Of Petty Wars and Revolutions that Lost their Meaning
November 29th, 2007 | by Ced Solidon |Everyone has dreams of greatness. The levels vary and the desire to achieve them may differ among people, but there is that common desire to become better than one’s current state.
Antonio Trillanes IV is no exception to that. A primary example of which is when he and several other soldiers, called the Magdalo Group, sieged the Oakwood Hotel (now Ascott Makati) four years ago in protest of the corruption in the military. However, I looked at it as that he wasn’t trying to achieve greatness for himself but for a country that was muddled with corruption.
I saw what they did as a brave act because it takes a lot of guts to 1) publicly criticize one’s colleagues 2) siege a hotel or any building occupied by civilians at that. Aside from that, there really is corruption in the government (you can start by looking at your local government offices) so I was happy that somebody finally spoke up about it.
For what he did, I voted Trillanes as a senator during the last elections. And now, I regret doing so.
I appreciate his dreams of greatness for the country beginning with booting out corrupt people in the government. But to call out for another revolution is not only irresponsible, it is madness.
It would have been good if he were a civilian. But he is with the military and with the military comes weapons and those weapons could be used to abuse and worse, to kill. So we are not looking for a bloodless revolution here. The chances of having a bloody one is high.
I believe in peaceful means of achieving one’s goal, nevermind if the others around me are cheating. No more bloody revolutions. I will not join the fight to bring Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo down.
But before people say that I am staunch GMA supporter, I would say that I am not. She has her faults. But sometimes it is better to opt for stability than having another revolution. Besides, the meaning of the people power revolution has lost its meaning. Two (three, depending on which ones you consider) people power revolutions have shown that no real change happens in the country, but only a superficial one with the changing of the heads of state.
So enough. Let the politicos fight their wars if they like, but I will try to bring about change in my own little way. I hope everyone who reads this will do so too.
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Ced Solidon started the team blog. He currently works as a freelance writer. Aside from that, he also maintains a writing blog, Write Like a Rock Star! He loves to read books and play music.
11 Responses to “Of Petty Wars and Revolutions that Lost their Meaning”
By Karlo on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
It was botched quixotic affair from the start, unless when viewed from a long term view. That was not the end of it.
By By Nemra on Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
What Trillanes did yesterday is madness as you correctly said herein. I could just imagine what kind of government he wanted to install as he believes to be better than the present Arroyo regime. Can we settle a presidency and a leadership he thinks will heal this nation? A leadership who defied orders of a legitimate court? What had he stored in this country that he postured and acted as if he is the messiah of goodness and greatness? As if this irresponsible person, a senator at that had done so much for the welfare of the filipino people. He considered himself as the annointed leader by God and uttered statements he would think can change this country better than what other would think. As if he monopolize goodness and that others must follow him.He must suffer the consequences of what he did yesterday. He must be punished accordingly. He deserves no treatment of an honorable senator. He waived that privilege and he even deserves to be booted as such.
By Fhen Macabasag on Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
The spokesperson of Black and White Movement (BWM) told the reporter in an interview that they understand well the desperate move of Sen. Trillanes and his companions that transpired yesterday (Nov. 28). Although they sympathize to Sen. Trillanes and others on their calling for GMA’s ouster, the BWM did not approve the way or approach that Sen. Trillanes did in the so-called Pen siege.
Despite the negative feedbacks from Sen. Trillanes’ arrogant or desperate action, the BWM still appealed to the people that the said “Tensyon sa Makati” should be contemplated not merely on HOW Sen. Trillanes did it, but WHY Sen. Trillanes did it.
By Ced Solidon on Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
I understand the how and the why of it. The thing is that, do we choose to have revolutions everytime we despise or dislike a president?
I’m personally tired of all the political bickering and all. Which is why, as I said, let them bicker and fight, and let’s do good in our communities and foster change in our own ways. Let’s not depend so much on the government for our country’s development.
By Teofhen Arthur Macabasag on Dec 2, 2007 | Reply
At certain rate, I agree to the BWM’s stand pertaining to the recent Manila Pen siege.
True, I may NOT approve the way Sen. Trillanes and his companions desired to violently oust GMA — or as one call it “revolution” — I understand them well why they did it.
By Haruan on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
well, it was more of selling the drama… it all the more “strengthened” the strong grip of the mighty ones in power… everything else justified. nevertheless, we all deserve to have a progressive and peaceful country with everyone of us accountable for making it happen
By Maverickjockey on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
“At certain rate”? “I agree to”?
Here we go again. Ha ha ha!
By Maverickjockey on Dec 3, 2007 | Reply
The truth of the matter is that Trillanes himself ate the fruits of corruption because his father was a former colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines who amassed ill-gotten wealth from government funds being a commander of a unit in the AFP. People really donot know how the measly salary of a mere colonel can buy a house and lot in an upscale subdivision in Antipolo City and enable his old mother to buy all at one time five (5) Delica vans out of the pension of the wife of a deceased colonel in the AFP, or how the measly salary of a mere junior officer in the AFP like Trillanes can buy in cash a big bike worth hundreds of thousands of pesos.
(And the reason Trillanes easily folded up is because, like Honasan, both of them were never assigned to combat areas or engaged in any actual combat operation. They were city boys, assigned only in urban areas. Notice how Trillanes lips were trembling when the Simba armored vehicles started firing their big guns.)
The word is, Trillanes could not wait for his turn for his slice of the pie.
And after he got into trouble for his foolishness at Oakwood, the more that he became restless because he could not enjoy the millions (reportedly to the tune of 25,000,000 pesos) he earned from that earlier caper (kahit nadidal nya yung ibang mga kasamahan nya).
By jonats on Dec 15, 2007 | Reply
Trillanes may have been wrong in his assumption of spontaneity of mass actions as he staged his “convenience and comfort revolution”. But his was a tactical more than a strategic blunder. If not for his egocentric and incoherent public outbursts people could have swarmed Makati in a matter of hours. We may be disgusted with his immaturish antics but i think more people are disgusted with GMA than those who are dismated with what he did. His messianic complex which kept bobbing up every time he openned his mouth did him in. SBS talaga, as if he has the monopoly of love of country. Poor Triallanes, his dream of ruling the Philippines is now slipping out of his hands. Senator Jamboy even disowned her ward because he did not ask her prior consent. hehehe. She might have joined the junta had the revolt succeeded. hay, nasyon han mga oportunista!
But we have not been better off not letting Trillanes have his way.
By Maverickjockey on Jan 3, 2008 | Reply
Trillanes is everything that every Filipino should not be imposed upon. Why?
Firstly, freedom of expression would have been the very first victim of his initial authoritarian salvo - evidence of that was his plan to take over supervision and control of media : broadcast, print, television, cyberspace - and turn them into malleable instruments to further his control of the government machinery by eliminating all forms of expressions of dissent.
Secondly, his ascent to power would have spelled the death knell to Philippine democracy as we practice it now - with every one allowed to say his own piece on any given issue under the sun - a foretaste of his dictatorial tendencies was his presumptuous and unabashed arrogance in calling people to join him afeter he walked out of his court court heqaring in a brazenly illegal and contemptuous act, without due regard or respect for the rights or welfare of others who were grossly inconvenienced or disturbed from their own livelihoods by his irresponsible and impetuous behavior.
Thirdly, his treacherous act of betraying his own oath as an elected senator(?) clearly illustrates his being undeserving of such august status; his disdain for the democratic processes if and when it does not suit his purposes merely shows his despotic as well as spoiled-brat mentality - throwing tantrums when he cannot get things his own way - ultimately exposing himself as an immature brat who deserves to be spanked with the heavy end of a mailed fist which he richly and justly deserves.