NEED FOR MORAL CODE OF CONDUCT
By Rodolfo A. Arizala
At these diffucult and trying moments in our country either due to natural or man-made calamities, it is relevant to have strength of character, self-reliance and abiding faith. And this could be made possible by observance of a code of moral conduct in our daily lives. In other words, a moral conscience.
We have to remember, however, that the Oriental concept of morality differs from those observe in the Occident. In Oriental culture where "loss of face" is important, when word of honor is held as sacred as life itself, there is that "command responsibility" and failure to assume such responsibiity or fulfill a mission for whatever reasons deserves atonement. In Japan, for example, "hara-kiri" was resorted to in the past. And recently, a form of atonement is observed by making public confessions of their guilt and they either go to jail or temple to undergo a sort of "retreat" as practiced by the Catholics during Holy Week. The readers may recall that when a bridge collapsed in one of the Southeast Asian countries, the official responsible for the construction of such bridge made a public confession of guilt, assumed responsibility and resigned from his position.
We Filipinos on the other hand have a different attitude from our Asian brothers. We don´t have only the tendency to deny the obvious but even adopt a "kapit-tuko" (hanging on like lizard) attitude by clinging desperately to positions held. And when caught in a corner and have no other alternative, that is the only time that we resign. We also have the tendency to blame others for our own mistakes.
It is likewise observed that we announce to the extent of bragging that we have adopted the Amercian brand of democracy having copied their Constitution and system of government. Yet, while an American Republican will die a Republican, or a Democrat will die a Democrat, we have seen Filipino politicians change political parties as often as they change their clothes. And to justify such political "acrobatic act" we invented all kinds of political alliance such as the "rainbow coalition" of recent vintage. There are also instances when leaders and their followers behave like rats on a sinking vessel. When their boat is about to sink, the officers and crew members start jumping overboard to save their own lives and hang on to their life-vests unmindful of the safety of the passengers. The captain of the vessel by naval or marine tradition is supposed to sink with the ship. However, it is not uncommon to read these days stories of captains of vessels disappearing like mists to surface alive several days after the boat sunk.
In other words, faithful observance of duties is gone; the Spanish "palabra de honor" (word of honor), is gone as well as "urbanidad" (civility) and "delicadeza" (above reproach). Regretfully, the age of loyalty seem to disappear also and replaced by the age of perfidy. Even the "chivalry" of a Don Quixote is gone. Of course, we may still find in our midst "Sancho Panzas" with loyalty but of another type - that of "canine devotion".
This recall to mind what is stated in the "Bushido" - the Warrior´s Code whereby a soldier pledged to four solemn oaths: to be second to none in the performance of duty; make himself useful to our Lord; be dutiful to parents; and attain greatness in charity. And according to "Bushido" we have to remember that "Time changes. Each age has ideas of morality which are no more