(Speech delivered by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman at the Opening Ceremonies of the Bureau of Fire Prevention’s Fire Prevention Month at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on 01 March 2008)

Since today is the kick-off of the Fire Prevention Month, it would be appropriate to begin with the story of how fire was first bestowed on humankind. In Greek mythology, fire was a sacred element that could only be used by the gods. Prometheus was the Titan who, when he saw the first humans living like animals, shivering from cold and eating raw meat, decided to do the unthinkable – he stole a spark from the eternal bonfire blazing in Olympus, the home of the gods and gave it to mankind so they can have warmth and light.

Ka Popoy Lagman would have been 55 years old on March 17. But now he is ageless. He belongs to the ages as long as there are abusive capitalists and deprived workers; uncaring governments and neglected citizens; super rich few and impoverished multitudes.

There are overriding reasons why Popoy is not really dead.

(Keynote Address delivered by REP. EDCEL C. LAGMAN at the 10^th Congress of the Freedom from Debt Coalition at the College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City on 22 November 2007)

Last week, just outside the south wing of the House of Representatives, an explosion killed four people, including a Representative, and injured 11 others. In memory of the dead and for the recovery of the injured, I ask for a moment of silence.

The day before this lethal explosion, and right inside the Plenary Hall of the House, there was a vital implosion, but without blinding light, without deafening sound, without searing heat. No one was killed, no one was injured. Its target was not one, two, or any number of Representatives. Its target was the most numerous among the represented. Its aim was not to kill and maim, but to rectify and vitalize.