Caffeine-induced daydreams

It felt strange to see the EDSA Monument surrounded by truckloads of police and military personnel on the day EDSA 1 was being commemorated.  We should be celebrating, I thought.  Instead, we have calls for a

repeat of People Power to oust another president.  It is disappointing to realize that it has been twenty-two years since EDSA 1 and that we’re nowhere near where we hoped we would be.

I still remember how celebratory the mood was after the Marcoses were driven out of Malacañang in 1986.  Everyone felt optimistic.  Everything looked shinier, brighter, and more hopeful.  

In law school, I learned that these hopes, ideals and aspirations are found in the 1987 Constitution.  Compared to the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions, the existing one is very wordy.  It has provisions on science and technology, the environment, political dynasties, mass media, martial law.  It is like a magic spell book for countering all the evil things that the previous regime got away with. 

I think it’s about time we all learn what those magic spells are and give them a chance to work.  After all, the goal of EDSA 1 was the restoration of democracy and its institutions.  As enshrined in the Constitution, People Power is about vigilance.  It was never meant to be an excuse for military adventurism that some misguided souls think it is.

This is why I have no plans of joining any rally now. I am wary of being a part of an event that will be considered as an invitation for military intervention.

I would rather see people make a list of all the members of the House of Representatives who supported the sham impeachment complaint filed against President Gloria Arroyo.  We should  campaign against these politicians and their anointed successors in the next election. If their constituents elect them again, they have no right to whine the next time something similar happens. They asked for it.

I would rather see senators make laws instead of grandstanding on tv.  We are in urgent need of laws governing bio-piracy, forest protection, and cultural heritage preservation, among others. Some of these matters are covered by pending bills that have been filed several times but never get passed.

I wish I’d see more people speak out against graft and corruption in government and not be afraid to make statements under oath in the proper forum.   I’m not interested in listening to people who have betrayed the public trust make motherhood statements about ending graft and corruption.  Some of them belong behind bars. 

I am hopeful that the Office of the Ombudsman will have the balls to conduct an impartial investigation and file the proper charges against those responsible for the anomalous transactions.  If we are hawk-eyed in watching the acts of these officials, it is more likely that they will do their job. 

On most days, I have enough faith in the court system and its ability to dispense justice.   Perhaps new jurisprudence will result from these series of unfortunate events.

When I’m feeling perky, I can believe that we are more aware of our rights and duties as citizens, that we have matured as voters, and that we can make intelligent choices in leaders. 

When I’m feeling really perky, I can even believe that in a few years, we can get rid of our feudal economic and political system and provide enough opportunities here to keep people from leaving for more lucrative jobs abroad. 

Caffeine keeps me perky.  I better start drinking more coffee.

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