Hope everywhere
February 12, 2006 | 12:00am
The People’s Assembly for Genuine Alter-natives to Social Apathy (PAGASA) recently called for special elections. We call it "special" as opposed to "snap," because we don’t want it to happen under the same electoral infrastructure and personnel. This means overhauling the Commission on Elections and making the necessary changes to ensure an honest election. It’s going to take time.
There is also another crucial difference. In a snap election, the GMA government remains in power and oversees the snap elections. Surely, this will be a disaster for pro-democracy forces. It is the python watching over the chicken farm. In a special election, a transitional government will be in place once GMA is removed from power. And it will ensure the conduct of clean and honest elections. Special elections are an illusion if the governing power has no capacity to radically transform the electoral process for the better.
PAGASA has come to refer to this transitional government as the Body of Stewards. This Body will spearhead electoral reforms, as well as perform necessary executive and legislative functions in the interim. The Body of Stewards will be essential in reforming the Comelec and other electoral bodies. Without their authority, nothing will change.
The Body of Stewards, which will be multi-sectoral, gender balanced, and geographically dispersed, will have the following qualifications: integrity; track record of achievement; capacity in their different fields of expertise; service-oriented; organizational capability; and visionary and reform minded.
This Body of Stewards will also have to ensure that military grievances are addressed. It has to develop mechanisms for widespread participation of the different sub-sectors of civil society, business, and government, including representatives from the military, in order to have more meaningful and effective decisions. Its foremost function is to ensure clean and honest elections. As soon as Filipinos select the new legitimate government in a clean and honest election, the Body of Stewards will self-terminate.
Last weekend, members of PAGASA began the exercise of suggesting which people we think were worthy of being part of this council. We had just come from the Karangalan Conference and Festival the weekend before, and all agreed that any one of our speakers were good alternatives to GMA. Everyone left the conference in awe of the many Filipinos who dedicate their lives to truth and goodness for a better country. This served as our guide and inspiration to finally buckle down to work and present some names to you, and hopefully begin an exchange that will get people to start thinking of the alternatives we have all been demanding.
Below, PAG-ASA suggests some names of Filipinos we think are qualified to be members of the Body of Stewards. These names are mere examples meant to stimulate a nationwide discussion of who may be qualified to sit in the Body of Stewards. These people don’t even know we’ve put them on the list. They may even object to the whole idea of a special election and the formation of a Body of Stewards. Or, they may support these ideas but may not want to sit in the Body of Stewards. It is just the beginning of a process we hope will involve as many concerned citizens as possible.
An explanation of the larger process is outlined in our Primer on Special Election, which can be read at www.truthforce.info. Here is our list, so far, grouped by sector:
Civil society: spiritual and human development – Joaquin Tan, and Honey Carandang; health – Chi Chi Sur, and Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan; religious – Fr. Albert Alejo, Yasmin Lao (Muslim), and Rev. Benjamin Dayrit (Evangelical-Protestant); professionals – Fr. Joaquin Bernas, ex-UP Law Dean Raul Pangalagan; education – Sis. Mary John Mananzan, Bohol educators (physics teachers), and Atty. Pablo Trillana; art – CB Garrucho, and Noel Cabangon; literature – Virgilio Almario, and Jose F. Lacaba; IPs – Al Santos; media – Che Che Lazaro, Conrad de Quiros, Howie Severino, and Sheila Coronel; POs – Pam Fernandez; NGOs – Dennis and Alice Murphy; social movements – Prof. Randy David; environment – Atty. Antonio Oposa; youth – Gang Badoy; women – Remmy Rikken, and Rina Jimenez-David; poor – ?; and, globalization – Walden Bello.
Government: political movements – Ronald Llamas; LGUs – Gov. Grace Padaca, and Mayor Santiago Barcelona; and political party – Mayor Jess Robredo;
Business: micro-enterprises – ; SME – Joe Magsaysay (Ilog Maria); large – ; agriculture – ; fisheries – ?
It was interesting how some sectors filled up rather quickly, while others remain blank. Our minds are still ticking, but we need your help. We would like to hear from you soon. Let us know what you think; give us more names. If there are names on our list you question, let us know why. E-mail us soon at pagasa@mac.com.
That morning, we were like children let out into the sunshine after days of rain as we affirmed each other’s choices and awakened to new ones. We became more and more excited to see that the Philippines with no alternatives is a mindset of the past. There, before us, was a growing list of Filipinos of integrity, moral courage, and sound experience in their respective fields.
It is time for us to think from the inside out. The recent Ultra tragedy is a glaring call for every Filipino to look within and examine deep life questions about who we are and what we are contributing towards the true healing of our nation. It is a defining moment for all. If we choose to skim the surface again and deal with questions that address only the material world, the stakes will keep getting higher.
During our PAGASA meeting, someone asked why during the Marcos regime, people were more passionate and fired up about fighting and creating change. One answered that during that time, the evil was clear – people were being killed, money was blatantly stolen from the people – the atrocities were more tangible, plus it was our first foray into the world of people power. We were fed up but hopeful; if we could only topple that government, things would be better.
Today, we are rendered immobile by trauma over the relentless abuses of government through EDSA 1 and 2, and the continuing moral decline of our nation in general. In those days, there was a clear "them" and "us." It is no longer so. People we counted on to fight for truth are supporting liars and crooks. Payoffs are considered normal business practice. Today, what is really being attacked is the Filipino soul. That’s why it’s so hard to get a handle on it. It is deeply felt but not easily articulated. I believe apathy also comes from a severely fragmented soul. That we continue to say it is okay for the President to lie and cheat because there is no alternative, yet hold truth-telling as a moral standard in our homes, is a painful reminder of how separated we have become from our true selves.
PAGASA believes this is a Philippines of amazing alternatives, and we invite you to share in the process of naming Filipinos who have survived the moral holocaust and continue to shine brightly amid evil and apathy. Naming them is a powerful exercise of hope. Let’s do it together and begin it today.
Log on to www.truthforce.info for details on PAGASA’s call for special elections, or e-mail me at magisip@yahoo.com. No junk or attachments please.
There is also another crucial difference. In a snap election, the GMA government remains in power and oversees the snap elections. Surely, this will be a disaster for pro-democracy forces. It is the python watching over the chicken farm. In a special election, a transitional government will be in place once GMA is removed from power. And it will ensure the conduct of clean and honest elections. Special elections are an illusion if the governing power has no capacity to radically transform the electoral process for the better.
PAGASA has come to refer to this transitional government as the Body of Stewards. This Body will spearhead electoral reforms, as well as perform necessary executive and legislative functions in the interim. The Body of Stewards will be essential in reforming the Comelec and other electoral bodies. Without their authority, nothing will change.
The Body of Stewards, which will be multi-sectoral, gender balanced, and geographically dispersed, will have the following qualifications: integrity; track record of achievement; capacity in their different fields of expertise; service-oriented; organizational capability; and visionary and reform minded.
This Body of Stewards will also have to ensure that military grievances are addressed. It has to develop mechanisms for widespread participation of the different sub-sectors of civil society, business, and government, including representatives from the military, in order to have more meaningful and effective decisions. Its foremost function is to ensure clean and honest elections. As soon as Filipinos select the new legitimate government in a clean and honest election, the Body of Stewards will self-terminate.
Last weekend, members of PAGASA began the exercise of suggesting which people we think were worthy of being part of this council. We had just come from the Karangalan Conference and Festival the weekend before, and all agreed that any one of our speakers were good alternatives to GMA. Everyone left the conference in awe of the many Filipinos who dedicate their lives to truth and goodness for a better country. This served as our guide and inspiration to finally buckle down to work and present some names to you, and hopefully begin an exchange that will get people to start thinking of the alternatives we have all been demanding.
Below, PAG-ASA suggests some names of Filipinos we think are qualified to be members of the Body of Stewards. These names are mere examples meant to stimulate a nationwide discussion of who may be qualified to sit in the Body of Stewards. These people don’t even know we’ve put them on the list. They may even object to the whole idea of a special election and the formation of a Body of Stewards. Or, they may support these ideas but may not want to sit in the Body of Stewards. It is just the beginning of a process we hope will involve as many concerned citizens as possible.
An explanation of the larger process is outlined in our Primer on Special Election, which can be read at www.truthforce.info. Here is our list, so far, grouped by sector:
Civil society: spiritual and human development – Joaquin Tan, and Honey Carandang; health – Chi Chi Sur, and Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan; religious – Fr. Albert Alejo, Yasmin Lao (Muslim), and Rev. Benjamin Dayrit (Evangelical-Protestant); professionals – Fr. Joaquin Bernas, ex-UP Law Dean Raul Pangalagan; education – Sis. Mary John Mananzan, Bohol educators (physics teachers), and Atty. Pablo Trillana; art – CB Garrucho, and Noel Cabangon; literature – Virgilio Almario, and Jose F. Lacaba; IPs – Al Santos; media – Che Che Lazaro, Conrad de Quiros, Howie Severino, and Sheila Coronel; POs – Pam Fernandez; NGOs – Dennis and Alice Murphy; social movements – Prof. Randy David; environment – Atty. Antonio Oposa; youth – Gang Badoy; women – Remmy Rikken, and Rina Jimenez-David; poor – ?; and, globalization – Walden Bello.
Government: political movements – Ronald Llamas; LGUs – Gov. Grace Padaca, and Mayor Santiago Barcelona; and political party – Mayor Jess Robredo;
Business: micro-enterprises – ; SME – Joe Magsaysay (Ilog Maria); large – ; agriculture – ; fisheries – ?
It was interesting how some sectors filled up rather quickly, while others remain blank. Our minds are still ticking, but we need your help. We would like to hear from you soon. Let us know what you think; give us more names. If there are names on our list you question, let us know why. E-mail us soon at pagasa@mac.com.
That morning, we were like children let out into the sunshine after days of rain as we affirmed each other’s choices and awakened to new ones. We became more and more excited to see that the Philippines with no alternatives is a mindset of the past. There, before us, was a growing list of Filipinos of integrity, moral courage, and sound experience in their respective fields.
It is time for us to think from the inside out. The recent Ultra tragedy is a glaring call for every Filipino to look within and examine deep life questions about who we are and what we are contributing towards the true healing of our nation. It is a defining moment for all. If we choose to skim the surface again and deal with questions that address only the material world, the stakes will keep getting higher.
During our PAGASA meeting, someone asked why during the Marcos regime, people were more passionate and fired up about fighting and creating change. One answered that during that time, the evil was clear – people were being killed, money was blatantly stolen from the people – the atrocities were more tangible, plus it was our first foray into the world of people power. We were fed up but hopeful; if we could only topple that government, things would be better.
Today, we are rendered immobile by trauma over the relentless abuses of government through EDSA 1 and 2, and the continuing moral decline of our nation in general. In those days, there was a clear "them" and "us." It is no longer so. People we counted on to fight for truth are supporting liars and crooks. Payoffs are considered normal business practice. Today, what is really being attacked is the Filipino soul. That’s why it’s so hard to get a handle on it. It is deeply felt but not easily articulated. I believe apathy also comes from a severely fragmented soul. That we continue to say it is okay for the President to lie and cheat because there is no alternative, yet hold truth-telling as a moral standard in our homes, is a painful reminder of how separated we have become from our true selves.
PAGASA believes this is a Philippines of amazing alternatives, and we invite you to share in the process of naming Filipinos who have survived the moral holocaust and continue to shine brightly amid evil and apathy. Naming them is a powerful exercise of hope. Let’s do it together and begin it today.
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