INTRODUCTION

For many years, the Republic of the Philippines has been named as one of the most

corrupt countries in the world. According to Transparency International (2010), a global

coalition against corruption, the Philippines’ Corruption Perception Index plays in the 2.0-3.0

score range, where a score of 10 connotes least corrupt nation. Now, the Philippines is perceived

as the 6th most corrupt country in the Asia Pacific region and 4th most corrupt among the 10-

members of the ASEAN (Transparency International, 2010). Historians argue that the risk

factors of corruption in the country are founded upon the colonial oppression experienced by the

countrymen for centuries which lead to greediness for power and money (Faundo, 2009).

Moreover, de Dios & Ferrer (n.d.) pointed out that the principal agents of corruption are those

that hold high positions in the government (p. 3). Although, the politicians are governed by the

written rules embodied by the Constitution, one can always internally regulate the behaviors of

their subordinates by inflicting fear or bribery. With this capability of the politicians, the public

is forced to act in their self-interest to maximize their own welfare. The complexity of the

politician-public relationship leads to a status quo of bribery in the Philippines (de Dios & Ferrer,

n.d.).

Corruption in the Philippines has been rampant during the Marcos regime, which has

placed the country in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most corrupt country in the

1980s (Elliot, 2008). Nevertheless, it again took its pace during the Arroyo administration with

the advent of the 2004 presidential elections where President Arroyo allegedly cheated to win the

seat which she later on admitted. This was followed by a controversial pardon given to former

President Estrada and a scandal over kickbacks in a telecommunications deal. The public took its

toll during the 2010 elections with the forefront of the mass media to encourage citizens to

register and vote, especially the youth by electing President Benigno Aquino III as the president

with the promise to tackle that major concerns of the country (Global Advice Network, 2010).

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Aquino presented the problems faced

by the country as inherited from the previous government. He enumerated several problems

concerning the education, poverty, injustice, environment and health care which are all founded

from improper budget allocation and corruption. Accordingly, he sought the participation of
every Filipino in his projects to alleviate the problems through good governance (Official

Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 2010).

The youth has been encouraged by many to participate in nation-building – one of which

is the National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, expressing that the cultivation of the motherland is burdened

upon the youth. In a survey by the Social Weather Station, the youth acknowledge that

governance is one of the main problems by the country, nevertheless they respond with either

helplessness or apathy (The Role of Youth in the Philippines, n.d.). In essence, the role of the

youth is participation in the various matters: law making, justifying rights and development of

society among others. In order to do so, the youth must be aware, committed, disciplined,

motivated, respectful, community-oriented, and ethical (Domino, 2005).

The values needed by the youth to properly play his/her role in nation-building and

governance together with service, stewardship, humility, obedience, compassion, silence and

good speech, conversatio morum, and ora et labora are among the hallmarks of Benedictine

values imbued to students in St. Scholastica’s College. With these values Scholasticans are

molded into critically aware and socially responsible agents of change envisioned to have a

passion for service and commitment for the transformation of a just and equitable society (St.

Scholastica’s College, n.d.). In support of this, Marquez (2010) stated, “the gauge of social

change of Scholasticans is that if you see there’s something wrong then you will have to start

moving then you will have to take the position and you would have to act – Scholasticans have

been doing that and they’ve been vigilant for social change” (Personal communication).

Moreover, Scholasticans find opportunities to change something wrong even if their ways are

small (Carbon, 2010).

Because of these, the group takes aim to device a project to help ensure good governance

in the barangay level by focusing on empowerment and education of the youth.