Dr. Jose Rizal just got out of his clinic after a day of consultations. He was just waiting for the chance to get back to his hobby of online anthropological research on the difference of Filipinos and Europeans that his non-academic research that will eventually be published by a friend abroad named Blumetritt. As he was passing by Azcarraga, he saw two motorcycle guys riding in tandem gunning down a pedicab driver. Then a cardboard was tossed on the hapless victim. Being a doctor, he quickly rushed to the fallen man, the cardboard read “Huwag akong tularan. Pusher ako”. Paying no heed to the sign, he saw that the man was beyond medical help with two gunshot wounds to the head and 5 to the chest.
Dr. Rizal then saw a woman running and then cradling the dead man to her chest. Dr. Rizal was moved because of the scene. His travel back to his home was with a disturbed conscience. All his education here and abroad was useless to save the man. He is active in the Silangan Lodge and other civic groups. He was instrumental in various medical missions and also reserved 1 day a month for free consultations to indigent families. His active participation in feeding programs for poor children every Saturday morning at the Barangay Hall has been going on for years.
Upon arriving home, he went inside his den, something was still bothering him. He turned on the TV and saw news of killings of alleged addicts and pushers on TV Patrol. The president was interviewed and that a statement that sacrifices must be made for peace and order. That human rights must take a back seat to the exigencies of fulfilling a campaign promise.
Dr. Rizal then turned off the tv and turned on his laptop and proceeded to open his current paper he wanted to finish drafting. He logged in to facebook and read the newsfeed. It also featured posts with pictures of those killed and the flame wars now a regular feature of facebook. He noted all the hate being thrown around by fb account holders with fictitious names and accounts.
Dr. Rizal posted his feelings. “I have devoted my life in curing people, helping them, giving them the chance in improving their lot. It was never easy. A lot of effort in giving them a chance to improve their lives and then the life is gone in a few seconds because of these roving vigilantes. In a few seconds, a comment was made. It told Dr. Jose Rizal that he was a protector of addicts and criminals. His sisters and mother must be raped.
Dr. Jose Rizal opened up a new file and started to write “Cardboard Justice”…..
Emilio Jacinto rode the MRT going home from school. He was just 19 years old but he knew he must make a stand with regards to the killings. He wore an improvised cardboard sign that said “Lahat tayo pwedeng maging Pusher”. There were stares as he was getting off the platform at Shaw Blvd. Station. Wanting to get some merienda at Shang Mall, he tried to enter the mall at its 5th level. The guard at the entrance told him to remove the cardboard sign he was wearing. Emilio insisted that he was not violating anything. He even showed his student ID and opened his backpack for inspection but the guard would not let him in without removing his cardboard sign. There were people in line that were waiting to be allowed in. When they saw and heard the discussion, someone shouted “tanggalin mo na kasi yan para makapasok na kami. Istorbo ka eh. Bakla!”
Emilio, noting the angry stares thrown his way just went down the MRT station stairs and took a ride going to Pasig. All the other passengers gave him dagger looks and it was a ride that seemed to last an eternity until he arrived at the Pasig Immaculate Conception Basilica. He got off and took a tricycle to his home. The tricycle driver seeing his sign asked if he was an activist or a drug addict.
Emilio got home and wrote his experiences in his blog. He used fb to chat with like minded friends and classmates. Apol Mabini, one of the older guys in the chatgroup then told them that he is in contact with a guy and they were already organizing. Apol told Emilio that the man who was organizing was a follower of Emilio’s blog and requested that they meet up. Emilio agreed and Apol sent a different PM to the man who acknowledged the message.
“OK, sige meet tayo sa Starbucks Metrowalk 5:00 PM bukas.” He typed on his laptop. Then he drew up another FB chat, “Dr. Rizal, bukas 5:00 pm tayo sa Starbucks Metrowalk, may bata ako, introduce sa iyo. We have already started to organize. Jun Luna and his brother Col. Tony Luna will also attend. There is restiveness now in the AFP and PNP”. Andy Bonifacio then logged out.
