EDSA Revolution: A shift in my direction (Repost)

Article first published February 20,2011 on the same blog. My third post after the baptism into the blogging community.

I have never shared this experience in public to keep the mystery of my past involvement in pre EDSA struggles in the local scene. Likewise, to protect the bond we had established especially during those trying moments after the EDSA euphoria and political enmity resumed once more in the Cory government.

As part of my commitment to the “learn- from- life” ministry, I am doing my share in the learning process. Hope the younger generation including my children will value the contribution of church people in solidarity with the struggling masses. Three decades are more than enough to hoard the riches of experiences and valuable lessons of the past.

Yes, Protestant Christians, or should I say Baptists, were participants in the struggle, too. Some of our youth and pastors who dared to brave the “darkest nights” were gone without seeing the dawn. Their contribution was never documented, neither appreciated by the Baptist community. Others continue to live with the stigma of the haunting past.

Unlike others, we were not there in EDSA to experience the birth pangs of restored democracy and jubilation in winning the battle. But we were with the group of peasants, workers, student activists holed in Sta. Teresita Church, Iloilo City for some days. At that time, there was a stalemate in constant clashes between rallyists and government troops. Cornered, the former found refuge in the church and started to appeal for help from middle forces. I was among those who responded, representing the church sector. Bringing blankets, food contributed by seminarians, pastors, church members, and some CPU students and faculty, I was not able to leave the place due to security risks brought about by heightened tension. There, we served as negotiators, peace keepers, counselors, planners for the ecumenical services and prayers, advocates to get more support to sustain the needs.

My political conversion took place some years earlier while doing pastoral ministry to political detainees in Camp Delgado. Raised up in seemingly apolitical environment, my primary motivation was to witness for Christ. I remembered even entertaining a wild dream at that time to serve as chaplain of the NPA, if that was the will of God. Ironically, I found myself converted to their commitment, dedication, courage and strong resolve in the service of people. I felt humbled to think that these people who were not so much concerned about their faith in God or the lack of it have this kind of love to the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters. Unlike us we who confessed and professed to be followers of Christ but failed to put such faith into practice.

Thereafter, I became interested in studying Philippine realities, attending symposium, forum on human rights, joining prayer rallies, organizing seminarians and pastors. At times, I enrolled part-time in the seminary to have more time doing volunteer work in church-related organizations. In 1984, with only one semester left before graduation, I decided to work full time doing solidarity work during the intensification of the people’s struggle.

After the historic EDSA '86, I decided to go back to the seminary to resume my studies. It was then that I realized the price I had to pay. For technical reason my return to the seminary was disallowed. Upon our dean’s advise, I shifted to Social Work and return to the seminary upon compliance of the requirements.

My first year was sort of a test on how to survive the isolation from Christian community because of past experiences and the trauma attached to my involvement. With the help of my family and my beloved and the support of significant people, I finished my BSSW degree and employed in the University. As such, I was able to complete my B.Th degree. Gradually, I recovered from the isolation and was given more opportunities including masteral study at UP Diliman. It was also within those period that a major split and bloody rift among former comrades began to intensify. Having no group to choose, I tried to find other means to continue my commitment to serve the people. Hence, the shift in my direction.

Another call to Padayon

A couple of weeks before  2012 ended,  I received an appointment from the national president of the Convention Baptist Ministers Association  to chair and subsequently revive the Padayon Welfare Fund for Pastors Project.  The project is an attempt towards a comprehensive and sustained approach to meet the perennial needs of  our pastors. This is a combination of mutual aid, revolving fund and cooperative concept. It was during my term as president when the project was conceptualized and launched. But it was not given priority by my successor  due to other urgent needs of the association. The recent call to  Padayon (continue)   has inspired other past presidents and officers to get involved. While in the process of  finalizing the mechanics , we have already received almost P200, 000 donations and  pledges from people who are excited about the project.

POSE FOR POSTERITY. (R-L) Victor Salmon,  Atty. Ma. Dolores 

Nalumen and the author pose after the awarding ceremony during

the PASWI Golden Anniversary and Convention in 1998.  

Mr. Salmon (CPU BSSW '73) was one of  the Ten Outstanding
Social Workers of the Philippines. The author  displays the Most 
Outstanding Chapter award for  PASWI-Iloilo

Last Friday,  I got another call to Padayon. Yes, a call to continue  the good things  that we have started.  This time from the former national president of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI).  Atty. Ma.  Dolores Nalumen  unexpectedly visited our office at Central Philippine University  and after some  sort of reunion and recollections,  she made a special request- my active participation in PASWI and the possibility of  reviving our regional group/ fellowship in Western Visayas. I could not say no to her  because of our good working relationship in the past. I succeeded her as president in our local chapter  15 years ago.  We were together in the national board  in 1999-2002.

I suggested to her that we meet again on March 19, 2013 in time for the celebration of World Social Work Day. Our Department has been observing the celebration since 2007  with  a forum and planning session for the annual celebration of the Social Work Week in Iloilo every June 13-19.  We will maximize the occasion for consultation, related to the aforementioned agenda, with the PASWI chapter presidents and  representatives of the National Association for Social Work Education, Inc. (NASWEI), Association of  Local Social Welfare and Development Officers  (ALSWDOPI) , Association of Medical Social Workers of the Philippines (AMSWPI), Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Provincial/City Social Welfare and Development Officers and non government organizations (NGOs).

After our meeting, I could not  help but  feel  nostalgic about our PASWI regional association. Although the thought of reactivating it  excites me.  Probably, we were the first one to establish a regional association to formalize the tradition of involving  other chapters when conducting  activities in Iloilo. It was in 1998 when we decided to organize the PASWI Western Visayas while  celebrating PASWI's Golden Year. Thereafter, we were able to sustain the organization for nearly  a decade  in line with the national thrust to strengthen regional clusters after the  assembly decided to break the tradition with the ratification of the constitutional amendment for holding  biennial conventions. The association was led by the Regional Coordinating Council/Board composed of chapter presidents and representatives from NASWEI, ALSWDOPI, AMSWPI, DSWD, NGOs and other social work organizations. We conducted quarterly regional updating, assisted in organizing  and strengthening local chapters and other initiatives.

Through our regional association, we have sustained  our unity in the region even during the critical time in the history of social workers when there was schism among various social work-related associations in the national level and some regions. Our move had been supported by the national leadership. I should know having served PASWI in the national board from 1999-2002. It was only in  2006  when some national officers  started to question our initiatives and reportedly conducted consultation sometime in 2007 in Iloilo City related to our regional association (without involving us). We were informed later on that the national leadership discouraged the formation of  regional groupings as  it would  deal only with local chapters.

Some of us  considered the decision surprising and ironic. In the sense, that earlier our regional association hosted the regional convention for Bicol and Visayas cluster with a very interesting theme i.e.  “Building Regional Strength: The Social Work Advantage.” The  Convention  was supposed to focus on the  importance of strengthening the local base and regional organizations in serving the vision of the national association. We thought that the theme would further strengthen our initiatives. But it did not. Instead of building the regional strength, the decision had curtailed regional initiatives. Since we were not given the chance to present our side to the national officers, we abided  with the decision and deactivated our regional body with reservations. As expected, it had affected the dynamism of local chapters especially the flow of communication and coordination of activities.

I did not hide these reservations to Atty. Nalumen during our talk. However, she assured me that she is currently serving in the national board and, as a matter of fact, has been designated as coordinator of the Visayas Cluster.  Having known her in the past, I know it would be worthwhile   to respond to another call to continue the good things we have started. Yes, another call to PADAYON.