SOME DREAMS MUST DIE

A dear friend of mine mentioned in an email the work entitled “For Dreams Must Die” which involved Dr. Rizal and wondered whether our dream of a truly democratic Philippines must also somehow die; he queried whether “real democracy, along the aspirations of Dr. Rizal and many other(s) of our noble heroes, (will) ever see the light of day in the old country”. And he answered, saying: “For as long as justice remains on the side of the haves, against the have nots, real democracy as we know it in the United States and other free countries will never reign supreme in nuestra patria adorada!”

These questions are very important, focusing as they do on two quintessential elements that bring “humanness” into our existence: dreams and justice. Both speak to our imperfect nature that most of the time seeks and struggles for what is due and what ought to be.

On the matter of dreams, the Philippine Elibrary (http://www.elib.gov.ph) reveals that "For Dreams Must Die" is a work of fiction by Zoilo M. Galang about the love of Jose Rizal and Leonor Rivera. Fiction aside, sufficient documentation exists to prove the historical fact of Jose and Leonor’s love. Enough historical data also show that Rizal could not pursue (rather, neglected) this love (and other loves) for a love that: “carries with it a divine stamp which renders it eternal and imperishable”; and “among all loves”…“is the greatest, the most heroic and the most disinterested.”1/

In letters to Blumentritt, he confided about Leonor: “When my fiancée (Leonor Rivera) abandoned me, I found that she was right, that I deserved it, but nevertheless my heart was bleeding. Recently I received her letter announcing that soon she would marry – she was always very much solicited by Filipinos and Spaniards.”2/ “My fiancee (Leonor Rivera), who was faithful to me for more than eleven years, is going to marry an Englishman, an engineer of the railroad. Well the first blow of the railroad is for me. However, I prefer this progress to our former situation! When I received the news, I thought I would lose my mind, but that has already passed away and I have to smile, for I must not cry. Oh, do not be surprised that a Filipino woman should prefer the name Kipping (of the engineer) to Rizal. No, don’t be astonished. An Englishman is a free man and I am not. Enough! Let this be the last word!”3/

In other writings, he declared: “In my heart I have suppressed all loves, except that of my native land; in my mind I have erased all ideas which do not signify her progress; and my lips have forgotten the names of the native races in the Philippines in order not to say more than Filipinos.” 4/ “…the thought of my whole life has always been love of my country and her moral and material development…” 5/ “My dreams when a lad, when scarcely adolescent: my dreams when a young man, now with vigor inflamed: were to behold you one day: Jewel of eastern waters: griefless the dusky eyes: lifted the upright brow: unclouded, unfurrowed, unblemished and unashamed”. 6/

He had, in another letter to Blumentritt, reflected pensively: “…in my life, happiness was always followed by misfortune, and the more beautiful the one was, the more terrible the other one appeared… …When I am alone, my gaiety disappears; many confused and sad thoughts assail me; it seems to me as if I had lost something, or as if luck had abandoned me.” 7/

So, in all his humanity, Rizal’s personal romantic dreams with Leonor became a victim of historic circumstances, and thus had to die and be sacrificed, for his larger, national dream – like moth to flames - of seeing the greater glory of the Philippines; as he wrote to Mariano Ponce: “I am very busy these days for I am working ad majorem Phil. gloriam”8/ (a Latin phrase literally meaning ‘to the greater glory of the Philippines’, a paraphrase of the more common expression Ad majorem gloriae Dei.)

I submit Rizal died with his dreams alive: of seeing the Philippines holding high her brow serene, no matter how long it would take. I also submit his undying vision of a more beautiful Philippines 9/ galvanized his "last ounce of courage" to turn himself as his consciousness came to an end and his body was flung forward by the firing squad's bullets on his back such that, when he landed, his face looked towards the open and limitless sky instead of being slammed into the limited confines of the ground. The significance of that act compels us, new generations of Filipinos, to actualize his dream.

So, will real democracy ever be realized in our country? It all depends on us, the Filipino people: whether we can overcome the momentum of innumerable "impossibilities" incessantly drilled into our minds since "time immemorial" to include the concept of true democracy.

But before we talk more about democracy, let’s turn our attention first to the matter of justice.

Rizal wrote that: “Justice is the foremost virtue of civilized nations. It subdues the most barbarous nations; injustice excites the weakest to rebellion.” 10/ and “…there is nothing that wins man more than the idea of justice, serene, without hatred or fury, as there is nothing like injustice to arouse his indignation.” 11/ As virtue or as idea, justice refers to the "habitual inclination of the will" and "the constant and permanent determination to give everyone his or her rightful due." 12/ If our justice system favors only the rich, then that system is not giving every one his/her rightful due when redress of grievance is applied for, and we could as well call it an injustice system.

Whether worth calling justice or injustice system, the many aspects of law enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, incarceration, etc. all make up a composite function of government. But government, democratic or not, is a function of whether the people can and do effectively assert their role as citizens and ultimate sovereigns of the Republic. In sum, justice administration is a function of government and government is a function of people.

On the latter relationship, Rizal wrote: “People and government are correlated and complementary. A stupid government is an anomaly among a righteous people, just as a corrupt people cannot exist under just rulers and wise laws. Like people, like government, we will say, paraphrasing a popular adage.” 13/

If we might paraphrase Rizal in turn: we need righteous people and/or just rulers; let’s just assume for the moment we already have wise laws for it is generally felt our problem mainly lies in the area of implementation. With this formulation, we have three options, namely: (1) righteous people, (2) just rulers, or (3) both righteous people and just rulers. Obviously, the third is ideal, but it requires the realization of the first and the second options. The second could perhaps be achievable if elections were not largely based on money and the people were to choose wisely. The first needs radical changes in the hearts, minds and behaviors of enough of our people to form a critical mass that can effect changes in national values and overcome the momentum of centuries of negativity and impossibility conditioning.

Since the second option presumes that people would choose wisely regardless of money involved, realization of the first appears to be its precondition. It seems then that we are left with the first as the choice that promises true and lasting change. The radical changes in t-e-a (thoughts, emotions, actions) that this first alternative necessarily implies, can perhaps transpire if enough of us follow St. Paul’s urging: "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you may judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing, and perfect."14/ This ‘renewal of minds’ seems to be “the way” to attain “the spirit that gives life and not just the letter that kills” of our Constitution and laws, and thus allow us to approach or approximate “the ways of the kingdom of God, where kingdom citizens have the perfect law of righteousness in their hearts”.15/

Democracy, I submit, is part of God's good, pleasing, and perfect will, as He made each one of us in His own image16/, individually endowing us with inalienable power to choose. This ‘power to choose’ gets wielded by the righteousness or unrighteousness in our hearts and, depending on which character we allow to prevail or resolve to uphold, serves as the fount for the quality of democracy we enjoy. In Rizal’s view, democracy is not really that impossible to do, for it simply boils down to helping each other out and working together for common ends: “He who wants to help himself should help others because if he neglects others, he too will be neglected by them. One midrib is easy to break, but not a bundle of many midribs tied together.”17/

Along these lines, we might want to have our own “t-e-a party” for righteousness!

In closing, the question we might want to ask is: how long will it take us, as a people, to change our dynamic set of beliefs, feelings, attitudes and behavior patterns regarding real democracy, from "cannot be" to "can be"? One cannot exactly tell. But, if we are to “encourage one another and build one another up”18/, then yes, it shall come to pass, in God's own time... And yes, the destiny of the Philippines will be beautiful because a critical mass of enlightened Filipinos shall hold it in their loving hands!! That’s the dream that must never die!!!
_________________________
1/ “Love of Country”, La Solidaridad, Madrid, 31 October 1890.
2/ Letter to Blumentritt, Biarritz, 29 March 1891, Epistolario Rizalino, V, Part II, No. 94, p.584.
3/ Letter to Blumentritt, Brussels, 23 April 1891, Epistolario Rizalino, V, Part II, No. 95, p. 589
4/ “Farewell to 1883”, Speech
5/ Letter to the Governor and Captain General of the Philippine Islands, Hongkong, 21 Mar 1892, Epistolario Rizalino, III No. 577, p. 306
6/ 4th Stanza, Ultimo Adios, 1896, Nick Joaquin translation
7/ Letter to Blumentritt, Brunn, 19 May 1887, Epistolario Rizalino, V, No. 22, pp. 134-135
8/ Letter to Mariano Ponce, Epistolario Rizalino, II, No. 191, p. 46
9/ “Tomorrow we shall be citizens of the Philippines whose destiny will be beautiful because it will be in loving hands.” El Filibusterismo, Ghent, 1891, p. 191.
10/ “The Philippines a Century Hence”, La Solidaridad, 15 December 1889.
11/ “Let Us Be Just”, La Solidaridad, 15 April 1890.
12/ http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/p/Justice.htm; Fr. John A. Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary,
13/ “The Indolence of the Filipinos”, La Solidaridad, 15 September 1890.
14/ Romans 12:2, NAB
15/ http://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/123-What-Are-Christians-Fighting-For-/html/4#read; What Are Christians Fighting For?” by John Jones, p. 4.
16/ Genesis 1:27, NAB
17/ Message to the Women of Malolos, Europe, February 1889, Epistolario Rizalino, II Doc. No. 223, p.117
18/ 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NAB

Hymn to Talisay

HIMNO Á TALISAY                                  
por José Rizal y Alonso                                 
(Original text in Spanish)                               

De Dapitan la playa arenosa                          

y las rocas del monte encumbrado                 
son tu trono, ¡oh asilo sagrado!                      
donde paso mi tierna niñez.                           

En tu valle que esmaltan las flores                 
y sombrea frutal arboleda,                             

nuestra mente formada se queda,                   

con el cuerpo nuestro el alma la vez.              

Somos niños, pues tarde nacimos,                 
mas el alma tenemos lozana,                          

y hombres fuertes serémos mañana                

que sabrán sus familias guardar.                    
Somos niños que nada intimida                     
ni las olas, ni el baguio, ni el trueno;              
pronto el brazo y el rostro sereno                   

en el trance sabrémos luchar.                         

Nuestros juegos la arena revuelven;               
recorremos los antros, las breñas;                   

nuestras casas están sobre peñas,                   
nuestras armas alcanzan doquier.                   
No hay tinieblas, no hay noches oscuras        

que temamos, ni fiera tormenta,                  
y si el mismo Luzbel se presenta,                   

muerto ó vivo cogido ha de ser.                     

Talisaynon nos llama la gente,                                   
alma grande en un cuerpo chiquito,               

que en Dapitan y en todo el distrito,             

no ha tenido Talisay su par.                           

Nuestro estanque no tiene rivales,                 

nuestro salto es abismo profundo,                 

y remando no hay banca en el mundo           

que un momento nos pueda pasar.                 

Los problemas de ciencias exactas,                

de la patria la historia estudiamos,                 
tres y cuatro lenguajes hablamos                    

acordando la fe y la razón.                             

Nuestros brazos manejan á un tiempo            

el cuchillo, la pluma, la azada,                       

la piqueta, el fusil y la espada,                       

compañero del fuerte varón.                          

¡Vive, vive, frondoso Talisay!                       

Nuestras voces te ensalcen á coro,                 
clara estrella, preciado tesoro,                        

de la infancia doctrina y solaz.                      

En las luchas que aguardan al hombre,          
á pesares y duelos sujeto,                               

tu memoria sera su amuleto,                           

y en la tumba tu nombre, su paz.                   

CORO:                                                           
¡Salve, Talisay!                                               

Firme y constante,                                          
siempre adelante                                            
tú marcharás.                                                  
¡Tú, victorioso,                                               

todo elemento,                                               

mar, tierra y viento,                                        
dominarás!                                                     

HYMN TO TALISAY                                            
An English translation                                                           
By Edwin D. Bael                                                     

From Dapitan’s beach and shore of sand                  

and the craggy rocks on mountain high                     
are your throne, O sacred sanctuary!                         

where I passed my tender childhood times.             
In your valley gilded with blooms grand,                  

and shade and fruiting trees growing nigh;               
our fully formed minds there do tarry,                      

with our own body and soul betimes.                        

We are children who, though born quite late,            

have souls with vigorous character;                           

strong men we shall be in the future                          

who’ll know how to guard their families.                  

Children who, none can intimidate:                           

not waves, nor hurricane, nor thunder;                      

with speedy arm and serene feature,                         
we can fight when in difficulties.                              

Our games stir up and scramble the sand,                 
caves and shrubs we scrutinize in time,                     

on big solid rocks our houses stand,                          
our arms reach anywhere, anytime.                            

There is no darkness, no pitchblack night,                 

nor fierce storm or typhoon that we dread;               
and should Satan himself come to sight,                   

he shall be captured alive or dead.                             

The people call us Talisaynon:                                   

great soul in less large constitution,                           
that in Dapitan and its region                                                
Talisay has no competition.                                        

Our pond or lake has no contender;                           

our dive is a very deep abyss;                                    

rowing, the world has no outrigger                            
that instantly can pass us with wiss.                          

We study exact science challenges                              

and the history of our country;                                  

we talk in three and four languages,                          

and make both faith and reason agree.                      
Our arms wield with skill and fine accord                 
the knife, the pen, the gardening hoe,                                   

the pickaxe, the rifle and the sword -                        

companion of the strong fellow.                                

Live, live, Talisay rich with verdure!                         

In chorus all our voices thee praise:                           

bright star, precious and valued treasure,                  

of childhood's true learning and solace.                    

In fights and struggles awaiting man,                        
subject to sorrow, grief and unease                           
your mem’ry shall be his talisman;                             
in the sepulcher, your name, his peace.                      

CHORUS:                                                                 

Hail, Talisay!                                                              

Firm and constant,                                                     
always forward                                                          
you shall prosper.                                                       
You, triumphant,                                                        

all element -                                                             
sea, land and air:                                                        

you shall master!                                                        

EDB Summary of “Hymn to Talisay” Main Ideas

1st para memories of beaches, high rocks, and valleys
2nd para strong and fearless youth who can fight when in trouble
3rd para playful and courageous explorers who can catch even Lucifer
4th para Talisaynons = great souls and great team players
5th para learned and skillful in arms, communications, farming
6th para Talisay: memory = charm for struggles; name = peace in death
Chorus inexorably advancing; victoriously dominating elements

HIMNO  SA TALISAY

Isinalin sa Filipino/Tagalo

ni Edwin D. Bael

Mula mabuhanging dalampasigan ng Dapitan
at sa matayog na bundok na may malalaking bato    

ang siyang trono ninyo, o sagrado santuario!

saan lumipas ang aking maagang kabataan.

Sa inyong libis na, ng mga bulaklak, ay pinalamutian

mga punong pang-prutas at pang-palilim gayon man,

ang maysangkap nang kaisipan namin ay nagpapa-iwan,

kasama ang aming katawan at kaluluwa, minsanan.

Mga bata kaming ang pagkasilang naantala man,

may kaluluwa’t isip na taglay kalusugan, kalakasan

at magiging mga taong malakas kami kinabukasan

na marunong magbantay sa kanilang mga angkan.

Mga bata na walang makapagpatakot anuman,
mga alon, bagyo at unos o matinding kulog man;

may mabibilis na bisig at mukhang mapayapa,
kung magkagipitan, marunong kaming lumaban.

Mga laro namin nagpapakalikot sa mga buhangin;

sinusuri’t sinisiyasat namin mga yungib at palumpong;
mga bahay namin sa malalaking bato’y nakatuntong,

makakaabot saanman at kailanman, mga bisig namin.

Walang kadiliman, walang gabi na sa itim sukdulan,

na aming kinatatakutan, o bagyong napakalakas,

at kung si Lucifer mismo ay lumitaw, lumabas,
siya’y mahuhuli maging buhay o patay man.

Talisaynon, ang tawag sa amin ng katauhan,

maharlikang kaluluwa sa katawang di-kalakhan,

na sa Dapitan at sa buong lawak ng distrito,

ang Talisay di nagkaroon ng kanyang kapareho.
Walang kapangagaw ang aming lawa,
ubod ng lalim ang aming sisid-talunan,
at sa pagsasagwan, ang daigdig walang bangka
na sa iglap ay sa amin makalampas, makadaan.

Mga problema ng mga tumpak na agham,
at kasaysayan ng bayan, aming ina-alam,

sinasalita namin tatlo at apat na mga wika,

pinagkakasundo pananalig at lohika.
Mga bisig namin sanay at bihasa sa paghawak
ng talim-balisong, pluma-panulat, asarol-asada,

piko-palakol, sandatang pumuputok, at ispada-tabak,
na ng lalaking matipuno’t malakas, ay siyang kasama.

Mabuhay, mabuhay, Talisay: madahon at luntian!

sa koro ng mga boses namin ikaw ay pinag-papurihan:

bituing maliwanag, kayamanang mahalaga,
tutoong kaalaman at kandungan sa pagkabata.

Sa mga paghahamok na sa tao’y nalalaan,

na sinasamahan ng kalungkutan at pagdurusa,

alaala mo ay magiging kanyang agimat at mutya,
at sa libingan, pangalan mo, kanyang kapayapaan.

KORO:

Maligtas ka, Talisay!

Matatag at walang tigil,

palaging pasulong

ikaw ay uunlad.

Ikaw, matagumpay,
lahat ng mga elemento
dagat, lupa at hangin,

iyong mapapasunod!

HIMNO SA TALISAY

Gihubad sa Binisaya/Cebuano

Ni Edwin D. Bael

Sa Dapitan kansang baybayon balasnon
ug sa dagkong bato sa bukid nga habog

maoy imong trono, o sagradong asilo!
hain mi-agi ang akong sayong pagkabata.
Sa imong walog nga sa mga bulak gipa-anyag,
ug mga bungahoy ug kahoy kalandong naghatag,

among napormang panghunahuna magpabilin,
kuyog ang among mga lawas or kalag, usahay.

Mga bata kaming bisan nalangan paghimugso
among mga espiritu lig-on ug mabaskugon;
ug ugma, mahimo ming mga lalaking kusgan,
nga kahibalo mopanalipod sa ilang mga banay.
Mga bata nga wala gyoy makapahadlok:
dili mga balod, dili unos, ug dili dalugdog;
may mga buktong abtik ug malinawong dagway,

kung magkalisod, kahibalo ming makig-away.

Among mga dula sa mga balas nagpaalintabo,

ginasuriksurik namo mga langob, mga kalibonan,
mga balay namo nanagtindog sa dagkong bato,

among bukton makaabot bisag asa, bisag kanus-a.

Walay kangitngit, walay gabi-ing dulom kaayo,
o bangis nga unos, nga among gikahadlukan;

ug kung si Lucifer mismo mopakita, mopatim-aw,
buhi o patay, masikop ug madakpan gyod siya.

Mga tawo nagtawag kanamong Talisaynon
dagkong diwa sa lawas nga di kaayo dagko,

didto sa Dapitan ug sa iyang tibuok nga distrito,

sa Talisay, way maka-tandi o maka-patas.
Way kaindig o karibal ang among lanaw,
among dayib ug sawom halawom nga bung-aw;
sa pagbugsay, ang kalibutan walay bangka nga

sa usa ka gutlo kanamo maka-abot, maka-una.

Mga problema sa saktong siyensiya ug

ang kaagi sa atong nasod, among ginatun-an;
tulo ug upat ka pinulongan among ginasulti,
gihimong magka-sabot ang pagtuo ug rason.

Mga bukton namo batid ug hanas mogunit

sa kutsilyo, igsusulat-bolpen, bunglay-sarol,
piko-atsa, bakal-pusil, espada-kampilan -
kauban sa lalaking lig-on ug kusgan.

Mabuhi, mabuhi, dahonung Talisay!
Sa kuro among tingog nagadayeg kanimo:

bituong masanagon, bahanding bililhon,

pagtudlong tinuod ug konsuwelo sa kabatan-on.
Sa mga pakigbisog nga sa tawo nagahulat,
nga dunay dalang kagul-anan ug kasub-anan,

imong handurawan mahimo niyang dagon,

sa lubnganan, imong ngalan, iyang kahusayan.

KORO:
Maluwas ka, Talisay!
Timgas ug makanunayon,

punayng padayon,

ikaw magmauswagon.

Ikaw, madaogon,
tanang elemento –

dagat, yuta ug hangin:
imong ma-domina!

Real Democracy

This is an extended sharing springing from the comments of my friend Phil Pinpin on my previous piece “Been there, done that. Now what?” appearing in Inquirer.net.1/ Thank you so much, Phil, for your deep and informative comments from the heart. I do believe hope springs eternal in human breasts and, thankfully, it’s still in mine… somehow…

Could it be possible that perhaps our usual way of looking at our national problems is a problem in itself? We seem to focus too much on leadership personalities and play our politics according to that focus. Most of us appear to have forgotten and/or do not really appreciate the central role of the citizen-stockholder of the republic. We, as a people, simply do not fully play that role, as a rule. In our established practice, the role of citizen generally gets funneled into the exercise of suffrage, which is the target of all kinds of game plans (before, during and after elections) solely for capturing political power and invariably disregarding the more crucial matter of accurately reflecting and respecting the people’s preferences. No thanks to our political class and our own acquiescence, we find ourselves in this quagmire.

I submit this all boils down to what we now call “people empowerment” in its true sense, not the appearance. Which brings to mind Rizal’s “Hymn to Talisay”, a poem-song that he had his Dapitan students sing. It was used by prosecutors in the Spanish military tribunal as evidence that Rizal was a “subversive”. Talisay as used by Rizal here interchangeably refers to place, people and tree. In essence, its lyrics talk of: Talisay steadfastly advancing and dominating the elements (Chorus); memories of beaches, high rocks, and valleys (1st para); fearless youth with vigor who can fight when in trouble (2nd para); playful and courageous explorers who can catch even Lucifer (3rd para); Talisaynons being great souls and great team rowers (4th para); learned and skillful in arms, communications and farming (5th para); and hailing Talisay whose memory is charm for struggles and whose name is peace in death (6th para).

Why would subversion be attributed to poetic lyrics about a people’s capabilities, the chorus of which merely celebrates human dreams for development and dominion over elements? That was the question that bugged me. I hypothesize that words like these could only ‘subvert’ those who believed (i.e. the Spanish colonial government in combination with the Catholic Church leaders then and their local “co-workers”) that they were better, knew better and therefore had the ‘right’ to be followed and obeyed by the people. That presumed superior “right to lead and be obeyed” was “subverted” by a hymn that encouraged the youth to have the belief that they are strong, fearless, learned, skillful, and can catch even the devil. The hymn then was no less than words of empowerment to stand up for one’s self and fellows and to determine one’s own destiny! So it became an added justification for Rizal’s death sentence.

But the same “claim to superiority” now, in a roundabout way, seems to be perpetuated by contemporary “leaders” or elites. Here’s my point: in the 1896 of Rizal’s trial and martyrdom, it was deemed subversive and an additional reason for death by firing squad to encourage the people to believe they themselves have the ability to rule their land; now, in the year of our Lord 2011, the same ‘anti-democratic wolf spirit’ that killed Rizal has been recast, reconfigured and clothed as the ‘sheep spirit of suffrage under oligarchy’ which is really sham democracy because our elections are but trappings or window dressings of a system: (a) where the will of the people (in whom sovereignty supposedly resides) gets routinely disregarded, tampered with, not allowed to be freely and fully expressed, or even changed at will through ‘dagdag/bawas’; and (b) where power is “reserved” and “exercised” by the few in control of strategic institutions (politico-military; economic-social-religious-media). Hiding in plain view then, this few not only claim but actually exercise the presumptive “right to lead and be obeyed”. And they are really good at repeating and reiterating into the mass consciousness the idea that there is already empowerment of our people. But the truth is and we know it: our people are empowered only in appearance.

If this short description of the national situation is largely to the point, then my hope would rest on the actualization of Rizal’s Talisaynon dream of having the people firmly believe they themselves rule their nation and have the ability to do so, that is (in my extrapolation), as the stockholders of the republic - keeping elective officials continuously accountable, not just during election periods; guaranteeing the free, full and unfettered expression of their will; assuming responsibility for the consequences of their choices; and having their sovereign decisions respected and followed by their “representatives and employees” whether elected or not..

It has been joked that “in a democracy people vote first, then obey; in a dictatorship the process and expense of voting is done away and people just obey”. The kind of democracy referred to in this wisecrack is not what we want. We want a democracy where those who aspire to be entrusted with the people’s mandate and thus “obeyed” are held continuously accountable to the people who set the vision, mission, goals and measures of success that those “leaders” must adhere to.

When some pretenders (whether strongman, elite or any “mas-magaling-ako” claimant) act upon the belief that our people must be “saved” from their choices, these “know-it-alls” in effect, are: (a) imposing on the people their own values and choices, and therefore are nothing but modern day colonialists; and (b) depriving the people of the necessary experiences and the strengthening exertions relating to: jointly deciding on what’s best for themselves; working together based on consensus; bearing full responsibility for their decisions; navigating themselves to arrive at desired common ends; and eventually getting the nation to fly and soar “like an eagle”. It is supportive of democracy to operate based on the assumption that our people have the discernment and intelligence to know and work on what they (as nation and individuals) really need and want. It would be counter-productive to entertain and employ the idea that our people cannot really think for themselves and therefore must be told what to do.

Those graced with a little more light and wisdom may want to be policy proponents to the people - the ultimate policy makers. Needless to state, but worth repeating: Members of Congress are merely mandated to make laws reflecting the people’s will; the Executive, just given the trust to faithfully implement the people’s will; and the Judiciary, only delegated to clarify the people’s will as guided by the fundamental covenant, the Constitution. The bottom line is to focus on upholding the sovereignty residing in our people and ensuring they are truly respected, prepared, and presented with decision situations where, as Sovereign, they make up their minds with the best data available: (a) free from the usual leverage, manipulation, black operations, machination, misdirection or misinformation (and worse, from coercion, intimidation, threats, violence, killing or destruction) all designed to promote and protect vested interests; and at the same time, (b) free to consider all options in accordance with the cornerstone “free market of ideas” principle of democracy.

Rizal wrote: “In order that one may be responsible, it is necessary that he is master of his actions…”2/ Well, then, let’s ensure we are the masters of our actions to include, especially, being masters of those we elect, appoint and patronize.

Why don’t we try having real democracy for once?

We have not had one, really, where: (a) the bulk of our citizens stand as informed stockholders of the Republic, who each say “the buck stops with me, not with Malacanang, Congress, Supreme Court, AFP, Makati Business Club, PCCI or any where else, when it comes to the nation’s direction and destiny”; and then (b) make the public servants [through public opinion, voting power, etc.] and the business moguls [through public opinion, buying power, etc.] be truly accountable to them, with the end in view of securing the greatest good of the greatest number.

With true democracy, new and strong rays -not just glimmers- of hope shall shine forth and radiate from our archipelago. So, I submit.

Or is this just another speck of wishful thinking, this time about accomplishing the supposedly impossible, i.e., true democracy? Nonetheless, let’s have it percolate. Who knows, from the informed and free choice of the true sovereign (we the people), a critical mass of support builds up and we can confirm to the world it is, indeed, realizable.

There’s really nothing to lose, except the pretenders. And there is the probable gain of realizing Rizal’s vision of Filipinos being Talisaynons: great souls, great team rowers, fearless, learned, skillful in all the needful competencies and so able to do what we set out to do that if necessary catch even the devil himself alive or dead.3/
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1/(http://globalnation.inquirer.net/viewpoints/viewpoints/view/20110225-322172/Been-there-Done- that-Now-what)
2/ “The Truth for All”, La Solidaridad, 31 May 1889, p.82.
3/ To read the Spanish text and English translation of Rizal’s “Hymn to Talisay”, please visit http://rizalsignificance.blogspot.com/.