People Power allergy

Next month, when Filipinos commemorate the 20th year of Edsa One, Arroyo will be in Washington D.C.

Last Friday was the fifth anniversary of Edsa Dos that installed Arroyo in Malacañang without having been elected to the position. Not a word from Malacañang extolling the spirit of Edsa Dos as was their practice the last four years.

Instead, Gloria Arroyo distributed noodles and health cards in Cabuyao, Laguna – fitting symbols of her administration.

Arroyo has now become allergic to People Power.

As of today, Venable LLP, the more controversial American public relations firm she has hired (the other is Burson Masteller) , is still trying to arrange appointments with US officials for her Feb. 20 to 22 visit. We are told the State Department is cold to the idea of an Arroyo visit.

The only Arroyo activity in Washington D.C. that has been confirmed, is a luncheon speaking engagement at the National Press Club on Feb. 21.

Reliable sources said this trip is the brilliant idea of national security adviser Norberto Gonzales and his Venable LLP friends. Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo and Ambassador Albert del Rosario were never consulted.

Actually, Washington D.C. was just a second choice for GMA’s destination during the EDSA One celebration this year. Malacañang tried Saudi Arabia but was turned down again.

It will be recalled that last September, Arroyo announced that she would take a side trip to Saudi Arabia on her way to New York, for a meeting with King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz to discuss, among other things, oil supply, the welfare of Filipino workers, and the Philippine bid for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference.

It was cancelled one week before the scheduled trip saying the King would be in the province and would not be available for a meeting with Arroyo. We have learned since that Saudi never agreed to the visit.

We can imagine Arroyo’s desire to be out of the country during the celebration of 20 years of People Power One, a shining moment in Philippine history that has been emulated by many countries all over the word.

How would she look beside the principal players of People Power One namely, former President Corazon Aquino, who is asking her to step down, and former President Fidel Ramos, who has told her to cut her term short to save the country from plunging into chaos?

(No more of this scene?)

Last Friday, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye of “I have two discs fame” couldn’t resist taking a swipe at People Power saying “people are losing faith in people power”. He was apparently inspired by a recent Pulse Asia survey showing that a 42 percent of Filipinos did not favor the three People Power events, two of which led to a change in political leadership.

Why Bunye would find the Pulse Asia survey results reassuring shows their bizarre sense of looking at things. That same Pulse Asia survey showed that only 10 percent of the people favored Edsa Dos that ousted Joseph Estrada and paved the way for Arroyo’s power grab (as against 36 percent favoring Edsa Uno and 8 per cent, Edsa Tres.)

That same survey also said majority of Filipinos (58%) will support protest actions asking for Arroyo’s resignation or ouster should it be proven that she cheated in the elections. Twenty-two percent (22%) said they will even join such protest actions.

Since Arroyo wants to abolish People Power with her Preemptive Calibrated Response, we would like to remind her how she extolled it on Jan. 20, 2001 at the Edsa Shrine when she took her oath before then Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Her words:

“..I pray that we will all be one – one in our priorities, one in our values and commitments, and one because of Edsa 2001.

“People Power and the ‘oneness’ of will and vision have made a new beginning possible.

“As we break from the past in our quest for a new Philippines, the unity, the Filipino’s sense of history, and his unshakeable faith in the Almighty that prevailed in EDSA ’86 and EDSA 2001 will continue to guide and inspire us.

“I am certain that Filipinos of unborn generations will look back with pride to EDSA 2001, just as we look back with pride to Mactan, the Katipunan and other revolts, Bataan and Corregidor, and EDSA ’86.

“People Power has dramatized the Filipino’s capacity for greatness.

“People of People Power, I ask for your support and prayers. Together, we will light the healing and cleaning flame.”

The whole speech is posted in Bunye’s website: www.news.ops.gov.ph.