The Long View : Action this weekend
Manuel L. Quezon III
Inquirer News Service
I'D like to give way to two calls for action in the coming days. The first comes from Citizens for TRUTH. This is a group of private citizens, none of whom have political ambitions but who are concerned with public apathy today. I share their point of view, as expressed in their manifesto.
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Demand Transparency, take Responsibility, foster Unity, restore Trust and breed Hope!
Years ago, Manuel Quezon opted for a government run like hell by Filipinos; the reason was, however bad a Filipino government might be, we could always change it. We have been run like hell, but we have always found the means to redeem our nation.
Years ago, too, Ninoy Aquino declared that the Filipino is worth dying for; and his declaration inspired us to vow that he would never be alone in his view. He died for us; we lived so that his dying would not be in vain.
It is the ordinary Filipino—you and I—who are the ones being called on to answer that burning question: Is the Filipino indeed not only worth dying for, but capable of not settling for a government run like hell?
Once again we find our country and ourselves in a crisis—not just an economic or a political crisis, but a crisis of values—one that forces us to question what it is exactly we as a people believe in, what we as a nation stand for. Perhaps even what we as a race are willing to die for.
But no one needs to die if only we are willing to stand up for what we believe in: To stand up, most importantly, for the TRUTH, because the truth is the biggest victim of all that is happening around us today.
And with the demise of TRUTH comes the spread of apathy among the ordinary citizens, the same apathy that is the "quiet killer" of any democracy.
And so, today, we who count ourselves among the ordinary citizens of this country come together as Citizens for TRUTH, determined through concerted action to take this country back from a succession of leaders who have not been true to their sworn oaths; acknowledging at the same time that all of these could not have happened if we ourselves had been vigilant in the defense of our collective interest.
Let us make one thing clear: None of us aspire for political office. That is not our calling. But it is our calling as citizens to get involved in political action and to be true to that calling is what we intend to be.
We stand for TRUTH in government—we want a government that is true to its commitment and true to the social contract. Specifically, we:
Demand TRANSPARENCY. A government created by the power of the sovereign people cannot exercise that power by hiding the truth from the people.
Take RESPONSIBILITY—We must be responsible for our individual actions, for each other, for the success as well as the failure of our collective endeavor.
Seek to foster UNITY—United in love for country and in our commitment to each other …
Commit to restore TRUST—The culture of suspicion that misgovernment has bred over the years cannot endure.
Finally, as citizens, we pledge ourselves to breed HOPE. More than just honest, orderly and peaceful elections—a necessary element of democracy that has been too bastardized—we believe that the collective genius of our people will be unleashed, and their collective potential fulfilled, the moment a sense of HOPE for the future infects each and everyone of us.
The time has come for the ordinary Filipino—for you and me—to stand up and be REALLY counted.
If you share in our beliefs, JOIN US in a simple demonstration of our collective sentiments.
On Saturday, Aug. 20, at exactly six o'clock in the evening may we invite you to stop and take a few moments to light a candle to demonstrate that the ordinary Filipino—you and I—is ready to spread the light that will banish the darkness that envelops our nation.
"SINO NGA BA ANG BAYAN? DI BA TAYO—ikaw at ako?"
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Next comes the Black & White Assembly, convened by: The Moral Majority; Bangon Pilipinas; Manindigan!; C4T—Citizens for Truth and Resignation, Impeachment or Ouster; CODE-NGO; National Peace Conference; LGCNet; Institute of Popular Democracy; AWARE; PhilDHRRA; Pagbabago@Pilipinas; C4CC—Citizens for Con Con; Phil CO Society; PASCRES; GZO Peace Institute. Their statement follows:
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On Aug. 21, 2005, we commemorate the death of a true Filipino patriot—Ninoy Aquino, by launching the Black & White Movement—a broad coalition of middle forces who would like to stand for what is right in the current political crisis.
Ninoy's death inspired unity of a people at the verge of hopelessness and despair. It is best embodied in the battle cry: "Hindi ka nag-iisa." (You are not alone.)
Today, our nation once again cries out for unity. We have become, not just a nation divided, but a people fragmented.
We believe GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) cheated and we demand her RESIGNATION, IMPEACHMENT or OUSTER.
Recent surveys by the SWS and Pulse Asia show that the majority of our people share this belief. But we can't seem to agree on a post-GMA scenario that we will advocate.
It's time to make a unified stand, and consolidate our protest actions.
And we draw from the inspiration of Ninoy and ask you, "Muli tayong magka-isa."
If you share our belief, please join us in this Black & White Assembly, where you can participate in (a) building consensus on a common manifesto; and (b) planning concerted actions.
This will be held on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2005 at La Salle Greenhills, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cheating is a moral issue where there are no gray areas. There's only black and white.
Admission is free. Please pre-register by sending an e-mail to enteng@healourland.ph or by confirming with Jane Laviña or Edzel Mirafelix: Tel/Fax 426-5938; Cel 0918-9192548 (Jane); Cel 0917-8163223 (Edzel). Please bring family and friends. Needless to say, we encourage you to come in black & white attire.
