Power and tragedy
We commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal’s death anniversary every December 30. In Laguna, June 19 is a provincial holiday, pertaining to our national hero’s birth. In the case of Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan, we memorialize his birth – November 30. Bonifacio was killed on May 10, 1897 at Mt. Buntis, Cavite by members of the organization he himself had organized. Some historians say it was legal murder fueled by politics. But no matter how we look at it, unlike our other heroes, we commemorate his birth and not his death because his life was taken away by fellow Filipinos.
This is the tragedy of the Philippine Revolution. And though arguments still persist on the greatness of Bonifacio and his contribution to freedom, or on the inanity of what had transpired; it had left scars on our history. Even before the birth of the First Republic, a power struggle ensued. Emilio Aguinaldo was later betrayed into America’s hand by disloyal troops…
According to the latest report of the AFP, at least 57 people were murdered into what is now dubbed as the Maguindanao massacre. Amongst them were women, journalists, and civilians who just happen to pass by. As of writing, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. had been charged with 25 counts of murder. On the premise of attempting to prevent violence, Buluan town vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu sent his relatives and unarmed supporters accompanied by journalists to file his Certificate of Candidacy for Governor of Maguindanao. At least 100 armed men blocked their convoy. It evolved into one of the most brutal killings in history.
This is the tragedy of Maguindanao, in the Land of Promise where political warlords exists. For years, the government had allowed (if not cuddled), private armies and armed political groups. “It’s a choice between lesser evils,” a UP professor revealed. The choice is between powerful clans and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). But this is a game-play between the elite – those who have guns, goons and gold. The real victims are the citizens of Mindanao. The poorest provinces in the country are found not only on the hinterlands of the islands in the south, but on places where hospitals, schools and electricity is a luxury and not a commodity. It is a place made poor by those who hold power…
And yes, incumbent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed her CoC to run for a congressional seat at the Second District of Pampanga. In spite of her very unpopular reign and amidst all the negative approval ratings, she still has the gall to declare that her decision to run was the “product of both her desire to pursue public service and heed what she called ‘clamor’ by her province mates.” The burden now lies within the citizens of said district. Would they vindicate her reign by voting for her? Whatever. The votes they make would resonate into the annals of history.
And this is the tragedy of political greed, which led me to remember a Chinese proverb that states, “Love is blind, and greed insatiable.” Often, politicians mistake greed for love – or at least they announce to the whole world that their intention to “serve” is for love of country. But what is their real intention? Snow White should have been taught not to accept a shiny apple from a witch…
In the words of political scientists, politics is nothing but a mere preservation of, or of the struggle to gain power. It is an accepted fact that the government is the largest corporation in any state, and it is also its biggest employer. With it comes the inherent right to exercise taxation, police power and eminent domain. And any public seat has privileges not granted to ordinary citizens. Power resides on those who govern. Though sovereignty resides within the people, it is an accepted fact that our country is run more like a business rather than a public service.
The three instances I have mentioned are but mere display of struggle for power. Bonifacio’s fate, the Maguindanao incident, and Arroyo’s filing of her CoC are but manifestations of how political struggles could turn into a tragedy; the first two being brutal, the last one being moral. English historian John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is when you have absolute and direct control of the life of an individual – whether it be literally, economically or politically – that you have power to control another person’s fate.
Some end in tragedy, like the loss of life and of dignity. Some end tragically, like faces made prominent by acts of infamy. Some has an insatiable desire to stay in power. Fact is, those who are eager for power are the ones who do not deserve the same.
We commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal’s death anniversary every December 30. In Laguna, June 19 is a provincial holiday, pertaining to our national hero’s birth. In the case of Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan, we memorialize his birth – November 30. Bonifacio was killed on May 10, 1897 at Mt. Buntis, Cavite by members of the organization he himself had organized. Some historians say it was legal murder fueled by politics. But no matter how we look at it, unlike our other heroes, we commemorate his birth and not his death because his life was taken away by fellow Filipinos.
This is the tragedy of the Philippine Revolution. And though arguments still persist on the greatness of Bonifacio and his contribution to freedom, or on the inanity of what had transpired; it had left scars on our history. Even before the birth of the First Republic, a power struggle ensued. Emilio Aguinaldo was later betrayed into America’s hand by disloyal troops…
According to the latest report of the AFP, at least 57 people were murdered into what is now dubbed as the Maguindanao massacre. Amongst them were women, journalists, and civilians who just happen to pass by. As of writing, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. had been charged with 25 counts of murder. On the premise of attempting to prevent violence, Buluan town vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu sent his relatives and unarmed supporters accompanied by journalists to file his Certificate of Candidacy for Governor of Maguindanao. At least 100 armed men blocked their convoy. It evolved into one of the most brutal killings in history.
This is the tragedy of Maguindanao, in the Land of Promise where political warlords exists. For years, the government had allowed (if not cuddled), private armies and armed political groups. “It’s a choice between lesser evils,” a UP professor revealed. The choice is between powerful clans and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). But this is a game-play between the elite – those who have guns, goons and gold. The real victims are the citizens of Mindanao. The poorest provinces in the country are found not only on the hinterlands of the islands in the south, but on places where hospitals, schools and electricity is a luxury and not a commodity. It is a place made poor by those who hold power…
And yes, incumbent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed her CoC to run for a congressional seat at the Second District of Pampanga. In spite of her very unpopular reign and amidst all the negative approval ratings, she still has the gall to declare that her decision to run was the “product of both her desire to pursue public service and heed what she called ‘clamor’ by her province mates.” The burden now lies within the citizens of said district. Would they vindicate her reign by voting for her? Whatever. The votes they make would resonate into the annals of history.
And this is the tragedy of political greed, which led me to remember a Chinese proverb that states, “Love is blind, and greed insatiable.” Often, politicians mistake greed for love – or at least they announce to the whole world that their intention to “serve” is for love of country. But what is their real intention? Snow White should have been taught not to accept a shiny apple from a witch…
In the words of political scientists, politics is nothing but a mere preservation of, or of the struggle to gain power. It is an accepted fact that the government is the largest corporation in any state, and it is also its biggest employer. With it comes the inherent right to exercise taxation, police power and eminent domain. And any public seat has privileges not granted to ordinary citizens. Power resides on those who govern. Though sovereignty resides within the people, it is an accepted fact that our country is run more like a business rather than a public service.
The three instances I have mentioned are but mere display of struggle for power. Bonifacio’s fate, the Maguindanao incident, and Arroyo’s filing of her CoC are but manifestations of how political struggles could turn into a tragedy; the first two being brutal, the last one being moral. English historian John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is when you have absolute and direct control of the life of an individual – whether it be literally, economically or politically – that you have power to control another person’s fate.
Some end in tragedy, like the loss of life and of dignity. Some end tragically, like faces made prominent by acts of infamy. Some has an insatiable desire to stay in power. Fact is, those who are eager for power are the ones who do not deserve the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment