Amidst the seemingly overwhelming apathy and cynicism among young bloggers, there are still some who go against the flow.

[spacester.livejournal.com]

It’s sad to note that people look down on idealism. Moreover, it is crushing when people look down on activists, putting them down as idealists and a malignant force disturbing the status quo.

Activists, however, are not idealists. On the contrary, activists are realists asking for what is due and doing things that should be done.

[...] We cannot simply accept these things and say the things we have been saying since forever to make us feel better. Things like “Pilipinas nga naman, o,” or “E wala e, bulok talaga yung sistema,” or the famous “It’s none of my business. I’ve got a good job and I’m making money and that’s all that matters,” do not help. It desensitizes us to the wrongs being done to us and we learn to accept the evils perpetrated upon the people as things that “just happen”.

[exsanguinatrix.livejournal.com]

The problem now, I think, is apathy. People not caring enough. People wanting to leave for greener grass. People who think this isn’t their problem.

Well, now it is. They’re arresting people without warrants, blocking the information you get, undermining your rights. They could do it to important people, they could do it to you. You’re educated, you’ve learned your history. Are you willing to allow this part of history to pass you by? What stories will you tell your grandchildren, that you idly sat at home when the time was crucial for you to move? This is your problem now.

[humbleprophet.livejournal.com]

As the chanting resumed, I found myself mouthing the words, goosebumps all over my arm. The chants had not changed, I realized, because the issues have not changed. And they will probably not change long after today’s protest action is all but forgotten.

[...] I cannot, I realized, in good conscience say that I am too old for this. Too old for rallies, certainly, but not for idealism.

Hm, lastly, I’d like to link to a PCIJ podcast of an interview with Atom Araullo.

This may seem rather late, as the budget proposal was given to Congress months ago (though it hasn’t been passed since our legislators seem to be more focused on hastily revising our Constitution). As a prelude to an entry about UP’s third consecutive budget cut, here’s a broad take on how our beloved president plans to use taxpayers’ money for 2006.

So this means, out of every ten pesos we pay for taxes, almost seven pesos will go to debt servicing and only less than two pesos will be spent on basic social services. That’s still excluding all the losses from corruption.

Now, many complain about our legislators’ pork barrels amounting to millions for each one of them. But Arroyo has an even bigger share. 25 BILLION PESOS. And it can all be spent on her discretion. Ang sarap maging presidente!

So, how much will actually be spent on things that matter to ordinary Filipinos?

So what’s my point? The nerve of our government to raise taxes! The percent share of the education budget and budget for other social services continue to get smaller compared to rising debt servicing payments and military modernization programs. Well, it has been a rhetoric by those who are fighting for greater state subsidies for social services like education and health care: There is money. Our President just has some skewed priorities, so much of it will be spent on things other than social services.

This is how GMA really cares.

It’s inspiring when old women come up to you while marching and tell you, “Tuloy lang kayo mga anak, ipagdarasal namin kayo.” Or when people from their houses and apartment buildings clap and cheer you on. Or when people in their vehicles open their car windows and raise their fist in support. Or when military men secretly come up to you and whisper, “‘Wag kayong susuko, malapit na rin kaming bumigay,” (although that didn’t happen). Or when you are endlessly showered with confetti made from torn-up telephone directories. It’s inspiring especially when sometimes you hear people within your social circle putting you down and the things you do with their total aversion of mass actions. Nevermind that it was a long three hour long march under the torrid heat of the sun. Or that we had to dodge and run from police barricades.

I don’t think it was all for nothing. It was a step in the right direction. Tolerance simply allows for more plundering and cheating. Sure let us go on with our daily lives. But that should not mean that we will just bow down and surrender to the prevailing status quo, especially if we know there is something wrong.

It’s really annoying how Michael Defensor and Raul Gonzalez proclaim that all these arrests and calibrated responses are part of their defense of the state. They claim the nation is at threat kaya may national emergency. Wow, the way I see it, only Gloria Arroyo’s leadership is at threat. They shouldn’t claim the entire country is at risk just because Arroyo’s presidency is in danger from people who are tired of her leadership. What’s really sad, is that the military has become her army, ready to protect her in guise of their protecting the “state”.

Weren’t these the same reasons Ferdinand Marcos used for declaring Martial Law?