FROM A DISTANCE

Dream and reality

“It was a classroom full of chattering students, one asking a question and the others answering loudly. Then it was all of them asking many questions and the others answering. It was a cacophony of sounds. At the center was a man, I suppose he was the teacher, the noisy students’ professor who stood by when I came into the room. I remember how he looked – not so tall, just medium height and weight but it was the look in his face which immediately arrested my attention. It was a face which revealed an unhappy life but wanted now to forget it. This expression can be seen by a kindred soul. I don’t know how long we looked at each other even if it was only for a moment.

I would not forget nor want to forget the face I had seen. So when I woke up to write my column for today I said I would write it so I would not forget the face. I did not want to say anything to him but I remembered the words “Please don’t make me say something I would regret. I love you.” He looked back at me as I spoke. I tried to remember the face but it was soon gone. I had to wake up even if I did not want to. I tried to recall the dream, the face I had seen and fell in love with, what I said to him.”

Here’s my column as it happens in real life. I was, of course at the rally last Sunday on the right side of the stage and met some of the organizers including Jimmy Bondoc and other members of the Friends of Rody Duterte. I was with my sister and her former classmates in the former Maryknoll College (now known as Miriam College). They are all Duterte fans.

We brought some folding chairs just in case there would be no more seats by the time we got there. Imagine coming all the way from San Pablo and standing in front of the stage for another hour or so. By the way, congratulations to Rene Concordia of Friends of Rody Duterte who must have brought almost the entire city of San Pablo without any “palabas.” They just marched in support of the rally.

At times, I was confused on what the rally was for. I saw signs of palit vise and some signs defending Duterte. Someone should have organized that it would have one clear message – to ask for revolutionary powers for Duterte to be able to change our Constitution.

That was what I came for. After all, the people already did their part by their show of strength last May 7, 2016. It was clear they wanted change – fundamental change that would change the structure of our politics and government.

As I said previously we should be careful not to fall into the trap of holding rallies endlessly. The people will lose enthusiasm if they are made responsible for change by marching. Rallies should achieve access to governmental powers to enable change to happen.

That is the job of the government in power to set the process going.

For example, organizing a panel of constitutional experts without vested interest should now be organized. This is the first step. Once in place the panel can begin the work of an inclusive draft. In Iceland, there were 500 members of the panel coming from different sectors including one from the handicapped.

With their suggestions, then the panel which could be small about ten, can make a draft based on the crowdsourcing from the 500. There are many suggestions already coming from the public. One that I think important is a provision that would bar monopolies. Another would be strong regulatory bodies. The traffic in Manila and other districts come from stion for more parks and trees where people can walk if these are shaded.

From a post in FB “Re EJK killings which has been so controversial in local and foreign media: According to PNP spokesman Carlos, these are the statistics: 2687 people have died from legitimate Police operations meaning the respondents fought back. 1398 are now under investigation.

Therefore the published and unverified 7,000 plus killings is NOT true. The other numbers are from homicide

And not drug related. And yet, foreign media with the aid of those who want Duterte ousted for their own political agenda has badly destroyed the image of our country

To the disadvantage of millions of our overseas workers.

Where is the justice in that?”