Nick Perlas and his revolution: Transcending one's social class

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 01:26 PM Patricio Mangubat

What does it take for an ordinary man to tread the path least taken? Ted Gurr, a famous author, says that man rebels against things which offend his senses. When men have the urge to say no, says Albert Camus, that’s the time they rebel.

In a country such of ours, people rebel for many causes. Many tread the revolutionary path for personal reasons. Others use the word "revolution" as recklessly as they curse, while some go the path of environmental advocacy.

The story of Nicanor Perlas is no story of a Che Guevarra nor a Joma Sison. He neither dabbled in politics nor did he die clutching an armalite like Alex Boncayao. His name was never mentioned in songs sung by rebels in the hinterlands nor uttered in secret places.

But, do not be deceived---Nick Perlas is every bit of a revolutionary like Joma or Che. He is a Patriot who stood up and fought against the principalities of this world.

When former dictator Ferdinand Marcos accused his father of a crime he did not commit, Nick rose up and defended the honor of his father. From the comforts of his big farm in Iloilo, Nick Perlas joined the huge masses of the Filipino People to fight an oppressive regime.

He never stopped there though. He pursued his fight until the day when the people he organized also stood up and made history.

For forty years, Nick Perlas dedicated his life to the Filipino people. Yes, he is best known as an environmentalist. Yet, his fight is the same as those of Joma’s and the rest---Nick Perlas fought for the rights of others.

Perlas fought for our rights to enjoy clean air. He fought for those who fell victim because of environmental degradation. Perlas cried out against smoke belchers, fought against companies involved in illegal logging. He never waivered in the fight for the people’s right to have a clean environment.

Nick Perlas went beyond his class to be with the people. Nick was there at the forefront of the struggle against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). He was in the lead in the campaign against pesticides. And among those who professed the benevolence of micro-financing, Nick Perlas was the only one who delivered.

Now, Nick Perlas is transcending himself by fighting those who caused the misery of many. He wants to unite disparate forces in Philippine society and form them into a potent force for change. He promotes multi-sectoralism, the kind that empowers people, for the struggle against traditional politics. He promotes a politics that liberates rather than suppresses; a politics that has a strong will against the evils of Philippine political system.

He is, at best, the prime example of a Filipino citizen. He wants change because he sees the need for it. He mouths pagbabago at tangkilikan as well as others in the proletarian classes do. And he wants nothing more than to eradicate the entire class to which he belongs, and transform it into a society that knows no classes.

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View two hour interview with Nicanor Perlas in youtube.

Patricio Mangubat is a pseudonym . It means "country fight". Yet, the one behind this name is real. He can be briefly described as a long-time activist as well as a communication strategist. He once taught at the University of the Philippines and at Dela Salle University. He blogs at The New Philippine Revolution. Aside from writing, he recently opened a roast chicken business, Manok King. He blogs at filipinovoices.com and New Philippine Revolution.

Photos by Jay Sebastian Garcia. Some Rights Reserved.