The Philippine Online Chronicles

We were all wearing red, the color of rage, for the “Run Against Enforced Disappearance” (RAGED).

Martial Law FIND or the Families of the victims of enforced disappearance has documented 2,160 victims of enforced disappearances, six of which victims were reported under the present Aquino Administration. Forced disappearances continue with impunity because of the absence of a law that crimiminalizes forced disappearances. House Bill 5048 which seeks to achieve this has yet to be ratified into law.

I ran and walk with the families of the disappeared, wearing red. The running and walking crowd looked like the red sea winding its way around Quezon Memorial Circle. A number of those who joined were non-runners and a handful were even elderly. It did not matter, we were all in high spirits in spite of the harsh reality of enforced disappearances, which has occurred unstopped for almost forty years, since Marcos declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972.

As we reached the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, we gathered at the open Amphi Theater dedicated to former Bantayog director, King Doromal who recently passed away. I said mass. In my reflection, I congratulated everyone present for their perseverance and dedication to the cause of human rights and justice for the disappeared. I reflected on the now rather jaded word “activist.”

We were all activists there. While others give activism a bad meaning - from communism to adventurism, we knew why we are there and what our activism means.

An activist is often equated with communist or socialist. It is a tag conveniently used by the military in its Low Intensity War against insurgency. Unfortunately, distinctions are not really made by the military in terms of armed and democratic struggle. Some activists may be supporters of the armed struggle but the majority operate on the level of the legal and democratic struggle for reform.

I do not support the armed struggle. I do not belong to any of the organized political blocs. In spite of this I am conveniently labeled this way as many un-alligned, un-affiliated human rights and justice advocates are.

An activist regardless of affiliation and membership is one who loves his/her country and willingly takes risks in her defense. So many of the disappeared were activists. So many of them may have been members of the communist party but they, more than the comfortable majority, have truly risked and offered their lives, their blood to the Mother Land.

Activists are necessary for democracy. I have fought against injustice, human rights abuse and corruption from Marcos to the present. It has not been an easy and comfortable life. It also made me challenge and criticize the excesses and contradictions of my own church.

Activists are like oxygen in the blood flowing through the veins. Without oxygen, the organism dies. Without activists, democracy dies.

With the death and disappearance of many activists, democracy has remained challenged but alive. Perhaps, PNoy should carefully and solemnly ponder the contribution of those who have offered their lives for democracy. Perhaps PNoy should not only look at his parents and their contribution to democracy. So many unsung heroes have done the same if not more.

Thanks to activism. Thanks to activists, especially those who have stayed on the streets declining offers of juicy government positions. Unfortunately, so many former activists who were actually communists and socialists are now enjoying capitalist perks. Real activists sacrifice until the end of their lives. They shun the offer of government posts which they know can easily deal a deadly blow to their passion for deep and genuine change.

The sea of red runners sat, listening and praying during the mass. They were quiet but after the vigorous run and walk, the oxygen literally leapt through their blood steams. Likewise, the passion of these running activists keeps democracy flowing through the justice and freedom-hungry veins of the Mother Land.