Towards a Modified Burkean Approach to the Rhetoric of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD)

Abstract

This study was conducted in view of the significance of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) not only among the Mindanaoans, but to the Filipino people as well. The study aimed at describing the rhetorical process using the Burkean approach and to determine the major issues reflected in the rhetoric. To reach this goal, a description of the rhetoric using the Dramatistic pentad with its five elements— act, scene, agent, agency and purpose—was deemed necessary. It was found out that Kenneth Burke’s dramatism or pentad was useful in analyzing the whos, whats, whys and hows in the rhetorical process. Although Kenneth Burke’s dramatism or pentad was useful in analyzing the rhetorical process, there was a need to complement the approach with discourse analysis to be able to show the interpersonal relationship that was observed. Since the study focussed on the Senate deliberation on the establishment of SPCPD, the rhetoric was analyzed during the height of the issue, the year 1996: focusing from the release of the draft of the Executive Order in August to the signing of the final Executive Order 371 in September, establishing the SPCPD, ZOPAD and the Consultative Assembly up to the immediate aftermath of the EO 371 in October to December. The analysis concentrated on this particular timeframe. Hence, the recent developments in the Mindanao situation was not included in this study. The Senators who had given their speeches to explain their votes on the establishment of the SPCPD were foremost considered as the main agents in the rhetoric. Hence, the written explanation of votes was not included. Sample speeches were chosen to represent the “pro” and the “anti” side of the issue. Senators Heherson Alvarez, Neptali Gonzales and Orlando Mercado represented the “pro” side; while Senators Blas Ople, Marcelo Fernan and Francisco Tatad represent the “anti” side. The selection was based on the criteria that the speeches revolve around the “major issues” commonly identified in this study. These issues were: (1) SPCPD as a formula for peace in Mindanao; (2) the composition and constitutionality of SPCPD; and, (3) the Muslim/MNLF domination. The statements uttered, open letters, position papers published in the newspapers and in other forms of documentation were the main materials used for this study. Since limited studies in the Philippine setting have been done in this area, results of this study would provide additional information on rhetorical criticism using the “dramatistic pentad” of Kenneth Burke.