There is boldness in the manner the House of Representatives, with Rep. Arthur Defensor as the “maestro”, in pushing for the approval of House Resolution No. 1109 seeking to convene the lower house into a constituent assembly for the purpose of introducing amendments to the Constitution. It shows that the Arroyo administration is not afraid to suffer the consequences of the public’s anger which could spark another people power revolution. It also reveals the desperation in the halls of Malacanang to lay down the foundation for the President’s extended stay in power, no matter what.
But this appears a calculated move on the part of Arthur Defensor and his gang. The risks are great, but the rewards would be greater should it succeed. It is possible that Defensor and his gang, acting upon orders of President Arroyo and Speaker Nograles, are betting on the theory that the Filipino people have grown sick and tired of people power. Two successful uprisings that toppled two unpopular presidents could have sapped the people of their energy that a third peaceful revolution is no longer appealing to them. The people must have lost their ability for collective anger, and the moment is ripe for this experiment, so their thinking goes.
Indeed, there seems to be not enough inertia to raise the people’s collective anger to boiling point. The closest episodes were during the “Hyatt 10″ mass resignations of Cabinet officials and the threatened mutiny of the Philippine Marines that ultimately led to the incarceration of my FaceBook friend, Col. Ariel Querubin, and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. President Arroyo survived these episodes, and she might be tempted to test the people’s patience and tolerance to the limits. After all, if elections are held, an opposition leader is likely to succeed her, and she can look forward to a slew of corruption cases filed against her. This is worth the gamble for her.
So the question needs to be asked: Have the Filipino people lost our ability to get angry?
History will provide the answer to this question.
9 Comments
June 5, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Maybe the Filipino people realizes that being angry doesn’t help … so each one just proceeds to doing their own jobs and not mind others as they do theirs. It might affect everyone if the leader is corrupt, but there seems to be no use going on the streets wasting time fighting for something with an unsure result. For me, I’d rather work my ass out and earn money every second than to go to the street. Even if it would mean the corrupt leader would take a % on the earnings I get … let them have it. Its not our fault that they don’t have conscience.
I would be ashamed if I was caught lying in a television, our President doesn’t seem to care if she had lied or made false statements. I read in the newspaper last week a former South Korean President killed himself because of shame of having been accused of being corrupt. If only our President could have the same attitude …
June 6, 2009 at 3:44 pm
A call to pinoy blogs and bloggers to link blogs on HR 1109
We are issuing this call to all pinoy blogs and bloggers to link to other blogs discussing or posting on the issue of the House Of Representatives passing HR 1109 in congress. Link to these blogs even if your blog’s topic is not on anything related to HR 1109.
HR 1109 is one the most important actions of the current congress that will affect the whole country and our lives.
Let us link together to give pinoys the opportunity to be properly informed on the issue so that they can intelligently decide on their own or join a group to take action.
http://bit.ly/4CiZC
June 6, 2009 at 3:47 pm
[...] http://boymejorada.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/have-we-lost-our-ability-to-get-angry/ [...]
June 7, 2009 at 9:24 pm
’shameful’ is a light term to describe the despicable action taken by rep. arthur defensor and his gang of congressmen who raped philippine democracy at the egging of president gloria macapagal arroyo.
now, defensor is trying to tell us everything they have done would amount to nothing without the cooperation and particpation of the senate.
in the first place, it was no secret the senate was opposed to it. so why force the issue after all?
defensor thinks he can fool the people again.
June 10, 2009 at 5:35 am
The apathetic response of most Filipinos to HS 1109 indeed indicates how tired we generally are with politics. But if we do not wake up from our collective ennui and allow these bastards to simply have their way, then we deserve whatever comes out of this.
And to think that I could barely sleep the night they approved HR 1109.
BTW, is this the Boy Mejorada that I knew way back then, in Roxas City?
June 10, 2009 at 6:54 am
[...] http://boymejorada.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/have-we-lost-our-ability-to-get-angry/ [...]
June 10, 2009 at 10:10 am
[...] http://boymejorada.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/have-we-lost-our-ability-to-get-angry/ [...]
June 11, 2009 at 9:16 pm
@josephus glenn: yes, the same boy mejorada
June 11, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Last night (June 11), I attended the general assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines representing Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. at the Century Park Hotel. I am happy to report that the governors rejected a proposed resolution introduced by Gov. Jose Antonio Carreon of Marinduque expressing support for House Resolution No. 1109.
“Our provinces are the last bastion of integrity,” said Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez of Sarangani in objecting to the proposed resolution. As a governor, Dominguez said he could not support a resolution that is clearly against the will of the people.
Governor Douglas Cagas of Davao Sur was more emphatic: “I am totally against it.” Gov. Cagas complained that most pro-administration congressmen were “forced” to vote for it. He revealed that his own son, a congressman, had wanted to vote against it, but relented to the pressure of the House leadership. “Speaker Nograles should explain this to the people,” he said.
Hurrah for the Governors!