I Like Mike
by: Ma. Christina Angela Guevarra Note: This entry was originally posted in www.peyups.com, as part of the Dekada 90 entries. We are reposting this in our blog because the writer was able to capture the highlights of Mike's history as a student activist, and at the same time, she was able to articulate the questions that most people have in their minds. We hope this will open a forum not only about Mike, but about all former student activists who consider public service as a career track. _________________________ by: Ma. Christina Angela Guevarra Kuwento lang - noong aktibistang estudyante pa sa UP ang kasalukuyang kinatawan ng ikatlong distrito ng Quezon City, pumapasok lang siya sa klase kapag may eksam o recitation. At dahil maboka at matinik magpaliwanag sa mga titser, madalas na pinalalampas ang kanyang mga "kalokohan." Balikbayan mula sa US si Michael T. Defensor nung mag-enrol siya sa kolehiyo noong 1985. Sa katunayan, para itong pagbabalik-loob sa dating alma mater. Sa UP Integrated School (UPIS) kasi nagtapos ng elementarya si Mike. Ngunit hindi na ito ang Peyups na nakagisnan niya. Napadpad siya sa isang Pinas na nasa gitna ng mainit na kampanya laban sa diktaduryang Marcos. "Maraming protest rallies," aniya. "May mga questions na ako noon, dahil noong 1985 na nasa States pa ako, maraming news na lumalabas na hindi nakikita rito pero nakikita roon." Dala ng bugso ng panahon, sumali siya sa isang political org, ang UP Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS), noong 1986. Mula noon ay naging aktibo na siya sa mga kilos protesta para sa demokrasya. Naging USC councilor si Mike noong 1987 at nahalal na vice-chairperson nang sumunod na taon. At dahil talaga namang napakasigasig, hinirang siyang national chairperson ng National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) noong 1989. Bilang isang masugid na aktibistang may "hectic"na iskedyul at bagong paniniwala na rin, lumipat si Mike sa BA History kahit na isang semestre na lang ang kailangan niyang bunuin upang magtapos ng BS Economics. Problema ang naging dulot nito dahil hindi niya sinabi sa kanyang tatay. "Kaya may pressure sa akin for several years," aniya. Pagkagradweyt noong 1992, sumabak na siya sa mas malaking larangan ng pulitikahan. Nahalal siya bilang isa sa mga pinakabatang konsehal ng Quezon City. At dahil "child-wonder" itong si Mike, naging isa rin sa pinakabatang deputadong pumasok sa kongreso. Sa kasalukuyan, nakatutok si Mike sa mga programang pang-kabataan bilang vice chairman ng Youth and Sports Development Committee. Kasama ang mga kapwa niya "Spice Boys," hayag din siyang tumututol sa Constitutional Correction and Development (Concord) ng kasalukuyang administrasyong Estrada. At mukhang namang may pinatutunguhan ang kanyang career. Bilang deputado, tumanggap si Defensor ng mga parangal mula sa iba't ibang kinatawan. Hinirang siyang isa sa Twenty Most Outstanding Congressmen noong 1997 ng Congress Watch. Isa rin siya sa dalawang Pilipinong napabilang sa "Top 20 Asia's Most Powerful and Influential Young Leaders to Watch for in the Next Millennium" ng Asiaweek na inilathala nito lamang Nobyembre. Ngunit nang tanungin si Mike ukol sa aktibismo, partikular sa kilusang estudyante, mukhang nag-iba na `ata ang simoy ng hangin - taliwas na sa mga paniniwala niya noong mga huling taon ng diktadurya. "Kung hindi kaliwang-kaliwa, kanang-kanan naman. Wala man lamang gitna. Maraming de-kahon na pagtingin at pananaw," hinaing ni Mike. Sandamukal na raw ang mga klase ng ideyolohiya at isyung pinakikialaman ng kilusang estudyante ngayon. Kaya marami na raw ang "nate-turn off." Kuwento lang - pulitiko na ngayon si Mike. Kung dati rati'y nagtatalumpati lang siya mula sa likod ng inarkilang dyip o trak, ngayo'y asenso na - sa Batasan na rumaraket. At kung gaano kaanghang ang mga salitang binibitiwan ni Mike noon laban sa krisis ng edukasyon, ganoon na rin katamis ang ngiti niya ngayon sa bulwagan ng dating itinuring niyang na kalaban.
- Kay tamis ng ating samahan sa lungkot at kaligayahan. Tunay na kaibigan, kasamang maaasahan. Salamat at tayo'y may
pinagsamahan. Salamat, tunay kong kaibigan
(Salamat, by The Dawn)
Mike has always been dear to us since we were kids. He’s a good friend who came running when we needed him. Mike was the go-to guy even before he became Cong. Mike, and then Sec. Defensor. Many of us knew he was destined for public service. Mike was the consummate politician, a trait he developed since grade school. We thought he would go on to become president, if he didn’t disappoint the fickle Filipino public.But it seems he has. So much so that he is vilified by the media at every opportunity. His actions are always placed within the perspective of his relationship with an unpopular president. Justifiable, though harsh.
So we set up this blog. Some of us have worked with him and have seen him make what we thought were good decisions. But some of us were also there when we thought he made wrong ones. But that is how a man is made -- by the choices he makes.As his friends, the best we can do is stand by him and try to help everyone else see things from a different light.
On the campaign trail, the mayor running for re-election walks up to a house of his campaign adviser and rings the doorbell. When a small boy opens the door, the mayor introduces himself, “Hello there, little boy! What’s your name?”
“Little Johnny,” replies the small boy.
“Well, Little Johnny, I’m Mayor Hoffman. I’m running for re-election. Can I speak to your father?”
“He’s in the shower right now,” answers Little Johnny with a giggle.
“Oh! Well, is your mother in the house too?” asks Mayor Hoffman.
“Yes, she is. But she’s in the shower with my daddy,” replies Little Johnny with a snicker.
“Oh I see,” says Mayor Hoffman who pauses a moment thinking of what to say next. Then he smiles and says, “Little Johnny, can you go see if they are through now? I would like to speak to either one of them. It’s important.”
“I don’t think so,” replies Little Johnny with a big laugh.
Surprised to see the boy laughing heartily, the perplexed mayor demands, “What’s so funny, son? Is there something wrong with your parents?”
“Well, when my daddy asked for the Vaseline while they’re in the shower, I handed him the Super Glue.”
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