Progressive Youth Groups’ Statement Against GMA’s Escape

We, the Filipino Youth, condemn the brazen acts of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to evade culpability for her crimes. The recent temporary restraining order (TRO) granted by eight justices of the Supreme Court (SC) is a clear tailor-fit court order to favor Arroyo. The unusually speedy process to grant the TRO and even the release of the TRO to Arroyo’s lawyers beyond office hours were all indicative of the leverage granted to Arroyo.

What is even more abhorrent is the cavalier use of the words “rights” and “democracy” to justify her escape from the country and that any attempt to prevent her from doing so would constitute a violation of those two cherished words. It seems that Arroyo wishes to taunt her victims, the Filipino public, by using the very rights they deprived from others to escape accountability.

Arroyo deserves no compassion from the Filipino public. First, her situation is not dire. The statement of Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona confirms that there are sufficient medical facilities and skilled medical experts to treat her ailment. Moreover, Dr. Leo Olarte of the Philippine Medical Association has opined that Mrs. Arroyo is on her way to recovery.

Second, she has the sufficient resources to pay for the best facilities and doctors in the country. Unlike millions of Filipinos, she has a team of doctors to attend to her medical needs and has foreign medical experts abroad to treat her common illness.

Third, and most important, the nine years of her presidency were marked by much grave abuse of rights and democracy. Now, Arroyo’s camp speaks of rights but during her presidency, human rights violations against media practitioners, political activists, and ordinary citizens were rampant.

Now, they speak of democracy when during her term, she orchestrated massive cheating during the 2004 and 2007 elections. This huge irony seems to escape them. No amount of disastrous acting or theatrics to garner sympathy can whitewash the gross acts of corruption, electoral sabotage, plunder, and impunity she and her cohorts committed.

We challenge the eight justices of the Supreme Court to resign should Arroyo not return to the country as she promised. We believe that those who aided Arroyo in her attempt to escape should not go scot-free and wash their hands.

We also call on the public to express their indignation against Arroyo’s attempt to flee the country. We must never take this sitting down. We cannot allow those who have robbed us of our rights to use the same rights to escape accountability.

No to GMA’s escape!

Movement for the Advancement of Student Power | Student Council Alliance of the Philippines | Akbayan! Youth

OUR DEMOCRACY IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR: The SILVER YEAR and the SILVER LEGACY of EDSA PEOPLE POWER I

Twenty-five years had passed.The EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 benchmarked the worldwide struggle for democracy and on its silver year, the silver legacy continues to support and fight for the existence of equal voice among the people of every country. In one way or another, the event brought back the majesty and dignity of our country. EDSA Uno—as what they call it—is impressive to Filipinos and foreigners alike who understand the real meaning of being deprived of basic social liberties. At the same time, this minute yet influential piece of history means a lot to us youth progressives who take pride on our militant roots.

As an offshoot of EDSA, the Philippines moved to restore the democratic political structure yet still faithful to the elite’s entrenchment of their economic ascendancy over the social order. We acknowledge that the revolution ousted the elites Marcos put into place, and those who lost their power then restored their influence and placed themselves in the circulation. Nevertheless we cannot deny that EDSA Revolution put the despicable display of dictatorship to an end.

EDSA Uno served as our grand means of regaining self-respect. In the February 25, 1986 peaceful protests around the country (particularly at the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA) were done to counter the efforts by the Marcos administration to cheat on the results of the snap elections he called for with the intention of legitimizing his term of office as President. The people power denouement paved the way for the careful transition to democracy under Corazon C. Aquino—the widow of Marcos’ harshest critic, Benigno Aquino, Jr.—who assumed the presidency. The event inspired many uprisings in the post-Cold War era, such as the ones that took place in Germany, China, Czech Republic, and former Yugoslavia. The people power in Manila was even given its ample share of airtime on broadcast media and space in various international newsmagazines such as Time and Newsweek.

The emblems of 1st EDSA People Power Revolution—yellow ribbons, the crucifix, roses, and the Laban sign—had their revival when adopted by successive popular revolts in the country such as the EDSA Dos, which ousted an equally corrupt president in 2001. People power, in its basic sense, has proven in many circumstances to be the most effective tool to chase off those who betray the trust of the electorate.

The Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (MASP) had been an instrument of people power in the country. Our core values which upholds student militancy and student empowerment reflects the whole picture of democratic struggles in the country. The student activism mobilized by MASP and other progressive student organizations during the time took direct actions in order to effectuate political goals in the national level.

Twenty-five years have passed, MASP celebrates also its 25th year. MASP continues to consider its everyday militancy as an extension of EDSA Uno—of people power. Given the newer modes of acquiring information, MASP’s newer breed of student activists will mobilize the generation of technology-savvy, experimental, and abstractly idealistic Filipino youth in order to reclaim the spirit of the two EDSAs. The internet and mobile has become closely attached with the culture of the Y generation. In the Philippine experience, it has become an instrument of mobilizing the youth during major national uprisings.

Youth activism is an important aspect of public life, basing on the premise that youth is a major part of civil society. The students of colleges and universities are potent partners in effective and conscientious governance, because of their capacity to imagine and to realize these imaginative ideas. Their idealism does is not boxed in their sector but also for the entire populace as well.

Up to now, the spirit of EDSA People Power Revolution continues to haunt the tyrants of democracy everywhere in the world.And the spirit of youth activism embedded in EDSA continues to inspire the infant revolutionaries in dictatorship-laden areas such as Tunisia, Eritrea, Egypt, and Libya. The outbreak of civil accountability have trembled and torn down the outward and indestructible facets of despotism.

The Movement for the Advancement of Student Power salutes to the heroes who fought for our democracy in the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986. Twenty five years may have gone to pass, but MASP’s militancy as a community of student leaders does not stop with our clamor for a new regime. As being accountable for any effected state, be it electorally or by force, we need to take account of the dynamic shift of concern from civil militancy to actual participation in governance. Every EDSA has its own lesson to look upon, because of the actors and the power struggles. But from these we will base our continued efforts towards a more humanized, progressive, and responsive society.###

Why Risa is the Best Youth Senator?

Well frankly, aside from her charm, beauty and intelligence, what else can we get from this enthusiastic yet progressive woman in the name of Risa Hontiveros?

Risa’s progressive stance started when she was in high school. Very youthful and yet, she was able to establish herself as a young lady of perseverance. Like us, when she was still young, she used to join several campaigns concerning national issues.

She didn’t let her activism become a hindrance to her academics. She graduated Cum Laude at the Ateneo de Manila University—a mark of a true scholarly youth progressive activist.

6 years in the Philippine House of Representatives are not enough for others to run for a higher position in government. But Risa’s short term in Congress is not a thing. She already manifested a lot of qualifications why she should be a senator. Her legislative record already says it.

She was an awardee of Nobel Peace Price for her undying commitment in facilitating peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) despite the endless attack of this group against her and her party Akbayan. She was also the Secretary-General of the Coalition for Peace and was also awarded Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Peace Advocacy in 2001.

While in Congress, she already filed more than 80 resolutions and bills. An advocate of student’s rights and welfare, she, together with Akbayan Party-list, pushes the passage of the Magna Carta of Students Bill which was always held up and delayed by income-minded-private school owner-legislators and adamant ‘pro-student’ representatives.

Believing in the capability of the youth as the first reformer of the government, she spearheaded the campaign for the passage of the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Bill. She did not even deem propositions to abolish the SK as Risa doesn’t believe that doing this is not the answer and should not be considered, as well. She said that we should not take away the only venue where the youth can widen their political participation. If there are flaws in the SK, should we confront and reform such but abolition is not the solution.

Main promoter of land reform, she championed the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms Law (CARPER). This bill led to more benefits for women Filipino farmers and for the whole peasant sector in general.

She fought for the amendments in Tax Code to give justifiable tax exemptions for minimum wage earners.

She also championed the Cheaper Medicines Law in the House of Representatives. She worked with civil society organizations to legislate the bill so more citizens can avail affordable medicines.

The controversial Reproductive Health Bill also sponsored by Risa Hontiveros is now in a peak flight. The Bill seeks for proper information and necessary healthcare for women. With this bill, Risa, with Akbayan   Party-list, ensures the decrease or better, total elimination of unwanted pregnancy and abortion.

Risa Hontiveros is also always present in demonstrations in streets to show the strength of the mass to voice their sentiments out. She was even illegally arrested during a women’s rally and at the height of ‘Hello Garci’ scandal.

She was widowed in the middle of her fight and was left single mother with her four children.

Despite all the hardships in life, Risa Hontiveros transpires positive energy and great enthusiasm in every step that she makes—a mere inspiration why the youth should take her as an example.

She always considers the marginalized. This is very evident in the laws that she made and actions that she did.

Now, the judgment is for you to make. Is Risa the best youth senator?