Epal Power. Huwag Kang Magnakaw (English version)

If Frank H may say so himself, it's the beginning of all inspired approaches to end all inspired ways of stealing public funds. "Huwag Kang Magnakaw" (literally, "Don't You Steal") is the Tagalog translation of one of the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses. It is the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines reacting to news of corruption in the country so widespread it goes up to the legislative and executive branches of government. It's a not-so-simple T-shirt campaign against even a not-so-simple act like you can steal from government just by bringing home from the office a ballpen and a pad of paper; just imagine 1 million government employees doing so every 3 months. Been there, done that!

There is a Facebook page Huwag Kang Magnakaw; there is the news that Adamson University is into Huwag Kang Magnakaw advocacy (Arnel Galang, 29 September 2014, veritas846.ph); in fact, the campaign was launched by Adamson U itself on 27 September 2014 (Betheena Unite & Rachel Joy E Burce, 21 December 2014, mb.com.ph). Based on the 7th Commandment, HKM is a 7-year campaign for honesty and integrity.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has been seen wearing an HKM white T-shirt (abs-cbnnews.com), white for purity. In fact, it was he who made the public notice by asking some Manila parishioners wearing the shirt to walk around "to remind all mass attendees not to steal" (Editorial, 21 December 2014, mb.com.ph). Some 4 days ago, 23 December 2014, I was wearing one such shirt during the affair that celebrated the partnership among the Albacopa Federation of Cooperatives, the Department of Agrarian Reform in Region 1, Mayor's Office, and village officials of Pilar in Santa Maria, Pangasinan at the premises of the new Agrarian Information & Marketing Center (see my essay, "DAR, LGU & Albacopa partnership for agriculture in Eastern Pangasinan," 26 December 2014, Democratic Lit, .blogspot.com). Those who saw the shirt loved it. They would have loved it even more if somebody gave them their own HKM shirts.
I have since thought about it and come up with a new version that complements the original and in fact multiplies its power millions of times because of the language used, as English is the one spoken by many millions more than Tagalog (Filipino).
Epal Power is the modified version, my contribution to the Huwag Kang Magnakaw campaign. "Don't steal!" even without the shout (!) is a strong sound; it also appeals to the outside world, where we want the campaign to grow even stronger, especially among admirers, allies, and advocates abroad, and our families & friends here at home.
The word epal is slang for mahilig pumapel or attention grabber. Politicians are notorious epals, because they think remembrance of their faces will endear them to the voting public. We hate them for that. As we will be asking financial help from people, we will be effectively offering them a perfect way to do an epal and even be thanked for it.
Borrowing from People Power, I call it Epal Power because the one paying for the shirt has the privilege of putting on the sponsor's face with a proper name. This is privileged epal, without the shame attached to a private face in public claiming a public act. I believe this will encourage millions more people to contribute to the campaign because everyone likes to see one's face on anything. This is Epal Power for a good cause. You can even put your slogan or favorite quote at the back of the shirt.
Epal Power is exciting. It will attract millions of people because you market the idea in creative ways, calling it any name, like:
Air Power, if pilots support it because they can see where it's going and they know that the journey is the reward.
Backup Power, if you can convince merchants of electric generators to contribute to the fund, because they can see that it will energize Power.
Balance of Power, if you can get half of the Senators and half of the Representatives to support the movement with their own funds.
Bible Power, if you can entice some Bible-thumping preachers to join the movement and move audiences not only to tears but also to share.
Computer Power, if you can have thousands of mothers sponsor shirts with Photoshopped pictures of their babies.
Editor Power, if you can attract some editors to sponsor some shirts with their names on it as their editorial privilege.
Executive Power, if you can get department secretaries to support the movement with their mouths and their monies.
Flower Power, if expensive florists join the bandwagon because they know some seniors would like to smell the flowers now.
Girl Power, if you can print beautiful girls' pictures at the back of the shirts to attract the attention of the boys.
Green Power, if those who have the greens (bucks) contribute to shirt up those who have none of the above.
Interfaith Power, if you can convince different religious denominations to agree on the same message for the same purpose supported by the same biblical verse.
Legislative Power, if you can get a few senators and congressmen to pay for thousands of shirts with their names on those and you don't mind that they get credit for it.
Ocean Power, if you can get ship owners to see that with Epal Power they will rule the waves in freedom.
Paper Power, if you can get hundreds of authors of scientific papers to publish their names on T-shirts instead of hard-to-land technical journals.
Picture Power, if you can get photographers to submit their favorite photographs to appear in T-shirts with their names on each, because it's an angle they appreciate.
Plant Power, if you can get the financial assistance of private electric companies and power coops because they can see their own plants growing.
Pupil Power, if you can get students to raise funds even as they raise fun.
Purchasing Power, if you can attract thousands of people to buy the shirts without discounts, because they can see the power of giving.
Solar Power, if you can shine a light on family heads that they need Epal Power just as they need their respective solar plexus.
Standby Power, if you can convince hundreds of people to stand by in public places wearing their Epal Power shirts for good measure, because they can stand being stared at.
User Power, if you can get thousands of laptop owners to contribute for thousands of Epal Power shirts, because they know it's good for the system.
Wind Power, if you can convince manufacturers of electric fans to sponsor some T-shirts because it is cool for them to fan the flames of passion about good old public service so that people don't steal.
Epal Power. It's guaranteed to succeed beyond our wildest dreams. If you ask the rich to pay for a thousand shirts, they will gladly do it. It's a safe thing. There is no slur on anyone; there is no shame in sharing a shirt like it. It's like hitting 2 birds with 1 stone if you ask the politicians; note that after a politician says yes, he will be quietly thinking a thousand times if he is the one being snidely referred to in those shirts he is paying for? Mission accomplished! @