AFTER THE REJOICING, THANKSGIVING ; ‘We must now unite to rebuild our nation’

After all the rejoicing and thanksgiving for the unseating of former President Estrada, Filipinos face the task of "rebuilding our nation."

"We must now all work together in rebuilding our nation," said former Rep. Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, who helped Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson expose Mr. Estrada’s multimillion-peso payoffs from jueteng operations.

Cojuangco, younger brother of former President Corazon Aquino, called on anti-Estrada forces to pursue "lasting unity built on the foundations of patriotism, morality and adherence to the principles of democracy."

"We must learn from the lessons of our immediate past. We must not repeat the mistakes we committed after the 1986 EDSA Revolution," he said.

Bishop Vicente Navarra, papal administrator of the Diocese of Bacolod, said it is time for Filipinos "to change their outlook on politics and public life," and for public officials to be forewarned that "the people are always watching."

Tarlac Vice Gov. Herminio Aquino, who led Resign Erap! Sigaw ng Tarlac, admitted that "the revolutionary change in our government and society will be a long and painful process."

‘Rally behind Arroyo government’

For his part, Bishop Emeritus Antonio Fortich called on the public to rally behind the new government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "The big winner is the Filipino people," added Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela.

In Pangasinan, Msgr. Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese, in a circular to be read in Masses today, exhorted the Catholic faithful to kneel in prayer and stand up for what is true and just.

"It is amazing how we were able to show to the world once again that you do not fire a single bullet to renew the government," said Cruz, who spearheaded a series of anti-Estrada rallies attended by thousands of Pangasinenses in Dagupan City.

He added: "The lessons of EDSA 1 and 2 are lessons to the world that we have a legitimate pride that we can move this way — praying, singing, joking — and still arrive at a significant conclusion."

Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla said people power again reigned, but added, "Yes, we were victorious with how things turned out, but what we really need are vital reforms that should be instituted by the new government."

‘Too late’

Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said Mr. Estrada’s attempt to settle things with the opposition was "too late."

Also too late was the call of El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde, Mr. Estrada’s spiritual adviser, for him to resign, Quevedo added. "Velarde had all the chances to tell the president to resign (earlier). But he did not," he said.

Militants to continue fight

Despite the ouster of Mr. Estrada, militant groups Sanlakas and Bukluran ng Mang-gagawang Pilipino vowed to continue the fight for social change.

Both groups said Arroyo’s assumption to power is just the beginning of a new stage in the people’s struggle for the improvement of the workers’ welfare.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno, meanwhile, pressed for the prosecution of Mr. Estrada. "It’s not enough that he stepped down. He must be made to pay for crimes against the people," KMU chairman Crispin Beltran said.

Muslims forgive Estrada

In Central Mindanao, some Muslim religious leaders were forgiving, greeting the departure of Mr. Estrada from Malacañang with bangings in mosques.

The act, they said, showed they have forgiven Mr. Estrada for the deaths of innocent Muslims during his government’s offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last year.

"Because he had signified his willingness to help work out the reconciliation of all sectors in the country, what he had done to Muslims in Mindanao during his incumbency is already forgiven," said Ustadz Moctar Abdullah, who works in an Islamic school in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Among Muslims, Abdullah said enemies who are inclined to reconciliation will be forgiven for their misdeeds.

"That will be the key to real reconciliation and then, fraternity will come next," he said.

Peace advocate Hadji Ahmad Bayam, a former propagandist of the Moro National Liberation Front, said that even if Mr. Estrada has not asked for forgiveness from Muslims in Mindanao, he will be pardoned for his decisions that resulted in the deaths of scores of Muslims and the displacement of thousands of villagers.

"He has stepped down from power and it is apparent that Allah has punished him, so he deserves to be forgiven now by us, the Muslims," Bayam said.

Celebrations

Rejoicing and thanksgiving swept the entire country after Mr. Estrada stepped down from office and Arroyo took her oath as the new president yesterday.

Davaoeños went around Davao City’s main thoroughfares, blowing horns in a motorcade after a Mass concelebrated by several priests at the Redemptorist Church. Multisectoral groups staged a victory rally at Rizal Park yesterday afternoon.

Ilocanos danced in the streets of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Singson’s home-province, to celebrate Mr. Estrada’s ouster, a political development which, Vice Gov. Dy Savellano said, meant doom for Mr. Estrada’s allies in the coming elections.

Thousands of Novo Vizcayanons are expected to pack Saint Dominic Cathedral in Bayombong during the thanksgiving Mass Bishop Ramon Villena will celebrate today.

The Mass is expected to bring together the studentry, militant groups and non-government organizations from all over the Bayombong diocese (which consists of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino).

Pangasinan’s Erap Agco La! (Enough of Erap), in a meeting yesterday, agreed to push through with their pilgrimage to Manaoag town on Jan. 27.

People from the province’s eastern, central and western parts will converge in a thanksgiving Mass in the town proper of Manaoag at 3 p.m. that day.

In Bacolod City, Negrenses were preparing, as of press time, for a street party to celebrate the success of their protest actions.

Leyteños and Samareños also celebrated Mr. Estrada’s departure from Malacañang with a motorcade around Tacloban City. Close to 5,000 students from several Catholic schools converged at RTR Plaza.

Other "celebrations" were held in the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog in Samar; Catarman, Northern Samar; and Borongan, Eastern Samar.

‘Victory Masses’

"Victory Masses" were also celebrated simultaneously in all dioceses in Region 8’s six provinces.

Meanwhile, Leyte Rep. Alfred Romualdez, speaking in behalf of the Romualdez clan, said they will support the Arroyo administration.

"I suggest that since there is peace and order, President Arroyo must now give emphasis to a peaceful transition. Do not make the same mistake in 1986," he said, alluding to supposed "vengeance and persecution" they and the Marcoses suffered under the Mrs. Aquino’s administration.

Romualdez said there is a need to examine the Constitution. "We need open minds now in order for us to craft a Constitution that really works for us. We need a new system of government that must be carefully examined." — Benjie Villa, Charlie Lagasca, Eva de Leon, Antonieta Lopez, Ulysses Torres Sabuco, John Unson, Sandy Araneta, Mayen Jaymalin, Edith Regalado, Myds Supnad and Ric Sapnu