Saturday, February 16, 2008
A PEACEFUL MASS RALLY IN MAKATI
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PNP on Makati rally: Not another people power revolution - Inquirer.net
Makati crowd demands GMA resignation - Philippine Star
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posted by Señor Enrique at 7:48 AM
38 Comments:
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Photowalker said... Great shots! You were able to get near the personalities. And they even posed for you.
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Sidney said...
Once again you were in the middle of the action rubbing elbows with the VIPS.
I congratulate you !-
Panaderos said...
Wow. Ernie Maceda's still around, huh?
Congratulations for such great pics!-
said... i wouldn't be surprised if one day I will see your photos at one of our broadsheets... great capture eric... :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Lino! Perhaps, one of these days ... hehehe!
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Señor Enrique said...
Yup, Manong Ernie is back in circulation; been seing him on TV as well, though only in the background. Probably jockeying for a new position?
Thanks, Panaderos!-
Señor Enrique said...
I must admit, Sidney, it was sheer luck -- being in the right place in the right time.
Thanks!-
Señor Enrique said...
Joey de Venecia was nice enough to stop and allow me to take a couple of shots, Photowalker, before he proceeded to climb up the stage.
As for Mayor Binay, took the pic during the national anthem, and that may be why Manong Ernie gave me a menacing glare ... hehehe.-
Sidney said...
Being in the right place in the right time is hard work and not sheer luck.
I was already home when you took Joey de Venecia...-
Amadeo said...
So sorry to observe and note that after going through the pics initially, I could only recognize Maceda.
But your replies to comments told me more of the personalities so I looked again.
So the mayor of the premier city of the Phil. is the one in t-shirt? And JoeyV is the shorter guy surrounded by his "minders"?
Sorry to observe further that their images do not inspire for me, confidence, authority, and credibility. Just my humble opinion.
And why is there almost always a Mass amidst all this type of gathering and purpose? Are we maybe discounting the solemnity and holiness of the Mass ritual by making it almost like just going thru the motion - because there is clergy involved, we need to pray before denouncing evil things like corruption, etc.? This practice is almost so unique in the Philippine milieu, and the Catholic clery has to almost always be in the middle of it.
And finally, so sorry to be so negative. But after seeing so many of these, one tends to get jaded especially because one cannot really show much real meaningful results from the previous ones.-
Señor Enrique said...
I think Mayor Binay was trying to project an image that identifies with the "masa" (masses), but you're right, he should've still tried to uphold the image of his office; a shot-sleeved polo barong would've been ideal.
The man in red shirt is the former vice president (for two years under Pangulong Gloria) Teofisto Gingona.
In the other picture is Joey de Venecia wearing a rather expensive white linen shirt.
There wasn't a mass, Amadeo. They had a prayer and very short reading from the Bible. Tomorrow, however, at the de la Salle chapel over in Greenhills, a mass will be held in support of Joey Lozada. Former president Cory Aquino will be in attendance.
I think the main problem we have is the lack of a true leader. Hence, despite all these revolutionary changes, everything seems to revert to the old ills of the previous administrations. But then again, I can imagine the impossibility of being elected to the highest office in the land without engaging in multiple backroom deals and compromises on the way up. :(-
Señor Enrique said...
Many thanks for the compliments, Sidney. I guess, I enjoy photojournalism so much that I never considered it hard work. But you do have a point: here I am, the day after the rally, and I'm still nursing some aches and pains from all that walking and running around yesterday ... hehehe.
Yes, it was no more than ten minutes after you had gone home when Joey de Venecia and these men suddenly walked past by me. I would have been so upset had I missed that photo op with Joey.-
said...
The rally looks quite peaceful and does look like it is attended by people who know what they're up to :)
Good shot of Joey :)I personally met JDVIII a few years ago and found him to be a real gentleman. Hope that something positive will come out of this ZTE brouhaha :)-
Amadeo said...
Again, so sorry I missed recognizing Guingona. How could I? He married into a family that was a neighbor of ours in the old hometown.
The wife, and now I believe his kids, are also into politics. The pattern of politics over there apparently does not change. Dynastic. (is there such a word?)
But a bit of silver lining, his nephew over here has been mayor of Daly City for several times and is well regarded in the community.-
Señor Enrique said...
Although they allowed no politician to go up on the stage and address the crowd, the crowd began to thin out early in the evening when no popular figure was around to charm them, I guess.
Joey does seem to have a nice demeanor about him. I'm sure he'd make an interesting person to know and chat with as you had, BW.-
said...
Senor, impressive pics but it seems like our country is running out of "good" leaders.
If these people would benefit from Lozada's expose', I would say we would rather wait until GMA finished her term.
Wala na bang ibang pagpipilian?-
Señor Enrique said...
Political dynasties thrive here, Amadeo, because of the clannish tradition of the people. It'd be impossible for someone with Bill Clinton-like humble background to rise and get elected as president. I think Ramon Magsaysay was the one and only in the Philippines (?).
Whoa! Check you out. It's indeed interesting the way you're somehow connected to the people I've mentioned here and there. Six degrees of separation they say?
Glad to know that a Fil-Am is doing well as the leader of Daly City. I'm sure he brings a lot of respect to the community :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Ay, Mandaragat, Noli de Castro is the only alternative, according to our constitution ... hehehe.
I really do not know the other personalities well enough. Nakakalito lang. You may have a valid point, better we allow Pangulong Gloria to serve her remaining years in office.-
Amadeo said...
It's just that T. Guingona now looks so different, like he had lost too much weight and looked shriveled. A world of difference from when I last saw him as VP speak in an investiture in a local university that I was invited to during one of our visits.
One thing for sure, he speaks very good English, a big notch above the current politicians, including the young 'uns. The nephew, Mike Guingona, would be proud.-
nutart said...
For me, trust and credibility inspires people to do their jobs in all integrity. Gloria has lost that kaya it goes on into the domino effect of even the most honest government employee feeling despondent about doing their duties well.
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Señor Enrique said...
Prior to this event, Guingona joined Antonio Trillanes in the siege of Peninsula Hotel in Makati for which rebellion charges were eventually dismissed against him.
But as you've observed, he seems getting on with the years.
Like you, he's also a graduate of the Ateneo, Amadeo.-
Señor Enrique said...
I agree with you, Elizabeth about trust and credibility.
It is really astonishing how many those given the chance by the universe to do utmost good for humanity choose to succumb to earthly temptations instead. A shame, indeed for having wasted such opportunity to shine in the hearts and minds of mankind forevermore.-
said...
Well Senor, how about changing the system. What do you think?
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Señor Enrique said...
Perhaps, Mandaragat, changing our national consciousness may prove a more viable task (yielding greater auspicious results) than changing the system.
As they say in the States, "You cannot have a good government without good people." Thus, the more Filipinos choose to be guided by good and pursue a life inspired by which, the more those high positions in our government will be filled by equally good people.-
nutart said...
we are really a spiritual people. I do not mean in the religious way...yes, we are Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, INKs and so many more denominations but in essence we are prayerful and THAT is the major energy that makes actions become. Praying before any major event (be it an actual religious event or a political one) is for me THE application of God's Will in human affairs. The act of praying is always a permission (in our free will) to let God guide us. And we follow our inner guidance however we interpret it. And so it goes...
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Señor Enrique said...
Amen, Bernadette. And since we all came from good, though sometimes succumbing to the temptations that come our way, a prayer before such event is sometimes a clear indication of our inner desire to remain guided towards the path of the highest good for the benefit of everyone involved.
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said...
Great shots of the rally!
:D-
Señor Enrique said...
Many thanks, Kyels :)
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said...
I agree Senor Enrique, but we would be needing countless generations to achieve that given the present state. Isn't it that we've clamored for good governance long enough?
Changing the system now may be deemed more appropriate than changing personalities, eh.-
Amadeo said...
While we are on the subject of communal praying and worship, please allow me to add the following comments I made in another site on essentially the same subject.
In moments like this, a detached observer senses that the collective is marshaling all forces and resources searching for that silver bullet that will deliver it from the morass created and festering over these many years.
In my humble opinion, what may be missing in all this is the realization that prayer, whether communal or private, to be effective partakes of a drawn-out process. In the scheme of things, one could even say that the actual communal praying, like the Holy Mass, becomes an insignificant or ineffectual medium if it is not followed with firm resolute action leading to some kind of redemption. But it is definitely a good beginning.
Now, it would appear from history that Filipinos as a people like and have had good beginnings. It is in the necessary and required consequent actions that it fails miserably.
Thus, one’s frustration is now again being fed with the well-worn idea that the nation is again earnestly seeking a good beginning, another attempt at a clean slate.
But will it stumble again when push comes to shove, as in the past?-
Señor Enrique said...
What I'm afraid of, Mandaragat, is that despite the changes in the current system, graft and corruption may still flourish. Therefore, before changing the system, we must first totally eradicate graft and corruption from our consciousness.
And changing one's mind for the good can be done in split second; not in countless generations.
I remember an anecdote in which a white woman wrote to Malcolm X to express her agreement with his thoughts and efforts on the issues of civil rights. She also wanted to become a member of his movement. Malcolm X replied that she needed not to join his civil rights movement; she could start in her own backyard.
I guess, the same applies to us all.-
Señor Enrique said...
I think that everyone has to make a personal contribution, Amadeo.
And to borrow from your comment, much like communal praying and Holy Mass, any sort of change for the good must be "followed with firm resolute action leading to some kind of redemption." This, I agree, is one of the significant ways to sustain effective change for the better.-
IndioBravo said...
I think Jun Lozada is reliable.The only problem with street protest now is the personalities who come to this events.How can you expect more people to participate when you will be walking and protesting with the likes of Maceda,di ba Erap and Marcos loyalist ito.Eh,parehong pinatalsik ng people power yung mga boss niya ah.Tsk,tsk,tsk.
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Jego said...
Senor Enrique, magkatabi ata tayong nangodak dun sa rally a. Great shots. I missed taking JDVIII's pics, though. My puny point-and-shoot film camera didnt have flash.
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Pinay von Alemanya said...
Honestly I was only looking for how to prepare kakanin when I found your blog and saw interesting shots...especially these demos...Moderate your greed! So given na talaga to...greedy officials and we are just asking them to moderate it na lang as this is still very normal in our country. Good shots!
Pinay von Alemania
http://pinayskaleidoscope.blogspot.com-
Señor Enrique said...
I'm truly puzzled, IndioBravo, why these aging fogeys can't just go somewhere and enjoy the wealth they had amassed. It probably goes to show that money, ironically, was not giving them the happiness as they had hoped.
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Señor Enrique said...
Hi Jego,
Interesting pics you got from the rally! I think I might have been there only a few minutes before you got there. Nonetheless, hope to run into you at the next events :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Hello Pinay von Alemania,
Goodness, you've just made me realize how my site has really become a mix mash of subject matters -- from kakanin to political protests ... hehehe.
By the way, love what you've included on your profile. If I may be allowed to repost here:
"Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you." -- Shakti Gawain
Awesome! Love it!
Thanks for visiting. Hope you finally found the infor you were looking for in how to make those kakanins :)
