Since Pres. Cory Aquino passed away, the people seemed to have been afflicted by the Yellow Fever. Is this an awakening or simply a passing fancy? I’m well aware of how we have very short attention spans. I’m surprised by how many fell by the wayside and have forgotten the true essence of People Power and how we should never forget it. I suppose those only used People Power to achieve their political goals and realized their personal ambitions.
So what have we done in the last two decades? We squandered our gains and allowed those with agendas to bastardize the essence of People Power. As my good friend Leah Navarro said, We are in search of a Camelot, in search of heroes that will fight the battles for us. If Ninoy and Cory were alive today, they’d be frustrated as I am. People Power is not about heroes, it’s about empowering ourselves. People Power is about us.
So I see blogs and other social networks bearing yellow ribbons and bloating members reaching in the thousands. But when the time came to show the current dispensation our warm bodies, our numbers, these thousands are nowhere to be found. We have fence sitters watching in the sidelines while others fight the battles. When the smoke clears and the fighters are winning, these fence sitters suddenly appear out of nowhere and claim victory for themselves.
How I wish the this Yellow Fever sweeping our populace is real and true. I wish that those who seems to understand what Ninoy, Cory and those who unselfishly gave up their lives for freedom and democracy really take to heart what these heroes represented. Noynoy Aquino is right, we don’t need an Aquino to lead us into battle. We are all heroes. It is all up to us to carry on the legacy of those who went before us. We should stop waiting for someone to come along tp inspire us. Ourselves and our future are enough to inspire us to commit ourselves in the fight for change, freedom and democracy.
Today is Ninoy’s death anniversary. Let us not insult his memory with a passing fancy called as Yellow Fever. Let us show the world that we do not have short attention spans. I hope this fever is genuine this time around. There’s still time to redeem ourselves. It’s funny how death can start sparks and stir a people to its senses. I just hope that this time around, we truly understand the meaning of People Power.
(photocredit: http://smsanch.deviantart.com/)
Popularity: 1% [?]
You misquote Noynoy Aquino. He (and Kris) are ready for NoyNoy to be “anointed” as the logical next-Aquino to be Malacanang-resident.
UP n,
If Noynoy rode into office on a blaze of popular yellow emotion, do you think, on the job, he would get chewed up by the “power-people power” of the old, entrenched (corrupt?) politicians? I think people eventually become who they are, which is why Ms. Aquino’s reign eventually petered out as she couldn’t keep up her operating perspective and strength. She became a housewife, as Noynoy might become rather like the 30 protesting students the other day, beaten back with the batons of the entrenched, like the naïve youth he admits to being.
Joe
JoeAm: Filipinos always complain when suddenly elevated to a high-level executive position is one whose only qualification is the last name.
Hmmmm…. why, again, Noynoy?
And JoeAm: I do not know what happens next should Noynoy ride into Malacanang on a blaze of popularity. I don’t know the guy’s track record. I don’t know what he envisions should he be President. I do not know how malleable he is to pressure — subtle or strong. I don’t know his agrarian or foreign trade thoughts or his ideas about Mindanao. I don’t know his military- and business-buddies. I have no idea what a Marcos-Aquino “kumbaya” conciliation-conciliation gets for Pinas.
Nobody has done enough muckraking on Noynoy. Chiz Escudero can be the better choice than Noynoy, I don’t know. OR :
– Noynoy can be a Cory;
– Noynoy can be a Marcos;
– Noynoy can be an Elpidio Quirino for all I know.
what “yellow fever”? what “passing fancy”? the crowds paid their last respect to a person who died a natural death. they have gone home. what else do you expect?
bencard: I hope you are asking a rhetorical question because schumey does not respond after he sends his blog submission.
then, i guess, the question should be re-directed to cvj, gagelonia or nick, who share the same sentiments with schumey.
My dear Mr Bencard Esq… The Coryists even brought out their 1983 Ninoy and 1986 Cory snap elections shirts and wore them. I was in a planeload of Yellow shirted people who still fit into those tees! You cannot see that from the US of A!
It took Cory’s passing for Filipinos to wake up. As can be seen from the comments, the usual cast of characters are doing their best to put them to sleep again. From what i observe over these years, Bencard’s approach, we can more easily see through as downright ridiculous, but Upn’s approach is more subtle.
Wake up to what? If Pinoys really “woke up,” if Pinoys now see the light, what did the awakening reveal?
filo, i think the “awakening” is all about a closer and critical look at ninoy’s “heroism”, and cory’s own accomplishment as president, or lack of it.
I wish that were really the case Atty. B.
But really, all this resurgent awareness of the late Aquino couple’s legacy to the country is selective and utterly politicized. The Marcoses and their cronies have not been brought to justice (and even if Noynoy gets seated they probably never will be), the Aquino children now completely misrepresent what Ninoy fought and died for, and to this day Pinoys have learned practically nothing. That’s like learning everything about driving except braking and STILL getting a license. There’s just something utterly, fundamentally wrong. This is no awakening; this is just fashion.
Tumbok mo, cvj.
what do people like tranquil, cvj, and gagelonia have in common? rabid hatred for the president and, therefore, rabid hatred for me or anyone else who respects, defends (if one has to to), and supports her consistently.
Bencard, that’s not a fair accusation. I have great friends and colleagues who adore President Arroyo, and I disagree vehemently with their support, but I don’t think that hatred has to necessarily be transferred to supporters of certain politicos. Furthermore, I think Ding has shown much respect for you in the past. We have to realize that there is always a trigger when it comes to partisan politics, and when the trigger is severe disagreement in the support of a certain politician, I think its just important to note that our own anger for the defense of our own politico should never throw respect out the window. Walang personalan, commentary lang ito.
nick, if calling you (a known homo sapien) a “canine”, for supporting an object of hatred, is not an expression of hate, then i stand corrected.
It could be. but in the context of how Ding has consistently shown his respect for you in the past, then no.
But comments have already been sidetracked here.. let’s just get to the meat of the article.. of which, I still feel is a great attempt at showing that we still do need to put words into action.. as per suggestion of our dear colleague, Schumey.
that’s exactly my problem, nick. what does schumey really mean by “yellow fever sweeping the populace”. and what “action” you say he is suggesting? elect noynoy president because he is an aquino heir apparent? or is it to undertake another oust-gloria “people power” and install noynoy as “revolutionary president” like his mother?
that’s always a fair question.. It has always been my contention, that what was brought about by people power was the ability of our nation to unite in one common goal. In our case, it should be extended towards the prosperity of our nation, i.e. economy, political, and social. I’ve come to the realization, as I have just read, The End of Poverty by Jeff Sachs, is that there is so much that needs to be done, the ailment of our nation is rooted not in just one problem, but is a myriad of problems, that the only way to get ourselves out and towards a more prosperous road is through the unity of our Republic. Easier said than done, but then again, that is why I wish what Schumey has just said.. Yellow Fever to sweep the populace..
I hope for the academe to put their theories to work, for our politicos to have open minds and adopt the policies of so many think tanks, both in economy and social services. To realize that Development Economics is a focus that should be on the minds of all our representatives, senators, as well as all our Secretaries, and of course our President… again, a call for Yellow Fever to sweep the populace..
Unity in purpose, unity in action.. as I have said, easier said than done.. but I hope you know where I’m coming from. This is a non-partisan answer, as I know that what ails our nation is a problem that not one politico can answer.
yes, we were united once and the euphoria was smothering only to squander whatever momentum we have after 1986.. it seems to me that our leaders are as contentious as our people and we move in different directions each one with with his own spark of brilliance on how to save the nation from poverty, cronyism, corruption and apathy…. hay buhay pinoy..!!
nice spin, nick. schumey is talking about “fight(ing) the battles”, showing the present government “our warm bodies, our numbers”, “when the smoke clears”, etc. it’s a bit strange using those words to exhort for “the prosperity of our nation” or for “unity”.
Over the past many months, persistent in schumey’s blogpost comments about PeoplePower is the topple-GMA theme. His use of PeoplePower fell in this theme :
“True people power refers to the collective effort of citizens like what they did at Edsa in 1986 when they toppled the Marcos regime.”
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We have to do the same with the various presidentiables. Compare their latest pronouncements (about agrarian reform; trade with China; Mindanao-issue; conformance to the Constitution, rice production, etcetera) to what they have said last year, the year before and the many years before that.
“Compare their latest pronouncements (about agrarian reform; trade with China; Mindanao-issue; conformance to the Constitution, rice production, etcetera) to what they have said last year, the year before and the many years before that.”
That’s right UPn! Consistency is key. EVERYBODY holding public office should be held under close scrutiny.
Bencard, if you just take time to read Schumey’s post more carefully, his message is that if we understood the true essence of People Power, we will not need an Aquino to lead us.
I used to blog at PCIJ and oftentimes I was at the opposite end especially when it was castigating GMA. I am not a fan of GMA but I wish to look at the bigger picture and the PCIJ and its retinue of partisan commenters would gang-up on me. I said before I left PCIJ that its Chief, Alecks Pabico would rather have me at his site rather than its jubilant sycophants who sing “hallelujah” everytime there is a new anti-GMA article at the site. I glance once in a while at PCIJ and I noticed that commenters have dwindled to a very few.
In this site I blogged recently on the prerogative of the President under the constitution to appoint judges and the same must not be short-circuited by the JBC. One commenter noted that GMA would pack the SCORP with her spineless appointees. My post was not GMA-specific, it was an honest dissertation that we are losing a republican style of government where sovereign resides in the people by creating a power structure in the constitution, the JBC whose memberships are not accountable to the people. Nobody would take me on the issue of “sovereignty” and “accountability” but three commenters would take me on my character as a person.
People empowerment is a factor of enlightenment. We can only empower the people if they are politically mature and educated. But we who want the people empowered are powerless ourselves because we have not elevated our own political consciousness and we lack the discernment to determine genuine issues from personality.
Bencard and Me may provide a different outlook in this blog, but I think Nick would love us the way he loves those who sing praises everytime there is an anti-GMA article in this site. We provide an exciting variety but we do not offer exclusivity to brilliance and solutions to our country’s problems the way some regulars in this blog do.
cvj, but who would thought we need an aquino to “lead” people power? ninoy did not (for obvious reason) even if he wanted to. cory was a passive symbol who accepted (“reluctantly”) the mantle of leadership that was handed to her by an “emotional” people. she did not lead. other than losing her husband, a priori, what “fight” or “sacrifice” did she make? gabriela silang she was not, and neither was she a teodora agoncillo. she was just a “simple” housewife. let her be, in memory.
But what again is this true essence? What is the true essence of People Power? If it does not entail actions against the Malacanang resident, can it still be People Power?
Here are excerpts from an article by Jose Abueva on a poll of Filipinos, to provide possible definitions:
Among social classes, 100 percent of ABC respondents, 89 percent of D, and 79 percent of E respondents said they know and understand people power.
Clearly, the great majority of Filipino adults affirm that they know and understand people power. To probe their response, they were asked to agree or disagree with the statement: “True people power is strengthening the political power of the majority of Filipinos.” Nationwide, 71 percent agreed; 19 percent disagreed; 9 percent were undecided. … Among the social classes, 75.4 of E respondents, 70.4 percent of D, and 67.3 percent of ABC agreed. More rural respondents agreed (77.4 percent) than urban ones (66.5 percent).
It appears that more lower social class respondents and rural ones understand people power to mean strengthening the political power of the majority of Filipinos, including themselves who have less power and would like to have more power compared to the upper classes and the urban residents.
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“True people power refers to the collective effort of citizens, like what they did at Edsa in 1986 when they toppled the Marcos regime.”
Nationwide, 77 percent agreed and 13 percent disagreed, or a margin of plus 64 percent (the difference between agreement and disagreement).
—
: “True people power refers to the collective effort of citizens, like what they did in Edsa in January 2001, when the people forced President Estrada to resign or leave Malacañang.”
Nationwide, 57 percent agreed, 28 percent disagreed, or a margin of 28 percent. In the NCR, 61 percent agreed; in the Visayas, 73 percent, the highest agreement among the three island regions. Significantly, the clear majority who agreed that the ouster or resignation of Estrada was an exercise of “true people power” was double the percentage of those who disagreed. It should also be noted that even among Estrada’s constituency, the D and E classes, 56 percent agreed with the statement, as compared to 63 percent of ABC.
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“True people power refers to the people’s attack at Malacañang on May 1, 2001 to force President Macapagal-Arroyo to leave Malacañang and make Joseph Estrada president again”?
Nationwide, 30 percent agreed that Edsa Tres was “true people power,” while 49 percent disagreed. In the NCR where the event took place, only 27 percent agreed, while 59 percent disagreed. There was also greater disagreement in the urban areas (54 percent) than in the rural areas (44 percent). While a majority disagreed with the statement among the ABC class (58 percent) and the C class (51 percent), less than a majority (41.5 percent) of the D class disagreed and as many as 34 percent or one-third of them agreed that Edsa Tres was “true people power.”
On the whole then, almost 50 percent (nationwide) disagreed that Edsa III was “true people power,” as against one-third who agreed that it was. As much as 59 percent disagreed in the NCR where the people were more aware of the nature of the Edsa rally and the resulting siege on Malacañang.
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Tagalog_Default_files/Philippine_Culture/remembering_the_1986_people_power_revolution.htm
Hi! please sign the petition urging Noynoy to run for president! thanks! here’s the link: http://www.petitiononline.com/noy2010/petition.html
this “petition” has currently ZERO signature. not even the author signed it. very promising indeed!
Bencard,
By the way, who is Teodora Agoncillo?
Anyway, please do not dwell on unfamiliar subject.
Going back to topic, what we lack immensely is unanimity of thought, as a nation.
Ousting Erap because of jueteng was a commendable act but letting Chaviot got of the hook will make other peoples scratch their head.
We, as a peoiple, are very partisan.
One man’s sin is condemnable but not for my patron.
So for you GMA is the best, for others she is the worst.
All of you can be lumped inside one box. GET OUT OF THE BOX.
punona, from what i remember of my phil. history, agoncillo was a leading female member of the katipunan who was credited of having helped design and sewed the first philippine flag.
chavit was a star witness. without his testimony, erap’s conviction would have been difficult, if not impossible. rewarding a principal witness to get the main culprit is axiomatic in criminal prosecutions.
btw, lack of “unanimity of thought” is an inherent part of democracy. you can only have uniformity in thinking, at least outwardly, under a totalitarian system. would you rather have it like in myanmar or north korea?
@bencard
Hi. Just a correction: the first Philippine flag commissioned by Aguinaldo was sewn by Marcela Agoncillo, daughter Lorenza, and Delfina Natividad.
It caught my attention because it didn’t sound right and so I checked to satisfy my curiosity. You must’ve mistaken Madame Agoncillo for Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonzo Realonda y Quintos. Iyon lang po.
thanks for the heads-up, norm. yes, i was mixed-up big time. should’ve googled it.
The Yellow Fever is just a passing fancy. Like the Cabbage Patch
Dolls, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, etc…Soon people will go
to the daily grind of earning a living; worrying about the children;
deciding if you go abroad or not; etc…
Filipinos just need some diversions to look to. We have so many
disappointments on our present leaders already.
This low-grade yellow fever is not symptomatic of an affliction injurious to our national health.
It is just a mood, an expression of fleeting excitement that left to itself will just naturally die down.
There is nothing yellow in it, besides.