Time marches on

Title

Time marches on

Creator

Santos, Bayani

Language

English

Year

1969

Subject

Political rallies--Philippines

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

S.F. SAMSON COMMERCIAL Publisher of the fol/owing approved REFERENCE BOOKS Doing Right ........................ P 7 .00 Early Stories About Our eople .................................... P 9.00 ·Philippine Roll of Honor P 8.50 Si Rizal, Ang Pala-Aral .... Pl0.00 Manufacturer/distributor of teaching aids, school supplies, and equipment. SPECIAL Price: P25.00 Outline map of the Republic of the Philippines artistically d1 awn on durable and washable oil cloth, leatherette with black background and white outline. Finely varnished on top and bottom edges, it is supported with wooden rollers for mobility. It carries the brand name LEGASON and bears copyright Register No F-200. SAMUEL (Sammy) SAMSON General Manager 20 Dunwoody Street U.E. Subdivision, Caloocan City Place your order directly or thru Philippine M a·gazine DEMOS are out; marches are in. It is no longer fashionable just to wave a placard. The demonstrator must also prove his endurance in hiking, Mark time, march! I met such a march yesterday. They were a motley group, composed of students, peasants, professionals, workers and expelled Liberals. Having nothing to do, I joined the group arid started asking why they were in the mark. "I am a jogger," said a balding man with the bay-windo,; of a B-57 f!ung open. "I missed three days practice and I am making up." Finally there was one who had a better explanation for the march. "Demos are no longer camp, man," the bearded youth told me. "To really jazz things up, you've got to march!" But what was the march for? He could not tell. Someone volunteered: "We are going to present demands to the President and to Congress. We will ask them to declare the American military bases, Forbes Park, Magallanes Village as reform areas. We will ask them to expropriate all golf courses in the country and sell them to the people!" Time Marches On By BAYANI SANTOS "This is my chance to tour the country," said a young man. "We ·started from Cagayan and I have covered more grounds in six days than I have seen in my entire life. Tour the country for free, that's what this march is for me." I turned to another man. "I lost my bus fare," be mumbled sadly, "and this is my only cban~ to get to Manila "without my plight being known.'' Thjire was a woman in the group. "I am following my husband," she said. "He claims he is joining the demonstration in Congress but I know better.'' She was holding J walkie-talkie and was soon making contact with the other line. One of them was wearing a tie and carrying an · attache case. "I am a salesman," be beamed, "and I am promoting these new rubber shoes. They're good for hikes and marches. Wanna try a pair?" I said, no, thanks. The other one bad a bigger. line of products. "I sell cures for corns and blisters, and liniments, and pills. And business is great," be crowed. There was a melancholy-looking man. "I haven't visited my relatives for a long long time," he told me. "Now J have the chance to see them one by one." ·But why go all the way to Manila to present these demands? "Who's going all the way? The President will meet us and will study our demands. He likes to meet problems head-on, you know." Suddenly he glowered at me. "Why do you keep asking those stupid q\lestions anyway? Who are you?" Before l could answer his stupid queation, I heard shouts of "Infiltrator! Infiltrator!" and · soon the march was making a U-turn as the whole stampede chased me back to the provincial· boun~ dary. PM THE PHILIPPINE MAGAZINE I MAY . 11, 1969 I PAGE 7

Date Issued

1(8) May 31, 1969

Media