By Jan Vicente B. Pekas
September 21 has been chosen to be the day to march and protest against corruption. Different groups around this country will march out and different cities will find themselves hosting angry and frustrated crowds. This is not a sudden thing. Over the past few weeks, many students and different organizations have voiced their frustrations on the streets or in their schools. Perhaps this was to be expected after recent events concerning money in the amount we can only dream of having. Nevertheless, this is an event of importance, not only for the people but for the government.
Seeing the zeal of others to participate, you can see the differing enthusiasm from others. The crux of this movement will no doubt be in Manila. Whatever happens in Manila will have effects on the rest of the country. Whether the government actually heeds the warnings or the shouts be heard by deaf ears, we can only imagine for now.
Still, here in our province there will be many who are still hesitant to join in. If you ask them they only answer with pessimism or deflect with a joke. That has been the culture here as I can remember it, one of peace and order. Even if Cordillera is the same place where Macli-ing fought against the government and their dam projects, the state has changed all throughout the years.
The mountains have been a blessing to the people of this region and it may perhaps be also a curse. While the mountains provide defenses against natural disasters it may also be a structure that blinds those behind it of what happens down south and the rest of the country. Cordillera, in its isolated state, cannot be a hard enough shield against the same disease that plague the rest of the country, mainly corruption. We cannot think for even a second that what happens in the south cannot possibly happen up here.
Corruption also roam around these mountains.
When the reckoning finally comes, Cordillera cannot possibly remain on the sidelines. It must also act. Grassroots movements needs the efforts of everyone. Cordillera, once, has been a hotspot for activism during the time of martial law. It was not a place of silence. ‘Tis a land of warriors not of sideline watchers.
The time will come and the people of the Cordillera must stand with the rest of the Filipinos, should we remain silent then whatever kills freedom in the south will make its way up north.
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