Vigilance has its rewards. Mainstream media, civil society, creatives, and even TikTokers have all played their part. The power of the Word.
I recently shared this on Facebook along with a screenshot of the Inquirer’s front page, featuring the banner story headline: “OVP, DepEd, 3 other offices lose P1.2B in secret funds” (10/11/2023). The lead sentence of Julie M. Aurelio’s news report stated: “Vice President Sara Duterte will lose P650 million in confidential funds after a four-member panel of lawmakers decided to strip five government agencies of their allocation in the proposed national budget for next year… Duterte, who is also the concurrent education secretary, stands to lose the most as the Office of the Vice President sought P500 million in confidential funds while the Department of Education requested P150 million.”
“Strip” is the word! Much has been said about these so-called “confi” funds, both in the past (why didn’t we react vehemently then!) and in relation to the following year’s if approved. These funds are baffling in their enormity, yet ordinary Filipinos, who are struggling with the economic crunch and should only be focused on their daily budget, have become familiar with “confi” as if it were part of their daily menu. “Confi” has become part of the new Filipino lexicon, which also includes “unli,” short for “unlimited.” It’s bottomless when it comes to drinks. Unfortunately, with the rising price of rice, “unli rice” in eateries is no longer an appealing offer or entitlement.
Speaking of entitlement and being entitled, these words have taken on added meaning in the context of those in power, specifically elected public servants, some of whom believe they are entitled to the public coffers as if they were labeled with their names, and once the people have paid their taxes, they have no right to know where their money goes. It’s as if they think it’s always open season, reminiscent of the multibillion pork barrel scam that exploded in our faces several years ago thanks to the Inquirer’s coverage. “Plunder” was the word, and it rhymes with thunder, the sound of prison gates shutting behind them. No mercy!
Simply put, entitlement means having a right to something that is deserved, earned, inherited, or agreed upon in a contract. However, in psychology, a sense of entitlement, especially among children, means they demand things and expect to receive them without earning or working for them.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
