During the past week, I was deeply engrossed with two seemingly disparate activities. The first was the visit of the Young Turks—Adel (Tamano), Danton (Remoto), Erin (Tañada) and Gilbert (Remulla) to Silliman University, Dumaguete City, on July 10 and 11. The other activity was the “Magkaisa sa Awitan” choral festival commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United Church of the Good Shepherd (UGCS).

The music of New Politics

It is starting. The young are singing a different political tune. It is the music of New Politics. Young people are responding to the call for New Politics in talk shows, blogs and assemblies. They are moving away from apathy and are starting to march to a different drum. They are talking to the Young Turks.

Who are the Young Turks? During the first leg of their university tour in Silliman University, many asked this question. Are they similar to the young men of Turkey who started the Young Turks Revolution that brought down the monarchy? Or are they like the young Filipino politicians who defied their party elders?

Adel says it was the media who gave them the name, which was quickly picked up by young people who responded to their blog, the opposite of apathy.wordpress.com.

The call of the Young Turks is addressed to the young—not necessarily in age—but in terms of hope, fresh ideas, and relief from the cynicism and sense of hopelessness pervading the country. They call for the participation of all sectors, especially the marginalized, in the political process. They challenge the youth to engage the government on urgent national issues.

Coming from different political parties, the Young Turks cross political, ideological, religious and social boundaries imposed by the traditional political process.

For their visit to Silliman University, they got up at the crack of dawn to board the first flights to Dumaguete. Upon arrival, they gamely followed a strenuous schedule, which included three major fora with the political science and history majors, business and economics students and the all-university convocation held in Silliman Church.

In between, they walked from one part of the campus to another, talked with students, faculty and staff. The only thing they could not do was sleep.

The questions raised by the students in the three fora were both disturbing and inspiring. A recurrent theme was the disappointment and apathy of the youth. One student complained that their hopes had been raised and destroyed so often. What guarantee is there that they would not be disappointed again with New Politics?

Another student talked about his province, which is one of the poorest in the country even as their governor is wallowing in wealth. A son of a former mayor spoke passionately about how his father was impelled to change political parties in order to access funding for their poor municipality.

A student wanted to know why Gilbert proposed the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan even as Erin wanted it reformed and strengthened. More questions about gender equality, exploitation of natural resources and exclusion of minorities in politics. And always, the despairing query, “Is there hope?”

Gilbert kept repeating like the Lord of the Rings’ Arwen, “There is hope. The hope is in you.” Erin challenged the young to “reclaim the government!” Danton called for more inclusiveness in politics. Adel urged the youth repeatedly to continue engaging the government and the political system. He said everyone should have a place at the table.

A different kind of music, indeed!

‘Gloria’ is not the name of a woman

This is as far as Christians are concerned. This is the musical message conveyed during the soul-stirring rendition of John Rutter’s “Gloria” by more than 200 singers from eight choirs under the baton of Dr. Romulo Pizana. To the typical Filipino, Gloria is not a woman’s name. It means heaven. Paradise. To serious Christians, “Gloria in excelsis Deo” means “Glory to God in the Highest.”

Those who were at the choral festival caught a glimpse of paradise as they listened to the heavenly voices exulting God. It was literally heart-stopping for me when the sopranos scaled the high notes as they sang “rex celestis,” King of the Heavens. I thought my heart could not bear so much beauty. And as the choir accelerated to the glorious climax, many in the audience felt they were transported to celestial heights.

Thank you, Romy. Thank you Manila Concert Choir, His Sounds, Ellinwood Malate Church Choir, Ellinwood Psalm Ensemble, Holy Redeemer Choir, Good Samaritan United Methodist Church Chorale Ensemble, National City United Church Choir and the United Church of the Good Shepherd Chancel Choir.

Editorial: End highway robbery

Before the month ends, a new car-insurance system formulated by the Department of Transportation and Communications, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and other agencies will be in place.

Through the Looking Glass: GSIS: Ensuring third-party protection

On Friday, in full-page advertisements published in selected broadsheets, a group of affected insurance brokerages and industry practitioners sent out a strong albeit emotionally gut-wrenching appeal against the centralization of the Comprehensive Third-Party Liability (CTPL) insurance with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Personal Finance: The bleeding continues for Juan de la Cruz

Like many of Manny Pacquiao’s opponents, ordinary Filipinos are reeling against the ropes and just one solid punch away from being knocked out because of the nonstop rise in prices of food and other commodities. As prices continue to soar, more and more people join the ranks of the poor.

Boiled Green Bananas: On New Politics and choral music

During the past week, I was deeply engrossed with two seemingly disparate activities. The first was the visit of the Young Turks—Adel (Tamano), Danton (Remoto), Erin (Tañada) and Gilbert (Remulla) to Silliman University, Dumaguete City, on July 10 and 11.

The Entrepreneur: A grand strategy for agriculture

When the Philippines joined the race to become industrialized several decades ago, it was at the expense of agriculture. The thinking then was that progressive countries must be industrialized, and that being an agricultural economy was being backward.

Coast-to-Coast: Usual suspects; usual complaints

So what else is new?

Reports have it that Black and White Movement coconvenor Leah Navarro has raised hell over recent presidential appointments, notably those of former senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as chairman of the Cabinet- level Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and former presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor as head of Task Force Naia 3 on what can only be considered as highly egregious grounds.

Reflections from the Mirror: Balancing issues

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has asked the President for a restudy of the value-added tax on oil, and the oil-deregulation law for possible amendment or outright scrapping in the hope to ease the escalating price of oil which, in turn, influences the prices of basic commodities in the market.