The Rise of the Patriots

I'm supposed to discuss about the raging issues of the day but found one interesting topic from www.filipinovoices.com.

The last few days saw two of my colleagues debating on who has the burden to act for change--is it the middle class or the masses. Benigno proposes in general, the masses, since they are the most affected, ergo, more than ever, the onus of responsibility lies in them. Chuck, on the other hand, sees this as a problem, since all along, the poor has been self-reliant, yet found no time acting to get social justice. A 2007 report shows that to be evident and the obvious fact that more and more Filipinos are going abroad--ergo, self-reliance. Self-reliance, as construed in CVJ, means personal economic self-reliance.

Both has a point and going in the right direction. However, what I find rather insulting is the way they view the masses, especially Benigno who has this obvious cono mentality that thinks highly of himself as the one who knows how the "average Filipino schmoe" thinks.

The kind of talk they're having was the stuff of talk the Indios Bravos and the rest of the Propaganda Movement had in the 18th century. Filipinos already resolved that. Who actually led the Revolution which resulted to our independence? Was it the Peninsulares, as represented by Rizal? Did the masses relied on them to help them resolve the centuries-old colonial rule of the Spaniards?

No.

The "average Filipino schmoe" knows what to do. They know that it is time to change. They know and already have the tools to survive this harsh environment. And, they lack nothing.

Isra is what they need at this point, a "spark". The masses are not "bumbling" idiots or bewildered ("flummox, as what Benigno wrote, a colloquial term which means "bewildered") with their situation. They know they need justice.

And justice will, indeed, be theirs in the future if they own kind again lead them to victory. And where will this action emanate?

It will emanate from the junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I am still hoping that a Bonifacio will rise from their ranks and lead the masses towards victory.

Or, from the Armed Patriots of the New People's Army. A synthesis of forces between the idealistic officers of the AFP and the young comrades from the CPP-NPA-NDF would catalyze all revolutionary efforts and achieve one goal--change.

Or, it may probably even spring from the huge, unstructured protest movement. This generation can still mold a David Celdran or a Nat Santiago or a much articulate Teddy Casino or a younger Satur Ocampo. The times call for such men and women of courage to rise up and act for the sake of this generation and the next.