DOLE RALLY/ OCTOBER 9, 2007
Employees of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company together with other progressive labor groups raise their hands as a sign of protest in front of the Department of Labor and Employment office in Intramuros, Manila. They are protesting the inhumane and oppressive practices of different companies to their employees.
PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA
I have been to many protest actions. It’s one of the staple coverages when you are assigned in a police beat especially in Manila where the Presidential Palace (Malacanan) is situated.
For every issue or problem that Filipinos encounter, there will be groups that will rally for this call. Maybe this is an off shoot of the Martial Law days when the best a common tao can do is to protest in the streets. It proved to be effective since come February of 1986, the whole world saw what we now call the People Power. A peaceful protest by millions of Filipinos that was able to topple a dictator without shedding any blood. (At least during the days of February 1986. We all know many Filipinos was tortured to death during the hey days of Martial Law)
However, to tell you the truth, I’m tired of all these rallies. Somehow, a part of me does not believe in the effectiveness of this action. Yeah it was effective during the Marcos era. But is it still effective now? We were able to topple again a president in 2001. We now call it People Power II. I was a student then and was proud that I was a part of it. I was proud then…
But the use of protest action in every issue we might possibly have? How can that be of any help? They have been doing these for more than 20 years now. Maybe, just maybe, this is not how we should do things now. We live in a democratic country. (That’s how I want to think it is 
) What I am just saying is that there are other things that we can do in order to serve better this country than be part of a rally. We can have our own protests but these should not be done in the streets. We are talented Filipinos and I say we use these talents to further improve our lives, the lives of our Filipino brethren, our country, and the rest of the world as human beings.
I end this entry with a copy of our university hymn…
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U.P. naming mahal
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Pamantasang hirang
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Ang tinig namin
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Sana’y inyong dinggin.
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Malayong lupain
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Amin mang marating
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Di rin magbabago ang damdamin
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Di rin magbabago ang damdamin.
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Luntian at pula
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Sagisag magpakailan man
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Ating ipagdiwang
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Bulwagan ng dangal.
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Humayo’t itanghal
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Giting at tapang
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Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan
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Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan.
Malayong lupain, amin man marating. Di rin magbabago ang damdamin. Di rin magbabago ang damdamin.
Kung saan man tayo hipan ng hangin, tuloy pa rin…
