Demonstration 2: Official Statement
This is one of my favorite statements (not my favorite piece of work, though) during my time working with Namfrel. This is an excellent sample of a statement from an organization, and particular quotes can be used for straight news-writing.
February 4, 2003
Today we bear witness as another event unfolds in the history of our democracy, and celebrate that while we have lost this particular battle, we have won the greater war - against apathy and ignorance. The people have been reawakened, our people are now conscious of the enormous task and responsibility needed to make good governance a reality in the Philippines, in the words of Edmund Burke, "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
We, men and women of good intent, are proud to be citizens of the Philippines, and even if the results in Congress were not favorable to our cause, we laud that our democracy has made this possible, and instead of dashing our hopes, it strengthens our conviction that Philippine democracy, and the common Filipino, are worthy of our vigilance, are worthy of our faith, are worthy of our sacrifice.
Almost twenty years ago, a man answered the question "Is the Filipino worth dying for?" by laying down his life on an airport tarmac, a martyr for truth, freedom, and democracy.
We are pleased that the conscience vote in Congress included those members of the Justice Committee who originally voted that our complaint was insufficient in substance because they have been convinced that the case was substantive enough to be referred back to their Committee for a full investigation.
We would therefore like to appeal to the members of Congress to allow the 93 representatives who were not able to vote on this matter to cast their vote and correspondingly explain such vote, even as Congress makes its appointment with history - to finally promulgate its decision on an impeachment complaint filed against an official of a constitutional body tasked to hold clean and honest elections in our country.
We make this appeal so that the constituents of these representatives would be able to fully appreciate the convictions of the men and women they have elected to represent them in Congress.
Rest assured, we will abide by what Congress, as the duly constituted body in cases of impeachment, will decide on this matter.
Amidst all of this, we in this cause - student, professional, laborer, employee, religious, academic, business - shall continue to strive to work to make Philippine democracy truly representative of the people, and in our own ways, continue to advocate for the implementation of clean, honest, orderly, and peaceful elections - a true reflection of the principle of "one citizen, one vote."
We will strive despite failure and criticism so that we may learn, in the words of Carlos P. Romulo, one Filipino statesman: "We are fallible. We certainly haven't attained perfection. But we can strive for it, and the virtue is in the striving."
We would therefore like to call on the Filipino people, in this state of reawakening, to continue to be vigilant, to consider all issues from all sides, and most importantly, to continue making a difference by taking positive action for our democracy.
"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." Together, let us bring our country from shadow into the light.
(Sgd)
JOSE S. CONCEPCION, JR.
National Chairman
BISHOP DINUALDO GUTIERREZ, D.D.
National Co-Chairman
February 4, 2003
NAMFREL OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE DECISION OF CONGRESS
ON THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE PEOPLE VS TANCANGCO MOVEMENT
ON THE COMPLAINT FILED BY THE PEOPLE VS TANCANGCO MOVEMENT
Today we bear witness as another event unfolds in the history of our democracy, and celebrate that while we have lost this particular battle, we have won the greater war - against apathy and ignorance. The people have been reawakened, our people are now conscious of the enormous task and responsibility needed to make good governance a reality in the Philippines, in the words of Edmund Burke, "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
We, men and women of good intent, are proud to be citizens of the Philippines, and even if the results in Congress were not favorable to our cause, we laud that our democracy has made this possible, and instead of dashing our hopes, it strengthens our conviction that Philippine democracy, and the common Filipino, are worthy of our vigilance, are worthy of our faith, are worthy of our sacrifice.
Almost twenty years ago, a man answered the question "Is the Filipino worth dying for?" by laying down his life on an airport tarmac, a martyr for truth, freedom, and democracy.
We are pleased that the conscience vote in Congress included those members of the Justice Committee who originally voted that our complaint was insufficient in substance because they have been convinced that the case was substantive enough to be referred back to their Committee for a full investigation.
We would therefore like to appeal to the members of Congress to allow the 93 representatives who were not able to vote on this matter to cast their vote and correspondingly explain such vote, even as Congress makes its appointment with history - to finally promulgate its decision on an impeachment complaint filed against an official of a constitutional body tasked to hold clean and honest elections in our country.
We make this appeal so that the constituents of these representatives would be able to fully appreciate the convictions of the men and women they have elected to represent them in Congress.
Rest assured, we will abide by what Congress, as the duly constituted body in cases of impeachment, will decide on this matter.
Amidst all of this, we in this cause - student, professional, laborer, employee, religious, academic, business - shall continue to strive to work to make Philippine democracy truly representative of the people, and in our own ways, continue to advocate for the implementation of clean, honest, orderly, and peaceful elections - a true reflection of the principle of "one citizen, one vote."
We will strive despite failure and criticism so that we may learn, in the words of Carlos P. Romulo, one Filipino statesman: "We are fallible. We certainly haven't attained perfection. But we can strive for it, and the virtue is in the striving."
We would therefore like to call on the Filipino people, in this state of reawakening, to continue to be vigilant, to consider all issues from all sides, and most importantly, to continue making a difference by taking positive action for our democracy.
"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." Together, let us bring our country from shadow into the light.
(Sgd)
JOSE S. CONCEPCION, JR.
National Chairman
BISHOP DINUALDO GUTIERREZ, D.D.
National Co-Chairman
posted by Unknown @ 5:38:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home