We are Ka Pepe’s

The country celebrates the 90^th birth anniversary of Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno. Filipino nationalist, one of the greatest freedom fighter the Philippines ever had, senator, secretary of justice, founding chair of Commission on Human Rights, and founder of Free Legal Assistance Group. Diokno is the only person to top both the Philippine Bar Examination and the board exam for Certified Public Accountants (CPA). 

The likes of Ka Pepe Diokno makes me proud to be Filipino. But it is not enough just to be proud, we need to act on the inspiration of a man who devoted his life to the cause of the country and the rights of every individual’s.

We are Ka Pepe’s today! We must rise above the comforts of our own home and work and do something for our country. We need the spirit of Ka Pepe in a society where power and money prevails over common good of the people and rights of individuals. We must pledge ourselves that we will make our country a much better place for our children. We can never afford another generation who will inherit a land far worst than what we have. Ka Pepe said, “There is one dream that we all Filipinos share: that our children may have a better life than we have had. To make this country, our country, a nation for our children.”

I dare say to those Filipinos who have lost hope for their country, ‘You are one of the reasons compounding the problems of our country!’ People who quitted their rights for their country has no rights whatsoever to criticize it. If you don’t believe in our country then leave in peace and never dare go back.  Sure, we have so many problems, wrong government policies, shortsighted programs and unimaginable corruption, but if we will stand up and not just leave to the government the governance of our people, there can be change. I have seen that in so many local governments who made positive changes in their own municipalities, cities and provinces, because people make their officials accountable.

I believe in every Filipino! I believe in the capacity of every Filipino to rise above selves and make the cause of the nation there personal cause. I believe there is that passion deep within that if ignited will unleash a force far more powerful that we can imagine and finally we can see real change in our society. I believe Ka Pepe’s spirit is alive because every Filipino is bound by spirit of those courageous souls who stood up and did something for the country.

We can never remain hoping, we must do something! “Even if we have to wade through blood and fire, we will be free. We will develop. We will build our own societies. We will sing our own songs.”  Says Ka Pepe.

by aats