It started with a silent roar of grief and outrage in social media and booming: relentless, obsessive, sweeping away any other sound, beating out the great rage.
It rose like that at noon. They stretched out into Luneta and the surrounding streets, but peacefully. Their presence alone in the Million March is already the statement.
The cause also spilled in different parts of the country and across the seas, including here in Los Angeles.
On Sunday afternoon, here at the Philippine Consulate, a sparse group gathered as early as 1pm. Some raised posters and the Philippine flag.
In the background, constant and excited shouting could be heard, sentiments were summarized in slogans, catechizing government leaders.
After each spoke, applause crackled, like the clapping one hears when candles are blown out on a birthday cake.
They preached, catechized and blustered. They were brilliant and mercurial, unconquered by weariness.
Deputy Consul General Dan Espiritu spoke to the incensed crowd.
“This rally is important because it highlights the burning determination of the Filipino community to combat graft and corruption in our country, led by our President PNoy Aquino and Secretary of Justice as a major pillar of this administration’s government,” he said.
In a later conversation, amongst ourselves (the media and civic persons) we seemed to share shades of the same questions — how all these came about. Who are accountable? Is it the people since they voted for their leaders?
What does the word “people” really mean? Who is the people? It seems the good people are those who are always absolved, manipulated and oppressed. Why so?
As if freedom would be murdered without the consent of the people. Can corruption flourish without yielding? What of the handful (who struggle and disobey) freed from cowardice, while others are merely herds?
Everybody talks about the pork barrel scam…like the sauce in every dish.
Chiefs of State are people. Soldiers are sons of the people. All who accept leaders are people. All who bow before tyrants are people.
Those seduced to elect presidents are people. The herds that meekly obey are people. The people includes YOU!
But to say that the people are always victims is hypocritical — a lie and an insult to the dignity of every man, every woman, every person.
Because every man, every woman, every person and every individual is responsible for himself (if not, for others.) People do not need beastly combat.
The real bombs are ideas — ideas are the challenges hurled by intelligent words, which can hit like the weight of a bludgeon!
