IF we know the clear definitions of events around us, it’s easy for most to come to their senses. We are surrounded by endless fence-mending — the reestablishing or improving of contacts or relationships, especially in politics, after a dispute or estrangement.
In the middle of this sea of troubles are the ever-present fence-sitters — persons who remain neutral or undecided in a controversy. I’m quoting these definitions found in thick, new, and costly college dictionaries.
Useful trade
There’s a useful third party, the fencer, a person who practices the art or sport of fencing. But the other meaning is more relevant to this discussion – a person who builds or repairs fences.
Last Sunday was the 107th anniversary of our independence under Proclamation No. 28, dated May 12, 1962 and signed by Cong Dadong Macapagal. Gen. Aguinaldo appealed to him to recognize this date in memory of June 12, 1898, when the general proclaimed our "republic" at his residence.
Historian’s fence-mending
But according to historian O.D.Corpuz, Aguinaldo did NOT sign the independence document prepared by lawyer Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, because the text asserted that the Filipino people "were under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the United States of America."
In closing the proclamation, Bautista wrote that the red, white and blue colors of our flag "commemorate those of the flag of the United States of North America." Dr. Corpuz comments: "Bautista was playing fast and loose with the facts. Before leaving Hong Kong on May 17 (Aguinaldo boarded the steamer McCullouch sent by Dewey and arrived in Cavite May 19,1898) he left a design concept for the Filipino flag to be executed by Marcela Agoncillo, wife of Felipe, assisted by daughter Lorenza and Delfina Herbosa, niece of Rizal. The flag (made of silk) was completed in five days and delivered to Aguinaldo before he boarded the US steamer.
Aguinaldo quietly replaced Bautista, 68, with Apolinario Mabini, 34. The Hong Kong Junta, headed by Felipe Agoncillo, recommended Mabini to the general. The independence proclamation prepared by Mabini was signed by Aguinaldo and more than 200 local officials from various provinces on August 1, 1898.
True independence according to a journalist
The true independence date, according to journalist Vicente Albano Pacis, was July 4, 1946, as honored and selected by the following: Presidents Osmeña, Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, and our Congress in compliance with the laws and executive orders of the US Congress and Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. An article based on documents on the subject may fill more than a full newspaper page.
So what’s new?
Let’s go back to the main problems created by politicians and national "leaders." According to the ex-councilor from Eastern Visayas: "We are viewing endless problems created by politicians as leaders of the administration and the opposition. They were placed there by the voters of less than 35 M to be supported — board, lodging, perks, comfort and all — by some 2 M taxpayers throughout the country. While embroiled in countless plots over who should lead or govern, the poor people are left to their common lot that was theirs since the first independence of 1898 and the second independence of 1946. The politicians with power are made secure by the soldiers and police who in turn receive their wage from the taxpayers. So what’s new?"
What are the risks?
The plots and counterplots in imperial Manila are not known to, or don’t bother, the farmers plowing and planting their farms despite the scarcity of irrigation water, also made possible by lack of attention and care from the government that is barricaded securely from the plotters’ threats.
The fishermen continue to risk their lives in the open and stormy sea, without assistance from a government preoccupied with endless fence-mending or fence-sitting or building resort hotels for themselves.
Chief waiter’s view
Let’s listen to Bossing, waiter captain, and neutral observer of events in the last 10 days. "I have a son in college and two daughters in high school. They are back in school year after year because I waited on tables day after rainy day for more than 25 years. I don’t give a hoot to the plots and counterplots, including those planned endlessly by coffee drinkers here before 6 p.m. and beer drinkers after 6 p.m. They always came back with more plots than they could count in 20 fingers, including their toes. If I stop waiting on tables, my three children and the little woman cannot take my place and the government won’t save them from starving."
Bossing’s new recruit has a direct but simple suggestion: "If the politicians don’t get subsistence and pocket money from the taxpayers (like myself) and earn an honest living like the waiters, vendors, farmers, and fishermen they will stop plotting. But their answer is: Thanks, no thanks!" (Comments are welcome at rvp@fastmail.ph.inter.net)
