Written at 10:00 AM
Jan. 10, 1973 on board
the 777
We seek change not just to prevent revolution but return the dignity of the individual and the nation. The individual so he can be the equal of any man in all things.
The nation so it is truly free and not dependent on any other nation for its survival both militarily and economically.
Thus we say the ultimate aim of revolution is to change man himself—to change his mind, his spirit and his heart.
To do so, there must be continuity of policy, stability of leadership and strength of government.
Thus the need for the people’s support. And the mechanism to not only convince the people—starting with s credible program—unselfish and wise—but to open the way for the people to articulate their sentiments.
This is where western democracy has failed. Because the articulation of the sentiments of their people have been merely few and far between through the ballot which still is controlled by media—a media that is elitist, not free of the selfish direction of both prejudice and pecuniary consideration dictated by its very nature of depending on its acceptability by its pandering to the people’s morbidity for the dramatic, shocking and unbelievable—so it can make money and thus support not only itself but its owners.
Given this premise that media while performing a public service is not an instrument of the public but of the elite—the question is what then is the alternative within the capability of the small developing country like the Philippines.
Thus the Citizens’ Assembly or the barangay. It is efficient, inexpensive and pervasive. It includes the 15 year old and even the illiterate. And it draws from the traditions of our race. Therefore, it draws on spiritual strength.
It is broader than even the ancient Athenian democracy of Aristotle for it is national and not limited to a city state of a few thousand people. It could embrace a voting people of more than twenty million.
So I await the results of this experiment with bated breath. For here is a creation from my mind on which depends the whole structure of our peaceful revolution.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
From the success of the barangay we can move to almost anything. For with the people united in political action, anything is possible.
And few of the old political leaders realize it. They are still enmeshed in the wire of the old Western style balloting and the plebiscite as well as elections.
From here we go into the legislative council that should be Filipino.
And an advisory council of more efficient form. For even in this we have slowly gotten caught in the weaknesses of the western type of bureaucracy.