Informed People Power

The spirit of our 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the Marcos Dictatorship is strong and happily nurtured in our schools for the ultimate transformation of our society.

Take for instance the success of PhiloWeek on January 25-30, at the Ateneo de Naga that featured a regional convention on "Decoding Philippine Politics: An Interdisciplinary Approach" in anticipation of the May elections. Ateneo faculty discussed various topics like a historical review of Philippine politics (Dr. Gerona), familial to oligarchic politics (Remodo), social justice (Pasiona), corruption in the local media (Nierva), and Church-State relations (Lagdameo). Workshops on "students in the public square" and engaging students in Philippine politics were also conducted by Fr. Tria, Ph.D. and Mr. Remodo, respectively.

The convention also included a workshop on "EXPANDING THE MIDDLE CLASS" by Exec. Director Mabulo of the Kolping Society of the Philippines, and presentations on "DECODING OLIGARCHIC POLITICS" by Bobby Tuazon of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance at UP Diliman, and "DISCERNING CITIZEN: PATRONAGE POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS - THE CASE OF URBAN POOR HOUSING IN NAGA CITY" by this columnist.

Capping the convention was the lecture on CARITAS IN VERITATE of Pope Benedict XVI by ADNU President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J..

Unfortunately, Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo-ironically an ADNU Trustee himself-lost no time attacking the said convention by a sweeping accusation that: "Over the last few years, I believe the University has allowed itself to be used by certain parties who have an axe to grind against me and my administration. And for two years running, their purported search for the truth has unfairly focused on the city government, with the intention of casting it in a bad light. The most recent of which is the Regional Convention on Decoding Philippine Politics held just last week." [sic] (Resignation Letter as ADNU Trustee, Feb. 1, 2010.)

Robredo further alleged that "the one-sidedness of the situation and the bias really never affords the city government an equal opportunity to explain its side and satisfactorily argue its case."

I am doubly sure that his two representatives to my talk, City Planning and Development Officer Prilles and Urban Poor Affairs Chief Campillos, had every chance for comment like my query on why an urban poor should be a registered voter to qualify for housing. Mr. Prilles even confessed that this voter requirement was purposefully designed for the perpetuation in power of Robredo and his administration. Still, we laughed and shook hands afterwards.

Certainly, we can disagree without being disagreeable.