Listen to “One Day More.”
Itaguyod ang Katotohanan.
It is time to be COUNTED!
Join us at the Friday Inter-Faith Prayer Rally
Ayala cor. Paseo de Roxas — 4:00 to 8:00 PM
Where former President Cory Aquino and Jun Lozada will join us as we make the call for Truth and Accountability.
Black and White Movement, together with Hyatt 10/La Salle 60, MBC, MAP, Manindigan,
and other professional and church groups will assemble at the
AIM (Paseo de Roxas) Parking lot at 3:00 PM.
Please join us.
Sa Totoo Tayo. Now Na!
Today there will be people from all walks of life and different generations and varying political and non-political persuasions, coming together to make a stand.
It’s unfortunate that the focus on Makati will obscure the efforts being made elsewhere in the country. Whether a rally in Cebu City, or elsewhere, the only divide I see is between urban and rural Filipinos: though the majority, for some time now, of Filipinos are urban dwellers. I strongly believe the sentiments among urban Filipinos are converging while rural opinion won’t be far behind.
Returning to today’s rally, the authorities are pulling out all the stops: PNP renews warning about communists, terrorists at rally. They’re spooked.Yesterday, something remarkable happened at PUP, see: PUP bomb threat fails to stop Lozada. And something else happened, see: Dirty Tricks in Uniffors.
But two bloggers say it best.
Market Manila declares he will be there:
Because we live in a democracy by choice. Because not speaking up when you know something is wrong makes you an accomplice to the wrong. Because I think everyone must be held accountable for their actions, particularly where their actions impact the welfare of millions. Because of the increasingly brazen disregard for the laws and even basic ethics that should apply to educated individuals. Because in many ways, I am embarrassed to be in the same gene pool as those who are perpetrating and then possibly getting away with such outrageous actions. Because of dozens of other reasons I will keep to myself as I know you get the point.
A reply he gives to a commenter is zeroes in on the issues even more:
mapster, I agree that we have to do everything we can everyday. I pay my taxes and a LOT of them. I have never ever slipped a policeman lunch money. I have voted with a conscience and watched at the polls. I have volunteered services for politicians or candidates which I thought rose above the rest, and I have never accepted any gifts, compensation or positions for the effort. So yes, I think we have to do our daily bit. But I also used to believe that we had a high corruption rate because we were poor… and that somehow the petty corruption of the streets and licenses, etc. were a function of poverty. But that is simply not true. The folks who are implicated in multi-billion scandals are well to do, and as someone above says, how much money do they need to live a decent and comfortable life? And the Hello garci scandal was offensive precisely because it suggests that the elections themselves are rigged, hence the votes of the people are ignored. At the very least, we have to indicate a great deal of displeasure and let everyone know they can’t get away with these kinds of behaviors.
As for being in the company of crooks and wannabees as some intimate above, I think in all democracies people from all walks of life will band together for similar causes, though they all may not look, sound, or be the same. While some of the folks who will be there at the rally this afternoon are opportunists and perhaps not folks I would normally look up to, many others could or should be every day folks who simply want to say, TAMA NA! And while I am not the biggest of Cory fans, I think she IS someone to look up to and her presence is only one of the minor reasons I would show up this afternoon.
I agree with other sentiments about changing the system et al. But I would agree more that we need to change the people on a massive scale with folks that really want to do the BEST for their country, a noble and difficult scenario, I concur.
As for others, you are definitely entitled to your opinion and free to choose what you will, can or want to do. With Marcos it took 20 years to reach the “boiling point.” In subsequent administrations the flare ups occurred with less time required. But at some point, when we all are personally so incensed or affected directly, you too will feel the need to do something.
If you re-read the post above, I would like to point out that I only said that I WOULD BE GOING. Not that I thought all of you should as well, that is obviously your choice.
Touched By An Angel says,
Though not a popular choice by our Catholic Bishops, I believe, GMA has to go. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has to go.
I truly believe that The President and her people have engaged in so much lying that they can no longer recognize the truth even if it stared them in the face. (PDI) As to the next step to take, I will take one step, one day at a time. I do not have the answers yet but in time, I will discern it. Our Filipinos will discern it. I will be there at the The Interfaith rally…
Among young people, there will be those, like on a red day who will be there, as will Tristan’s Mental Assylum ristan’s Mental Assylum and Jamel Ignes who is attending a rally for the first time! (for the religious, see melo touch). Other young people share their views, and efforts at discernment: a slice of wine.. and a shot of cake.. points out the dividing line and respects those who have decided to speak up against the President. There are others who are still uncertain, yet watchful, like Prudence and Mandess, and such as student Timmyland or who remain ambivalent, who will not go but who will be keeping those gathered in their thoughts, see OFW jihAn.zillA. Sh, and Yeweifang’s blog .
Among more senior bloggers, Red’s Herring puts everything in perspective:
If the events that have led to People Power I (EDSA Revolution of 1986 or EDSA I) are any guide, revolutionary uprisings go through certain levels (of consciousness): First, the underlying belief by a sizeable segment of society that the rulers and certain institutional arrangements have lost legitimacy; second, certain intense participants or change agents have gotten around their sense of powerlessness and come to realize they have the power or capacity to effect the needed changes; third, the disaffected members of society have more or less formed a consensus as to the nature and or scope of the changes they desire to occur in lieu of the illegitimated rulers or arrangements, whether be it about a total systemic overhaul, a “regime change,” an extra-constitutional overthrowing of a corrupt or immoral government, etc.
My sense is that People Power III has already reached the first and second levels of consciousness described above. However, before the Great Beast “could take care of itself” today it has yet to hurdle the third level of consciousness.
For one, I have noted even the reformists in the military and the progressives in the civil society are still tentative about the scope and the nature of the changes to be sought (note should also be taken for instance that the mere suggestion during the Manila Peninsula “uprising” that a military junta was being contemplated has not sit well with potential supporters), while other veteran people power practitioners are apprehensive the next exercise “could again end up repeating a vicious cycle of simply ‘moving on’ in circle, and not leaping onward or to a higher ground” or a “new qualitative state.”…
…Now, the question once again: Why is People Power III taking its time?
My own take is: There is yet no general consensus among potential people power participants and activists, as has been in EDSA I or EDSA II, as to what change to aspire for and institute.
Arguably, proposals for reforms or transformations, at odds with each other for the most part, still abound. To cite a few: some who believe the two EDSAs were both a failure aim this time to act against a failed system and plan to overhaul it either according to some rigid ideologies or based merely on the “best practices” of ongoing successful experiments; other groups are just angry and frustrated because of “relative deprivation” (middle class weighed upon with a looming downgrade to the next class complain how come only their counterparts in other regions are having all the fun); still others are focused only on struggling for control of the state apparatuses and effecting “regime change” while keeping both the political and economic structure intact; and specifically, accused coup leader and now detained senator Sonny Trillanes is eager to transform the nation “without reinventing the wheel” or whereas Bishop Francisco Claver can only entertain the belief that “our problem comes down to this: how to correct the aberration that is the present administration without destroying the stabilizing structure that is our democratic system of government.”
…As a result, reactionary moves from old and once reliable alliances, the CBCP in particular, are silently taking place in the form of tokenism (a plea to President Arroyo to take lead in the fight against corruption) and diversion (a call for a new brand of People Power through “communal action”).
Mon Casiple on the part of the political pundits, observes,
The nature and circumstances of this political crisis is such that it can only have one resolution: the end of the Arroyo regime within the context of the existing electoral democracy. From there, it may result in the affirmation of this electoral democracy and thus the integrity of the 2010 elections. Or, more remote, it may lead to the ending of the electoral democracy itself. At any rate, these are the days of reckoning.
The people’s consciousness and readiness to action are developing by leaps and bounds. The usual tactics by the GMA administration are not working anymore and proved to be ironically pushing faster the momentum for change. From the JDV triumphal ouster to its present travails, the Arroyo administration has rapidly traversed a half-circle towards a downward spiral.
What’s Casiple referring to? I can only guess, but think of this. Did you notice the article, 52 governors troop to Palace to show support for Arroyo ? A friend encountered one of these governors on a plane bound for Manila, and the governor prattled on about how he was going to Manila on business -only for my friend to see the governor on TV lurking near the edge of the gathered governors. Said my friend: you see, they’ve begun to get embarrassed over their support for the President (the governor knew my friend’s an oppositionist; but a mere month ago, the governor would needle my friend and crow about the President every chance he got). And the news leaves an even bigger question hanging: what of the other 29 governors?
Recall that one of the officials proclaimed a convenor of the Loyalist rally in Manila on Feb. 25 pointedly told the media, “oh, I’m in Manila doing shopping.”
While Amando Doronila notices that:
Speaking to a joint meeting of the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines and PinoyME Foundation last Feb. 26, Aquino did not make a pitch for another People Power uprising, to the disappointment of many people. She merely called on President Arroyo to step down, saying it was the least disruptive way out of the “severe moral crisis” facing the country. She said, “She must give way to a credible government that could lead by example. Given our concern to protect the moral pillars of democracy, the extra-constitutional removal of the President is not an ideal we would want to aspire for.”
Aquino’s call for restraint was echoed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which in a pastoral statement on Feb. 26, called on the President to allow her officials to tell the truth about the slew of allegations of corruption related to several government transactions, but fell short of demanding her resignation. Instead, the bishops urged the President to be “part of the effort” to seek the truth.
The coyness of Aquino and the disappointing position of the bishops restraining people power highlighted the departure from the dynamics of 1986, when Aquino rode the crest of a forceful people power movement driven by the activist archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, and the mass civilian participation in street protests in support of the military mutiny led by Marcos’ Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Constabulary chief, Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos.
Today’s configuration has lost the fervor for mass action of 1986. It tells us that today’s movement is not based on mass action to bring pressure on the key support institutions of government to defect, such as the military and the bureaucracy. Today’s movement has changed emphasis. It has shifted its cutting edge from confrontation in the streets to bringing moral pressure on government. The shift is not exerting a powerful pressure on government officials to step down. It emboldens them to stonewall.
Though as the Inquirer editorial today points out,
We realize that, in itself, the language of the recommendation (“Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found”) seems to be neutral. But in the present context, it actually disregards a fundamental reality. In the scandal over the National Broadband Network, the President and her men have been less than forthright in telling the truth. That, in fact, is one of the reasons we have a crisis in the first place.
Apropos of the bishops, read An Open Letter to the CBCP at Brown SEO.
(courtesy of pedestrianobserver)
Si Cory, si FVR, si Erap, at si Gloria ay nasubukan na. Somebody new naman. Noli is fine too as he is the constitutional successor. Si Mayor Lim kung gusto niyo okay rin. Si KC Concepcion pwidi na rin 😉
This will not end in a “few days”, this will be a protracted movement to remove a corrupt and mafia-like governance. Anti-corruption movements does not believe in “instant noodle” victory.
A section of the rally filmed from one side of a building:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4bva8D1lg
Now you know why they banned a helicopter to show the whole crowd 🙂
Next time they will ban filming from buildings, wonder who would enforce this? The MTRBC?
Ok, based on the YouTube video, definitely more than 10,000, maybe close to 20k. But this is in the beginning, right?
Maybe they will ban the use of the handycam altogether, it is just “not fair” for the pro-corruption groups. Wonder who would enforce this, the BIR? Customs? LTO? Hmmm.
I agree with you hvrds. Found this in the abs-cbn site. I’m truly amazed on how media in this country spins things without giving their sources. Besides the ratings wars, is abs-cbn under instruction from the Lopezes to keep this alive for some score to settle with the Macapagals? Just asking. Don’t throw me out Manolo.
“Noli ‘all set’ to assume presidency. The vice president is in close contact with personalities who will advocate constitutional succession in case of a power vacuum
Exclusive to abs-cbnNEWS.com
By Aries Rufo”
Heheh Brian dream on, that was from ONE SIDE of the building, they closed off a MAJOR INTERSECTION. An intersection has FOUR sides.
That is why the 2,000 estimate made me shake my head in incredulity.
Where were you BrianB? I thought you were there? Or did you just peep from afar?
No, I was there from 6:30 to almost 9. Just got back home, really. I live in Ortigas. Mga 2k lang talaga.-brianb
I was there 4:30 until 6:20 brian b check your mathematics
2K???
Sorry to have underestimated the crowd in my mind before this day. I was afraid we may not actually take action although, as surveys show, they beleive worst corruption is happenning in the present administration.
I took pictures of employees from UCPB, SGV, Assumption, Ateneo law,UP students, Adamson Students, and yes, Oscar Orbos.
I hope Mr. MLQ3 will allow me to upload pictures here.
I wouldn’t like the idea of trapos piggy backing on the successful efforts and genuine concern of the people to press for accountability and truth.
Now the smoke screen of the administration is broken, even the ATO helicopter ban came to naught. The administration has severely lied, is lying and will continue to lie for a long long time to come unless removed.
The cabinet was a huge factor in determining the Edsa 2 outcome. But the military is the Ace of Diamonds in the president’s hand: I learned that lesson from the Hyatt 10.
Nevertheless, I think defections from GMA’s cabinet at this time is crucial to the opposition.
But ironically, the Hyatt 10 have unwittingly strengthened GMA’s hold on the cabinet as the 2004 event weeded out those cabinet men who would more likely defect given the events happening now.
third paragraph should read- Sorry to have underestimated the crowd befor this day. i was afraid we, the people, wouldn’t actually take action although, as surveys show, wwe are convinced that worst corruption is happening in this administration.
alas ka dora,
Up to now alaskadora, they still believe what they want to believe. Unless you’re really there and MADE THE ROUNDS you cannot see the truth. They tried to ban the helicopters and foment the lie, they blocked the incoming people from the provinces and claimed they were not doing this however they were caught in camera.
In the end the lie will be discovered since the estimated 80,000 plus those who later arrived knows the lie and tell this to their families. The lie if for the convenience and comfort of those who support this corrupt administration.
The Hyatt 10 had a conscience. The niceties of strategies by the corrupt does not matter. Corruption and abuse is continually exposed today. It does not matter if takes a long time or a short time, the anti-corruption movement will not allow such behavior to proliferate in governance.
kabayan,
I went around up and down ayala and then paseo de roxas. Two thousand lang talaga estimate ko. That is 6:30 and beyond
kabayan, hindi ko nga maintindihan sa mga opisyales natin alam naman nila na sa ginagawa nila lugi ang bayan ang panalo ang pamilya arroyo bakit hindi man lang sial mahiya.
i have been setting as an examble Mr. Abe of Japan the duly elected Prime Minister of japan after koizumi. At the mere instance showing the distrust of the people based on survey, it was enough for him to go. he was not even accused of corruption.
Ang kapal na ng mga mukha ng mga tao natin sa gobyerno walanghiya talaga.
Namalikmata ka lang siguro, anyway it does not matter, perhaps it is just what it should be. The youtube show speak for itself, it was taken from one side of the building. Let’s leave it at that.
I went around up and down ayala and then paseo de roxas. Two thousand lang talaga estimate ko. That is 6:30 and beyond.
Kasi nga as early as 6 may mga nagsi uwian na rin. isa ako dun sa mga umuwi bfore 6:30 because i live far. Nanay ako I still need to attend to my children after office.
Grabeng tao sa mrt!
alas ka dora,
Nagtataka rin ako dati, pero ngayon hindi na. Kung ilang bilyon ang makukuha nila sa iisang transakyon lang, at paniwala nilang nabulsa nila ang Kongreso, pulis at militar, lumaki ang ulo. Akala nila hindi sila hahabulin ng karma ng kanilang pinaggagawa.
Breaking News
Gloria had already stepped down after the people in the rally threatened here to KICKBACK. He He.
correction 101: (threatened her not here)
Corina Sanchez Live in TV today 11:12 PM , estimate tonight already at 85,000 people. Umuwi ako ng 7:30pm at marami pang iba. If that is accurate, 100,000 people including those who went home a while ago should be easy.
Expect the following:
1)Gloria and her “GloLiars mob” will argue that the “crowd was very small”(police estimates:15,000,rally organizers:75,000 and Reuters :50,000).
2)GloLiars will also say that protest rally confined to “Imperial Manila”.The rest of the country remains very happy with her.
3)The majority of the rally crowd was composed of students and young people.Student power is truly on the rise!
4)The unthinkable happened.Ex-Presidents Cory and Erap on the same stage.We now have the two ex-presidents versus Gloria and FVR on the other side.It’s no brainer to guess which side has the popular appeal.
5)The people have drawn the line on the sand.The bishops will have to take a stand soon(“manindigan!)or become irrelevant.
6)The crowd remained cohesive even after Presidents Cory and Erap left the stage.This
is a growing movement that does not revolve around personalities.
7)Gloria sought refuge,literally and figuratively,in the military camp during the height of the rally.It shows her state of mind.
8)The Movement for Truth and Accountability is leaderless.”The ability to get along without an exceptional leader is the mark of social vigor.”Eric Hoffer
9)The big mistake of Gloria is her complete reliance on the military.In the end,will the military side with her or with people?
10)Gloria is acting like a wounded puppy.Senator Dick Gordon warns “I’ve always been a risk taker but we have to be careful because it could be a ‘coup me,'” referring to a scheme by which a coup would actually benefit the administration.
The people does not seem to want to go home, they’re really outraged.
Anybody has a TV right now showing the site, watch it. Let the live film of Ayala protest speak for itself.
Spin doctors probably preparing to say tomorrow the whole affair as “supot”.
I rest my case
to everyone who went to makati…my CONGRATULATIONS FOR STANDING AND BEING COUNTED!!! but the work is not finished yet until we get rid of the illegal squatters in malacanang! and prosecute for the crimes they have committed against the entire nation.
whether it was 100, 2000, 40000 or 5, at least they were brave enough to stand up for their convictions.
2,000 people? 15,000? “disappointing affair”?
That Youtube video doesn’t even show the crowd along Ayala from the corner of Paseo to Makati Ave. and beyond. That’s where the contingents of Watch, Pray, and Act (the Catholic schools) and BAYAN (national democrats) were positioned. Watch, Pray and Act occupied one lane (Stock Exchange side), BAYAN the other. These were the two biggest organized contingents in the rally.
Kudos to all who attended the rally. Thanks to the organizers, great job!! It was a good size crowd and i liked Lozada’s speech. He was in his element.
NOw you should undertand why other people don’t join the rally. You just don’t call them apathetic and pro-corruption. They have also families. They work 6 days a week and one day holiday is big time for them to be with their families.
You are not the only commenters/bloggers na magaling lang sa mga discussion pero pagdating sa totohanan, excuse na sila. Kasama lang sa gayak. hohoho
Di bale iba yong iba. Kina-reer na nila ang magrally. Kung baga investment. PAg naupo ang kanilang tao, tiyak na ang position nila sa gobyerno.
YOng iba naman ang pilit. Just like the University of Makati staff and students. Ano kayang memo ang natanggap nila para sumali? Sana naman si Mayor Lim, hindi ginagawa yan sa PLM.
Nice try Cat, if some people here are trying to increase the number of participants, on the other hand you’re trying to hit on the reason why people join rallies? Did you do a survey? Huwag mo naman sasabihin na kaya mong mag-read ng mind? Ano iyan, superman?
Itanong natin kay Ms. Either-We-Have-Press-Freedom-or-Not Maria Ressa.
To all those who went and participated, congratulations for being brave and making a stand.
Not joining the rally is standing up for one’s convictions. Inaction is a decision.
Just because someone doesn’t agree with your views and join you doesn’t mean he doesn’t hold a conviction.
tonio, no it’s because your solution is a non-solution. new regulations are being drafted so that neda cannot release any documents to the public without presidential permission. in contrast to the way it was, say, in winnie monsod’s day. the purpose is of course to fend off even the formal revocation of eo 464 in case the supreme court decides harshly against the president on march 4.
it’s because your solution relies on a president who sneers at a supreme court decision making inutile the portions of eo 464 manny gaite wrote to shield the president, and why students and teachers have to go to the streets just to demand the president do what she ought to have done the moment the supreme court struck down the controversial portions of her order.
balutacan, sorry nasa rally ako kanina.
and i find it funny the loyalists are sneering at erap -who pardoned him, i wonder?
geo, you can see the link yesterday for how to compute crowd estimates. i was in the middle, at the crossroads. at its height, from there the crowd stretched to about makati tuscany/gilarmi going towards edsa; to roxas triangle and buendia on the other; to the makati fire station and buendia again; behind the stage, only to bpi family bank. that was at its height before jun lozada spoke at around what, 630? as soon as he spoke, people started to leave. i can’t say though how densely packed it was, but not too densly packed except from around 530-630. personally i think it was larger than the largest rally prior to this, which is when susan roces addressed the crowd at makati in 2005.
End-Game (Partial until there’s agreement on the number of Pawns at play)
8. While green is color of current revolution, former King arrives in red.
9. New cult Bishop (who wanted to be King in 2004) calls for transition court.
10. Star Pawn speaks (he earlier admitted cheating on his lady, but that’s beside the point. Present game is after high crimes)
11. Meanwhile, Queen holes up in Knight’s garrison
12. Queen happy that only 15,000 Pawns attend
13. Queen survives second uprising of third revolution.
The crowd today couldn’t even fill up Araneta Coliseum.
Tsk.
jakcast, i actually think the lopezes are being extra prudent, because gma has them by the balls over meralco. ever wonder why christian monsod is so ardently pushing the keep her until 2010 movement?
Best to stop analyzing and just go there whenever a rally against the liar, cheater and thief is called.
well, the amusing thing about the no-fly-zone order was: now the palace can’t debunk even inflated opposition claims, but then, neither can the opposition prove its claims.
but everyone’s missing the point. a loyalist rally took place tonight, at the welcome rotonda. people stood up for the president. except i don’t know if even the pnp bothered to count them.
She’s even trying? Her best option is to ignore everything. See no people, hear no people, don’t feel for the people.
Thanks, mlq3. Ms. Luli has been complaining that they are given air time to reply.
carlos, i’ve been to the araneta colisseum plenty of times. it certainy would have been filled to the rafters.
but anyway, on sunday why don’t you go to the araneta colliseum where admu vs dlsu will play an exhibition match to raise funds for the whistleblower fund? with ust as cheerleaders.
please, go. and cheer for the president.
you should have gone to the welcome rotonda and saved us taxpayers 200 pesos.