Bandwagon Calling: A Quest for Moral Revolution

Events have transpired before my eyes and I willfully allowed myself to simply watch as they took shape and threw damaging effects to our nation as a whole. It’s not that I was unperturbed by the ZTE-NBN bribery and what came off of it. It's not that I chose to be unaffected by this latest scandal by the Arroyo leadership. Neither have I grown numb. I knew that I, everyone, must take a stand and make the move when the very subjects of the controversy still refuse to own up, shape up or move (out of office.) I just thought that after numerous mass actions have demonstrated themselves to be mere venue for the maintenance of the powers-that-be, I hastened to join “the bandwagon”. I resolved never again to allow myself to be taken for another ride, offer my hands for another cuffs of socio-political slavery, and behold another brand of scandals unfold before my eyes.
Lo, I was making myself apathetic at this stage of our social-political history. I thought inaction was a wiser action than an inchoate hasty one in the absence of viable alternatives.

Here, I wish to give clarity on my previous assumptions (called fears). First, collective mass actions are one of the pillars that make democracy the better if not the best option among all the forms of the present society. Collective mass action, as a reflection of the solid unity of stratified interests and ideologies, is a veritable avenue by which to engage genuine and lasting solutions to our pragmatic problems. We have tested this efficacy in The People Power Revolution. It doesn’t matter what transpired years and years after the fateful EDSA, but what’s essential is that a Nation consciousness emerged. We embraced with pride our country as one culture, one heritage. We learned that we are capable of defining our common perspectives. We followed our conscience as a people bound by the common good. We can choose the type of leadership that we want; topple the one that doesn’t deserve our trust. Following this argument, would the powers-that-be also stay had we not allowed them to? For the sake of argument, collective mass action could also be a potent means to extricate the powers-that-be from the map of our political geography. It takes militant vigilance to prevent another corrupt government to stay in power.

Second, I hate to see the civil mass actions as a bandwagon that peddles brands of cheap politics. Rather, this forms part of our continuing efforts toward a genuine moral revolution in the realm of governance and social interaction. Yes, we laud the likes of Governors Panlilio and Padaca in launching the moral revolution in their respective provinces for the rest of the country to emulate. But as correctly stated by Jun Lozada, it is saddening, and to some degree insulting, that men and women of valor and values are a rarity in our government. We are more than eighty-four million able Filipinos who can lead. We have this inherent quality as sons and daughters of God, be us Christians, Muslims or of other religions. Have most of us succumbed to the devil so as to espouse corruption and sire greed, dishonesty, and obsession? Isn’t it about time that moral turpitude and moral decency be a decisive requirement for all elective and appointive officials in the government? Funny how a lowly janitor applicant or ordinary employee be required of a certificate of good moral character to land the job, while let the moneyed politicians bask in the bed of arrogance and power.

Third, there are viable alternatives. I gave in for a while to the fear that perhaps, should we call for Macapagal-Arroyo to resign, no one would be qualified to take the presidency. This inference is taken from the long look at the Vice President. One thing is to diminish the value of trust that favored De Catro during the elections, and the other to put the stake at a stark future. I don’t buy the rather cheap idea that De Castro’s mantle has not been put to the test. The Senate was a test and majority has bought his mediocrity. The Vice Presidency is another test where he displays leadership by convenience. Here, would limiting the alternatives to De Castro be a myopic irrelevance? We do not simply pick a leader and let him trample upon the people’s and the country’s welfare. As repeatedly stated, we as a people must continue to let the flame of militant vigilance burning. Again, there are millions of brilliant and conscientious Filipinos who could rightfully take the leadership.

I thought for a while that inaction on our part would give further legitimacy to a rather illegitimate, corrupt leadership. I cannot continue being mute to all these controversies. It is time that we heed our conscience. Hence, I join the “bandwagon” with caution. I choose to push for a sound moral revolution. It begins with getting rid of the weeds that bring the government and the nation into certain collapse.

Women's Day

Today is International Women’s Day. I want to take this occasion to give honor and tribute to the billions of women who continue to struggle for their recognition and emancipation in this predominantly semi-feudal and neocolonial society. It’s never easy being treated as a second class gender, much less of being relegated as a support entity amidst the exceeding power and greed by some. True, some women have made it to the top and take the roles that have been defined by social norms as male roles. However, much is still to be worked hard for to eradicate the prevailing inequalities in terms of academic, economic, political and social opportunities. As it is, opportunities must be transformed into human rights.

As some women assert their liberty from oppression and discrimination, take the political leadership and dance with the machos, most still wallow in endless military violence in the countryside, are trapped in human trafficking across the globe, or play prey to domestic dole-outs and neglect either by their families or by this corrupt government. Millions of women and children die or suffer poverty due to inadequate food, medication, education, livelihood, and protection.

In the Philippines and worldwide, women play vital and pivotal roles in our continuing quest for genuine social transformation. Since women comprise half of the population and of the humanity, it naturally follows that any attempt to free the society from imperialism, bureaucrat-capitalism and semi-feudalism would fail, if the women’s and children’s plight are treated separately and left only as peripheral concerns. The thrust to free women from all forms of economic and political oppression and discrimination, sexual violence and abuse, neglect and denial of their health and reproductive rights, must stand parallel along the concerns of the proletariats for long-lasting socio-economic justice and peace on the one hand, and the more potent struggle for national sovereignty and independence.

My Confession

I want to share my new favorite song from Josh Groban. I have been singing this in my mind for the last six months and the effect gets stronger each time.

My Confession

I have been blind, unwilling to see
The true love you're giving.
I have ignored every blessing.
I'm on my knees confessing

That I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.

I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was strong without you.
For so long nothing could move me.
For so long nothing could change me.
Now I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am captured by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.

You are the air that I breath.
You're the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?

Cause I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart
Falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession.
Hear my confession.