F. Sionil Jose’s Message to Us, Centrist Democrats

The Bohol Chronicle

November 24, 2013

F. Sionil Jose’s Message to Us, Centrist Democrats

On our 3rd National Party Congress in Cagayan de Oro on November 17, the great Filipino writer and National Artist in Literature was our speaker and guest of honor. It was only a year after the Commission on Elections accredited CDP as a national political party. As we urge, challenge, and inspire our kababayan to join our Centrist Democratic Party—Partido ng Tunay na Demokrasya, we badly needed Sionil Jose to challenge and inspire us in our pursuit of our vision and mission for all Filipinos in line with the constitutional vision “to build a just and humane society” and “a democracy under the rule of law….”

Sionil Jose laid bare our illusions as a people. “The skyscrapers, fashion pages, and flashy cars in our big cities, but our rottenness to the core.” By the arrogance and audacity of killers in our midst as might be shown in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009 of 58 women, men, and youth, a number of them journalists. After four years of litigation of the Ampatuans and their accomplices, not a single conviction is in sight. But in 2016, the judge assures us.

And of course we hopelessly suffer from the impunity of the killers and torturers during Marcos’ martial rule from 1972 to 1986. The message seems to be: Here it pays to kill and to be corrupt:  to abuse power and pocket public funds….  

Continued Sionil Jose: “In the 1960s we were reputedly the second leading country in East Asia, next only to Japan. We had the best universities and hospitals; the best doctors, engineers, architects who were working abroad. Southeast Asians came to the Philippines for their higher education and hospitalization; but not anymore.”

“How do we industrialize, modernize? We need a lot of capital.” In a dinner with three of the most powerful Filipino businessmen Sionil Jose told them bluntly that “they were investing or keeping  their money mostly in Spain, China, and Switzerland.”

“Politicians, also among our most powerful, have robbed our country of its future as its biggest looters. This shows that we can be colonized by our own leaders.”

“Change? You’re on your own. When we think of change, we talk of revolution! Pero, mahirap. Revolution means Violence! But power can be picked up in the streets through organization. Power can be had through education and the ballot.”

Declared Sionil Jose: “That’s why your Centrist Democratic Party is essential!” Moments later he casually said: “I’m joining your Party!” We all stood up and roared our approval and jubilation. What a great boost to our efforts! F. Sionil Jose, is now a Centrist Democrat!

He recalled speaking to Raul Manglapus, a gifted political leader and initiator of Christian Democracy in the country. Sionil Jose told him “to study and emulate the dynamics of the Iglesia ni Cristo, initiated by Felix Manalo. Who said he would create a church that would give the poor a sense of community, a sense of personal loyalty… in the catastrophe that was looming among us. Manalo said: Ang mga tao walang peso. Pero they have centavos.”

Sionil Jose continued: “CDP should give our people a sense of Community, a sense of Nation! Patriotism! Unite, rather than fracture us! Look at the bigger picture. Transcend our ego, our yabang. We cannot  continue as a ‘kanya, kanya nation’. Unite us as a nation by learning and using our history, the waters around our islands islands, our culture, our belief in God.”

“Be ideologized”: he urged us. In our minds and hearts we do know we are “ideologized” by our CDP vision and mission, our ideology, our political platform, and proposed reforms….

Maning Pelaez. Our venue, Cagayan de Oro, reminded Sionil Jose of his personal friend, the late Senator and then Vice-President Maning (Emmanuel) Pelaez: “He was the region’s greatest contribution to our country, who could have been our best president. But he lost to Marcos because Maning did not play the game of buying the political support of our political leaders. Marcos conned our most enlightened men, flattered our intellectuals to support him in his rule of greed and force. He harassed me, so I couldn’t travel”: recounted our guest speaker and guest of honor. 

“What our leaders need is to get out of their comfort zones. Many upper class Filipinos are phony as leaders: their hearts are not in them. They don’t have empathy for the poor. They are mata pobre—anti poor. Corazon Aquino was one…. “I must say this: “Character is fate; Character is destiny!”

“In the 1950s the only true political parties were the communist party and the peasant organizations: Colorums, Sakdalistas, Moncadistas. Convinced believers in their invulnerability. Who believed we had only one country: Ang tunay na passport ang dito sa loob (pointing to his heart).”

“How can we rise from the bottom as did Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia?” Sionil Jose recalled how Japan during the Meiji restoration modernized in one generation with leaders who had clear goals and direction and models. “The men who built America were robber barons but they built industries, railroads, universities, and more. The British built an empire.”

“Filipinos are actually a very heroic people. Our national hero, Jose Rizal, was a first rate novelist, a poet, a medical doctor, a pamphleteer, who spoke several languages, travelled widely, but his roots were in his country whom he loved deeply.”

“Magsaysay our greatest president.” CDP president, Representative Rufus Rodriguez, asked Sionil Jose who was our greatest president. He replied: “Ramon Magsaysay, because he empathized with our people, had a lot of common sense, was honest, and had a lot of political will to energize the government to serve the people.”

Asked what was his best novel, Sionil Jose answered: “All of them.” He went on: “We have produced great writers. But it’s this. Filipinos do not read. We don’t read our own writers. This is part of our colonial background. Xxx Many cannot go up without personal connections, so we suffer a brain drain.”

What should make us hopeful? Asked CDP leader Father Jun Mercado: “What makes you still hopeful? Replied Sionil Jose: “People like you. xxx Let CDP be known as The Party of the Poor! Again, following the Iglesia ni Cristo, organize the poor. Give them a sense of belonging and loyalty to your Party.”

“But never, never romanticize the poor. Understand them, uplift them, remove their shackles: their mendicancy. They are always depending on the support of the government, of their patrons. In this way they are their worst enemies. In 2008 voters sold their votes and voted for Erap Estrada whom many burgis [upper class] supported as a sure winner.” 

“What can we learn from our problems?” a young CDP member asked him: “Like the Germans after world War II, why can’t we learn from our own tragedy: corruption and so on ?”

His response to her: “You must learn to compromise on small details, but not on principles. Some may say you can’t eat principles for breakfast. But you have to develop a sense of ethics, morality. And be true believers.”

Strength in unity and numbers. Another CDP member, a teacher, asked him: “What can I do to create community spirit among my students? Response: “You can do so much! He who stands alone may be strong. But look at the walis tingting (the broom made up of many spines from coconut leaves). The broom is very strong. Because of inspired teachers it will be easier to organize and give direction to citizens in our communities.”

Straight from the heart and mind. Throughout his address to us, F. Sionil Jose extemporized. He spoke his mind and heart, sharing  the wisdom and inspiration imbedded in his nationalism, his deep thought and insight, his prolific authorship, and his prodigious observation and experience.

As our guest of honor and speaker his purpose was as clear and as it was inspiring. To enable CDP and all of us, members, to make a lot of difference in our country as a modern political party.  Challenging, inspiring, and organizing our people and leaders in our many communities continually, and always making practical  sense to them.

And thereby help build a principled, united and strong Filipino nation inspired by our Centrist democratic vision, ideology, and sense of nationhood. A strong and united nation in all its diversity, blessed by Almighty God!  

Mabuhi ka! F. Sionil Jose, among halangdong bag-ong lider sa Centrist Democracy! Going 89, ikaw ang among kinamanghurang kauban.

Mabuhay kayo, dakilang manunulat, mag-iisip, Filipino, at lider ng ating Centrist Democratic Party—Ang Partido ng Tunay na Demokrasya!