A Response to Uniffors

Below is my response to the annotations of Mr. Buencamino of Uniffors (and Businessworld) regarding my statement on the Pen Makati Siege.
For those who are wondering why I need to respond, you may want to read his and his friends opinions (see http://www.uniffors.com/?p=1240 or http://www.uniffors.com/?p=1239 among many others).

I share this so we ALL sustain the momentum and continue the dialogue regarding issues of national importance. More importantly, so we can come up with concrete solutions to many of our problems.
Merry Christmas everyone, and may our actions in the new year may be more well-thought-of!

Karl Vendell Satinitigan
President
Ateneo Loyola Schools Sanggunian

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Merry Christmas to Uniffors and your readers!

Thank you for the comments. Allow me to share mine (after asterisks [while those between brackets are Mr. Manuel Buencamino's]):

The November 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula siege is another thorn in the history of the Filipino people.

[A thorn in the side of Gloria Arroyo is more like it.]

***It is a thorn in ALL OF OUR HISTORY. Thorns, irritants are meant to disturb us and warn us of more trouble. There is a reason why roses have them and why what happened a month ago is one of them. These are the very reasons most of you guys speak very fondly of, and reasons I never argue against in my statement. I, however, did mention "a clamor for change" but did not define further because I would rather have my fellow students reflect on the issue first and then decide (or to follow your trail of thought, choose a side: pro- or anti-).

There is a moral discrepancy in our country. There is a sense of hopelessness, despite the positive economic headlines. And yes, there is a clamor for change. The clamor for change is a quest that involves reflection and discernment, things which we have learned as students of the Jesuits, of the Ateneo.

[YOU are suffering from a moral discrepancy. You have placed material well-being above all else. Is that the value you are taught in the Ateneo these days? Economic news was good in the first half dozen years or so of martial law but that did not stop Ateneans like Raul Manglapus, Soc Rodrigo, and Edgar Jopson. Their struggle was not about economic management, it was about justice and freedom. They were fighting for ideals. Ideals don't fill the stomach but they nurture the spirit. That is what they and we learned as students of the Jesuits, of the Ateneo.]

*** How quick of you to judge me based on those sentences. Quite amusing, but I am more amused of the idea that I may have more time to correct MY moral discrepancies than my older friends.

***Back to the statement: How does "despite the positive economic headlines" mean "place material well-being above all else"? The fact is that there are such headlines! But certainly, they are not enough. Exactly why there is a clamor for change. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT. This is about our ideals and where they should lead us. Heck, even those "positive" headlines are disappointing.

Democracy, as we say, is the best option left. And we chose that in 1986. The Manila Peninsula siege is a threat to democracy. It was a sequel to the failed Oakwood mutiny in 2003. Same plot, with added twists. It was certainly a continuation of a power grab.

Will Trillanes, Lim, Guingona (a fellow Atenean), Bishop Labayen, Fr. Reyes (also an Atenean), among others go to trial? They should. We do not want another set of push-ups, as they did in 1989. Or are we having another Honasan? Let us stop the cycle. Let us not be kowtowed by elements of destabilization.

Rule of law should prevail. This is another test to our democratic institutions.

[Yes, rule of law should prevail and that's why those we entrusted to enforce it should not be the first to pervert it. And it is your right and your duty as a citizen to do something about it. How many Garci tapes have to be played, how many times does CBCP head Bishop Lagdameo have to tell you that bishops were given envelops by Malacanan in July 2006 when the CBCP was deliberating its stand on the second impeachment complaint, how many times do you have be told by Fr Ed Panlilio and Congresswoman Villarosa of Kampi that money was distributed in Malacanan on the eve of the filing of this year's sham impeachment complaint, how many UN rapporteurs have to report that the military is responsible for many of the reported extrajudicial killings and disappearances and a "climate of impunity" exists, how many corruption scandals, starting from IMPSA to the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard to the smuggling of race horses to jueteng pay-offs to ZTE do you need to hear about before you start thinking someone is mocking the rule of law? Pull your head out of your ass, young man.]

***Thank you for reminding me about where my head should never be. Mr. Uniffors, when I said that those people should go to trial, did I mean that Arroyo should not? I DID NOT. She is one of the subjects of other Ateneo Sanggunian Statements (on the pardon of Estrada, on those cash gifts). But since those sentences that you annotated were about the major actors of the said siege, then I speak of them.

As students of the Ateneo de Manila, we stand witness to the many scenarios that will shape the future of our young lives. We are therefore challenged to help this damaged country, not through extraordinary ways. We do it with hope, the integral part of that quest for change. The 2010 national elections, which is just two and a half years away, is a rallying point for concrete engagement. Exercise your rights as a Filipino, which certainly does not include taking siege of a hotel in the Central Business District of the Philippines.

[Mrs. Arroyo has avoided, evaded, and obstructed legitimate congressional investigations of allegations of cheating, plunder, money laundering, and human rights violations by hiding and intimidating witnesses, making baseless claims of executive privilege, filing sham impeachment complaints, and doling out bribes, how many brain cells do you need to figure out something is wrong and something has to be done about it right away? Why wait until 2010? Why default? Marcos was terminally ill when Ninoy Aquino decided to come home, should he have waited for Marcos to die, it was only a few years away anyway, before coming home to "act on the needs of Filipinos"? "Carpe Diem" is what we were taught when we were students at the Ateneo, is "Sleep on it" what they teach you now?]

***The 2010 elections is but ONE of many possible rallying points and I certainly did not discount the rest (save, of course, for barging in a hotel or placing mines near a mall). We need not wait for 2010 for us to work for it. I mentioned that it is "just two and a half years away" precisely because we need to start working for it NOW. Never to sleep on it. Like many in PugadLawin, I believe one of the needs of Filipinos is POLITICAL EDUCATION. This is ONE of many possible rallying points for CONCRETE ENGAGEMENT.

We call on the Ateneo de Manila alumni serving in the government (the President, senators, congressmen, cabinet members, local government executives) to act on the needs of the Filipinos, and to set agenda that will last beyond their terms. Inspire us, the current students of the Ateneo de Manila.

[If the example of Ateneans from Rizal to Jopson have not taught you anything or inspired you in any way, nothing anybody can do will inspire you except of course good economic news.]

***They are inspiring examples. Sadly, the more popular ones now are not as inspiring as them (e.g. Estrada, Arroyo, Guingona). This is why I STILL wish those in the government right now are as inspiring as those Ateneans of long ago. And Rizal did teach me many things, including his thoughts on strengthening institutions via peaceful means.

Change is disguised in many ways. Let us not be swayed by the propaganda of ill-thought nationalism.

Ateneans, I challenge you to speak and let your thoughts be heard. One opportunity is during the Senate Inquiries on Friday (December 7) at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater. This is the moment to shine, be passionate, think of how you reacted to the Dress Code issue during the first semester. This is the Ateneo way, after all. If not, then what is?

[So Ateneans are now inspired by battles over dress codes? I guess so because it fits your philosophy of "it's better to look right than to be right." ]

*** I am merely reminding my fellow students of how many of them reacted passionately to that Dress Code issue (similar to the many times the idea of a blanket Dress Code was raised in previous years). I think they did so because it was an issue that literally affected their way of life. That also is one of many indications that Ateneans do respond and are not apathetic. This national issue should be looked at in the same manner because it literally affects our lives as well.

***Lastly, nothing beats BEING right.

Animo Ateneo!
[Means "Wake Up Asswipe]

***Merry Christmas and a better New Year!