why i now want her out

i know i am not in the best position
to confuse my friends further
with yet another statement on this whole

"national" issue.

i have not had any hell weeks lately
nor have i been moving
heaven and hell
to campaign for an election,
to execute an org project,
to compete in a sporting event,
to perform a piece of art.

but still
there are moments in our shared history
when i am just caught off guard,
when without a doubt i can say to myself

"damn, this guy isn't making stuff up!"

when i can't stay unmoved.

i have made quite a number of statements before.
some were ridiculed to the core,
some were okay-ed,
most were unread

yet i insist on saying this now
at the risk of being called
a flip-flopper
a "former" fence-sitter
a "former" middle-of-the-roader
a "former" fucked-up student leader (i still am).

i insist on saying that
the President of the Philippines
has to go

even if my parents think otherwise
even if most of my fellow Cebuanos think otherwise
even if Noli de Castro is perceived to be fucked up
even if i don't really like the opposition.


it is Absolutely frustrating
to hear a nation of
Eighty-Eight Million
Seven Hundred Thousand
Plus Plus Filipinos
say

"eh, sino ipapalit mo?"

i am still 20 years old
but i know for a fact
that there's a good answer to that question.

to you who are reading this now,
i know you may be going through hell
with whatever it is that is consuming your time
(though i could be wrong and you, dear fellow,
may have lots of time to spare too)

but please say something to someone about
what you think of what is going on.

i wouldn't mind if you would hate me all the more
because of my opinion on this.
i would rather you hate me

because i know you have something interesting
to say about what is going on.

so please do share it.
on MONDAY, FEB 25 2008
4PM at GATE 2.5
ATENEO DE MANILA

is a CONCERT FOR YOU.

i have been called a hypocrite
for saying what i've said
for inviting people to monday's good event

but sometimes,
i still think it pays to be "crippled" or "ousted"
or fucked up.

see YOU, Filipino.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

p.s. i failed to elaborate on
why i now want her out.
but let me tell you this...

one of the last straws on the back
that made me "flip-flop"
were nagging questions about
Benjamin S. Abalos (for more of him, check this old PCIJ link):

WHY ON EARTH
is he dealing with interested suppliers?

HOW did that
become part of his job description?

And that his actions were tolerated
leads to more questions.

good God bless us.