The People’s Assembly for Genuine Alternatives to Social Apathy (PAG-ASA) held the prayer-rally for "a better Philippines" on the 22nd death anniversary of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., and called for the resignation of President Arroyo.
"Aug. 21 is the anniversary of Ninoy Aquino’s death by assassination. We want to prevent the de facto ‘assassination‚’ and eclipse of democracy by the darkness of mass apathy," PAG-ASA spokesman Nicanor Perlas said.
"We want to send a strong message that there are still Filipinos who care deeply for our country and are willing to come together and express their concern in action," he said.
Perlas said their group was created two months ago out of the worsening political crisis which forced all concerned sectors of society to band together and sound off the "unified voice of the silent majority" calling for Mrs. Arroyo to step down.
He said Mrs. Arroyo has already lost her moral authority to govern the country in the midst of the worsening political crisis facing her four-year presidency.
"This group (PAG-ASA), however, will stay beyond (Mrs. Arroyo). We don’t care much who would replace her as president. We are after the assurance that true democracy will remain in this country," Perlas said.
He claimed a lot of people are having difficulty believing in Mrs. Arroyo.
He said PAG-ASA is convinced of claims by the opposition and critics that Mrs. Arroyo cheated in last year’s elections based on the content of the controversial "Hello Garci" wiretap recordings.
"We aim to do a different kind of people power to pressure for her (Mrs. Arroyo’s) ouster. One that is not merely focused on state control but also on the rebuilding of moral and cultural infrastructure of our country," Perlas said.
Perlas conceded though that "whoever succeed Mrs. Arroyo... nothing will happen," if moral infrastructure and cultural force would remain weak.
"Corruption and irregularities in government and politics will only be a vicious cycle," he said.
Perlas stressed PAG-ASA is pushing for an "autonomous center of power" that would serve as watchdog to all politicians and elected leaders of the government.
Perlas said the "autonomous center of power" would consist of different forces from the basic sector of society.
Aside from serving as watchdog, PAG-ASA is also pushing for other "alternatives" in governance, including the total removal of the influence of traditional politicians from political life, among other proposals.
He stressed that PAG-ASA is different from the proposals being pushed by other sectors in calling for a transitional revolutionary government to follow after Mrs. Arroyo is removed from power.
"We urge to reinvent democracy as we are more of an electoral democracy today. Some of us think that after we cast our vote in the ballot, our duty is already over," Perlas said.
Perlas said PAG-ASA plans to maintain its non-partisan character, requiring membership of civil society groups in order to effectively fiscalize the politicians and political parties.
But he said the group is open to dialogues with politicians and political parties who would advocate genuine advancement in reforming the Philippine society.
Among the personalities who attended the gathering of anti-Arroyo forces were writer Conrad de Quiros of Kontra-Gapi group; STAR Lifestyle columnist Panjee Lopez, culture expert Jun de Leon and Bishops Antonio Tobias and Deogracias Iniguez, who led the interfaith prayer towards the end of the rally.
Former Arroyo Cabinet members Corazon "Dinky" Soliman and Imelda Nicolas also attended the gathering.