Manzanillas, Anyone?

THERE ARE CERTAIN TOWNS in India where there are trees called “manzanillas” which poisoned and killed anyone who rested in their shade. In the Philippines, “there are professional/traditional politicians, long been considered ‘human manzanillas,’ under whose ‘protective’ shade our people are languishing and agonizing.”

The Philippines has a feudal society ruled by these “human manzanillas” or vested interest groups which compromise with each other for their own mutual benefit with very few really caring about the general welfare and the common good. Within the vested interest groups are unholy alliances of political and economic power which support each other for maximizing authority, influence, and bargaining power.

Leaders of these alliances conspire to exploit the government and the public to the maximum and they do not hesitate to use the law enforcing agencies and the courts to support and justify their machinations. Our leadership apparently perceives national problems in petty terms and applies equally petty solutions — improvisations, palliatives, superficialities or window dressing. Does this not remind you of some of our government officials and politicians?** — Sign of the Cruz/Penpower Pilipinas