By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
I am Mrs. Go, she introduced herself.
“But of course. I’ve long wanted to meet you,” I said.
She looked younger and more beautiful in person than the pictures I have seen of her lately.
She asked, “Did you study in UP Baguio?” Yes, I graduated in 1979. She was already a teacher there for several years already, though I am older than her by at least one year.
As I tried to explain, I was already in my senior year in UP Los Banos when I realized I was a square peg in a round hole. So why waste another year? And I was already weaning myself from active involvement in the fraternity. We were known as the drunks, or incorrigibles, or the “basagoleros.” To sustain my reformation I fortified it by joining the Ananda Marga Yoga group which was another reason to transfer. Bye old campus barkadas and vices.
In UP Baguio, I met two or three students who had already been introduced to yoga practices– meditation, yoga exercises, etc. We formed a group that expanded as we recruited more into the practices and the Ananda Marga ideology, PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory), otherwise known as Progressive Socialism. A big part of it aside from the economic and political aspects is its concept of competent moral or spiritual leadership. For man is not just an economic or political being. At the very core, we are spiritual beings, thirsty for infinite happiness which can only be realized through meditation or getting into the limitless spiritual realm.
On such leadership, Arthur Koestler said of society’s tribulations, only the saint and revolutionary can save us.
Other students in UP Baguio called us in jest, the SMHK (Samahan ng Mga Hindi Kumakain ng Karne) due to our being vegetarians or trying to be.
Our expanded membership led to our attempt at formalization to become a recognized legit campus organization. After we undertook the initial steps, it was time for me to transfer again, to UP Diliman for the college of law.
To be recognized as such, a faculty adviser was necessary. Our members approached Mrs. Go. She agreed and that was the reason I have long wanted to meet her, if only to thank her. Thank you. Thank you.
By the way, Ma’am, all the members of the group became successful in their careers becoming doctors, managers, lawyers, etc.
As to Ananda Marga, we have areas all over the world, including Siberia and Russia, where ideal communities can be set up, exemplifying PROUT’s concept of social justice. Sadly, revolutionary saints are in short supply. But things are moving. And the organization has a privately owned area in India, as big as Singapore, called Ananda Nagar, presently on its way to becoming a “privately owned” city.
Back to the local scene.
I was at the City Council three weeks ago and I accosted a councilor, “What’s the plan?” He only said, I will be in the camp of Congressman Mark Go, who, presumably, will run for mayor.
Several years ago I was helping out in the campaign of Leandro Yangot and whenever we asked barangay personalities who they would vote for congressman, the most answers we got was, Mark Go.
Why? They would answer, “kasi mabait si Mrs. Go.”
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Go were teachers in the Social Sciences in UP Baguio. As such, they should have a broader viewpoint when looking at society. For that, I would vote for them anytime.
I was one of the first products of Mark Go’s idea of students having double majors with no minors. I majored in Political Science and Economics. Did I learn anything? That is totally a different matter. **
