Persistence does pay off. Ask Michael Christian Martinez, the lone Filipino figure skater who made it, not only to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, but to the medal round. Amazing feat definitely, considering that he was asthmatic as a kid, and is living in a tropical country where government support for sports leaves much to be desired.
Undaunted, young as he is and with the love and full backing of his family, Michael carried on. This young Filipino’s sterling journey to Sochi is proof that an indomitable spirit and persistence can make dreams come true.
The 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, a firm believer of the rewarding benefits of patience and determination, shared that:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
We do not have to look far for people exemplifying the cherished value of persistence. Fellow-Cebuano Tony Oposa Jr. is a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for environmental advocacy recognized for “his path-breaking and passionate crusade to engage Filipinos in acts of enlightened citizenship that maximize the power of the law to protect and nurture the environment for themselves, their children and generations still to come.”
Two landmark and “earth-shattering” cases, Oposa v. Factoran (1993) and the MMDA vs. Residents of Manila Bay (2011), filed by him and his co-petitioners enriched jurisprudence in Environmental Law worldwide and the promotion of environmental rights.
Tony Oposa is certainly one who will never be complacent. He is one man who can move mountains.
To the chagrin of those who are not complying with the mandates of their public position, another potential landmark case will be filed today.
Citizens led by Tony will walk to the Supreme Court to file an unprecedented legal action, uniquely-Filipino – a petition for the writ of kalikasan (nature) against the Philippine government, to divide the roads in half. One-half will be devoted for non-motorized transportation, i.e., for safe, wide, covered sidewalks, edible gardens and all-weather bike lanes; and the other half for motorized public and private transportation.
Respondents are the Climate Change Commission, the Departments of Transportation and Communication, Public Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Budget and Management, Agriculture and the Metro Manila Development Authority.
They were all sued for their collective neglect to implement their respective mandates to “transform the road system to favor persons who have no motor vehicles” and to plant edible gardens.
From the Supreme Court, the petitioners and the various group will proceed to the Senate to set the ball rolling for the filing of the people’s initiative to pass the “Share the Roads” Law.
The “Walk to Wok” journey is made up of children, seniors, persons with disabilities, women, members of various citizens groups like the Firefly Brigade and the Tiklop Society, the Partnership for Clean Air, the Ateneo School of Government’s Mobility Program, Clean Air Asia, The
Philippine Medical Association, Filipino lawyers, and ordinary concerned citizens. They will be accompanied by policemen who will be in their bikes, take note.
“Fed up with the country’s traffic congestion, high cost of transportation, noise and air pollution,” the petitioners are claiming the rights to breathe clean air and safe space in behalf of car-less people in the Philippines “who comprise about 98 percent of the Filipino people” and the most vulnerable sectors to unabated poisoning of our air. The other petitioners represent those who prefer not to own or use their cars “if only public transportation were safe, convenient and reliable.”
The issue boils down to the people’s neglected right to breathe fresh air and to walk and bike safely in our streets.
The Walk to Wok journey is historical. Filing a writ of kalikasan (WOK) and continuing mandamus will hopefully restore order in our streets, with air and noise pollution reduced.
With the implementation of the Road Sharing policy, our quality of life will be enhanced as more will be healthy from walking, biking and the resulting cleaner air. Chaos will be eliminated and there will be order in the streets. Who knows, the longed-for discipline among the stakeholders, not to mention a fair and equitable use of public space and public funds, might just ensue.
Our rights to breathe clean air and safe public space have been left out far too long by political authorities who only have “economic development” as the primary reason for projects to be undertaken. The impacts on the people and the planet are externalities and not seriously factored in.
Of course, the so-called people’s “livelihood” is always cited for these projects. But we know better.
Mabuhay, Tony, fellow lawyers, law students and the rest of the petitioners.
Indeed, with determined and persistent citizenry, the much-desired changing of mind-sets for a sustainable lifestyle is inches closer to becoming a reality.