Otherwise Maladroit

12 February 1998 Activism In Coma

12 February 1998

Activism In Coma
Position Paper for Comm. II Mr. Manrique

On the 28th of January 1998 President Fidel V. Ramos visited the UP Manila compound as a guest-of-honor in the launching of the university's centennial celebration.

He had a short, if not fleeting, conference with some student leaders. He came with his wife, the supportive First Lady. In his perception, he had come to humor the university. In his speech, he praised the university for various achievements. On the moment he expected the applause, that he believed he duly deserved, he was met with jeering chants from more than a hundred students present who protested his administration.

The moment was dramatic. The UP Manila Chorale was singing the university hymn: UP Naming Mahal. The hymn mingled and competed with the angry blare of a megaphone brandished by a student. It was symbolic, and from what I gather, the President was embarrassed. He hastily exited, avoiding the scheduled route where more protesters were waiting.

The amassed body of indignant citizens protested the privatization of UP, the closing of UP San Fernando, the commercialization of PGH, the shortcomings of the government and the transgressions of the president, among others.

The newspapers covered the event, which also attracted a spot on television. Some of my blockmates in their PE T-shirts were shown on the evening news holding a banner; another was asked to give a statement for a prominent newspaper.

I have been told all this, and I have read about it. But as for me...I wasn't even there.

I was watching a movie.

I enjoyed freezing in the sleek, air-conditioned interior of the nearest cinema. I burrowed in one of the cushioned seats installed in the Deluxe section. I lost myself in the fictional story (an American film, by the way). Lazily, I contemplated what I would have for lunch when the show was over.

Surely, I did not know an inkling about the president's visit, or the plans of the warm welcoming committee? But, I did know. I knew when. I knew where. I knew that while I was relaxing in the mall my fellow students were challenging the present world order. (Collective gasp!) {Hitit ng hinga, i.e. sudden intake of breath.} I am a member of the Unenlightened Ones, junior faction. In unflattering terms: Cattle.

There are thousands, nay, millions of our minion. Each day we go through our lives in blissful indifference and ignorance. Preferring to stuff our selves with any of the conveniences thankfully blessing our corrupt riddled environment. The mental exertions of our women do not go past the latest debate: Who is more heavenly: Leonardo Di Caprio or Ethan Hawke? As for our men: Who is more babe-a-licious: Pamela Anderson-Lee or Cindy Crawford?

Instead of aggressive political talk, we rhapsodize about the latest movie, the latest album, the latest fad, and the latest meat in the entertainment industry. We prefer to be fancifully garbed in expensive, imported fashion. We prefer to patronize foreign products. We prefer to consume the concoctions of western culinary skills, fast-food or not. Oh, who cares about the local industry when we can languish in the attention that our expensive tastes invoke. Hah! Inggit ka lang sa DKNY ko, no!

Ah, yes. The satisfaction of wearing a Tommy Hilfiger maong, with matching Calvin Klein undies to peep above the waist line. The undeniable beckon of the double golden arch of a popular food chain, so much more sophisticated than the local fare. "Let us enjoy now, let us enjoy later" is the Unenlightened motto. Or an empathic, "Capitalism (or Uncle Sam), embrace us!"

I mean, let's look at this objectively, from the point of view of an Unenlightened One. Why should we tire ourselves with the cause? I mean, like, it's fruitless naman, di ba? You go to a rally, or a strike, y'know whatever they call it, and it's sooo mainit. `Coz you're at the streets, and you'll get real hoarse from shouting, and like, the UV rays are roasting your skin. You don't want to get skin cancer, ya? It's like, it's hot and sweat smells, like, yuck! Y'know Keanu Reeves is sooo much more important, and he's sooo much more cuter, no! I mean, sooner or later you're gonna, like, try to find a job, ano, and you'll have to be practical, okay? Besides, our parents are sooo strict, ano! They just can't, like, let us go. `Coz it's, like, it'll be magulo. And, anyway, they're afraid we'll turn into gorrillas, (is my spelling right?), and we'll hide in the mountains touting arma?... armalayt?...guns! Y'know. It's like, eeek! They have no shower, no! Siyeeet , man, and that's not the only thing that's gonna smell!

I may have gone overboard. We are not that superficial. But, yes there are those of us who are. I assure you, they are a disgrace to our minions.

Of course like any other fellowship we have to ensure our perpetuation. We devised many ways to make you fall prey, errr...interested to join our ranks. You may have seen our propaganda on the boob-tube. Some of our materials are shown on the brink of the prime-time schedules. The painfully slow and mindless drama shows are what I am talking about. They do not seem to have a message, but they do. "Getting rich is the only solution", is one of the messages. We weave it into the script to be carried into your subconsciousness, there it will stick like lint. A few more of our materials are shown in the afternoon slots. These are the gossip shows. These chismis shows are to divert your attention from the issues in our country.

We have also launched several of us in a mission. Some of the said agents are the young actors and actresses of our local industry. Their mission is to become your role-models. They are to make you forget of the more important things in life, such as rationality and sensibility. You are to follow their lead. You are to be led into several 'cool' activities that they pursue in life. We have a division like this for the older audiences, the bold, excuse me, daring stars who are featured in testosterone loaded movies. Their duty is to breathe on each others necks with barely any clothing, sometimes none at all, successfully diverting attention from urgent political and social issues. We are convincing aren't we?

So, observe our handiwork and its howling success. A nation of followers who lead uneventful lives. The character Moose, of Archie Comics, comes to mind. Imagine that, a nation of Mooses!

Once, I was almost converted to the movement. "You? But you have no sympathy for your countrymen!", you say. Well, I was almost convinced by a very persuasive upholder of the cause. The person made me feel shame for being indifferent to my country by pointing out that I was no help to the society. I was flustered, and at the same time flabbergasted that he was so frank to the point of rudeness. I was offended, naturally.

I actually attended a rally. (Collective gasp! Again.) It was the Anti- Cha Cha (Charter Change) rally, and it was raining. I did not stay very long, but I remembered feeling good about myself. I felt that I was no longer part of the problem, but part of the solution. Whatever I had felt, it was alien to me. I had never made a stand or physically supported a cause, but I had just that once. After that I was almost for the movement.

And then it hit me. What hit me? The insurmountable problems of our society, the monolithic proportions of graft and corruption, the colossal tangle of miseducation and unawareness of the people. I floundered, then collapsed . I can't change all that. I'm not that good.

I am just a kid. Sure, our national heroes were incredibly young, but that was different. That was war. I am also aware that the Marcos regime was toppled largely because of the efforts of student activists. Thanks to them we are a more outspoken and freer society. But the snakes of today hide well, and their poison is sugar-coated. So, I slunk down to the ground and sank in the mud where I had risen. I, again, took my place with the others. The Unenlightened Ones, us, who so easily forget our lessons, or never learn them. I was right, I wasn't that good.

posted by Otherwise Maladroit @ 5:09 PM