Foreigners at Makati rally: Lost in translation

MANILA, Philippines-American couple Tina and John were strolling toward their hotel in Makati Friday when their attention were drawn by angry chants from loud speakers stacked along Ayala Avenue. Having just arrived from the airport that afternoon, Tina and John ran into a multitude of people clogging the main artery of the Philippines’ major financial and commercial hub. Thinking that a street concert had just started, the couple mingled with the people not realizing that what they thought was a “party crowd" was actually a gathering of 80,000 (the organizer’s estimate) Filipinos from all major religious groups and sectors blasting widespread corruption in the government. It was the biggest gathering of Anti-Arroyo forces triggered by the controversy against the alleged overpriced $329.48-million Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) contract for the country’s broadband project. The pair found themselves wondering what was happening until the familiar words—multimillion dollar, contract, cancelled—sneaked into their consciousness. Finally after an hour, Tina seemed to have put the pieces of the puzzle together: “It’s a shame what is happening. I think [President] Gloria [Arroyo] has brought many businesses into this country. “It’s so sad that it was canceled," she added shaking her head. Early that evening, Gustavo, a 30-something Brazilian chef, was nimbly maneuvering his way through the throngs of demonstrators with a handheld video camera in tow. Looking confused but fascinated, Gustavo took a video of the event. He said he has been in the Philippines for more than a month and it was the first time he saw such a stunning scene. “Frankly I don’t know what’s happening, can you tell me what it is ?" he asked. When this writer had told him the gist of the event, Gustavo recalled that he once participated in a mass action in Brazil. In 1992, Gustavo joined a protest rally in Brazil. At that time, students like him were calling for the resignation of President Fernando Collor, who was accused by his own brother of corruption through influence peddling. He was impeached in the same year. “I don’t know how strong the government here is," he said. Meanwhile, Johann seemed to be certain of his purpose in Makati. As an Austrian volunteer for the Missionaries of Mary, he claimed that he and the nuns from Switzerland were there to make their presence felt at the interfaith rally against a government plagued with corruption They endured the ordeal from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., observing the mass action that seemed so strange to them. “I only know it’s about the President and there’s a problem with money," Johann said while briskly walking toward their van. “I think she (the President) is saying she’s against corruption but she herself is corrupt," he said. Loma a Burmese Christian pastor, had been standing with the crowd for 2 hours listening to speeches. His friend translated each speaker's gripes. Getting a sense of what was going on, he explained that there was nothing wrong with protests but sometimes people need to “listen and obey." “That’s in the Bible too you know," he added. But Loma, who fled Myanmar 10 years ago and stayed in the Philippines as a Christian missionary, was hoping that people in his country would also have the same freedom Filipinos enjoy. Since 1962 Myanmar has been ruled by a military junta. Last year, nearly 3,000 protesters were arrested, some of them monks, to further assert the military’s authoritative hold in the largest mainland country in South East Asia. “I feel the passion, the love of the people. They have love for the country," Loma said. “The Philippines is totally different from Myanmar, since people here can express themselves and even topple presidents without weapons. I wish that in our country this situation will also happen," he added. Baerbel who came from Germany said she was rooting for the Filipinos’ success in calling for the President’s resignation. She said she is a fan of detained mutineer turned Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Baerbel said she was in Makati when a military armored carrier crashed into the main entrance of the Peninsula Manila hotel—a few blocks from the inter-faith rally—in November that ended the six-hour standoff staged by Trillanes and his group. “I was there when the Manila Peninsula siege took place. It’s unbelievable what they (government troops) did. I understand why Trillanes went there; I mean where else will he go? He’s not allowed to go to the Senate. He’s in prison, right? He might not have been treated well," she said of the “charismatic" senator. Baerbel who has been living in Makati for five years said her friends back home believe the Philippines is a “dangerous country" because of bad news being dished out by international media. But being one with Filipinos, she said she would correct this misconception once she returns to Germany. “What [the] Philippines needs is someone who has a heart and who can give more. Someone who can do all for our Philippines," she said. Paul from Australia was just a few meters from the stage where the protester’s aired their gripes. Like most foreigners who strayed into the rally, he was unable to understand the speeches due to language barrier. Yet, he claimed he knew exactly what was going on. “When I saw what was happening I said to myself, here they go again." For 14 years he had called the Philippines his home and admitted having an appetite for news about the country’s political developments. A witness to the second EDSA People Power in 2001 (and similar protests in Taiwan and China), Paul also said that personalities who spoke on the stage that evening were familiar to him, noting that many of the speakers were turncoats. He knew that then the National Police chief turned Senator Panfilo Lacson called for then President Joseph Estrada’s resignation but is now with him in the opposition. (But records would show that Lacson was forced to withdraw support to Estrada after the military defected.) He said he was confused as to “which side is Senator Loren Legarda on now." “You know what the Filipinos need? They have to educate themselves and educate others because I don’t even know how many of them here know the details," he said. Paul doubts, however, that anything good can be brought out after the show of people’s force in the rally. “If this momentum doesn’t result into something, it will just go to waste," Paul said. - GMANews.TV