Post-Arroyo scenario--what happens next

The Malaya editorial as well as the Inquirer's says it all--the palace should look at the writing in the wall. Makati Business Club spokeman Lim says it all--its just a sample of how groups intend to depose Arroyo--through people power. Exiled NDF consultant Jose Maria Sison said that 100,000 or half a million is the magic number. The inter-faith rally shows that groups can muster 75,000-80,000. That's a good sign. However, these groups are forgetting something--time is not on their side.

Its only a few weeks before the semester comes to a close. These teenagers and college students who comprise the bulk of the rallyists are going home. Most of them live in the provinces. Yes, that's actually a good thing since these students will be telling their parents about what's happening in Manila. Yet, that would dissipate the numbers here in Metro Manila. I think the Movement only has until the third or worst, the second week of this month to actually do their thing against Arroyo.

Yet, the fall of Arroyo is quite ominous at this juncture. I believe transactional politics is again, rearing its ugly head at this time. I am sure groups close to Cory and Erap are talking with their "counterparts" at the Palace on how to resolve things in a post-Gloria scenario. If this is happening, then, it shows what Maria Resa of ABS-CBN is saying--political power plays are again rearing its ugly head. And this is NOT what people want.

The people want real change. The people want these basic things:

1. A strong government that is not held by the neck by foreign interests.
2. A strong and people-oriented military and police that would not be subservient to the interests of those occupying Malacanan; rather, an armed forces that serves the people in a genuine sense, instead of just lip service.
3. A unified nation which rallies behind a unified ideology, devoid of Western nor Asian influence.
4. A government responsive to the needs of a tired people who just want to work and eat three full square meals a day.
5. A government who administers well-oiled democratic institutions not for self-interests but for the sake of the country.

Surveys show that people are aspiring for the real EDSA--the kind that does not involve political power plays. It is attainable since countries like Singapore, who was once wrecked by political dissension, have been able to rise above all these things and progress. Filipinos love to see their country rise above all its problems.

And we can't do it with just giving every responsibility to one person. No. Noli is not the solution to our problem. There should be a collective effort to solve all these things. And, like I wrote in this blog previously and in redbluethoughts.today.com, only through a Council of National Restoration will we be able to achieve all these things.

Gloria was wrong when she said that the international community will not tolerate an EDSA 3 in 2008. I can tell Gloria straight in her puny face that what the international community can't tolerate is you selling a part of this paradise to the Chinese. Foreigners can't also tolerate the graft and corruption happening in your administration.

An EDSA 3 or an Ayala One, as some would put it, can be tolerated because it shows how Filipinos value their democracy. Hey, US Ambassador Kenney is right---these rallies show the vibrancy of Philippine democracy. Foreigners will understand Gloria. What they can't is if Filipinos allow you to continue what you're doing--cheating, lying and stealing. Every decent individual can't tolerate that, especially those who still value decency.

So, onward with the struggle. Let's show the world how we as a people will not tolerate graft and corruption and the loss of our souls.