A Time to Wake Up: Corruption, Greed, and Our Inner Healing
- Celine Veloso
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
Lately, our country has been flooded; not only with typhoons and rising waters, but with something just as destructive and far more invisible: corruption. Billions of pesos, meant to protect communities and save lives, have been siphoned away, leaving people vulnerable and broken.
It’s frustrating. It’s heartbreaking. And honestly, it’s easy to feel helpless.
But what I’ve learned through Reiki is that healing never begins from the outside. It begins within. And that includes me, too. I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve looked away at times, and I continue to face my own shadows. But I believe every moment is a chance to choose better, for ourselves and for our country.
Greed Is an Energy We All Must Face
When we hear about officials stealing public funds, disgust is natural. But here’s the truth I’ve had to face in myself: in subtle ways, that same energy of greed, dishonesty, or entitlement can live in us, too.
Have I ever…
Dismissed something wrong because hindi naman ako apektado?
Chosen pride over humility?
Cut corners because “okay lang naman”?
Yes. And maybe you have, too.
Reiki teaches us that the energy we cultivate inside us affects the whole. If we want real change in the Philippines, we can’t just point outward, we also have to look inward.
The Reiki Principles as a Path Back to Integrity
The 5 Reiki principles guide me every day, especially when I feel overwhelmed by the state of the world. They aren’t about being perfect, but about realigning, one choice at a time.
Just for today, I will not be angry. Anger is valid, and I have felt plenty of it. But staying in anger only drains me. Instead, I try to channel it into action by speaking truth, voting wisely, and supporting leaders who embody integrity.
Just for today, I will not worry. Sometimes I worry that nothing will ever change. But when I sit in that fear too long, my spirit feels heavy. Reiki reminds me to trust that every small step of healing, even mine, adds to a collective awakening.
Just for today, I will be grateful. Gratitude keeps me soft. Even in a broken system, I see honesty in a street vendor, courage in whistleblowers, prayers from our elders.
And yes, even in the floods, painful as they were, I find something to be grateful for. Because those very waters uncovered the truth, bringing to light the anomalous flood control projects that might have otherwise stayed hidden.
Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring suffering—it means seeing how even hardship can awaken us, push us toward awareness, and remind us that light will always find its way through the cracks.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly. This is a big one for me. It’s not just about “work” but how I live. Can I be honest even when no one is watching? Can I follow through even when it’s inconvenient? I try, and I keep trying.
Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing. Kindness is my reset button. It’s not always easy, but I’ve seen how one act of kindness can change the energy of a room, a conversation, even a day.
Returning to the Ten Commandments: A Spiritual Compass
As a Filipino, I also find myself returning to the Ten Commandments as reminders of who we are called to be.
Thou shalt not steal. — Not just money, but time, trust, and truth.
Thou shalt not covet. — Desire turns toxic when it forgets gratitude.
Thou shalt not kill. — Corruption kills; let’s choose to protect life in all its forms.
Thou shalt not bear false witness. — Lies unravel the soul of a nation.
Honor thy father and mother. — Let’s honor the generations before us by creating something better.
The Commandments and Reiki principles walk hand-in-hand; both call us to awareness, honesty, and alignment with light.
Collective Healing Starts with Us
If corruption is the sickness, then consciousness is the cure.
We don’t need to wait for senators, mayors, or presidents to heal this country. You and I, ordinary citizens hold power. Even in small ways.
Raise your vibration.
Practice truth.
Teach love.
Pray deeply.
Refuse to participate in even “small corruption.”
Be a clear channel for divine light in your home, your work, your community.
Let’s Be the Energy We Want for the Philippines
This is a spiritual emergency. But it is also a spiritual opportunity.
I know I’m still learning, still stumbling, still human. But I also know we are capable of choosing differently, together.
We can live better.
We can heal forward.
We can awaken, for ourselves and for the generations after us.
The Philippines needs awakened people. And the awakening starts with us.
Comments