When the US Founding Fathers gathered for the Declaration of Independence against Britain, they made sure they signed their names clearly in the document. The reason? As Benjamin Franklin puts it: 'we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.'
The point was: the British didn't need to find out who were responsible, the US rebels were happy to publicly name themselves and challenge the government. That's courage.
Compare that to the unknown organizers of the August 26 rally, who actually needs PR and political campaign professionals to work up the people. And, more suspiciously for me, insult those who may have just mere questions about it. Since when has a movement about right become a matter of psychological coercion?
What I'm trying to say is this: if the cause is just, then don't hesitate to stand up openly for it. Otherwise, it just raises doubts about the sincerity of its movers.
To those who feel strongly about joining, please do. But be sure to join of your own mind. And with open eyes.
Anyway, here also is a good article from Get Real Philippines! on the matter. Several other good articles, particularly decrying the mob mentality based on utter lack of real evidence can be found here; another article asking what exactly did Napoles commit (see here); and the bigger systemic issue (see here). The Manila Standard Today's editorial on the Philippine government's unravelling, due to it's 'vindictiveness', 'ineptitude', and arrogance is here. Roberto Tiglao here analyses the COA audit on the matter and expresses suspicion of it.
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After the event, Marlen Ronquillo of the Manila Times wrote this brilliant article. It about all sums up the real problem of the Philippines. The article is A sad nation of transient rage and short memories. Excerpts:
"Can Janet Lim—Napoles eat lunch in this town again after the fury
shall have passed? And after the now-screaming newspaper headlines
shall have reduced their font sizes? And the commentators, currently
all-worked up in the preaching of right and wrong, shall have moved on
to other perceived wrongs in society?
The answer is yes and those who say otherwise will have to look back
at our short memories to see how short the shelf lives of the
nation’s past outrages have been."
"If you think that this is not a tragic country of transitory rage and fickle moral arbitration, think again.
Janet Napoles , before her fall, was one of the favorite ninangs of
the young elite doing their vows of marriage . She was a patron saint to
retired priests and funded charitable projects set up by priests
identified with the Archdiocese of Manila. Oh, we even have the
unbelievable footage of priests and the bishops praying over Napoles.
She gifted lawmakers with engraved Mont Blanc pens, to be later used in
signing those ghastly documents that ceded their pork to her bogus
NGOs.
She was everybody’s friend, if not a benefactor. That power status was a
long way from remote Basilan and she probably enjoyed rubbing elbows
with the “ dahlings” of Philippine society immensely.
Like Mrs. Marcos, Janet Napoles , will not be driven out of town
for life . Her disgrace will be at best transitory and fleeting . Her
current pariah status, based on the Filipinos incapacity to hold deep
and lasting grudges , will just have an abbreviated life of a few
years.
Soon, she will be eating lunch in this town again , totally comfortable in a society of superficial grudges and short memories."
