By Lester Cavestany, Contributor
INQUIRER.net
IT would always be the same crooks, the same money interests who would take fullest advantage of democracy or any kind of government in the Philippines, while the poor and the brave would always lose out. The batters change in the game of Philippine politics, but the baseball team remains the same and the game remains fixed.
– Ninoy Aquino[1]
As we celebrate the 22nd8th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, it would be good to look back on the wisdom of the man who inspired us to unite as a people and to defend our country against a corrupt government. We are more aware of Ninoy’s oft-quoted, “The Filipino is worth dying for,” but I chose the one above because it is more suitable to our present times.
To fight again another day
After two weeks of excitement about Jun Lozada’s testimony, the opposition has yet to come up with more witnesses and more evidence that will prove the corruption in the Arroyo administration. Even after the show of support that the public has done to encourage more people to come out and testify, no new witness or evidence has appeared.
To be honest, I am a bit confused as to how other leaders can continue to demand for President Arroyo’s resignation when we haven’t even proven anything yet. We are being led to believe that having another People Power Revolution (EDSA III) will solve the problems and issues that our country is facing today. But if we listen to what our great hero Ninoy Aquino said, I hope you will also realize that many of the problems we face today are systemic ones and they can’t be changed by having another EDSA.[2]
Systemic problems need systemic changes
Last week’s Inquirer Opinion-Talk of the Town article, “Poverty reduction: What we know and don’t know,” gives us a concrete example of a systemic problem: the lack of rural development in the Philippines.[3] Nothing much has changed since 1781 when Gov. José de Basco y Vargas introduced commercial farming in the Philippines[4]. Moreover, no authentic land reform has been implemented in our country since the feudal Spanish times. The Americans tried in 1903 when Gov. Gen Howard Taft bought the friar lands in the Philippines from Pope Leo XIII with the intention of reselling it to Filipino peasant-tenants. The good intention never materialized of course, as wealthy Filipino businessmen and politicians (whose descendants still have clout in Philippine society today) stepped in and bought the land and converted them into their private haciendas.[5] And as they say, the rest is history.*
In a country where 70 percent of the population live in rural areas and where 2/3 of the people get their livelihood from agriculture, we must make sure that we have programs that promote genuine rural development. This is just one example, but it is a major one. Other systemic problems include public education, economic development, good governance, population control, environmental sustainability, peace and order, and many others. Other bloggers have also written their issues in Janette Toral’s Important Issues on Philippines 2010.
Of course somewhere in the wish list for political reform, you will also find fighting graft and corruption. But I hope we can all see that it is a small piece of the puzzle. In my personal opinion, we cannot call for President Arroyo’s resignation unless we have court-admissible evidence against her. Just because some opposition leaders are trying to convince us that President Arroyo is corrupt doesn’t mean we all have to believe it. The opposition leaders bear the burden of evidence. I say to them, Show us proof! Stop using us as your pawns! Stop using the court of public opinion to gain the upper hand. Take your accusations to the court of law and let your evidence, if you have any, speak for itself. And speaking of evidence, what proof or track records have you got to show the public that if you replace the present administration, you will do a far better job than President Arroyo’s government in addressing our systemic problems.[6]
Happy 22nd8th People Power anniversary!
In light of the lack of evidence plus the personal and social troubles that this J-Lo fiasco has caused, I believe that it might be best to set aside our calls for a change in the government and perhaps we should concentrate more on asking for changes in the government and in our country. Unless we are presented with new witnesses or new evidence in the ongoing political raucity, we, the Filipino people, should join the rallies and demonstrations with more focus on the the public outcry for truth and social reforms. I, for one, would love to join in!
And so from here in Hanoi, I would like say “Happy 22nd8th People Power Anniversary!” to all my kababayans in the Philippines and around the world.
Mabuhay po tayong lahat! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
=== Notes:[1] The Martyrdom of Ninoy Aquino Revisited, Joker P Arroyo
[2] Systemic problems have been with us even before the presidency of Pres Arroyo; even before 1565 when Spaniards who left from Mexico led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in Cebu; and even before 1521 when Magellan claimed our archipelagic country for Spain and called it Las Islas de San Lazaro. [3] “Poverty reduction: What we know and don’t know,” By Arsenio M. Balisacan
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 16 Feb 2008
[4] In Search of Southeast Asia: A Modern History. David P. Chandler, William R. Roff, John R. W. Smail, David Joel Steinberg Robert H. Taylor, Alexander Woodside, David K. Wyatt, David Joel Steinberg. Allen & Unwin. Sydney, N.S.W. 1971 [5] The US Congress passed the Cooper, or Organic, Act of 1902, which authorized the American commission to sell Philippine government bonds to finance purchase of the friar lands in the Philippines from the Vatican — Bound to Empire: The United States and the Philippines. H. W. Brands. Oxford University Press, New York. 1992. * Atty. Ma. Gracia Rinoza Plazo has recently started an online forum to discuss agrarian reform issues. Please join the discussion and share your inputs. [6] Mom knows best! My Mama wrote a comment in my post, Sundin ang Utos ni Supremo. Also posted in www.lestercavestany.com
Loading ...
February 27th, 2008 at 2:14 am
People Power again? Kahit mag-people power tayo taon-taon, ala pa ring magagawa. Di pa rin tayo aasenso. Kahit sino ang iluklok diyan sa Malacanang. Kahit mabubuhay pa ulit at siyang maging Presidente si Rizal (with due respect), mahirap pa rin ang buhay ng pinoy. Gutom parin si Juan dela Cruz, mahal pa rin ang presyo ng bilihin, mababa pa rin ang sweldo, corrupt pa rin ang mga nangunguna sa pamahalaan, kukunti pa rin ang trabaho at tuloy pa rin ang pag-alis ng mga pinoy para magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Nasaan ang mga matatalino sa pinas? Andoon, nasa abroad na rin sila. Kahit yong matalinong lider na makakaliwa, nasa abroad na rin. Yong maka-kanan, sa pinas, labas-pasok sa bansa, kasi libre, sagot nga gobyerno ang pamahsahe at gastos. Yong mga naiwan sa pinas? Ayon, pinag-iibayo ang galing para makapag-abroad din. Worst advice, pinagsasabihan ng gobyerno na ang mga pinoy na OFW ay umuwi para bumaba ang palitan ng piso kontra dolar. Ba’t naman kaya? Para maghirap sa buhay ulit sa bansa ang pamilya ng OFWs? Wag naman. Ala kasing ginagawa ang gobyerno para iabsorb ang padalang foreign money ng mga OFW. Puro plano ng plano. Ala namang concrete na idea. Kaya kung minsan, kasalanan din ng mga matatalino ang nangyayaring di maganda sa pinas. Noong sila (at kahit ngayon) ang nasa pwesto, hindi nila iniisip ang common good. Inisip lang yong own good. Ayon, magcecelebrate sila ng ika-100 years ngayong 2008, pero mahirap pa rin ang buhay ni Juan dela Cruz. So People Power ulit? Ayoko na, umay na ako.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I believe that Madriagas treaded dangerous waters when he included China in the alleged anomalous ZTE deal. First of all, the deal did not even push through. What are they talking about in the senate, wasting taxpayers money? Every thing is hearsay. Someone did this, someone said that. To call Jun Lozada a hero is ridiculous. Why would he be a hero? For inciting another people power? For disrupting our moving economy? He who is sinless cast the first stone. Name one person sitting there, doing the investigations who’s completely clean. No one is completely blameless. I am for peace. I am for progress. He who impedes a country on the way to progress is not or never should be considered a hero. They all think about power grabbing. Then when they sit, they all do the same thing. At least Gloria was able to put the Philippines back on track economically. She is not blameless but she has no better alternative. I’ll stick to Gloria till the end of her term. Any unconstitutional means to oust her we will never support!
February 26th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
ALLAIN, You have it right in the beginning! But you faltered in the end.
We do not tolerate a lie. We crushed it the instance it appears. Otherwise, we’ll have the so called Zarsuela you’re referring to which is the Philippines.
Crush GMA and have her replaced. If you’re concerned of the same trapos rushing in to fill the void, don’t let them. ETERNAL VIGILANCE is the answer. We don’t want the DeVenecia’s and Arroyos or Estrada’s to be in power again (They have no shame). ETERNAL VIGILANCE is the price we pay.
Balimbings and Trapos are unheard of in progressive countries like the US and UK. They have the necessary check and balance that we don’t. Eternal vigilance is the answer!!!
Alain Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 3:24 am
It is a proven fact that if a LIE is repeated over and over again, eventually it will be perceive as the truth. Adolf Hitler and his propaganda minister successfully practiced this theory in Germany.
Observing the present trend of the people demostrating, the Bishops, and the politicians, I have no doubt that eventually they will succeed in removing Gloria from the presidency. Then WHAT ?
As soon as a vacumn is created, a lot of characters will be sucked in into that vacant space, and the show will start all over again. This will be just another cycle in the life of the Filipinos. It is almost tragi-comic. A Zarzuela indeed.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Jun Pindot Says:
That’s right. Let’s just leave everything to the courts. The same one that is led by Gonzales who barks at , scoffs and threatens every one who tries to criticize his master.
Jun, let’s just clarify that Sec Gonzalez is part of the cabinet and therefore he is part of the executive branch of our government. He does not have any jurisdiction of this matter. The court of law we should refer this matter to should be part of the judiciary.
Thanks.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
As a Filipino citizen I am strongly against having another people power to remove the sitting President just because of mere allegations, rumors, hearsays etc. It cannot be denied that Pres. Arroyo has been working very hard in order to help alleviate the plight of poor Filipinos but can we say the same to those who want to oust her? Si Cory, alam naman natin na wala siyang nagawa sa kanyang termino, Si Erap, he’s a proven plunderer. The Senators are just wasting their precious time conducting mindless investigations in aid of political ambition. At ang mga militante, walang ibang ginawa kundi pag-iingay at pagrally at sila’y oppose kahit sinong Presidente. For our country to move forward instead of marching to the streets and urging people power which may put our country on the brink of civil war and destruction, let us all work hard and follow the rule of law.