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
February 27th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I am happy that CBCP is not supporting the oust of GMA. GOD must be with them when they had their emergency meeting last night. I salute the officers of the CBCP at least they realized that by partipating for GMA’s resignation, the power grabbers of the opposition will used them and benefit from it. Kaya tama yan wag kayong pagamit sa mga “trapo” na nagkalat diyan sa Senado ngayon. I am very sad for LA Salle Brothers becasuse they let themselves used by the likes of Lacson to destabilized our country. They are running prestigeous universities in our country and I am just disappointed on how they think and become bad educators. I am suddenly questioning their schools Mission and Vission for this matter. I was confused why they supported Lozada ” Pokwang” based on hearsay and rumor.
They are all selfish and campaigning for 2010. Our economy is getting stronger in GMA’s administration why stop it? Let us move forward and never let our economy down again, we have already regain after ERap’s term so why waste our time and taxes in just hearsay issues?
Its really obvious that Jun “Pokwang” Lozada is being used by the opposition to create chaos and trouble because they cant wait for 2010. To those who are obviously eyeing for the “Presidency” STOP campaigning and wait till 2010 pwede?
To Erap: Have some respect for yourself …you have the GUTS to tell Gloria to step down and you are in the number 10 spot for ” The World’s Ten Most Corrupt Leaders” ?????? Magtira ka naman ng konting kahihiyan sa sarili mo pati na mga anak at mga kakosa mong mga walang kwentang oposisyon.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921295.html
To the CBCP: Keep up the Good Work and continue to be God’s Blessings in this troubled nation. We dont need any “People Power” at all. We are for Progress and PEACE…….
February 27th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
To Mang Godo:
Wag ka ng manalangin dahil magkakasala ka rin lang. Ikinumpara mo pa si Kristo ke GMA! Anong sabi sa 10 utos? Do not use the Lord’s name in vain. Baka naman iba ang relihiyon mo….
Mali ka rin sa sinabi mo dahil ang tamang HUDAS ay si ARROYO na nagkanulo sa 85milyong pilipino.
Do your prayer in silence with your door shut from the world.
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mang godo Says:
February 27th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Ang Aking Panalangin
February 27th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Well Lozada Supporter…your right they kicked out Estrada as fast as can be…and we end up with who…ohhh..Yah we end up with Gloria which is worst than Erapp….Sooo…we kicked her out too..And who do you think this time we will end up with… Knock..knock,,anobody there (in your brain)??? Shit happens when people dont read the manual and do short cuts….
The majority has spoken..seen how few to almost empty the streets of the Philippines last Feb 25. The Filipino people are tired of being used and they wont allow to be used again….And Gloria is probably doing something right..the class C is probably dwindling..theyre probably getting richer and have a high paying job now, instead of marching in the streets they now have laptops or PC to blog their opposition.. P250/day rally stippend is no longer there liking…cheers
February 27th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I believe in the Catholic Bishop’s caucus that People Power, though it may have a purpose, will weaken the country’s institutions and the very foundation of the Philippine leadership.
Do it once and it is noble, do it twice, thrice and the fourth time will become just a state of mind of reacting to the faults of leadership.
Instead of calling for this paranoia, the people must vent on a collective voice to denounce corruption and go back to the drawing board of intensifying bureaucratic CHECK AND BALANCE.
Stepping down is NOT the solution as of the moment.
Kudos to the Bishops for the enlightenment.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Lester, Thank you for the clarification. I’m sure Sickretary Gonzales is very impartial and very independent from the “court of law”. Of course he will not excert an iota of influence over the judiciary and any of its actions that might affect Her Royal Excellency Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her esteemed, better half, the Honorable Miguel Tuazon Arroyo. Why would he? What would he gain from it?
I may be born at night - but night last night.