Reaction to TF Editorial

This is in response to the editorial you have published on March 6, 2018 entitled: A Foolish Decision.

First, for some technicalities, upon finishing the article, I almost thought it was a court decision, and not an editorial. It takes no lawyer to know that any person is accorded his constitutional right to be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. Need I remind you that the jury is still out and criminal liability is still yet to be determined pending a full-blown trial by the court. The article gasps of delicadeza yet oozes in accusatory innuendos as it does not even bother using the word: 'alleged' or any variants thereof. It systematically joined in the crucifixion of Myles and 5 of her companions by the elements of the state notorious for its disregard of human rights and due process. The Freeman has joined the rabid pack of dogs fighting over a piece of meat -that is Mabinay 6 dangled by the military and its public relations apparatus.

Second, it took a swipe at the locus of Myles' humanitarian action as to why she has chosen the hinterlands of Negros and not the streets of Metro Cebu. This shows the narrow-mindedness of the editorial as it clearly advocates for band aid solutions to problems. It contents itself seeing young men and women distributing food packs in the streets rather than knowing that there are young people who, in their selfless act of sacrifice, opted to stay with the poorest of the poor in the countryside. These are the communities that's home to the street dwellers in the cities. It is the abject poverty in the mountains that forced millions in a diaspora leaving their homes in the provinces and swarmed the urban areas. The article is plain and simply anti-intellectual and opts for youth activities that are no better than photo opportunities exploited by big businesses for tax breaks guised in the humanistic words of "corporate social responsibility". The Freeman's editorial board perhaps believe in the isolation and independence of problems.

Thirdly, the editorial pointed out that the farmers in the countryside are way better than the poor in the cities shows the lack of firm grasp by the article of the reality on the ground. Millions of farmers still do not own the land they till. Some are forced to become farm workers in exchange of a meager income. Plantations and haciendas continue to dominate the agricultural landscape of the country with landlords as kumpares with politicians or the politician themselves. There is still a growing demand for the passage of a genuine agrarian reform. These are the very conditions why there is the continuing rage of revolution. And it is unfortunate that The Freeman opted to be blind about it.

The decision of Myles and the thousands of youth in the countryside, is neither foolish nor smart -but selfless. Only in removing the 'self' in everything we do can it cease the regard for judgment in the life we choose. Neither a paper nor a court could genuinely pass on judgment, for the vindication Myles and her companions sought is in effecting change for the millions of Filipinos in dire poverty. No foolish decisions, only foolish articles.

Joisa Cesista

Chairperson

Anakbayan Cebu