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First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
–Martin Niemöller
Sometimes I can’t help but wonder why it is so hard for Filipinos to band together for a cause. It is almost as if it’s endemic in our character to be passive. So we just go with the flow, look the other way, remain invisible, endure as much as we can or simply deny that something is wrong.
Of course it was our People Power revolution, commonly referred to as EDSA 1 which saw tens of thousands of people marching to the street in peaceful protest against the Marcos regime, and then, against Estrada in EDSA 2. But it took almost two decades before we found the nerve to denounce the abuses and plundering of our nation’s wealth by the Marcoses and their ilk. I guess it should not surprise me since our forefathers endured three and a half centuries of Spanish rule before they broke free from their bondage.
But we live at a time of keen social awareness – when the individual rights and liberties, regardless of the person’s race, color, religion, sexual orientation, etc. are paramount in a democratic and free society. It’s a time when people simply respond to the call for action and flock to a place for a rally or demonstration to protest against a court ruling, legislation, a politician or a person whose words or action has been deemed offensive by many regardless of who’s leading it.
Mainstream USA has witnessed African Americans marching in protest against the acquittal of Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin’s killer or thousands of Latinos walk in support of Immigration Reform and a mixed group of young people mount months-long protest rallies to denounce the workings of Wall Street in “Occupy Wall Street” Many of them were simply driven by their passion to right a perceived wrong. They didn’t have to know one another for they have a common denominator, a common cause, that is, to see that they give voice to the aggrieved party, make people aware of the issue and potentially achieve a positive solution to the problem.
Indeed, in many cases, these protests rallies and demonstrations give rise to corresponding reactions and mostly solutions. Directly or indirectly, they help bring about changes and reforms where they are needed. They call attention to the problems and issues that are either being ignored or deliberately muddled to perpetuate a practice or belief that benefits only a small segment of society.
As a student leader back in my college days, I participated in a strike against the school administration. Siding with the faculty union, my friends and I mobilized the students to picket alongside our professors. As a result, I was summoned into the President’s office to explain myself. I probably would have refused to go except he had withheld my final examination permit. I couldn’t recall what I told our president but I knew he reprimanded me for being stubborn. He did give me my permit though.
It wasn’t till we ventured into publishing and into opinion writing, however, that I have become quite passionate at what I do. My voice is stronger now than it used to be, perhaps because I pay closer attention to issues and to what people say more today than I used to. And if there’s anything I find most rewarding about what my husband and I do now, it is the thought that in our own little way, we are able to present our readers a kindred opinion or an alternative thought that might open their eyes to some other possibilities and help make this world a better place.
July 24 Protest Rally in Front of the China Consulate
Prior to the rally of July 24 which the US Pinoys for Good Governance spearheaded in Makati and in many key US cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, etc. , we had been publishing news and opinions about China’s aggressive cabbage strategy in the West Philippine Sea. Having installed a military outpost in Mischief Reef and sent military patrol boats in Scarborough Shoal, China is now going for the Ayunging Reef. All of these territories are within 200 nautical miles of Philippine land, particularly Palawan and Zambales.
Rodel Rodis, President of the US Pinoys for Good Governance wrote the following press release in hopes of educating the public to the significance of our cause.
The Ayungin Reef which is only about 105 nautical miles from Palawan within the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines and almost 600 nautical miles from the nearest China base.
China believes that the Ayungin Reef and every land mass in the 2 million square kilometers of the South China Sea all belong to China. On June 21, 2013, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in a briefing in Beijing that “China’s determination to safeguard its national sovereignty is resolute and unwavering and (we) will never accept any form of illegal occupation of the Ren’ai Reef (Ayungin Reef) by the Philippines.”
China’s strategy for taking Ayungin Reef was publicly disclosed by Major Gen. Zhang Zhaozhong of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) when he was interviewed on Beijing TV about China’s plans to “recover” Ayungin from the Philippines. “Only a few troopers are able to station there,” he said, “but there is no food or even drinking water there. If we carry out the cabbage strategy, they will not be able to send food and drinking water onto the islands. Without the supply for one or two weeks, the troopers stationed there will leave the islands on their own. Once they have left, they will never be able to come back.”
Ayungin’s strategic value is that is the gateway to the Recto Bank, which is only 85 nautical miles from Palawan, and which may contain as much as 213 billion barrels of oil and 2 quadrillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the US Energy Information Agency (EIA). The future of a prosperous Philippines lies in the Recto Bank. Pres. Aquino warned China in his 2010 State of the Nation Address (SONA): “What is ours is ours; setting foot on Recto Bank is no different from setting foot on Recto Avenue.”
China has the military capability to defeat the Philippine Navy forces defending Ayungin Reef but may reconsider its plans if world public opinion is mobilized against China’s aggression. In this connection, we are organizing a Global Day of Protest Against China’s Invasion of Ayungin on Wednesday, July 24 with protest rallies scheduled in front of China’s embassies and consulates all over the world.
July 24, 2013 marks the first anniversary of Beijing’s establishment of the Sansha City prefecture with military jurisdiction over the entire South China Sea. All the ASEAN countries including Vietnam and the Philippines reject China’s imposition of its military might over all the countries in the South China Sea.
Despite the small size of our Chicago group rally, I’m happy to say that one MegaScene reader came to the rally without prodding from a friend or any leader. Our son-in-law, who felt and understood what we were fighting for came with our 4-month- old grandson Quincy. His mom joined us briefly during her lunch break. Grace Villamora, bless her heart, didn’t need any convincing to come. She came with the posters and the flyers, despite a very short notice. Other leaders too, Thelma Fuentes and Jelly Carandang came at a moment’s notice. I’m awed by these people – they are our community’s true leaders.
In 2012 at our rally for the Spratly Islands’ Scarborough Shoal, a dear friend, Tita Ging Capio, came on wheelchair and brought along her 20 other friends to show every Filipino how easy it was to join and support a cause that should be every body’s concern. If she who had stage 4 cancer and on wheelchair could come, how could anyone find an excuse not to? Sister Ging, you are still my hero!