Rumblings of the day after

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

After celebrating the Day of Love yesterday, Filipinos, especially those in the urban areas, are coming down to earth today as they face a very different scenario.

Yesterday, the people from all walks of life found a way to enjoy the company of loved ones, according to what their circumstances could provide. In Bacolod City , eateries, from the simplest “inasal” stalls, to the posh restaurants in the classy hotels, were full of customers. For those who could not afford those, they had the city public plaza and the capitol lagoon where they gathered for a picnic, or just to stroll around. And those celebrating were not only sweethearts, or couples, many, even most of them, consisted of entire families, taking advantage of a day to enjoy themselves.

The rude awakening will come today during they will gather again in rallies, marches and demonstrations scheduled with the purpose of denouncing the venalities being committed in government, crimes committed against the people, who are now aware that the poverty and misery that has been besetting them all these years had been caused by the shamelessness and the insatiable greed of some of their highest officials.

Of course, this is not a new perception for the Filipino people. All these past years they have heard it in innuendoes, and in subtle hints from the media, who could go no farther because of our stringent libel laws. They suspected it, but nobody had the fortitude to resist the temptation while in office, or the guts to spill out what they know.

The good Lord in His mysterious ways, saw fit to create the situation that led to the confusions and revelations which eventually frightened one man to disclose what he knew and had almost participated in, which was the case of the national broadband deal between our government and the ZTE company of China.

So today, barring unforeseen events that would alter announced plans, we will witness the reaction and response of our people to all this. What we enjoin those who may not feel like participating, is that they support and pray that we achieve what we long for without violence and, still with the afterglow of Valentine's Day, in a peaceful manner.*