Back in 2006, in my own blog, I pointed out an interesting phenomenon I called The battle of the epistles (a battle that kept going, and going, and going...). It made a public personage of Bong Austero, for example. The
The battle of the open letters gets relaunched every time the political crisis starts veering towards violence. And it has extended to blogs, where manifestos (which, essentially, what an open letter is) get posted online. See, for example, The "Wala na bang iba?" Manifesto (read the whole thing). But still, the main battleground remains open letters, and the usefulness of such letters for institutions to express their thoughts.
One example is Ateneo de Manila Sanggunian President: Statement on the Manila Peninsula Siege, similar in attitude to the manifesto linked to, above:
An excerpt:
And then the statement itself:
An excerpt:
Change is disguised in many ways. Let us not be swayed by the propaganda of ill-thought nationalism. Ateneans, I challenge you to speak and let your thoughts be heard. One opportunity is during the Senate Inquiries on Friday (December 7) at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater. This is the moment to shine, be passionate, think of how you reacted to the Dress Code issue during the first semester. This is the Ateneo way, after all. If not, then what is?For the sake of discussion, here are other statements, too, from more senior people. First, there is the open letter or statement of Pugadlawin, an Ateneo de Manila organization of faculty, etc. Here is what they have to say:
An excerpt:
When Pugadlawin (Puwersa para sa Ganap na Demokrasya, Labang Wagas para sa Inang Bayan) was organized amidst the threat of both a military coup and martial law in February 2006, we said that in the face of looming political polarization, what was needed is a new force to reclaim and rebuild the political center. The challenge is to work for genuine democracy: to defend the hard-won victories over authoritarianism, and to deepen democracy beyond its often formal and elitist character towards greater popular participation and social justice. We reiterate this call today: 1) to oppose initiatives that cater to narrow interests, curtail participation and endanger democracy (e.g., coup attempts, government repression, self-serving cha-cha); 2) to build consensus around democratic processes and institutions as the way to resolve the political crisis and promote reform (e.g., elections); 3) to forge a sociopolitical agenda that would galvanize citizen involvement, linking social and political transformation, local and national development. Our aim is to build democratic institutions and foster hope in political action.And here is a statement from the Christian Brothers of De La Salle University. First, an introduction:
And then the statement itself:
An excerpt:
For these reasons, even if it amounts to no more than a voice crying out in the wilderness, we, the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines, feel the need to proclaim once again the same values we espoused in 2005: truth, justice, honesty and integrity. Without these, no government can be trusted, and where there is no trust, governance degenerates into bribery and intimidation. We join in the call of courageous religious leaders and of proven men and women of conscience who seek a moral revolution. But if such a call is to become more than mere lip-service, we must translate it into effective action on behalf of the values we espouse, keeping in mind the legal framework of the Constitution. We call on men and women of goodwill to act now to make real the change they want to see.Whatever the opinion, I think it's healthy and necessary, for such open letters to be written, to be circulated, debated, and even challenged. Better for people to take up the pen and express themselves than remain silent. But what do you think, which letter comes close to your opinion?
But still, the main battleground remains open letters, and the usefulness of such letters for institutions to express their thoughts.One example is Ateneo de Manila Sanggunian President: Statement on the Manila Peninsula Siege, similar in attitude to the manifesto linked to, above:Change is disguised in many ways.... If not, then what is?For the sake of discussion, here are other statements, too, from more senior people.First, there is the open letter or statement of Pugadlawin, an Ateneo de Manila organization of faculty, etc. Here is what they have to say: An excerpt:When Pugadlawin (Puwersa para sa Ganap na Demokrasya, Labang Wagas para sa Inang Bayan) was organized amidst the threat of both a military coup and martial law in February 2006, we said that in the face of looming political polarization, what was needed is a new force to reclaim and rebuild the political center.... We reiterate this call today: 1) to oppose initiatives that cater to narrow interests, curtail participation and endanger democracy (e.g., coup attempts, government repression, self-serving cha-cha); 2) tobuild consensus around democratic processes and institutions as the way to resolve the political crisis and promote reform (e.g., elections); 3) to forge a sociopolitical agenda that would galvanize citizen involvement, linking social and political transformation, local and national development.
pareho magaganda ang mga manifestos, wala kang pagpipilian........
changes should be done under democratic processes and within the legal framework of the Constitution.........
The Lasallian Brothers.
Better for people to take up the pen and express themselves. Better yet, express themselves against the impending Charter Change. Before it's too late. Too late is when the people take up the sword instead of the pen to remove the gagging Cha-Cha inside their throat. Because everybody knows the formula: Cha-Cha=GMA+JDV+Congressmen with Glossy Paper Bags--Forever.
The Christian Brothers of De La Salle University had it right as written in your excerpt:
..."For these reasons, even if it amounts to no more than a voice crying out in the wilderness, we, the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines, feel the need to proclaim once again the same values we espoused in 2005: truth, justice, honesty and integrity. Without these, no government can be trusted, and where there is no trust, governance degenerates into bribery and intimidation. We join in the call of courageous religious leaders and of proven men and women of conscience who seek a moral revolution. But if such a call is to become more than mere lip-service, we must translate it into effective action on behalf of the values we espouse, keeping in mind the legal framework of the Constitution. We call on men and women of goodwill to act now to make real the change they want to see."...
This corrupt administration has for so long avoided answering these issues. I'm skeptical that the administration would listen and change their ways; to do so would mean that they have to leave behind their happy days of garnering ill-gotten wealth and perpetuation of allies to positions of power, they have now begun installing minions in the Supreme Court.
The countdown continues.
bAKIT MAHIRAP ANG pILIPINAS.Majority ng Pinas ay RURAL at BARRIOTIC.manila lang at cebu ang may semblance ng modernidad--NGUNIT ito ay hindi mo nga matawag na modernong syudad kung ikukumpara sa Japan,Korea,HongKong,malaysia.bakit ang tanong mo.WALANG nagagawa na "proyekto" sa Pinas ng HINDI KIKITA ang mga "liders" ng bansa.kaya tingnan mo ang Pinas,walang-wala pag-dating sa mga IMPRASTRAKTURA.At ang malala---ang HITSURA ng kanyang mamamayan.kitangkita ito lalo na kapag may mga "evacuees".PUROS mga Pamilya na napakaRAMINg anak.6 na ang anak---BUNTIS pa at may kargang sangol.Ito ang isa sa dahilan kung bakit hindi talaga UUNLAD ang Pinas.Mga KLASE ng tao na NILULUWAL ng bnsa ay ang mga MABABABANG klase ng tao.Mga mangmang at ignorante na walang ginawa kundi ang mag-ANAK ng maganak.At habang nagdagsaan ang mga Koreano,intsik na may mga pera sa bansa---ang mga indihinong populasyon ay ISTUCK sa kanilang pagka-IGNORANSYA--BAGAY na kanila MISMONG kasalanan.Mga taong HINDI marunong MAHIYA at masmalapit pa sa mga animal kasi NAPAKABILIS mag-anak na parang mga daga.Yan ang hitsura ng Pinas.IDAGDAG mo pa ang mga MAGNANAKAW na "liderato" na HINDI napaparusahan.(erap,gloria inc.etc)Kaya magpasalamat ka Pinoy sa kagalingan mo.Poverty reduction DAW paro ni isa walang nagbabangit ng Population control.Ang dapat DUMAMI sa Pinas ay ang mga SUPERYOR na tao na may PAGMAMAHAL sa bnsa.Hindi angf mga MANGMANG at mga NAKATATAAS sa lipunan na walang malasakit sa bnsa!!!Kaya angbnsa ay naging bans ng mga ISKWATERS at ang nu1 export---KATULONG.HINDI BA KAYO MARUNONG MAHIYA????
motherhood statements all....
adolfo,banat ka ng banat,ikaw ano nagwa mo sa bansa natin?bago ka magsalita,dapat ilantad mo kung aon ginawa mo para sa bayan natin kahit man lng in a little way.i am right?hirap kasi sa mag pinoy,dada ng dada wala naman sinasabi..ako OFW ako pero may nagawa ako para sa bayan ko.kahit walang nagawa ang govt natin in returned para sa amin.
yeah you are right kababayan,, mga magnanakaw yan.
Yon si madam gloria, magaling din sa bribery, tingnan mo ang impeachment complain laban sa kanya ibinabasura sa kongreso, kasi during the empeachment complain gloria arroyo was ordered to lower the prices of some few merchandize in the philippines cause she know the poor filipino people are easily be blind by a very nice trap to cover her ( gloria arroyo) bad practices that she's been doing in her administration to make the poor filipino people believe that she is doing good, but she's not. It is so obvious that during the empeachment complain she suddenly made an order to lower some goods, its a bribery.
Bribe the poor filipino people by lowering some merchandize and trash the empeachment complain against her, its not right.
Why use a bribery power if a person is sincere,honest, loyal, and did not have self enterest to it.
WE the poor fiipino people are so pitty, we are just like a bait that they're using of to accomplish their self enterest.
Hi terso,
You are right, in fact the Philippines is now recognized to belong to the top ten countries in the world in the prevalence of bribery. Unfortunately Gloria, her allies, minions and propagandists wouldn't accept this or will avoid the issue like a plague; they would not discuss this for fear that their bread and butter for lavish lifestyles and fat secret bank accounts would be affected by this.
It is also unfortunate that people here seem to forget that People Power is part of the constitutional right of the Filipinos. Even Gloria herself benefited from this. However since her power was handed to her in a silver platter, she thinks herself a queen installed by the Filipinos instead of being a humble servant of the people.
Mahirap talaga kung biglang makakuha ng poder ng di man lang pinaghirapan at di nalalaman ang tunay na pinaglalaban ng Pilipino. Kaya ang nakuha tuloy natin, elitista na ginagawang institusyon ang kurapsyon at pagtatago ng mga abuso ng kaniyang bataan at Kakampi sa katiwalian.
Kailangan po nating magkaisa. Isa rin po akong OFW dito sa middle east. Sa totoo lang parang ala ng nagagawang mabuti ang mga politiko sa atin. Nasaan na ang mga lahi ni Juan na may pagmamalasakit sa kanyang sariling bayan at di lang sa kanyang pansariling kapakanan? Pilipino, ikaw ba yan?
Maganda ang layunin ng mahal na pangulo at tayo rin. I-reprieve lahat ng mga criminal/death convicts na Filipino sa ibang bansa. Sana pakawalan na rin ang mga nasa kulungan dito. Di naman death convicts. Sana equality and fair ang trato niya at natin sa lahat na mga convicts.
Kung magulo tayo ngayon, padalosdalos kasi kayo sa EDSA1 at EDSA 2. So wag na tayong magisipsip ng kung ano ikakaganda ng sanlibutan. Baka palso na naman. May pagbabago sana ngunit we blew it all at the polls. We chose the present people for want of a few pesos..
We can all be happy again. Since our agriculture is failing and on the doldrum we Revise the CARP law. Take back and consolidate all issued landholdings thru CLOWA and others. Give every Filipino 18 yr old a free residential lot of his choice ownership coterminus on his demise that will be returned to the govt. The rest of the lands to be rented out to farmers, coops, companies. This will remove a lot of land squabbles. Eradicate lazy farmers, absentee landlords, inheritance problems, RD money mills, etc. Now you can have your own lot on the face of the earth. Happy?
these excerps from the manifestos really a courageous steps to start the moral upgrading and conversion ,not only in the government but also the entire country as well, yes, almost all of us indeed hopeless as it seems, but all of these things should start from the basic unit of our society " the family". That's the only hopes, to begin these moral revolution at the large. We should not regurgitate the wrong of the past instead learned from it.
Our efforts,hopes and time will only be wasted if we still expecting something might change from this bureaucracy, selfishness & dishonesty are deep rooted, it's running in their bloodsteam.
Kabayan
It is also unfortunate that people here seem to forget that People Power is part of the constitutional right of the Filipinos. Even Gloria herself benefited from this. However since her power was handed to her in a silver platter, she thinks herself a queen installed by the Filipinos instead of being a humble servant of the people.
Mahirap talaga kung biglang makakuha ng poder ng di man lang pinaghirapan at di nalalaman ang tunay na pinaglalaban ng Pilipino. Kaya ang nakuha tuloy natin, elitista na ginagawang institusyon ang kurapsyon at pagtatago ng mga abuso ng kaniyang bataan at Kakampi sa katiwalian.
***********
Thats exactly what I've saying! Now, She want to stay in power forever. Because there is plenty of money to be made squatting in Malacanyang Palace. Talagang KAWATAN.
what i con't understand is why the phippines wasn't required to hold elections after gloria took over.All nations that have a uprising in europe r require to hold election3 to6 month after a take over.Had the phillippines been urged to hold elections after the edsa peoples uprising,then we might not see all the problems we have experienced.she was abled to consalidate her power so she could win easily.
When Pugadlawin (Puwersa para sa Ganap na Demokrasya, Labang Wagas para sa Inang Bayan) was organized amidst the threat of both a military coup and martial law in February 2006, we said that in the face of looming political polarization, what was needed is a new force to reclaim and rebuild the political center. The challenge is to work for genuine democracy: to defend the hard-won victories over authoritarianism, and to deepen democracy beyond its often formal and elitist character towards greater popular participation and social justice.
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Whatever the opinion, I think it's healthy and necessary, for such open letters to be written, to be circulated, debated, and even challenged. Better for people to take up the pen and express themselves than remain silent. But what do you think, which letter comes close to your opinion?
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You are right, in fact the Philippines is now recognized to belong to the top ten countries in the world in the prevalence of bribery. Best regards, Katya, CEO of top dvd burning software
Better to express themselves against the impending Charter Change. Before it's too late. Too late is when the people take up the sword instead of the pen to remove the gagging Cha-Cha inside their throat.
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