“HUWAG NA tayong makinig sa State of the Nation Address ni GMA (Let’s not listen to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address).”
This was said by University of the Philippines (UP) Student Council Chairperson Third Bagro in his speech during the Busina noise barrage held July 24 at Gate 2.5.
Busina held a noise barrage four days before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) to raise awareness on the issues the SONA might tackle, said Sanggunian President Omi Castañar (V AB DS).
Busina, or “Busina para sa Katotohanan, Buong Bansa Sumisigaw, Tama Na, Itama Na!” is composed of several non-government organizations, which call out for truth, accountability, and reform (TAR) in the government.
Faculty members and administrators of the Ateneo, members of the Sanggunian, and students from the Ateneo and affiliate schools UP Diliman and Miriam College participated in the one-hour noise barrage, which started after Castañar and Sanggu representatives Rob Roque (II BS Ch-MSE) and Kurt Cendaña (II AB IS) mobilized a small group of people.
Call for TAR
Roque said that Busina held a noise barrage because they wanted a more truthful SONA. “In line with the truth, [reform], and accountability [campaigns of Busina], we believe that the president should release more truthful information,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Roque is the Chairperson of the Sanggu Committee on Social Concern and External Affiliations.
He added that Busina feared that the President would release statements that show a bright picture of the Philippines, when there’s none.
“For months, the government has bypassed the political issues of illegitimacy and corruption, hiding behind the rhetoric of a stable economy marked by a strong peso and increased GDP [Gross Domestic Product],” Castañar said in an article posted at the Sanggu website.
“But with the recently weakening peso, rising oil prices and inflation rate, and the alarming shortages of rice supply, social unrest ensues,” he added.
Busina also released a primer detailing the important issues that the SONA should tackle to solve the problems that the country is facing today.
‘Atenista, makialam!’
Castañar, who has been an active member of Busina since March, said that issues on social reforms are fading because of the focus on the upcoming 2010 elections. He thus challenges Ateneans to be aware. “Makialam. Makialam naman sa mga nagaganap (Interfere. Interfere with what’s currently happening),” he said.
He added that if people only talk about social transformation, without being committed to it, then it will take long for social transformation to take place.
Michelle Lois Bugante (III AB Comm) said that few attended the noise barrage. “Parang wala masyadong support sa students (There is little support from students).”
Castañar said, however, that Ateneans may be aware of what is happening but do not feel that Busina is the form of action they want to take.
He said, “If people don’t see the value of what we’re doing, then I’m challenging them…to look for venues where they can express their political opinion and strive for social transformation.”
Movement for change
Busina is used as a political symbol to “call attention to danger, to expose wrongdoing, to express disgust, and to wake up citizens to act decisively.”
Busina Convenor and Political Science Professor Benjamin Tolosa Jr., Ph.D said “a noise barrage, in a sense, is symbolic because what you are saying is that a honk is trying to give us a warning …we want [power abuse] to stop, therefore, tama na (stop).”
“But it doesn’t stop there, because we also want to make it right, thus itama na (make it right),” he added.
Busina’s other advocacies include the approval of the Freedom to Information Bill, economic reforms for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, electoral reforms, and social reforms such as urban development.
