A poignant Tuesday evening to remember

With the rest of the world, Filipinos condemn the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers in New York. We were especially affected by the tragedy because we were at a dinner with US embassy officials when it happened. All the guests at the despedida given by Speaker Jose de Venecia and his wife, Gina for Charge d’Affaires and Mrs. Malinovski crowded around the television set in disbelief as CNN flashed pictures of the jumbo jet crashing through the building. The Speaker and Mr. Malinovski had just exchanged toasts on Filipino-American friendship when he received a text message from Boy Nakpil who was on the road to let him know about the tragedy. It was a poignant scene that I will long remember. Filipinos and Americans in one room, watching the tragic scenes on television, and knowing there was little we could do but commiserate with each other and hope that our American friends would be able to bear the pain. It was a polite social scene but the sadness was palpable. I saw a tear or two fall from one of the American ladies present as we bade good-bye at the end of an otherwise happy evening.

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There is no answer to wilful ignorance. I can understand that there are people who sincerely do not want to change the Constitution for their own reasons and I respect that. I can also understand that there are people who, because they do not read nor write and are generally ignorant. With the first, it is possible to argue and debate and hope that we can persuade them to our side. If agreement is not possible, then we can still have an agreement to disagree and that is decided in a referendum. With the second is the less difficult but necessary job of information dissemination so that as many Filipinos can be made to understand charter change. But there are some, and these I think are getting fewer, who will oppose charter change just for the sake of opposing and will use ridicule and insult to frustrate any understanding of the debate. We must not waste our time on them. The challenge is to inform those who do not know but would like to know and to persuade those who oppose and those who may have lingering doubts on the necessity of changing the Constitution. The key word is sincerity.

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The only way to unite the country. It is not true that changing the Constitution at the earliest possible time will be divisive and a waste of time and money. On the contrary, changing the Constitution now is perhaps the only way to unite the country. By engaging in a profound communal activity of articulating our problems and searching for solutions, we will reinforce our feeling for country and nation.

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Unity in diversity. It is a grave misunderstanding to assume that arguing, debating and differing is bad for the unity of a community or a country. This is untrue, not especially for a society that professes to be democratic. Indeed, it is a given that those who live in a democratic society must be able to argue and debate and differ. Expressing oneself is part of a democratic way of life. It is precisely that ability to speak freely that unites persons who have chosen to live in democratic society. It is the social equivalent of the philosophical adage — unity in diversity. What is important is to have a system of laws that settle differences and disputes.

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Trivia: Last Monday I was invited to a press preview by Jennifer Peña of the Hotel Intercontinental to be among the first to savor Chilean-French fusion cuisine. It was a revelation on what a good French chef, Cyrille Soenen, could do combining his expertise on French food and newly learned facts about Chilean food and history. For us Filipinos, Chilean food being influenced by Spanish was familiar. Consider the dish Empanadas de Higado Y Pecho de Pato. Empanada we all know, but using duck liver and duck breast as the filling and with a French-inspired rich sauce were the new touches that made it a delicious and original combination. Those who would like a satisfying adventure should not miss the French Chilean fusion cuisine promotion at the Intercon from September 12 to 29, 2001.

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