A Call to all Filipinos: LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
February 25th, 2006 at 11:35 am (General, National Politics)
Tonight I cry. I cry because of fear, anxiety and frustration. There is something very wrong with the country today and not enough people care.
Most of us have stopped caring. Regular and endless political bickering, grandstanding and senseless protests has made most of us numb and apathetic towards our nation’s political status.
Yesterday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the entire Philippines under a “State of National Emergency.” Having done so has allowed her to arrest without any warrants and interfere with the right to freedom of expression. First to suffer was UP’s Professor Randy David who was marching from UP towards the EDSA Shrine when he was “invited” for questioning. Then, Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran was arrested based on a 21-year old case of rebellion against him. Tribune, perceived to be pro-Estrada, was supposedly raided. The Philippine National Police (PNP) downplayed the reported raid by calling it a “strong presence” in the Tribune offices. And as if not content with their “strong presence” at the Tribune office, the PNP has issued a warning to all media organizations who do not follow the “standards” of the Arroyo administration could suffer the same fate.
Many people do not protest against Arroyo not because they trust and believe in her. Rather, they fear the unknown. If not Arroyo, then who? I have asked myself the very same question a hundred times (or more). Raul Roco and Fernando Poe, Jr are both dead. Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is unusually quiet and seemingly unwilling to step up. Vice-President Noli de Castro is firmly on Arroyo’s side and so is House Speaker Jose de Venecia.
The only logical and legal choice is Senate President Franklin Drilon. Unfortunately, Drilon has failed to strongly convey his stand against Arroyo. He has not sufficiently aligned himself for the opposition. He is, to a certain extent, fence-sitting.
So the country is left with no choice.
Yes, there are no real alternatives to Arroyo. But I don’t think that the choice right now is between Arroyo and somebody else. The choice we make is between democracy and martial law.
And I choose democracy. At this point in time, I don’t even care who leads the country, as long as it is not under martial law or something akin to it.
Although I understand the confusion and conflicting thoughts bothering the minds of most Filipinos, I strongly urge everybody to pick a side. Not for Arroyo or against her, but for democracy or against it. This is not about picking a lesser evil, but about standing up for our rights.
This is a crucial moment for all Filipinos. What we choose and how we express it can be a new way of expressing people power. Rallying in the streets might not be effective any more, but speaking up can be done in other ways.
Personally, I don’t think that going out in the streets at this point in time is the right way of doing it. It only gives Arroyo more ammunition to do as she pleases.
I urge all Filipinos to pick a side and let your voice be heard. Let us not wait for something drastic or tragic to happen before we pick a side. Let us not wait for our right to freedom of expression to be supressed before we make our choice.
This is my way of saying
No ifs, no buts.
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Bert M. Drona said,
February 26, 2006 at 10:13 am
These “politics of the streets,” etc. led by diverse groups of conflicting interests and the Arroyo regime reacting to them are nothing new; we’ve been there, done that: in EDSA 1, EDSA 2 and EDSA 3 (if the Oakwood Mutiny is lumped with both).
As we all see/experience, the long-run results are the same: ever-worsening existence for the majority. Because we, the so-called educated among the middle class and up, only talk among and plan for ourselves, only think within a caged mentality, without looking at and/or avoiding the need to deal with the root causes of our socioeconomic problems, which requires questioning our basic assumptions: the socioeconomic system we inherited from America and unquestioningly practice/propagate. We do not question because we profit from it.
And at the same time we ignore and put down the poor and ignorant, we are that arrogant and cocksure. Thus, w e all get bogged down and spent on personalities among our so-called leadership who, then and now, still have no honest desires and actions that would lead to public good (It is so discouraging and outrageous to see an endless pretense/show to “fool the people, buy the people and off the people.)”
Most of these personalities are from within our ranks of so-called educated class; and many of us desire to be among these personalities in power: in government to make and have our share in the people’s money cum power.
Thus we want to keep the majority ignorant and use them only for our own selfish purposes. We know that with an ignorant majority, we can easily fool and get no pressure from them to have us change our decisions which adversely impact the majority in the long haul. Radical changes for their betterment and for the common good will therefore not come from us.
Unless the majority of the populace are made to raise their national consciousness (nationalism) and thus gain national unity and united action, fundamental changes for the generations of Filipinos, for their common good will never come to fruition. Of course, again, we so-called educated do not want these fundamental changes to occur.
So we continue to self-destruct as a people, WHILE our foreign “friends and /or naturalized citizens,” i.e. Chinese, American, Japanese, Canadian, Korean, etc. thanks to the WTO, laugh at us and enjoy themselves in our house, i.e. homeland, take our women and children, our patrimony: our land and its minerals, buy off/shut our factories, convert our agricultural lands into malls and golf course, steal our accumulated native knowledge, etc. all so very cheaply with our devaluated peso. At the same time, depriving millions of natives of decent jobs. We the so-called educated are traitors by allowing these economic disasters to perpetuate since we can still go on with our selfish and merry ways.
It’s been 40+ years since we last enjoyed a “Filipino First” national policy, to look out for #1, i.e. us native but decolonized Filipinos. I hope it will not be as long, that I witness a nationalist revolution come to stop us in our self-destruction, for the sake of our children, grandchildren and the next generations of native Filipinos.
Bert
http://thefilipinomind.blogspot.com/
Arbet said,
February 26, 2006 at 10:22 am
I think there’s a chance that it will be blogs’ turn to shine, especially if the current dispensation closes down all media orgs.
thepublicthing said,
February 26, 2006 at 4:16 pm
I’ve linked you by the way, hope you dont mind.
Danielle said,
February 28, 2006 at 6:24 am
I must congratulate you for such a wonderful essay. I have texted my friends and family and told them that they should log on to your web page and read your “I Pick Democracy” essay. (I noticed you blogged in MLQ’s web page and paraphrased your essay)
pilipinaskongmahal said,
February 28, 2006 at 9:04 am
I would like to address this to those in the military and PNP who entertain violent or nonviolent extra-constitutional means for a change in leadership. Please give this careful thought and consideration. We as a country and people are not prepared for this.
I also address this to my fellow Filipinos who are tired and frustrated with the current situation.
I personally believe that GMA is the worst leader this country has had so far. Her own corruption, along with her acceptance of the corruption of her husband and relatives, is no different from the corruption of Marcos, FVR, and Estrada. For Marcos, the staggering amount of sequestered cash, accounts, jewelry, and properties, showed us the magnitude of his greed. Cory was an honest president. However, her hesitation to condemn/stop the corruption of her immediate relatives was seen by others as a welcome sign, saying “come join the government and make your fortune.” Ramos comes next to GMA as our country’s worst leader. He used the media to show the country how “good” we were doing. In reality, we were doing quite badly. The world economy then, with the USA in particular, was performing well as it recovered from mid-90’s financial crisis. Hot money was flowing to this part of the world. It was allocated to Thailand, China, Malaysia, Hongkong, Indonesia, and, lastly, the Philippines. We had the smallest allocation. We were last and got the latak. If you look closer then at the economic growth that FVR was bragging about, we may have had positive figures but we were actually the worst performing country in Southeast Asia. Today, even Vietnam is ahead of us in growth. It was during FVR’s time that I first heard of corruption in the billions for single incidents. NAIA3/PIATCO, PEA/AMARI, Clark Centennial project, NPC/IPP anomalies, these were all started during FVR’s term. Now, they are still existing problem projects, though he made his money already. He privatized a lot of government assets and got his percentage. This percentage, to his mind, was not corruption. What I know is, he was elected as president by the Filipino people and paid as president. Therefore that money belonged to the country. He was selling Philippine assets. Ask people who knew about his shenanigans. It was under FVR that a surrogate/mistress first lady was given presidential security guards. This practice was something Estrada merely continued. FVR and Estrada had the same womanizing values and corrupt way of life. Public service was their way to enrich themselves. FVR was just the smarter one, whose corruption was of a grander magnitude but so cleverly hidden.
GMA, in terms of corruption, was the same as FVR. What makes her worse was that, to remain in power and perpetuate herself, she would lie and make promises. She wheels and deals with jueteng lords, drug lords, politicians, and the military and PNP hierarchy. She ridiculed and manipulated the Law of the country. She kept herself, her family, and selected cronies above and exempted from the Law of our country. Garcilliano and Joc Joc Bolante now laugh and look down on the Filipino people. They can brag about how smart they were to get away with their schemes. GMA would deal with the devil himself, offering our country just to remain in power.
My fellow Filipinos, whether you are a common citizen or a member of the military and PNP, we all have the same negative views of our country’s leadership. We are all frustrated. However, I seriously believe that we are not prepared for another extra-constitutional change in leadership. The country’s condition will probably just get even worse. The fact is we do not have a sufficient alternative to replace the GMA administration. We might end up with a leadership that is even more corrupt and inept. Or my greater fear is that it will splinter and destroy our Philippines.
Marcos was the Philippines’ nightmare for 20 long years. God/Allah, gave us the chance to prove ourselves capable by allowing EDSA 1 and 2. We were given these 20 years and yet we have failed. As a people, as a nation, we have failed.
I was there for EDSA 1 and 2, with the courage and enthusiasm to support the change in leadership. There was no EDSA 3. If there was, I would not have gone out to support it.
These are my thoughts then:
1) EDSA 1 produced the results I already mentioned. Cory is a good person but lacked the will to apply the law to her relatives. Corruption took hold within the administration, congress, judiciary, and local governments. FVR took over and we were left with a corrupt leader and the same corrupt government. He legitimized womanizing and made it acceptable in government. Our values deteriorated. Estrada merely continued FVR’s legacy.
2) With EDSA 2, hopes were again raised but disappointment soon followed. Politicians merely changed parties and continued their plunder of the country’s budget. Now we have a first family just as greedy and entrenched in the corruption. The corrupt officials, who were supposed to be removed by EDSA 2, merely became the opposition. There is no way I would respect these individuals to lead the government again.
3) The military/PNP leadership is also plagued by people just as corrupt and possessing the same womanizing values. Look at Gen. Garcia’s case. The amounts in the hundreds of millions were shocking. There is still no conviction with the appropriate penalty. The magnitude of that crime is equivalent to plunder and the law prescribes death as a maximum penalty. There are also several sectors of the military that are guilty of civilian atrocities.
4) In terms of civil society and NGO’s, time has proven that their leaders also had their own selfish agenda. The sector was weakened as it fell prey to corruption and politics. Dinky Soliman’s mea culpa is an example. It was too little, too late.
5) Who will step up and lead with the complete trust and confidence of the Filipino people?
I started thinking then: is this is a question of leadership or a question of our people’s values? Within the government, in the military/PNP, and among the citizens, I know we still have a lot of good people. Why are they silent? Why are they not making their good values and voices heard? Why are they not testifying? Are we waiting for a HERO?
I am just as guilty as most Filipinos. I was waiting for a hero. I wanted a quick solution to solve our problems but I was not willing to get involved. I was scared to come out and risk the uncertainty. There is no quick, easy, and painless solution. This solution involves me. It involves all of us. It will have to involve the Filipino people and it will take time.
I will start by being brave enough to wear a ribbon with our flag’s colors: blue, white, yellow, and red. I will wear it on me at all times. I will put it in my vehicles. It will be a sign of personal commitment. I want it to tell and show people, that now I will try to truly follow the law. I want to be a proud Filipino. If I see someone breaking the law, no matter how trivial, I will remind them that the law is both for you and me. If you see me breaking the law, remind me of my commitment. The ribbons will be a way to remind and force me to honor my commitment. A good Filipino named Alexander Ledesma Lacson outlined it so well in his book “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country.” I will try and follow these.
I am an individual Filipino. I have no political ambitions. I just want a country at peace. A country whose leadership in reality serves the people, and not the other way around. I look forward to a country whose leaders don’t go around bragging that they are God’s/Allah’s answer to its problems and that they are the best leader for the country, when in fact hunger and poverty prevail. They cannot even leave the palace or their homes if not surrounded by a sea of bodyguards. I do not want a country whose leader blames all but herself.
I am an individual Filipino. If you are like me and believe in what I write, wear your ribbon of our flag’s colors. It is not illegal for military/PNP or government men and women to wear these ribbons. Pass this letter around. I am sorry but my limitation with the languages does not allow me to communicate in the other dialects. Please help me if you can and translate it into the other dialects and then spread it around the Visayas and Mindanao.
Our government has agencies and organizations; our civil society has numerous movements and organizations as well. There is no need to create more. What is needed are individuals with a commitment to work towards a good Philippines. No big flashy campaign, just something personal and heartfelt. This is not a quick solution. It will take time but it will be peaceful. Besides, we have wasted 40 years already. What we need are individuals who want to leave a good Philippines for their children.
andrew almeda said,
January 15, 2008 at 9:57 am
There is something very wrong with the country today and not enough people care. It is only Bayani Fernando who cares and has the best plan for the country and he is going to make it happen. Not you anti GMA and oppossionist and opportunist. The people are tired of you and need a change. Bayani Fernando will chenge all of that, so dont despair there is hope after all in Bayani Fernando !11 Let us all support him come 2010. Think Philippines Think for Bayani Fernando !!!!