‘Don’t forget lessons of martial law’

MANILA, Philippines - Never forget the lessons of martial law.

Thus reminded National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera as he joined people calling for the scrapping of the pork barrel fund in a rally at Rizal Park in Manila yesterday.

The rally, dubbed as “Never Porkget Luneta to Mendiola,” the fourth anti-pork protest held since last month, coincided with the 41st anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the country.

Lumbera said it was the first time that he joined a protest against the pork barrel system.

“I want to remind the old ones who have forgotten and the youth who did not experience the martial law years. I want to remind them of that chapter in the history of the Filipinos when the country was under martial law,” he said.

The 81-year-old Lumbera, also a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Journalism, said power and the control of resources remain in the hands of a few people even though the martial law years are over.

“We should change the system so that the Filipino people would have more voice in running the country,” he said.

Superintendent Orlando Mirando said the rally was peaceful.

The protesters, including members of militant groups and religious organizations, occupied a strip of Roxas Boulevard from T.M. Kalaw and Burgos Street from 9 a.m. till noon before they marched to Mendiola.

Mirando said the number of rallyists climbed to 2,000 during the march to Mendiola.

Lingayen-Dagupan emeritus Archbishop Oscar Cruz said he has been attending anti-pork rallies because he is pushing for restitution.

He said the pork barrel controversy should not end with the filing of cases against those implicated in the scam.

“I hope this case should not end when those guilty are imprisoned, but when they return the money (to the people). This is what we call restitution,” he said.

Fr. Joe Dizon, one of convenors of the Abolish Pork Movement, said the protest aims to call the attention of President Aquino to “level up” and heed the call of the people to totally abolish the pork barrel system.

Actress Mae Paner, known as Juana Change, also called on those implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel scam to just admit their guilt

Laughter yoga

Meanwhile, Pinoy Laughter Yoga founder Paolo Martin Trinidad led the protesters in a laughter yoga exercise. He said 20 seconds of laughter is equivalent to a five-minute workout.

He said that while the issue of the P10-billion pork barrel scam can be infuriating, Filipinos should not be stressed out over it.

Trinidad said stress is one of the leading causes of lifestyle diseases that could lead to death.

“Pork barrel gives stress… and if you are angry, your immune system would go down,” he said. - With Aie Balagtas See