A widow's advice
A widow's advice
Updated 00:09am (Mla time) Dec 21, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the December 21, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
WE would like to add our voice to the call of those who counsel against using the funeral of Fernando Poe Jr. to destabilize the government. The death of "Da King" has been politicized enough, and at this time when the nation is still reeling from widespread hardship and misery caused by an economic decline and disasters, we need political and social turmoil like we need a hole in the head.
Thus, it is well that the widow of FPJ, the dignified and level-headed Susan Roces, has called on his supporters to make sure that the funeral would not be tarnished by politics. The people who mourn the death of their idol would be honoring his memory best by heeding his widow's advice.
FPJ was a man of peace, despite the fact that he often portrayed violent personae in his movie roles. We believe that had he lived, he would have pursued through peaceful and legal means redress for what he believed was a wrong done to him through alleged cheating at the polls. If he had wanted to employ violent means, he could have roused his hundreds of thousands of fans and supporters to march and rise up against the Arroyo administration, but he did not do so.
The Philippine National Police is reported to be preparing at least 1,000 officers to keep the peace during the funeral march. The PNP would be well-advised to continue to adhere to a policy of maximum tolerance and to keep as low a profile as possible. Probably the police should wield only nightsticks and not firearms, to avoid a possible repeat of the killings that recently occurred during the Hacienda Luisita strike.
The fans and supporters of FPJ would also be rendering the nation a great service if they would police their ranks and make sure that no agents provocateurs from the Left or Right infiltrate them to cause trouble during what is supposed to be a dignified and solemn occasion. This was possible during the funeral march of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. that was attended by an estimated two million people. We do not see any reason why a similar peaceful funeral march cannot be held for another very popular and charismatic figure.
A father's grief
THE SAD eyes and mournful countenance of Speaker Jose de Venecia said it all. His face showed the unbearable sorrow of a parent who had lost a dearly beloved child. Interviewed after the death of his daughter Maria Kristina Casimira (KC), De Venecia said that "she brought us so much happiness and so much joy...Next to my wife, she is the light of my life." Many people watching the televised interview could not help but shed tears in sympathy with the De Venecia couple who had suffered an ineffable loss.
Could KC's death have been avoided? If only she had gone out with her siblings instead of staying home that fateful night. If only her nanny had stayed with her in the same room. If only adequate safety precautions had been taken in stringing up the Christmas lights at the De Venecia mansion. If only there were no iron grills, or if they could have been easily opened from inside in an emergency. If only the house had not been so impregnable--even the glass windows were bullet-proof--to allow easy access to firemen and rescuers. If only asbestos suits and other sophisticated fire-fighting equipment had been available so that firemen could have gone through the blazing inferno to rescue her. If...
The Speaker said he would file a measure providing for the purchase of asbestos suits for the fire departments of cities and towns. This, and other measures that would upgrade the firefighting ability and equipment of fire departments, should be given high priority on the legislative agenda. These things, as has been demonstrated by the De Venecia tragedy, literally mean the difference between life and death.
We are sure the great majority of congressmen would be willing to give up a substantial portion of their pork barrel to fund a measure that would improve the firefighting ability of firemen and modernize their equipment. Firemen from highly developed countries like the United States could be invited to Manila to teach our firefighters new techniques in fighting fires. Let's not wait for another De Venecia tragedy to strike before upgrading the firefighting capabilities of our firemen.
Updated 00:09am (Mla time) Dec 21, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the December 21, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
WE would like to add our voice to the call of those who counsel against using the funeral of Fernando Poe Jr. to destabilize the government. The death of "Da King" has been politicized enough, and at this time when the nation is still reeling from widespread hardship and misery caused by an economic decline and disasters, we need political and social turmoil like we need a hole in the head.
Thus, it is well that the widow of FPJ, the dignified and level-headed Susan Roces, has called on his supporters to make sure that the funeral would not be tarnished by politics. The people who mourn the death of their idol would be honoring his memory best by heeding his widow's advice.
FPJ was a man of peace, despite the fact that he often portrayed violent personae in his movie roles. We believe that had he lived, he would have pursued through peaceful and legal means redress for what he believed was a wrong done to him through alleged cheating at the polls. If he had wanted to employ violent means, he could have roused his hundreds of thousands of fans and supporters to march and rise up against the Arroyo administration, but he did not do so.
The Philippine National Police is reported to be preparing at least 1,000 officers to keep the peace during the funeral march. The PNP would be well-advised to continue to adhere to a policy of maximum tolerance and to keep as low a profile as possible. Probably the police should wield only nightsticks and not firearms, to avoid a possible repeat of the killings that recently occurred during the Hacienda Luisita strike.
The fans and supporters of FPJ would also be rendering the nation a great service if they would police their ranks and make sure that no agents provocateurs from the Left or Right infiltrate them to cause trouble during what is supposed to be a dignified and solemn occasion. This was possible during the funeral march of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. that was attended by an estimated two million people. We do not see any reason why a similar peaceful funeral march cannot be held for another very popular and charismatic figure.
A father's grief
THE SAD eyes and mournful countenance of Speaker Jose de Venecia said it all. His face showed the unbearable sorrow of a parent who had lost a dearly beloved child. Interviewed after the death of his daughter Maria Kristina Casimira (KC), De Venecia said that "she brought us so much happiness and so much joy...Next to my wife, she is the light of my life." Many people watching the televised interview could not help but shed tears in sympathy with the De Venecia couple who had suffered an ineffable loss.
Could KC's death have been avoided? If only she had gone out with her siblings instead of staying home that fateful night. If only her nanny had stayed with her in the same room. If only adequate safety precautions had been taken in stringing up the Christmas lights at the De Venecia mansion. If only there were no iron grills, or if they could have been easily opened from inside in an emergency. If only the house had not been so impregnable--even the glass windows were bullet-proof--to allow easy access to firemen and rescuers. If only asbestos suits and other sophisticated fire-fighting equipment had been available so that firemen could have gone through the blazing inferno to rescue her. If...
The Speaker said he would file a measure providing for the purchase of asbestos suits for the fire departments of cities and towns. This, and other measures that would upgrade the firefighting ability and equipment of fire departments, should be given high priority on the legislative agenda. These things, as has been demonstrated by the De Venecia tragedy, literally mean the difference between life and death.
We are sure the great majority of congressmen would be willing to give up a substantial portion of their pork barrel to fund a measure that would improve the firefighting ability of firemen and modernize their equipment. Firemen from highly developed countries like the United States could be invited to Manila to teach our firefighters new techniques in fighting fires. Let's not wait for another De Venecia tragedy to strike before upgrading the firefighting capabilities of our firemen.
posted by Dante at 12:09 AM
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