Today’s Sunday mass for Jun Lozada exceeded expectations in more ways than one. It was attended by more than 5,000 people–more than double the organizers’ estimate of 2,000. It attracted people from all walks of life but the overwhelming number belong to our country’s middle class–both the old, local-based middle class and the newer group of overseas Filipino workers’ families. It also was a unified group with a clear stand on the Lozada issue but the surprise was the predominant sentiment to sustain the call for the resignation of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Earlier, it was observed that the commingling of office employees in the Makati friday rally lent the rally its numbers and established its peaceful and colorful conduct. The Philippine middle class is awakening from its seeming political lethargy–a lethargy that was not of its own making but that of its failed anointed leaders.
Time and again, these leaders have betrayed them, bringing ruin to the country while lining their own pockets. The deep cynicism of those in the middle class regarding political “saviors” ironically led to their passive toleration of the present GMA regime.
Not today. If there is one thing that Jun Lozada did, it was to galvanize the middle class into rethinking their own mindset of political cynicism and passivity. Lozada as the middle class epitome of “everyman” was adopted by them as their own hero. Not an abstract symbol but a breathing, living human exemplar–with all the weaknesses of a human being.
In fame, he became more accessible to the middle class who showed him their sympathy and empathy–a Teflon-like proofing no telling and re-telling of his “dark” past by the Arroyo family barkers can dent. By their attacks, he became the underdog–a double-proofing that is giving him a 92 percent texted-in support in the “1 against 100 GMA mob” showdown sponsored by a media network.
But the story is not Jun’s–it is the middle class’ own epiphany. Events are now being dictated by the tempo of its own political advance. The specter of another middle class-led people power has arisen. The dramatic street play may or may not come to pass but all political actors are now constrained by the middle class’ political stand.
Gloria did not want to awaken the middle class preceisely because they would go against her. For the life of me, I can not understand why Gloria & Mike actually thought that they could go on and on with their nasty behaviour & schemes & not get caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Was it arrogance ? Was it because the Pidals & their Mob were just too drunk with XO power ?
[…] by geronimonadal on February 17, 2008 While I tend to agree with Mon Casiple’s observation that Jun Lozada has awaken the middle class: “Not today. If there is one thing […]
[…] in particular the singing of bayan ko, brought goose pimples. what a rare sight. the church-going middle-class with fists raised, many with great gusto, some self-consciously, and a few who just wouldn’t, […]
[…] Some hadn’t shown up at any rallies since 1986; others, since Edsa Dos. Mon Casiple calls it The epiphany of the Middle Class. In the entry, he zeroes in on the significance of this […]
[…] in particular the singing of bayan ko, brought goose pimples. what a rare sight. the church-going middle-class with fists raised, many with great gusto, some self-consciously, and a few who just wouldn’t, or […]
Well, it has finally come to this. As 2004 presidential candidate, the late-FPJ, once said, “Kapag puno na ang salop, dapat nang kalusin!” Pres Arroyo may have had her way with the elections, and for four years, she has held on to her ill-gotten presidential post, but the time has come for the people to take back what’s rightfully theirs.
Wala na po tayong magawa e kundi idaan ito sa pagmamartsa tungo sa liwanag. Bastusan na talaga e. Ewan ko nga kung bakit hindi natin ginawa ito noong nalaman nating nandaya siya sa eleksyon. Pero di bale, ang nakaraan ay nakaraan. Ang mahalaga ay ang ngayon!
Tara na mga kasama, martsa na tayo!
Please don’t let our emotions interfere with our judgement. We are loosing sight of the big picture here.
To start with and am basing it from the things that I read and heard in the news, the Arroyo’s did not benefit financially with the ZTE deal. They were merely accomodating a political favor (which I believe happened a lot in other administrations). Although, this favor involving Abalos is a bit heavy to accept, it is wrong for us to put all the blame on the current administration. This favors have been happening long before but we were too blind too notice it before. A sin is a sin no matter how small it is. It was our mistake to let it go in the past now me must carry the burden when it has fully grown into a national problem. We brought this upon ourselves and it is up to us to correct it. But a mere revolution that would oust the current leaders would not solve the problem. what we need is a revolution starting from within our ourselves. We can not take the easiest way out and blame the most qualified culpritbecause often we fail to see that we are the ones to blame for what is happening now