September 16, 1991: Senate (voting 12-to-11) rejected the “Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Security” that would have retained US military presence in the country until 2001
September 16, 2011
I have never been as envious as I was that day, at the 20th anniversary celebration of the scrapping of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement at Club Filipino.
I looked around the hall and scanned the faces of the people--mostly septuagenarians. As I sat with some of them in the dining table, I listened to their tales of "the proudest moment(s) of their lives and as Filipinos", and listened to the speakers' accounts of one of the most crucial events in Philippine history. With pride, they told stories about protests, sang together (and shouted!) songs about nationalism, and called themselves "Pilipino" and "aktibista".
For the first time, I was ashamed to be "young".
VP Jejomar Binay and RC Constantino of Constantino Foundation
Some of the "Magnificent 12" (from left: Former senators Tañada, Guingona, (former Pres) Estrada, Ziga, Maceda and Mercado)
Noel Cabangon gives a hug to CHR chair Etta Rosales as anti-bases stalwart and current PHL Peace Panel lead negotiator Alex Padilla thinks other thoughts.
BAYAN's Ka Satur Ocampo, Deputy Majority Floor Leader Erin Tanada and Magnificent 12's Sen. Butz Aquino
Cookie Diokno with Nat Santiago of Bayan Muna and Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Partylist.
Women celebrating sovereignty (left-most is former FDC-President Princess Nemenzo; second to the right is Marivic Raquiza of UP NCPAG)
A light moment with Bobby Laurel, son of the late Ka Teroy, Butz Aquino and Orly Mercado.
Prof. Randy David and Letizia R. Constantino.
FDC Secretary-General Milo Tanchuling with Ka Dodong Nemenzo, former UP President
I couldn't help but compare their source and sense of national pride with those of my generation, this generation. They overthrew a dictator and expelled the American bases out of our lands; while a decade or so after, we undid all that! We put the dictator's family back in politics, (our SC) ruled to protect the remaining properties of Marcos cronies, and brought back the Americans through the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement).
In exchange, our generation have Pacquiao, Charice Pempengco, the Azkals, our Miss Universe Philippines beauty queens and the world's biggest tender and crocodile captured alive to be proud of as Filipinos. Include in the list the world's largest salad, durian candy, lantern and shoes (and the woman with 3,400 shoes), the world's longest mat and barbeque, the world's largest volume of text messages, the highest power rates in Asia, the single deadliest event for journalists in history. How consoling.
While, of course, my generation has its legitimate contributions to nation-building, it seems we have become too complacent. We have forgotten our painful history of struggle for freedom and democracy. The dictator is gone. Order has been restored. The system is working. Most unacceptable of all, we have forgotten the price many Filipinos had to pay (literally in sweat and blood, and, life) for these freedoms we, this ungrateful generation, now enjoy and easily take for granted.
It's a shame, but what can we do--forgetting is by far an easier task than remembering. For a generation that puts premium on convenience, what more can we expect? ☮
In exchange, our generation have Pacquiao, Charice Pempengco, the Azkals, our Miss Universe Philippines beauty queens and the world's biggest tender and crocodile captured alive to be proud of as Filipinos. Include in the list the world's largest salad, durian candy, lantern and shoes (and the woman with 3,400 shoes), the world's longest mat and barbeque, the world's largest volume of text messages, the highest power rates in Asia, the single deadliest event for journalists in history. How consoling.
While, of course, my generation has its legitimate contributions to nation-building, it seems we have become too complacent. We have forgotten our painful history of struggle for freedom and democracy. The dictator is gone. Order has been restored. The system is working. Most unacceptable of all, we have forgotten the price many Filipinos had to pay (literally in sweat and blood, and, life) for these freedoms we, this ungrateful generation, now enjoy and easily take for granted.
It's a shame, but what can we do--forgetting is by far an easier task than remembering. For a generation that puts premium on convenience, what more can we expect? ☮
Further reading(s):
September 16, 1991: The Day the Senate said ‘No!’ to Uncle Sam (by Prof. Roland Simbulan)
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