Development on Political Identity of Activists

Nash Dunuan
Johanna J. Gatchalian
Trisha F. Lim
Patricia R. Lopez
De La Salle University - Manila








CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION we dont have talaga?
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Political Identity

Activism
Activism is defined as the practice of a group of individuals to bring about social,
political, economic, or other changes to the status quo. Often it is concerned with how to change
the world through social, political, economic or environmental change. This can be led by
individuals but is often done collectively through social movements (Jordan, 2002). It can be
violent or peaceful, noisy, or quiet actions taken by groups of people, some small and some huge,
in attempts to alter society according to the desires of those taking action (Jordan, 2002, p.8).
People who engage in activism usually have this I want to change the norm or I want to
change the rule attitude.
ACTIVISTS
They are challenged to change the status quo no matter what it takes because of their
desire to maintain social support, and people low on these factors might be less concerned about
potential social rejections resulting from their activism (Werner, 1978). From this perspective, it
was concluded that people who feel strongly about a social issue and believe in internal control
of reinforcement would show more activist behaviour (Werner, 1978). Research from Gough
(1966) in a way supports this perspective; according to him, "social maturity, in its highest form,
involves the creation of new order, and hence the destruction of old order"; the socially mature
individual "under repressive conditions may set himself against the established order" (p. 190).
Therefore, a socially mature person who has strong attitudes would be likely having a higher
degree of activism. *This predicts that, SOCIAL MATURITY=HIGHER DEGREE OF
ACTIVISM*
Effective activism depends on how a certain group builds relationship among people who
share a same purpose and builds alliances with other organizations with similar goals for
changing society (Reber & Kim, 2006). *WE CAN INSERT HERE ERICKSON, NATURE
AND NURTURE* --PSYCHOLOGY 7 book for citations
Activism can make or break people because it may be the cause of their high self-esteem
and could also be influenced in doing a bad behavior. Although such movements cannot be
explained always as simple quest for material gain or tangible benefits, and they seem to call for
an explanation that incorporates the notion of identity (Monroe, Hankin, & Van Vechten, 2000).
What do political activists do? According to Corning and Myers (2002), they advocate
political cause such as protecting the environment, human rights issues, opposing abortion or
preventing wars via any of a large array of possible means. One example is institutionalized acts
which includes starting a petition to unconventional acts such as civil disobedience, Egyptian
Revolution also known as Lotus Revolution that occurred on 2011 is one example of a combined
force of demonstrations and marches against Hosni Mubarak. McMahon (2003) also mentioned
that an activist is someone who takes action in support of or opposition to a cause. Being an
activist can take a range of form such as writing letters to government representatives and
organizing boycotts. Some activists involve in radical or even illegal activity to further their
ends. On the other hand, some activists choose to stay within the boundaries of the law to win
more supporters to their causes. If one writes a letter to the editor, educates a friend about an
issue, or phones an elected official, he or she is participating in activism.
At various times in history, being an activist has been dangerous, as activism was equated
with dangerous political dissent, making people who spoke out targets for persecution. Jose
Rizal is an intellectual activist, he preached reforms rather than revolution though
writing his novels and joining an activist group named La Liga Filipina, this caused his
death but on the bright side this triggered other Filipinos to revolutionized and
continue fighting for what he left even if theyll be killed also. This only shows how
brave activists are because they dont fear death and fight for the rights of fellow
Filipinos. La Liga Filipina and his group that consisted of individuals who wanted to be free
from the Spanish occupation in a peaceful way, but this lasted for only three days because Jose
Rizal was captured and thrown to Dapitan on 1892. At other times, activism has been tolerated or
even encouraged. On a lesser scale, activism might involve participating in activist causes,
without actively organizing. Examples are participating in letter writing campaigns, phone
banking for political candidates, walking in marches, and supporting boycotts and strikes are all
examples of basic activism. In some cases, activists start out at this level before moving on to
more active organization, which involves things like leading marches, hosting organizing
committees, community organizing, offering classes at teach-ins, and so forth (McMahon, 2003).

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIVISM
However, there are psychological consequences that activists must conquer. People who
push against violence and injustice or pull for peace and freedom must face their own fears.
Many activists also must struggle with aftershock, the physical and emotional reverberations of
frightening, horrifying, or otherwise traumatizing experiences endured in the course of their
activism (Jones, 2007). They have been brutally beaten, tortured, and wrongfully imprisoned.
Some of them are so badly injured they will never be quite the same again, emotionally or
politically (Starhawk, 2001).
PHILIPPINES ACTIVISM
ADD UP ON ACCREDITED ACTIVIST PARTY IN THE PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, activism becomes dangerous. Between 2001 and 2006 hundreds
of killings, disappearances, death threats, and cases of torture have been documented by
the independent human rights center, KARAPATAN, and the church-linked Ecumenical
Institute for Labor Education and Research. Since 2001, there have been 400 documented
extrajudicial killings. In 2004, 63 were killed and in 2005, 179 were assassinated and
another 46 disappeared and presumed dead and in the first two and a half months of 2006,
there have been 26 documented political assassinations (Petras & Abaya, 2006). Activists
who defend the rights of victims, specifically the marginalized, need to choose from two
choices. The first choice is to give up and the second one is to get killed. Thus, those who
defend other people have ended up becoming victims themselves (Reyes, 2007).
Even if these activists know how dangerous their work is and even if they have families
and loved ones, they still choose to continue, fight, and be motivated due to the conviction of
their beliefs and the neediness to change the status quo, which in they think is unjust. They chose
to take the risk and make a difference, they have this greater need or desire to live on 'higher
moral ground', that ethical shift may become the basis of persistent peace activism (Downton &
Wehr, 1998). They didnt involve themselves in this dangerous situation for nothing. They hold
strongly into their commitment, and they know by heart that those issues that they are fighting
for are noteworthy. Moreover, the activist's commitment is set within a larger constellation of
obligations to family, job, and friends (Downton & Wehr, 1998). These reasons urge them to
continue despite the consequences they have to face, including violence and death. As a result,
some of these activists are ridiculed by their own friends and worse, rejected from the society
(Reyes, 2007). INSERT HERE WHY ENGAGE IN THIS STUDY
The objective of our study is not just to determine the significance of political identity to
the young adults of the 21
st
century political activism but also to identify the reason behind their
yearning being an activist and to investigate profoundly into the lives of these people to reveal
the indispensable features which influenced their capacity to preserve.
Political Activism
Compared to research about activism and what activists do, researchers paid a little
attention to political activism and factors that push people to develop their political identity.
Thus, we found that there are 5 main predictors of political activism. These predictors are
called as the Big Five which composes of extraversion, openness to experience,
emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. According to McAdams and
Pals (2006, p. 207), these broad traits provide consistency and predictability to an
individuals behaviors across a range of situations. In contrast to these broad traits, they
argue, there is a wide range of motivational, social-cognitive, and developmental
adaptations, contextualized in time, place, and/or social role (p. 208). They also pointed
out that characteristic adaptations are typically more specific and malleable than are
dispositional traits and that traits likely exert some influence on the development of some
characteristic adaptations (p. 209). For example, family and peer biases could have a
major impact on being a political activist. In addition to that, many variables are said to be
related to political activism. Researchers discover a link between referent attitudes and
political activism; this has not always been the case in studies on social work activism.
Some studies confirm the socialization argument. Recently, Ritter (2008) and Chui
and Gray (2004) concluded that social workers were more engaged in activism when they
discussed politics with colleagues and family members. Similarly, in a study of peace
activism among social work students, Ezell (1993) and Hamilton and Fauri (2001) found no
relationship among the frequency of political conversations with one's co-workers, one's
family of origin, and the amount of political activism among employed social workers.
Moreover, it was also found that personal political salience was consistently related to
political activism Studies show that political activism among students increased after
colleges offered policy practice experiences outside of the classroom (Anderson & Harris,
2005; Rocha, 2000; Sather, Weitz, & Carlson, 2007). Stewart and Gold-Steinberg (1996)
found that adult reproductive experiences were related to increased political consciousness
and political activism in women. Fahs (2007) found that divorced women were more likely
to consider political movements of the 1960s to be personally significant and were more
likely to be involved with politically oriented community organizations after their divorces
compared to their still-married counterparts.
In addition to that, research showed lots of variables that influence and is associated with
the activist behavior; these are the social psychological variables such as value orientation,
attitudes and knowledge (McFarlane & Boxall 2003). Their attitude is observed to voice out all
the injustices they see and feel, they really practice their right to be heard and act on it according
to the righteousness that they want. Their knowledge of the situations is the arbitrator in their
rambling deeds. Thus, the study supports the call for a more complete model of activism that
includes the interplay between social psychological variables and macro-factors such as the
environmental movement in shaping attitudes and influencing behavior (Stern et al., 1993; Dietz
et al., 1998).

SYNTHESIS
Summing up, past studies gave details and explanations about who and what the activist
do, what political activism is, activism in the Philippine setting and the psychological effects it
has. Notwithstanding the escalating amount of activism records, these studies did not focus on
the lived experiences of the development of activists. Due to the gap presented in the up to date
literature, the researchers would like to know the experiences of young adult activist in the
Philippines towards the development of their political. Consequently, this study also aims to
comprehend and be aware of the stories told by the activists in order to have an in-depth analysis
of their experiences, and be able to situate with their personal experiences, culture and historical
contexts. There is a need to study these development experiences for the reason that activist are
often times judged, labelled, and stereotyped as people who rebel against the government
because of unknown reasons, people who have nothing to do with their lives but to rally and
protest, in doing this study we will be able to understand where they are coming from, and to
know the factors and in-depth details that developed them into an activist.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
RESEARCH QUESTION
This study focuses on the narrative told by the activists, specifically their experiences as
expressed in their stories. We aspire to make deeper meanings and in-depth assessment on the
development of their Identity in Politics. For that reason, this study seeks to know, how
the activists in the Philippines upon the development of their political identity sees themselves in
terms of their status in the country, their motivations in which their desire to seek for change is
rooted from.
How do the activist participants construct their experiences before?
How do the participants construct their experiences during the time they started being
activists?
How do the participants construct their experiences after they have become activists?
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The researchers have found out that there have been limited studies about activists and
people judge them because of what they do (e.g., rallying).The rich information from the
interview with some political activists will encourage possible contribution to the learning and
understanding of the human race and future researchers in the area of political activism in
general.
In this study, we want to know the perspectives of different activists, listen to their
experiences, and find out how activism change their point of views in life. Most importantly, we
want to know how these experiences and perspectives shape their identity.
Approaching activism and the activists, the research may shed light on how to attend and
deal with the people behind the rallies. Furthermore, the purpose of this study is to know more
about activists identity so people could also avoid confusions and misunderstandings about
them.
SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
This study will be focusing on activists in Manila, Philippines since it is the most
accessible location for the researchers. Moreover, conducting interviews for different activists
with also different socio-economic status, organizations, and professions will take two weeks or
a month. However, this study will be delimited to participants who are only from mid-20s and
students are not allowed to be interviewed. In addition to that, even if we, the researchers, all live
in the Philippines, the literature we gathered was mostly from Western literature. Hence, Filipino
values were not taken into consideration.
CHAPTER 2
RESEARCH DESIGN
Qualitative research will be employed in this study for it is the best way to answer the
research questions being asked. Quantitative research roots its foundations on meaning. It
focuses on how people perceive the world and their experiences. It does not concern itself with
identifying variables of relation, but veers into what the person makes of what they experience
(Willig, 2008).
The researchers made use of Narrative Research design based on the interviews gathered
that formed biographies from the participants. Narrative Research explains human activity,
defines self and personal identity, and uses Ethnographic approach which is a way of recording
biographical data as lived events. With the use of this, researchers have captured the significant
events that the participants have encountered in garnering their political identity basing the
experiences that they have dwelled a life in being an activist. In a comprehensive story-telling
the researchers are enabled to a data rich in specificities constructed by the knowers which
they will experience firsthand. Narratives also includes body language, visual images and
different media effects that did not limit the researchers of word based communication
(Clandinin and Connelly, 2000; Whitehead and McNiff, 2006; Hedy Bach, 2007; Reissman,
2008; Paul Macintosh, 2008). In the light of Narrative Research, one of its strengths is allowing
the participants to conceptualize their own scene in their own plot of events, which is how
human existence is formed, through synthesis and analysis(Narrative handout given by Miss
Salanga). Webster and Mertova also notes that Narrative is not as objective reconstruction of
life it is a rendition of how life is percieved (2007:3).
PARTICIPANTS AND SAMPLING DESIGN
A purposive sampling method will be done throughout this study. A purposive sample is
a non-representative subset of some larger population, and is constructed to serve a very specific
need or purpose (Tongco 2007). The researchers have a specific group in mind, which are
activists in profession. The researchers will attempt to zero in on the target group, interviewing
whomever is available.
There will be at least two participants that will be interviewed for this study. The
participants would be of both genders and are currently a part of an active activist group. It is
important to know that the participants in the study are not fair-weathered activists, in this way
we can gather information truly from activists not individuals who goes with the flow or are only
paid for rallies so that the data gathered will consistently come from authentic individuals. The
study needs activists who are serious about being part of an activist group and is dedicated to the
groups core mission and vision. The researchers have assessed the participants in a way that
they must fit in these criteria; must have an affiliation with the activist group for two years or
more; must commit time of at least ten hours every week in service for the organization; they
may or may not have jobs outside the organization so long as they comply with the ten hours per
week inside the organization. The participants are contacted through known sources of the
researchers. PL AND TRISHA PLEASE INSERT HERE KUNG SAAN NIYO NAKUHA
YUNG PARTICIPANT NIYO. The last participants contact information was gathered from a
seminar, a month ago before the study. Participant C or Doc is the founder and director of his
own activist movement for the environment from 1995 to the present. He is a working
professional who was previously part of a previous president staff and secretaries while
continuously being active on his activist movement. The interview will be conducted for one
hour with two of the researchers (one interviewer and one note-taker) and their participant
(interviewee).
INSTRUMENTS
There will be a questionnaire to be read for the participants to answer. While conducting
the interview, a voice recording device will be active to document the conversation of the
interviewer and the interviewee. The questions that will be asked are as follows:
Opening Questions:
Ano ang organisasyon o grupo na iyong sinalinan?
Ano ang nag-udyok sa iyo na sumali sa kanila?
May may mahalagang layunin ba ang grupong iyong sinalinan na nakapukaw ng iyong
atensyon? Ano iyon?
Introductory Questions:
Pwede niyo po bang ikwento sa amin yung mga halimbawa ng mga pangyayaring sa
inyong karanasan bilang aktibista?

Transition Questions:
Bakit po mahalaga ang pag-sali niyo sa grupong inyong kinauunlakan?
Bakit po mahalaga na ipaglaban ang inyong mga layunin?
Key Questions:
Ano po ang nararamdaman niyo sa tuwing magsasagawa kayo ng pagpulong at paglaban
ang inyong mga layunin?
May epekto po ba sa katayuan niyo sa komunidad ang pagiging aktibista o magin parte
ng aktibong grupong may pinaglalaban para sa bayan?
In this research, the researchers had one-on-one interviews with the
qualified participants. The language used during the interviews is Filipino for
the reason that the interviewees are more confident and comfortable in
expressing their selves in the Filipino language, also the questions asked are
made straightforward, uncomplicated, and asked the best way possible in order
to have a smooth flow of interview. The researchers conducted (2) two pilot-test
interview to guarantee the validity. To add to that, participants were told about
the study and secured their confidentiality; they were asked to sign the consent
form and asked if it is okay to record the interview. An iPhone and Samsung
Mega was used to record the whole interview which lasted 1 hour each. Lastly,
these were decoded into verbatim transcripts and narrative analysis was utilized
to have an in-depth interpretation.



PROCEDURE
The interview will be held in a quiet place room or a place that they prefer on which they
feel comfortable in. before starting with the interview, the researchers should wait if their
participants are settled before the interview session will start. Once the participant would feel at
ease, the researchers will then introduce themselves and will brief their participants the consent
form prepared for the study. they will have a small talk or have a get-to-know conversation to
keep the flow of the interview going. The researchers will then ask permission to their
interviewees if they could record their conversation. One will take note everything that is part of
the conversation with the interviewer and the interviewee. before starting the interview, the
researchers should then ensure their participants that everything will be kept confidential and be
used for research purposes only. The researchers should give a recap of the study. After the
interview, the researchers should show gratitude for the participants willingness to be
interviewed and be able to give a token of appreciation.
DATA ANALYSIS
In this present study, thematic analysis will be done to analyze the gathered information
from the interview session with the participant. Thematic analysis will be able to identify,
analyze and to report the studys theme but it reaches on further to a number of interpretations
with a whole new different aspect (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The recorded conversation between
the interviewer and the interviewee will be transcribed into a readable form to be reviewed.
Initial codes will be generated once the there is a familiarization of the patterns. The codes will
then determine the theme of the study. Once the themes are organized to show interpretation of
the aspect of the study, it will illustrate the studys significance (Braun & Clarke, 2009).
RESULTS

Clustered Theme Initial Theme Definition
Comparing Situations
Resentment to the
Government

Social Involvement










DISCUSSION

LIMITATION

CONCLUSION

*DISCUSSION PART INCLUDE SCHMITT, JUSTICE SENSITIVITY*
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APPENDIX
APPENDIX A: Instrument and other Protocols
APPENDIX B: Validity Studies on Instrumentss
APPENDIX C: Exemplar Transcript and Analysis of Pilot Test
Doc Transcript
Joey So.. Uhm.. First of all po, I want to introduce my..
Doc Talagang first of all? Di ba pwedeng second? hahaha..
Joey I want to introduce myself po, Ako po si Joey Gatchalian and I am with Nash Dunuan.
Uhm..
Doc How are you related to the Gatchalian of ano..? The powerful Gatchalian in Metro
Manila? No relationships?
Joey Distant lang po.
Doc Ah distant lang. Tignan mo. Sabe ko na nga ba eh. Hahaha.. The Plastic King di ba?
Gatchalian. Go ahead.
Joey Uhm.. So.. Gusto po naming itanong po sa inyo kung okay lang po bang ikwento niyo po
sa amin yung karanasan niyo bilang environmental activist?
Doc Anong gusto mong karanasan? Kasi maraming karanasan, no? You have to put it into
context. Uhm.. iba yung karanasan to become an organizer. Iba yung karanasan if you are
a plain advocate. Iba yung karanasan kung ikaw ay leader. At iba ang karanasan kapag
ikaw ay nag-network, no, at nag-partner. Iba yung karanasan yuon nga sabe niyo nga
naging advocate ka. So in advocacy, the end of advocacy is, when you push for a policy
framework where you know for a fact the background of a serious..a serious public issue,
in this case on environment. And then viewing as an advocate in the issue, what are the
possible policies that you should address this issue. And here, you look at the problem
pag advocate ka. So the end of advocacy is when you are able to present very solid,
clear, and compelling public..uh..policy paper. And the end of a policy paper is when you
get to have a law. So pag advocate ka, the end of advocacy is when a law is actually
ah..uhm..filed and passed in congress. The second level is on the execution. So when the
policy is there, for example.. as an advocate in the environment, ever since we have been
barking on..let us have a common encompassing policy regarding solid waste
management. And there you have.. we have the 9003.. R.A. 9003 The Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of the Philippines. And then we were advocating on for the clean
air.. we have the Clean Air Act. We are also advocating for clean water. Everything is
there. But the thing is, the next level is Is it being implemented? and in the
implementation stage, you have this government. The triad, no? You have the
government. You have the civil society. And you have the citizenry. So..uhm.. its the
citizenry the body politic, di ba? Eto yung target ng public policy eh. And the policy
implementers are those in the government. But, its a given fact nowadays even
internationally, the government cannot in anyway mobilize and make all these people
follow the law, right? Minsan may problema dito.. Corruption, incompetence, incapacity,
no funding (the government side). Dito naman, nag aantay lang sila yung passive, di ba?
Ang tanong, kung may pondo yan gagalaw dito. Kung wala, wala. So here comes the
civil society. The civil society now connects, like the Save Mother Earth Movement di
ba, so here we are. We are not paid. We are volunteers. Uhm.. we are volunteers and we
are not paid because we are..we are uh..ano.. we are..we have no value as volunteers. We
chose not to be paid because we are priceless. Di ba? Cause if you want to pay us, you
cannot pay us because this is advocacy. We are not here cause we just want to work and
just want to earn a living. Why we are here we are an advocate for the environment until
the end of that public policy implemented. So here is the civil society. And the civil
society has now the heart and the expertise, the commitment di ba? The thing is, we are
limited in terms of the funding. You dont have the influence given to public agencies
that you can you know.. coerce them into following. So, its now the triad. In the
execution side the government, to implement the law, to fund the law. And here comes
the civil society to help the government, noh? and here are the people. Now, the problem
is, how would you, for example.. we have this program in DENR, The Community-
based Forrest Management. When you say community-based forest management..
Joey Kailan po yun?
Doc Huh? Matagal na to.
Joey Mga ano pong year?
Doc Matagal na yan. Mga 90s pa yan. 90s pa na program na yan ah. So ang idea ng program
is.. Imagine mo DENR di ba? I think if Im not wrong just to state the sorry state of it.
Meron tayong mga forest rangers to guard the forest from the intrusions of the private
individuals to cutting, to protect the trees. Isipin niyo, ang ano ata is 50 hectare is to 1
forest ranger. Imaginin mo, how can one forester can guard the 50 hectare forest. Paano
kung andun na sa loob di ba? just imagine, so.. paano mo ngayon gagawin yan? So they
came up with the program Community-based Forest Management. So the programs calls
for the training of the community di ba? So they could be the one to take care of the
forest that is the actual source of their life. They will be educated that.. hey dont cut the
trees they will soon cut you it will cut their lives. So ganon. Dapat pangalagaan niyo
yan, sige pwede ninyong gamitin yan mag-tanim kayo dyan. Kunin niyo yung mga
secondary yung mga laglag wag niyo lang sisirain. They are made to believe and they are
made to consider that the forest is the source of their life. So, the civil society now helps.
Kasi ito kapag katapos dito, basta alam mo naman the mentality of the government, 8
hours, after 8 hours i have to leave. Enough na yan. Tapos na yan. But civil society is
24/7. Kasi advocacy yan eh. Puso yan eh. So yan kami yung "Save Me" pupunta ngayon
dyan. And it's more than education. Hindi lang yung tuturuan kita ganito ganyan, hindi.
Kaya kailangan namin mag-immerse. That's why we have a program called yung
"Lakbay Aral". It's a 12-day program. We immerse kasi maraming leader nagsasabing
"pusong mahirap". Leche! Hello? Pusong mahirap ka tago ang presidente tago ang
mayor. Hindi totoo yan. Pero yung mga "Save Me" leaders namin they have to immerse
with the.. ano ba kulay ng mahirap. Ano ba? Halimbawa ikaw sweetheart. Have you ever
experienced na kumain ka sa kinakainan nung mga mahihirap na mahihirap? Na kakain
sila sa isang bao. Di ba? Nakatulog ka na ba kung san sila natutulog? Naransan mo na ba
yung hindi sila kakain aantayin nila yung tatay from the forest. Kapag walang nakuha na
woods di sila kakain. no? Kapag walang root crops di sila kakain. Oh kung fishermen
sila, kung walang wala silang makuha kasi wala bebenta muna di ba? Ako alam ko yan
mahirap ako nung bata pa ako. Yung tipong aalis yung nanay at tatay ko pupunta sila sa
mangingisda sila. Pagka tapos pagdating ibebenta ko pa yung isda. Pag walang bumili
isda ang kakainin ko Isda lang kakainin namin. Walang walang bigas. So ganun kahirap.
So dito pumapasok this advocacy of mine ah you will read between the lines of my
answers. Hindi eto fake. Hindi eto na advocate ako for the environment because i am
with it kasi that's the craze you know that's the uso thing now. No no no no I know it. I
know it. Now that I am already okay na ako buhay ko di ba at least I could live my life
the way I should live it. Di ba because of hard work and education, I am now trying to
somehow be part of the educational system na public meaning your dad's tax..taxes were
used to have me educated in the public school. I know. Kapag umuuwi ako sa probinsya
namin imagine mo dati papasama ako sa nanay at tatay ko mamingwit, pagkalagay mo ng
paen, itapon mo, magbilang ka lang ng 1 2 3 4 5 meron ng ano yan meron ng ano yan
meron ng kakagat. May huli ka na. Ngayon, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, wala
pang.. wala pang ano.. wala pang kumakagat. Bakit? Kasi nasira na yung corals, kasi
commercial fishing. Yung mayayaman inuubos yung moroami yung mga destructive na
talagang uubusin ang lahat. So what happens now to the marginal farmers? You know,
when you say okay lang naman yan Doc hanap-buhay nila yan eh. No. You have to look
up the statistics. Ilan ba ang naghihirap sa Pilipinas di ba 78 percent to 80 percent. 20
percent lang ang well-off. So kung itong mga well-off na 'to sila nakakabili ng
malalaking bangka. Nakakabili ng mga nets na sosobrang haba at lalake para makakuha
nang isda. What happens now to the marginal farmers? Marginal fishermen? Economy of
scale. Di ba La Salle kayo business school, economy of scale. Kung ako meron akong
isang hektarya o kalahating hektarya o 1/4 na hektarya magtatanim ako ng palay eh ang
input sobrang mahal no? Samantalang 'tong mga commercial farmers nakukuha,
economy of scale, 50 hectares tataniman lahat ng pinya di ba may nag iispray pag nandun
tayo sa eroplano makikita mo ang nagsaspray eroplano. I mean, hindi mo na napapansin
ang gastos. What happens? di ba? and all of these is environment. so hindi lang ang
environment ay physical eh may social environment if you see the destruction of physical
environment it's the manifestation of that is something. It is the manifestation of the
cause. It is the effect. Ang basura ba magiging basura? na gusto niya maging basura?
Sino ang gumagawa ng basura? Kaninong concept ang basura? Tao di ba? Ang puno ba
pinuputol ang sarili niya? Ang tubig ba dinudumihan ang sarili niya? Ang hangin ba
dinudumihan sarili niya? Sino nag-isip na putulin ang puno? Nakita niyo ang puno board
fit para yumaman siya lalo so puputulin niya bebenta niya. Di niya alam yun yung
oxygen. Nagbibigay. Hindi tama yung acounting. Yung accounting lang natin ilang board
fit ang yung puno. Mali yung accounting natin. Yung accounting ng iba, ganito kalaki
ang masasave natin pag imbes gumawa tayo ng water treatment itapon natin sa pasig
river itapon natin sa river system. Tas bayad nalang natin corruptin natin yung mga tao.
Therefore, pollution starts from here. And what you see is actually the manifestation of
the kind of thinking our people today in this world. So "Save Me Movement" is an
advocate for the social environment. You don't see us planting. Bakit kayo magtatanim,
para lang putulin? Bakit kayo mamumulot ng basura, para yung iba magtapon sa malinis
na lininis namin? Ba't kayo maglilinis ng water waste, para lang tapunan niyo? No way.
Hihiyain ka namin. Na kapag nagtapon ka, sasabihin ko kailan mo pa nabili ang buong
mcdo para gawin mong basurahan? Kailan mo pa nabili ang buong grounds ng La Salle
para gawin mong basurahan? So that is our advocacy. Okay? So implementation, ang
dami niyan para dapat i-implement. So from advocacy, from policy making to
implementations advocacy. And then when you sustain that. papasok yan ngayon on how
do you educate. eto na yung concern mo eh. how do you make this people move? yun na
ang tinatawag natin siguro na activism. This groups like "Save Me". Minsan sinasabe
natin yung gobyerno nagiging hyper critical kasi gobyerno may kasalanan niyan eh.
Imbes na magtanim ng puno dito, ninakaw ang pera. that is destroying you. so what will
happen to the people? mahirap na nga kami, ninakaw niyo pa resource namin, hindi na
nga kami pinartehan pagkatapos wala kayong pakielam sa amin kung mamatay kami dito.
Look at Yolanda. Imagine mo dadaing ang gutom. Nagrorot na pala yung.. because yung
gobyerno walang capacity to distribute. Lahat nalang gusto dumaan sa DSW. Ang dami
daming gustong magbigay. Bakit hindi natin i-mobilize? Eto na naman, the goverment is
so fuckingly untrustworthy because kasi sila iniisip nila.. imagine mo ang gaganda yung
iba Ma-ling nakalagay bakit 555 ang nakarating? We opted and we have accepted na
ganyan na talaga eh. imagine mo ang dami daming business dyan. yung mga ukay-ukay.
Saan galing yan? Lahat yan bigay ng iba't ibang bansa para sa mga na lindol, na baha
pero bakit nandyan binebenta at walang humuhuli? May anti-fencing law tayo na kapag
ninakaw ko cellphone mo binenta ko nalaman mo na eto yung bumili ng ninakaw. Mas
malalim ang liability mo kesa sa magnanakaw... Binebenta niyo ang para sa mga biktima.
Pero bakit walang na huhuli? kasi protected. Yan yung advocacy namin. That we train so
that after 18 to 40 years we can produce leaders na talagang alam ang mahirap alam yung
problema. Alam yung interplay ng government, civil society at body politic. At dito kami
active.
Joey Ano po yung personal experience niyo, if I may ask? Ano po yung personal experience
niyo that started your advocacy?
Doc Ayun. Yung mahirap kami. Nung bata pa kami, mahirap na kami. So san kami
nabubuhay? Alam niyo yung palawan yung root crop, yun ang nagpalaki sa akin. Kasi
wala kami pang bili ng bigas. Sa eastern samar ako lumaki. So i live up with the
environment. Hanggang grade 3 wala akong shorts dahil sa hirap. Habang yung mga bata
tumatakbo pauwi para kumain para magbreak, ako tumatakbo pa bundok, bakit?
kailangan kong tawirin ang dalawang bundok para makakuha ako ng malalaking bayabas
para pagpasok ko ng hapon may pagpapalit ako para may lapis ako na maliit atsaka may
papel ako. Without nature could not have had my studies. Without nature I could've died
of hunger. Kapag wala kaming ulam kukuha ako ng kaldero pupunta ako sa shore at
kukuha ako ng mga seashells. Virtue pala maging mahirap kasi you eat the right food. So
dun na nagsimula. Ngayon I'm 45 years old buhay sa akin at sa tingin ko marami pang
Edwin Monares na ganito ang karanasan. SIguro kasama na ako sa 20 percent na maayos
ang buhay. May pattern ba ang pagiging social activist ko para masundan nila? Kahit
aktibista ako sa PUP at nag aaral ako hindi ko nalilimutan na estudyante pa rin ako. Na
dapat kahit anong laban ko dyan, if you want to change the system, be in the system. You
cannot be in the system if you are not going to follow the law. Nung naging teacher ako,
low and behold, dumami kami sa "Save Me". May bumaba na katulad ko at nakinig sa
kanila, nakitulog sa kanila, nakikain sa kanila, na maexperience ko ano yung kind of
hospitality. Na kung anong meron sila dun ka matutulog at ang pagkain. Okay na sa
kanila yun kesa sa bibigyan mo yan ng computer. Hindi yan ang mga kailangan ng tao.
Hindi awa. Kailangan nila yung tulong kung san nila mahahanap yung landas na hindi
sila kaaawaan. And I am speaking from my experience.
Joey Pero nung nagka college po kayo, nakatulong po ba yun yung environment niyo doon
nakatulong po ba sa inyo para maging active ka sa ganyang bagay?
Doc Ay oo! Kasi imagine nag aaral ako nakatira lang ako sa pangatlong asawa ng babaero
kong uncle. Imaginw mo yung babae galit na galit sa lahi namin kasi di ba. galit na galit
auntie ko di binibigyan ng pamasahe. Yung pagkain niya na iba kesa sa pagkain namin na
para bang di niya ako pamangkin. Dati yung PUP paligid niyan puro squatter mga
kaibigan ko lahat yan yung mga holdaper, pickpockets. Ano ginagawa namin? Nagluluto
kami ng bigas naglulugaw kami nag aaral ako ng college sa bona. sa lata ng bona. tas yun
ang kakainin namin.. Maging administrator ka nang munisipyo binabayaran ka nang
milyon. San ka makakakita ng milyon? Lunukin mo lang pride mo. Ako di ko nalunok . I
resigned after 6 months. Utang sa taong bayan, bakit mo ako babayaran na utang ng
bayan. How can you resist 3 million cash offered to you? Ang corrupt mga businessmen
because they are corrupting those in the government.. Si Greggy. Tumawag siya sa akin
may nag ooffer sayo na senador, ano yan, one million daw. This was circa 2002-2003,
one million, oh ano okay yan! Assistance daw para sa "Save Me" pero ang mahirap sir,
reresibuhan daw pero wala silang resibo eh national lang ang resibo reresibuhan daw po
naten ang arrangement po, 800 thousand ibabalik naten sa kanila, yung 200 thousand yun
ang matitira sa atin. Imagine mo, that's how they are corrupting the NGOs kaya tignan
mo ngayon. The corruption is now with them. The Napoles camp at hindi lang yan!
Malaki pa yan. Hindi lang si Napoles yan marami dyan kahit sa government may mga
NGO na corrupt. Di ko na sasabihin kahit sa DSWD yung mga opisyal dyan. Because we
came from one sector. They are at the receiving end. Pano ka naman sa Pilipinas na eto.
Hindi ako aktibista na gusto i-overthrow ang government at magpatayan tayo. At the end
of the day, tayo pa rin ang talo. Kami pa rin mahihirap ang magpapatayan hindi
mayayaman. Hindi ako tulad ng ibang aktbista na gusto ng rebolusyon. No way! at the
end of they day kalaban mo mga sundalo. Sino ba ang mga sundalo? Mahirap eh. Tas
papatayin niya mahirap din. No way. Kung ako gusto ko maging supersibo magiging
terrorista ako. Pero kung makikipag patayan ako sa ordinaryong sundalo. No way. I think
the solution is when I become a millionaire, I have my own business. It is a political
consultancy and i'm teaching the local politicians that this is government. this is politics.
This is the way to do it. Hindi yan tinuro sa inyo. Hindi siguro kami kasing yaman ng
nanay at tatay niyo o ang mga kamag anak niyo na nasa La Salle but we are trying our
best how to do our social enterprise that we will not be destroying institutions but we will
be earning by building institutions.
Joey Kailan po nag start yon?
Doc Kasabay siya nung kailan namin na found yung "Save Me". As a volunteer of the
economic system because we opted to be paid because we are priceless.
Joey Ano pong year yon?
Doc 1995. August 8, 1995. Ako ang mag isa ang unang "Save Me" tapos ngayon 150
thousand na kami sa buong Pilipinas. 100 or 200 chapters. But this is our advocacy hindi
kami yung nag rarally. Mag rarally ka dyan, sino ba pinuperwisyo mo? Di ba driver din.
Eh mahirap din yan eh. Yung mga mayayaman may GPRS naman yan eh di iiwasan ka
lang.So bakit ka magrarally? Kawawa sila. Iba yung aktibista ko. This is rational
activism. I know. Kasi "Save Me" is a fundamentalist organization. Meaning we don't
solve the periphery we know the cause of the problem. The cause of the problem is the
values of the people. Hindi natin sinisisi ang mayayaman kasi mayaman sila. Hindi natin
sinisisi ang mahihirap pero may kasabihan na ako nga buhay na mahirap pero hindi
kasalanan mabuhay ng mahirap pero ang mamatay kang mahirap ka pa rin yun ang
mortal sin. Yung dispalinghado nga eh yung isa lang yung kamay eh umuunlad eh. yung
bulag nga kumikita eh. Ikaw pa kaya buo ka.
Joey Being part before and after ano yung sa tingin mong pagbabago nakamit niyong bago sa
adhikain niyo?
Doc Ay malaki. Well, I have here di ba, dating student leader siya. He is now stationed in
Iceland. A boss of an airlane. Hindi rin mayaman pero ngayon marami na siyang
natutunan na naipapasok niya sa airline industry. May sarili siyang business na
legitimate. Hindi na ngungurrupt na business.. Pag member ka ng "Save Me", ang tawag
sayo ay mover. Think globally but act locally. You may have all the problems on you but
the thing is can you solve all of that? No, just pick. Pick your battles to when the war.
Hindi yung buong gera gaganunin mo. You have to craft your way. Choose your battles.
And your first battle begins in you. Mahirap na nga ako, magpapakatanga o maglalandi
pa ba ako sa eskwelahan. Hindi na nga ako kumakain, hindi pa ba ako mag aaral ng
mabuti. It's you and your conscience. You are not to blame anybody. Yun yung impact na
siniasabe mo. In fact, ang dami ng batas yung mga nakikita ko modules namin nakikita
ko kasi binibigay namin for free..
Joey Yan po ba ang mga realizations mo nag grow nung medyo latter part o kalagitnaan na po
nung pagiging activist mo?
Doc Yes. "Save Me" started it's not mine. I was a student leader then I attend. nagtuturo na
ako nung '92 noon. Nung '95 i was head of the environment of the Philippines executive
vice president. I was not a member for memberships sake. I was there advocating for
agriculture because i see that is the hope of the people in the Philippines. Pinadala ako sa
Taipei sa Asia Pacific Youth Forum for the Environment. So doon sinabe ko yung
kailangan magkaroon ng environmental ethics.. Yun yung problema that's when i become
a consultant of CHED under chairman puno, yan ay ang laging pinaguusapan namin lagi.
Mali yung education natin..Pag graduate ka ng La Salle at Ateneo pag aagawan ka. Pero
tanong magkano tuition fee ng La Salle. Kung gusto niyo mabago ang kahirapan sa
Pilipinas, di ba education? Bakit hindi yung mahihirap nag aaral sa La Salle o Ateneo?
Wala dyan ang PUP, PIT, o public schools. Kaya ba nang mahihirap yang mahal ng
tuition fee niyo? That's the burden ng mahihirap. Para bang tinatakan ka na sa noo na
forever ka nang mahirap.Yan ang pagiging aktibista ko. I will question the system, but I
will be in the system. Pwede akong maging mayaman, super yaman, babaguhin ko lahat.
Nash Kelan mo naman na realize yun?
Doc Yun nga when suddenly I became educated, I had my Doctorate, I have my two MAs. I
had education, I had to compensate. I have my Law, my engineering, I have all that! I am
Studying! Because the school did not give it to me, mahihirap mga estudyante, mahihirap
rin mga titser, imbis na turuan mga estudyante, ang mga iniisp pagkakitan yung mga
estudyanteng mahihirap rin. Mga nagbebenta ng mga kung anu-ano. Kaya talagang dito
sa bansa na to sumpa ang pagiging mahirap, at kung yan ay nalusutan mo, sobrang galing
mo na dapat maging presidente ka dapat ng Pilipinas.
Joey How do you see yourself before you had your advocacy?
Doc I was just an ordinary victim of the system(laughs) diba. I was not that typical victim
because I was using my mind, God has given me wisdom. Tingnan mo sa pages ng
history, Christians tayong lahat, sino ba ang mga nakasama ni Jesus Christ? Mga
mayayaman ba? Mga sikat ba? Diba yung mga mangingisda. If we want to change the
world, we should stop hiring graduates of Ateneo of La Salle of UP of UST. We should
hire people maybe yung mga nakipag cha-cha sa kahirapan. Kasi sinasabi nila pag
mayaman hindi na magnanakaw, kalokohan yun. Para sa mahirap pag nakakita ka nang
ten thousand manginginig ka na, pero pag sa mayaman, makakita ka ng ten billion, one
billion yan, billion lang yan, sanay ako jan at they want more! Thats the law eh,
insatiability of human wants. Needs siguro may katapusan pero wants wala yan. So
mas malakas magnakaw ang mga mayayaman. Put it in the court, kasi sila hindi sila
takot. They can hire the lawyers, they can even buy Supreme Court. Magkano lang yan,
17 judges bigyan mo ng tig iisang billion yan, may absolute, kung 17 yan, kung 15 yan
bigyan mo yung 8 ng tig 1 billion, edi 8 billion lang yung nalugi sayo. Eh yung
babayaran mo 20 billion dahil hindi ka nagbabayad ng tax. Do you know who Im
reffering too? Ayoko nalang sabihin kung sinong businessman. Matatalo ka? Jan sa Rizal
isipin mo lupa na, na ibinigay sa mga mahihirap ngayon binawi ng Supreme Court pag-
aari daw ng isang mayaman na gusto pang tumakbo ng pagka Presidente ngayong 2016,
land grabber! Bigla nalang nagkaroon siya ng titulo! Yan ang sistema natin. Jan na
nagkaupo, tapos bigla nalang Oy amin yan, eto yung titile lumayas kayo jan!. all
because they can buy the bureau of deeds, bureau of lands, they can buy DENR, the
courts, saan tayo papunta nito? I am thinking magpatayan tayo, kagaya ng nangyari sa
ano, kasi in history ganun e. Walang umunlad na bansa ng walang bloodshed. America
had their share, France, has theirs China, Korea, Japan has theirs, Germany has theirs, the
whole of Europe has theirs. Is that true to the Philippines? Do we have to kill ourselves
just to liberate ourselves from poverty? This is not just a research, at hindi ako
nagpapacute na I just want my message to get across.
Joey So now, being part of the organization how do you see yourself now that you are fighting
for something?
Doc I see myself fulfilled a bit, Im in a position na nakikita ko na yung forest, dati trees lang
yung nakikita ko, ultimo mga fungus. Kaya now na mejo mataas-taas na ako sa canopy,
nakikita ko na aaah yan pala yung ginagawa niyo a Now that I am a doctor, kahit sino
na pwede ko kausapin, for all I care kahit senador ka Im sorry, but Ill tell you the plain
truth. Dati nagsalita ako sa PUP, I bad mouthed a congressman and the chairman of NYC
akala mo kung sino ka, you are a dishonourable in being a public servant, therefore if
you are a public servant sila ang master. Diba honourable ba ang katulong sa bahay?
Ang amo ang honourable. Pero sa bansang ito, kahit bata na SK na corrupt, honourable
na ang tawag. What is honourable kung ang honourable ay nasasangkot sa corruption na
ganito kalaki ang magnitude, I dont take that as honourable. Kaya no I was elected, I
dont want to be called as honourable! Ano ako yung R.A.? yung re-affirmist, yung
pumapatay? Sabi ko ako hindi ako ganun, yung R.A. ko Responsible and Accountable
hindi honourable. Because we are a public servant, respond to your call of duty and be
accountable for your own, kung nagkamali ka, ikulong mo sarili mo.
Joey Ano yung nais niyong mangyari pa as an individual?
Doc Sana dumami pa ang kagaya ko, na tataya dumami pa ang hindi matakot na magsiwalat
ng katotohanan. Sana dumami pa ang katulad ko na kayang tumanggi sa milyun-milyun
para sa dignidad. Sana marami pa na katulad ko ang tumayo, magsalita kahit na mahirap
ang pinanggalingan nila, na yung hindi ako yuyuko sa kahihiyan dahil alam ko na tama
ako.Sana, ang pagiging tama ay hindi nadedetermina ng yaman o ng pagiging sikat dahil
gwapo ka artista ka. Sana yung tama yung nararamdaman.Yung Supreme Court yung
mga judge na mag operate with their conscience, sana marami pang tao na mamuhay na
buo ang kunsensiya nila at sana yung mga nasa relihiyon, yung nasa education system.
Ako, naging head ako ng isang paaralan, but I resigned after six months why? Because
they were forcing me to raise the tuition fee. Bakit kelangan natin i-raise e hind ko pa
naman sinasabi sainyo? Kaya pa naman. Ang eskwelahan walang tax yan, hindi yan
business, alam mo ba yun? Lahat ng eskwelahan sa Pilipinas, hindi yan business. Sa
tingin mo saan napupunta yun?
Nash Last na po, feeling niyo po ba minority kayo?
Doc Hindi e, kasi in terms of number, marami yan, hindi lang sila nakakapagsalita. Hindi
nabibigyan ng pagkakataon mainterview ng katulad niyo, hind nakakapunta sa Climate
Change na Seminar na parang tanga na mas madami pang mga speaker kesa sa nanunuod.
Just to have that privilege, tapos tawa ako ng tawa, God! Ang gagaling dito ng mga
speaker, pero walang nakikinig, samantalang dito sa Save Me libo, dalawang libo ang
batang mahihirap na gusting making pero walang magagaling na speakers katulad niyo sa
La Salle, pero tingnan niyo ang nangyari, sino ang nakikinig sila-sila rin, tama mali?
Imagine mo, kung sana tong mga speakers na to, bababa sa mga binababaan namin at
explain Climate Change, na ganito yan, how will the Philippines respond, what will be
the impact of that. So hindi kami minority. I think that we are the minority, its just that
the system, ano ba yung sistema, na ang mayaman ang nagcocontrol, ang sikat ang
nagcocontrol, ang mga maimpluwensiya ang nagkcocontrol, so sila ang minority, but we
have the majority of power that is coercive diba? Pero it is a passive power sa Political
Science, tapos pag dating pa sa eleksiyon babayaran. Sana yun ang pagkakataon namin,
but the coercive power of money, fame, and media. That is why the Philippines is like
this. Nagsalita ako sa UP yung sa Palihan Pinoy yung the best of Filipinos, Im
explaining to them na hindi tayo katulong, mayaman tayo hindi tayo mga bobo mga
Indio, hindi tayo mga hostess mga Japayuki lahat nasa atin. Pero binabastos nila ako,
dahil daw si Gloria na amo ko corrupt. Binalik ko sakanila ang tanong, for the past 14
presidents karamihan jan graduate from UP, yung sa pinanggalingan ko sa PUP ni isa
wala, pero bakit ganito ang Pilipinas, baka kayo ang may problema. Kasi si Macapagal
Arroyo ay graduate niyo, titser niyo pa dito kaya nagiging bulok yung mga estudyante
niyo dito. Sino ba mga secretary diba mga taga Ateneo, La Salle, UST, pero bakit ganito
bansa natin? Andyan yung Psychology, why the people behaves the way that they do,
pwede namang gawin yan e, diba intervention Sino ba yung madaming business? Yang
sainyo school business yan e, Ateneo, La Salle, business yan. Pano naman yung mga
mahihirap. So jan palang may diskriminasyon na, pati sa pag-hire, syempre ang mga boss
tiga La Salle, kaya kung taga ibang school ka, sino ka? Kaya kahit magaling ka nobody
will hire you. But you know Im good. Kahit sinong executive dito sa Pilipinas ang
iharap mo sakin, kung kagalingan lang naman, pero dahil graduate sila sa La Salle, they
will be the Presidents, they will be the managers, not us na galing lang sa kung saan.
Baka gusto niyo subukan, kayak o yan, kahit wag niyo na ako suwelduhan. I will turn
your company upside down. Not really to lose, but it will be bent. Yung mga estudyante
ko takot, hindi makapag tanong, kasi yang mga kumpanya na dapat tutulong dahil sa
Social Responsibility pineperahan pa ang mga estudyante na mahihirap. It is all
marketing which is entirely selling again for profit. Diba ang leading businesses, how
much do they make? Ano ginagamit ba nila mga pera nila sa Yolanda? Hindi bigay ng
mga taong mahihirap. Pero anong ginagamit nila na truck? Diba galing sa gubyerno, pero
kami sa Save Me, meron kaming truck galing a sa mahihirap, I have to drive my own
truck 36 hours to bring it to Tacloban, ci-norrupt pa ako jan ng mga pulis, hindi pa ako
sinasakay, kino-corrupt pa ako, imagine mo. Paano, ang hirap maging mahirap, at ang
hirap ng tumutulong sa mahihirap. But again, hindi ko sinasabing magrebelde tayo, at the
end of the day ginusto mo maging mahirap, at ginusto mo maging mayaman at ang ugali
mo ganyan. Igagalang kita jan, pero sana dumami kami.
Nash Edi sinasabi niyo na konti lang po kagaya niyo?
Doc Mag-isip. Pero yung nararamdaman, iisa. Iba yung nararamdaman, sa naiintindihan e. its
a function of emotion, awang-awa na nga ako sa sarili ko e, pero naintindihan ko ba kung
bakit ako naawa sa sarili ko? Yun yung next level.
Nash Sinasabi niyo po ban a mas mataas na yung naiintindihan niyo?
Doc Ako? Kasi nag-aral ako e, I have two MAs I have a doctorate, I have my Law. I have
five degrees. Para hindi ako apihin. If I dont have my five degrees, who would listen to
me?
Nash So dati po, naeexperience niyo na apihin?
Doc Ay naman! Oo. Dati pitong award sa school, hindi binigay saakin dahil hindi ako
makapagbigay ng five pesos na contribution. Alam ko, I was way ahead. Nag-aaral na, 18
kami e sa probinsya, ako andun sa desk ng teacher ko, kasi iba ako. Alam ko na, so sila
fraction pa lang ako simple equations na. Meron namang special school na para saamin,
pero hindi ako naging first honor. Sa Manila Highschool, nung nag-aaral ako, lahat ng
award ko hindi binigay saakin, binigay dun sa mejo mayaman. Sino ba naman yang si
Edwin. Yung, uniporme ko naka ganyan, yung sapatos ko hanggang dito butas, *does a
walking action, a penguin walk, wherein he doesnt put his feet up because he is careful
that people will see his shoe open at the bottom* hindi na ako makalakad, wala na yung
swelas. Gusto kong tumaas ng kamay pero hindi ako makataas ng kamay, dahil makikita
nila yung polo ko na nag mamak-mak na dito. That is the hardship of being poor. You
psychologists know that. Yung iba jan nababaliw nalang, buti ako hindi nabaliw. Meron
akong gusting sabihin pero iniisip ko kung, yung iba alam niyo na yung mga
determinants ng mga behaviour. Sinong maniniwala saakin, irereject pa nila ako, baka
pagtawanan pa nila ako. Imagine mo nalang, how I treid my best to love my life.
Samantalang si Rizal, mayaman kaya ganun siya magsalita, kahit saan siya mag-aral.
Now he is our national hero. Rizal was rich! Siya ang may pinaka magagandang titser.
Ano ba ang hero may hierarchy? May national hero, regional hero? Dapat lahat ay hero,
there is a hero on everyone of us. Jan nanaman mali ang mga titser, na pinag-aaway ang
mga hero. Iba si Rizal, iba si Bonifacio, iba ka, iba ako. Mayroon kang ginagawa nasa
pangkalahatan ay pagiging hero. What is capitalism? It is the exploitation of man and the
resources, and what is Socialism? It is the reverse, but still it is exploitation of man, form
this and this. Ask me what is the perfect system? It should be humanism and Godism the
centre should be God and Humanity. All of us should care, mayayaman kayo, wala
kayong pakealam sakanila, pero sino ba ang magnanakaw sayo? Diba mga mahihirap?
Sino ba ang magddrive sayo? Diba mga mahihirap, bakit may executive ban a magddrive
sayo? Sino gumagawa ng damit mo? Diba mga mahihirap yan, so why the
discrimination? So they are as equal as you, kung walang magtatahi ng damit mo? Anong
isususot mo? So are the big companies, yung president ba nun better sa mga nagtatahi?
No parehas lang yan. Alam mo yung sabi ng isang famous *He was mentioning a name,
he quotes* if we want to redirect the educational system of our contry we need to
change 80% because they are entirely wrong and we need to remove 80% because they
might be wrong. Kasi kung tamo yung technology natin, hindi na siguro ganito ang
mundo. Kung totoo ang promise ng technology at education, hindi na dapat ganito ang
mundo. Pero the way it goes, ilang top ten ang pumapasa sa Civil Engineering, bakit lahat
ng big companies, ang hina-hire niyan mga top ten na Engineers, but behold, magpagawa
si Congressman ng kalsada, six months lusaw na. Asan yung top ten? Samantalang alam
mo yung sa Quiapo? Ginawa yan 1940s mga Amerikano may nakita ka bang crack dun?
Pero bakit yung pinagawa ni congressman ilan buwan lang? bakit yung mga tulay jan, e
ang mga gumawa niyan top ten from big companies. There must be something wrong
with educational system. Graduate ka ng accountant tapos pagdating mo sa company tatlo
ang libro. Tapos lulunukin mo nalang yung ano mo, because of money, Social Pollution,
so tatanggapin mo nalang na tatlo ang gagawin mo. Lawyers, so wala ito, talagang ganito.
Tanggapin nalang natin, mahirap nagnakaw, nang-rape? Tanggapin nalang natin mahirap
e. Hindi dapat ganito. Yung sa Maslow hierarchy yan e, edi kung hindi ko masatisfy yung
physiological, hindi ka makaakyat, pero kahit papano kahit naman 1% meron akong self-
esteem. You make a bar graph with a 100% siguro 80% ako physiological, pero meron
din akong sense of security. Hindi ganito, Tanggapin nalang ba natin na nag mga
mahihirap magnanakaw? Rapist? Wala silang self-esteem hindi, mali yan, the fact sila
nga ang pumupunta sa simbahan e. in fact meron kaming event sa Save Me, yung Lakbay
Aral, meron kaming challenge yung humility challenge. Mamamalengke sila ng walang
pera, literally mamamalimos. Alam mo for the past 17 years, yung mga malalakas
magbigay, yung mga naka bilao lang. ang gandang research niyan. Yung mga mahihirap,
sila pa yung mga nagbibigay ng marami, yung mga malalaking compaby, papalayasin. So
it takes somebody who knows how to be poor to give, kesa itong mga mayayaman na
dapat sila pa ang magigay. That is our experience na umiiyak ang mga aming estudyante.
Ganuon ang mga realization pala. Sila sa Naga, kung manghihinga ka sa ano, kung sa
mahihirap ihahabo pa sayo, naintindihan kasi nila kung pano maging mahirapat
mamalimos.
Nash Meron rin kaming na try na parang ganyan sa school, para sa Biology class namin,
nanghihingi lang kami ng piso, pero binibigay naman nila mga 50, hindi naman sila
naging madamot.
Doc Pero nagpakilala kayo na La Salle?
Nash Oo, sa campus yun e, pero tinry rin naman
Doc Oo nga sa campus kasi. Subukan niyo sa palengke dahil jan makikita ang tunay na kulay
Pilipinas. Subukan mo yung walang wallet, walang cellphone makikita mo yung tunay na
kahirapan. Na ang pamilya ng labandera, maglaba ka. It is okay to ba an Activist, but the
thing is what is the coor of your activism? What is the end goal of you activism? Is it
bloodshed? The means of your activism, is it bloodshed is it chaos? Ok kung peaceful, sa
Save Me kasi ang principle namin ay you are valuable as the universe and no one has the
right na saktan ka, we should agree to disagree. Yung sa hierarchy ng food chain nga diba
as much as possible wag nating patayin, dahil wala tayong karapatan. Kaya pag piata
kita ngayon, pag sinaktan kita ngayon, we are changing the course of the universe
because we have no right. Hindi kita puwedeng saktan o tanggalin ko yung kaligayahan
mo dahil you are part of the universe and that right is given to you. Tama? Yun ang pini-
preach namin. It is life the primacy of life, and life is not existence, life is defined as the
sta by the quality, hindi naman yaman diba, diba yung pano ka ba nabubuhay. The
essence of life is happiness. Ano ang pinag iba ng ako humahalakhak na mahirap, na
humahalakhak na si Bill Gates? Wala, parehas kaming masaya. Masasabi mo ban a mas
masaya siya dahlia mayaman siya, at ako ganito lang dahil mahirap ako? Masasabi mo
bang mas busog si Bill Gates kesa sa busog ko? Parehas lang yun. So whats the point?
The only differene is only the level of happiness. Kayo you spend this much para kumain,
kami sa PUP nagsasaing kami sa lata pag nabusog kami masaya kami, anong pagkakaiba
nun pag kumain kami sa fine dining? Nothing, it is just the ego na yea kumain kami sa
ganito. In fashion, bakit ba gusto mo ng uso na damit, ako may business, mura lang pero
mas maganda pa ang quality kesa sa Bench. Sino ba gumagawa niyang mga bench,
ordinary lang din naman pero pag nalagyan na nga brand mas mahal na. Thats business.
Sino pinapayaman natin yung mga mananahi ba, hindi. Saakin nga mas malaki pa kita ng
mga mananahi kesa sa mga big companies na ang mga mananahi dun kawawa. So
imagine kung magkakaroon tayo ng ganong klaseng social consciousness. Imagine kung
isang estudyanteng kagaya niyo ang magsasabing Dok impress kami sa ginagawa niyo,
gusto namin kayong tulungan, yung mga social case, meron kaming mga friends na
gusting tumulong diba, pwede ba kaming maki bonding, maki saw saw tingnan natin
kung ano ang impact, welcome kayo, welcome kayong lahat. Kaya I spend time talking
to you, kasi I know thatm ayun na nga significant people kayo eh, imagine kung ikaw
magiging Save Me sweetheart, magsasalita, papakinggan ka diba, the impact! Diba, kesa
magsasalita tiga PIP, san yan, sino yan. Pero kung magsasalita taga La Salle, taga UP,
pero nag ano kami sa UP iba talaga, we have our members sa UP, pero di sila ganun ka-
active, mga grade conscious, mas grade ang kanilang ano rather than service.
Joey So we would like to thank you for enlightening us, um
Doc Mm, I think that is my duty
Joey So thank you for giving us time and more knowledge. So thank ou po talaga.
Doc As what I have said, I am only an instrument, this will not happen, if this is not destined
to happen.



*OBSERVATIONS: put in the results!* We noticed. Part of the narrative, about the
characteristics within the flow of the story

After the tape, he told us a story about his former student whom he has imparted a lot of
knowledge, telling us about the kids accomplishment through Save Me, how the kid has gar
nered international praises from the UN and so on. The kid went living in the States he told us,
when he came back Doc said that he was breathing a different air