The title of this entry refers to the famous quote of Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay (whose birthday falls on the month of August as well) whenever a national policy that was to be implemented is something the public would support or not. It was a testament to the importance of Plaza Miranda as the venue for public opinion. But we are getting ahead of ourselves here as it is important to know first the story of this particular spot that has become a national landmark of sorts.
History tells us that Plaza Miranda was named after Jose Sandino y Miranda, the Spanish-era Treasury secretary from 1853-63. While his “claim to fame” is something remotely connected to free speech or even religion, (after all, the famed Quiapo Church/Basilica of the Black Nazarene is located along the plaza) it was something that is usual in the business of naming places, trying to fit a person’s name to a certain place even if the person has nothing to do whatsoever with that place, which otherwise would have been more symbolic.