Moral Decay of Filipinos - Ultimate Dissertation

A convergence of infatuation with Hollywood's movies and creeping culture of corruption, which seeds were sown by the Marcos dictatorship, have personified the moral degradation of Filipinos. Star-struck mentality swept the rich and famous, the political elite and all levels of society. It began when the government itself allowed the construction of the eventually ghost-haunted Manila Film Center where explicit and sex-oriented foreign films uncensored by then Board of Censors were exhibited to record-breaking crowds. 

In due time, local film producers followed suit by producing movies where bare skins were the primary attraction rather than exceptional story lines. Thus, the shy and demure Maria Clara-type film stars were replaced by daring and baring sexy bombshells whose allure and exploits later on extended beyond the silver screen into real life.

Moral Decay of Filipinos - Penultimate Dissertation

What was previously regarded as taboo in a morally upright society had earned grudging tolerance and virtual acceptance when a performance-challenged solon proudly flaunted publicly his marital indiscretions. Notwithstanding religious disapproval, an immature electorate was hoodwinked to award him the highest political post of the land on the basis of his national fame as a multi-awarded movie actor. Just as the Marcos dictatorship was toppled by EDSA People Power Revolution, also known as EDSA 1, the Erap Estrada rule was cut short by EDSA 2 which installed the constitutional succession of the Arroyo regime. 

Of course, the corruption and excesses of the Arroyo regime that could approximate the Marcos era would be another long story. Still, the immaturity of the voters awashed with star-struck mentality persists until who knows when as famous non-performing assets manage to remain in public office.

Moral Decay of the Filipinos

Many columnists have decried for so long a time that the Filipinos' moral values have deteriorated for so many decades. The tremendous deprivation suffered by most Filipinos during the Japanese occupation had certainly scarred the psyche of many who subscribed to the idea that the end did justify the means to achieve the objective of winning the survival of the fittest. As money is said to be the root of all evils so political power provided the door to amass oodles of money.   

In the 1948 presidential elections between Elpidio Quirino and Jose P. Laurel, dirty politics reared its ugly head as the birds and the bees as well as the dead were said to cast their votes. President Quirino's administration gained notoriety for its rumored "golden arinola" or chamber pot in English. But, it was overshadowed by its highly controversial Senate President who uttered the haughty statement "What are we in power for!".  Nevertheless, the graft and corruption of this era could be considered peanuts when compared to the gargantuan rapacity of the succeeding Marcos-Erap-Arroyo triumvirate.