When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan (Proverbs 29:2).”

We cannot defy ancient wisdom. The saying gives us a better illumination to think more clearly about the move to change the constitution for the extension of president Benigno Aquino's term. This mode of analysis helps avoid the camouflage of reasons: just who and what are they trying to perpetuate? No one must bluff somebody into a move or the restraint of such. About changing the constitution for rationales apart from a president's extension, there is no argument that it is as urgent as upgrading a Windows XP program to accommodate the screaming demand that only a Windows 8.1 can handle (I am not a computer expert but this parallelism makes sense). The “obsolete” minds will not dare to argue the need for upgrading our government.

In our current constitution, there are provisions that cannot work best to improve the economy. I also see the need for a federalized system where our highly regionalistic orientations will not anymore be overshadowed with Manila-centric governance. In a country composed of separate islands, our current NCR-centric mindset has proven to fail repeatedly. Using the learning organization—a current organizational theory--as reference, our country cannot afford to fail that long without a bit to learn. How our bureaucracies have turned into a house of cards for failing to learn! Undeniably, the regionalistic cultures cannot be brushed aside so that a few can insist on some goals and programs that are detrimental to the local governments which only become “resources”. Even the Local Government Code of 1991 cannot settle this decades-long sentiment. The framework of governance needs an overhaul.

The argument that federalism will fail because it could be the breeding ground for warlordism needs more support. This line of thinking, too, could be used as a lame excuse for prolonging the mediocrity of systems and processes for wanton interests. What about the issue of changing the constitution to extend president Aquino's term? The answer depends on his reputation. If he is a righteous leader, people will rejoice; otherwise, many will lament. The first part of P-Noy's tenure attracted the praise of international observers and the socially-constructed reality could not be far from the objective reality. The latter part of Aquino's term, however, has been shaken by partisan leadership style and the depravity of some allies. Whether or not P-Noy will be worth extending for the next six years depends on those who believe in his leadership. For me, he is not perfect but if he learned from experience he is the most trustworthy compared to his vociferous critics, prospect successors and the power-mad nuisances combined.

Who, for instance, could take the moral and political courage to impeach Corona and help resolve the credibility of our justice system? Who dared to scold government offices when he could have dilly-dallied and feasted with hypocritical niceties like common politicians during his speeches? If he were not the president, someone else could have ordered individuals to get easy with erring scammers on high pedestals. The background of P-Noy as a son of exemplars can also add to his credibility for a term extension. He is bound to continue the family legacy of honor. President Aquino, however, must be careful about clipping the powers of the judiciary system in the charter change because this will have a long-term impact and will encourage vile presidents who might succeed him.

In addition, the public still needs utmost vigilance about the constitution's revision because Aquino's allies might only serve their hideous motives. The extension of a president's term must also pass the test of barring rooms for depraved individuals at the helm. But even with dark intents in the context which seem perpetual, a change of our governance framework is long overdue. We cannot anymore use wrong motives around as reasons to stop the move for why would we be content to use the possibility of a virus to stop a digital system's upgrade? Now is the best time for such change unless we can ever find a better leader (which is doubtful) who will do it later. Should we just suffer the opportunity losses and the chance to behold the light? We cannot anymore tolerate a house of cards.