Lessons learned by my nieces & nephews at the march in Luneta

My youngest brother Rod, a public high school teacher, and I decided to bring all our six nieces and nephews — eldest is 20, youngest is eight — to the Million People March rally in Luneta last Aug. 26. It was a last-minute decision but it definitely did not go to waste because that activity proved that, indeed, nothing could come close to experience as the best teacher.

On the day of the rally, we left Gulod, a sleepy barrio in Cabuyao City, at 7 in the morning armed with picnic bags filled with our binalot sa dahon and adobo. On our way to Luneta, Nikko, Nikkelle, Nikki, Paopao, Gabby and Alex were all excited. It was their first time to join a rally.  Their excitement escalated when we parked in the vicinity of Malate Church to walk to the site of the rally. It was a long walk that prepared all of us to what awaited at the Quirino Grandstand — a mammoth crowd, a happy atmosphere, muddy patches on the ground and more. Towards the end of the day, their initial reaction of excitement was replaced by enlightenment after the rally.

With Luneta as their classroom and the rest of the humanity as their classmates, my nieces and nephews learned intrinsic lessons about life and love for country in just half a day.

Here are their reflections from attending the rally last Aug. 26. Their answers — from the most profound to downright hilarious — prove that they brought with them something integral from the biggest class they have ever attended in their lives.

From Nikko, 20, Hospitality Management graduate, Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Manila

1. The rally taught me to love my country more.

2. It’s all right to voice out your feelings, or even to get angry, in a rally when it is already the future of the country that is at stake.

3. Bawal ang epal. (Former Chief Justice Renato) Corona was booed at the rally because he probably thought the Filipino people have already forgotten what he did.

4. Even if some people chanted something against P-Noy, I still believe that the President has the best intentions for the country. After all, he is the only one I can think of as the most honest public servant. He already stood up by saying that he was for the abolition of the pork barrel. I know that soon he will rise more to the occasion. (When Janet Napoles surrendered to President Aquino on Wednesday night, Nikko, SK chairman in our barangay, fully understood why he was happy that she already yielded to the authorities. “Yes, katarungan!” he said.)

5. The rally at the Luneta made me more proud as a Filipino.

From Nikki, 17, Chemical Engineering student, UP Los Baños

1. Stand up for what you think and feel is right.

2. Don’t be ashamed to voice out your thoughts especially when you know there are other people who have the same thoughts as you. Go out and fight!

3. It is the task of each and every Filipino, even the children, to show love and concern for the country.

4. PDAF is good, only when it is used for the right purpose. But because it is not used to serve its good purpose, I am for the scrapping of the pork barrel.

5. Not all rallies are bad or not peaceful. I am just glad I joined the Million People March.

From Paula, 16, Nursing student, San Beda College-Mendiola

1. The politicians are public servants. They must use the taxes of the people in the right way.

2. Politicians should not be greedy — in power and in money.

3. Public servants serve the people, love the people. They are not supposed to steal people’s money. If they steal the money of the people, they are criminals.

4. Those who are involved in the pork barrel scam should all resign. Or they should be investigated immediately.

5. The public has the right to know where their taxes go. There should be a computer system where we can all be allowed to freely to see where the taxes go or how these taxes are used to improve the lives of others.

From Gabby, 12, Grade 7 student, Canossa School, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

1. I realized that even if my father is a factory worker, he also pays his taxes. And part of his taxes is probably with Janet Napoles. Or with some congressmen and senators. Hindi ba sila marunong maawa? (Gabby was supposed to bring a placard to the rally that would have carried her original thoughts: “Proud ako, factory worker ang Tatay ko. Saan dinala ng mga kurakot na pulitiko ang buwis na ibinayad ng Tatay ko sa gobyerno?”)

2. I learned that even kids have the right to voice out their feelings so the corrupt officials will hear them.

3. Kakaiyak po yung speech ni Cardinal Tagle. “Ang mga Pilipino ay marangal.” Pero meron din pong hindi. Maraming pinagbibintangang magnanakaw hindi lang sa baryo natin kundi pati sa gobyerno — senador, congressman, mayor, konsehal, barangay kapitan, kahit siguro barangay tanod.

4. Don’t steal from the government. That money belongs to the people. If it is not yours, don’t steal it.

5. If the P10-billion pork barrel scam was used instead to fix schools, there should be no flooding in Gulod Elementary School every time there’s a typhoon. 

From Nikkelle, 10, Grade 5 student, Field of Little Hands in Calamba City

1. Artista po pala si Jograd dela Torre. He’s funny.

2. I learned that it’s okay to dance in public. (Jograd sang his anti-pork barrel song titled Kawatan to the tune of Price Tag. Nikkelle danced unabashedly.)

3. “Ikulong ang mga magnagnakaw na politiko sa Pilipinas. Dahil masama sila, dapat silang parusahan. (This thought is not Nikkelle’s own but the summary of what he heard from Juana Change.)

4. Gusto ko pa pong ulitin ang rally. Masaya po pala. Pero sana fried chicken ang baon natin. Sawa na po ako sa adobo. 

5. Bakit po walang maliit na size ng “Scrap the pork barrel” shirt? Akala po ba ng nagbebenta matatanda lang ang sumasama sa rally? 

From Alex, eight, Grade 3 student, Gulod Elementary School in Cabuyao, Laguna

1. I saw Mike Enriquez and Jessica Soho in the rally. And other nice people I don’t know.

2. I enjoyed shouting “Makibaka! Huwag mag-baboy!” (Alex kept on asking me what the chant really meant. It’s all about not turning a blind eye to corruption, I said. Now, she already knows the definition of corruption.)

3. Masarap din po yung chocolate cookies na ipinasa ng isang maputing babae na mukhang sushal. Sayang ubos na yung binalot ko sa dahon, sana nakatikim yung babaeng sushal ng adobo ni Lola. 

4. Ang daming tao. Nakakaliyo. Buti na lang may baon tayong (rubbing) alcohol. Pangtanggal ng liyo.

5. Ang daming pulis. Mabait po sila. (Alex even said “Thank you” to the policemen deployed in Luneta and Roxas Boulevard.)

(For your new beginnings, e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Twitter @bum_tenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)