Think about it
Limits of democracy cited
By Jun Velasco
“Is there a love nobler than the love of country? Certainly none!”–Andres Bonifacio
LAST Friday, we were browsing at the newspaper corner of the 7-Eleven store along Arellano Street in Dagupan City.
A new friend in the establishment with a unique name, Ryant D. Kiervietoz, asked us what’s so special about the Tienanmen Square in Beijing. He was referring to page 1 stories in the national dailies about the 1989 massacred of student’s activist in Beijing.
He asked: Why were hundreds if not thousands of students massacred?
We answered rather coldly dismissing the massacre as indeed strange because People’s China today is a product of a people’s democratic revolution led by Mao Tze Tung.
The activists in 1989 were killed while they were fighting for democracy.
We suddenly remembered the movie “Revolution” because the lesson of Beijing 1989 has a similar stirring message.
We were on that spot on Tienanmen Square exactly 2 years after the massacre. We were there to attend a Beijing-sponsored trip.
We think there’s no doubt about China, reputedly the second topnotch economy in the world this day, as a revolution-sponsored nation. What baffles history and political science students is that after a while democracy will get a beating when order is in place.
We find out that a certain point in a nation’s development certain “freedoms” will have to go in favor of government control in the name of order.
Democracy which Mao used to oust his enemies got knocked out. Such is the tragic history of governments.
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Dagupan these days is in nationalist mode. Independence Day on June 12, with Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza as guest speaker; Rizal’s birthday on June 19 and Dagupan Day on June 20.
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A meeting convened by Mayor Belen Fernandez’s assistant Edwin Aguirre, Supervisor Isabelita Daroya, Culture and Arts Czarina Dada Sayson and Malued Elementary School principal Marilou Llamas made sure the city’s Freedom Day on June 12, Rizal’s birthday on June 19, and Dagupan Day on June 20 would be successful.
We had jovial exchanges with our favorite Councilor Joey Tamayo, stalwarts of Pangasinan Masonry who have played key roles in nationalistic events here—WM Benedick G. Cuña, Worshipful Master, Pangasinan Lodge #56. WM Kendall N. Cua, Workshipful Master, Alfonso Lee Sin Memorial Lodge #158 and next Worshipful Master Rey Banez for Lodge 158.
Our fraternity brod Lamberto C. Nanquil, former Supreme Commander, Knights of Rizal, and VWB Michael Camilo Datario are main speakers on June 19.
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Our friend and respected media leader Behn Fer Hortaleza, 64, died last week. He was one of our favorite columnists in the province. We used to work together at the national media production center and found him profound and faithful to his work and friends.
Surely he will be missed.
And it will be impossible to find a replacement in the local scene to come up with similar witty and brilliant column articles.
May he rest in peace.
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Not very many probably know that we have a most modern Eye Center in Urdaneta City—the Pangasinan East Eye Center—own by the Carancho family.
Hospital director is Dr. Cheryl Carancho de Jesus, ophthalmologist par excellence. We were brought there by Dr. Bel de Venecia, son of Dr. Tessie Flores de Venecia and her late husband Braulio de Venecia, nephew of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
With this facility Pangasinenses need not go to Manila for cure.
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