Maria Theresa Pangilinan

The Latest ‘Youth Idol’ Is GMA’s ‘Heckler’

She has been praised as a “youth role model, a true student leader”, all because she voiced a collective disgust on no less than the country’s president.

BY DENNIS ESPADA
Bulatlat 

DEFIANT: Youth leader Maria Theresa Pangilinan with Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran ARKIBONG BAYAN PHOTO

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite— The Justice Secretary called her “insolent.”  Government officials of Cavite town said she lacked manners.  But for youth groups, Maria Theresa Pangilinan, or Tere is their latest role model. On April 21, toga-clad Tere led a group of protesting graduates of Cavite State University (CvSU) who stood up, unfurled a red banner and chanted slogans while President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was giving her speech. Tere’s banner was emblazoned with “No to Cha-cha” (charter change), while other protesters shouted “Pahirap sa masa! Patalsikin si Gloria!” (Burden to the masses! Oust Gloria!).

President Arroyo reportedly paused and stared blankly, after which Presidential Security Group (PSG) soldiers moved in to confiscate Tere’s banner. At that moment, the president just stood where she was and observed what was going on. She resumed her speech after a minute, her voice a pitch higher.

Chanting and unfurling of “Oust GMA” banners were later staged by another group of protesters but PSG elements and policemen drove them away. Despite being swift, that protest action joined by around 300 people has gained media projection that irked Malacañang officials.

Gallant Act

Tere, a mass communications graduate, was no ordinary student.  She was president of the Central Student Government and member of the university’s Board of Regents in CvSU.  She was also the regional vice-chairperson of NUSP for Southern Tagalog. 

She was conferred the “Huwarang Kabataan” (role model of the youth) award by the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and Kabataan (Youth) Party, which said she embodies the student leader and citizen every Filipino youth should emulate

"A true student leader and role model is selfless, critical, and proactive and is ready and willing to stand up for her constituents in the face of danger or uncertainty—qualities which Theresa have,” Kabataan Party president Raymond Palatino said.

“What she did was a gallant act for truth, justice and for the future of every Filipino," said Palatino.

Tere’s Crusade

The 23-year-old Tere said she’s not sorry for protesting against the president. If given a chance in a different venue, she said she would do it again.

“What we did is an expression of our disgust with the president, and it is an enshrined freedom in our Constitution. That is one reason why Ms Arroyo wants to have the constitution changed—to limit our freedom,” she said in a statement.

“Kung sa pakiramdam ni Ginang Arroyo na siya’y nabastos, hindi ba’t higit na pambabastos ang ginagawa niya sa buong mamamayang Pilipino sa pagtalikod sa mga kagyat na kahilingan ng mga mamamayan?” (If Ms Arroyo felt we committed an act of disrespect, is it not true that she committed a more brazen act of disrespect to the Filipino people when she turned her back on the people’s urgent demands?)

Asked by Bulatlat how she felt, Tere said, “Mas relief ang pakiramdam ko dahil naroon ‘yung hangarin namin na maipakita sa kanya ‘yung protesta namin face to face. Alam namin na ang adyenda niya’y ang pagsusulong ng Cha-cha at di namin hahayaan na mabahiran pati ang Cavite.” (I felt relieved because we wanted to show to her face to face that we are protesting. We know her agenda is to promote Cha-Cha and we will not allow her to smear Cavite with it.)

Tere has been busy going around various media outfits to air the grievances of the youth and to arouse them to collectively stand up against the Arroyo regime. On April 27, she visited detained Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Partylist Representative Crispin Beltran in the hospital, then appeared in a late-night public debate show on TV.

Tere campaigned for a broad range of issues affecting education. Such issues include the budget slash for state colleges and universities, comfort rooms that cost P1 ($0.02 at $1:P51.78) per use, P150 ($2.90) medical fees, exorbitant internet fees for inaccessible computers and tuition fee increases. In assigning instructors for their English lab, for instance, she observed that the school has been giving more priority to Korean students over Filipinos.

“Sinasabi ng administrasyon na walang ipinapatupad na tuition increase pero ang nangyayari kasi ladderized. Ang mga freshmen na walang kamalay-malay ang naaapektuhan…meron nang other fees bukod pa sa miscellaneous fee,.” (The administration has been saying that there is no tuition fee increase but it’s actually a ladderized scheme. Freshmen who are innocent are affected…they are being made to pay for additional fees aside from miscellaneous fees) Tere explained.

Tere is calling for the ouster not only of President Arroyo, but also CvSU president Dr. Ruperto Sanggalang, whom she said is a “burden” to the students.

School officials, she said, have been so blatant in suppressing the students' right to organize. When students of a newly-established college held council elections, she said its dean refused to recognize the elected officers for unfounded reasons.

“Ang nakakatawa pa nito, pagkatapos ng eleksyon, pinaboto niya ‘yung dalawang sections na hindi nakaboto para i-order sila na iboto ‘yung kandidatong pabor sa kanya…ang nangyari ay nanalo pa ‘yung partidong ayaw niya.” (What’s funny is that after the elections, he told two sections that were not able to  vote to vote for his favored candidates …still, the party he did not like won).

Insolence?

Secretary Raul Gonzales of the Department of Justice (DOJ) claims that in carrying out her “insolence”, Tere has violated Article 153 and 154 of the Revised Penal Code and called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the possibility of filing criminal charges against her.

She also learned that their college dean has announced that her transcript of records (TOR) will be put on hold.

Sheryll Villegas, secretary-general  of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Cavite (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) said that the criminal charges, which Gonzales threatens to file against Tere, may actually be resolved at the barangay (village) level, as provided by law.

She said the Justice Secretary should take up Political Science 101 for “apparently being ignorant of the law and for mocking the whole justice system.”

Villegas added that criticisms and protests will hound Ms Arroyo because she insists on holding on to power despite being disliked and very much isolated due to accusations of electoral fraud, corruption and human rights violations.

On her so-called heckling, Tere said, “Kung ang iniisip nila ay pambabastos ang pakikipaglaban para  sa karapatan ng kabatan, pagtindig sa katotohanan, pagtindig sa katarungan,  at pagiging isang makabayan para sa pagbabago, mas nanaisin pa namin na maging bastos hambambuhay.” (If they say that fighting for the rights of the youth, and standing up for truth and justice is being rude, then we’d rather be rude for the rest of our lives). Bulatlat

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