SUBSCRIBEGO proclamation rally
After changing venues three times in a week, the Genuine Opposition finally decided to have their proclamation rally at the historic Plaza Miranda. At first, they planned to have it in Makati then at a later date, when Erap was in his home after given a daypass from his house arrest, moved it to San Juan where the initial salvo of the Philippine revolution in 1896 was fired, incorporating it a historic meaning. However, as the place was deemed too small, Plaza Miranda, another historic venue infront of the Quiapo church was finally decided to be the best place.
I decided to watch for myself last Saturday and to take photos too and so went via LRT from Buendia to Carriedo stations. I was expecting a much grander rally but, while the Plaza Miranda grounds were full of people, the crowd was smaller than I expected (estimates are at 6,000). The usual supporters, voluntary and otherwise, were very much visible. They were dressed in tshirts with their candidate’s name while some were holding campaign placards and banners bearing the names of the senatorial bets, MAKATI, and even from leftist groups like Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Sibak. And some still had those Erap shirts on their backs.
Well, Erap had a videotaped message played. The usual tired old faces were still there: Osmena, Lacson, Coseteng, their guests like Guingona, Drilon to cite a few. Of course, Loi and her son Jinggoy came, late, just like Manny Villar, while Jinggoy’s half brother, JV, was one of the hosts other than Butz Aquino and Pilita Corrales who sang a few songs. Conspicuously absent were, understandably Trillanes, who is under detention for coup charges and Kiko Pangilinan who didn’t join the GO’s campaign sorties.
As expected, GMA and administration bashing was the rule of the campaign. Lacson acted his Hello Garci skit while Cayetano again brought out his anger with the first gentlemen, Mike Arroyo. Whereas platforms were said, these were still broad and general declarations, nothing specific. Curiosly, Koko Pimentel, a new face, as far as the national elections is concerned, dangled lower taxes as one of his platform.
Of the GO’s candidates, I’m more curious about Sonia Roco. She comes as somewhat refreshing and energetic, despite her age, compared with the traditional politicians as well as usual faces that make up the lineup. While I am not really familiar with her achievements, one thing is for sure, she is banking on the name of her late husband and former senator, Raul. But I would like to know more of her. Who knows, she might be a promising candidate.
Really, I was not that fired up with their usual rhetoric. Nothing is really new. What the GO is really capitalizing on is the administration’s lapses in judgement, dictatorial ways and other negatives. One of their requirements for consideration in the current lineup is to support impeachment moves at the Senate that they will, again, file this year. Beyond that? Nothing concrete, still general and broad declarations like education, youth, corruption, poverty, ad nauseum.
To think that they were in Plaza Miranda, venue of the pre martial law political opposition’s lightning rallies, and center of dissent against the administration, what the GO had was rather hollow and as what Amando Dorotilla, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist, wrote, a big letdown.
But on the positive side, poor people who “participated” and were among the crowd were P250 richer and fuller with free food, as the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
