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Monday, April 25, 2005
Seruelo: Passion for justice, art and kids
PEOPLE often see him in street marchers, hitting the government for anti-people policies.
As secretary general of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Ian Seruelo is at the forefront of the protest against debt servicing and the privatization of the power industry.
In fact, it was their group, led by lawyer Romeo Gerochi, who fought for the unbundling and reduction of Panay Electric Company's power rates.
Kathy Villalon Cinco discovers that this man's passion is not just fighting for justice but also working with children through art.
Here's the interview.
Sun.Star Iloilo Lifestyle (SSIL): Let's touch first on what people see you do most often - your work at FDC. What can you share about your advocacy?
Ian Seruelo (IS): FDC's main advocacy is on economic policies. The economic policies of the government are connected with the prescription of financial institutions, so we scrutinize them.
For example, FDC, through our chair, Atty. Romeo Gerochi monitors how the Iloilo City Government handles the Pavia housing project case.
This is anchored on our belief that the people's money should not be wasted on projects that the people can't benefit from.
So, everything that's in the economic sphere, are included in our mandate.
Every three years, we hold a national congress to study the current situation and plan the new issues that we will touch within the next three years.
SSIL: Espousing advocacies have been happening since time immemorial. Don't you activists feel frustrated?
IS: That's one of the questions raised on us. The sphere of activism is actually very wide.
There are activists who want reforms in the system, while there are some who really want to change the system. It's also dependent on how you view change.
If you want change to happen in a short period of time, then for sure, you'll end up frustrated. But in our case, we acknowledge the small gains.
For example, the Epira Bill. Its original version was very flawed because it contained many favors for the Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
But when we studied the bill and FDC intervened in Congress, we were able to water down many provisions of the bill.
Although we're not yet contented with the final bill, we acknowledged that we have gains in a way that it removed the provisions that could have made life for the public more unbearable.
Another gain we had is on the issue of power. If Atty. Gerochi did not intervene, it was easy for Panay Electric Company (Peco) to implement their power rate increase because no consumers intervene.
So, we have to deal with one small chip at a time. We should be afraid if no one is campaigning for change.
SSIL: So, you're not just seen in the streets, but also in Congress.
IS: Yes. People see us in the streets rallying. But at the back of those rallies are researches, legal fights, lobbying in the House and the Senate.
SSIL: With legal fights a part of your job, do you have plans of becoming a lawyer?
IS: Yes. In fact, I'm now on my second year in Law School at the University of Iloilo (UI).
SSIL: Would you consider yourself a 'leftist'?
IS: Yes, I'm a leftist through and through. All my activities make use of the left - I write using my left hand, I paint with my left hand (laughs).
SSIL: So, you're an artist too.
IS: Yes.
Since elementary, I've been into the arts. I'm into painting, sketching and sculpting. But when I became an activist when I was studying at the University of the Philippines (UP), I set it aside.
Being an activist demands so much of my time.
Then, I stumbled into an art program three years ago, so I grabbed the opportunity to host Kids at Art here in Iloilo City.
We are already on our third year and classes will start on April 18.
Kids at Art is a fusion of my passions - art and kids. I really enjoy spending time with children.
I'm also trying to fuse my activism with art. After all, art is a medium of expression of one's advocacies.
Part of my philosophy is to teach children about art, impart to them the beauty of life and at the same time, mold their consciousness.
Through art, I want to inculcate to them the values that would make them better human beings. Persons who appreciate life and the world.
This part of my work is actually very therapeutic, a break from the serious stuff.
SSIL: Speaking of passion for kids, do you have children?
IS: Yes. They are Deion and Keedan Rev. The Rev means revolution. I chose the name of my kids.
SSIL: Sounds like a real activist by heart. Do you think your children will grow up like you?
IS: They'll have their own lives to lead someday. But I make it a point to teach them the values of justice and fairness.
I believe that the problems we encounter now are because of injustices.
Sometimes, children are exposed to the outside world and they would say things that can be unfair. I try to correct it.
For example, if I hear one of them say something negative about gay people, I would immediately correct them and say, 'What's wrong with being gay?'
I also try to teach them to break stereotypes. For example, I do things that women do, like household chores.
I'm not a perfect father, but I try my best to teach them justice and equality.
SSIL: Are you a perfectionist?
IS: Oh yes! I always believe that no matter what you do, may it be a big or small task, you have to try to make it perfect.
I don't like phrases like, "Eksakto na ina a," or "Okay na ina a." If you can make it perfect, why not?
SSIL: What about if other people around you are not perfectionists? Don't you get frustrated if they can't meet your expectations?
IS: The people around me already know me.
SSI: How do you like to be remembered?
IS: As a person who was part of the struggle for change.
SSI: Your struggle for change, is it worth it?
IS: This is already my life. I can't think of anything else on how to spend my life. I know that I may grow old and pass away but the struggle will remain.
But for me, this is just like any other job, a typical work for me, even if people find it different.
Even if it's not financially rewarding, I find meaning in my work.
So, yes, it's worth it.(KVC)
(April 25, 2005 issue)
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