LOGARTA
On our way to Our Lady of Joy Learning Center we were listening to the radio report on the tragedy at Naga. Thoughts of the Commission on Appointments encounter of Gina Lopez emerged in my mind; she had to defend her position on mining. They wanted her to cite a law. She responded that it is very clear in our constitution; “Our people have the right to life!” Now it dawns on me; mining operations could cause death. The honorable members of our legislature found her reply unacceptable.
I also recalled that in a multi-sectoral gathering, a person from a government office explained how quarrying affects the environment; it could cause other portions of the land to sink. I had been struck by that revelation and even told someone about what I had heard. Now I feel sad about not having done something more. At least I should have asked about the resolutions at the end since I had to leave the gathering earlier.
I loved it that Gina Lopez really stood up for her convictions that she did not hesitate to lay bare her soul, her intense caring for the Filipino people.
She provoked the government into the weighing of the benefits and horrors of mining. It was the administration that had a great loss, because the people and the environment continue to be championed by Gina. The continuing tragedy require of us judgement and a serious look before decision.
Last Saturday evening the Cebu International Film Festival on its awards night and closing program showed the beautiful film “HONOR.” The film presents the life story of revered hero, Jose Abad Santos. Watching the film can be a very educational experience. It vividly reveals life from the time of the revolution against Spain to the end of World War II. As a young boy, Jose Abad Santos was a courier for the Katipunan. History teachers are advised to describe the youth of our heroes to our students. During the American colonial period, our hero was a “pensionado,” a scholar of the colonial government. So he was given many important positions in the American colonial government. During the Second World War when the Commonwealth Government had to leave he was entrusted with the highest position in the government. There were times when he was invited to leave the country but he chose to stay, in spite of the great risk involved. But he did not collaborate with the occupying power. He got arrested.
Consequently, he was interrogated and tortured. That reminded me of my martial law interrogation experience, because I had been pressed to recognize and locate certain people. Such are invitations to betrayal. From his youth to the moment of his execution, Jose Abad Santos held on to his love of our country.
It also reminded me of the martial law period. At that time due to controls in the freedom of expression period dramas were shown to call attention to prevailing experiences. “Anino sa Bu-ang” (a play on the World War II experience) was presented to show the militarization, the power of the armed forces. It also dramatized the betrayal exercised by the collaborators.
On the other hand, we appreciate the effort of the Redemptorists who on the day martial law was declared decades ago, had a Liguori lecture with former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Hilario Davide Jr. He discussed changing the constitution and the shift to federalism. He started with the point that actually not many have read and know our present constitution. In my grade 10 class, Contemporary Issues we take up the Bill of Rights and Citizenship with the Responsibilities. It was good to be reminded to give the document a more serious look at this point in our lives. (I picture now Totle Batuhan holding and reading the Constitution as he lined up for enrolment, beginning law studies.)
The lecture was very rich but quite heavy, in fact someone in the audience wanted to have some time with the former chief justice to converse with him on the points. He was open to such a discussion via e-mail. I strongly agree with his opposition to allowing only certain groups to vote. We need to discuss too whether federalism will actually divide us. We too have to see more clearly whether the current proposals go against earlier efforts to streamline the bureaucracy.