I first met Sister M, at the wake of Luijoe in May 2000. I looked around for the motherly Sister T, the principal that I knew, the nun that exuded that holy aura around her. Instead, before me stood a seemingly cold Sister with steely eyes. I turned away from her. Somehow, I felt uneasy. There was just something about Sister M that wasn’t right.
Three years later, the parents were divided on the fate of Sister M who was facing criminal charges at the Makati Regional Trial Court, and a civil suit at the Department of Labor and Employment plus numerous anomalies on diversion of school funds. How sad that my two daughters faced corruption from an authority figure. Moral fiber of the principal deteriorated right in front of their faces.
I took the side of a small group of fearless parents seeking the “truth”. We, the parents held a secret meeting and decided that the school board and the Department of Education (DEC) sat on our complaint for over two years. Yes, two years passed by and in spite of the complaints sent, no course of action was done to improve the situation. So what else was there left to do? Rally! What an impossible feat, never ever done in any High School in Philippines!
How impertinent we, rebel parents were! What pathetic examples we were to our children. I never imagined myself being such a “bad example” to my daughters. I risked L’s impending high school graduation or M being stripped of her honors. Together with my husband, we made banners “Parents-Teachers want the Truth”. Wearing black, we marched in front of the school grounds together with our kids chanting ““Sister, resign! Sister, resign! Did we get the justice we fought for?
If you read Lauren’s entry on You’ll never silence the voice of the voiceless, there were veiled threats of our children being sanctioned for joining the rally. Both girls marched out despite teacher’s feeble attempt to lock them inside their classrooms. The threats did not materialize because we, rebel parents and the School Officials reached an amicable settlement with DEC as witness. Children of rebel parents were not to be penalized for the mass actions we initiated. To make a long story short, Sister M was forced to resign two months later, after the Department of Education ordered the school closure if she didn’t resign. Though L already graduated and M moved to another school, justice was served nevertheless using the legal process but it wouldn’t have gotten DEC’s attention without our cries of justice. Truth finally set us free.
So why am I bringing this up? The other day, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said in a statement signed by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo that [The] truth challenges us now to communal action. .
What is this truth? As Candido Wenceslao asked, Is truth the one that the political opposition, militants and civil society groups believe: that everybody in Malacañang is corrupt? Or is truth the one insinuated by the Arroyo administration: that it is clean?
What is communal action? Do I storm on the streets and cry for “truth”? Do I join groups planning to do radical actions? Should I support the University Council of the University of the Philippines Diliman call that GMA must go? or agree with the Lawyers’ groups as it calls for Arroyo’s resignation ?
While CBCP “challenges us now to communal action”, do I influence my kids to join me?
Dine wonders But sometimes we parents worry what if they go overboard? what if they suddenly want to do it their own way?. I will be the first to admit that I will worry if my children join mass actions. These are exactly the thoughts that face me as a mother.
I leave that choice to my children, to decide on the communal action they will partake. Once upon a time, I decided to venture the radical path while listening closely to my father when it came to safety issues. I trust my children will know what is right for them and the future of their country.
Though not a popular choice by our Catholic Bishops, I believe, GMA has to go. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has to go. I truly believe that The President and her people have engaged in so much lying that they can no longer recognize the truth even if it stared them in the face. (PDI) As to the next step to take, I will take one step, one day at a time. I do not have the answers yet but in time, I will discern it. Our Filipinos will discern it. I will be there at the The Interfaith rally, at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Makati City at 5 p.m, Friday , February 29.
I enjoin you to read Ricky Carandang’s report on Treason and Spratly Islands and Manolo’s Today the Spratlys, tomorrow Palawan. My husband has this to say on Treason:
Having sworn to uphold and protect the Constitution, she has likely delivered the country, or at least a significant part of the national patrimony, to a foreign power. This is treasonous conduct, by any measure.
The video best explains it:
and the rest of the video on The Correspondents – Kung ‘di ukol, bubukol (ZTE-NBN)
There is more noise than 2 years ago. Like you said, even the lawyer’s group calls is for GMA to resign. I am almost there. Who knows, I will even join the interfaith rally tomorrow
UP faculty demands Neri to resign as CHed head. Soon, the noise will get louder and louder. Each voice no matter how small, adds up.
where is the interfaith rally?
The Interfaith rally will be held at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Makati City at 5 p.m, Friday , February 29.
Former president Joseph Estrada has committed to join the interfaith rally this Friday as he reiterated his call on incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign.
@dina- I am committed to join the rally too.
Let our voices be heard. I too don’t want to watch the whole thing and not contribute to the change.
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Siguro it’s better na bumaba na si Madam President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo… Kasi ang dami ng kabalastugan ang nangyayari sa administrasyon niya! At para sa kagaya ko na OFW ay nalulungkot ako dahil wala namang nangyayari magandang kinabukasan ang pilipinas mas lalo lang nababaun sa utang ang pilipinas… And for Mr. Lozada pwede bang manahimik ka na lang sa isang tabi dahil wala ka namang nagagawang maganda sa pilipinas eh!
Philippines is known for being a united country in terms of selecting our leaders who will be lead and serve us. The history repeat it self, as what happening today. The rallies, strikes and other communal actions are now visible around us just like what happen to EDSA I & II. But the question now is, Does this actions can be still effective today? Does the people joining in this rallies are certain for what they are fighting? Even the religious sectors are now rampantly speaking out their feelings to the government due to the disadvantages of the government to the religious sectors.
At this moment lets try to ask our individual self what really the right action to be done enabling our country to be classless and loving to each other. First, if we really want a change, let it be start to our self, be honest, be caring, and most of all be Christ-centered person. Second is tried to obtain and influence other in the good and right way to be a good citizen of our country. Lastly, as a group make way to be the inspiration of other people in managing your life as citizens, as professionals, as a family and most importantly as a Christian. In these actions we don’t need to go to the street just to express or voice out our feeling to the people and government. We should always remember that the only constant change in this world is change thus we should not lose hope in changing our community or country fo0r the sake of us and for the sake of the coming generation. Let us prepare this place to the next generation the day that they will open their eyes they will see a bright light of peace and love that will elaborate to them why they born in this world