Legaspi: On strikes and protests

IN THE later years of the Marcos administration, I was then in my senior high school, I joined the rallies calling for the ouster of the dictator. We shouted “insakto na, kakason na.”

I was also active in volunteering myself to organizations calling for a free and honest snap election. I would usually wait for the “welga” to pass by Lacson Street then I’d join. The protest was not only to oust the dictator but also to inform the public of the atrocities being made by the Marcos administration then. One of the factors why Marcos called for a snap election was the manifestation of social unrest in the rallies and mass protests.

In my senior year in college, the officers of the student government called for a no-election for officers since the incumbents in most colleges were unopposed. The officers wanted to simply pass a resolution calling for no-election but rather just appointments. Their reason was there was no need for an election expense for they already know who the winners will be. But I and my group fought hard against their proposal. My group called for a sit-down strike and called on the university administration to solve with the issue. The elections did happen in August that year and on the date of the election I withdrew my candidacy for I learned that the other unmanned positions were reserved for the people of the ruling party. My resignation was a sign of protest against an act that I could not take. My other friends did not resign but had to undergo the process. They were not effective for the whole year. After which, I formed an “ad hoc” committee for the local governance and continued our call for the officers to step down. The DSA gave her opinion favoring our call. So, the officers were not recognized and the local governments were given autonomy of governance. In short, our protest was successful and a snap election was held.

Protests and mass actions are made with one interest. According to one former Dean of the College of Criminology, “the intention of the action is simply to make an inconvenience in the ordinary lives of ordinary people.” For example, the “Tigil biyahe” is a mass action of jeepney drivers and operators that would greatly affect the social and economic life of the ordinary people. It creates an inconvenience to the riding public. Operations in business are also affected much. This would now inflict “wounds” on the public and this may steer discussions on the issue at hand. This is the sole purpose of conducting mass actions.

In one book, it states that mass action could only be effective if all the members of that certain sector must go hand-in-hand to the streets and shout out in unison the purpose of the action.

Today, it is very sad to note that once a mass protest or action is called for, only a few attend the act. One could only see the same people now and then. The public is now busy on something else and not concerned with any issue at hand. Mass protest and actions may do more good for the public than harm. The public now enjoys, once there is a declaration of “tigil pasada.” This means no work but with pay. So, today, mass protest or action has lost its appeal to the public.

I dream of one day that rallies will become again an avenue where the public could air out sentiments and they would be listened to.

Congratulations to Police Col. Roderick and ABS-CBN’s Leilanie Salem-Alba for a wonderful celebration of life last Saturday during the debut of their daughter, Angel Ann. It was indeed a reunion of friends and relatives.

St. Ezekiel Moreno, pray for us.