From
GMA News.
MANILA, Philippines – What started off as a lively discussion on popular social networking platform Twitter ended up becoming a confrontation session between participants of the 1986 People Power uprising.
Senator Gregorio Honasan lashed out at Apo Hiking Society member Jim Paredes regarding comments the latter made on the "agenda" of various Edsa players.
Honasan was one of the leaders of the Reformed the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) whose attempt to stage a coup against then President Marcos served as a prelude to the 1986 People Power revolution.
Paredes himself is also considered an Edsa 1 personality, being one of several artists who sang "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo," (The Filipino's gift to the world)—regarded as the anthem of the bloodless uprising.
On Friday, February 25, Honasan was one of the "Twitterviewees" (read: interviewees on Twitter) in the virtual discussion organized by Newsbreak together with its newest blogger @I_AmHolo to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Edsa 1. The entire event was staged on the popular social networking site.
Opportunism?
The conversation began to heat up when ABS-CBN News anchor Ces Drilon (@cesdrilon), one of the guest "Twitterviewers" (read: interviewers on Twitter) for the event, referred a comment from a Twitter user to Honasan (@gringo_honasan) and asked him if he can respond to it.
The Tweet, posted by Twitter user @janicegamos said, "I would've believed in the spirit of Edsa 1986 if not for the fact that its so-called heroes, et al. became opportunistic."
Honasan, apparently slighted at the comment, answered, "Opportunistic?! In & out of jail, 7 years underground, 17 years soldier, bullet wounds in body... Opportunism?!"
At this point, Paredes (@jimparedes), who was initially holding a separate conversation with other Twitter enthusiasts regarding his own thoughts on Edsa, joined the discussion on hashtag #TweetConPH and said "Major players in EDSA came for various reasons. Gringo, Enrile, RAM had an agenda different from the millions who were there."
Paredes tweeted on, "They joined EDSA to save their assess against Marcos. When it was safe again, they launched their coups."
Paredes was clearly referring to the participation of Honasan in various attempts to overthrow President Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1989. Jailed after the 1989 coup attempt, Honasan was subsequently released in 1992 after President Fidel Ramos granted him amnesty.
"Serial coup plotters who never accepted the people's will except when they won in elections," Paredes said. "They owe the people an apology. They were plain users without the nation's good in mind."
Indeed, Honasan's exploits made him so popular among the masses that he was able to parlay the goodwill when he entered politics. He became a senator from 1995 to 2004 and again from 2007 to present.
"Business end of a gun"
Heated words were exchanged between Paredes and Honasan after that.
Honasan, reacting strongly to the comments, and told Paredes, "Until you have faced the business end of a gun as a soldier, for God, country & family HERE, you know nothing." He added, "I didn't go abroad," obviously pointing to the fact that Paredes migrated to Australia.
Paredes for his part responded, "Until you can be honest about your true motives, then I can't believe you." He added, "Until you can tell us why or even admit you launched those coups causing deaths and economic dislocation, wala ka." (You are nothing) "Sorry but the truth and facts are pesky things you have to live with," Paredes further told Honasan.
Honasan, now obviously incensed, told Paredes, "Get elected first, even as barangay captain. Then let's talk."
Singer and activist Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro), who also sang "Handog" together with Paredes, the Apo Hiking Society and several other artists back in 1986, also, joined the fray tweeting, "I still can't get around the idea that we protected RAM in 1986 and suffered several coup attempts later."
"Good to be candid"
Honasan did not stay in the conversation long after that, only responding to one more question from Newsbreak Executive Director Glenda Gloria who tried to defuse the tension with a question on whether Honasan ever chanced upon Navarro during those days.
He told event organizers that he had to leave for a 12 noon interview in Makati.
Before he signed off, Honasan posted a final tweet, addressed to everyone following the hashtag #TweetConPH, "To all Filipinos, let us not leave our country even if the going gets rough. God bless!"
After he left, Paredes told participants, "It's good to be candid. Let's be clear about who are heroes and villains are." He added, in response to Honasan's quip about the fact that he migrated, "Nothing wrong to leave our country, learn abroad and come back to apply knowledge. Rizal, Ninoy, Luna did just that."
Visit Newsbreak.ph for more details on the story, including highlights of the exchange between Honasan and Paredes.
Unique social media event
Friday's "Round Twitter" discussion was a collaboration between Newsbreak and its new blogger @I_amHolo, created of the hashtag #TweetconPH.
This unique social media event series, dubbed as "Ganito Sila Noon, Paano Tayo Ngayon?" gathered together—in the virtual space–respected journalists and other personalities on Twitter who were involved in or have affinity with what is inarguably a historic juncture in recent Philippine history.
Held on February 24 and 25, the event included key personalities in media, civil society and Congress as "Twitterviewers" and "Twitterviewees."
Those from the media included ABS-CBN News reporters TJ Manotoc (@tjmanotoc) and Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo), ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon (@cesdrilon), GMA News Online Editor in chief Howie Severino (@howieseverino), Kara David (@karadavid) of GMA7's I-Witness and Maria Ressa, former head of ABS-CBN News.
"Twitterviewees" during the 2-day event included Sen. Francis Escudero (@SayChiz), Former Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) leader, now senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan (@gringo_honasan), former street parliamentarian, now Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Teddy Casino (@teddycasino), former Akbayan partylist representative Risa Hontiveros (@risahontiveros).
"Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" singers Jim Paredes (@jimparedes) and Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro), and Bam-bam Aquino, nephew of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. were also among the "Twitterviewers" for the event.
The conversation was held purely in virtual space, with the audience and participants following the discussion stream using the hashtag #TweetconPH or on Newsbreak.ph/live.I find it funny that Gringo would say that Jim has to be elected first before he should talk to Gringo. Just shows the arrogant mentality of our elected officials. If one has to be elected first before he can talk to a public official, then it just shows the "elitist" mentality of our public officials.
And it's not just Gringo who thinks like that, this is pretty much the mentality of every elected official. Don't believe me? When was the last time they actually looked to fix the concern of the people without first putting forth their own self interest to be elected or to gain financially?
Their only concern is for themselves and not the people. That's what the country has come to. Is it ever a wonder why we're such a basket case?
Finally, Jim Paredes tweeted this.
@jimparedes #TweetConPH Geography is not the only requirement to be Filipino. 11 million people agree.
Full story
here.
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