Losing a great gift

By Ren Angelo Elevera
(Vol. XXVII No. 8, Editorial Cartoon)

Losing a great gift

On August 1, the news of the death of the Philippines’ icon of democracy, former President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco-Aquino, broke out, leaving the Filipino nation in a state of shock. Rich and poor alike, grieved for the woman who is considered a national treasure of the country.

President Cory, a global icon of democracy who led the ouster of one of 20th century’s most corrupt dictators, died at 76 after a 16-month battle against colon cancer. Her family announced that she died in the early hours of August 1, shortly after a private mass was held in her hospital room. President Cory, affectionately known as Tita Cory, was the Philippine president from 1986 to 1992 and is best remembered as the slim woman in yellow who led the “People Power” revolution that toppled Dictator Ferdinand Marcos more than two decades ago.

The death of Tita Cory brought back the People Power spirit which engulfed the nation years ago. From her sickbed down to her grave, the whole nation witnessed the outpouring of love from the Filipino people across the nation – rain or shine, daytime or nighttime. At the height of the nation’s mourning for the death of the icon, people wearing yellow ribbons and yellow dominated outfits tirelessly line along the streets, flashing the former president’s trademark “Laban” hand sign while repeatedly chanting the former president’s name, throwing yellow confetti, releasing yellow balloons, and freeing doves – all reminds us of the historical People Power revolution.

Moreover, though it pains to see President Cory pass away, the reaction showed by the Filipino people is heartening. In the past months or even in the past years, it seemed that the essence of democracy was set aside and was considered irrelevant and immaterial – the democracy which President Cory and her husband, Ninoy Aquino, together with the multitude of unsung heroes and heroines of EDSA I, have fought for came to the fore once again.

President Cory’s passing ended her life and her battle against her illness, but reinvigorated the spirit of People Power – it reminded both the older and the younger generations that Philippine democracy should be cherished and upheld at all times. Her sickness and death have, obviously, regenerated faith, peace and unity among Filipino people. The series of novena prayers and healing masses held all over the Philippines and in other parts of the world; the rapid spreading and posting of the images of that meaningful yellow ribbon on the web and on the prints; people tying yellow ribbons; and the gold-colored banners, flowers and balloons swarming along the streets everywhere in the Philippines is a reminder that Filipinos can always unite and work as one for a brighter and progressive nation.

These only proves what President Cory is to the Filipino people – a treasure.

President Cory’s very meaningful life and death, as well as her heroism should continue to live and should be proudly shared to the coming generations. Indeed, when Tita Cory died, the Philippines lost a gift – a great gift. But, her gift to the Filipino people was not buried with her. Our country’s democracy from the decades of corruption and dictatorship is the living and the most precious legacy she has ever given to every Filipino.

Thank you and goodbye President Cory! Long live democracy!

More work

By Cheeno Luang
(Vol. XXVII No. 7, Editorial Cartoon)

More work

In her State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) did not only report her accomplishments in her nine years of service but also left another set of promises to the Filipino people for her last few months as the president of the Philippine Republic.

In the twilight of her administration, it was expected that PGMA would boast of her accomplishments since she started to take hold of the presidential seat. Indeed, achievements like the upgrade of credit rating, citing the resilience of our economy; putting up of new tax revenues and a strong educational system; construction of more roads and infrastructure; building of airports of international standard, etcetera… etcetera…were enumerated by the proud president during her SONA.

Aside from the annual accomplishment report, another remarkable part of her speech was the set of promises she left. As the end of PGMA’s term approaches, she still has promises for the Filipino people. She promised to help more fisher folk shift to fish farming with a budget of P1billion. She promised to aid hungry families. She promised to support the youth to make sure that they get a healthy start in life. She promised to address terrorism in the country. She promised this and she promised that. It is beyond doubt that her SONA was full of promises.

Yes, promises. Promises that every year bombard the ears of the Filipino people. Promises that we do not know when they will be fulfilled, or if they were fulfilled at all. This time, it seems that mapapako na naman ang mga pangakong ito since there is not enough time left for PGMA to fulfill these promises.

Looking back, PGMA has indeed accomplished some things – she has all the evidences to prove it. But, as ordinary citizens, did we really feel it? Did we, the poor ones, benefit from the so-called achievements of PGMA? If you answered ‘yes’, perhaps it is because you got persuaded by the convincing speech of the president. But think again. Maybe, you were just influenced by the 74-minute speech of the president seasoned with 126 applauses. Truly, she had a nice speech that she even made special mention of those who criticize her administration. She said, “Had we listened to the critics of those policies, had we not braced ourselves for the crisis that came, had we taken the easy road much preferred by politicians eyeing elections, this country would be flat on its back”. This wonderful line from the president has gained positive response from some members of the senate.

But the bottom line is: Is she really telling the true state of the nation? Do we feel it?

Moments after the 9th SONA of the president, Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. posted his reaction in the official website of the Senate of the Philippines 14th Congress (www.senate.gov.ph), saying positive stance on the president’s address. Revilla said that despite the achievements of PGMA’s administration, politicking still continues. Thus, politicking is the only thing that the Filipino people see, not PGMA’s achievements.

Well, Senator Revilla could be right in saying that politicking continues to reign despite the accomplishments of the president. But is it not because PGMA’s achievements were not good enough? Anyway, if there is nothing to say about her administration or if she’s doing her job excellently, then people will not castigate her.

Let us see if the president will do her job right this time when she is already at the last minute of her final term. She even stated this: “Some say that after this SONA, it will be all politics. Sorry, but there’s more work...”

Let’s hold on to that line. And let’s all cross our fingers.

A little consideration

By Paul Anthony Eso
(Vol. XXVII No. 6, Editorial Cartoon)

A little consideration

The “Exit Only” sign blocking the pathway between the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) building and the College of Law (COL) building has always been a bane of the students. This is because the pathway is the easiest route to the side stairs leading to the Internet Research Station, the library and the third floor of the CAS building. Also, the pathway is the easiest route to get to the CAS dean’s office as well as the classrooms on the ground floor of the CAS building.

Aside from being a hassle to students who are in a hurry to get to their classes held in the CAS building, the “Exit Only” sign is a curse during rainy days when the alley is the only convenient route to the building and to the other buildings near it.

As practiced, students can only use the main pathway along the side of the CAS building to avoid clogging the path between the CAS and COL buildings as well as to avoid damaging the landscape beside the Dean’s office. Before, students were allowed to use the alley during rainy days to get to their respective classes. However, this year, students have to suffer getting wet during rainy days because the alley remains “Exit only” even during rainy days.

It is understandable that with the growing number of students of Negros Oriental State University and the recklessness of some students, there is a great possibility that the landscape beside the dean’s office of the CAS building will be trampled and damaged. It is also understood that because the alley is smaller than the main pathway, the alley will be clogged if students will just be allowed to get in and out of the alley. But what is not understandable is the inconsideration of the people concerned during rainy days.

It is a well-known fact that the main pathway offers no protection to students who are in a hurry to get to their classes during rainy days. It is also a known fact that the only pathway that could offer the students protection without hindering them from getting to class on time is the pathway between the CAS and COL buildings. But because the alley is for “exit only”, the students have to either wait in the student lounge and risk being absent from class or run under the rain and risk getting sick, not to mention getting wet.

Some adventurous students would sometimes take their chances and play the “cat and mouse” game with the security guards. They would simply wait when the guards are no longer looking and dash towards the “exit only” alley. Aside from the risk of being reprimanded by the guards if ever the students get caught, it also poses danger to them. With the wet pavement, the rain and the anxiousness of the students to escape from the guards, an accident is not that far a possibility.

The only way to avoid a possible accident from these “cat and mouse” games and wasting of time reprimanding the students is to allow them to use the alley even during rainy days.

It is commendable that the security guards are observing their orders and are maintaining their vigilance in implementing the policies. However, in situations such as these, a little bit of consideration should also be applied. It is only normal for the students to find the most convenient road for them to use during rainy days, especially if they are in a hurry to get to their classes. It just happens that the most convenient way is the one blocked by the “Exit Only (for students only)” sign.

Allowing the students to use the alley during rainy days will not change the effectiveness of the “Exit only” sign on regular days because after all, criminology students are standing to guard the area on regular days. This will only give a little bit of consideration to students who do not want to get wet and certainly do not want to be absent from class during rainy days.

Moreover, if the authorities would not really allow the students to use the alley even during rainy days, then they should start roofing the pathways so that the students would also stop their “cat and mouse” games with the guards and accidents could be avoided. Besides, the students’ health is of utmost importance than any other purpose of that “Exit Only” alley.