If you are a peace-loving citizen who believes in truth, honor, integrity and all the values we have been taught to cherish, how do you fight Gloria Arroyo, whose brazen abuse of power intensifies everyday?
At a forum organized by a group calling themselves “Concerned Citizens of the Philippines” at the Manila Polo Club last week, sociologist Randy David called on the people to tap our “moral capital” and campaign for a social boycott of Arroyo.
Disliked by 65 percent of the people (67 million Filipinos), Arroyo clings to power through coercion and remuneration.
In his Sunday column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, David expounded on his idea of an Arroyo boycott: “There is no way we can fight the power of money except holding the face of truth to it and there is no way we can fight coercion except by acts of solidarity with its victims.”
He also said that we should not allow ourselves to be drawn “into a brawl” that her regime is methodically drawing us into.
David said we are citizens of a state. “But we are also, in our daily lives, members of our communities. Our children go to the same school, we often attend the same social functions, we shop in the same places. In short we share the same social spaces where respect is earned, and is not always automatically accorded the rich and the powerful.
“These spaces are regulated not by law alone but by norms of decency. These are the sources of our moral identities, far richer and older than the wellsprings of our common citizenship. It is from these that we ultimately draw confirmation for the correctness of our actions in everyday life.”
He further said, “We have not consciously mobilized the power inherent in these moral identities, whereas Ms. Arroyo has been brazen in the way she seeks to replenish her rapidly vanishing social and political capital.”
He cites Arroyo’s visits to a number of Catholic bishops and archbishops, obviously a propaganda ploy.
David suggests that “ordinary priests and nuns may call their bishops to account for their actions. The laity, who constitute the core of the church as a community, may whisper to their parish their misgivings.”
He said: “What may begin as misgivings could evolve into an explicit resolve to avoid contact with persons who actively work for or who callously profit from this immoral and repressive regime.”
“Such avoidance can ripen into open ostracism. This is the extreme form of assertion of the power of a moral community. Its effect is social isolation. It is the consumers boycott in the realm of social relations.”
There has been an incident of ostracism of Arroyo at the wake of her former best friend about two years ago.
The deceased was one of the very few friends that Arroyo had since their Assumption high school days. She was with Arroyo during her Senate days and was in Malacañang during the first six months of Arroyo’s unelected presidency.
After a bitter departure from Malacañang over an issue that involved Mike Arroyo, the lady was found to have cancer. A source who was close to the family said as the lady lay dying at the hospital, Arroyo sent word that she would like to visit her. She was asked if she had forgiven her powerful friend. She nodded. Asked if she would welcome her visit, she shook her head.
At her wake at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Arroyo sent word that she was going to visit and there was not much that the family could do.
When Arroyo entered the room, someone who was there described the scene as like “parting of the Red Sea.” All those who were seated near the aisle, moved out. When Arroyo took the seat on the left side, almost everybody went to the right side.
The source said, the hostility of the other guests towards Arroyo was so palpable she left immediately after the mass.
That experience must have been the reason why Arroyo did not dare foist her presence during the wake of a distinguished journalist and also of an incorruptible lady government official last year. Malacañang officials, who paid their last respects to both personalities, must have told her that her wreaths were relegated far away from the coffin, an eloquent statement how she was regarded in those circles.
David said: “We must begin to deploy in this struggle the moral resources that cannot be taken from us as communities.”
Yes. The housewife in Tondo who slammed her door on Arroyo’s face at the beginning of her stolen presidency did the right thing. Asked later why she did it, the housewife explained, “Ayaw ko sa kanya. Ninakaw na niya ang pagka-presidente. Pati ba naman ang dignidad ng pamamahay ko, nanakawin pa niya? (I don’t like her. She has stolen the presidency. And she still wants to rob me of the dignity of my household?)
Ostracizing her is not only a gesture of disgust over her lies, her thievery and her trampling of our basic rights. It’s sparing ourselves of her shameless presence.
Let’s do ourselves that favor.
The original definition:
“Ostracism was a procedure under the Athenian democracy where a prominent citizen could be expelled from the city-state of Athens for ten years…. It might be a way of diffusing a major confrontation between rival politicians by removing one of them from the scene, or of neutralising someone thought to be a threat to the state, a possible tyrant.” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracize
Modern definition:
“Shunning is the act of deliberately avoiding association with, and habitually keeping away from an individual or group. It is a sanction against association commonly associated with religious groups following excommunication or dismembership. In some cases, the shunned person or group is considered as anathema, abominable, or spiritually diseased by the shunning group.” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunning
I prefer the first… or both. Patalsikin na. NOW NA!
If the above won’t work, then i would be happy if she’d be assasinated.
In physics i’ve learned one of the fundamental laws of nature [magnetism]…”Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.”
Male attracts female. Positive attracts negative.
Evil repels evil.
Sometimes, we need to eliminate evil by being evil. Otherwise, we won’t get nowhere.
27 March 2006
Just like what happened yesterday at the barangay assembly, why are they pushing for cha-cha???why the need to get the signatures of the people to the fact that the assembly of the barangay should be apolitical, they give money or anything in kind just to tget the signatures. I atteneded the assembly but I did not sign the attendance sheet (or is it SHIT???)for they might use my signature as one who approves the cha-cha. People should be aware of the pros and cons of parliament. If the same rotten TRAPOS will be at the parliament its just a waste of my time. We have to tell the people that it is not the system that has problem, its the people who are running it. These people (so called representatives) think of only one thing, and that is their vested interest. If they have delicadeza, all of them should resign now!!! IF people wants change, its the kind of leadership that we have right now and its not the system. I for one does not like these clowns to choose for me who will lead us in the future. If they will remove from me the power to choose who I want us or me to be my leader, then I will not vote anymore.
It is correct to say that we should boycott the present administration, but someone has to lead us, someone should stand up and say that we should boycott the administration, but how, when and where to start??? that someone should be decent, someone whose compassion is for the good of the country and its people, someone who is recognized by all that he/she has no vested interest. We should find someone who can unite us against the administration, someone who can fight for the right of all the people.
Change of system is not the answer, its the kind of leadership that we right now. How can I say to my children that is alright to say I AM SORRY after they made something wrong. I cannot face the fact that crime in the philippines does pay.
We should now unite and force GMA and her hoods to resign and call for a snap election. That way we can start fresh from the beginning and choose the right person to lead us.
jinx
We can start in our own small way. Like if you are watching TV and Gloria Arroyo’s face appear on the screen spreading her lies, switch channel. Bumalik ka na lang after a few minutes.
Apparently marami ang gumagaw nyan because Tv survey shows that programs where Arroyo was the guest suffer in the ratings.
By doing this, you don’t only protest. You spare yourself of the stress of listening to her lies. Di ba nakaka-highblood?
We should not just confine ourselves with Arroyo. As Randy David said, we should include people who allow themselves to be Gloria’s tools. Like if your priest is one of those who welcomed Gloria, let him know of your feelings.
27 March 2006
That’s what I am doing now, ellen, everytime I saw gloria’s face in the the TV, I cvhange to another channel, just like last saturday during the PMA graduation rites, to see and hear her say something, I feel like throwing out, the gall, telling the newly graduates of PMA to obey the law and consitution, look who’s talking, did she obey the consitution and lkaws written in it????NAAAAhhhh, I dont think so. nakaka-buset makita ang pagmumukha nya sa TV. Look behind her, its her INCONSISTENT vice president, who doesn’t have the balls to stand on his own. Tha is why we should now forced both them to resign and to call a snap election. PROBLEM IS THEY DONT KNOW THE WORD DELICADEZA.
Iynag si de castro naman, kala mo kung sino na maka masa, pang sarili lang nya inaatupag, kaya kinakasuhan yan ng kanyang mga dating kasamahan sa magandang gabi bayan, kung yun mga tao nya, ala sya pakialam, lalo na siguro sa nakakarami, piulos ghost employees naman ang nasa opisina nya sa gobyerno, palayasin na sila, NOW NA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jinx
27 March 2006
Ms Ellen,
Just like to ask a few questions???
1. If a person is designated director (although internally he/she is designated as chief of staff), is he/she can sign any public document??? i.e. contract or employment in any government agency/ies???
2. Is that person liable of any wrongdoings???
The reason I am asking this, is because the chief of staff of the vice president, although officially designated as director IV, he is signing almost all documents in behalf of the vice president as chief of staff, although, there is soemone else who is desginated in paper as chief of staff and that designated chief of staff is not functioning as chief of staff.
Can you enlighten me on this???
jinx
Totoo yun! Kaya marami na ang lumilipat sa ibang relihiyon mula Katoliko dahil na rin sa pakikipagsabwatan ng simbahan sa pamahalaan. Hanggang tumatagal ang pangyayaring ito, mababawasan na ang dumadalo sa mga misa. Kanya kanya na lang tayo ng Diyos, wag na tayong maniwala sa mga kardinal at sa mga obispo hanggang malambot pa ang pagtrato nila kay arroyo.
Katulad ng sinabi ko noon, di ko na tinatangkilik ang mga tv station na nagpapalabas ng mukha ni gloria. Bakit natin pagtitiyagaang pakinggan ang isang taong sinungaling? ano ang mapapala natin? sa cable na lang ako manonood, makabuluhan pa.
Iwasan na natin ang mga taong maka gloria, mga gobernor, senador, mayor, kongresman at mga opisyal ng pamahalaan, pati mga kamaganak nila. iwasan nating makisalamuha sa mga ito, baka mahawa lang tayo.
i’ve been using “ostracism” as protest for a long time now, actually. every time i see pandak’s face on tv i immediately switch channel specially on news programs. nakakasuka na ang pagmumukha nya. not only that any articles to do with her i also avoid to read lalo yung mga lies nya about the country’s economic reforms or progress, etc. i’ve been wracking my brains out kung papano mapapa-alis sya sa pwesto but God works in mysterious ways. may reason Siya kung bakit pinananatili pa Nya ang kasamaang tulad ni glueria. and that time will come. i know it. because GOOD WILL TRIUMPH OVER EVIL. and glue-ria is such an evil person. babae pa naman sya. may anak at may apo, at kamag-anak na mga babae ring tulad niya. ano kayang nararamdaman ng mga kamag-anak niya. i’m sure di sila nakakatulog at siguradong binabagabag sila ng konsensiya. to have a relative an evil person like her eh nakakahiya. i’m sure wala lang magawa ang mga kaanak nya unless talagang magkakamag-anak sila of cheats, liars and thieves. then di na nakapagtataka.
count me in for whatever protest against her just to remove glue-ria in malacanang.
more power to you, ellen.
Makapal talaga ang mukha niya. Kahit ano pang mabuting gawin niya, wala na talagang maniniwala sa kanya. Hindi ba niya alam yan? Hindi naman siya puwedeng magbitaw na lang, kundi lagot ang kanyang angkan at ang mga Sena-tong, Tong-ressman at mga baklang nakapaligid sa kanya sama na diyan ang mga General na walang kuwenta na lahat nakinabang sa kaban ng bayan. Kanya’t ang mga oposisyon ay naggalaiti dahil hindi sila nababalatuhan. Pare-parehas lang sila. Ang mga oposisyon na yan, sila-sila ang nagka-kainan. Nakakahiya rin kayo!!! Papano niyo mapapa-alis si Glorya kung ganyan kayo, walang pagkaka-isa. Kaya minsan naniniwala ako na talagang walang papalit sa kanya dahil kayong mga taga oposisyon ay walang pagkakaisa. Hindi niyo talaga ini-isip ang kapakanan ng nakakarami, pare-parehas lang kayo lahat na may maitim na hangarin. Alam ng nakakarami sa inyo na mga politicians ay may investment sa ibang Bansa isa na diyan yang Puno na yan at yong wala pa ay talaga namang nagsisikap na maka hati man lang. Kung magkagulo man sa atin (Diyos namin huwag naman sana) mayroon silang matatakbuha. Tignan niyo na lang si Gen. Garcia(Maliit lang na Isda ito ha) may Green Card pa o bakit hindi niyo silipin ang mga ibang mga Generals.
Kung si Noli De Castro, may bayag yan mga igan ko. Yon nga lang lilitaw-lulubog. Mga I’gan noon pa man e gawain na niya ang mangikil sa mga Businesses na kanyang sinisilip. Yan pa kaya Milyones o Bilyones na ang mga usapan pag nandiyan ka na sa Malakanyang o kahit sa paligid lang.
Pinoy wala ka talagang maa-asahan sa mga taong inyong ibinoto … kaya sa susunod na eleksiyon … gamitin lang natin ang ating utak para piliin kung sino ang nararapat … huwag kayong tatanggap ng ano … yan ay pansamantala lamang .. kagaya ng Noodles na ipinamimigay ni GLORYA .. pag kinain mo na .. napawi ang gutom … e papano kung magutom ka na naman ulit??? Kaya kung maayos lang ang pagpili natin, sigurado sa loob ng anim na taon na nakaupo ang pinili natin ay medyo maayos ang kabuhayan natin. At hindi lang yan … gagawin natin ulit sa mga susunod na eleksiyon para habambuhay tayong sagana.
At dito sa CHA-CHA na gusto nilang mangyari, tanong ko PAPANO KUNG SILA ULIT ANG NAKAUPO LALO NA YANG SI GLORYA AT DE VENECIA ANO NA LANG ANG MANGYAYARI SA BANSA NATIN????? Alam na natin kung sino ang dalawang to … ano papayag ba kayo????
Ilang ulit ko ng sinabi na ang Cha-Cha ay matagal ng plinano ni RAMOS/DeVenecia bago pa matapos ang term niya. Ang paniwala niya ay wala talagang maasahan sa mga nagkukumahog na mga Presidentiables. O kayong mga taga oposisyon, tignan niyo ang sarili niyo sa salamin, o puwede ba kayo???? Baka mas masahol pa kayo kay GLORYA pag kayo na ang naka-upo. Kaya siguro kapit tuko yang si GLORYA sa trono niya dahil nakikita niya kung sino sino kayo talaga at kung ano talaga ang hangarin niyo. Kaya ang Cha-Cha ay nabuhay ulit dahil din sa inyo, HINDI KAYA … TANONG KO LANG!!!!!
Jinxies,
I honestly don’t know about administrative rules.
jinx,
Pardon my intrusion.
I think the Chief of Staff is not qualified to do his/her job just like the Vice -President that appoints him/her!
If you are a peace-loving citizen who believes in truth, honor, integrity and all the values we have been taught to cherish, how do you fight Gloria Arroyo, whose brazen abuse of power intensifies everyday?
Anino Says:
March 27th, 2006 at 10:01 am (Ostracism And Shunning)
If the above won’t work, then i would be happy if she’d be assasinated.
In physics i’ve learned one of the fundamental laws of nature [magnetism]…”Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.”
Male attracts female. Positive attracts negative.
Evil repels evil.
Sometimes, we need to eliminate evil by being evil. Otherwise, we won’t get nowhere.
My question is: how would you reconcile the top statement to the one ” If the above won’t work, then i would be happy if she’d be assasinated.”
I may adhor ms arroyo, but to suggest something, which is a heinous crime in itself is I believe already crossing the limit of our freedom of speech and expression. To this end I’ll say I’m glad I’m living in a country where we have a limitation to such freedom and I will not be surprised if this government will bend down over to impose such limitations. And I wish you all the best of luck..
Miss Ellen,
Saan kaya nila gagamitin ang 1.053 Trillion na budget?
700,000 FILIPNO CHILDREN MALNOURISHED!
5 MILYONG FILIPINO ANG SUMASALA SA PAGKAIN!
MAUUBUSAN NA TAYO NG MGA MEDICAL PRACTIONERS (NURSES AND DOCTORS! ETC…)
KULANG-KULANG TAYO NG MGA SILID-ARALAN!!!
MARAMI PA DIN ANG MGA WALANG ILAW AT TUBIG!!!
MALAPIT NG MAMATAY ANG MGA MAGSASAKA NATIN DAHIL SA LINTEK NA WTO NA YAN!!!
LALONG DUMADAMI ANG MGA WALANG TRABAHO SA ATIN!!! AT NOODLES NA LANG ANG KINAKAIN NG MGA TAO SA ATIN!!!
!!!!
Alvin,
Inidet ko ang iyong comment. Huwag tayo gumamit ng mga bastos na salita. maraming salamat.
Ang katotohanan ay kabutihan.
Forgiveness is a Christian virtue. But forgiveness should come with justice. Such familiar statement was often used by Cory Aquino against the late dictator Marcos. Hence, much more it should be applied to this Arroyo who did much worse than Marcos. Too bad Bing Rodrigo’s soul is not totally resting in peace. Tatahimik lang ang kanyang kaluluwa kung tuluyan nang mapatalsik si Arroyo. If we all want Bing’s soul to have everlasting peace, let’s hasten the removal of this Arroyo.
Ellen:
I just got the chance to link to Ostracism as protest. It was the first time I read that piece. Thank you.