APO’S Jim and Danny share their thoughts on EDSA at 22
Interviews by Reyma Buan-Deveza
abs-cbnnews.com
In 1986, APO Hiking Society’s “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” became the the unofficial anthem of EDSA-1. Jim Paredes, Danny Javier, and Boboy Garrovillo’s music and actions helped bring down the dictatorship. Today, they continue to remain concerned about what’s happening in the Philippines, although Jim and his family have migrated to Australia.
ABS-CBNnews.com’s Reyma Buan-Deveza talked separately with Danny, and Jim, who is in town for APO’s concert shows, on their thoughts on EDSA at 22
Jim: New ‘EDSA’ must have a different form
What does 22 years of EDSA mean to you?
Well it’s a bitter-sweet experience. It is very sweet because what happened 22 years ago is real as today; that people still have this great reservoir of goodwill in wanting to change the Philippines. But bitter because of our leaders. In a way, we have failed ourselves.
Could there should be another EDSA?
If we are going to have another EDSA, I think it will have to be rethought. It might have to take a different form, and the arrows must be directed not just to people, but to the system itself that perpetuates bad government.
What do you think about NBN witness Rodolfo ‘Jun’ Lozada?
I think Jun Lozada is great. I think he is an ordinary person, flawed like all of us. But he was able to shore up the little integrity that he felt he still has. And to me, he stands 10-feet tall.
I believe him.
Do you think “GMA is evil?”
I think that is a very strong word. I believe everybody has a saving grace, but at this point, GMA doesn’t seem like to want to save herself.
What to you is communal action?
Communal action is very interesting because it might mean rethinking people power; that you know it can’t just be the power of numbers; it has to be the power of conversion.
How do you view EDSA in light of recent political scandals?
In many ways,things have not changed, and that is the sad fact about it. Because if things do not change, that means it’s in a dysfunctional state.
As I said, we need to think of change in a systemic kind of way.
Do you believe that the spirit of EDSA is still alive?
Of course.
What is your message to the youth and to fellow artists?
The more things change, the more things are the same, as the saying goes. I truly believe that to the young people, this is your world now. While we, your older people, are still alive, I think it’s important for you guys to solve put , to solve things with finality in the Philippines.
No more passing on to the next generation this is it.
To the artists, well, you know you have your own process, and you know it’s very hard to overcome cowardice because cowardice is a natural state. When you are an artist, you try to look papogi all the time. But you know that taking risks is what being a true artist is all about.
So if you really feel that your calling is to express yourself politically, or express your outrage, or express your feelings about the situation, to hell with looking good and looking pa-pogi and all of that. Sometimes you have to be true to yourself.
What lessons learned then can people apply now?
That if you really want change, you cannot hope for it. You have to really show up and do it. It’s a very proactive kind of thing that you have to do.
It’s not something that you wait for, it’s not something that will be delivered to you. It’s not something that you will win; it is something that you have to cause to happen.
Danny: ‘It’s ironic. To become a hero, you must
speak the truth, or you work abroad’
What does 22 years of EDSA mean to you?
Hindi pa settled. This is really the Marcos legacy. It would probably take five presidents to restore democracy in the country. You see, democracy can’t evolve overtime. What has transpired is just part of the process. Kaya lang mainipin ang tao nagawa na namin hindi naman tapos.
Do you think there should be another people power?
I’ve been asked that question, and I’ve refused to answer. Kasi para mong tinanong na: madi-discover pa ba ulit ni Magellan ang Pilipinas? O maipapanganak ka pa ba ulit?
I don’t know. I cannot speculate the future. EDSA 1 was a miracle. You see, life is full of small miracles, but as to certainty, as to which direction it will lead, that I don’t know.
What do you think about NBN star witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada?
Lozada to me is a member of the cast. What important is the truth. What’s ironic to me is, to become a hero in this country, it’s either, you speak the truth, or you work abroad.
But speaking the truth is part of the norm.
Kung kasinungalingan ang sinasabi ni Lozada, bakit siya pini-persecute? Bakit ang daming sumubok na pigilan ang ginagawa niya? Kung may sinisiwalat siyang katiwalian, bakit nangunguna ang gobyerno sa pagpigil sa kanya. Kung may pagkilos?
Una, ang pagkilos ay dapat tanungin natin kung ano ang katotohan at kung ano ang katotohanan. Katungkulin natin na siguraduhin ang kabuhayan, ang pagkatao ng nagsasabi ng totoo, ng pamilya, ng sinumang sumisiwalat sa katatotohanan para kung may ibang gustong lumabas at magsasalita din.
Do you believe him?
Maniniwala ako sa katotohanan. Sinumang nagsisiwalat ng katotohanan ay dapat protesksyunan. Hindi lang si Lozada; dalawa na sila.
What is communal action?
(First posted: 2/25/2008 4:48:10 p.m.)
Communal action is agreed upon by everybody, the whole community.
Isa lang ang problema ko sa call for truth. Dapat kung halimbawa obispo ka na nakatanggap, sabihin mo ang totoo na ako si Obispo, nakatanggap ng pera mula kay Arroyo.
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helo maam, Aragon321.blogspot.com
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