Did any of you catch "Strictly Politics" on ANC last night? The episode was on what we, the proudly anti-Gloria, call the bogus people's initiative. The guests were Atty. Raul Lambino, champion of the initiative, Rep. Roilo Golez, Atty. Howard Calleja, and two barangay captains, one from Cebu, the other from Iloilo (my apologies to them, their names escape me).
Never mind that I'd heard so much, almost too much, about how the DILG, other government officials, were involved in this exercise, it was still shocking. It was clear that the guests, apart from Atty. Lambino, were up in arms over the use of government agencies - the barangay captain from Iloilo called the inclusion of the petition in the barangay agenda as a "smuggled" initiative, the officials were told to "sneak" the petition into the agenda. The Cebuano barangay captain told of a meeting last week, called by the mayor and local government, that discussed "full support" if the signature gathering without having to explain anything to the people. They also spoke of signature gatherers and signatures being bought.
Golez couldn't get a straight answer from Lambino about how much it cost to print the over 400,000 signature sheets needed to be distributed among 42,000 barangays. Lambino kept saying it was all the work of groups like Sigaw ng Bayan and ULAP (Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines), which begged the question - how and from whom did they get the money? It costs at least Php200M to mount a nationwide campaign like this. Atty. Calleja said it was a "smuggled", illegal, initiative, citing the law and the Supreme Court. I had to laugh when Lambino claimed they had gathered over 1.5 million signatures as of last night - my, my, these guys should be drafted into the COMELEC, they count so fast!
As I watched, this question came to mind - how much more can the middle class Filipino take before he or she is enraged enough at Gloria Arroyo's blatant misuse of power? There's the Fertilizer Scam the Austeros of this world continue to gloss over, the alleged cheating that Gloria doesn't want discussed in the Congress or any court, the coddling of Garci et al, the use of executive power to suppress our basic freedoms (CPR, PP1017) and muzzle her lackeys (EO464), the imprudent excesses of her husband, the politization of the military, and the list goes on and on.
It didn't take long for the answer to come to me - sadly, it seems many people are willing to take very, very much more of this abuse. I mourn for the loss of national dignity, the ease with which we dismiss all this as par for the course, the loss of idealism and continued inaction. So many claim that cheating is "normal", and stop right there, not bothering to offer suggestions on how to erase it. So many say they don't like Gloria, didn't even vote for her, but are only too willing to let her stay on so as not to discombobulate their lives. They raise their eyebrows at the abuse, but are content to "discuss" from the comfort of their arm chairs and that's about it. Sorry, this "I do my part by earning a living for my family", etc., is great, but it's also very selfish. So much for "loving our country". That line from their mouths is beginning to sound pretty bogus to me.
7 comments:
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963
My convictions are borne out of actual experience. I have long complained and concerned myself about the fact that in a country where waterways are most abundant, our sea transport cost does not allow our productive enterprises any competitive advantage simply because the industry has become a fertile area for rent-seeking rewards being dispensed in exchange for political patronage. I do not see why we should continue to be burdened by a sea transport cost 40% of which can be traced to an activity called “cargo handling” being institutionally imposed by a government corporation. But this has been going on since the time of President Ramos when we were forced by international institutions to start deregulation of our sea transport systems.
I am familiar with the neo-hacienderos of the maritime industry and I guess they have their counter-parts in other sectors as well. The neo-hacienderos were “tame-me” during the Marcos regime. They supported President Cory, they tested the waters with President Ramos, they liked the ways of President Erap and now, they are really lording it over as if there is no tomorrow. But I do not think you will continue to let them con us into believing that the only way to move forward is to support President Arroyo. That is why they are also going to move heaven and earth to amend the Constitution, because that will be their guarantee for deliverance from having to answer for all the transgressions they have so far committed. They sure plan ahead, but even that is too shortsighted and ephemeral. They are just plain greedy!
This is just like agreeing to play basketball, but when the going gets tough we allow a team to break all the rules and get away with it. Then, finally, having won the game the winning players declare that after all what we were watching was a game of football, not basketball. They have to make this provision if they want the audience to come back for another season and believe they won the game “fair and square”.
You want an alternative? Try this for size - why not Erap? At least we have no problem about the legitimacy of his election. People that removed him from power can definitely also give it back to him. If it is so easy to give a habitually lying president the benefit of a doubt mainly because there is no other better alternative can you not pardon a person that has already suffered for five years? If people will trust him, I think there is room for him to reform in his profligate style of governance. "Naka-kaon na ug tagam" in Cebuano is when a person is able to taste the results of his own actions and vows not to repeat the experience. But let's hear out Erap first whether he really has "naka-kaon na ug tagam".
Only he can tell us.
I was wondering why the opposition and the anti-GMA groups have not called for a major rally/"show of force" vs. Arroyo this year.
Last year, may dalawang malalaking anti-GMA rally sa Makati before CPR was implemented.
I'm curious when anti-GMA forces (the Cory middle forces and the political Opposition, and the leftist groups) will combine their forces and call for another major rally to oppose Arroyo's Constitution (and call for her resignation.)
Kasi they haven't pa eh, this year.
(unless one considers the Feb. 24 peaceful gathering commemorating Edsa 1986 a major anti-Arroyo rally, which was disrupted by the police dahil may "coup" at "state of emergency" raw, with all rally permits cancelled for that day, CPR was implemented and arrests were made on the protesters.)
They should set an advance date for that, ASAP. And they should coordinate with the mayor and local police para walang disruptions or attempts to block the rallyists from going to the designated rally site on that day.
Hi John! I really think it's because we're in a valley of sorts, and will peak again when this bogus petition coems to a head. It' also a weather thing - it's really too hot for most folks to come out into the streets. Thinking about making our next Black Friday more weather friendly - meaning, early morning, not too physical, less serious. Let it not be said that we've become like the "unsmiling ones". :-D
It' also a weather thing - it's really too hot for most folks to come out into the streets.
yah, start na ng summer. but it's going to get worse though during the rainy season.
From the post
the loss of idealism and continued inaction
Simply because I have taken a different path is not loss of idealism. I take action, even how subtle just like blogging, and that is not inaction.
So many claim that cheating is "normal", and stop right there, not bothering to offer suggestions on how to erase it.
And I ask, will cheating disappear with Gloria's ouster?
So many say they don't like Gloria, didn't even vote for her, but are only too willing to let her stay on so as not to discombobulate their lives.
Because no clear path is being offered. What we see is more chaos if we oust Gloria NOW. Please take note of the bold and caps.
They raise their eyebrows at the abuse, but are content to "discuss" from the comfort of their arm chairs and that's about it.
That's not about it. I am not content to discuss. I seek lasting solution. I seek not moving on but moving forward.
Sorry, this "I do my part by earning a living for my family", etc., is great, but it's also very selfish. So much for "loving our country". That line from their mouths is beginning to sound pretty bogus to me.
Simply because I do not believe that your present courses of action won't solve our real problem, it makes me a sham, a bogus? Do I need to kowtow to your judgment and kind of reasoning to make me pure and holy? I am not saying that you are wrong. We simply differ in our opinions. And with the difference, I become a bogus, apologist, perverted, immoral, sham, fake and all other terms you can find in the book.
TO caffeinatedpinoy:
For sure not entirely and not at once, but it certainly will be a good start.
It was a good start in 1986. Look at Imelda and her children, where are they now? Have they paid for the crimes they committed against the people? It was a good start in 2001 and we are still awaiting for the final verdict against Erap and his co accused son is sitting in the senate!!!!!
First of all, it will send a clear message that electoral cheating won't be tolerated anymore.
Didn't we send a clear message when we ousted Marcos and Erap that corruption won't be tolerated anymore? And now you are telling me that once we oust Gloria, it will send the same message????
Secondly, a new government will have the chance to bring the "cheats inc" to justice and overhaul the electoral system.
A new government will overhaul the electoral system??? If it will always be the same people, trapos and various interests, who will helm on us, nothing will change.
Unlike now when Gloria is coddling and even rewarding all these people who helped her cheat, from the Comelec to Jocjoc Bolante to the Generals.
Didn't Marcos coddle Danding and Lucio Tan? Where are they now?
Didn't Erap coddle Singson and Puno? Where are they now?
We are on the same side. I am simply not in agreement when you say that once we oust Gloria, we can have a fresh start. That things will be better. That there will be change. You oust Gloria now and nothing will change because we will just go back to our ways. What needs overhaul is us, as a people. We are the bigger problem. National pride is non existent. We always try to find short cuts to our problems. We don't seek unity but instead we prefer to out debate each other.
We need a direction and a symbol that will bring us to the Philippines that we all dream of. Unfortunately, we are too stuck with personalities. We take pleasure in out smarting each other. Our crab mentality is our worst enemny. We are our worst enemny.
Yes, Gloria is a cheater and it must not be condoned. But have we looked at the mirror. Butch Abad may not be a cheater but allowing his wife to take his place after his third term puts him on the league of all other trapos. Did Soliman say sorry for allowing herself to be used? Why did she has to cry on national television when NOli became a threat to her position?
If you direct your efforts and resources towards this renewal that we all need, Gloria won't be such a difficult problem to deal with.
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