Passing on the torch

By the time this column is published, I will be in Negros to speak to university students. I am bringing with me one of the members of a young group of constitutional reform warriors. As I have said to young advocates of constitutional reform we need to pass on the torch to the younger generation.

This peaceful advocacy has been going on for decades, for generations if we are to trace it back to our early political history when Emilio Aguinaldo, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio et al first framed a constitutional republic for the Philippines. Having learned our politics from Spain, it was essentially parliamentary government. It was the first in Asia. I have no doubt that had it been allowed to continue and flourish along that original path we would have gone from strength to strength as a nation.

This parliamentary thrust born of a revolution was changed when the Americans took over from Spain. That initial heroism was a great feat but soon it was pushed back by later events in the American post colonial period. We must not let that greatness fade. It has been achieved with blood and ideas from some of the brightest Filipino minds at the end of the Spanish period. It is one of the reasons for the renewed drive for constitutional reform — to reawaken the original vision of our national heroes. We must retrieve that historical greatness by continuing where they left off in the making of our nation.

Advocates of constitutional reform have been held back and their cause derided by its enemies by calling it Cha-cha. The advocates are unfazed. So am I because I am a great believer that everything happens at its appointed time. But add to that – the appointed time will not come if we do not work for it. That is what we are here in Negros for.

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I was among those who attended the meeting that formally convened the Philippine Truth Commission at a workshop in the Ateneo School of Laws Rockwell Campus. I had not expected the independence of mind of those who attended. They did their own thinking despite the hype in mainstream media on the Philippine Truth Commission. Moreover, their backgrounds were solid with one of them, Susan Granada of the Ecumenical Council having done research on truth commissions.

They expressed doubts that the truth commission as it has been organized would meet international standards for truth commissions.

Media statements coming from the new government indicated that its main focus would be to investigate corruption scandals under the Arroyo administration. It was obviously being used as a political weapon against the Arroyo government instead of giving justice to victims so that these are not repeated.

Truth commissions in other countries are formed to “help in the resolution of crimes committed during a civil war, dictatorship or other upheavals.” Among countries that created truth commissions were Kosovo, Iran, South Africa, Cuba, Columbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

I noticed that Wendy Luers and Adam Levy represented the Project on Justice in Times of Transition (PJTT) were visibly surprised at the reactions around the table. They may have to change their minds about teaching Filipinos about democratic behavior.

 It puts into doubt what a truth commission is for when it is created after normal elections that brought in a new government.

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MISCELLANY. Every once in a while, I hear about private individuals and groups who take up wonderful projects and causes on their own.

First on my list is the campaign of Clarita Lapuz of Mama Sita to popularize the humble kamote (sweet potato) among Filipinos. She describes it as probably one of the most nutritious foods that can be easily grown in the Philippines. Moreover, unlike rice it needs less water than growing rice does. My late husband used to say he didn’t like kamote because they survived on it during the war. But now kamote is about to be glamorized and made into a top food export thanks to the efforts of Clarita. There are many recipes with kamote that one would not think of like kamote cheese cake (delicious) or chicken pastel with kamote.

The New York Times prepared two recipes for Thanksgiving, prosciutto wrapped sweet potato and crisp sweet potato fries. I do remember that while in Brussels, I loved the lamb dinners served with roasted sweet potatoes at the Australian Embassy.

This is not a food column but our food industry can be helped if kamote can be introduced into prestigious dinner tables. We have a Filipino cook in the White House. She could help by introducing some menus using our kamote. It is far superior to ordinary potatoes but this is little known. Clarita taught me how to start planting the lowly tuber by looking at all the varieties available and which variety best thrives in the area it is to be planted. This information should reach lowly farmers.

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One of the things I would have focused on as chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines would have been opening regional cultural centers. I was glad to know there are also private initiatives already being done. One of them, although not regional, is in my own hometown — Paete — home of wood carving and paper mache art.

So much still has to be done in other regions to preserve indigenous art. Paete is the site of the famous St. James Church described by historians as a magnificent baroque Church. The Pambayang Tanghalan at Sentrong Pangkultura is its neighbor.

This week, the Baile Foundation, an organization of the first members of the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, will be holding an exhibit to raise funds not only for the Paete Sentrong Pangkultura but also for their many other projects like education and support of native dance research and studies. 

Call it the “Bayanihan spirit,” but for 10 years now, the Baile Foundation and the Shangri-La Plaza Corporation have retained a sense of kinship and community through an annual holiday season event at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall that aims not only to raise funds for the Foundation’s projects but to also promote Filipino culture and the arts.

The present officers and members of the Board of Trustees include: Carmen De Jesus Tiglao, chairman and president; Rosky Balahadia Hilado, vice president; Carolina Iñigo Winebrenner, secretary; Lolita Adea Valdez, treasurer, and trustees: Maribel Carag Dario, Johnny Hubilla, Miriam Odejar Palma, Teresa Silayan Rosales, Olivia Montecillo Villafuerte and Cristina Lim Yuson. Congratulations to you all.