Rebels, just because

Traffic was heavy at the top of Session Road the other night because of the annual lantern parade – one of the things we look forward to at Christmas time in Baguio and we regretted not knowing that it was happening then. We could’ve been seated on the knoll at the mini-park at the Post Office to watch, instead we’re stuck in traffic in our vehicle on our way home.

We saw the candles, and that’s one of the things we loved about this parade. It used to be solemn, we used to love the calm, the peace that fell on the normally noisy, smog-filled Session Road when the hundreds of candles come. It was a joyful experience.

There were less candles this year, we noticed. There were more placards too. We heard chanting, somewhere along the lines of “bayan ko, ‘di pa tapos ang laban mo!”

Oh well, Merry Christmas to you too.

Image lifted from http://www.senseimarketing.com/influence-ego-and-mob-mentality/

“All we are saying is give trees a chance.” That was the main battle cry of the movement that has come to be known as Save 182. The movement was protesting the planned removal of some 182 trees on Luneta Hill for SM Baguio’s expansion. Before the Temporary Environmental Protection Order was issued, nay, honored by SM Baguio, around 49 trees were removed, earth-balled they say, whatever. A case was filed by the movement, the court ruled in favor of SM. Then SM offered, despite the absence of any legal impediment to go ahead with their expansion as originally planned, to re-design the whole thing to spare all but less than ten out of the remaining trees. Sounds good?

Not to some, who now insist that they weren't really there just for the trees so despite the proposal to spare almost all of the trees left on that side of the hill, the expansion must not push through.

What was it again? “All we are saying… blah-blah-blah.”

The war rages on between government forces and communist rebels and separatists down south. Can’t help but wonder how our lives would really be if this war ends with the victory of one and the defeat of the other. What would life be like in this country if our soldiers only had to risk life and limb serving the people, protecting the nation’s sovereignty? On the other hand, what would life be like in Mindanao if it were a separate state ruled by the leaders of the separatist movements fighting the government now? Or, what would it be like if the country were under communist rule?

What's your rebellion about?

“We are living in the era of premeditation and the perfect crime. Our criminals are no longer helpless children who could plead love as their excuse. On the contrary, they are adults and the have the perfect alibi: philosophy, which can be used for any purpose - even for transforming murderers into judges.” ― Albert Camus, from The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt.