The Chair Wrecker by William M. Esposo

Home • As I Wreck This Chair • High Ground • Career Brief and Roots • Advocacies • Landmarks

Information could cause your progress or exploitation
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star 2012-02-05

For our democracy to be viable, Filipinos must have equal access to vital information that affects their lives. A big information gap eventually becomes the foundation for the exploitation of many members of society. This is particularly true for the Philippines.

A demonstration of the information gap rendering a people vulnerable for exploitation happened during my sister Dorothy’s trip sometime during the early 1980s to Damilag, Bukidnon where we have a farm. She went there to represent us in establishing our ownership to the land we were farming.

Prior to Dorothy’s trip, our farm partners alerted us that some farmers there were misled into thinking that our property was available for occupation. That means that it’s not titled to anybody and that nobody is paying land tax for it. Such, of course, was not the case. Our rights to the land that our maternal grandparents handed down to us were genuine and legal.

The poor farmers thought — or were made to think — that our farm partners were squatters. A known Leftist agitator was leading the poor, landless farmers and we eventually discovered, in the course of the court hearing where Dorothy represented us that this socialist was into a very capitalistic thing. He was out to gain land and profit. Pretending to represent the best interests of the poor, landless farmers of Bukidnon, this Leftist wanted to be the profitable landowner that they love to denounce during their anti-everything rallies.

Upon her return to Metro Manila, Dorothy narrated to us how pitifully exploited those Bukidnon farmers were by the person they thought would help them acquire land. This syndrome does not even link itself to an education gap but to an informatio... More..

	*Previous Columns:*
•	Information could cause your progress or exploitation 2012-02-05
•	What's the unbelievable tale and retraction of Cuevas all about? 2012-02-02
•	Two wishes for Senator-Judges 2012-01-31
•	Can our media be trusted with sensitive information? 2012-01-29
•	Chief Prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. should be replaced 2012-01-26
•	[Click here for the Archive]

Advocacies

1. Community building and value formation

Community building through values formation is what will build a strong Filipino nation.

Read
"How Erap missed his moment of greatness" and
"Who can really solve our poverty problem"

2. Historical truth

Filipinos MUST know the HISTORICAL TRUTH about their country because ONLY then will Filipinos be able to solve their real core problem.

Read
"The National Problem: We only see the trees"
"Can Filipinos recognize their savior?" and
"The spin doctors of history and the Bible"

3. Bridge the Information Gap

Bridge the INFORMATION GAP: The Filipino MUST be empowered by being enlightened in order to promote real democracy.

Read
"Will you buy a brand without a real product?" and
"Why we can't expect salvation in 2010"

Landmarks [More]

	Last February 26, 2011, Billy was awarded by Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino III the Presidential Legion of Honor Award, Commander Rank, as recognition for his contributions to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines in 1986.
	Billy organized and headed the Cory Aquino Media Bureau during the 1986 Snap Elections and is seen here in Malacanang Palace with Cory in the first few days after Cory assumed the presidency.
	Billy spearheads in this Malacanang Palace meeting the media campaign to ratify the 1987 Freedom Constitution.
	Billy served as Assistant Secretary in the Local Government Department and as Director-General of the PIA (Philippine Information Agency) during the Cory Aquino Administration.
	PIA (Philippine Information Agency) Director-General Billy M. Esposo conducts a staff meeting.