AS WE wrote this piece yesterday for today’s edition, we were aware that the crowd of people wanting to participate in the so-called “one Trillion” rally against corruption was already starting to build up in areas where it was scheduled to be held.
But we expect that the biggest number of participants was the one slated in Davao City. First, the rallying figure of the rally, especially in Davao City, is former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the acknowledged opposition leader. Duterte hails from Davao City; thus, it is only normal that his constituents will give their all-out support to the former President, who was also the former mayor of the city for the longest time.
Second, is the enticement that many would unlikely turn down; the reported one hundred heads of cows to be roasted for those who will come to join the rally. Of course, it is only normal that the participants have to be fed. After all, many of them were expected to come from the rural barangays. They comply with the order of their respective barangay captains.
Therefore, it is the moral obligation of the rally organizers to let them eat their lunch. If the organizers neglect to give them food, then they will find their rally abandoned in the midst of speeches of key personalities. Therefore, they’d only be defeating the very objective of their rally.
Again the question is whether or not the “One Trillion” rally materialized as expected. We are, however, certain that by the time this newspaper reached the streets and the cyber venues early this morning, the likelihood is that the people were already aware of what the answer to our earlier question is.
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Davao City’s first district Congressman Paolo Duterte would rather call the so-called Makabayan Bloc of legislators as “Maka kaban ng Bayan.”
This is because, according to the congressman from Davao, nothing from the bloc’s actions reflects service to the nation. Instead, he added, “dahil halata naman na kaban ng bayan lang ang pinakinabangan ninyo.”
Big words and the most scathing denunciation ever made by the first district lawmaker. Well, let us wait to see how the Makabayan bloc lawmakers will react to the tirade of the Davao representative.
We are certain the target of Polong’s barbs will be too willing to pick up a fight with the Congressman if they find themselves attacked.
For certain, the group also has its beef with Congressman Pulong.
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Organizers of the Prayer Rally decided to call the activity instead as a “Prayer sacrifice.” Yes, they shifted to the traditional belief of offering to the “anitos” or “gods and goddesses”” to either thank for the graces or good things received, or to wish that a major wish of theirs be granted by the supernatural being.
In some places of the world, there are those who sacrifice the lives of sheep; there are also those who offer live pigs, chickens, and some other animals. There was even a time narrated in the bible that human lives were sacrificed.
So it is not surprising at all that the organizers of the Davao Prayer rally decided in the last hour to rename it “Prayer sacrifice.” Possibly, the wish of those who actually called for the mobilization of the people to participate in the gathering is much more than just ending corruption in the present government and bringing to justice those who are involved.
Rather, the organizers could be working for some people who believe that ousting the present government is the only hope for ending corruption in the country.
Ironically, though, such a hidden but overt end objective of the rallies is one old refrain from the era of the President’s late father, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr.
Many of those who joined the People Power that ousted the President they called corrupt and excessive in abusing the country, themselves became the new breed of corrupt and abusive officials. And that the same trait was later adapted by their scions who also became politicians during the succeeding administrations up to the present.
Will the new generation of Filipinos joining rallies to demand for accountability, ouster and punishment of the new crop of corrupt government officials and their private persons or corporate accomplishes be different from their forerunners?
That we will know sooner or later. We can only wish.
