Five years ago, more than 300 young officers and soldiers took a stand against Gloria Arroyo’s corruption and misgovernance. They decided on Oakwood Hotel in Makati as the most strategic place available to them at that time to deliver their message to the people.
So many things have happened since then.
Their five years of incarceration became a test, not only of their physical and mental endurance, but of their character and moral strength. Some of them succumbed to pressures. But majority held on.
Most have been freed and are now working in government and private offices.
The group, which media dubbed as “Magdalo” (how they got this name is a long story which would be interesting to write someday) has become a symbol of defiance against Gloria Arroyo’s corrupt and immoral government.
Proof of that is the election of their spokesperson, Lt(sg) Antonio Trillanes IV as senator.
May the spirit of “Oakwood” continue to burn brightly not only among the patriotic officers but also in the hearts of all Filipinos.
By the way, check out the re-launched website of Senator Trillanes:
http//senator.trillanes.org
Five long years!! My heart goes out to these young, idealistic officers. But they have time on their side.
Gloria’s time is running out. (I hope and pray hindi na aabot sa 2010) while theirs have just begun.
To Sen. Trillanes and the other officers who have stood firm on their ideals, thank you. Take care, the country needs you.
I visited the re-launched website and the part that made my eyes a little misty are the pictures of the food distribution program where the huge picture of my favorite General Danny Lim is alongside that of Senator Antonio Trillanes 1V. This is one trait of Trillanes that I like most, he has an undying love for his master/teacher/superior and brothers/sisters.
Way to go Magdalo, the spirit lives on! Mabuhay!
Yes, Chi. Gen. Lim is a very admirable person. Ang lalim na tao.
yong mga bills na ginawa niya makatao,makabayan.sana wag siyang magbago.
Thanks to Arlene, the beautiful missus, and his staff, the FDP of the Senator reaches out to people without noise. Iyan ang tunay!
is the filipino worth dying for?? only for the few who belives for a real change..majority of us doesn`t care, maye it`s our culture..our invaders were ward off by foreigners, remember the spaniards were with us for more than 500 years, only the war between americans and the spanish that time that spanish was done here and the begining of american occupation,then the japanese came and the “i shall return” of Gen mcarthur that we again became free..but our independence from united states was the worst thing that happens in this country,our filipino politicians became the enemies of the filipino people,our politicians make laws on this land for their exclusive use only, the filipinos were became the their milking cow of our politicians, we see new breed of young politicians who became rich and famous not in legislation but in corruption, our politicians are the modern robin hood of nottingham ” rob the poor to feed the rich ” were we did fail?? our forefathers, they did not live a legacy of good governance.. today the failure of this country is in our hand, in a few years we are going to be the forefathers of our children of our childrens childrens who have not done anything to oust this evil in our governance..!!
The real and true Madalos and their aspirations are really admirable. They are true patriots. There are some among them who have turned their backs and allowed themselves to be co-opted by this despicable administration. Probably their resolve has been eroded by personal and other reasons. Or maybe they could no longer withstand the pressured exerted on them by the minions of this administration. Those remaining patriots are the few remaining glimmer of hope by us ordinary citizens. But we are losing that hope fast. We are being overwhelmed by the brazenness of this evil administration. I hope they find the book of fiction titled “Term Limits” by Vince Flynn. There is some solution somewhere there. You won’t regret reading the book.
Let freedom ring!!!
I can understand the distribution of food to the people of Payatas and the depressed areas in greater Manila, but distribution of food in Nueva Ecija is something I feel like pinching myself.
I did not realize that there is now dire poverty even in such provinces of the so-called “Rice Granary of the Philippines” as Nueva Ecija. God, bakit nagkaganoon?
No wonder Filipinos are going out of the country and risking lives, limbs and legs going to countries where they are not even welcome. Saklap!
Truth is the only time I see food and relief distribution in Japan is only during times of natural disasters and calamities. Otherwise, they don’t, since the government is obligated to provide financial help and assistance to the needy as guaranteed by the law.
They do not have to line up for food, and feel so destitute in order to survive. Dito kasi ayaw nilang maduraan, which in principle is what they are willing to be subjected to when they accept alms.
Five long years is a long time, too much I believe as punishment for protesting injustice and corruption, while the real criminals run scott free…
I just want to pledge my support to the patriot and to ensure them that my prayers will be for them always. I know that it is been a long years of their sufferings but I know they are that brave and dignified to continue. I know that the filipinos are just waiting and very soon we will harvest our fruits of labor.
God bless the patriots!
Ms. Polly
Galing ako sa botika, pag-uwi ko tapos na yung SONA. Salamat naman at hindi ko nakita ang karakas ng bruha.
Blackwater mixes business glitz with military grit
Jul 27, 11:38 AM (ET)
By MIKE BAKER
MOYOCK, N.C. (AP) – Erik Prince gets his guests to the runway seconds before the turboprop’s approach. The financiers hop out of his black Chevy Suburban and gawk as the pilots drop a pair of packages that float to within feet of their target – just as they might on a mission for Blackwater Worldwide in the Afghan backcountry.
His audience is captivated by the show, but the Blackwater founder and CEO focuses on a seemingly minor detail: the parachutes.
“They’re made out of the same stuff sandbags are made out of,” Prince tells the group in hurried, staccato sentences. “They are truly disposable. The normal parachutes you put a human out under are much more expensive. With these, you can use them, repack them. It’s very cheap.”
Then it’s back in the Suburban – a “sub” in Blackwater talk – as Prince speeds the investors off to their next stop on the tour of Blackwater’s campus in the North Carolina swamplands. This is life at Prince’s Blackwater: the glitz of business, the grit of military.
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080727/D9269EL00.html
Ewan ko, pero it is disrespect the Filipino people when a few hundred armed soldiers rebel against the sitting government. At against the military code of conduct.
The constitution is clear — military is to respect civilian authority.
Went on a 10 hour strike not opening Inquirer, etc. during the SONA. Besides, I would not like to see the picture of the garutay in her new gown (3,000 pesos daw)—ang sarap murahin ng animal paganda pa samantalang nagugutom na ang mga niloloko niyang mga kababayan niya. Puede ba pakisipa na ang animal na iyan?
I told my mother in the US about the pagpag, shock na shock siya. Matagal na kasi siyang hindi umuwi sa Pilipinas at sa edad niya baka hindi na. She’s 89 going on 90. Sabi niya, “Pati ba naman mga baboy ngayon inaagawan na ng pagkain? Pag pati darak kinain na rin ng tao, wala nang kakainin ang baboy! Ano na ngayon ang kakainin ng baboy?” Sagot ko, “baka tae ni Gloria at noong asawa niyang baboy din!” Yuck!!!
Pepito: pero it is disrespect the Filipino people when a few hundred armed soldiers rebel against the sitting government.
*****
This argument is valid on condition that the one heading the government is not and has not broken the law, no cheating, no vote stealing and no vote rigging. The one they have in the Philippines is a criminal, suspect and otherwise. The soldiers of the Philippines should not be made to kowtow to such leader. They should in fact have her arrested by the police, and prosecuted accordingly.
Logic lang naman, cause and result, etc.