Whenever the photographer would yell “wacky!” during a shoot, the very definition of it confuses me. The quickest wacky pose I know is to raise two of my fingers and form it into a finger heart. The gesture became popular during the hit of the K-drama wave, where characters used it to portray a cute kind of love, happiness, or just to strike a pose. However, its context has changed in the Philippine setting when top contractor Sarah Discaya used a finger heart to convey a message to the public.
Discaya has become a household name since they were named by the president as one of the top contractors in the country. Their projects span the entire nation, with many believed to be anomalous. Reports say they allegedly operate nine companies with the same nature of business, sometimes even competing against each other in public biddings. Talk about monopolizing infrastructure projects and taking advantage of the system by placing prices higher than what the market offers today. Many were quick to notice their seemingly fast ascension in the social ladder, coupled with lifestyles that are lavish, glittering, and very much devoid of the ordinary Filipino’s struggle.
Recent news about substandard flood control projects uncovered by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas brought more attention to the issue. Inspectors found works that were either incomplete or below standard, raising public suspicion about the kind of contractors the government entrusts with taxpayers’ money. This is where the finger heart of Discaya becomes more than just a pose. It becomes a symbol of irony: a cheerful gesture masking the weight of corruption and inefficiency that Filipinos continue to endure.
We cannot just finger heart our way into finding who the real culprit is in this whole scandal. It may be a sign of positivity, but it is also an insult to those who are trying their best to put out the truth for everyone to know. The investigations done by agencies like the NBI are not for show; they require utmost effort, long hours, and persistence, because they too want justice for the taxes that come out of people’s pockets. There is nothing to be joyous about this whole situation, especially as the issue seems to drag on. The bigger fear is that it will eventually be forgotten, buried under the next wave of headlines.
I would like to finger heart those who are joining the cause in calling for accountability. They deserve to use this gesture among themselves because they are in unity to get to the bottom of things. Their voices on the streets are not in vain, as they have become part of a bigger cause. It is one that challenges the very positions of power in government today or perhaps, it should be the other way around. We should be the ones finger hearting those who are now slowly being held accountable. After all, true love for a country is not expressed in cute poses but in the courage to stand for what is right.