Corrupt Christian country and the more esteemed 3Cs

Some nations claim to be predominantly Christian, but why is corruption rampant in them? Do outside forces have anything to do with their situation that without these forces, those countries would not be corrupt? This column belongs to a Filipino, so it may start delving into what exact circumstances the Philippines is in in that regard.

In “Claiming the Nation: Theological Nationalism in the Philippines,” Jayeel Cornelio (2022) said that the Philippine State is secular and prusisyon and other religious practices are constitutionally permissible. There was a “showcase of democracy” when the country gained independence from the United States of America 79 years ago, making it unique in post-war Asia. The claim that the Philippines is a Christian nation has persisted despite calls to abandon such labels. Tapping various observations, Cornelio noted that there are Christian groups who now assert the claim to the nation in their own directions and archetypes.

Cornelio wrote: “I framed these assertions in terms of theological nationalism, which refers to discursive claims made by religious groups about the Christian identity of the Philippines. They do so using theologically inspired justifications, which invoke religious resources (like Scriptures and spiritual encounters) to argue for the divine destiny of the country as the only Christian nation in Asia.” There should be a wide space for debating theological nationalism, but he was left with questions, which he would eventually be able to answer: “What exactly is being claimed? The second is the theological basis of the claim: What are the religious worldviews, beliefs, or convictions that inform the claim to the religious identity of a nation-state?”

But “Mission in Context: Explorations Inspired by J. Andrew Kirk,” edited by Cathy Ross and John Corrie (2016), put it bluntly: “…Philippines, which is 90 per cent Christian and supposedly the most Christianised country in the continent, ranks a lowly 139 on the Corruption Perception Index.”

Valerie Blue Dam-at-Claveria’s (2022) “The Filipino Mindset and the National Security” flippantly penned: “The Philippines is always criticized as a corrupt country even though it is the only Christian nation in South East Asia. Although this is disappointing to note, there are two strengths that I see in any Filipino that proudly no other nationality can match—family and faith. The Filipino mindset is always to uplift the family and uphold the Christian faith. Family is the driving force behind a Filipino’s hard work, whereas religion is the spirit that gives him a sanguine disposition. The family gives him joy and emotional security, whereas religion gives him hope and fills his spirituality. This mindset creates in it a wellspring of all other highly valuable assets like hospitality, generosity, forgiveness (or forgetfulness), and versatility. This trademark is as established as one can identify a Filipino from their color or language.

“National security is yet another sensitive and crucial topic to discuss, especially with the media often projecting a negative connotation about it. With the rampant news on political bickering, ever-changing inflation rates, poverty, terrorism, global warming and weather catastrophes, one would think that the Philippines is doomed with an unstable economy as well as national security.

“Yet, we hope. We pause and rethink our positions from a hopeful perspective and realize that the family as our foundation can ignite the fire that can spread the transformation, giving light to the dark and questionable corners of our state.”

Our Armed Forces (AFP), Claveria continued, may be accountable for the national security, but she urged citizens to play their part to transform from within.

She averred: “A morally stable leadership management begins with its people having a pure conscience and sound mind. The moral standpoint is the most effective antidote that can cure the problems posed in national security.”

Who needs the 3Cs (corrupt Christian country)? Not foreigners if you label it that way. But they may use their power, influence, and dominating currencies to corrupt 3Cs more so that they may claim or reclaim it. So the Filipino nation, if it desires to be genuinely sovereign in the next century, needs (1) character (with God as central character), (2) charity (the one that sets things right), and (3) competence (with the capability to use or reuse resources cleverly).

Character first

It is important to remind ourselves (magpaalalahanan) that the nation has a character that includes glorifying God and caring for one another. We will not leave everything to officials to help us, which is why we exclaim in the preamble of our 1987 charter that we are “imploring the aid of Almighty God” not to kill criminals but “to build a just and humane society.”

In the modern field of communication, where it is difficult to combat the widespread and rapid flow of fake news, deepfakes, and disinformation, we seek out and highlight fact-checks.

We can pull the curtains aside, open the windows, and see and feel the surroundings, not just staring out the closed windows. If we opt to conduct full public and academic discussions on UniTeam for instance, we will not only smell the stench of one partner (sadly, that’s how it is, because we voted for her or let her evade legitimate campaign issues to win in the polls without even attending the media-covered debates), but the two of them in tandem, their frenemies in the Senate, House of Representatives, magistrates, and the plight of young and old voters.

Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Ninoy Aquino, and other heroes and freedom fighters gave up their lives, discerning that the Filipino nation is worth dying and living for.

Kailangan din nating magalit.

We carry the character that fights for a better future for our children and grandchildren in serious trouble of both them and their place being ripped down (read: lubog, mabilis malubog, matagal malubog) despite billions and trillions of pesos being “used” for flood control, ghost projects, and other public works in recent years.

While we do charitable acts which are now getting more instinctive and more upsetting, as can be gleaned from our forcefully swelling withholding taxes and many other public dues and confidential funds, and while ours is a largely competent citizenry—thanks in part to OFWs—the Filipino character carries the day.