IN ANY WHICH way one looks at it, marching in the streets (on such occasional formations as a phalanx of mourners in a cortege, religious processions or mass actions for or against an issue, etc.) isn’t easy under the heat of the sun or the drench of the rain, more appropriately in the case of rallyists while chanting “burukrata kapitalismo, ibagsak! Imperyalismo, ibagsak! piyudalismo, ibagsak! (down with bureaucrat-capitalism! down with imperialism! down with feudalism!) or the more recent battle cry, “ang tao, ang bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban (citizens, country, are now woke to fight for their ranks and their rights).”
Marching in protest actions especially against an erring status quo and being profiled, intimidated or under surveillance by authorities engaged in witch-hunt or simply silencing dissent, isn’t easy.
‘Despite frustrations, these celebrities still pin their hopes that corruption in the Philippine government ends although some of them demand, aside from accountability, imprisonment to lawbreakers while some ask for heads to roll.’
Going out, physically, that is, from one’s comfort zone—the coolness of an air-conditioned room; the convenience of riding luxurious or state-of-the-art vehicles or just plain private cars; the complacency of being rich, privileged and famous; the easy opportunity of rubbing elbows with powerful people and those born with silver spoons in their mouths; the prospect of earning relatively hefty take home salaries or talent fees; the safety of living in a palatial house in well-guarded and gated subdivisions or a high-end condo or in a modest yet well-furnished residences; the casual wearing of jeans and tee etc. just to join the ordinary quotidian—isn’t easy.
SHOWBIZ FACTION SPEAKS
What more if one is a popular, hitmaker and a highly rated TV, movie, music, stage and multimedia personality marching angrily yet in style on dusty and bumpy roads, polluted air, soiled sweat etc. alongside mammoth crowds, of diverse classes and persuasions at the Rizal Park and EDSA People Power Monument, demanding accountability and transparency from public officials who stole their money through taxes he or she obediently, as a law-abiding citizen, pays?
The showbiz faction has spoken about common causes with the rest of the population.
Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Tessie Tomas, Gabbi Garcia, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Catriona Gray, Azenith Briones, Luis Alandy, Nadine Lustre, Iza Calzado, Jaime Fabregas, Jodi Sta. Maria, Donny Pangilinan, Leah Navarro, Ivana Alawi, Angel Locsin, Kahlil Ramos, Rhian Ramos, Ogie Alcasid, Maris Racal, Lovely Rivero, Glenda Garcia, Tuesday Vargas, Noel Cabangon, Bayang Barrios, Joel Lamangan, Darren Espanto, Elijah Canlas, Madeleine Nicolas, Andrea Brillantes, Dingdong Dantes, Jerald Napoles, Marian Rivera, Bong Cabrera and many, many more went out from their comfort zones to express their disappointment, disbelief and anger over the anomalous and greedy transactions among private contractors, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connivance with lawmakers who take on kickbacks.
HEADS MUST ROLL
Despite frustrations, these celebrities still pin their hopes that corruption in the Philippine government ends although some of them demand, aside from accountability, imprisonment to lawbreakers while some ask for heads to roll
While show people aren’t mostly oriented and identified with street parliament or militancy, this instance proved otherwise even for a single day, half day, to be exact.
Vice raised his clenched fist in defiance of the thievery of politicians.
Donny carried a placard of protest as well as Anne and her cohorts brought up self-made cardboards strongly if not colorfully written with objections to stealing people’s and taxpayers’ (which include them) money and suggestions to return them to public coffers.
Many of these stars chanted with fellow demonstrators about loving and caring for each other and their motherland.
THE MASSES
One is missing, though.
It is the intended and continuous education coming from them going to the general public (read: the masses) on taxation and the distribution of public funds to be presented in various genres and manners, not excluding comedy and drama. Through their daily broadcast shows, films, multimedia platforms, songs, theater productions like infusing in them the meanings, processes and mechanics of unprogrammed projects, budget insertions, respect for budget principles in the Constitution as reminded by former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno etc.