Unthinkingly inciting revolt against itself

Filipinos are seething. In SMSes and Web forums they’re shouting: abolish the House of Reps, since in there are mostly pork-drooling gofers of Malacañang. Arroyo admin taunting incited the latest flash of public fury. Lakas-Kampi party men had sneered in the wake of last Wednesday’s anti-Con-Ass demo in Makati that “only a lukewarm few” joined. Coupled with lines like “get yourselves elected first before debating us,” the mocking proved that so-called leaders will not heed the popular will. Already infuriating was the akyat-bahay-style passage by admin reps of the Con-Ass resolution at midnight before the last session day. That the same loyalists of Gloria Arroyo then belittled the ensuing citizens’ actions provoked newer ways of protesting.

On Facebook is a movement called “Stop Con-Ass Now.” Within the week of the House’s passage of Resolution 1109, 13,000 social networkers had signed up against it. From there the antis grew exponentially to several more tens of thousands in allied causes. It proves that Filipinos have chosen the electronic medium for redress of grievance. Mostly young Filipinos are also using blogcasts to air views against the obvious aim of Arroyo allies to prolong her and themselves in power. Bloggers notably talk about rallies in over a dozen cities on the same day as Makati’s. This belies the admin claim that a puny but noisy bunch is against its tinkering with the Constitution. For three years Filipinos have been saying they don’t want any Charter Changing under Arroyo, and certainly not via self-serving Constituent Assembly of Congress. In survey after survey two-thirds of respondents reflect it. So with the House bull-headedly insisting on Con-Ass, Netizens are using the medium they’re most adept with to tell off their reps. One of the most circulated e-mails is a photo-listing of the Lakas-Kampi “Con-Ass-holes” who endorsed 1109, with a caricatured Arroyo gyrating to the cha-cha beat. Another is the gathering of a million signatures against Con-Ass. Both Internet messages are about to immortalize Arroyo et al among the vilest false leaders the country ever had.

If admin apologists are looking for massive street marches as gauge of public anger, they won’t find it. Not yet. Thinking Filipinos are not about to walk under the sun or face water cannons for nothing. They see no real provocation just yet to take to the streets. For the meantime, expressing themselves seemingly invisibly through electronic gadgets will suffice. After all, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, one of the Constitution’s authors, says that all the Lakas-Kampi congressmen have done so far is publicly to announce that they intend to commit a crime. More than that, the senators are one in saying they will resist Con-Ass. Too, the few minority congressmen whom Lakas-Kampi had gagged on the porch-climbing night of June 2 say 1109 is an exercise in futility. Even Speaker Prospero Nograles, who shepherded 1109’s passage, admits not knowing what to do next. That’s why Filipinos are not marching but watching.

Now if the taunting admin tries something funny, the public mood could change from outrage to rampage. Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, an 1109 sponsor, brags that Lakas-Kampi will convene the Con-Ass on July 27, as a gift to Arroyo on her last State of the Nation. The middle class, followed by the masa, might not take that sitting down. Quietly civil society leaders are studying the logistics — from bottled water to portable toilets — of another people-power revolt. Businessmen are contemplating a tax boycott. Given such preparations, maybe it’s the opposition that should be teasing the admin: go ahead make our day.

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Three reactions to recent columns:

Name withheld: “PhilRice management has changed its tune; they’re now calling their scheme car rental instead of car plan — to justify exclusive use of the SUVs, instead of pooling these for common dispatching. They insist that PhilRice has no more need for their SUVs, which they purchased under agency subsidy on the pretext of staff use. Incidentally, the Board of Trustees approved the car plan only in principle, but wasn’t informed of the details, nor did it get any unit. Management pulled a fast one on them.”

Maria Santos: “I’ve lived in Las Piñas all my life. Diego Cera Avenue recently was elevated and repaired, but what need more attention are the inner streets of the old city: San Jose, San Francisco, Ibayo, Madrigal and Lopez compounds. These areas around the church of the Bamboo Organ flood up from the rains. City Hall has not refurbished the drainage system supposedly for difficulty and lack of funds.”

Yobie Bengzon: “Thank you for exposing the impending Laiban dam project that skirted public bidding. Noodle scam, backhoe scam, what other last-two-minutes deal will the Arroyo admin attempt? They’ve made all private-sector reps in the Construction Industry Authority resign. Watch out, something’s cooking.”

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