Lozada: I didn't know I was saving the soul of my country

Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr thought he was just saving his soul when he decided to come out and tell what he knew about the alleged multi-billion dollar anomaly in the National Broadband Network (NBN) project that allegedly involved President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's husband. He said he didn't know that with his revelation, he was saving the country's soul as well. "This is really humbling that so many people are caring," Lozada told some 5,000 people who gathered at the St Benilde gymnasium of the De La Salle Greenhills campus in Mandaluyong City for a Mass in support of his testimony on the NBN project. "Kasi po noong ginawa ko ito (When I was disclosing about the anomalies in the NBN project),I was just trying to save my soul. I didn’t know I’d save the country’s soul," he said. This was the second gathering in support of Lozada's testimony before the Senate on the alleged NBN anomaly. In September 2007, President Arroyo canceled the project after her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo was accused of participating in backroom negotiations for the goverment's NBN deal with China's ZTE Corp. On Friday, about 10,000 people gathered in Makati City to support Lozada and call for the resignation of Mrs Arroyo. Help those who speak truth During his speech on Sunday, Lozada challenged the people to help him and others who tell the truth about the distorted values of society. "Tulungan ninyo po ako. Sana 'yung bayang Kristiyanong Pilipino matuto na po tayo na tulungan 'yung mga nagsasabi ng tama. Sana 'yong ipamamana nating lipunan sa Pilipinas, 'yung bayan na tinuturuan ang mga bata na 'pag ikaw ang gumawa ng mabuti ikaw ang naglalakad ng taas noo sa labas (Please help me. May the Christian community of Filipinos learn to help those who speak for the truth. May our children inherit a society where people who speak for the truth hold their heads up high)." He said it was difficult for him to explain to his children why a person who was telling the truth had to be on the run. "I would like you to answer for me, I cannot answer (my child). Sabi niya Papa, kasi nakikita niya 'yong mga text do'n sa TV, if it's true that you did well for the country, why are we on the run," said Lozada. Answers for children He lamented that his children were not able to attend school after he spoke in public about the NBN mess. He said he could not also bring his youngest child to the hospital, who recently got sick. "Sabi niya (Lozada’s child), ba't gan'on? Hindi ko rin po masagot agad. I hope everyone will help me find the answers for our children, (My child asked why this was happening to me. I can't answer my child. I hope everyone will help me find answers for our children)," he said. "Ganun po ba ang gusto nating ipakita sa mga anak natin, na pag gumawa ka ng mabuti ikaw 'yung nagtatago? 'Yung nagsisinungaling, 'yung nagnanakaw sa bayan 'yun ang dapat nirerespeto, 'yon ang nasa magagandang puwesto? (Do we like to teach our children that those who do good are the ones who should hide? That those who lie, and steal are the ones who should be respected and occupy high positions in the government?) " he asked. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV