10 Filipinos did not have the opportunity to study at all (6.8 million)

1 out 6 Filipinos can be considered not functionally literate (9.6 million)

4.1 million are illiterate

11.6 million youth are out-of-school

More than half (51 percent) of Filipinos only reached elementary level of education

From 1000 Grade 1 students, only 688 will finish elementary level and only 7 will pass the school’s standards for learning and development.

The present regime could have prioritized social services rather than tying itself up in paying debts that are mostly anomalous and illegitimate, as reflected by the process within the whole ZTE-NBN deal picture. It could have thought of building the nation’s development, giving priority to the poor and unprivileged, but all it did was to make a fortune with people’s funds and make corrupt officials assert their “kickbacks” from ill-concocted projects.

We have been audiences – better yet, victims – to a never-ending circus in the Arroyo regime. The fertilizer scam, the overpriced Diosdado Macapagal Highway, “Hello Garci”, political killings, being the biggest borrower since Cory Aquino – the long list goes on. We made our stand with these issues, but it just does not suffice to topple down Arroyo’s seven-year stint in Malacañang.

However, we must not yield. Because, to simply put, the people who perpetrate and continue to serve the corrupt practices of the current system does not yield as well.

And we, youth and students, in unity with all basic sectors of the society from all walks of life, should let our voices be heard. We are one of the many victims of this corrupt and uncaring regime. We are one of the many who should stand up for truth, accountability and justice.

The past EDSAs can be considered frustrating because a simple regime change took place. This time, we do not need another promise of a vicious cycle of elitist and trapo regimes. We need genuine social and systemic change, where the real sense of democracy – the rule of the majority – is realized and recognized.

In this crucial time of the country, if we are not part of the solution, then, we are part of the problem.

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- SAMAHANG DEMOKRATIKO NG KABATAAN (SDK)