The History of the Filipino People

This is the second installment of the History of the Filipino People. This is another gift which I want to share with my fellow Filipinos throughout the world.

Let us not forget that we have a rich revolutionary history and we are not a people who will let injustice and tyranny reign in our beautiful country. Onward with the struggle towards a Just and Humane Society!

Reality bites like a rabid dog

Many years ago, I stumbled upon a case that would change my life forever. At that time, I was a journalist. After years of being an activist, I shed my revolutionary robe and donned on a new one. Despite the protestations of my deceased dad (who wanted me to become a lawyer), I pushed on as a journalist since writing remains a burning passion within me. Being a journalist though, I needed to shed every ism within my soul, hoping that I'll look at every scene, every spectacle and every presscon without my red-colored lenses.

Yet, the more I look at reality, the more I realized that those years I spent pouring over books written by economists, historiographers, sociologists and philosophers were spent wisely. I came face-to-face with the miseries of the people. Those who were victimized by crime. Those who were held hostage by a patronage-laden system. And those who were rendered orphan by the daily struggles against poverty--all of them--became my bedfellows.

The centuries-old struggle of our heroes came flashing back, as if we did not really progress as what government wants us to believe. That the very same problems which confronted our forefathers remain deeply rooted in Filipino society.

The more I observe, the more I became convinced that change should happen. Not for me. I'm a damned soul already. I need to act for the benefit of future generations.

Against the will of my family, I decided to help. And help I did. I gave my precious time, helping a woman who saw how brutal and corrupt the cops were. She went into high gear and became a prominent national figure while I stood behind the shadows, content that I accomplished what's supposed to be done.

Eight years past, and all those sacrifices which nearly cost me my life and the future of my family, all went to naught. We managed to install a more corrupt government. No one thought that this would happen although I remember my former desk editor cautioning me about this woman. She said that this woman would bring chaos back into our lives. Well, she said it right. But, she left out one important thing--it's not just chaos--its monumental which has caused thousands of lives and more than 4 million families hungry.

What is to be done?

I'm 37 years old right now, with a 6 month old baby. I also have two kindergarten kids with me and a lovely wife. I have bills to pay, including a car amortization. I have credit card bills piling up. I just have a few thousands in my bank account and I fear that I'll lose them altogether within a month.

I need to weigh my options, and I have a very limited one. Will I respond to the challenge put forth by those junior officers yesterday, calling for a general uprising against this evil, corrupt and decrepit administration?

Is their method the surest way for me to secure the future of my baby, my kids and my wife? A chap like me just needs a more equal, more stable and more graft-less government. Will their call benefit me and my family? Is a revolution the solution for those who have less to have at least a fair chance for a better life? Or will it further worsen the already bad situation me and my family are in?

For some, revolution is just a fancy concept invented by those men who struggled against tyrants and oppressors many centuries back. It's good to write. It's easy to pronounce. It's even fancy to wear.

Yet, in this very moment, revolution is not just an armchair revolutionary's idea. No. It is as real and as needed by us, especially.

We need a revolution. We need something to pull us out of this rut. We need an event that would re-install our "hiya". We need a life-altering change that would rouse us from apathy, disillusionment and hopelessness so that we unite for the advancement of our nation.

We had that before. EDSA Uno was one event that made us smile and made us proud. We can still do the same in our generation now. We can make Filipinos smile again. We can make them proud again, but on a different level.

Weighing between personal and the nation's, I chose the nation's. I was born in this country. The very soil that I stand on needs me. I owe the Motherland whatever I possess now. And the Motherland is grieving because she sees her sons and daughters scrapping the very bottom of the barrel all because of the ineptitude of the usurper in power.

For those Patriots of the New Generation, the Filipino People need you to restore order and make all those who robbed us, stole our monies and corrupted us pay for their sins. We are accepting your challenge. It is time for us to stand against immorality, graft, corruption and utter mismanagement.

Now, our generation needs to shine once more in its duty for the Motherland. Let those who want a cleaner and more effective government rise from their seats and unite behind those who struggle for freedom.

Cory's Cancer

The indefatigable freedom fighter is sick. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the figure who inspired peoples of the world to unite against tyranny and oppression has been hit by cancer. Groups who oppose Arroyo says despite this, they will press on the fight. They will not relent until the squatter of Malacanan has been evicted. Good news.

I remember Apostle Paul was also stricken by God of a disease. Despite his affliction, the evangelization continued. Other historical personages suffered extreme illness yet recovered by the grace of God. Even the Prophets of Old (Moses, Elijah, Job, Prophet Muhammad and Jesus) were given enormous tribulations as a test of faith.

Cory is no different. There's a huge societal cancer invading the very lives of the Filipino people right now. Cory's cancer is small compared to the cancer eating away our morality. Is this God's way of telling the Filipino people that we have a savior in the person of Cory who volunteered to carry this burden so that millions may live? I remembered what Ninoy, her husband, once said, " The Filipino People is worth dying for."

Yes, Cory has cancer. This is a test of her faith and her physical will. This is just a body, a hallow physical shell that God gave us to use for the benefit of humankind. Like others, Cory will definitely survive this. She might be weakened by this, yet, her spirit remains strong or stronger even.

For those who have cancer, rejoice. God has given you the chance to exhibit your faith in God. Don't treat it as the end of the world. No. In fact, it is a start of a new beginning, a chance to heal yourself from the ravages of this empty shell.

Rejoice for your cancer is just a physical cancer, not the one that inflicts the very core of your soul.

Woe to Arroyo and her ilk. They are afflicted by a cancer far, far worst than Cory's. Greed is a cancer that infects not only the mind but the spirit. Cory will get more strength. She will be stronger. Yet, those who are stricken by this moral cancer will find themselves unable to recover.

Cory's struggle against her illness is a sign to us. Like her, we must fight this moral cancer that causes societal decay. Like Cory, we must persevere and ask God for strength. And like her, let us be burdened by this societal cancer and find a cure fast before we, ourselves, are stricken by this cancer up to the marrows of our soul.