YPS

Desperation

I was asked by an interviewer what I was afraid of in the coming years towards the election in 2010. I did not hesitate in my answer. I said I was afraid that some elder members of civil society are getting desperate.

Let me explain.

If the average life span of the average Filipino is around eighty years and fully functionality is at best maybe 75 (Guingona is hardly functional) then most people in civil society are looking at less than 20 years to affect the final reforms that they are looking for. But the odds are against them. Their methods can be archaic. Their mindsets do not match with the bulk of the voting and involved public, the youth. And they themselves, civil society, are so fragmented in strategy that in the context of a voting block, they cannot even influence the tide of this country. To make matters worse, I feel that the tie that binds them all is guilt.

Guilt? What are they guilty of? Its not guilty of, its guilty for.

I feel that there are members of civil society that may feel guilty for many things.

They may feel guilty for voting for Marcos. They may feel guilty that it took 20 years and the assassination of a potential leader before revolting. They may feel guilty that after all the huu-haa of the 1986 they allowed the momentum to drop. They may feel guilty that key characters in their movement have become part of the problem and not the solution.They may feel guilty of letting society slide back to a semblance of what it was before. And ultimately they may feel guilty they are leaving this country to their children far from the democratic ideal that they thought they could effect.

Im afraid that feeling guilty, getting old, and, probably feeling very tired, can equal desperate.

Today, via a mistaken news report, there was what looked like a trial balloon for the possibility of civil society supporting Trillanes, a former coup plotter and terrorist. Scenario 1: Terrorists that tried to blow up a civilian facility are joining up with civil society groups. Talk about an act of desperation.

I hope this never happens because for my part, this is not what Im fighting for.

If Trillanes and anyone who supports this farce of a Coup wants GMA to uphold the constitution then I hope today is the day of all days she decides to do it.

No compromise.

And I will lead the cheer.