"More than a commemoration- a call for action"
by Kat Ulrike
At first, this note pays tribute to the founder of the Katipunan and the Great Plebeian, Andres Bonifacio, whose life, labours, and legacy continues to serve as an inspiration for countless generations.
This may deemed strange given his foolishness as his detractors described him, but, his passion for liberating his country what more of his support for the folk outweighs his mistakes as a leader of a revolution. And to think that in this commemoration, done amidst this ever-present pandemic and the tragedies brought by calamities, shows that the Filipino people tries to fight back and live no matter how it felt the suffering be it those calamities or the negligence brought by the order that supposed to serve especially after those times of turmoil. It is the same Filipino who, burdened by billion-peso debts, is also sick and tired of corrupt bureaucrats, of despotic officials, who represses the folk with new "policies", "laws", and "incidents" all in the name of interests as in the time of Bonifacio and the Filipino during his period.
And up to this day, the folk continues to be challenged as it continues his unfinished struggle for national and social emancipation. For contrary to the order's petty statements, the reality that the very order has benefited from its corruption and injustices, words like "change" coming from their mouths has becoming a joke, a mockery against those who are really desired. But despite these, the folk cannot just remain silent for those actions the order (through its figureheads) has brought to them- that's way too contrary to their statements mostly appeals for "unity".
And in speaking of those statements and appeals for "unity" for sure as in the past that these figures would again reiterate Bonifacio, as any other hero's act as worthy of an example the way Duterte saying that Bonifacio should be an inspiration to all Filipinos especially in this pandemic. Indeed but, since these leaders talked about these heroes while at the same time oppresses its people in the name of order, then is this the society as envisioned by Bonifacio, Rizal, and others who sacrificed their mind and sinew to that "altar of freedom"? Not surprised that there are those who rather find "real" the message of Robredo that courage shouldn't be brut strength but also with compassion- especially in this time of disquiet and rage, of people wanting good leaders than those of thugs in suits.
Pardon for the thought for as reality is way too far from the statements of today's leaders like Duterte. Whether he exhort the Filipino to "love the country and fight for it" or to "push for a strong and progressive Philippines", the ordinary folk rather sees the contrary that those who love and fight for their country are the ones deprived while the corrupted claims that they do love their country when it is actually out of their convenience. For sure since 2016 he promised change that some find him as a radical alternative to a "yellow" problem; but, did that change he promised really happen: especially with a cabal of those trying to maintain their interests? For sure Duterte would claim he's fighting oligarchs, but did it really end their reign? Nope- actually he benefited from their very existence no matter how he promised to curb their power nor his followers desiring to end their reign.
And although "true" that he put an end to Wongchuking's Mighty Corporation or forced Lucio Tan to pay taxes, this doesn't translate to justice. Did he sided with the farmworkers of Lapanday when these people demand justice? Nope-he chose to side with the Lorenzos. Did he sided with the urban poor dwellers of Sitio San Roque when the Ayalas came to occupy their land? Nope even- making his 2016 promise of "no demolition without relocation" a farce. He did preach about promise of human rights the way he values "human lives" over their "rights", but the fact that harassments, killings, and threats became widespread in the name of order, then, he as the representative of that dreaded order created rebels who are willing to go beyond legality no matter he tries to restrain them. These rebels are as same as Bonifacio in the past: driven by passion, aside from their love of country and their families as their reason to fight and sacrifice.
Perhaps to cut this note short, that in this occasion, celebrated in this time of pandemic and a myriad of threats from the order, that the folk should not stop seeking truth from facts and to fight back against slander and oppression. Call it a "call for action" as one may say, for like Bonifacio, it becomes a duty to become aware, what more to resist and assert for immediate relief, necessary changes, a desire for social and economic justice that the order failed to offer as such despite promises.