Imagine this: Singapore in the 1960s. The air is heavy with uncertainty, the streets are crowded, and people are struggling to survive. They had no oil, no gold, no natural resources. Just a tiny island separated from Malaysia, and many thought it would never make it.

But then came a leader, Lee Kuan Yew. With a determined face and a clear vision, he told his people: “This is not the end. This is just the beginning.” He believed that for Singapore to survive, it had to be clean, honest, and disciplined. And he turned that belief into action.

They built a strong system against corruption. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) made sure that no one, whether a simple employee or a high-ranking minister, was above the law. If you were caught stealing or taking bribes, you would face the consequences. No palakasan, no padrino. This built trust between the people and the government.

Education also became their weapon. Meritocracy was the rule—kung sino ang deserving, siya ang aangat. Students were trained to be globally competitive. Leaders and public servants were given high salaries to lessen the temptation of corruption. People knew that their future would depend on hard work and skill, not connections.

Discipline was strict. Streets were clean, laws were firm. Even small things like littering or vandalism had serious consequences. And yes, their laws felt harsh, but they worked. Order was built, respect was earned.

And today, when you look at Singapore, the skyline glowing at night, Marina Bay Sands, the Supertree Grove—you see a nation that rose against all odds. From a struggling island to a first-world country admired by many.

Singapore’s story is not just about progress. It’s about leadership with integrity, discipline that brought order, and a people who believed in change.

As I reflect today, I believe my beloved country can also attain the same progress. We are blessed with rich resources—if only we can get rid of corruption. The sad truth is that corruption has become rampant, and many politicians have grown greedy for positions. For them, it’s about power, control, and easier access to money.

I wish these people would think not only of themselves but of the future—the future of their great-great-grandchildren who may end up living in a broken country that they are destroying today.

It’s time for us Filipinos to be united. Because if we stand as one, they cannot destroy us. The only reason they laugh at us behind our backs is because we remain divided: Pinklawans versus DDS, Marcos loyalists versus critics, and those who have simply stopped caring, thinking they can’t do anything about it.

It’s about time we stop fighting for personalities and start standing for what truly matters: accountability, good governance, and the future of the Filipino people.

The future of our children depends on the unity we choose today.

📸: AI- generated for story representation