Zeitgeist Movement Philippines: A Gathering of The Lone Gunmen

X Files
To those familiar with the tv series, the X Files, you'd know the 3 tech-savvy conspiracy theorists, The Lone Gunmen. That's the feeling I got when I attended what I thought was a discussion on Zeitgeist at Ali Mall.

Zeitgeist Movement Philippines
I was so shaken by the movie Zeitgeist (the first one and Addendum) that I spent nearly a week writing a movie review about it. When I got wind of a Zeitgeist meeting in the Philippines by the Zeitgeist Movement Philippines, I didn't need convincing. The posting came through FaceBook and was passed on to me by a friend who went with me. I didn't know anyone from that circle, but nonetheless, I knew it would be a meeting of like-minded individuals.

Cloaked without the Daggers
We showed up at Ali Mall thinking there would be a convention hall for the event. None. I asked the guards and some workers where the event was taking place. None knew. Hmmmm. At the Food Court, my friend saw one of the organizers, a guy in his early 20s. We chatted as we waited for others to show up. It turned out the Ali Mall meeting was just an initial gathering. The real event was to happen at someone else's house, not too far away. It seemed clandestine and shadowy.

Underground Raves
I was reminded of the underground raves in Toronto where people showed up at a certain place at a specific time for instructions on where to go next, until they arrive at the place, usually, an abandoned warehouse where the party was happening.

Geek Talk
While waiting for the others, there was casual geek-talk about the Riemann Hypothesis, Pi and irrational numbers, replete with verbalized mathematical calculations disproving prime numbers to be finite. One guy even recited the value of pi to so many decimal places! I was impressed. I had the impression this group are tech-savvy activists who can hack through 128-bit encryption...not unlike The Lone Gunmen.

The Wannabe
I was wired, feeling-like a conspiracy theorist who saw one too many episodes of The Lone Gunmen on the X Files. Secret handshakes, coded messages, avatars and name-handles came to mind. My mind was racing thinking what name I should give myself...Anti-Hero? The Pin Cushion Man? Maybe Blackie Lavender...but wait, that sounds more like a porn name. I loved the drama. I was hoping Cancer Man would make a surprise appearance.

Iconoclastic Lone Gunmen
True enough, when the others showed up, most of them were equally adept at technology and the virtual world...brimming with optimistic views of an abundant green planet with its inhabitants free from government and its laws. They were young, idealistic, with expertise in the field of graphic design, programming, math, etc. They were oscillating between brick and mortars to an online existence - the pioneering iconoclasts for a new world order thriving on a resource-based economy where money and its institutions are reduced to iconic symbols of an aberrant past. Whoa...I think I'm getting carried away here. They're cool. Enough said.

Information Dissemination
We then proceeded on foot to a house where plans for the next phase were to take shape - leaflet distribution for online viewing of Zeitgeist Addendum, cd burning of the movie for the download-aversed, Pilipino translation for mass comprehension, etc. Hosting a screening with the Pinoy Free Thinkers were on the agenda. We browsed on relevant links, looking for possible partnerships with like-minded groups and individuals. The Pinoy Zeitgeist blog even came up.

Ending Thoughts
Our here-and-now is a fractional monetary-based economy running on fossil fuel. To envision a resource-based economy that renders governments and laws obsolete is so lofty, it sounds even arrogant. But hey, Rome wasn't built in a day either. If not for anything else, I applaud these idealist Zeitgeist warriors whose vision blazes through the brushy trail of economic and corporate inefficiencies. They are young, highly motivated, smart and not afraid to use technology to meet their objectives. Though their vision is perhaps generations away, the seed they plant now serves as tomorrow's cornerstone for the movement. I am reminded of a popular adage by Margaret Mead,

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

--- TheLoneRider

Metro Manila Blogs by TheLoneRider

• The Legacy of President NoyNoy (PNoy) Aquino May 28, 2016
• Goodbye Manila Feb 22, 2016
• Exploring Guijo Street (Makati) Area Feb 17-21, 2016
• Conducting a Half-Day Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation Workshop in Makati Feb 13, 2016
• Bernie Sanders, US Presidential Candidate 2016 Feb 9, 2016
• Yoga Modeling for the Feati School of Fine Arts Feb 4, 2016
• Blues with Hoochie Coochie Mikkie at Catch 272 Boho Jan 30, 2016
• Julia Clarette's Farewell Performance at 12 Monkeys Jan 26, 2016
• We Don't Care Jan 23, 2016
• Catching-up with Chikoy Pura and Julia Clarette at My Bro's Mustache Jan 21, 2016
• Dong Abay Rocks 70s Bistro Jan 19, 2016
• Blues is Alive and Kickin' in Manila Jan 6, 2016
• Yuletide Season in Manila Dec 20, 2015 - Dec 31, 2015
• 16 Days in Quezon City Sep 1-16, 2014
• Manila Blues Scene Sep 10, 2014
• Back in Quezon City Jul 24 - Aug 20, 2014
• Black is Back Aug 4, 2014

JULY

• The Bill July 30, 2014
• Hooking-Up with Friends in Manila Sep 29 - Oct. 3, 2012
• Manila Jul 24 - Aug 2, 2012
• Manila State of Mind Mar 16-26, 2012
• Manila Dec 7-14 Coffee Anyone? Dec 7-14, 2011
• Passing Thru Manila Jun 8, 2011
• Manila: Tying up Loose Ends Jan 13-18, 2011
• Manila, Manila, I Keep Coming Back to Manila Jul 21, 2010
• Goodbye Manila Apr 11, 2010
• America: The Manila Concert Jul 31, 2009
• Manila Sojourn Sep 10, 2008
• Manila Life Sep 13, 2007

Reader Comments:

TheLoneRider
"Is there room for a 60 yr old non-techie..."
(Aug 16, 2010) best to check-out their link and connect with them, Antonio: Zeitgeist Movement Philippines

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