State is sovereign Expression.
Country is sovereign Motion.
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How sovereign authority is to be utilized to serve the Nation through the Republic within a Philippine democracy are its principles.
National power and its structures are Constitutional accommodations - exclusively.
Therefore -
National power must be aligned with Constitutional authority - always.
National power must be made to serve the people - always.
Justice serves the State not because the State is perfect but because the State is flawed and human from the very beginning. This is why the symbol of a Republic is a shield.
And it's wings are sheltering wings.
All Country are zealous for their peoples. But the most zealous of all, as far as our experience may tell, are Republics. This presents us with dangers and advantages unique to our form.
And the most severe, as far as the question of rule is concerned, is the subject of how power is to be preserved, accommodated, and duly exercised in and through the Republic form.
Whatever advantages of permanence lost to us shall linger long after the flames from which all Republics are born have become transformed into the light that warms us, ever guides us, and bids us to carry on marching forward.
Continuity, Concordance, Concentration, Coherence - which Monarchical States, though differing in each their accommodations, reserve to each themselves in a way original to their form, we must in a Republic consistently address as though they were in danger.
This is cost of our Liberty, an eternal vigilance.
Because if we do not properly address these matters - whenever we must, our own zeal will consume us. Toxic power will poison our labor of Country.
In a democracy, we are all responsible for each other's good. The rights we enjoy demand it.
If we as a people falter in our vigilance, if we lose our civic sense and cause this public's trust to fail, what trustworthy fruit shall we reap from this Republic then?
Sovereignty is an emanation of the popular will of the Philippine nation - the people - as our whole in general, but specifically, especially where politics are concerned, in our present form and favor.
How our Republic builds is enabled by how the Philippine State establishes itself in power.
Let us always be reminded that - power without authority is toxic to the State. That power must always align with Constitutional authority - for our own sake. Power itself in a Republic does not necessarily corrupt. A lingering sense of popular powerlessness does - and will.
Tyrants and tyranny are not just of people. They have a powerful social manifestation. Betrayal of the public trust is a betrayal of national power.
Corruption is born of political ambition first. It is never a thing that arises from origins purely civic in nature. But will consume with desire what is civic and make it all political.
A purely political State will appear obscure even to itself. Civics and politics must always agree on a balance. It is a tension, not born of evil fears, but of zeal for the good - a vigilant trust.
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, so the saying goes.
And since we have to take the human being as we are, we have to also take our society as it is - there will always be a degree of corruption in an otherwise healthy Republic, but when the common cold is enough to kill us off, that is another matter altogether... Something, somewhere is not in order...
Politics serve. We must demystify the political culture of our Republic and make it clear. Public service is a calling to serve. It is not an ambition to power but nonetheless remains a reward unto itself.
For all consequent successes of the State begins and ends with its most faithful servants - along with its prestige and its rewards.
There is a better way to for the Filipino to prosper, a much surer way. Indeed, if only we can get Country right, it shall be very well for all of us - rich or poor, man or woman, young or young-once.
The popular ambition is a meaningful happiness born in pursuit of freedoms reachable, reasonable, and real; emanating from a Liberty that shines out as a light, to enlighten our nation, nourish the souls of our citizenry, and embrace with a sheltering warmth, the life of the many communities that live within our one Republic whole.
Happiness is different for each person.
However, it is always a consistent theme among all States. How happy it is to be happy - and be whole; one, clear blue Sky in an eternal, golden Summer. War will not purchase for us these things. Therefore, wherever war may seek to present itself, war must be met and withstood. By our peace.
And with all our means.
My fellow Filipinos, brothers and sisters of the promise -
The peace process is a litmus test for this one Filipino nation. I have long carried this message of peace and have consistently conveyed it through my writing.
If by 2020 we are still a split people, it might become less and less likely that we will reach our goal by 2046, and we will fall short.
Hopelessness in all our national communities along with all its attendant paralysis is what we must address: Stagnation, retardation, and impotency in the national life.
National power must be made to serve the vision of our Constitution and build for our people something more worthy of our labors together as one Country.
Hunger in the nation should be one of the first on the list of things we should seek to efficiently channel our national power onto and effectively address.
If we take us for what we are, we know it may not be a thing we can do in haste, or an accomplishment we may claim by our disparate parts.
This nation must prosper the peace, prosper the people - together this time.
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