Faeldon catching fire

DIE HARD III
Herman Tiu Laurel
1/16/2006



544,765 is the number on the counter of www.pilipino.org.ph, Faeldon’s website. I am the 544,766th to log in. I have instantly become a Faeldon fan after visiting the site because I like what I read on it, and the actions Faeldon suggests are very practical and doable that every Filipino can feel that they can take action – and the actions are very visible when done. The basic symbols Faeldon raises are the Flag (raised to half mast) and Pilipino, for the benefit of those who have yet to visit the site let me reproduce his explanation which appears as the cover of his website:

“Why the FLAG and PILIPINO? The FLAG and the word PILIPINO binds us together. It is what defines us as a people. But we need to go beyond symbols and words. We believe it is time to reclaim our dignity and pride as a people. To renew our faith and give new meaning to our FLAG and the word PILIPINO. Patutunayan natin ang ating pagkapilipino.

Why Half-mast? The flag is half-mast because the country is mourning. The Government policy of exporting labor and its failure to put its citizens first have taught filipinos to think of themselves and their family only. Now Arroyo's insistence on passing off lies as truth are robbing us of whatever is left of our pride and dignity as a people.

We are fighting to keep whatever is left of us as a people. We are fighting to reassert our citizenship, to establish our identity as filipinos. We are fighting to reclaim our pride and dignity as a people.”

Faeldon’s “civil disobedience” starts very simply. He calls on all Filipinos to “… fly the Philippine flag at half-mast - in your school, your office, or your town. Remember to take pictures of the flag flying at half-mast (the pictures must be dated, of course) and send it to us; we'll post it here. Better yet, have pictures of you and your friends taken as you hoist down the flag.” This looks like fun and we can get thousands of campuses all over the country to start doing this, and even if the school authorities try to stop it the fun will just increase. Great idea, really!

We should start printing and selling little Philippine flags-on-a-stick for jeepneys, cars, buses and other vehicles to display. We can also have them on poles for building facades and residential home front yards. Decals and bumper stickers with the half mast Philippine flag with bold words “Civil Disobedience Now, for Faeldon” can be printed and sold at cost to the public. The stickers could also underscored by the slogan “No to EVAT and Gloria…” or “Down with Gloria-FVR insults to our intelligence…”

Faeldon suggests: “If you can't fly a flag at half-mast, do the next best thing: wear a shirt with a flag flying at half-mast, or a button. Print out a sticker of a flag at half-mast and put it on your car, your gate, your bag. If somebody were to ask you what it means, explain the concept of civil disobedience, and say you're part of a move to change this country for the better. Technically, this is civil disobedience; the Philippine Flag law specifies when the flag may be flown in half-mast to signify mourning. However, the flag law penalizes only acts of disrespect to the flag, and there are no penalties mentioned for flying it at half-mast.”

Faeldon has other suggestions, like calling Malacañang’s trunkline 735-6201 from a public pay phone to report where you saw Faeldon (think up any place to confuse them) because Malacañang has been asking for help in tacking down Faeldon. Here’s his suggestion for a t-shirt: “I SAW CAPT. FAELDON BUT DID NOT TURN HIM IN. Hindi ako bayaran.” If you are questioned by the police then tell them, Faeldon suggests: “YOU SAW CAPT. FAELDON ON TV.” My heart throbs with excitement as my mind races through all these “fun” disobedience actions.

While Faeldon is starting his civil disobedience campaign with a dash of humor and fun, it is clear that the movement of which he has become a symbol is a very serious one. The reasons and objective explain in the two paragraph preamble to his website which we quoted above states it all for every one to appreciate and pledge to: “We are fighting to keep whatever is left of us as a people. We are fighting to reassert our citizenship, to establish our identity as Filipinos. We are fighting to reclaim our pride and dignity as a people.”

My friends and colleagues have pondered the tactics of “civil disobedience”, many insist we must have a tax boycott. Physicians and patients can start by agreeing amongst themselves to skip the professional tax during medical consultations, store owners and patrons can do the same; engineers, architects and accountants can discount the tax. The buyers can tell sellers to cut the tax, ad they each save a little and deny the corrupt Gloria-FVR and Lakas group the benefit. These can be done behind the more popular and easier “fly the flag half-mast”.

Let’s festoon Metro-Manila with the half-mast Philippine flag ASAP, print out those stickers and shirts. Let’s fire up the country for the Filipino!

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