Vice & Jessica

Higit sa paniniwala na ang paksang rape ay sensitibo kaya hindi dapat maging materyal sa mga comedy show, naniniwala ako na may mga tao ring gumagamit ng joke o pagpapatawa upang manlait ng kapwa. Upang kutyain ang kanilang mga kaaway o karibal na maskarado ng pagpapatawa. O sa ibang kaso, para sadyaing hamakin ang mga kababaihan o ilang grupo ng tao.

Bago pa maging viral ang isyung Vice Ganda at Jessica Soho ukol sa rape, isang komedyante sa US na nagngangalang Daniel Tosh ang umani ng puna hinggil sa isang rape joke na kanyang pinakawalan sa isa niyang pagtatanghal. Sa dakong huli, si Tosh ay humingi ng public apology sa mga kababaihan.

Sa akin lang, sa pagpasok at pag-uso ng mga stand-up comedian sa telebisyon at mga engandeng benyu tulad ng Araneta, mula sa mga maliliit at madidilim ng comedy bars, unti-unting ang ilan sa mga komedyante mula doon ay nagiging OA na. Sa kanila, parang wala nang pagkakaiba ang pagpapatawa sa panghahamak ng kapwa at hindi na kailangang maging responsable kapag nagbibiro't nagkakatuwaan.

Anuman ang ating trabaho o ginagawa, ito ay pagigiit ng ating kapangyarihan. Mapanlikhang kapangyarihan na ginagamitan ng isip. At ang mga bunga ng ating paggawa ay ekspresyon ng ating pagkatao. Patunay din ito ng ating kapangyarihan kumpara sa hayop. Halimbawa, ang isang magsasaka ay nagtatabas ng damo sa kanyang palayan upang igiit ang kanyang kapangyarihan laban sa tumutubong sukal sa kanyang panananim. 

Ganoon din sa palagay ko ang mga komedyanteng katulad ni Vice Ganda. Maaari rin nilang gamitin ang kanilang pagpapatawa upang igiit ang kanilang kapangyarihan para magamit ito sa iba pang dimensiyon ng kanilang iba’t-ibang personal na paniniwala. Paniniwala na mayroong tiyak na makikinabang liban sa kanilang sarili. Ang panggagahasa, sabi nga, ay hindi lamang ukol sa libog o krimen sa ngalan ng laman kundi higit sa lahat, ukol ito sa marahas na pagigiit ng lakas at kapangyarihan ng mga malalakas sa mga mahihina, anuman ang edad, anuman ang kasarian ng biktima. Katulad ng mga palabas sa telebisyon ngayon na nagwawasiwas pa ng mga lisyang pagpapahalaga. Kagaya rin ng mga balitang ibinabalita kapwa nina Vice Ganda at Jessica Soho sa kanilang mga show, ang usaping ito na kanilang kinasasangkutan, sana naman ay kapulutan din natin ng aral.

Mananatiling si Vice Ganda si Vice Ganda at si Jessica Soho si Jessica Soho pagkatapos nito. Unti-unti ay huhupa na rin ang lagnat (o kumbulsyon) na dulot nito sa cyberspace. Habang tayo na kanilang mga tagapanood, ay patuloy pa ring magiging biktima ng "panggagahasa" ng isipan ng mga komedyante at iba pang showbiz personalities.

Ipanalagin nawa nina Pugo at Tugo, Dolphy at Panchito na maging marangal at may etiketa ang kalakhan sa mga komedyante ng Pilipinas…

Tungko

Ngayong Linggo, Mayo 26, ay piyesta ng Iling Proper at ang kanilang patron doon ay ang Santisima Trinidad o Holy (or Blessed) Trinity. Isa ang doktrina ng Santisima Trinidad na mahirap nating maipaliwanag na mga Katoliko. Kasi naman, yung iba naming nakikipa-miyesta, mas excited pa silang malaman at mas intresado sila kung sino ang mananalo sa gay beauty pageant kaysa sa alamin ang patrong dapat ay siyang tunay na pinararangalan at pagnilayan ang inspirasyong hatid nito sa ating buhay. Kapag piyesta kadalasan sa alinmang baryo at bayan sa Kanlurang Mindoro, mas maraming tao ang makikita sa sabungan kaysa sa simbahan. Sa mga diskusyon ukol sa Banal na ‘Santatlo (Wikang Kastila nga pala ang Santisima Trinidad) Madalas tayong gamitan ng matematika at sasabihin sa ating papaano naging equals 1 ang 1+1+1? Tatlo daw, anila ang Diyos natin.

Ang doktrinang ito sa Bibliya ay mababasa natin sa Mateo 28:19 na sa wikang English ay ganito ang nasusulat : "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Sa iba pang bahagi ng Bagong Tipan, partikular sa 2 Cor. 13:14 at Heb. 9:14 na nagsasabing ang Ama, Anak at Espiritu Santo ay tatlong persona sa iisang Diyos.

Ang Linggo ng Santisima Trinidad ay ipinagdiriwang isang linggo matapos ang Linggo ng Pentekostes.

Sa pagkakatesismo sa ating mga anak ay puwede tayong gumamit ng itlog upang kahit papaano ay maipaliwanag ang misteryong ito. Ito ayon sa isang homiliya na nabasa ko na hindi ko na matandaan kung saan. Kagaya nang ginawa ni Brod Pete sa pagpapaliwanag niya sa YouTube tungkol sa Halalan 2013. Opo, ang ating mga itlog sa pridyider. Ipaliwanag natin sa kanila na bagama’t iisa lang ang itlog na hawak natin, mayroon itong tatlong bahagi. Ang balat o shell , ang puti nito at ang yolk (o dilaw na kadalasan ay pula ang tawag natin!). Alam natin na ang itlog ay may dilaw at puting bahagi bagama’t hindi natin ito nakikita. Ang Diyos ay kumakawan sa buong itlog. Ang balat nito o shell na nakikita ay kumakatawan kay Hesus, ang Diyos na nagkatawang-tao. Ang Diyos na bumaba sa kasaysayan ng tao. Ang puti ng itlog naman ay kumakatawan sa Banal na Espiritu at ang dilaw naman ay kumakatawan sa Diyos Ama. Parehong ang Diyos Ama at ang Banal na Espiritu ay hindi natin nakikita katulad ng puti at dilaw ng itlog, maliban na lang kung ang ating itlog ay ating babasagin!

Pamilyar ako sa Isla ng Iling bagama’t halos lampas kinse anyos na akong hindi nakabalik doon. Sa dalawang NGO na aking pinagtrabahuhan ay doon ako nadestino. Nag-organisa ng pamayanan para sa Simbahan at naghanda ng pagtatanim ng bakawan sa komunidad. Dito ikinuwento sa akin ni Lola Badang kung gaano ka-milagroso ang kanilang patron. Naaalala ko rin ang madalas naming pagtagay ng tuba kasama si Weng Seville at iba ko pang ka-tropa na taga-isla. Maligayang araw ng kapistahan po sa inyong lahat!

Iba na raw sa isla ng Iling ngayon. Ang Kapilya ng Santisima Trinidad ay ipinagawa na daw ni Fr. Fernando Suarez at balak gawin itong destinasyon ng mga peregrine o pilgrims, ayon sa nabasa ko dito. P35 M yata ang nakalap sa pagpapagawa ng nasabing kapilya. Nang ito ay pinasinayaan, dinaluhan ito ng ilang pulitiko.

Ang tungko ng kalan ay binubuo ng tatlong bato. Tatlo dapat ito dahil kung kulang ang batong tungko ng ating kalan ay gegewang ang kaldero o kawali. Ang bilang na tatlo ay simbolo ng pamayanan, ng pagkakaisa at ng pagsasama-sama. At sa ganitong diwa, ang bilang na tatlo (3) ay bilang ng tunay na pag-ibig. Panlahatan at para sa kapwa. Ang aral ng Banal na ‘Santatlo ay maaring ganito: Hindi dapat mamayani ang prinsipyong “Ako-at-Ako”. Sa halip sa ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa mundo at lahat ng nilalang sa ibabaw nito, kailangang nating ang suhay mula sa banal na “tungko”. Ito ay ang prinsipyong “Ako-at- ang Diyos- at- ang- aking kapwa.

Ang prinsipyong ito ang tanging parmasya na pagkukunan ng tunay na  medesina ng gamutang panlipunan…

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(Photo : Inquirer.net)

Umbok

Salamat naman at tapos na ang eleksyon at sana ay tapos na rin ang usapin ng umbok-umbok sa balota. Sana. At palibhasa tinatawag ko ang aking sarili na isang Utilitarian, nilalagom ko ang nagdaang halalan ng ganito sa pambansang perspektiba: Mas binigyan natin ng halaga ang bilis (ng proseso ng eleksyon) kaysa sa kawastuhan ng pagbibilang ng mga datus na pumapasok sa Precinct Count Optical Scan o PCOS machine. Sa ganitong diwa, may higit pang dapat gawin sa usaping legal at teknikal sa susunod na automated elections sa bansa sa 2016.

Huli na nang maging available ang source code mula sa Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Noon lamang ika-9 ng Mayo at 3 araw na lamang ang natitira bago ang aktwal na halalan ito inilabas kaya naging hilaw ang pagre-rebyu dito. Sa ganito kaigsing panahon, papaano magkakaroon ng obhetibong pagsusuri ang mga partidong pulitikal, mga accredited citizen’s arm at iba pang mga intresadong grupo, lalung-lalo na ang independent groups ng mga IT expert? Kaya ‘yun ang nangyari, parang naging pakitang-tao na lang tuloy ang rebyu ng source code na ginawa sa antas nasyunal. Parang lahat ‘ata ng prosesong pang-halalan ngayon ay via express lane na para sa mga PWD kundi man 'simbilis ng bullet train sa bansang Hapon. Ang mahalagang katanungang ito sana, kung nagkaroon ng sapat na panahon para sa rebyu ng source code, ang dapat na matugunan : “Reliable ba at tamper-proof  ang computer program na ating gagamitin?”

Natatandaan ko sa isang natisod kong pahayag ng Kontra-Daya na isang maka-Kaliwang election watchdog bago ang halalan : “We could not just simply rely on the accreditation of the source code by SLI Global Solutions and be assured that the PCOS machines will function properly. We have to verify that this source code is translated into the proper program that will run on the machines during election day. This could have been tested during the FTS with the hash codes generated during the trusted build so that we can ensure that the same copy of the program will be running in all of the more than 80,000 PCOS machines nationwide.” Sino ang hindi mag-iisip na ang magdaang halalan ay batbat ng ‘sanlaksan ngunit iba’t-ibang anyo ng elektronikong dagdag-bawas? Sa iba’t-ibang lugar na may iba’t-ibang layunin, hokus-pokus at aritmetik. At ang pinakamasaklap ay kung habang panahon ang tingin ng botanteng Pinoy sa eleksyon at sa maniobrahan dito ay micro at parochial.

Mahalaga ang masusi at may sapat na panahong source code review sapagkat kung hindi o madalian at hilaw ang pagsasagawa nito, hindi natin malalaman kung papaano ini-interpret ng kompyuter ang mga vote mark sa ating balota. Kung papaano ina-assign ang mga boto sa piling mga kandidato, kung papaano binibilang ang mga boto, kung kakainin ba o hindi ng makina ang mga balotang may umbok, sinu-sinong kandidato kaya ang makikinabang sa tampered ballots kung mayroon man, kung anu-anong mga datos ang isi-save, at iba pang teknikal na bagay o impormasyon. Noong May 2010 elections, hindi rin nasagot ang mga katanungang ito.

Hindi rin natin masisisi ang mga natalong kandidato na legal na kumilos para muling bilangin ang mga balota, maging yung mga umano ay tampered man o hindi. 

Noong 2010, si Sixto Brillantes, Jr. ay legal counsel pa lang ni PNoy na kandidato sa pagka-presidente ng Partidong Liberal (LP). Ito nga rin siguro ang dahilan kung bakit ang tawag ng mga militante sa Komisyon ay “Yellow” COMELEC na hindi ko malaman ang kaugnayan sa Yellow Army noon ni Tita Cory! Si Pangulong PNoy nga pala ay ka-klase ng ating bagong halal na gobernador.

Matatandaan na bago ang Mayo Trese ay nag-file ng pormal na petition ang may 34 na mga Pilipino sa United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) ayon sa umano ay paglabag sa kanilang mga batayang karapatan sa ilalim ng mga probisyon sa International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights o ICCPR. Ang ICCPR ay isang Kasunduang Pandaigdigan na isa ang Pilipinas sa bansang lumagda dito. Isa si senatorial candidate Richard “Dick” Gordon sa mga petisyunero at sa isang bahagi ng petisyon, ukol sa kahalagahan ng pagsasagawa ng maayos at kredibleng rebyu sa source code, sinabi nito ng buong diin na, “With the serious problem regarding the source code unresolved, perhaps President Aquino and Chairman Brillantes know something the voters do not." (Matigas talaga itong Dick (na ibinoto) ko!).

Isang bagay ang muli kong natutunan ngayong Halalan 2013 bilang isang self-confessed Utilitarian. Ang anumang makabagong teknolohiya ay may kabuluhan lamang kung papaano ito ginagamit at kung papayagan ng may kontrol nito na gamitin ito ng tama at makatarungan. At kung ito ay tunay na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan.

Kagaya ng umbok sa ilang kalsada na ang gamit ay upang tayo ay huwag magmadali at maging maingat upang hindi tayo mapahamak...

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(Photo : Technicallyjuris)

Straight Voting? C'mon!

Some quarters have been so vocal in asking for the so-called straight votes but I believe it's a crooked idea at this very juncture. They are insisting that if we unable to do so, Occidental Mindoro will forever be doomed and will not be able to surpass our present sad condition.  According to them, progress and development cannot be achieved as long as our leaders, from congress and the provincial capitol down to municipalities, are forever political rivals and antagonists. But politicians and their campaign strategists and focal persons in no way cannot be truthful about persuading the voters further for voting straight.  

Our people, judging from the results of the elections for decades now, are casting their votes upon selection of candidates individually regardless of political affiliations or groupings. It appears that we are already used to split votes or “salisi” leadership. Many of the organizations here are benefiting in this situation for they could get assistance, benefits and perks left and right. As ever, we vote based on personalities and not on issues. On where can we get much favor. It cannot be denied that we are still in a client-patron relationship- dominated political culture. We are generally still a bunch of uninformed (or was it misinformed?) voters. This is why I am against straight voting for this may exacerbate uninformed voting. This call for straight voting, as far as I am concerned, encourages voters to cast ballots without being fully educated about the individual differences of the candidates. This stuff is only for few hard cores or hardliners. But do they, the politicians and their campaign operators, really believe that straight voting would come into reality? Ow, come on! 

Check-and-balance in governance is important but that's issue is relevant only AFTER the elections. What important are the issues BEFORE the voting, during campaign. My position is more adhered on this: The call for straight voting somewhat enable us to blindly believe that everyone in their group is better than anyone from the other group. Yes, in the so-called “wholesale” vote, even the most rotten fruit is offered to us. Straight voting encourages people to vote without being fully educated on burning issues and advocacies of the day.

What we really need are new breed of genuine alternative politicians who would wield authority based on principles hinged on contemporary socio-political issues that we are experiencing. Including an alternative political group with an ideology which is the springboard of their principle and very action. We need young bloods who would be gallantly and fearlessly inclined to combat our immediate problems, in, say for example,  protecting the environment by passing legislative actions - initiate programs and projects - together with the national government, say,-  to minimize the effects of climate change here in Occidental Mindoro. Or by fighting together common enemies like aggressive development projects such as mining which are affront to our natural resources, including other social ills like gambling and criminality in our midst like illegal drugs, illegal fishing and illegal logging including all forms of human rights violations. We need competent leader- servants who would not rake money from the public coffer nor use his/her political position as ladder in order to reach his/her selfish goals.

This challenge for straight voting is an attractive campaign statement but as empty as the tomb of Jesus. It is persuasion in futility. It’s as useless as bench-warming politicians. During their campaign sorties, politicians would surely tell us to vote straight but they will ultimately not even lift a finger to make it a reality, to push for its realization collectively or individually. There is no single breath of substance from it. If they are not serious about it, why put much weight on it? This is one of the mouthfuls that are easy said than done so, why waste our saliva?  In the end, this time-tested saying on individuality and practicality would still prevail: “Buntot mo, hila mo”. Besides, this proposal may be as fragrant as a rose garden but we are swarmed by (political) butterflies. What difference straight voting would make?

If we overly emphasize this idea at this stage, we are only straightforwardly making fools of ourselves… 

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(Photo : Rimban.wordpress.com)

Lesser Evil According to Me

The 2013 election more than as ever is not about for voting wisely but about for voting for the lesser evil. The Lesser Evil Principle is the idea in politics and political science that of two bad choices, one is not as bad as the other and should therefore be chosen over the one that is the greater threat. Voting for us Filipinos bring moral or existential dilemma.

Our society’s self-acclaimed “moral guardians” keep on reminding us to vote wisely during elections. But there lies the biggest problem: A wise vote to one may not be a wise vote to another. How could one vote wisely when there’s not wise choice from the available candidates you are choosing from? We have no other option but to vote for the lesser evil based on our own assessment of things from our own view point. Of course we know that the lesser of two (or more evil) is still evil but not eternally.

But let us forget that the word “evil” is universal. While it could well be attached to politicians, it can also pertain to voters, citizens and the political system itself. We are prone to be evil ourselves if we are not good enough to distinguish from the abstract who is the lesser evil among the present candidates. But how can we shed the shades of grey in distinguishing our lesser evil? We have no other practical solution but to look deeper on the candidates’ minds and personality pittied against ours.  

My lesser evil has these two (2) tangible characteristics: The one who has the greatest ideas and visions compatible with my principles and biases and at the same time shares my advocacy and aspirations for Occidental Mindoro, in thoughts and in deeds. My kind of candidate, too, do not resort to public display of arrogance using emotional and physical harm against his/her rivals including those who are critical of his/her beliefs or in expressing his/her thoughts. (S)he is in no way vindictive or revengeful. In short, my lesser evil is an intelligent visionary and a (wo)man of action and at the same time ethical in his/her manners. These criteria may be limited and hollow but I am just making things simple and not complicated for this special voting season. In short, I will vote for the best person, someone not only who espouses the best ideas but how intelligently, politely and objectively express those ideas privately or more so in public. Paradoxically in this “oversimplification” of standards, my Lesser Evil becomes my Greater Good candidate. Trust me on this at your own risk!

Seriously, the Greater Evil is when we as voters solely place in the hands of politicians and operators our agenda and collective interests in every election season…

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(Photo: Hellenman World)

Local Elections and Online Rudeness

Election time is near and majority of the members of Facebook groups, especially those who are into partisan politics are getting ruder. We are witnesses to many immature, childish virtual altercations recently especially in Unlad Mindoro and Sablayan Opinion Board (SOB). Incidents of sort are on-going as of this writing. But this doesn’t surprise me at all for politicking and politician-based (or inspired) debates are already part of our lives even before rivals Dream Team and Performance Team came into existence in the face of Occidental Mindoro. Social networking sites, especially Facebook only became another arena, another venue. No doubt, our sense of belongingness and unity as a people are ruined not only by social media but especially by political "diehards", their back-uppers, supporters and campaign point persons. Thus, this season is making us ruder.

According to a latest study, 78% of people surveyed have reported increased rudeness on-line, and most have no qualms at all about forgetting their manners in the on-line sphere. Said survey found out that 1 in 5 people have reduced their face-to-face contact with someone they know in real life after an on-line run-in.

The true intention of a social media is not only to connect friends, family and even lovers but it is also a seedbed of less thoughtful people and amplifier of their subjective feelings and voices. Sometimes I am also guilty of treating cyber-bullies and trools as if they are persons of less dignity. In an article written by Tamara Rajakariar entitled “Social Media is Making Us Ruder” further states, “There’s also the problem of gossip. Rumor and scandal is facilitated, because we have so much access to information about people we might hardly know. This makes it so much easier to be critical and judge them”. 

True enough, those people who are usually lambasting my person in cyberspace and those who are falsely accusing me are mostly people who do not know me personally. They judge me by merely looking at my FB Profile. Our on-line profiles are not completely us. There are also irresponsible and coward posters and commenters hiding his/her true identity. No gunfighter in his right mind, no matter how brave and gallant he is, would ever agree to engage in a pistol quick draw with an opponent covering in the wild! Seeing comments and postings magnifying rudeness using inappropriate, malicious, arrogant words or forms of argumentum ad hominem, are accepted by many because, well, for them, it brings entertainment. This is morally acceptable in the eyes of many of us for election time is the most entertaining time in this impoverished nation. It's a circus galore. We are greatly entertained by the lives, sins and shortcomings, even physical attributes of others especially now that the political zarzuela is on. But even in circuses, there are rules and authorities to observe and to follow. In case of this present predicament, it's the election laws and the COMELEC.

Joseph Grenny, co-chairman of corporate training firm VitalSmarts, said, "The world has changed and a significant proportion of relationships happen online but manners haven't caught up with technology.” Sad but true. He said there are three rules that could improve conversations online: to avoid monologues, replace lazy, judgmental words, and cut personal attacks particularly when emotions were high. It’s as simple as that, friends.

But in the long run, there’s no substitute for face-to-face healthy discussions and sharing and we have to do it in every which way we can…

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(Photo: Reporting Texas)

Nang Isuko Ang Bataan

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang kasabihang “isinuko ang Bataan” sa paglipas ng panahon ay nagkaroon ng konotasyong sekswal kagaya nang mababasa natin sa site na ito.

Sana ay mapigilan ko ang sarili na huwag maging Freudan sa araw na ito ng pambansang kagitingan. Sana…

Bakit nga ba natin ipinagdiriwang ang ating mga pagkabigo bilang bansa kagaya ng Pagbagsak ng Corregidor, ang Death March at lalung- lalo na ang Fall of Bataan samantalang halos wala tayong pambansang pagdiriwang kapag ginugunita ang Leyte Landing o Mindoro Landing kaya? At para marahil tuldukan ang isyung ito ng lisyang pagdiriwang, ang Fall of Bataan ay tinatawag na ngayong Araw ng Kagitingan o Day of Valor.

Ngayong 2013 ay ating gugunitain ang ika 71 Taon ng Araw ng Kagitingan sa pamamagitan ng temang, “Ang Beterano: Sigla at Inspirasyon ng Kabataan Tungo sa Tuwid na Daan,” sa bisa ng Executive Order No. 23, Series of 1987 at Proclamation No. 466, series of 1989. Layunin ng sulating ito na bigyang parangal ang mga beterano mula sa Kanlurang Mindoro lalo na yaong mga nasawi sa Bataan at maging sa Death March kagaya nina Pvt. Jose P. Soldevilla, at Pvt. Ananias Devero at iba pang mga ka-lalawigan natin na namatay doon. Kabilang ang mga pinahirapan ngunit nakaligtas sa kamatayan na sina Sgt. Pedro Mercene, Pvt. Mariano Tacderan, Pvt. Felix Garlitos at iba pa. Kabilang ang mga nabubuhay pa ngayon kagaya ni PFC. Pantaleon Villaflores ng Sablayan. Ayon sa aklat na "Mindoro sa Panahon ng Digmaan" ni Rodolfo M. Acebes, karamihan sa mga gerilya at sundalong taga-Occidental Mindoro ay kabilang sa 41st Infantry Regiment ng 41st Division ng 4th Military District sa ilalim ni Gen. Vicente Lim.

Balikan natin ang kasaysayan. Noong ika-9 ng Abril, katanghaliang tapat nang si Senior U.S. commander Maj. Gen. Edward P. King kasama ang iba pang opisyal militar ng Amerika ay napag-negotiate kay Gen. Kameichiro Nagano at mga kawal Hapones at ilang oras matapos ito, ang mga gutom, pagod at sugatang sundalong Kano at Pinoy sa nasakop na Bataan peninsula ay tuluyan nang sumuko sa mga Hapon. Makikita sa itaas ang larawan ng nasabing kaganapan sa kasaysayan.

Sabi ni P.C. Cast sa kanyang aklat na Burned, “Surrender is a powerful force”. Sampalataya ako sa pagsuko, sa tao at sa batas, sa tamang panahon, matapos ang masusing pagtitimbang. Pero ang pagsuko sa Diyos ay napapanahon sa lahat ng oras, maidagdag ko lang.

Karuwagan ba ang sumuko?  Oo, marahil kung agad-agad. Pero alalahanin natin na hindi sila basta-bastang bumigay. Matagal na hirap at pagod ang kanilang binata sa kamay ng kainamang dami ng kaaway bago sila sumuko. Dumanas sila kapwa ng hirap gayundin ang mga kaaway. Sa pagtago sa ulan ng punglo ng masinggan buhat sa mga eroplano sa himpapawid. Sa pagpasan sa mga sugatang kasama. Sa pagtulo ng pawis, luha, dugo, sipon at pagdahak ng plema. Sa mga nagbuwis ng buhay sa halibas ng samurai. Sa tudla ng Arisaka o sa dulo nitong bayoneta. Sa pag-aalala at lungkot sa kanilang mga magulang at iba pang mahal sa buhay. Mangyari muna sana ang dapat mangyari sa tamang panahon at lugar bago natin isinuko ang Bataan. Sana ay ganito rin ang isipin ng ating mga kabataan ngayon, lalo na ang mga batang binibini.

Gusto pa sanang lumaban ng ating mga bayani ngunit mahina na ang kanilang katawan bagama’t ‘di pa rin natitinag ang diwa ng mga kawal USAFFE. Lahat ng bagay ay may simula at katapusan, sabi nga sa kanta, kaya kailangang matapos na ang labanan noon sa Bataan. Bumagsak nga sa pisikal na aspeto ang Bataan ngunit ang diwa ng kanilang pakikibaka at paninindigan ay matigas pa ring nakatayo. Hindi ko lang alam kung namana ito ng ating mga kabataan ngayon. Mga ulo na lang yata (at hindi na paninindigan) ng maraming kabataan ang mas tumitigas ngayon, lalo na ang mga kabinataan.

Tunay na kapag hindi naging inspirasyon ng ating mga kabataan ang ating mga beterano, babagsak din ang batalan o lugar hinawan ng ating pagiging makabansa…

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(Photo : www.armypictorialcenter)

Wanted: Lifetime Boy Scouts

The saddest thing about our politicians is when they grow old they forget everything they have learned from scouting and that includes you and me, ordinary citizens of the republic. My first scouting experience was way back 1972 when I joined the delegates from San Jose Area to the Provincial Camporee held near Calawagan River in Paluan. I was donning a Beatles hairdo Grade IV pupil then of Bubog Elementary School.

The Boy Scout Oath says: “On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.” Before we went for the camporee our scout masters from Pilot Elementary School headed by Mr. Herminio Guinto and Godofredo Sevilla from San Roque II Elementary School explain the meaning of the Oath now almost forgotten by me. They have inculcated to us that our family and religious leaders teach us to know and serve God. By following these teachings, we have the duty to God. “Morally straight” means, according to them, is to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions, and to be a person of strong character.

For sure, each of us has a story to recollect and tell about our scouting experience.

Judging from the political context of Occidental Mindoro today, we must re-learn what the “morally straight” thing in the Oath means, “To live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions”. True, we cannot be Boy Scouts until the rest of our lives but it is worthwhile that the scouting spirit live in our hearts until we are bound for our Eternal Jamboree in Heaven (For I am sure if we truly live life according to the Boy Scout spirit, we won't be burned in the Infinite Bonfire in you-know-where!).

It is only now I realized that I myself let die that gem of a scout spirit inside me. The mission of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) is to imbue in the youth the love of God, country, and fellow men to train young people to become responsible leaders and to contribute in nation-building. Elections should also teach our youngsters such things. Just like the BSP motto, let us all “be prepared” for the polls and be intelligent voters.

As a 10-year old boy that year during my Paluan experience, I have accomplished for the first time two major tasks: to tie knots and to build a fire. I must learn how to figuratively tie knots and build a fire all over again this coming May 13.

Since not all beautiful and attractive things are good and lawful, we have to separate each of the candidates and bundle them together by tying a good knot based on their stands on different socio-political issues in our midst rather than their personality. The scouts in us must realize that we ought to vote based on candidates’  records, what they have accomplished, their advocacy, program of government, principles and ideologies and if possible, their intentions and motives. Since politicians are like fire because they both bring disaster and benefits, it is important to master the fire. We will be turning our little sparks from rubbing stones or bamboo sticks into a huge flame and let it burn those unworthy bundle of barren, arrogant and pretentious stalks (read: politicians/candidates). Be prepared.

What we need is a bunch of timeless “Boy Scouts” and “Girl Scouts” (or even “Gay Scouts”, mind you!) in government who are aware that service is powerful. That politics is not just doing what the people want but also what the people really need. That good governance also focused on righteousness and humility rather than power and authority. It is about letting the people, even your critics, to realize the power in their hands. It is like scouting that is focus on something more relevant than just camp outs and merit badges and troop meetings. 

Scouting not unlike politics and religion or humanity itself, in its very essence is about serving others and not about personal or private gains especially family business...

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(Photo : Tobspa.org)

A Tribute To Felix Gabriel

Since election time is already near, here’s a little tribute to a great politician from my place of birth, and with God’s grace, there’s a Holy Week event that reminded me of the late old man whom many of our youth have almost forgotten.

In the Lenten Recollection aired over ABS-CBN Channel 2 last Holy Wednesday, Fr. Glenn Paul M. Gomez, SVD, a well-known kabayan clergy, mentioned in his sharing about a former mayor of our hometown San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.  According to Fr. Glenn, president of the Divine Word College (DWC) here and one of the top brasses of the Healing Eucharist, a Sunday Mass TV program,  people from our place should be reminded about Dr. Felix Lomboy Gabriel. The life of Dr. Gabriel centered on service, as a war veteran, a medical doctor, a town mayor, and a civic leader. 

Upon retirement, he pioneered the senior citizen organization in the whole Occidental Mindoro where he gained prominence all over the country. I remember the old man way back in the early 90s. I was then an apprentice news writer for Radyo Filipino DZYM, the first radio station in San Jose, where Dr. Gabriel, in his late 80s, hosted a radio program. Those were the days when our airwaves are pure and clean. When our radio announcers were not yet under the spell of political witchcraft. There are several times I guided Dr. Gabriel leading to the announcer’s booth for he was already half-blind that time and had difficulty in walking. But his mind remained sharp. His wisdom overflows. His humility is beyond compare. His intelligence is oozing. Unlike many of those names and faces printed in tarpaulins posted all over the place today.

The late grand old man in a way paved the way for my earthly existence. As town mayor, he presided over the civil wedding of my parents in 1960. He was elected in 1959 and among his three major accomplishments were naming of the streets the transfer of all the government offices near the Municipal Hall and the construction of a new Public Market. His youngest son, Hector, stood as my godfather when I was baptized. He and my Papang, our grandpa, were friends not only because they are both health practitioners but because our families were two of the early residents of Pandurucan, San Jose’s name of yore.  Dr. Felix Gabriel hailed from Batac, Ilocos Norte, and finished his course in Medicine at the University of Sto. Tomas. In 1931 he was sent to San Jose by the Department of Health as its Municipal Health Officer. Papang, who was also with the department’s Malaria Control Unit, told me that his compadre is a model politician and a have a true heart for his patients, especially those who are poor coming from the barrios. 

Dr. Gabriel, in the 70s also play tennis, his favorite sport. Me mentioning tennis also reminds me of another great old man of Philippine politics named Jovito Salonga who once said, “Politics is like tennis. Those who serve well seldom losses.” Dr. Gabriel’s two daughters, Amelita or Baby and Virginia or Gene were teachers of all the girls from our family who entered Saint Joseph’s School (SJS). His other son was Felix, Jr., or Boy. Dr. Gabriel was married to Amparo Gaudier, I was told by my Mamang. Nobody from his immediate family entered politics. Service and not the business was his politics. Unlike many of those names and faces printed in tarpaulins posted all over the place today.

Dr. Gabriel during World War II was with the army being a medical officer with a rank of 1^st Lt and in 1992, he acted as executive director of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines or BSP. By the way, on my entry next week, on April 4, I will tell you why I go for boy scout politicians as my ideal public servant. My personal criteria of picking whom to vote for this 2013.

Dr. Gabriel succumbed to a heart attack on October 6, 2002. He was 98.

Bearing in mind the clean and honest ways of Dr. Felix Gabriel, I am hoping to see names and faces of genuine alternative politicians in their tarpaulins in the coming elections for we deserve more than old names and faces in our local politics. I am not losing hope for I belong to Easter people...

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(Photo : Ferdz Decena)

Cross Nail Made of Nickel?

Just days before the Holy Week, the Local Government Units of Sablayan and Abra de Ilog in coordination with the Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN) and the KAAGAPAY NGO-PO Network of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro spearheaded an ecumenical forum dubbed “Stewardship of the Earth, Ministry for the Poor”. The event was held March 21-22, 2013 at the Sablayan Convention Center this municipality. Around 60 participants composed of LGU employees, pastors from different Christian denominations, Alangan and Tao-Buid Mangyan leaders and Catholic priests attended the activity. The highlights were 3 Biblio-Theological Reflections rendered by Pastor Jeoffrey Landicho and Rev. Pastor Romulo Mari both from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines or UCCP. Rev. Fr. Ruben Villanueva, Parish Priest of Divine Mercy Parish in Murtha, San Jose also shared about his insights against mining in the whole island of Mindoro.

Hon. Ruben Dangupon, IC/ICC representative to the Sangguniang Bayan of Sablayan, Dr. Marius Agua, Jeff Rafa and Ms. Evelyn Cacha of ALAMIN who came directly from Calapan, among others, graced the occasion. Also in attendance were Peping Poyngon and Lunito Daza who are both Mangyan leaders together with their other companions. Mayors Eduardo B. Gadiano and Eric Constantino of Sablayan and Abra de Ilog, respectively, also renewed their common stand against the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP). The activity intends to sustain and unify the efforts of the two provinces on said socio-political issue. The MNP is bound to crucify us all, inhabitants of this fragile island.

In this material written by David Field of the University of Transkei, he wrote, “To confess that Jesus Christ is Redeemer and Lord demands the church that it repent of its complicity in the destruction of God's creation and commit itself to praxis of ecological healing. To fail to respond to the continued degradation and exploitation of the earth is a denial, in praxis, of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” On April 16, right after the Holy Week, the Supreme Court is bound to have an oral argument on the legality of the Philippine Mining Act and it will be conducted in Baguio City. Let us keep our fingers crossed that our justices would be on our side.

This Holy Week season, may we all be reminded of what Pope Francis have told us: “Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.” ….

Si Hagedorn sa San Jose

Dumalaw sa San Jose noong Biyernes, ika-15 ng Marso, 2013, ang Alkalde ng Lunsod ng Puerto Princesa sa Palawan na kasalukuyang tumatakbo sa pagka-senador na si Edward S. Hagedorn. Si Mayor Hagedorn ay kilalang kampeon ng kalikasan.

Ito ang kanyang ikalawang pagbisita sa naturang bayan. Balita ko, halos sampung taon na ang nakalilipas, naging panauhing pandangal namin sa siya sa aming Reunion ng Batch ’78 ng San Jose National Highschool (SJNHS). Hindi ako umattend noon. Mabuti na lang. Hindi ko na ikukuwento kung bakit.

Direkta mula sa paliparan, inumpisahan ni Hagedorn ang kanyang kampanya sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-daupang palad sa mga manininda at mamimili sa Pamilihang Bayan ng San Jose kung saan siya ay pinagkaguluhan na parang artista. Gumawi din siya sa Brgy. Caminawit kung saan ay kinapulong niya ang samahan ng mga kababaihan doon na karamihan sa mga kasapi ay kabilang sa mga mangingisdang taga-Kanlurang Mindoro ngunit lumalaot sa Palawan. Ayon sa ulat, namahagi ng pinansiyal na ayuda ang nag-iisang kandidato para sa senado mula sa rehiyon MIMAROPA sa mga pamilyang nabanggit. Syempre pa, pinalibutan siya ng mga lokal na pulitikong nagkasa sa mga paghahanda para sa campaign sortie niya rito. Halos lahat  sa kanila ay mula sa Liberal Party (LP) ngunit tahasang nagpahayag ng kanilang suporta sa nasabing independent senatorial candidate. Nakalimutan ko, hindi nga pala bawal sa Pilipinong pulitiko ang sumuporta sa mga hindi niya ka-partido basta hindi maapektuhan ang sarili niyang kampanya. Maliwanag na may mga laglagan ding nangyayari.  Pero kung pasok sa kanila si Hagedorn, sino sa Team P-Noy ang kanilang ilalaglag? Nagtatanong lang po.

Isinagawa rin ang isang palatuntunan sa Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) Labangan Campus Gymnasium at panayam sa isang lokal na radyo na hindi ko man banggitin pa ay mahuhulaan na ninyo kung saan. Sa harap ng mga mag-aaral, mga organisadong grupo sa lalawigan at ilang lider pulitiko, inilatag ni Hagedorn ay kanyang mga adbokasiya at plataporma. Una, isusulong daw niya ang panukalang pagpapalawig ng termino ng mga pinunong lokal sapagkat ayon sa kanya, napaka-igsi ng tatlong taon sa panunugkulan ng isang halal na pinuno.

Aniya, kadalasan ay kinukulang sa panahon ang mga lokal na lider para sa mga proyekto at programa. Sa pagkakaroon kaagad ng halalan matapos ang lamang ang tatlong taon ay pagsasayang lamang ng salapi ng bayan na maaari umanong ilaan sa mga serbisyo at pagawain. Binanggit din niya na ang maikling panahong ito ang lalo pang nagpapatindi ng lumalalim na tunggalian ng mga lokal na pulitiko sa bansa. Ngunit sa kabila nito, dapat rin umanong magkaroon ng batas na siyang kukontrol sa mga abusadong lider kagaya ng pagpapabilis sa mga prosesong nagtatadhana ng pagpapatalsik sa mga ito, kagaya ng proseso ng recall na sinusuhayan naman ng Local Government Code. Hindi ako palo sa term extension at wala akong tiwala sa mga safety-safety nets o control mechanisms na ‘yan na mga pambansang mambabatas na may mga kamag-anak sa posisyong lokal ang siyang inaasahang magpapatibay. Hindi kaya lalangawin lang na parang tumpok ng nabubulok na dilis sa palengke ang gagawing mga inisyatiba para dito?

Tututukan din niya, ayon sa kanyang talumpati, ang edukasyon at kabuhayan. Ibinida ni Hagedorn ang pagpapatayo nila ng sabay-sabay ng 500 mga silid-aralan sa kanyang lunsod bilang alkalde at ang pagbibigay ng kabuhayan sa pamamagitan ng pag-uugnay ng pamahalaan at mga samahang masa sa pangunahing industriya ng sustinableng turismo sa Puerto Princesa.

Ang boto nga ba para kay Hagedorn ay boto para sa kalikasan? Oo raw. Naniniwala ako na isa sa pumpon o bunton ng mga batas sa bansa na parang mga nabubulok nang tumpok ng dilis sa palengke na hindi nai-implementa ay ang mga batas pangkalikasan. Mayroon na nga tayong tinatawag na Writ of Kalikasan pero bakit kagaya ng House Bill 3413, wala yatang mambabatas na balak seryosohin ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-aproba ng mga enabling law? Kilalang maka-kalikasan si Hagedorn kung kaya naman sa panayam sa radyo ay tinalakay niya ang kanyang posisyon kontra sa pagmimina at iba pang mga extractive industries bagama’t hidi niya lantarang tinukoy ang tungkol sa amba ng Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP) sa ating lalawigan.

Simple lang ang aking pahimakas. Kilalang kampeon ng kalikasan si Hagedorn. Sana gayundin ang kanyang mga pinakamalapit na ugnay sa Occidental Mindoro. Sana ay ma-ampyasan man lang sila ng paninidigan niyang ito kontra sa mga agresibong industriya laban sa kalikasan…

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(Photo: www.lexpress.fr)

Of PCOS and Lent

My interest in biblical numbers’ trivia started in 2010 after we, volunteers of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), attended series of seminars on the PCOS or the Precinct Count Optical Scanner. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) then also initiated such orientation like the one I am telling you here. Since then, numbers became equally important along with candidates’ given names or surnames. Without doubt, elections for us could be a crucifixion or resurrection, depending on its results and outcomes generally perceived by the citizenry.

Lo and behold! To all first time (PCOS) voters, this is a quickie PCOS course for dummies. If you are regular lotto bettor, it’s easy to understand how the machine works. When you try to bet for a lotto draw, you mark numbers on a betting ticket. The operator will then insert your bet ticket to a machine that will read the numbers that you marked. You will also mark numbers using a special pen. Each number corresponds to the candidates running for the post. That’s as simple as that. Hey, you don't need to be a genius to know that PCOS machine will read ballots instead of bet tickets!

PCOS machine then simply transmits data. After the voting, the PCOS technician will send the data from polling places accumulated by the machine to the server. This is the same process as sending a text message from your cellular phone.

“Do not worry,” says Smartmatic then, “PCOS offers several layers of security”. If we are going to believe them, they placed many security measures to ensure the credibility of the elections. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. even challenged us recently, “Anyone who can hack into the PCOS machines. Maybe we can give them something if they are successful.” Are you confident now with the PCOS?

What recently causes me goose bumps is this : The Automated Election System (AES) Watch, a group of information technology (IT) programmers and security experts and academicians on the subjects of mathematics, business and public management,- gave the Comelec a failing grade of 0.29 with 4 being the highest and 0 being the lowest for the preparations for the elections.

But ultimately, with or without PCOS, if the choice of the people is corrupted, the election will be a mess. No matter how high tech or how secure the equipment we use, it is us voters who will make this election clean and orderly. Let us just include all these things in our prayers this Lenten season.

Pretend we are in a Sunday school and let’s have a little quiz. Here are the questions: How many disciples ran to the tomb? How many angels were at Christ’s resurrection? How many disciples did Jesus walk with on the Emmaus Road after His resurrection? How many men in white apparel testified at Christ’s ascension?

The answer is a magic number as far as I am concerned…

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4Ps and Politics

As early as March last year, top honchos of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have already warned local officials against using the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) for their partisan political ends, but how about national candidates?

Now that May 13 polls is just around the corner, it is expected that the 4Ps Grievance Redress System (GRS) would receive left and right protests or grievances coming from political camps especially in provinces such as Occidental Mindoro where politicking is so intense and yes,… year-round.

Carrying the slogan"Makialam. Magsumbong. Bawal ang Epal Dito", the social welfare department will be launching this March an advocacy campaign which aims to empower the beneficiaries to participate in this campaign and to protect the households from baseless threats of removal from the program if they will not support political entities in the upcoming elections. The department reiterated that only DSWD and not the politicians has the say in delisting or removal of a beneficiary if s/he will not comply with the conditions earlier set for the cash transfer.

In short, the DSWD one-line message is this: “Pantawid Pamilya is not a campaign vehicle for political advancement." In short, 4Ps as a national government program is not supporting any partisan political party whether local or national. How about Team PNoy?

In August 3, 2012, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, issued a directive that prohibits  4Ps field implementers from threatening or intimidating any beneficiary to attend any partisan political activity; employing deceit or misrepresentation to gather beneficiaries for a political caucus, meeting, rally or other assemblies in the guise of an official program activity; active endorsement of a political candidate or party to beneficiaries; distributing partisan political literature or campaign materials to beneficiaries during official program activity; allowing the program or any activities of the program to be used as a vehicle for partisan political activities; or performing any act that promotes any political candidacy or party.   

On the other hand, according to reports, the department is respecting the rights of beneficiaries in choosing their political party and candidates. DSWD emphasized that beneficiaries should only support or endorse any political candidate or parties as citizens of the country and NOT as beneficiaries of the program. Violators are going to face sanctions. In short, when they (the beneficiaries and implementers) campaign, they should not use the name of 4Ps in vain. Hopefully they would. Let us pray.

Those workers who felt threatened by politicians must report immediately so that corrective measures will be taken up, according to DSWD. The beneficiaries are those who are in a dilemma if elections or politicians truly make their lives light or heavy. Are elections and politicians the main problem or the main solution? The answer rests in our hands as a nation.

Needless to say, politicians, especially the traditional ones, those who come-and-go in every elected positions, those who are members of a political dynasty, know that there are many ways to skin a cat and avoid illegal electioneering. Soliman’s directive would only be saving the program from pangs of partisan politics but not the beneficiaries from political peril. 

Nevertheless, vigilance of the beneficiaries/stakeholders is a must this election season. Each 4Ps beneficiary must realize that s/he is not a lowly 2Ps: Political Pawn!...

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(Photo: www.ugnayan.com)

Diokno is No Joke

Over a bottle of Red Horse Mucho,- Yobhel, my eldest, and I shared thoughts about Jose W. Diokno, the great Filipino nationalist. He told me things I am not aware of about the great man. My knowledge about Ka Pepe, Diokno’s nom de guerre, is limited only of him being a lawyer and senator dedicated to the promotion of human rights, the defense of Philippine sovereignty and the enactment pro-Filipino economic legislation. My son informed me that Diokno was the only person to top both the Philippine Bar Examination and the board exam for Certified Public Accountants (CPA). Then we discussed about the content and the ideas in the book “Nation for Our Children” which I purchased when I was still a young activist at Occidental Mindoro National College (OMNC), our alma mater. That was three years or so before my son was born.

In an Inquirer net article published last year, Ka Pepe’s son, Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno remembered, “It was 1974, the height of the Marcos dictatorship, when I first started going to court with Dad. The first time I saw him in action, I was hooked. I knew then, without a shadow of a doubt, that I would become a lawyer. And of course, I wanted to be a lawyer like him.”  Like father like son, indeed. I cannot help but recall and recount to Yobhel stories from my challenging and long stint with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippine-Southern Tagalog (TFDP-ST) where I served as its Regional Human Rights Education Program (HREP) coordinator. I told him that Ka Pepe’s idea of developmental legal aid have inspired us then, TFDP workers, to challenge government policies and practices. I told him about Diokno’s pet project, the establishment of Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and how its members, mostly lawyers and paralegals, promote people’s genuine development. Ka Pepe and his legacy have tied the endearing and meaningful paternal knot between me and my only son that very hour with our favorite beer, if I may emphasize.

In that father-and-son mara-talk, we even compared senators during Diokno's time and the senators of our day. Ka Pepe and another late nationalist legislator, Lorenzo Tanada (AKA Ka Tanny) were both intelligent but never been unethical. Witty but never been arrogant. Their most memorable fight were against foreign corporations and not against their fellow senators. Whenever they present themselves in the media, their speeches are oozing with nationalism, democracy and sovereignty and not about their fellow senator's sexual preference or mental state. Well, those were the days when the Hall of Senate was a seedbed of intellectual and academic quest more than a circus or an entertainment venue. Those were the times when the media was interested more of words of wisdom coming from politicians rather than pick-up lines and antics. Those were the days before the likes of Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Panfilo Lacson came to the show. The days when the Filipino people prefer to be educated rather than entertained by politicians!

Though a man of Law, Ka Pepe was also a man of Faith. In that same article, siblings Mench and Pat Diokno wrote, “Dad was such an intellectual that it would probably surprise many to learn that he was a deeply spiritual person. His faith was very personal and private; he did not preach and as we children grew older, he left the practice of our faith to each one of us, without judging us for our sometimes lack of fervor.” It was said that Pepe Diokno even at sickbay, never lost faith and respect to people with different beliefs. 

My son, just like me when I was his age, is deeply hooked on the ideals and aspiration of Ka Pepe specially the man’s Filipino concept of Justice. Yobhel emphasized how Western thought dominated our way of thinking as a people and shared me a classic Diokno line in the manuscript “The Filipino Concept of Justice” from the book “Nation for Our Children”: “We have been dominated by the West for so long; our political institutions, our laws, our educational system, all are copies of Western patterns; and the advertising, television programs, books, magazines and newspapers emanating from the West have deeply affected our values. In these circumstances, can we hope to find a concept of justice native to us Filipinos?”

Diokno succumbed to lung cancer on February 27, 1987, just one day after his 65th birthday. In 2004, Diokno was posthumously conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Supremo—the Philippines' highest honor. February 27 is celebrated in the country as Jose W. Diokno Day and this was declared by former President Corazon C. Aquino. I have no inkling about it but Yobhel shared it to me.  My old book “Nation for our Children” edited by Priscila Manalang, a compilation actually of Diokno’s speeches, taught my son this words from the great man himself : "Reality is often much more beautiful than anything that we can conceive of. If we can release the creative energy of our people, then we will have a nation full of hope and full of joy, full of life and full of love — a nation that may not be a nation for our children but which will be a nation of our children." With this, Diokno’s legacy to us is indeed “no joke”. A little book that has a special space in our little bookshelf at home and it’s a tenant there for more than 22 years now.

On February 27, hopefully my son and I again clink our glasses not only for Jose W. Diokno but also for them, my children, and the rest of the children of this great but impoverished nation of ours….

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(Photo : Diokno.org)