StudentStrike

Pagdaig sa Panghahati, Pagtapos sa Paghahari

2008-11-08T18:11:00.000-08:00

Ang matapang na pahayag ng limang Katolikong obispo na nanawagan sa mamamayan na ”maghanda para sa isang bagong gubyerno”, gayundin ang muling pag-init ng kontrobersya sa pagbabalik ni Joc-joc Bolante, ay nagiging tuntungan ngayon ng malawak na kilusang anti-Arroyo upang muling magsama-sama at isikad ang kilusang masa para sa pagpapatalsik sa kinamumuhiang rehimen.

Batid ng marami na gagawin ni Arroyo ang lahat para manatili sa puwesto lagpas sa 2010 o kung hindi’y sisiguruhing ang hahalili sa kanya ay magtitiyak ng hindi niya pananagot sa mga kasalanan sa taumbayan. Inaasahan ang muling pag-init ng sitwasyong pampulitika sa mga susunod na buwan habang nakahanay na todong pakawalan ng rehimen ang mga pakanang pang-tiraniya: charter change, konsolidasyon ng kanyang partido at paninira sa oposisyon, kampanya ng pasistang paniniil sa mga progresibo at kilalang personaheng anti-Arroyo, hanggang sa lantarang pagpapataw ng emergency rule o batas militar.

Marapat lamang na tapatan ng higit na malakas at determinadong kilusan ng mamamayan ang mga maitim na balakin ng rehimen. Habang higit na nagiging desperado si Arroyo, higit namang umiinam ang sitwasyon para mapagkaisa at mapakilos ang mamamayan. Ngunit maraming dapat matutunan ang kilusang anti-Arroyo mula sa mga karanasan kung layon nitong dalhin sa isang bago at mas mataas na antas ang laban.

Matapos ang pagkilos sa Ayala noong Pebrero, hindi na muling nakapagtipon ng kasinglaking bilang sa lansangan -- na umabot sa lagpas 80,000 -- ang mga organisasyon at pwersang anti-Arroyo. Itinurong salarin ang pagpasok ng bakasyon ng mga estudyante na tintignang balon ng mga napapadalo sa mga pagkilos. Bagamat mahahalagang salik ito, may mga usaping dapat ding tignan hinggil sa naging mga kaganapan sa hanay ng prenteng anti-Arroyo.

Mabilis na nasamantala noon ng administrasyon ang mga sumingaw na negatibong reaksyon ng ilang kampo hinggil sa pag-akyat ng mga pulitiko, partikular ni Estrada sa entablado ng rali. Bagamat maaaring sabihing may pinagmumulan ang kanilang pagkadismaya, at may mga dahilan kung bakit nila ito piniling ihayag sa publiko, binigyan ng kamaliang ito ng pagkakataon ang administrasyon na pulaan ang makasaysayang protesta bilang pamumulitika, ipakitang hati-hati ang kilusang anti-Arroyo, at maliitin ang tagumpay ng makaysayang pagtitipon.

Nasundan pa ito ng mga paninira at intrigang kumalat sa mga paaralan at mga organisasyon laban sa Kaliwa na pumigil sa higit sanang paglaki ng protesta sa mga sumunod na linggo. Mas malaki pa sana ang makakalahok sa pagkilos na pinangunahan ng mga grupo ng kabataan pagdating ng Marso kung hindi kumalat ang mga tsismis na pinasok ng mga terorista at pinangungunahan ng mga komunista ang mga pagkilos, at kung buong sumuporta ang iba’t iba pang mga grupo na sa panahong ito ay naging malamya ang pagtugon.

Hindi rin nakatulong na malabo ang naging mga posisyon at panawagang inilabas ng simbahan. Bagamat may ilang mga mas radikal na obispo at sa kalakhan anti-Arroyo ang mga pahayag nila, ang labnaw at kawalan ng kategorikal na mga pahayag ay nagamit ng administrasyon para hatiin ang mga Katoliko at lituhin ang publiko. Mararamdaman din ang paguurong-sulong at hindi buong pagkasa ng makinarya ng simbahan sa pagpapakilos.

Ang ilan pa sa mga mas konserbatibong seksyon ng simbahan, bagamat pumopusturang anti-Arroyo at kumikilos sa balangkas ng ”katotohanan, katarungan at pagbabago”, ay nagdeklara ng pagtutol sa people power at panawagang talsik. Sa halip, nagpatihulog sila sa bitag ng rehimen na nagsasabing maghanda na lamang para sa 2010 kung kaya’t naunahan pa nila ang mga presidentiables sa pagtanaw sa eleksyon at nailayo ang atensyon ng marami sa kilusang masa.

Mahalaga ring banggitin na ang pagsusulong ng gubyerno ng Reproductive Health Bill na sumulpot matapos ang pagdedeklara ng ilang mga obispo laban sa Oil Deregulation Law noong nakaraang buwan, ay maaaring isang pakana para lituhin ang simbahan at ibaling ang atensyon nito palayo sa kilusang masang anti-Arroyo. Kung gayun nga, ipinapakita ng pagpatol ng simbahan dito ang bulnerabilidad nito sa mga panghahati at panlilito.

Sa huli’t huli, kailangang maunawaan ng marami na ang magiging mapagpasya pa rin sa pagpapatalsik sa remihen ay ang pagpapalakas at pagpapalawak ng kilusang masa. Dapat palakasin ang pagkakampanya at pagpapakilos lalo na ng mga pwersang progresibo sa mga komunidad, paaralan, pagawaan, atbp. Ang daang libong bilang na nagmamartsa sa kalsada ang makapangyarihang sandata na tatapos sa gubyernong ito. Kasabay nito kailangang puksain ang pesimismo ng ibang mga kampo at pag-asam sa mga milagro o di kaya’y sa aksyong militar lamang.

Kailangang matuto ang mga organisasyon ng kabataan at mamamayan sa mga karanasan nito ng pagpapakilos nitong nakaraang taon at paghusayan ang mga porma ng aksyon na magpapakilos sa mas maraming bilang ng mga mamamayan. Sa isang banda, ang pagtitiyak din nito ang magbibigay ng higit namang tatag at lakas ng loob sa iba’t ibang seksyon ng malawak na prenteng anti-Arroyo at sasalag sa mga panghahati ng rehimen sa nagkakaisang pagkilos ng taumbayan.

Kailangan ding maunawaan ng mga nag-aambisyong kandidato para sa 2010 na higit sa paghahanda para sa pangangampanya, kailangan silang maging bahagi ng kilusang masa laban sa tiraniya. Sa hanay ng mga ito, bagamat alam nila na maraming ipapakana si Arroyo at maaaring pigilan o maniobrahin pa nito ang eleksyon, namamayani ang pag-iisip na ”maghanda na rin sila kung sakali”. Pero natuto na ang publiko sa EDSA 2, at ayaw na ayaw na nila ng mga hitchhiker at mga mapagsamantala na aani lamang ng tagumpay na kilusang masa ang nagtanim. #

PinoyWeekly.org Column Nov 10-17

Di na paaalipin

2008-10-31T17:35:00.000-07:00

Entry submitted for PinoyWeekly.org, Nov 3-10

Nitong nakaraang Oktubre 29-30, 2008 ginanap ang Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFDM) sa PICC sa Maynila, at binuksan ito ng mga pahayag ni Gloria Arroyo at UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon na nagkaisa: ang migrasyon ay instrumento para sa kaunlaran.

Ilang kanto mula sa venue ng GFMD, nagtipon ng International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR). Nagsama-sama dito ang mga hindi imbitado sa GFMD -- ang mga migrante mismo -- ang mga alipin ng bagong mundo mula sa iba’t ibang panig, at sa kanilang mga sarili ay nagtanong: nasaan ang kaunlaran sa dustang kalagayan?

Nagpulong ang mga migrante at nagbahaginan ng mga kuwentong tiyak na di tatalakayin ng mga hari, burukrata at negosyante sa PICC. Habang pinag-uusapan nina Arroyo at Ban ang remittances, batas at mga proseso ng maramihang pagpapadala sa ibang bayan, pinagkukuwentuhan ng mga migrante ang kanilang mga pamilya, mga kasamahan, at ang kanilang pangarap na umuwi sa kani-kanilang mga bayan.

Malinaw ang kanilang deklarasyon: hindi kaunlaran ang mahiwalay sa pamilya, maabuso, mabigyan ng mumong pasahod, makaranas ng pang-iinsulto at pagkakapahiya, nakawan ng perang pinagpaguran para sa bulsa ng iilan. Hindi kaunlaran ang magahasa, mabartolina, mapugutan ng ulo, mabitay, mawalan ng asawa, anak, magulang.

Hindi kaunlaran ang mabigyan ng sahod alipin na nanakawin pa ng malalaking bangko at mga gubyernong mapagsamantala. Kung may salamangka na hatid ang remittance, black magic ng panloloko ito sa mga mamamayan ng mundo.

Sa araw ng pagbubukas ng GFMD, lumabas ang mga migrante at nagmartsa. Isantambak ng mga pulis at sundalo ang itinapat sa kanila. Napigilan man nito ang paglapit nila sa lugar ng pagpupulong, bigo itong puksain ang kapangyarihan ng kanilang nagkakaisang tinig na pinaalingawngaw sa buong daigdig.

“Now we speak for ourselves!” Ito ang islogan ng International Migrants’ Alliance (IMA) na nanguna sa martsa. Nakakatindig-balahibo kung tutuusing mula ito sa mamamayang itinaboy mula sa sariling bayan, pinagkaitan ng boses at pinilit magsalita sa tinig ng iba, at tinanggalan ng sariling karapatan bilang tao pagkat tinuring bilang kalakal.

Oktubre 29-30, 2008, nagtipon ang mga naghahari-harian at mga alagad ng karimlan at sila’y nagkaisa: higit nating pahirapan ang mga alipin, higit nating pagsasasaan sila at ang kanilang mga anak.

Ilang kanto mula rito, itinipon ang nagpupuyos na galit sa puso nilang matagal nang dinusta. Iba’t ibang lahi, iba’t ibang salita, pero iisa sa pagbabanta: di na kami paaalipin, di na palalansi, ang kinabukasan ng mundo ay sa amin at sa aming mga anak. #

Change the conversation. Join the people’s struggle.

2008-10-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

A good friend did me a favor by translating into English my Blog Action Day 2008 post which was originally written in Filipino. I hope this helps reach a wider audience.

Change the conversation

I congratulate my colleagues at Bloggers’ Kapihan for successfully leading the Blog Action Day 08 in the Philippines and in raising calls for bloggers to take a stand on poverty.

It was not an easy decision for progressives to lead a call for an activity that would bring to fore their stand on poverty – an issue that could be considered very close to the hearts of progressives – and against the dominant views on the topic in the blogosphere.

If you will go through blogactionday.org and read some of the featured posts, you might easily detect what I refer to as the “dominant views”. To those who have seen them, the scene might be quite familiar. They have been sold to us before, with “cool” campaigns using artists and bands, led by institutions funded by big companies.

Indeed, something’s fishy. Something seems wrong with this scenario. And let’s try to understand it.

The poor won’t be blogging

We may not have to say it but on this day, it is not the poor who will tell their stories. This is not poor blogging day after all. Nobody of course, bothered to tell us that the poor will not be blogging today. In sum, the posts today are about the poor and poverty, from a perspective not from the ones who actually experience it. Or at least, not from those who will admit to experiencing it.

Thus, those who do not experience poverty are now examining poverty. In so doing, poor people are treated like “others” and “different” from those who are themselves talking about poverty. Whatever this does to the poor is unimportant because after all, they don’t blog and they don’t have access to internet. But the important thing to note is that such discussions worsen and tolerate the views and illusions coming from the middle-class bloggers that they are not poor, that poverty is irrelevant to them (aside from expressing “concern” for the poor), and that they’re different from the poor.

Poverty in understanding

It is thus no wonder that the blogosphere generally belittles the issue of poverty, as if it is a mere topic for a blog post they will write, perhaps considered only as important as environmental issues, culture, a TV show or web design. Poverty is viewed as only one of many problems, nothing is more or less important, and not the single-biggest problem facing the world today. Never mind if more than half of the world’s people are poor.

For many in the blogosphere, poverty is portrayed as just an aberration that may be solved from within the current social set-up. We only need to blog, to donate, to buy coffee with the flavor of the month that provides aid to the poor in Africa, etc.

It is as if only a few people are poor and that it is a social “abrnomality”, when it is a matter of fact that poverty exists as a norm and that more people are becoming poorer and poorer. It is as if people now have “equal opportunities” and the capability to get rich if only they exert effort.

Such views are a big joke really. These views try to erase the truth that the present system lives by exploiting the majority. Poverty is not an exception to the rule; it is the rule. Poverty is natural under the present system where wealth is monopolized by a few and these same few viciously exploit workers and the people. This poverty is not brought about by anything else except the exploitation by a handful few. And until genuine social change comes, poverty will only get worse.

Look at what are listed in big sites on what we “can do” to fight poverty: get rich (yes, someone actually included that), stop eating meat, adopt children, donate to institutions, buy certain “compassionate” products, etc. These meanwhile we cannot find: Act for social change, organize to end imperialism, fight for fundamental rights and welfare of people to wages, jobs and rights.

Change the discussions, raise the ante of actions

It is thus very refreshing to “change the conversation”. And for progressive bloggers, this is not just rhetoric/al but a serious matter altogether.

We want to share to bloggers that if we are truly serious in defeating poverty, it should start with social change. If the advice to students is “not to let yourselves be imprisoned in the four corners of the classroom”, we say to bloggers: “don’t limit yourselves in the four corners of your computer screens”. The revolution we need is definitely not virtual.

Progressives wrote excellent posts on Blog Action Day ’08. Anton invited us to visit the workers’ picketline at Kowloon. Bikoy and Danny Arao meanwhile shed light on the warped perspectives on blogging. Tonyo honored the heroes of the struggling masses and exposed the root cause of poverty. Nato showed how the dominant few are not content in keeping the poor poor; they even try to hoodwink them.

My hope is that when Blog Action Day ends, many more will start frank discussions on poverty. Not just in the blogosphere but also in factories, communities, farms and the streets. Not just to express and to expose, but to engage in social change that is crucial in putting an end to poverty.

Daluyong sa UPIS

2008-10-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

This was the article I submitted for my column on this week's Pinoy Weekly online newspaper. I really wanted to write this article during the celebrations of the UP centennial, but never really found the time to do so.

Daluyong*
http://www.pinoyweekly.org/cms/2008/10/daluyong
IKAAPAT na Lunes iyon ng Hulyo, taong 2000. Karaniwang hindi ako maagang pumapasok sa unang araw ng linggo dahil bukod sa nakakatamad galing sa ilang araw na walang pasok, flag ceremony lang naman at homeroom ang klase sa unang dalawang oras. Pero iba ang araw na ito.

Maaga pa lang, nakabantay na ako kasama ang ilan pa sa daanan ng karamihan ng mga kaeskuwela. Isa-isa namin sa kanila iniaabot ang mga polyeto, sabay tanong: "Tol, sama ka mamaya ha?"

Ilang linggo din ng paghahanda, pagkakampanya at kumbinsihan iyon. Room-to-room, Pangkalahatang Asembliya sa mga balangay kada seksiyon, at mga talakayan ng Oust Primer. Nagkalat sa kampus ang mga sulat-kamay na poster hinggil sa kalagayang panlipunan, at sa huli, nakasulat sa malalaking titik: "SUMAMA SA SONA (State of the Nation Address) RALLY!"

Kahit sa mga banyo at upuan, katabi ng vandal na "I WAS HERE" at "PUSH TO EJECT TEACHER" ang "SOBRA NANG PAHIRAP, PATALSIKIN SI ERAP! – ANAKBAYAN-UPIS".

Napag-usapan na ang mga target. May mga klase kung saan lahat ng estudyante ay hindi na papasok. Sa iba, aabot ng kalahati ang sasama. Para matiyak ang pagsama sa araw na ito, inayos na ang hatian para sa sunduan at paglabas sa silid-aralan.

Naghanda kami kung sakaling pigilan. Nagpa-xerox na kami ng maraming kopya ng excuse letter na inilabas ng administrasyon ng UP na nakuha namin mula sa Office of the Student Regent (OSR). Siyempre, alam naming sasabihin nila na para lang ’yun sa mga mag-aaral sa kolehiyo. Pero wala namang nakalagay na hindi kami kasali, para ang sulat sa lahat ng estudyante, kaya pasok kami.

Pagkatapos ng flag ceremony, sunduan na sa mga klase. Magkikita-kita sa tapat ng CR malapit sa canteen. Kanya-kanya ng diskarte. Marami sigurong nag-“may-I-go-out” noon. Maya-maya pa, naglulunsad na kami ng snake rally at naghihikayat sa iba na sumama.

Mahigit kumulang isang daan na ang sumama, pero gaya ng inaasahan, nang papalabas na, pinigilan na kami ng guwardiya. Maya-maya pa, nakipigil na din ang mga guro. Hindi naman mahigpit sa paglabas sa kampus noon sa mga mahilig mag-“cutting classes”, pero siguro alam na nilang hindi lang simpleng bulakbol ang adyenda namin.

Syempre umalma kami: ”Ma’am walang pasok sa UP. Excused ang mga estudyante na pupunta sa rali!” Susubukan nila kaming paliwanagan, pero sa bawat sagot nila, naghanda kami ng mas maraming pambara. Kabisado namin ang Universal Declaration on the Rights of the Child na nagsasabing kahit menor-de-edad kami, may karapatan kaming maghayag ng karapatan at sumama sa mapayapang pagpoprotesta.

Para daw maayos, pinapasok ang lahat ng gustong sumama sa loob ng isang kuwarto at doon pag-uusapan ang paglabas namin. Ang bilis din talaga mag-isip ng diskarte ng mga kasama, nagtalaga ng ilang mga tao na maglunsad ng room-to-room para ipalaganap na ang mga gusto pang sumama, pumunta sa multi-purpose hall dahil pag-uusapan ang pagpayag ng administrasyon sa protesta. Di lalo pang dumami ang interesadong pumunta.

Dinelay ng pag-uusap ang aming paglabas at pinaghintay kami. Sinamantala naman namin ito para magtalakay ng MKLRP (Maiksing Kurso sa Lipunan at Rebolusyong Pilipino) sa mga mag-aaral sa layuning itaas pa ang kamulatan ng mga nagpasya nang sumama.

Pagdating ng ilang oras, malinaw na hindi na kami papayagang lumabas. Maya-maya pa’y nabalitaan na naming suspendido ang klase sa Commonwealth at may hinihikayat ang mga paaralan na pauuwin ng maaga ang mga mag-aaral. Lahat ng mga dadaan ng Commonwealth ay maaari nang pauwiin ng maaga basta pumirma lamang sa isang request form. Lahat kami, siyempre, pumirma. Pinauwi ang ibang estudyante pero hindi ang mga tukoy na pupunta sa protesta.

Dito na kami nagdesisyon na hindi na maghintay na payagan. Tingin nami’y ginawa na namin ang lahat ng paraan para pagbigyan ang mga kondisyon ng administrasyon. Alam ng mga mag-aaral ang halaga ng paglahok sa makasaysayang protestang ito at hindi namin hahayaang ang mga teknikalidad at maliliit na usapin ay makapigil sa amin.

Ipinaayos ang hanay. Nalakad kami papunta sa gate. Dahil isa ako sa mga “lider”, ako ang ipinakausap sa guwardiya. Habang kinakausap ko siya, binuksan na ng ibang mga kasamahan ang gate. Pagbukas, karipas na ng takbo lahat palabas. May iba na umakyat pa sa bakod sa halip na sa gate dumaan para lang siguradong di mahaharang.

Kakaibang tapang at kapangahasan iyun para sa mga mag-aaral na kung tutuusi’y nasa 14 hanggang 15 na taong gulang lang! Ano kaya ang iniisip ng mga dumadaan sa tapat ng paaralan namin nang makita na may mga batang estudyanteng nagpupulasan ng takbo na parang tumatakas sa preso?

Tinangka pa ng guwardiya na hablutin ang isang kasama namin, pero hindi nya rin kami napigilan. Paglabas, diretso sakay sa mga dyip na kinontrata na ng ibang mga mag-aaral. Karipas agad ang mga dyip na akala mo imeeskapo sa holdap.

Hindi kami nakarating ng Batasan noon. Matindi ang pandarahas kaya’t sa bukana lang ng UP nakapagprograma ang bulto ng Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan).Nabasa kami ng malakas na ulan, pero masaya kami. Alam namin na hindi lang kami naging bahagi ng kasaysayan, kami mismo ay lumikha ng aming kasaysayan. Sa araw na iyon malinaw ang mensahe namin: hindi hadlang ang murang edad sa pangangahas na makialam at lumaban.

Ang Sona na iyon ay ang huli na ni Erap bilang pangulo. Ilang buwan matapos, mas malalaking protesta pa ang sasambulat hanggang sa tuluyang pagpapatalsik sa kanya sa pag-aalsa sa Edsa.

Sa kabila ng mga banta sa ng administrasyon ng paaralan na makasuhan ang lahat ng mga sumama sa rali na iyon noong Sona, marami pa rin ang nag-walk-out sa klase at tumungo sa Edsa pagdating ng Enero 2001 at tuloy-tuloy na kumilos para sa panlipunang pagbabago hanggan sa kasalukuyan.

Sa katunayan, ang Corps Commander namin noon, si Icy Salem, ay tagapagsalita na ngayon ng People’s Caravan, isang grupo na nangangampanya laban sa Value Added Tax. Ang valedictorian ng aming batch at oblation scholar na si Ken Ramos – na nanguna rin sa pagsusuot ng pulang ribbon noong aming graduation – ngayon ay Pambansang Tagapangulo na ng Anakbayan. Ang sikat na ”bandista” ng batch, si Bogs Paterno, gitarista na ng progresibong cultural group na Sinagbayan.

Marami pa ang mga kasama noon ang ngayo’y mga susing organisador na sa iba’t ibang organisasyon at lugar. Isa sa aming mga lider noon at kasamahan, si Erika Salang ay nagpasyang mag-organisa sa kanayunan at naging martir sa gitna ng magiting na labanan noong Marso 2006.

Kamakailan lamang, nakita ko muli sa isang rali ang ilan sa mga ka-batch sa ”Daluyong”. Iba’t iba na ang aming mga pag-alaala at pagtingin sa mga naganap noong araw na iyon, pero malinaw na nag-iwan ito ng marka sa aming mga buhay at gayundin sa kasaysayan ng UPIS. Ipinakita ng pagkilos namin noon kung paanong sa panahon ng matinding krisis panlipunan, nagiging handa ang mga mag-aaral, gaano man kabata, na kumilos ng sama-sama para sa pagbabago.

Sa ibayo pang pagsahol ng kalagayang panlipunan sa kasalukuyang panahon, natitiyak kong ang daluyong ay aagos pa hanggang sa mga susunod na henerasyon.

*”Daluyong” ang batch name ng mga nagtapos sa UPIS noong 2002. Para kay Erika at sa lahat ng mag-aaral at magiging mag-aaral pa ng UPIS.

Baguhin ang talakayan: Makiisa sa laban ng mamamayan

2008-10-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

Binabati ko ang mga kasamahan sa Bloggers’ Kapihan sa matagumpay na pangunguna sa Blog Action Day 08 sa Pilipinas at pangunguna sa panawagan na manindigan laban sa kahirapan.

Para sa mga progresibo, kakaibang kapangahasan ang kinailangan para pangunahan ang pagpapanawagan ng aktibidad, na magsasalang ng kanilang paninindigan sa kahirapan, – isang usaping masasabing malapit sa puso ng mga progresibo – laban sa mga namamayaning pagtingin dito ng blogosphere.

Kung tatawirin ang blogactionday.org, at babasahin ang ilang tampok na blogs na lumahok, siguro mauunawaan kung ano ang tinutukoy ko sa ”namamayaning pagtingin.” Sa mga mabilis makaamoy, medyo pamilyar na ang eksena na dati nang sinubukang ibenta. May bakas ito ng mga kampanyang pa-cool na gumamit pa ng mga artista at banda sa pangunguna ng mga institusyong pinopondohan ng malalaking kumpanya.

Sa madaling sabi, something’s fishy. Subukan nating unawain saglit.

Hindi magbablog ang mahirap

Hindi na siguro kailangan sabihin, pero sa araw na ito, hindi mga mahihirap ang magkukuwento. Wala namang nagsabi na araw ito para magblog ang mahihirap. Sa madaling sabi, tungkol sa mga mahihirap at sa kahirapan ang istorya, pero hindi mula sa perspektiba ng mga dumadanas. O at least, hindi sa mga aminadong dumadanas nito.

Kung gayon, ang kahirapan ay ineeksamin ng mga hindi dumadanas nito, o at least ng hindi mulat na dumadanas. Parang ”others” na pinag-uusapan ang mahihirap at iba sa mga nag-uusap ang kahirapan. Hindi naman masyadong importante kung anong epekto noon sa mahihirap mismo, dahil hindi naman sila nagbablog at wala ring internet. Pero mas mahalagang tignan, na pinatitigas nito ang posisyon at ilusyon ng middle-class bloggers na hindi sila mahirap, wala silang kinalaman sa mga naghihirap (bukos sa ”concerned” sila sa kanila), at iba sila sa kanila.

Kahirapan sa pag-unawa

Kaya hindi na nakapagtataka kung maliitin ng blogosphere ang usapin ng kahirapan na tila isa lang sa mga topic na isusulat nila sa kanilang entry, kapantay siguro ng usaping pangkalikasan, kultura, TV show, o web design. Tinitignan ang problema ng kahirapan bilang isa lamang sa maraming mga prublema, walang mas matimbang at mas magaan, at hindi ang pangunahing prublemang bumabagabag sa sandaigdigan. Hindi na baleng higit kalahati ng daigdig ang dumadanas nito.

Sa marami, para lamang kakaibang pangyayari ang kahirapan na maaring solusyunan sa balangkas ng kasalukuyang set-up na panlipunan. Kailangan lang natin, halimbawa, magblog, magdonate, bumili ng kape na may flavor of the month na tumutulong sa mahihirap sa Aprika, at iba pa.

Para bagang iilang tao lang ang naghihirap at ”abnormal” ito sa lipunan, gayong sa totoo’y ito ang kalakaran. Dumadami pa nga ang naghihirap habang tumatagal. Para bagang lahat ng tao ay may ”pantay na oportunidad” at may kakayanang yumaman basta mag-sikap-at-tiyaga lang.

Pero malaking kalokohan ang mga pagtinging ito. Sinusubukan nitong burahin ang katotohanan na nabubuhay ang sistema sa kasalukuyan sa pagsasamantala sa nakararaming mamamayan. Ang kahirapan ay hindi exception to the rule, kundi ang rule mismo. Sa ilalim ng sistema na nakokonsentra lamang sa iilan ang yaman at pinipiga ang todo-todong pagsasamantala sa mga manggagawa at mamamayan, natural ang kahirapan. At kahirapan ito na hindi dulot ng kung anupaman, kundi ng pagsasamantala ng naghaharing iilan. At hangga’t hindi nagbabago ang lipunan, hindi matatapos ang kahirapan.

Eto ang ilan sa mga makikita sa mga listahang lumabas sa malalaking sites hinggil sa mga ”pwedeng gawin” laban sa kahirapan: magpayaman (oo, meron nito), magbawas ng pagkain ng karne, mag-ampon ng mga bata, magdonate sa mga institusyon, bumili ng mga produkto na may ”malasakit”, at iba pa. Ito ang hindi matatagpuan: kumilos para sa panlipunang pagbabago, mag-organisa para wakasan ang imperyalismo, ipaglaban ang mga batayang interes at kapakanan ng mamamayan sa sahod, trabaho at karapatan.

Baguhin ang talakayan, patindihin ang pagkilos

Kaya tunay lamang na dapat ”baguhin ang talakayan.” At para sa mga progresibong blogger, hindi lamang ito retorika kundi seryosong usapan.

Layon nating ipakita sa bloggers na kung tunay na gusto nilang gapiin ang kahirapan, dapat na magsimula ng pagbabagong panlipunan. Kung sa estudyante, ang sigaw nati’y "wag makulong sa apat na sulok ng paaralan", pwede sa bloggers: "wag makulong sa apat na sulok ng computer screens." Ang rebolusyong kailangan ay hindi virtual.

Sa Blog Action Day ’08, magaganda ang posts ng mga progresibo. Si Anton, nagyaya sa piketlayn ng mga manggagawa ng Kowloon. Si Bikoy at si Prof. Danny Arao, naglinaw hinggil sa mga maling pag-unawa sa kahirapan. Si Tonyo, pinagpugayan ang mga bayani ng mahihirap na nakikibaka at inilantad ang ugat ng kahirapan. Si Nato, pinakita kung paano pinahihirapan na nga, niloloko pa ng mga kinatawan ng mga naghahari ang mamamayan.

Sana pagkatapos ng Blog Action Day, marami pa ang magsimula ng tunay na talakayan. Hindi lang sa blogosphere, kundi sa mga pabrika, komunidad, sakahan at lansangan. Hindi lang para magsalaysay at maglahad, kundi para makisangkot sa pagbabagong panlipunan na tunay na siyang magwawakas sa kahirapan.

Oct 15 is Blog Action Day 08 on Poverty

2008-10-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

On October 15, Wednesday, we in Bloggers Kapihan invite Filipino bloggers to participate in Blog Action Day 2008 by taking a stand on poverty.

I made these badges for the campaign and customized the campaign site.

Here are the badges:

Grab this:

<a href="http://blogactionday2008.bloggerskapihan.com/"><img src="http://blogactionday2008.bloggerskapihan.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/blogactiondayphils.jpg"></a>

Grab this:

<a href="http://blogactionday2008.bloggerskapihan.com/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2935468240_dfbe9bd1b4.jpg"/></a>

Grab this:

<a href="http://blogactionday2008.bloggerskapihan.com/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2935575440_346b7edc52.jpg"/></a>

Grab this:

<a href="http://blogactionday2008.bloggerskapihan.com/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2935575440_346b7edc52.jpg" />

and a banner

Grab:

<a href="http://blogactionday2008.bloggerskapihan.com/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2935619074_e50da6705a.jpg" /></a>

I am now a Pinoy Weekly columnist

2008-10-11T03:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't touched my blog for a while as I've been busy with other stuff. And I regret it. I wanted really to buy a domain for myself and blog away from blogspot, but I haven't found the time to do so.

I am updating this blog to announce that I am now writing a weekly column in PinoyWeekly.org, an online progressive Filipino newspaper. I will post my column entries in this blog as well.

Apologies to the friends who do not understand Filipino, hopefully I would find the time in the future to translate the articles.

Here's my first entry, Pasismo sa pamantasan at kataksilan ng Akbayan (Campus Fascism and Akbayan's Treachery). The article discusses the intensifying repression in campuses and Akabayan's Magna Carta for Students/Students' Rights and Welfare Bill in Congress. The bill, while seeming to stand for the interests of the students, invoking student rights and campus freedoms, is actually counter-student and a tool that could actually be used by the government and clerico-fascist administrators to curtail student rights.

Pasismo sa pamantasan at kataksilan ng Akbayan

Vencer Crisostomo

SA NAKARAANG buwan, paparami at papatindi ang mga kaso ng panghaharas at paglabag sa mga karapatan ng mga mag-aaral sa kampus: mula sa mga di-makatarungang mga parusa na ipinapataw ng kanya-kanyang mga administrasyon, hanggang panghihimasok ng mga militar at direktang panghaharas sa mga aktibista sa loob ng kampus.

Kamakailan lang, lumabas sa balita ang pagdakip ng mga mag-aaral sa ilang ahente ng militar na kumukuha ng mga litrato at naniniktik sa mga mag-aaral sa PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines). Matapos ang insidente, tuluy-tuloy na lantarang nagsagawa ng mapanirang mga propaganda at harassment ang mga sundalo laban sa mga organisasyon ng mga mag-aaral, kabilang ang konseho ng mag-aaral at publikasyon.

Higit pang matindi ang kampanyang ala-batas militar sa mga kampus sa mga rehiyon. Sa PUP-Lopez, Quezon, sinampahan ng gawa-gawang kasong rebelyon ang tatlong kasapi ng konseho ng mag-aaral, kasabay ng paninira at pananakot sa kanila at kanilang mga pamilya.

May iba't ibang antas ng paniniktik at panghaharas din na naiulat sa mga yunit ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at iba pang paaralan. Gayundin, ipinagmamalaki ng mga sundalo ang paglulunsad ng mga porum sa pampublikong mga hayskul na naninira sa progresibong mga organisasyon ng kabataan at nananakot sa mga mag-aaral.

Noong isang buwan, sa JRU (Jose Rizal University) naman, 19 na mag-aaral ang di-makatarungang sinuspinde, apat dito ang pinatalsik ng administrasyon dahil sa paninindigan nila sa mga katagang "pag-asa ng bayan" at paglulunsad ng kampanyang room-to-room laban sa Value-Added Tax.

Target ng panunupil ang kilusang masang nanguna sa mga walkout at iba pang protesta ng kabataan at mamamayan laban sa korap at pahirap na rehimeng Arroyo. Takot ang rehimen sa higit pang paglawak at paglakas ng mga organisasyong nagtatanggol sa mga karapatan sa loob at labas ng kampus, lalo't inilalatag nito ang mga hakbang para makapanatili sa puwesto hanggang 2010 at lagpas pa.

Kasabay ng pagtindi ng pasistang mga kampanya sa paaralan, isang batas para sa "karapatan at kagalingan ng mga mag-aaral" ang isinusulong sa Kongreso. Sa una'y aakalaing progresibo pagkat ilalatag ang mga karapatan ng mga mag-aaral. Ngunit sa pagsusuri ng nilalaman, tatambad ang kataksilan ng panukala.

Inilalako ngayon ng Akbayan! Party-list -- isang partidong sa isang kampanya sa halalan ay idineklara ang sarili na "partido ng kabataan" -- ang Straw (Students Rights and Welfare) Bill of 2007 o HB 2584 ni Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel. Bersiyon nila ito ng nakaraang mga tangka na isabatas ang isang Magna Carta para sa mga mag-aaral. Sa lahat ng bersiyon, ito ang pinakamahaba at pinakadetalyado. Ito rin ang pinakamapinsala.

Inilantad ng iba't ibang organisasyon, sa pangunguna ng NUSP (National Union of Students of the Philippines), sa mga pulong sa loob ng Kongreso na ang mga panukala sa Straw Bill ay higit pang magpapamukhang lehitimo at magpapatigas ng panunupil sa mga pamantasan. Sa mga probisyon nito hinggil sa karapatan sa pag-oorganisa, kalayaan sa pagpapahayag, pagtatayo ng konseho at publikasyon, binibigyan pa nito ng puwang at lisensiya ang administrasyon ng mga paaralan para limitahan at kontrolin ang mga organisasyon, mga aktibidad at mga kalayaan ng mga mag-aaral.

Sa kongkreto, halimbawa, sa pag-apruba sa mga organisasyon sa loob ng paaralan at paglulunsad ng mga aktibidad, binibigyan nito ng masaklaw na kapangyarihan ang OSA (Office of the Student Affairs). Hinggil kalayaan sa pagpapahayag, nais ng probisyon na magkaroon ng isang lugar kung saan doon lang puwedeng magprotesta. Hinggil sa diyaryong pangkampus, pinaboran lang nito ang Campus Journalism Act o CJA, na ginagamit ngayon para ipitin ang pondo at paghigpitan ang mga publikasyong pangkampus.

Nakakasuklam ang bahagi ng panukala hinggil sa pagtaas ng matrikula kung saan itinatakda na magkaroon ng "minimum na mga pamantayan" ng konsultasyon sa bawat pagtataas. Sa aktuwal, bogus na konsultasyon gaya ng mga nagaganap sa kasalukuyan ang itinataguyod nito. Kung tutuusin, batay sa karanasan, dapat konsultasyon at pagsang-ayon ang isulong na patakaran.

Kataka-taka ring wala sa bersiyon ng Akbayan ang isang probisyong mayroon sa mga nauna, na tutol sa pagpasok ng militar sa mga pamantasan.

Siguro'y hindi nauunawaan ng mga sumulat ng panukala na bawat butas sa kanilang batas na puwedeng gamitin sa paniniil ay sasamantalahin ng administrasyon para kitlin ang karapatan ng mga mag-aaral – tulad ng ginawa sa CJA. Maaari ring wala talaga silang aktuwal na karanasan sa mga pakikibaka laban sa paniniil sa loob ng mga kampus at hindi naiintindihan ang mga implikasyon ng kanilang mga panukala. O, marahil, ito talaga ang kanilang pinipiling posisyon: ang pagbukambibig ng mga karapatan habang sa aktuwal ay pinapanigan ang mga puwersang sumisikil dito.
Para maakit noon ang mga kabataan na bumoto pabor sa kanila, ginamit ng Akbayan sa isa nilang poster ang mukha ni Che Guevara, isang tanyag na lider-rebolusyonaryo at icon ng mga progresibo. Pero ipinapakita ngayon ng kanilang praktika ang tunay na mukha ng kanilang pulitika: panig sa mga kleriko-pasista at taguyod ng tiraniya ni Gloria.

I vote for Bikoy.net!

2008-09-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

Buong puso kong inihahayag ang aking todong pagsuporta sa Bikoy.net at kay Konsehal Bikoy, kasamahan sa Bloggers' Kapihan, para magwagi ng Blogger's Choice Award sa 2008 PBA!

Wohoooooooooo!

Please vote for Bikoy mga chong!

Ipagpatuloy ang kabayanihan ni Ka Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran!

2008-05-25T03:10:00.000-07:00

LFS pays tribute to Ka Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran

The League of Filipino Students (LFS) and its chapters nationwide pays its highest tribute to Rep. Crispin Beltran, a great revolutionary leader, a man who constantly and tirelessly devoted his life for the interests of the working masses, especially the poor.

We salute Ka Bel for his lifelong dedication to upholding the national democratic aspirations of the oppressed people. We especially look up to him for remaining firm and courageous despite the constant harassment and fascist acts of violence imposed upon his person by the enemies of the Filipino people.

We remember Ka Bel for his simplicity and humility. His life and person embodied the activist principle: simpleng pamumuhay, puspusang pakikibaka. While being a Congressman, he rejected the corrupt practices in government and exposed the rottenness of traditional politics. Unlike the Arroyo’s, their minions and yellow trade union leaders, Ka Bel never used position for personal ends, and always represented the voice of the working class and the poor.

There is no reason for the enemies of the people to celebrate with the passing away of Ka Bel, as he left the Filipino people an example of genuine leadership, activism and struggle in the face of exploitation and state terror. Ka Bel showed the people that it was possible to attain victories in the struggle if the Filipino people unites in the assertion of their rights.

Ka Bel taught us that another society, a society free from exploitation, free from abuse, is possible, and that the struggle for which is the path that the Filipino people must take.

Ka Bel’s heroism will serve as inspiration to the Filipino youth and students to continue and intensify the struggle against the fascist and anti-people Arroyo regime. We will make sure that his relentless fighting spirit will continue haunt this government through bigger mass protests.

We are calling on LFS members, students and young people nationwide to hold protest actions, tribute meetings and to prepare for student walk-outs in the first days of school. We must continue the heroism of Ka Bel and intensify the national democratic struggle.

Ipagpatuloy ang kabayanihan ni Ka Bel!
Mabuhay ang Pambansa-Demokratikong Pakikibaka!

Debunking Myths on the RP Oil Crisis

2008-01-28T22:23:00.000-08:00

As the government's "energy summit" starts today, it is becoming more obvious that the government does not really intend to stop the oil price hikes, but instead insists on pursuing foolish efforts pretending to do so. Worse, it wants to address the oil crisis by intensifying liberalization and deregulation schemes -- the same culprits which drove the oil prices to unreasonably high levels during the past decade.

The fact that the summit, with the theme "$100/per barrel, crisis or opportunity", was funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United States Agency for International Aid -- the same institutions that pushed for deregulation -- tells a lot.

Nothing we can do?

The government's stubborn refusal to address the roots of the crisis banks on the public's misconceptions regarding the oil price hikes. Government representatives and "economic analysts" propagate the false notion that "there is nothing we can do" with regards to the rising oil prices, that it is "inevitable," and that the rise of oil prices is only "natural" as this is what the "world market" dictates.

This line of analysis ignores the studies made by research and consumer groups saying pump prices have been overpriced by as much as P4.50/liter from 2001-2007 and that oil companies engage in price manipulation schemes; the most obvious among which is the automatic price increase being implemented as soon as world prices rise, regardless of reserves they have bought before the increase.

According to reports, oil companies get at least P200,000 PER HOUR in super profits from this pump overpricing scheme. This would amount to billions in profits annually at the expense of the consumers. The only "natural" thing about this robbery scheme is that it has been imposed upon us almost on a daily basis for a more than a decade.

Myth: The increases in oil pump prices are justified and are reasonable because world market prices are increasing.

Fact: The oil companies have been overpricing their products and exploiting increases in the world market to rake super profits. We should investigate these and stop the oil companies from unjustly increasing prices.

Crude arguments

As to the argument that "spot market" prices dictate the prices of local petroleum products, this is another part of the quackery the government and oil cartel make up in order to jack up profits. First off, the oil companies do not buy their products from the "spot market," and definitely not in "spot market" price levels. They buy their crude products, in far cheaper prices, from their own mother companies and overprice their products via "transfer pricing" schemes. We must understand that these oil giants monopolize the production process from oil exploration to gas station distribution.

According to studies, only half of the crude prices per barrel amount to the real costs of production; the other half goes to the pockets of the oil giants. No wonder that in 2006, Exxon Mobil, the top among the oil giants, raked $25.3 billion in runaway profits -- the largest among all TNC's ever.

And as if the moral consequences of this plunder isn't enough to bring them all into the dark depths of hell, they even play their little games to artificially and continuously jack up world crude prices in their favor. There isn't really any reason for oil prices to increase as much, for according to the oil crude producers, the supply is stable and there are enough reserves to keep the world turning for another four decades. Speculation -- that game capitalists play to jack up prices, at the expense of the world's peoples -- and the big oil monopolies manipulation of oil supply, are the real evils that cause the skyrocketing world price increases.

Myth: Oil price hikes are inevitable because of the rising costs of crude in the "spot market."

Fact: The rising costs of crude in the world market are mainly speculative and prices are artificially jacked up. Big monopolies are benefiting big time with their evil racketeering schemes.

Crisis or opportunity?

Is there really nothing we could do? Of course not. Fact is that there are alternatives other than energy conservation, liberalizing by tariff reduction, "carpooling" and other idiotic "solutions" that our government wants us to accept.

We should stand up against the plunder being done by these oil giants and bring the prices down to reasonable levels. We should take steps towards nationalizing our oil industry in order to free our economy from its dependence to these profit greedy oil cartels. We must reverse the neoliberal policies which brought us to where we are now.

True, in crisis there is opportunity. But either this becomes an opportunity for us to reform and turn away from the problematic policies we have wrongly embraced, or this becomes an opportunity for the greedy monopolies to further exploit our nation's people and resources. Unfortunately, under this puppet regime, and with the myths its lapdogs continue to propagate, we can expect the latter.
#

For more information check out the LFS primer on the oil crisis here.

People Power entry featured at Pinoy Weekly

2008-01-28T07:35:00.000-08:00

PinoyWeekly's Soliman Santos translated into Filipino and published portions of my entry How to "People Power" in the paper's Jan 23-29, 2008 release.

With a nice photo pa ha. Hehe. Bili kayo ng kopya. Thanks PW!

Open Thread: People Power 2 at ang nagpapatuloy na papel ng Kaliwa sa pulitika ng pagbabago

2008-01-23T00:57:00.001-08:00

Sa gitna ng pag-alaala ng marami sa EDSA 2 sa mga blogs at sites, may nabuong interesanteng palitan hinggil sa papel ng Kaliwa noong People Power 2 at nagpapatuloy nitong impluwensya at kabuluhan sa kasalukuyan.

Sa isang blog entry ni MLQ3, isang tampok na political blogger at kolumnista, minaliit ang papel ng kaliwa sa EDSA at kasabay nito'y inihayag na umano'y matapos ang 2001, lumiit na ang kabuluhan at nawalan na ng papel ang Kaliwa sa "lehitimong" pulitika ng bansa.

Another complication is how unprepared our society is, to recognize the Left as part of the body politic. A tacit agreement seems to have been reached with the Left, during Edsa Dos, where the Left worked more or less discreetly with the other players (for example, during the “sleepy” periods during those protest days, the Left ensured there would be people at Edsa in the morning and lunchtime). The Left thus managed to make up for missing the bus during Edsa in 1986 (much as their revisionism denies that, of course). Since 2001, however, the Left has found itself unable to really find a place for itself in legitimate politics. From 2005, in particular, while committed and disciplined, the Left had to contend with the usual problems of its dogmatism alienating other political players, and its cause proving itself less than attractive to the broader public (for many reasons: ideological, and also, their past alliances).

Hindi ito pinalagpas ni Tonyo, isa sa mga tanyag na progresibo sa blogosphere, sa kanyang blog entry na "Airbrushing the Left out of Edsa 2 and the body politic" kung saan nilinaw niya ang sentral at di matatawarang papel na ginampanan ng Kaliwa sa pagpupundar sa People Power hindi lang sa EDSA kundi sa buong bayan, hindi lang noong Enero 2001 kundi sa mga panahon bago pa nito. Tumampok ito lalo na sa pangunguna ng Kaliwa sa martsa patungong Mendiola.

Kinuwestyon nya rin ang mga batayan ni MLQ3 sa pahayag nito hinggil sa kawalan ng papel at kabuluhan ng Kaliwa sa pulitika sa kasalukuyan at kawalan umano ng kahandaan ng lipunang tanggapin ang Kaliwa.

I hope Manolo elaborates these points because as far as I know, the Left had been welcomed by the public in the 2001, 2004 and 2007 elections. In fact, Bayan Muna led the 2001 and 2004 partylist elections — to the surprise of both the social democrats in power and people like Manolo. In 2007, despite the massacre of its officers, the imprisonment of Ocampo and the use of terror against it — Bayan Muna returned to Congress with a strong and very respectable second place finish.

Between 2001 and 2007, the Left spearheaded or joined projects with its allies. They are too many to mention but let me put some of them here: the broad coalition to sue Estrada before the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan, the coalition against the US-led war on terror, the two impeachment cases, etc. But indeed, there are no perfect alliances. There remain differences and biases among friends. But to say that the Left was lagging behind or was problematic in forging alliances is going a bit too far. Or was it really the Left’s problem? Or were there alliance partners who were too small and too inconsequential but belonged to the elite and so must be given the spotlight and the bigger voice and recognition? Or are some Filipinos just too infected with a psychotic level of anti-Left biases? I don’t know. What I know is that the Left also has a sense of self-respect as to choose its own friends, and choose which alliances to join or help spearhead.

And what is this creature called dogmatism which Manalo refers to? I am curious about it. I want to stamp it like a disease — but if the word is just carelessly thrown without basis, then that is too sad an occasion.

Had the Left been dogmatic all along, it would have rendered itself irrelevant immediately after Edsa 2. But that is clearly not the case.

Higit pang malilinaw ang mga kontra-Kaliwang pagtingin ni MLQ3 (na btw, ay dati nang naging paksa na ng nakaraang talakayan sa Reds Care) sa kanyang addendum sa kanyang naunang entry (na tinugunan din ni Tonyo), sa isang comment at sa isang entry na may mas detalyadong tugon.

Aniya, ang patunay ng kawalan ng kabuluhan ng Kaliwa, ay ang kanyang pagtingin na tinatanggap ng publiko ang mga pagpaslang sa mga aktibista at mga kasapi ng Kaliwa. Hindi daw nagagalit ang mga tao sa pagpaslang. Marami daw e natutuwa pa. Yan daw ang nababasa nya at naririnig sa mga sabi-sabi.

Maraming pwedeng dahilan kung bakit hindi pa dumadagundong gaya ng nais ni MLQ3 ang protesta laban sa pampulitikang pamamaslang. Pero hindi na tatangkain ng historyador na si MLQ3 na pag-aralan ang iba't ibang mga salik na maaaring nagdudulot nito. Ang pinakakumbinyente para kay MLQ3 ay ang tumungo sa kongklusyon na sadyang publiko'y nasusuklam sa Kaliwa.

Kakatwa na habang tinutuligsa ang umano'y pagiging "dogmatic" ng Kaliwa'y sige naman si MLQ3 sa paggamit ng senatorial election results bilang batayan ng umano'y kawalan ng lakas ng Kaliwa. Kesyo daw mas marami pang botong nakuha si Chavit.

Marami pang pwedeng pag-usapan at usisain sa talakayang ito, at tiyak na lalawig pa ang palitan sa pagsagot ni Tonyo at pagsali ng iba pa. Pero hayaan nyong gawin natin itong unang "Open Thread" sa blog na ito. Sana ipaskil nyo bilang komento sa ibaba ang anumang damdamin tungkol sa usapin.

Anong tingin mo?

Ma(ng)mang Pulis

2008-01-22T22:27:00.000-08:00

Sa isang banda, ang KMP:

Sa kabila, ang mga KSP:

“Barias fancies himself as the ‘Mamang Pulis’ mascot. The farmers did not travel this far to be heckled by an insensitive police official,”

Makiplacard daw ba? Kung naglakad din sila mula prubinsya, baku umubra ang gimik nila.

News link

How to "People Power"

2008-01-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

Many activists and Filipinos are reminiscing their EDSA 2 moments today and most are reminding themselves of how great those days were, how ecstatic, idealistic and determined the people were then, and how, after seven years of suffering under this puppet regime, we badly need that People Power spirit with us again -- one that's even greater than what we had before.

Not a few of the people I have been talking to, in urban poor communities, the working class, and even middle class folks, wish of seeing that glorious day when the rotten and corrupt Arroyo government gets forced to step down from office by hundreds of thousands of people marching in the streets, accompanied perhaps by churchmen and anti-Arroyo military commanders.

There is a reason the nation gets excited when events of large political significance, such as the Manila Peninsula take-over, occur: people are praying for that "moment," for that "spark," hoping the the event would be beginning of the end for the regime. Heck, maybe the stock market stability that day in Makati showed that even the businessmen were not that worried over what's going to happen with their money anymore. That people have really had enough already.

Mass movement not sparks and moments

Many are now starting to understand though that "moments" don't necessarily lead to People Power. Not especially under a government like Arroyo, which is extremely desperate and hell-bent in its efforts clinging to office. Looking back, we might have already had a lot of those "moments" under this regime: scandals, controversies, issues, mass resignation of cabinet officials, military dissent, strong church opposition. But the more decisive of the factors, massive street protests -- hundreds of thousands of people in collective will and action --- still has to be developed.

People Power 2 didn't happen overnight. It wasn't as if the nation just suddenly woke up on the other side of the bed and decided to go to the streets because they believe they are destined to do so. Before the refusal of the Senate to open the second envelope, tens of thousands of people have already participated in massive rallies, vigil protests and student walk-outs against an array of issues: all-out war, VFA, budget cuts in social services, price hikes, government corruption, etc. Various formations and organizations ranging from anti-Estrada to progressive to revolutionary, have emerged and have swelled their ranks, making them capable of leading multitudes in the streets.

"Think big"

How do we, the youth and students in particular, revive mass protests during these times? How do we create that muscle which "powers" people's uprisings, and thus prove ourselves deserving of being referred to as "cutting-edge" and "spearhead" of social movements? How do we create People Power in our schools and communities?

First, we must look back at what happened at EDSA and believe that we can lead historically significant and radical activities. Student leaders and activists at present must learn how to "think big" and plan activities way beyond the pocket rallies and media actions we do several times a month. Successful strikes, nationwide walk-outs, peace camps, gigantic street protests, however complicated they are, all begin with simple ingredients. Among them: a little imagination and a strong determination to win.

In order for the student leaders to capture the imagination of the student population, they must come up with definite programs of action, must comprehend the requirements for the fulfillment of which, while being able to implement particular tasks and attain short term objectives. They must desist from implementing rigid and short-sighted plans, in false hope that constantly repeating the same "standard" tasks, will someday lead to something fruitful. Young activists in schools today must share radical visions and plans of action, and must work hard collectively to reach such. We cannot just wait for uprisings to suddenly happen, instead, we must painstakingly strive to fulfill the requirements of building strong mass-based organizations, highly politicized studentry, broad alliances, and others.

Broad Actions

Students must be mobilized in their tens of thousands in different activities in-campus and off-campus. Mass organizations and progressive alliances must thus realize the need for creative, broad, activities, that will engage not only the relatively advanced sections of the studentry but the population as a whole. While maintaining that the militant actions are the more decisive, they must also utilize broad forms of protest.

In danger of being branded TH (trying hard), the relatively advanced student organizations must also be careful not to artificially conduct "broad" and "creative" forms of protest (which might look broad in character but does not really engage the broad population), but instead develop the initiative of traditional groups and sectors.

Sinong papalit?

Contrary to government and reactionary propaganda, I don't believe that most young people are "tired" of people power and are disillusioned. Most young people who ask "sinong papalit?", ask the question not in a cynical manner. Rather, they are seriously asking for genuine, long-term solutions to our country's crisis -- solutions that progressives must readily articulate and propagate. People are not tired of People Power, rather, they are starting to see the limitations of regime change and are trying to understand the long-term solutions to the problems of our country.

Activists should thus engage more young people in discussions regarding Philippine society in general and the need for revolutionary change. Discussions about the semi-colonial and semi-feudal nature of our society and its basic problems and how to change it, must flourish in the campuses. The people are asking, and this fact requires us to be, more than ever, ready to respond. Analysis and discussions of current issues are well and good, but activists must not stop there, they must be able to deepen theirs and the masses' knowledge of the roots of these issues and basic problems of society.

A step in the right direction

While we stress that what's most important now is our systematic and conscious organizing, propaganda and mass work, activists must also be ready for twists and turns, sudden "moments," historically significant events and turn them to our favor. We must also learn how to adjust when we fail to reach particular objectives. Mass actions might not always be successful in terms of attaining its tactical, immediate target, but if led consciously, will, for sure, always bring fruit for the strengthening of the long-term struggle for change and will always be a step in the right direction.

We can and we must, for our country's sake, work together to develop another People Power uprising. One that's more conscious and organized. One that's ready to defeat the regime's fascism. One that will push the people's movement as well as the entire country forward, and will be a significant stride in the struggle for truly meaningful change.#

Bloggers Action Week: Bloggers Remember People Power 2

2008-01-12T05:31:00.000-08:00

Wear this badge:

<a href="http://peoplepower2.bloggerskapihan.com" title="Remember People Power 2"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n4LkGjtuOAo/R4mdbe_jkZI/AAAAAAAAAJs/Z2SjIJsLrsg/s1600-h/womanpowerededsa.jpg" alt="Beterano ako ng EDSA2!" border="0" /></a>

Wear the badge, copy and paste this to your site:

<a href="http://peoplepower2.bloggerskapihan.com" title="Remember People Power 2"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n4LkGjtuOAo/R4jY-u_jkYI/AAAAAAAAAJk/nu4dhy8Z_v0/s320/I-POWERED-EDSA2-peple-power.jpg" alt="Beterano ako ng EDSA2!" border="0" /></a>

Now’s the time to blog about Edsa 2, now’s the time to remember.

A few days before the 7th anniversary of Edsa 2, Bloggers Kapihan urges all of us to take time out to remember what we did, how we felt, what we dreamt about when we went to Edsa in 2001.

Photos, videos, essays, poems — anything to remember Edsa 2 is most welcome.

And on Jan. 19, let’s go to Kape Tasyo for BK 3.0 and collectively remember with some very special guests.

Click here for more.

Txtpower urges Palace: Don’t classify SMS as a ‘sin’ product

2008-01-12T05:21:00.000-08:00

Kasalanan na ngayon ang texting?! Aba aba aba!

TXTPower vice president Crisostomo added that the true sin is in the “imposition of taxes on the poor and similar acts.”

“Ang kapal ng mukha nila sa sabihin sinners ang texters (the nerve of them to brand texters as sinners),” said Crisostomo.

Crisostomo said that “for the texters and the general public, the true sins are lying, stealing, cheating and refusing to perform sworn duties to protect and serve the people -- sins that are the hallmarks of the officials of government, starting with the president.”

Link

Arroyo lifts tuition cap for private schools

2008-01-10T22:02:00.000-08:00

Good news for owners and operators of private tertiary schools nationwide but bad news for students and parents.

Link

People power 2 badges

2008-01-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

Bloggers Kapihan will put up a People Power 2 flashback site next week featuring stories, views and recollections of bloggers and young Filipinos of what happened in EDSA seven years ago.

We are encouraging people to send their contributions. Here are badges your blogs and websites can also wear to support the site.

Copy and paste to your site:

<a href="http://peoplepower2.bloggerskapihan.com" title="Remember People Power 2"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_n4LkGjtuOAo/R4ZKEO_jkUI/AAAAAAAAAJE/0WqqrFz9K_8/s320/beterano.jpg" alt="Beterano ako ng EDSA2!" border="0" /></a>

This one is a transparent png so background isn't necessarily white:

<a href="http://peoplepower2.bloggerskapihan.com" title="Remember People Power 2"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n4LkGjtuOAo/R4ZN6u_jkVI/AAAAAAAAAJM/5eULH8o48tw/s320/kasama-sa-edsa.png" alt="Kasama ako sa EDSA2!" border="0" /></a>

<a href="http://peoplepower2.bloggerskapihan.com" title="Remember People Power 2"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n4LkGjtuOAo/R4cPVe_jkWI/AAAAAAAAAJU/9kN_N-_f9pw/s320/kasama-sa-edsa.png" alt="Kasama ako sa EDSA2!" border="0" /></a>

<a href="http://peoplepower2.bloggerskapihan.com" title="Remember People Power 2"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n4LkGjtuOAo/R4cP8u_jkXI/AAAAAAAAAJc/IT1fI0RHJVs/s320/kasama-sa-edsa.jpg" alt="Kasama ako sa EDSA2!" border="0" /></a>

Pasismo sa Sentenaryo ng UP

2008-01-08T22:51:00.000-08:00

Anton Ducle recounts in his blog how the UP admin used fascist violence to disperse student activists during the UP centennial celebration yesterday.

This tells of what's really behind the celebration activities. The UP admin isn't really into celebrating UP as an institution in service of the people, rather, one that's willing to use violence to preserve its colonial orientation.

Link

Me wanna graffiti

2008-01-06T09:39:00.000-08:00

Damn, if only somebody has a decent projector, this would be a real nice urban hack.

graffitiresearchlab.com

Ubuntuismo: Struggling for software freedom

2007-12-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

The Windows OS in our desktop computer at home again bogged down on us, it had a problem regarding user settings and deleted files and settings. Since I had holiday free time, it was a perfect time to introduce Ubuntu Linux OS, a free and open source platform, which, for some years now, is being supported and campaigned by tech activist groups including Agham and CP-Union.

The idea of "freedom" from propriety software and from the bugs and inefficiencies of Windows was of course appealing to me, especially since I got to use a Mac, which was way better than "Win-doze." I also used some free and open source programs available online which are alternatives for propriety software for Mac and Windows like VLC, Senuti, Burn and Handbrake. That's why I was excited to try Ubuntu for the first time.

I was to install Ubuntu in a shared family desktop computer. So the first thing I had in mind was to make it Windows-like and to make it easy for people who are used to windows to use it.
The computer I was working on was pretty slow, with combined 256 and 128 MB memory modules, without a video card, with only 40 GB hard disk. I've learned of Linux booting on CD and of "Damn Small Linux" so I thought Ubuntu would have no problems running on this desktop.

After doing some reading, I decided to take the dual boot option. It would be nice to have a back-up windows system just in case. People who talked me into installing Ubuntu always mentioned that you could always dual-boot if want to just try out Ubuntu.

So I downloaded the Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon CD and booted the desktop with it. Immediately, I felt that it was super slow for my system, it would take around 20 seconds for a click to function. I thought that it was because I was running from CD and because of my limited memory, I continued with my installation thinking that it would all be better once I install it.

I tried to dual-boot, but the partitioning task is too complicated. I already had two partitions in my HD, one for Windows and the other half for data, and I simply couldn't figure out how to create that partition for Ubuntu without deleting my data, plus the fact that it was too damn slow. I ended up doing away with the dual-boot option and just backing up my data on a separate hard disk and reformatting the original with Ubuntu on it. Bye-bye Windows.

I went on with the installation, but it hung several times. It was too late when I learned that Ubuntu installation required at least 256 MB excluding the memory used for video graphics. Damn. But there was an alternative: an "only-ubiquity" whatever option, how to do which, was nowhere to be found.

I rebooted one more time, and this time, for a reason I don't know, Gnome, the graphics interface, was not enabled, so the freed video graphics memory was used for installation, and I successfully installed Ubuntu.

But it was slow and when I ran the software updates, it hung and when I restarted it, it took forever to boot.

I decided to look for alternatives and found Xubuntu, Ubuntu's version which was intended to run on older systems. (Honestly, all the Buntubuntu terminology is confusing, why don't they just use Ubuntu Lite or Ubuntu for Old PCs?)

I downloaded the Xubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon CD image and successfully installed it on the desktop. It also took around an hour or two, definitely not less than 20 mins like other review sites claim.

I was now running on Xubuntu. I liked the general look, only, the default fonts which are big and rounded made me feel like I was in a child's gaming interface.

My next step was to make it look and feel like Windows XP. I previously saw some articles online saying it was possible to make the Linux interface look like XP. I searched again and saw the LXP project, and XPDE. Downloaded both but both didn't have clear installation instructions and I had no idea how to make it work with my system. I wasn't even sure if it worked in Xubuntu. (The terminology gets even more confusing once you encounter terms such as Debian, XFCE, KDE, etc.)

I followed some Ubuntu post-installation tips telling you to install some softwares and enable some other stuff, which I did. This time I was surprised that it instructs you to use the command prompt to download and install stuff. Kinda feels complicated especially when you're used to Windows, where you never go to the command prompt unless you're an experienced programmer or you need to configure hardware or reformat disks.

I tried also to install AWN to get that Mac-like dock, to no avail. It popped up on the applications menu but didn't show up when prompted.

I really would have wanted to install open source software, and I support the idea of open source and freedom from Windoze. But it didn't work for me when I tried to install it on our family desktop and I regret that I would have to reformat and reinstall that old, pirata XP CD.

I must admit that I was kinda disappointed by the fact that installation and customization wasn't really that easy in Xubuntu and that my excitement and enthusiasm about open source freedom was undermined by the difficulties in installing and customizing the OS.

However, I would still try to use Ubuntu as OS of our LFS laptop, with 512 memory, a video card, and 80 GB HD, I am hoping it would run better and be perfect for it.

Meanwhile, I suggest the following to open source developers:

1. Strive to make things simpler, as in really really simple! Make the installation instructions, documentation, and customization simple and step-by-step.

2. It would help to have a flash tour once you install the OS just like Windows does in order to make the users familiar with the environment and let users customize.

3. It's all about customization! Make customization easy. Create one-click themes that will make the interface fit the needs of the users.

4. Get rid of the open source jargon, make installation easy. If it's not easy, don't make it seem easy, and instead find another easy way for users to deal with it. Not everyone are computer geeks.

5. The general idea of open source itself is appealing and engaging. But don't stop there. Make the users love the interface and let the users be one with the OS once they get introduced to it.

It's the feeling that Macs exploit, the "this-OS-is-made-especially-for-you" appeal. I appreciate the Ubuntu effort to make programs search and installations easier in Gutsy Gibbon, but I think open source should focus on building other strong points aside from its being free and open source. Mac for example capitalizes on multimedia including video editing capabilities.

Maybe open source should focus on building and packaging its office, digital design, programming and web developing softwares as most of its users are computer and tech enthusiasts.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-20T08:57:00.000-08:00

“Sinuntok nila ang buong katawan ni Sherlyn at Karen, dumugo ang nguso, ibinitin ang dalawa [nang] patiwarik na ang nakatali lamang ay isang paa habang sila ay hubo’t hubad…Pagkatapos ay binubuhusan sila ng tubig sa ilong.”

Si Reynaldo, kapatid ni Raymond, ginawang tagatapon umano ng ihi ng dalawa na “pulos dugo.” “Ako naman ang pinaglaba ng mga militar ng mga damit at underwear ng dalawa na puno rin ng mantsa ng dugo at putik,” sabi pa ni Raymond. Wala sa pangalawang sinumpaang salaysay, pero sinabi rin diumano ni Raymond sa Karapatan na ikinuwento sa kanya ni Sherlyn na ginahasa sila ng mga sundalo.

-Pinoyweekly.org: Pagpupunyagi nina Karen at Sherlyn

The witness testified he saw the missing student in a military camp where he had been taken after he was kidnapped by paramilitary soldiers last year.

-Inquirer.net: Witness tells court UP coed chained to bed

When Sherlyn was taken back to the camp in Bataan, Raymund said, he saw the soldiers torture Sherlyn, “Itinali sya sa bangko, itinaas ang kanyang mga paa, binuhusan siya ng tubig sa ilong, kinuryente sya.” (She was tied to a bench, her feet were lifted, water was poured to her nose, and she was electrocuted.)
“Sumisigaw sya. Matagal syang pinahirapan,” (She shouted. She was tortured for a long time.) Raymund added.
When Sherlyn told the soldiers that Karen helped her write the letter for her mother-in-law, Raymund said, he saw the soldiers take Karen outside. However, Raymund said, he did not see what the soldiers had done to Karen. “Narinig ko lang ang mga sigaw nya,” (I just heard her cries.) Raymund said.
The following day, Raymund said, he heard the soldiers hurling invectives at the two UP students. “Inuyam sila sa ginawang pananakit, ipinaalala sa kanila ang ginawang paghipo sa kanilang ari at pagpasok ng kahoy sa kanilang ari,” (They were taunted regarding the pain inflicted on them; they were reminded that their private parts were touched and a wooden stick was inserted inside their sex organ.) Raymund said in his testimony.
On the other hand, Raymund said, he and Manuel where forced to join military operations in Bataan. Raymund said they witnessed how the soldiers killed two relatives of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas.

-Zumel.com: 2 missing UP students tortured, raped inside military camp

Maligaya at makabuluhang Pasko sa lahat at isang bagong taon na puno ng pag-asa para sa bayan at sa pakikibaka.

Photos: Transport strike and people's protest vs. oil price hikes a success

2007-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Photos by AP via Yahoo! News.

Related:
Download a Filipino Q&A prepared by LFS on the oil price hike here.

Interview: Sir Nick Atienza

2007-12-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

Pinakamataas na pagpupugay kay Monico Atienza

2007-12-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

Huling Leksyon
Alay kay Kasamang Nick Atienza

Tinuruan mo kami ng wika at mga talata
pero higit sa lahat, tinuruan mo kami makipag-usap
at magkaroon ng kahulugan.

Tinalakayan sa silid-aralan,
pinautang ng matrikula, pinahiram ng mga aklat
sinalinan ng kaalaman.
Pero higit sa lahat, binigyan kami
ng kakaibang tapang at pag-asa,
pinunlaan ang aming puso ng mga munting binhi
ng paninindigan.

Naging manunulat ka, ngunit hindi lamang ng mga akda,
makata hindi lamang sa tula.
Isinalin sa iyong buhay ang mga dakilang alamat at
maniningning na mga talinhaga.
Namata ka sa rebolusyon.

Iyan ang iyong mga huli at pinakamahalagang leksyon:
makipag-usap sa masa, bigyang pag-asa ang api,
manindigan para sa bayan, mag-alay ng buhay ng
walang takot at walang alinlangan.

Asahan mo, Ka Nic, hindi ito ang mga huling aralin namin.
Pagkat kung tutuusin, hindi mo naman ninais
na maging tangi naming propesor.

Inakay mo kami tungo sa pamantasan ng lansangan,
paaralan ng api, at kolehiyo ng simpleng pamumuhay at
puspusan, buong dedikasyong pakikibaka.

Sa piling ng masa, patuloy na bubuhayin
ng mga mag-aaral ang iyong mga leksyon at tapik ng paalala.

Dakila ka Kasamang Monico Atienza:
propesor, kasama, kaibigan at magiting na rebolusyunaryo!

December 8, 2007

Blog na blog na ko

2007-12-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

Marami na ang nagtatanong bakit wala akong entries nitong huli. Kaya magpopost na ko. :)

Ang kalakhan ng aking online time ay ginugugol ko sa pagbubuo ng bagong LFS website at pagtapos nito sa pinakamadaling panahon. Sana bisitahin nyo at komentuhan.

Madodownload dito ang primer ng LFS hinggil sa OPH, makikita ang mga litrato at video namin sa pagsugod sa US embassy, at ang mga larawan at video ng paglusot sa pulis at pagtungo sa Mendiola kasama ang mga maralitang tagalunsod.

Magpopost na rin ako sa mga susunod na araw!

Press freedom mural at NPC building altered

2007-11-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

Update: Today's Inquirer headline story reports that the NPC admitted to having the mural altered for its "political" message.

As it turned out, President Arroyo unveiled the mural, and due to the criticisms of some PSG men, the NPC leadership ordered the modification.

This is utterly stupid and outrageous. Story here.

From zumel.com:

We were shocked to be informed by one of their board of directors that changes were made in the mural without our knowledge.

Changes include:

1) The erasure of a big portion of the newspaper held by the central figure, containing the statement of the International Federation of Journalists regarding the perceived effects of the anti-terror law on press freedom, and replaced by a hideous bird-monster in a cage;

2) The alteration of the headline of the newspaper Jose Rizal is holding from "Press Freedom Fighter's Son Abducted" to "Press Freedom Fight Is On" and the defacement of Jonas and Edith Burgos's pictures as well as the erasure of Jonas's name;

3) The change of the tattoo on Andres Bonifacio's left arm from the alibata "K" to a sappy red heart pierced by an arrow;

4) The erasure of the name of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines from the banners of the rallyists;

5) The lengthening of the hair and beard of the figure identified as academician-columnist Prof. Randy David beside columnist Conrad de Quiros;

6) The addition of beard and mustache and the change of hair color from white to black of the pugo and balut vendor identified as columnist and Martial Law detainee Juan Mercado.

We believe that the abovementioned alterations were made by some unidentified artist/s with the authorization and consent of the NPC leadership (even with their disavowal of responsibility, considering that the mural was within their premises). We rail against these modifications not only because of the slipshod work and poor artistry but more so because of the censorship that is clearly at work here.

See the whole, unaltered mural here.

How to get free movies from the internet

2007-10-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, yo. You can download the greatest movies, even ones which are yet to be shown in the cinemas, for free. Yebah. The magic word: torrent.

I've you still haven't known about torrents and torrent downloading, you've been missing a lot. Torrenting is basically file-sharing made better. (Nah, I won't try to explain. Basta, it works. If you want more details, see this wikipedia entry.)

Start your downloading frenzy in 3 easy steps:

1. Download a torrent client software. I use Azureus for mac, utorrent for PC.

2. Search for your torrents. My favorite: mininova. Check out also torrentscan.net.

3. Download! Speed will depend on your internet connection and the number of people "seeding" the file. It usually takes me about an hour to complete a film download. I add my torrent software to my startup programs so that it runs while I read, type, or do whatever on my computer.

Sometimes I leave the computer turned on while I'm out of the house, and I get to complete downloading as much as 8-10 films.

Tips:

You might need to do something to enable some routers and firewalls to have speedy downloads. Go to portforward.com.

When downloading, check the comments to see user feedback on quality and content. Also, download the ones with more seeds and less peers.

You can subscribe or regularly visit junknova.com for newly released torrent films.

See also torrent tweaks to speed up your download.

Some must-watch films links:

Walkout
Sicko
Loose Change 911
The Revolution Will not be Televised

Btw, Filipino films, including indies, are also available for download.

Patayin sa sindak si Gloria: Oct 30 Halloween Protest

2007-10-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, ako yung baboy na burglar. At believe it or not, yung katabi kong tongresista ay walang iba kundi si Chairman Mong!

Photo from GMAnews.tv. More photos here.

Happy Halloween!

Whoa! Pilipinas!

2007-10-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Cabring and Datu's Tribe on their successful album launching last Friday, at Bincoy's Bar, Kamuning Rd, QC.

While watching them, I again realized how important this album was and how significant the success of this album will be to Filipino musicians who want to make relevant and progressive art.

I told Bien Lumbera of the album and lent him my copy. He thought it was really good and considered asking a foundation named after him to help fund the album.

Here's a video post of Whoa! Pilipinas!, a manifesto of how grim realities are for the Philippines and the Filipino people.

Read also: Reasons why you should buy Datu's new album

Back from the 16th LFS congress

2007-10-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you LFS Iloilo for hosting the 16th LFS Congress last October 20-25. We would also like to thank the local government led by Gov. Tupas for their support.

I was re-elected National Chair, Ron Villegas as Vice Chair, Lire Maga as Secretary General.

While Glorietta 2 was being bombed, while Erap was walking out of his Tanay resthouse, and fresh calls for Arroyo resignation were being declared by bishops, we were taking nice photos of flowers, beaches and mountains. Of course, with consistent harassment and threats from military intelligence units deployed to "guard" us.

Photos to be posted soon. Meanwhile, check out Nadja's multiply page.

CyberProtest vs CyberEd: Protest Badges

2007-10-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

Before I leave for the LFS congress, I am granting a request by the Bloggers Kapihan Crew to create CyberEd protest badges.

Copy and paste to your site:

<a href="http://studentstrike.blogspot.com/2007/10/primer-on-cybereducation-project.html"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n4LkGjtuOAo/RxZZq3W6uYI/AAAAAAAAAGs/9nru5wVkda0/s320/webbutton2.jpg" alt="CyberEd Protest Badge" id="No to the CyberEducation Project!" border="0" /></a>

Copy and paste to your site:

<a href="http://studentstrike.blogspot.com/2007/10/primer-on-cybereducation-project.html" title="Junk the CyberEd Project!"><img src="http://www.lfs.ph/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/webbutton3.jpg" alt="CyberEd Protest Badge" border="0" /></a>

Copy and paste to your site:

<a href="http://studentstrike.blogspot.com/2007/10/primer-on-cybereducation-project.html" title="CyberEdProtest"><img src="http://www.lfs.ph/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/webbutton4.jpg" alt="CyberEdProtestBadge" border="0" /></a>

Uphold national interest! Reject JPEPA!

2007-10-17T03:03:00.000-07:00

Following is a unity statement I signed against JPEPA. For more info, read this primer on the unjust agreement.

An appeal to the Senate to reject the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA)

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations call on our Senators to uphold national interest and reject the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA.

After several public hearings in the Senate, we have yet to see credible studies to back up the fantastic claims of the Arroyo administration that the JPEPA will result in economic prosperity for the Filipino people. Rather than economic growth, the agreement is poised to further damage the already crisis-ridden Philippine economy.

We believe that the agreement is grossly lopsided in favor of Japan. The provisions of JPEPA will further reinforce the historically unequal economic relations between our countries. For example, while removing tariffs for all but two Philippine products (salt and rice), Japan will continue to protect 239 of its own products.

Japan will also gain unhampered access to our nation’s wealth, including our human resources, at the expense of the Filipino people.

* Job losses are foreseen in the manufacturing and automobile sectors
* Farmers and agricultural workers stand to suffer even more from contract-growing arrangements with transnational agri-business corporations. Land use conversion will also affect domestic food production.
* Domestic fisheries sector will have no protection from the entry of Japanese fishing vessels which will be allowed to fish in our waters.
* The claim that the Philippines will benefit from the agreement via the entry of more Filipino nurses and caregivers to Japan is misleading since the professional standards imposed by Japan are very difficult to achieve. The continued export of nurses and caregivers also betrays a lack of political will on the part of the Philippine government to provide domestic employment for its own people.

The JPEPA will not industrialize the Philippine economy because provisions in the agreement limit or do not require technology transfer, local content in products as well as the hiring of Filipinos. On the other hand, special privileges will be given to Japanese investors to the extent of undermining whatever little is left of the country’s sovereignty and patrimony. This includes requiring the Philippine government to virtually insure Japanese firms from any damages that may result from civil unrest.

The JPEPA accords Japan a Most Favored Nation status and gives National Treatment to Japanese investors. Such provisions set a dangerous precedent for bilateral trade agreements with other countries. Surely, other countries would seek the same treatment as Japan, thereby further exposing the Philippine economy to plunder by other imperialist powers and foreign multinationals.

The JPEPA is tantamount to a second “Japanese Invasion” of the Philippines, this time in the sphere of economics. For our own survival, we say “No deal!” with the Japanese government.

Uphold national interest! REJECT JPEPA!

Ka Bel hurt in car crash

2007-10-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

From ABS-CBNnews.com:

Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran was reported injured when his vehicle figured in a road accident in Intramuros district in Manila Tuesday.

A radio DZMM report said Beltran sustained a head injury when his vehicle, a Toyota Hi-Ace, collided with a Ford Everest at the corner of Victoria and Juan Luna streets in Intramuros.

The report said Beltran's head slammed into the windshield, which caused the head injury.

Beltran has been rushed to the Philippine General Hospital and is now being closely monitored by doctors.

Inquirer.net report here.

Sana naman hindi malubha ang epekto ng aksidente ni Ka Bel.

Video: Lafayette Mining

2007-10-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

Go to kalikasan.org and download their environmental situationer here.

CyberEd: DepEd lying about project's reach

2007-10-13T22:38:00.001-07:00

Take a close look at this page taken from DepEd's slide presentation on the controversial Cyber Education Project.

The DepEd pegs the benefit of the CyberEd to 90% of all public schools or 37,794.

But the page also says that only 26,618 will actually be given the project equipment. The additional 30% of elementary schools will benefit through "clustering."

What does this mean exactly?

Schools in far-flung barrios will have to merge with "nearby" CyberEd enabled schools to watch the "live-via-sattelite-no-commercial-break" lecture from DepEd studios.

If pursued, this scheme will tend to make education less accessible to youths in the rural areas, which, as it is now, are already required to travel several kilometers by foot to their schools.

Either that, o binobola lang talaga tayo sa 30% na yan.

Important facts that should be noted:

>Contrary to initial perception, the CyberEd will not install a TV set per classroom. Each school will only be given 4 TV sets, 2 computers and other equipment. To let you try to visualize how this will work, Ramon Magsaysay High School, a public high school in Manila, has around 7,000 students.

>While the project promises to include internet connection as a bonus, project proponents say that the internet speed will be "lower than broadband." In some presentations, even "optional." This is highly questionable for a project that will cost a fortune. And to think that they wanted this program to have a separate "backbone" from the National Broadband Network and all other ICT projects.

Simply freaking ridiculous.

Source: ACT Chair Antonio Tinio's BK2 CyberEducation Briefer

Primer on the CyberEducation Project

ZTE Broadband Deal: Another multi-million racket of the Arroyo family

Online web tool turns your images into printable, supersized, half-tone posters

2007-10-13T06:13:00.000-07:00

Rasterbator is a freakingly cool image tool, perhaps one of the best ones in the web.

Upload a .jpg file and in seconds, this awesome online tool transforms it into a pdf file of a huge, half-toned poster, which you can print on many sheets of paper using your ordinary desktop printer.

Yes, it automatically divides the poster into small chunks that your printer can handle. And yes, it's for free. Ang galing!

This means you can blow things out of freaking proportion and post extra-large images without having to pay for tarpaulins, blow-up photo prints or expensive posters.

I hope that this thing will get the LFS graffiti artists and school propagandists brainstorming hard for operasyon dikit (street poster operation) ideas. This will definitely be useful.

Example below:

Check out the gallery for more "rasticulation".

Link

Letter to the Editor: ROTC restoration opposed

2007-10-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ron for drafting and sending this LTTE which landed in the feedback page of the PDI on October 10, 2007.

The decreasing number of students that enroll in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program has prompted renewed efforts to once again make it mandatory. House Bill 309, seeking to repeal Republic Act 9163 (NSTP Act of 2001), has been filed before the House Committee on National Defense by Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu -- a move hailed by no less than Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.

What Teodoro fails to recognize is the fact that we students are expressing our opposition to the ROTC by preferring to enroll in its alternatives, such as the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) under the National Service Training Program (NSTP). Gullas filed a bill without even consulting a key stakeholder in the issue, which is us, the students.

Although not yet perfect -- which is understandable considering that it has been institutionalized less than a decade ago -- the CWTS has taught us more and has made us more productive citizens than we possibly could ever have been, had we chosen the ROTC program instead. We prefer to teach poor children or build houses for the homeless than do push-ups and march around campus. The CWTS has also exposed us to the harsh realities and persistent problems that plague our fellow Filipinos: massive poverty, inaccessible education, social injustice.

We ask, what can we learn from the ROTC? It only teaches us the use of violence against our classmates. It claims to instill “discipline,” but that discipline merely stems from fear. It makes students docile, subservient, even uncritical -- consider the ROTC dogma, “Obey first before you complain.” We also have confirmed reports that the ROTC program is being used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to recruit students to its Student Intelligence Network, which spies on the members and activities of progressive and nationalist groups.

The government, hell-bent on requiring us to enroll in the ROTC and forcing us to undergo public humiliation, excessive physical punishment and other characteristics that have defined the ROTC program, seems to have forgotten that there was once a Mark Chua who died mercilessly at the hands of his officers for exposing widespread corruption in his university’s ROTC program. We do not want another Mark Chua.

Teodoro claims that the decreasing number of reserve officers in the country is cause for alarm, saying it has “serious ramifications in assuring our national security and stability.” But we believe otherwise. We do not want to become “cannon fodders” in the unjust wars being waged by our government against the people. We do not want to become part of an establishment that is being used by the government to spy on organizations, the members of which are our classmates and friends. We do not want to be reserve officers of a military that is being used to claim the lives of activists and civilians whose only crime is to fight for their rights.

If the government is going to push through with the aforementioned proposal, we students pledge to oppose it with the same, if not greater force, than that used in 2001 to abolish the ROTC.

VENCER CRISOSTOMO, national chair, League of Filipino Students (via email)

Inquirer
Last updated 01:26am (Mla time) 10/10/2007

Bloggers' Kapihan 2: Blog Ed 101

2007-10-09T21:47:00.001-07:00

Kita-kits sa BK 2!

After the resounding success of the first ever Bloggers’ Kapihan 1.0: Blogging Beyond the Basics, the BK crew once again comes around for yet another virtual-becomes-real venture.

The BK Crew presents Bloggers’ Kapihan 2.0: Blog Ed 101. This time around, let us tackle the importance of blogging in learning, learning in blogging and blogging as a tool for alternative education. The event will be held on October 13, 2007 at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Quezon City.

Speakers:

Sir Martin Perez, Social Studies teacher of the Philippine Science High School, will give introductory concepts and tips on blogging as a tool for instruction.

Prof. Danny Arao, assistant professor of the Department of Journalism at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, will tackle how blogging can be instrumental for alternative education and how websites can be transformed into ‘virtual classrooms’.

Mr. Tonchi Tinio, chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, will provide an overview on the advantages and disadvantages of the controversial CyberEducation Project of the Department of Education.

Must buy: Datu's Tribe "Whoa Pilipinas!" album now out!

2007-10-08T02:58:00.000-07:00

Hindi pwedeng hindi ka magkaroon nito!

Datu's Tribe has finally released the much awaited "Whoa! Pilipinas!" album. Here are some reasons why you should buy the album today:

1. It's simply freaking awesome. Contains some seriously socially-critical content in a mind-blowing rock metal package. The album is an in-your-face exposition of rotten RP reality, free from artsy-farsty, emo-"nationalist" pretentions.

2. Buying the album not only means supporting genuine OPM, but supporting progressive minded artists determined to speak the truth and fight ruling oppressors. Whoa's a courageous indie project, as major record companies refused to produce it, due to its politically loaded content.
3. By buying the album, you are encouraging Datu's Tribe and other Filipino artists creating meaningful, critical and relevant content. If you are tired of having to bear with senseless trash being played in the radios and MTVs, start the doing something about it and buy the album.

Link to Datu's Tribe multiply page. Watch their gig videos and listen to their songs. More photos here.

Top 5 most amusing things during Pacquiao-Barrera fight

2007-10-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

5. The pre-fight analysis.
"Matatalo yata si Pacquiao, ang payat nya sa picture. " Ang daming pagtatalo bago magsimula ang laban. Biglang tumatalino ang mga tao, ang daming alam tungkol kay Pacman at Barrera. Kesyo ang tindi ng treyning, at kung ano ano pa. Wala pang boksing, away na!

4. The AM radio coverage.
Ok sana to, maaga at live pa! Kaso lang eh... wala kang makita. Nakakainis. Hehe.

3. The army of spoilers.
Kung merong iniluwal yung delayed telecast sa TV, e iyun yung pambansang penomenon ng pagdami ng mga epal at mga naninira ng excitement sa panonood.

Si Ka Polding, hindi kami textmates. Kahit kelan hindi naman kami nagtetext kung wala kaming kelangan sa isa't isa. Pero kanina bandang alas-dose, bigla syang napatext: PANALO PACQUIAO 12ROUNDS.

2. The Pacman English.
Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kahit tapos na ang laban at me desisyon na, hindi mo pa rin ililipat ang TV. Ang mas exciting pang challenge: kung paano sasagutin ni Pacman ang English interview.

Interviewer: Were you hurt?
Pacman: You know, uhm.. Not so much.. No.

1. Noli De Castro
At akala ko tapos na sa English ni Pacman, but no! Sisipot sa screen si VP Noli De Castro.
Interviewer: We have here no less than... the ... Vice President of the Philippines.
(Sa loob-loob nya: pucha, eto ba Vice President ng Pilipinas? Takte, akalain mo, walang ibang magawa kundi manuod ng boxing dito. Amazing. Hehe. )

"Congratulations to the Filipino people! The true winner."
Haha. Panalo?

Panalo!

A Primer on the CyberEducation Project

2007-10-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

This CyberEducation Project is wrapped in so much secrecy and mystery. Considering its scale and magnitude and its gargantuan project cost, to be shouldered by our already burdened Filipino taxpayers, many pertinent details remain unknown, raising very disturbing questions on the implementation, actual outcome and even motive of the project. - Rep. Teddy Casino

What is the CyberEducation Project (CEP)?

The CyberEducation Project (CEP) is a US$465.5 million, or P21.4 billion (at $1=P46) project aiming to set up television production and satellite broadcasting facilities in the DepEd offices and public schools throughout the country.

It is the largest among 5 accords signed by the RP government with China last April 21,2007, which costs $136.5 million, or P6.2 billion more than the highly controversial ZTE Broadband deal. The project, which is set to be completed in three years, was sealed by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by RP Dept. of Trade and Investments (DTI) Sec. Peter Favila and Dr. Jung of Tsinghua Tongfang Nuctech Co. of China.

Eighty-six percent of the project cost or P18.47-billion will be funded by a loan from China, while the remaining fourteen percent or P2.9-billion will come from the national treasury.

While the ZTE Broadband deal has already been discontinued due to its controversial nature, the CyberEducation Project is yet to be scrapped and is still being pursued by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Despite strong opposition from different groups, the DepEd maintains its position that the project will be necessary to address the problems hounding the education system. The CyberEd, DepEd insists, is the "best response to the challenges of basic education."

What exactly will the CyberEducation Project do? How will it work?

Using the project's "advanced" technological infrastructure, the DepEd will broadcast live TV shows daily, via 12 specially dedicated video channels to some 37,792 or 90% of public schools nationwide.

Each classroom will be equipped with a television set hooked to a satellite disc. At the start of a subject period, the teacher opens the TV to receive a live satellite feed from DepEd studios in Manila. A "master teacher" gives a live lecture to tens of thousands of students simultaneously all over the country. The classroom teacher and students watch the program, then spend the rest of the time discussing and doing school work.

DepEd offices nationwide will also be inter-connected via the satellite network. Wireless internet connection may also be provided.

In order to attain this, the DepEd will have to install TVs, computers, and all necessary equipment in 34 schools daily for 3 years. Also, the DepEd will have to put up its own studio and broadcasting center to produce daily live shows for 12 channels covering five subjects each.

Why is there a significant opposition to the CyberEducation Project? Why is the CyberEd controversial?

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), League of Filipino Students (LFS), Senators Legarda and Angara, among others, including prominent bloggers, have expressed opposition to the CyberEducation Project. Critics are pointing out the following:

Lack of transparency

Like the ZTE deal, the CyberEd Project was signed in a hasty, secretive and suspect manner. The official copy of the Memorandum of Agreement was reportedly also lost, together with the original ZTE contract. Until now, the government still have not produced a copy of the MOA to respond to the investigations in Congress.

Details of how the project will be implemented and break down of costs have not been fully ironed out, a matter that is highly questionable for something that will cost billions.

Questionable endorsement by Neri

The project, like the ZTE deal, was also endorsed by NEDA chief Romulo Neri, and like the ZTE deal, in a questionable manner. It was reported that in past cabinet hearings and reviews, DOTC usec Formoso expressed reservations about the project overlapping with existing ICT projects and the NBN, an opinion that Romulo Neri supported.

A few weeks before the signing, Neri changed his decision and endorsed the project on flimsy grounds.

Too expensive and impractical

With the CyberEd's budget of P21.4 billion, the government could construct 51,913 classrooms, hire close to two million new teachers or buying 336 million chairs, or acquire 434 million new textbooks. Or the gov't could just allot the same amount to provide full four-year college scholarships to 1,085,000 students.

Knowledge Channel, a similar program, but not as ambitious is technical scope, costs only $1,500 per school or only about P1.8 billion covering the same number of schools as the CyberEd.

According to experts, a satellite system will also be too costly and impractical for such use, as there are other cheaper and practical ways to conduct inter-connectivity and media sharing.

Cyber-Redundancy

The project will not utilize previous Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and projects, and will rely on its own "backbone." It will not even be utilizing the facilities and technology of the planned ZTE NBN project and will have a separate, thus redundant infrastructure.

Even NEDA chief Neri, in a report, acknowledged this fact saying that the "overlap" will, according to his computations, reach P4 billion to P5 billion. This was also the initial stand of DOTC Usec. Formoso.

Impossible to implement

Installing the equipment (34 schools daily), producing daily live broadcast shows for 12 channels (something that even ABSCBN and GMA will have a hard time doing), training teachers and administrators and adjusting the curriculum design to fit the scheme, will be a hard task for an agency which cannot even ensure the correctness of its textbooks and proper running of school toilets.

Most believe that this is an overly ambitious fantasy not fit for an agency which, track record have shown, is not even capable of addressing the most basic problems.

Not a solution to basic education woes

TV shows and tech babble will not solve the basic low-tech problems of our educational system: low budget, classroom shortages, lack of books and facilities, lack of teachers, mismanagement and flawed orientation.

Another multi-million dollar racket for the Arroyo's and the boys

This overly ambitious, extra expensive, impractical and highly questionable project will only be an additional burden to Filipino taxpayers and will again make the youth and the entire education system victim to the corrupt schemes of the Arroyo government and her minions.

There is an explanation why Sec. Jesli Lapuz, Arroyo and her cabinet insist on continuing with the project despite its obvious defects: this project costs billions more than the ZTE, and that means billions worth of more kickback. More money "for the boys" --- and Gloria. #

Bloglinks:
http://tonyo.blogspot.com/2007/10/arroyo-must-not-cover-up-impose-cyber.html
http://sirmartin.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/why-i-am-not-excited-about-the-cyber-education-project/
http://davidllorito.blogspot.com/2007/09/technical-questions-on-depeds-cyber.html
http://csrexpo2007.net/downloads/ppt/DAY2/Consortium_Building_Breakout/Education-ICT/Jess_Mateo.pdf
http://activism102.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/cyber-education-project-the-best-response-to-challenges-in-philippine-education/

News:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=92399
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/aug/08/yehey/metro/20070808met1.html
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/sept/26/yehey/top_stories/20070926top5.html
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=91128
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=89650
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=88617
http://www.deped.gov.ph/updates/updateslinks.asp?id=182

Today is bloggers' action day for Burma

2007-10-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

ILPS Supports the People of Burma and Condemns the Military Regime
Friday, 28 September 2007

The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) supports the people of Burma in their struggle for democracy and condemns the Burmese military regime for violently suppressing the peaceful mass protests. It is the sovereign right of the Burmese people to overthrow the military fascist regime and establish democracy under civilian authority. It is further their right to make sure that imperialist powers do not take advantage of the situation to advance their own selfish and narrow interests.

The mass protests started by denouncing the 500% fuel price increase approved by the regime for the benefit of the state gas and oil monopoly and foreign oil companies. Since then, the people's movement has put forward a comprehensive range of grievances. The great majority of the people live in poverty as a result of corruption by the military regime and exploitation of foreign monopoly corporations. The people's democratic movement has become so broad as to involve the militant participation of the Buddhist monks who are highly respected in Burma.

The ILPS condemns the hypocritical statements of George W. Bush and other leaders of imperialist powers. These have in fact conducted business with the Burmese military regime and served to prolong its rule. Their protestations about democracy ring hollow. US companies are the fourth biggest foreign investors in Burma. The US oil company Unocal is the biggest foreign-owned company in the country. Besides Unocal, Texaco Inc. and Atlantic Richfield Co. of the United States, Total of France and Premier Oil of Britain maintain operations in Burma. Unocal has joint ventures with Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise of Burma which is controlled by the Burmese military regime.

What can be more undemocratic than what Bush is doing in foisting puppet regimes with no popular support on the people of Afghanistan and Iraq? In his own backyard, the police cracked down and arrested more than 200 protesters during the September 15 anti-war demonstration in Washington D.C. Previous to this, while wife Laura Bush was holding a press conference inside the White House condemning the crackdown on “pro-democracy” activists in Burma, outside horse-mounted police were attacking anti-war activists who were holding a press conference to announce the Protest March on September 15.

What the US and other imperialist powers want foremost in Burma is stability. They do not care if that stability comes from fascist dictatorship or bourgeois democracy. A stable environment for their monopoly capitalist investments is the most important thing for them. The imperialist powers and their puppets oppose the Burmese people's demands for national liberation, democracy, social justice, development and peace.

The ILPS supports the Burmese people’s struggle for the dismantling of the military regime and for democracy. At the same time, the ILPS denounces the attempts of imperialist powers to take advantage of the events in Burma to advance their anti-national and anti-democratic interests. We are in complete solidarity with the Burmese people's struggle for national liberation, democracy and a genuine socialist future. ###

Dutch court rejects prosecution appeal on Sison detention

2007-10-03T05:44:00.000-07:00

Here's an unofficial translation of the Dutch court news release from Tonyo:

Appeal to put Sison in detention rejected

The Hague, 3 October 2007 - The Court of Appeal in Den Haag today rejected the appeal of the public prosecution to put Sison in detention. The Court dismissed that demand. Sison, a long-time resident in the Netherlands, is alleged to be the leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines. He is accused of giving the order for the assassination attacks in 2003 and 2004 in the Philippines on a number of dissident leaders of that party, or inciting those attacks. The attacks were supposed to have been carried out by a unit of the National People's Army (NPA), a part of the CPP.

The Court also supports the decision of the district court that "serious accusations" are not present to compel the application of temporary custody against the suspect. The court has indeed determined that the dossier contains numerous indications that Sison, during his stay in the Netherlands, continued to fulfil a prominent role within the CPP. The court finds that the position of Sison within the party in its generality is not (yet) sufficient to merit serious accusations or confirm his criminal responsibility. The dossier does not sufficiently provide concrete proof that will establish Sison to have any form of direct connection to the commission of the assassination attacks.

The Court has also found that the accusations with regard to the time period as very indefinite and could not be considered reliable. It is in this connection that the Court points to the possible political context of the facts and circumstances that the accussing statements were gathered the Philippines.

The Court points out further that the investigation can take a long time and it is not sure if the defense can sufficiently exercise its right to cross examination.

Inquirer news report here.

Photoshop tip: Edit text faster

2007-10-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

Nice Photoshop tip from bittbox.com:

Instead of changing your tool to edit text, just click on the "T" icon in the layer palette.

This will definitely make life easier for Photoshop-ers.

Link

Still have no idea how to use Photoshop? Better start learning.

Want to upgrade your Photoshop skills? Advanced tutorials here.

Astig! Online video game attacks McDonalds

2007-10-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Corrupt a politician, destroy rainforests, feed cows with industrial waste --- these are only some of the options you have when running the operations of McDo, in this online videogame which is a satire of the operations of the global food capitalist McDonalds.

Play the game here.

Once you get the point, feed yourself some more information on how Mcfastfood kills people by watching one of my favorite documentaries: SuperSize Me.

October 4 is bloggers' action day for Burma

2007-10-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

From free-burma.org:

International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons.

Take part in this action for a Free Burma!

1. Publish a posting (Bulletin Board, Forum, Blog, Social Network, Static Website…) on the 4th of October with the header: “Free Burma!”

2. Tag it if you can with “Free Burma”

3. Choose a grafic from our Grafics page and

4. Link to www.free-burma.org there your readers will find some informations about the campaign and Burma and a participant list which you can join. Even if you're a webmaster of a bulletin board or social network you will find a special Group List to join.

5. Feel free to write any additional text you want

If you have no website or blog we need you even more: Please help us to spread the word across the internet, tell your neighbours, friends or kids and first of all: Sign our list of participants!

Video: LFS Anniversary Celebration Rap Performance

2007-09-30T13:39:00.001-07:00

Here's a fun video of a rap performance by the LFS school leaders during the LFS anniversary celebration cultural night. Galing! Kakatuwa.

Web Design @ StudentStrike: Building the LFS Website

2007-09-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

I'm currently working on the design and layout of the new LFS website. In a few days, I already got hooked and almost went crazy figuring out codes and shit. I learned new things and slick tricks in the process, that's why I've decided to start blogging it, in order to have a reference the next time I try to make another site, and also to share things I've learned.

So forgive me if I'm going to get all geeky and technical the next few days.

This is the second time I'm building a whole site, the first one during the election campaign season, doing the Kabataan Partylist website which is down at the moment because of, uhm, let's just say "lapses in judgement" of the web administrators (they accidentally deleted the template index). :) Here's a web archive of the site.

Thanks to Ederic for hosting and helping us put up Kabataan and the new LFS website. He hosted the website I'm doing now for free and installed wordpress to our server, the platform I am using to build the site.

I first learned about html codes when we got lfs.kilusan.net in 2005. I got to discover some really basic html codes needed for posting. When we put up YoungRadicals, like many, I started learning some more complicated (well, it's not really that complicated) coding changing the header and blog layout. I never really took it seriously until I studied CSS upon making the Kabataan website in 2006.

Making the site and understanding codes made me feel the excitement I felt when I was learning Geometry in high school. Maybe this is the geek side of me speaking but tweaking css and html is kinda addictive. I stay up all night just learning the codes and making the site. It feels good figuring out codes and formulas and getting the effect you want on your website template. Sabi nga ng wordpress codex: code is poetry.

A couple of things we want do before we jump in and mess with codes:

1. Get a domain name/address (www.yoursite.com). There are a couple of sites offering free domain names. Domain.com, according to their home page, is offering names for less than $9 (aroung P450) per year. That's pretty decent considering that it's the equivalent amount to xerox around only a thousand bond paper size posters.

2. Get a friend like Ederic that will offer hosting for free. Otherwise you pay for that too.

3. Install Wordpress on your server. wordpress.org is different from wordpress.com. Wordpress.com is where you get free wordpress blogs. Wordpress.org is where you download the wordpress platform. Most hosting providers give you the option to install wordpress. It's really easy.

That's it. You should now see a default Wordpress blog home page when you point your browser to your address.

The next posts will deal mainly on how to customize a site's theme and layout based on how I did stuff on our site. While stuff will be explained in the context of having your own domain name and operating on Wordpress platform, a lot of things will also be applicable to everyone else.

End military rule in Burma!

2007-09-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of the Japanese reporter murdered by agents of the military junta in Burma:

Download the new protest ringtone: AB ZTE FG

2007-09-24T21:32:00.000-07:00

Download the protest ringtone here. Here's the youtube link.

OneWebDay 2007: Celebrate the Internet

2007-09-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Web is worth celebrating.

OneWebDay is one day a year when we all - everyone around the physical globe - can celebrate the Web and what it means to us as individuals, organizations, and communities.

As with Earth Day - an inspiration and model for OneWebDay - it’s up to the celebrants to decide how to celebrate. We encourage all celebrations! Collaboration, connection, creativity, freedom.

By the end of the day, the Web should be just a little bit better than it was before, and we’ll be able to see our connection to it more clearly.

Today, Sept 22, is OneWebDay2007. Here are some ideas on what you can do to take part.

Meanwhile here are some random thoughts on "celebrating the internet" and my OneWebDay2007 to-do list.

The internet really changed the way I get information, different ideas and updates on politics. I get the updates faster, get different views as soon as developments happen, and get immediate feedback. Now, I couldn't imagine not having an internet connection for more than a week.
More people, especially activists, should be educated about how the internet can be a vital tool in their education, organizing and campaigning. Many LFS leaders and members still have not discovered the powers of web 2.0, rss feeds, blogging, etc.
Blogging and the internet could be used as an effective means for political change if only understood clearly and utilized efficiently for such. Bloggers and friendsters should understand that the internet beyond creating their personal spaces and linking with friends.
Internet access limitations are real. Most regular students still do not have DSL connections in their homes and will not waste their baon to browse internet shops unless required (except of course for network gaming). This is why we have to push for greater access and fight government corruption (read: ZTE deal) which blocks access.
Things to do for OneWebDay:

teach National Artist Bien Lumbera how to use rss readers, sooner or later, convince him to blog after making his website more blog friendly and rss capable;
immediately put up lfs.ph, which will involve more LFS members, most of which are not internet active. include a video blog and a team blog that will provide relevant and up to date information and will encourage more people to use the web for resource;
actively campaign against the ZTE broadband deal, using the internet as a significant platform;
promote this blog actively online and start dropping more comments on other blogs;
etc.

onewebday2007

"Zobra na, Tama na, Exit na!" and other suggestions for ZTE protest placards

2007-09-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

Kapirasong Kritika has some suggestions for calls to be written on placards during protests on the ZTE deal and the first family corruption.

LULI: NANAY AT TATAY MO, ADIK… SA PERA NG BAYAN.

MIKE ARROYO: WALA KANG KUPAS. ABALOS: MAGALING BUMILANG NG PERA, HINDI NG BOTO.

ZOBRA NA, TAMA NA, EXIT NA!

BACK-OFF, GLORIA!

Read kapirasongkritika's fun suggestions in his full entry here.

Also, time to teach the kids and grown-ups alike this AB ZTE FG alphabet song via EllenTordesillas.

Ready Sing! A B ZTE FG H I J Patay C GMA.

Q R S T U V W X Y Z.

Now I know my ZTE.

This will bring down GEE EM EE

Film on Jonas Burgos gets X rating from MTRCB

2007-09-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

A 30-minute collection of public service announcements and short films calling for the surfacing and release of abducted activist Jonas Burgos gets X rating from MTRCB, GMAnews.tv reports.

Part of the MTRCB letter reads: “Scenes in this film are presented unfairly, one-sided and undermines the faith and confidence of the government and duly constituted authorities for public exhibition."

JR (Jonas' brother) said the short film, which is intended as a public service ad, contained 15 scenes made by independent filmmakers who are supporting calls for the immediate release of Jonas and other missing activists.

Posted below are some of the public service announcements made by independent film makers and groups for the Free Jonas Burgos Movement. I'm not sure if these are the same videos contained in the collection, but if these great films are indeed the videos included, filmmakers and artists should be up in arms against this blatant, martial law kind of censorship.

Watch more videos here.

Update: MTRCB lifts X rating after Burgos family appeal, gives the film "R-13" rating instead. Link

ZTE Broadband Deal: Another multi-million racket of the Arroyo family

2007-09-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

A Primer on the ZTE Broadband Deal Controversy
studentstrike.blogspot.com

"...illegal, grossly disadvantageous to the government and unjustly burdensome to the Filipino people because of the ridiculous overpricing of this project and the huge kickbacks anticipated by those who brokered this anomalous deal," - Joey De Venecia, Senate Hearing on the ZTE deal

What is the ZTE broadband deal?

The Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Limited (ZTE) National Broadband Network Deal is a highly controversial, $329 million contract signed by the Philippine and Chinese governments, witnessed personally by President Arroyo, last April 2007 in China.

The NBN project was a proposal of the Dept of Transportations and Communications (DoTC), a plan which started way back in 2005, aiming to establish a internet broadband connection to local government units and government agencies nationwide.

Contract was lost

DoTC Sec. Leandro Mendoza signed the contract which was later reported "lost." The National Bureau of Investigation suspected that it was stolen. The DoTC then "reconstituted" the contract, which ZTE and Mendoza signed late May 2007.

Supreme Court TRO

The Supreme Court has already issued a Temporary Restraining Order on the implementation of the contract last Sept 11, acting on a petition by Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico saying that the contract violated existing laws requiring proper bidding and transparency.

Why is the deal controversial? What is the involvement of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and the Arroyo family?

Jose "Joey" De Venecia III, son of House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., which is a known ally of the administration, divulged his knowledge of the huge overpricing and kickbacks involved in the deal in an affidavit, and afterwards, in a Senate inquiry. Joey De Venecia is the owner of Amsterdam Holdings Inc. (AHI), which lost the bid for the NBN project to ZTE.

Among other things, his testimony and other reports divulge the following:

Project hugely overpriced

The project was overpriced by about $130M (P6 B) in its first proposal and the current contract for implementation by about $89M (P4 B), which will be loaned by the RP gov't to China with interest.

"Powerful person" Abalos was the broker

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos brokered the deal as he was "golfing buddies" with some ZTE officials, something he did not deny. In return, he and "his cabal" was to get $130 M in kickback. Abalos also reportedly went to China several times, enjoying escapades paid for by the ZTE officials. He admitted having several trips to China.

Former NEDA Director Romulo Neri, was also bribed P200M by Abalos to endorse the contract, causing the former to reverse his earlier recommendations questioning the deal.

FGMA and gang terrorizes JDV3, tells him to "back off!"

As De Venecia further asserted on the merits of his proposal, he gets "terrorized" in a "reconciliatory" meeting by Abalos, Mendoza, four other men and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

De Venecia said that FG Mike Arroyo, whom he initially called the "mystery man", approached him in this meeting, and with a finger that was about “two inches from his nose,” told him to “back off.” Arroyo wanted De Venecia to leave the deal and stop meddling.

FGMA fled the country a day before the Senate hearing, raising suspicion that he was avoiding the scandal.

While JDV3 consistently asserts that the President had no hand in the deal, the Senate hearing established that President Arroyo knew of the deal and its onerous character but did not stop it and instead pushed for its implementation.

The ZTE NBN deal is only the latest among the many corruption and malpractice scandals involving President Arroyo and her family.

Other controversies:

IMPSA (Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima) Hydro-electric Power Plant $14 M kickback, divulged by Mark Jimenez
Jose Pidal Bank Account P321 M election money laundering
Hidden Wealth in San Francisco worth $7.1 M
Mikey Arroyo's imported horses worth millions
President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard P536M overpricing
NAIA 3/PIATCo contract anomaly worth $100M in kickbacks
PAGCOR cash cow expose
Jancom Encironment Contract anomaly and overpricing
Agri Fund worth P728 M in Ginintuang Masaganang Ani used for election campaign funds
PHILHEALTH cards used for campaign
Manny Pacquiao Las Vegas Suite worth $20,000 per night used by Mike Arroyo
Jueteng operations via Bong Pineda
Venable Contract Norberto Gonzales
JocJoc Bolante fertilizer scam
Comelec Automated Counting Machine scandal
Rigging of elections 2004 and 2006 Maguindanao Hello Garci
Extrajudicial Killings

Links
JDV3's Senate Testimony: http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=1970
Inquirer special report: http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/nbndeal/index.php
A brief history of the project and the process of approval : http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=76276
ZTE cast of characters: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/61057/The-ZTE-cast-of-characters-Loser-husband-political-foes-and-deputies

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison set free

2007-09-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Yehey! Congratulations to Prof. Sison!

The release of Prof. Sison is great news for all patriotic and freedom loving Filipinos.

Official announcement of the Dutch Ministry of Justice here.

Here's Bagong Alyansang Makabayan's statement.

Parting shot: read Kapirasong Kritika on De Quiros' column on Joma's arrest.

Carol Araullo discusses how Prof. Sison's rights have been consistently violated by the Dutch government during his arrest and during his exile in the Netherlands.

Read Prof. Sison's statement. Arkibongbayan posts photos and tv news clips here.

Mabuhay si Prof. Sison at ang makabayang kilusan ng mamamayang Pilipino! Tuloy ang laban!

Update (Videos): Here's a YouTube video post of Prof. Sison being welcomed by friends and supporters immediately after his release. Meanwhile, in the news interviews, Prof. Sison hits psychological torture done upon him including solitary confinement and interrogation.

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Video reposted from GMANews.TV

Video: LFS members storm US embassy, Sept 11, 2007

2007-09-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

Click To Play

Estrada verdict a warning to Arroyo

2007-09-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

Full text of the SandiganBayan verdict here.

Bayan accepts decision, says significance of the verdict will be greatly diminished if same standards of justice will not be applied to Arroyo. Read Bayan's initial statement here.

Joint statement of the progressive partylist groups point out the same and that the verdict must serve as a warning to the Arroyo government. Whole text of the joint statements of Rep. Ocampo, Rep. Maza, Rep. Beltran, Rep. Casino, and Rep. Ilagan reposted here from email:

Joint Statement on Former President Estrada’s Conviction for Plunder

The Sandiganbayan verdict of guilty on two of four counts of plunder on former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada affirms our stand when we supported and endorsed the plunder complaint filed by Plunder Watch in 2001.

However, we respect Mr. Estrada’s right to file a motion for reconsideration and to appeal the verdict up to the Supreme Court.

The significance of the verdict is that it sets a precedence for the future prosecution of high government officials for similar or related cases with reasonable prospects of success.

The verdict serves as a fair warning to President Gloria M. Arroyo, who by using the awesome powers and influence of the presidency has succeeded in frustrating two impeachment proceedings against her that entailed numerous complaints of plunder, election fraud, corruption, gross human rights violations and other high crimes, that she cannot forever escape public accountability for such acts.

In this regard, the verdict on Estrada will not in any way efface the crisis of legitimacy hounding the Arroyo presidency.#

Rep. Satur C. Ocampo, Bayan Muna Party-List
Rep. Liza L. Maza, Gabriela Women’s Party
Rep. Crispin B. Beltran, Anakpawis Party-List
Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño, Bayan Muna Party-List
Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan, Gabriela Women’s Party

LFS members mark 30th anniversary with Recto clean-up

2007-09-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

A little less than a hundred students showed up this morning for the LFS anniversary clean-up drive at Morayta and Recto this morning. We had around 50 broomsticks and dustpans, courtesy of the Manila City hall plus garbage bags and propaganda materials our members brought with them.

The clean-up drive was a suggestion from tonyo, one of our organization's avid fans (hehe), who thought that this would be a great way to reach out to non-activist members and students, and a good story to sell to the media.

Indeed, we had photographers and reporters covering the event, but I think they were waiting for a scuffle with the police, who, as always, blocked our path to Mendiola where we originally intended to hold our clean-up. Too bad the permit we applied for was still being processed by the city hall's traffic division, forcing us to just hold our activity several blocks away from the historic bridge.

It was a new experience for us, one that I think would be repeated next year and the years after. It would be nice to make it sort of a tradition to clean-up every anniversary celebration. We'll prepare earlier next year, apply our permit a month before, and also have something of a come-on to encourage more members to participate. Perhaps we can have lunch together or end the clean-up with a mural painting.

Happy anniversary to all members and alumni of the LFS!

----

On Friday, we will have an indoor celebration in UP Manila's Little Theater, 430pm onwards. Everyone is invited.

I intend to post photos as soon as they become available.

Here is a link to our anniversary statement.

Bringing forth the Best and Brightest: LFS 30th Anniversary Statement

2007-09-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

Ipagbunyi ang ika-30 taong anibersaryo ng LFS!
Pahayag ng LFS-PKT sa ika-30 taong anibersaryo ng LFS
September 11, 2007

Binabati natin ang lahat ng ating mga kasapi at lider mula sa iba’t ibang mga balangay sa buong bansa sa okasyong ito ng ating ika-30 taong anibersaryo. Nagdiriwang ang lahat ng ating mga kasapi, mga balangay sa buong bansa at maging sa ibang bansa, mga kaibigan, masang mag-aaral at buong sambayanan sa araw na ito sapagkat tatlong dekada ang nakalilipas, itinatag ang isang organisasyong masikhay na magpupukaw, mag-oorganisa at magpapakilos sa kabataang mag-aaral para sa pagkilos para sa kanilang interes at para sa paglilingkod at pakikibaka para sa mamamayang api.

Pinagpupugayan natin ang mga kasamang martir na nagbuwis ng buhay sa ngalan ng paglilingkod sa bayan at pagtahak ng landas ng paglaban.

Sa ika-30 taong anibersaryo, pinili natin ang temang: “Bringing forth the Best and the Brightest: 30 years of dedicated service and determined struggle.” Sa pinakapayak, inilalarawan nito ang ating tinanganang tungkulin sa loob ng 30 taon --- paglikha ng pinakamagiting at pinakamaningning na mga kabataang mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng taimtim na paglilingkod at magiting at militanteng paglaban.

Simula nang itatag ang LFS noong 1977, pinanday na nito sa unos ng paglaban ang maraming mga kabataan at ginampanan ang makasaysayang papel ng kabataan sa pagbabagong panlipunan. Pinangunahan ng LFS ang panawagang mag-aral ng labas sa apat na sulok ng paaaralan, maglingkod sa sambayanan, at tanganan ng kabataan ang militanteng landas ng paglaban.

Maningning na kasaysayan

Naging susi ang papel ng LFS, pangunguna nito sa mga boykoteo at mga protesta sa kampus, sa muling pagpapalakas ng kilusang masa ng mamamayan sa panahong ng diktaduryang US-Marcos. Dumagundong sa buong bansa ang panawagan para itigal ang pagtaas ng matrikula at ibalik ang demokratikong karapatan sa loob ng kampus.

Mahalagang tungtungan ang mga aksyong masang pinangunahan ng LFS, bilang isang alyansa noong 1977, at bilang organisasyong masa pagdating ng 1982, sa pagdudulot ng malakihang kilusan ng mamamayan para sa pagpapatalsik kay Marcos simula ng paslangin si Ninoy hanggang sa pagsiklab ng People Power.

Sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Aquino, nagpatuloy sa pagmumulat at pag-oorganisa ang LFS. Libo-libo ang pinangunahan nito sa pagkilos para sa pagbabasura ng baseng militar ng US sa Pilipinas, bagay na nagtatak sa LFS bilang organisasyong may matalas na anti-imperyalistang pagsusuri at linya.

Gayunpaman, sa huling bahagi ng dekada ’80, niligaw ng mga pagkakamali gaya ng insureksyunismo, repormismo, at putsismo ang organisasyon na nagdulot ng pagbagsak ng kalidad at kantidad ng mga kasapi nito. Sinalanta ng mga maling pagsusuri sa lipunan at pagtataksil sa batayang mga prinsipyo at pagsusuring pambansa demokratiko ang organisasyon.

Ngunit mawawakasan ang kasaysayang ito ng mga oportunista at mga repormista sa paglulunsad ng LFS ng malawakang panawagan para sa pagwawasto sa hanay nito at sa kilusang pambansa demokratiko noong maagang dekada ‘90. Determinadong muling palakasin ang organisasyon, nagbalik-aral ang mga kasapi ng LFS sa Lipunan at Rebolusyong Pilipino at mga batayang pagsusuri at prinsipyong pambansa demokratiko. Matalas na inilantad ang mga kamalian at kahungkagan ng linya ng mga oportunista at repormista, at binandila ang landas ng pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka na may sosyalistang perspektiba.

Muling lumakas at lumawak ang LFS at nanguna muli sa laksang bilang ng mga mag-aaral sa militanteng paglaban. Noong 1998, kasama ang Student Christian Mov’t of te Phils (SCMP) at ng iba pang mga organisasyon ng kabataan, itinatag ng LFS ang Anakbayan, isang organisasyong aabot sa mas masaklaw na hanay ng mga kabataan sa paaralan, komunidad, pagawaan at sakahan.

Ang muling pagpapalakas ng organisasyon at saklaw ng LFS ay magiging isang mahalagang salik sa pamumuno nito sa kabataan sa mga pagkilos laban sa rehimeng US-Estrada hanggang sa tuluyang pagbagsak nito noong 2001.

Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, patuloy na lumalakas at lumalawak ang LFS at patuloy na tumatatak sa paninindigan nito para sa mga batayang interes ng mag-aaral at mamamayan. Sa kabila ng matinding hagupit ng pasistang atake ng rehimeng US-Arroyo, nanatiling matatag ang organisasyon at matalas ang paninindigan nito.

Dapat lamang ipagdiwang ang mayamang kasaysayan ng LFS at pagpugayan ang organisasyong walang kasingtindi ang determinasyong baguhin ang lipunan at paglingkuran ang sambayanan.

Matalas na pagsusuri at makabayang oryentasyon

Nananatiling wasto ang pagsusuri at paninindigan ng LFS sa kasalukuyang kalagayang panlipunan. Mahusay na inilalantad ng LFS ang mala-kolonyal at mala-pyudal na katangian ng lipunang Pilipino, ipinauunawa sa mamamayan na hindi tunay na malaya ang bayan mula sa kuko ng dayuhang imperyalismo kung ang iilan at dayuhan ang patuloy na kokontrol sa yaman ng bansa.

Wastong tinutukoy ng LFS ang Imperyalismo, Burukrata Kapitalismo at Pyudalismo bilang pangunahing mga salot sa lipunan at siyang sanhi ng malawakang kahirapan at kagutuman ng mamamayan.

Ihinahayag ng LFS ang landas ng pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka na may sosyalistang perspektiba bilang tanging landas upang makamit ang tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya ng sambayanan. Iminumulat ng LFS ang mamamayan sa pangangailangang kagyat na agawin ang pampulitikang kapangyarihan mula sa iilang naghahari at dayuhan at itindig ang kapangyarihan ng mamamayan sa pagtatadhana ng kinabukasang malaya, demokratiko at masagana.

Pinangungunahan ng LFS ang pagtangan sa oryentasyon ng kilusang kabataan na pukawin, organisahin at pakilusan ang kabataan para sa kanilang interes at mahigpit na isanib ito sa pambansa demokratikong paglaban. Mag-aral, maglingkod, mangahas na makibaka: ito ang ibinanderang islogan ng LFS na umalingawngaw sa buong bayan.

Kalagayan sa ilalm ng rehimeng US-Arroyo

Sa kasalukyan, higit na papatindi ang atake ng imperyalismo at ng rehimeng Arroyo sa mga batayang karapatan at kabuhayan ng mamamayan kasabay ng kampanya ng pasistang panunupil at pamamaslang.

Walang kasingtindi ang pagsalanta ng mga neoliberal na pakana ng imperyalista sa karapatan ng kabataan sa edukasyon na nagbubunsod ng higit na pagtindi ng kolonyal, komersyalisado at represibong katangian nito. Sunod-sunod ngayon ang pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga state at college university gaya ng UP at Earist, habang patuloy namang nagbabanta ang administrasyon ng PUP na itaas din ang matrikula.

Higit na itinutulak ang pagliit ng badyet at pag-abandona ng responsibilidad ng gubyerno sa edukasyon at mga pakana para kumalap ang mga paaralan ng sariling pondo. Sa kabila pa nito, higit namang sinusuhayan ang walang ampat na pagtataas ng matrikula ng mga pribadong paaralan ---kumbinasyong tiyak na dudulo sa mas maraming bilang ng kabataang hindi makakapag-aral ang mga pakanang ito.

Kasabay ng kumersyalisasyon, higit naman ang bulag na pagsunod ng gubyerno sa mga pakana ng dayuhang monopolyo kapitalismo upang higit na gamitin ang edukasyon para sa pagsasamantala. Patunay nyan ang proyektong NCAE o National Career Assessment Exam na walang ibang layon kundi higit na lumikha ng murang lakas paggawa para sa dayuhan.

Sa kabila nito, sumsisigabo ang kilusang protesta ng mga mag-aaral. Kamakailan lamang, sinagot ng isang malakihang walk-out sa klase ng mahigit 7,000 mag-aaral sa PUP ang panukalang pagtataas ng matrikula mula P12-P75. Patuloy din ang pagkakampanya sa UP Diliman, Earist at iba pang mga paaralan laban sa pagtaas ng mga bayarin.

Kaya naman pilit pinupuntirya ng estado ang kilusang kabataan-estudyante ng mga pakanang panunupil, harasment at pamamaslang. Nangangamba ang rehimeng US-Arroyo na higit na sumigabo ang kilusang kabataan na makapagtutulak ng higit na paglalantad at paglaban sa rehimen.

Nitong nakaraang pasukan, nagbanta ang militar na papasok sa mga paaralan. Nais din ng gubyerno na ibalik ang ROTC upang maging instrumento nito sa higit na panunupil. Todo-todo ang pakanang harasment, pagtarget sa mga lider, at iba’t ibang porma ng panunupil.

Higit na pinatitindi ng US at rehimen ang utak-giyera at teroristang mga pakana nito upang panatilihin ang sarili sa kapangyarihan. Nag-aastang Marcos ito sa ilusyong makokonsolida ang pamumuno ang mananatili pang pangulo hanggang 2010 at lagpas pa.

Ipinagpapatuloy sa balangkas ng Oplan Bantay Laya 2 ang duwag na digma ni Arroyo simula pa noong 2001. Bahagi ng mga atake sa progresibong kilusan ang pagpapakana ng hindi makatarungang panghuhuli kay Prop Jose Ma. Sison at pag-atake sa NDFP peace panel. Signal ito ng tuluyan nang pagbasura ng rehimen sa usapang pangkapayapaan at pagpapatindi lalo ng mga duwag na pakanang panunupil sa mga lider.

Higit na nadaragdagan ang kaso ng mga pagpaslang at pagdakip na pinapakana ng militar. Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, hindi pa rin inililitaw ng mga militar ang dalawang kasapi ng LFS, sina Karen Empeno at Sherlyn Cadapan.

Sa kasalukuyan, sinasalanta ng giyera ang Mindanao sa pagnunguna ng mga sundalong Amerikano upang higit na maitulak ang kanilang pampulitika, pang-ekonomiya, at pang-militar na adyenda sa Pilipinas at sa Asya.

Sa kabila ng mga ilusyon at kasinungalngan ng paglago ng ekonomiya, higit na krisis ang kinakaharap ng mamamayan. Hindi kailanman masosolusyunan ang tumitinding krisis hanggat malakolonyal at malapyudal ang sistemang panlipunan. Sa katunayan, nagbabadya ang higit na krisis ng Imperyalismong US sanhi ng mga artipisyal na ispekulasyon at overpricing ng lupa na tiyak na sasalanta din sa mga kolonya nito sa kasama ang Pilipinas.

Laksang kabataan, sa pangunguna ng LFS, sa buong bansa ang handang kumilos para sa pagwawakas ng bulok na sistemang panlipunan at para sa pagbigo sa higit na mga atake ng Imperyalismo at ng mga tuta nito sa interes ng mamamayan. Panata nating patindihin ang paninindigan at higit na itaas ang antas ng milanteng paglaban ng kabataan.

Mga tungkulin

Kailangan nating higit na palakasin at palawakin ang ating organisasyon. Dapat tuloy-tuloy na magsagawa ng pampulitikang edukasyon sa hanay ng mga kasapi at masa na magpapaliwanag sa pinakamarami sa katotohanan ng bulok na sistemang panlipunan at pangangailangan ng demokratikong paglaban.

Dapat nating tuloy-tuloy na pamunuan ang mga kampanyang masa ng mga mag-aaral sa buong bansa at matalas itong ikawing sa sektoral at pampulitikang mga usapin. Dapat din nating matalas na ilantad at labanan ang teroristang pakana ng US at ni Arroyo sa ating bayan.

Patuloy nating ibandera ang matalasa na anti-imperyalistang paninindigan at magsagawa ng maramihang mga pag-aaral hinggil sa pangunahing salot na ito ng daigdig. Dapat nating matalas na labanan ang teroritang digma na pinapakana ng imperyalismo sa daigdig.

Kailangang higit na mas marami ang ipaloob sa ating organisasyon. Mahusay na pagtambalin ang agresibong pagpapalawak at pagkokonsolida ng mga balangay. Mapapakilos lamang natin sa epektibong paraan ang laksang libong mag-aaral kung malaking bahagi nito ay organisado at nakapaloob sa ating mga balangay.

Sa paparating na ika-16 na Kongreso ng ating organisasyon sa Oktubre at pagkatapos, inaaasahang higit na mga maniningning na tagumpay pa at patuloy na paninidigan at pakikibaka ang ipapamalas ng LFS. Patuloy na papandayin ang best and brightest sa pamamagitan ng militanteng paglaban at pakikibaka para sa tunay na kalayaan.

Muli, pagbubunyi at pagpupugay sa 30 taon ng paglilingkod at pakikibaka ng LFS. Pinakamataas na pagpupugay kina Cris Hugo, Rie Mon Guran, Farley Alcantara, at iba pang mga kabataang martir na higit nating inspirasyon sa patuloy na pag-aaral, paglilingkod at pangangahas na makibaka.

Ipagbunyi ang ika-30 anibersaryo ng League of Filipino Students!
Mabuhay ang pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka!
Mabuhay ang kabataan at sambayanang lumalaban!
Mag-aral, maglingkod, mangahas na makibaka!
###

Bloggers Kapihan 1: More than just coffee chat

2007-09-09T23:43:00.001-07:00

"Everything is political and it has a lot to do with sex," - MLQ3

"Hindi totoong raket ang blogging. Enterpreneurship ito...something you build," - Abe Olandres

"Link-up. We should use blogging in order to represent the interests of our generation," -Bikoy Villanueva

These are some memorable quotes from the discussions during first Bloggers' Kapihan last Saturday at PSHS.

During the past months, I have been thinking of an analogy that could best explain the internet and the blogosphere. A description that, on one hand, would help people overcome the simplistic and self-centered "personal diary" or "angas repository" thinking, on the other, would not tolerate the extreme "alternate reality" and "blogging-will-change-everything" beliefs.

What captured that thought was a simple image of a place where people could get regular updates and views from other people about their common interests, share their thoughts and stories, engage in fiery political and theoretical discussions, perhaps even plan courses of action and activities. A place of chismis and kwentuhan, where the intrigeros, madaldal and the ma-epal people are sikat: coffee shops or kapihan.

The blogosphere is basically a supersized, borderless kapihan. An international coffee-table discussion group where people discuss fashion trends, politics, showbiz, gadgets, business, their personal lives, etc. Some are such good story-tellers that they get sponsors. During times of social crisis, this kapihan could also be the center for discussions and calls for action.

The irony is that now, we wanted to turn the virtual into life and organize a real kapihan. Which is tempting me into thinking that this meeting is, ultimately, all about the free, real (not virtual) coffee and donuts. Hehe.

Bloggers' Kapihan last Saturday in Pisay had a bunch of young people as audience. The crew and the speakers talked to mostly 14-16 year olds who are starting out as young bloggers.

The speakers were some of the best bloggers in town, and they really knew what they were talking about. But they didn't really get all geeky, technical, grand and theoretical in their presentations. The discussions were simple and personal, the gathering could have easily been mistaken for a storytelling session. The discussions ran like they were blogs.

Bikoy took-off by discussing how he started blogging as a personal journal whom he thought nobody would get to read. He ended by encouraging the young people to "link-up," to blog not just for themselves but to appreciate blogging as a means for expression of collective interests.

Yuga showed the students that blogging was serious business, literally and/or otherwise. He discussed how people can earn big time using blogs. But what's more important was showing how this was possible: by using blogging as a means for effective communication and influence. Earning through blogs isn't a raket, it's really about talking to people and getting them the information they need. This thought opens up blogging not only as a tool for making money, but as a tool for education and providing relevant information.

While MLQ3 stressed that everything is really about politics, his discussion had more to do with sex. Engaging with the minds of the 14 year olds discussing how Internet is made for porn, and how you could either be a voyeur or an exhibitionist, he sets the stage to inspire young people to get into blogging, take it all out there, recognize the power of engaging in discussions, and not leave the opportunity of messing with people's lives in the hands of a few powerful and popular people.

After the discussions, a student asked the speakers: "if I wanted to start a blog critical of something, say the government, what advice can you give me? are there limits to what I can write?"

I was glad that there were people now asking these important questions. I hope to see a new generation of bloggers who would want to blog not only out of desire to be popular or not just to have personal virtual spaces, but to realize the power of the blogosphere to change people, thinking, and society.

Good speakers, a bunch of great stories, young and idealistic audience; plus the free coffee, iced tea and donuts --- the BloggersKapihan was a success. The discussions went way Beyond the Basics, because it has introduced the youngsters to what blogging really means aside from changing your blog header and creating your profile. It welcomed them to the kapihan which is the blogosphere.

Congrats to the BK crew: Shari, Ederic, Bikoy, Sir Martz, Sarah, Mong, Jhay. Let's all look forward to Bloggers Kapihan 2.

--

Link to Jhay's round-up of entries on the BK. Link to BK's round-up. I'm posting photos and maybe even videos of the event in a day or two.

The Shock Doctrine

2007-09-09T10:42:00.001-07:00

Watch this amazing short film about how the minds behind the government use Shock Doctrine to get people to accept unjust policies. I haven't read the book but the short film is surely going to get you a good "shock treatment." Link

Ultimate Web 2.0 Layer Styles Free for Download

2007-09-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

If your a Photoshop-er, a designer, visual artist or a bum using Photoshop for your stuff, the easiest way to do Web 2.0 designs is to use these layer styles free for download from dezinerfolio.com.

Galing! Link

Bloggers Kapihan 1: Blogging Beyond the Basics

2007-09-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, young Filipino bloggers will kick-off the Bloggers Kapihan series, a meeting of young bloggers discussing issues and matters that affect the blogosphere and the youth.

"Blogging Beyond the Basics" will be the topic on Saturday, Sept 8, 2pm-5pm at the Advanced Sciences and Technology Building AVR of Philippine Science High School, Quezon City. Manuel Quezon III of The Daily Dose, Abraham Olandres of Yugatech and Victor Villanueva of Bikoy.net will be the event's main speakers.

Kita kits dun ha!

BloggersKapihan.com

Injustice

2007-08-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

Latest on Prof. Sison's arrest: Dutch judge extends Sison detention for 14 more days.

Joma is in solitary confinement and is being denied access to media and even his doctors. This is tantamount to torture according to Committee DEFEND.

They said Prof. Sison is being detained at the National Penitentiary in Scheveningen, a facility with was used by the Nazi’s during World War II to imprison and torture Dutch resistance fighters.

Meanwhile, support from all over the world pours in. See ArkibongBayan for coverage of protest actions. Former US atty-general Ramsey Clark also calls for Sison's release.

Kapirasong Kritika, one of my favorite blogs, tackles the lies being peddled by the government and the reactionaries on Joma and the implications of his arrest.

KR Guda posts Jailing Joma, pointing out something that is being left out by the media and the column writers: that Kintanar and Tabara were military combatants at the time they were killed by the NPA.

Today, KR posts his response to Conrado De Quiros' Inquirer column hailing Joma's arrest:

He is entitled to his opinions. But to applaud the arrest and trampling of the rights of a man that he is not sure is guilty in the first place but nevertheless dislikes is a betrayal of the very thing he claims to fight for:

Justice.

Here is a Q&A on the basic questions concerning Prof. Sison's arrest prepared by ILPS-HongKong.

Talakayan hinggil sa pagdakip kay Prof. Jose Ma Sison

2007-08-31T17:50:00.001-07:00

Noong Agosto 28, 2007, nagulat ang buong mundo sa balitang inaresto si Prop. Jose Maria Sison ng Dutch police sa kanyang tirahan sa Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Kasabay nito ay ni-reyd ang kanyang bahay. Bandang 9:30 ng umaga, sinira ng mga hindi nakaunipormeng pulisya ang pintuan ng kanyang bahay at buong araw na hinalughog ang kanyang bahay. Pinagkukuha ang mga kompyuter, CD, mga dokumento at iba pa. Ni-reyd din ang opsina ng NDF at mga bahay ng mga opisyal nito sa Utrecht at pinagkukuha ang mga gamit. Walang ipinakitang search warrant sa ilang mga raid.

Ayon Atty. Michiel Pestman, legal counsel ni Prop. Sison, nagpresenta ang Dutch police ng ‘search warrant’ kay Prop. Sison sa kanyang tirahan. Inimbitahan siya ng mga ito na tumungo sa headquarters ng Dutch police para diumano magbigay ng mga update ukol sa mga death threats na natatanggap niya. Pagdating sa Dutch police station, ipinasok si Prop. Sison sa isang kwarto para diumano tanungin. Nang mahiwalay na sa kanyang abogado, agad nang tinangay si Prop. Sison tungo sa sentral na lunsod ng The Hague upang doon iditine.

Sa madaling salita, nilinlang siya ng Dutch police at dinakip siya sa ilalim ng mga iligal at kwestyunableng mga sirkumstansya.

Kinasuhan si Prop. Sison ng ‘inciting murder in the Philippines’ kaugnay sa pagparusa at pagpatay ng mga partisanong yunit ng New People’s Army (NPA) kina Arturo Tabara at Romulo Kintanar noong 2001. Ayon sa Dutch law, maaari nilang kasuhan ng kasong kriminal ang sinumang naakusahang gumawa, nagplano o nag-utos ng krimen kung ginawa ito sa kanilang bansa.

Kasalukuyan pa ring nakakulong si Prop. Sison sa The Hague at malala pa sa pinakamasahol na kriminal ang pagtrato sa kanya. Siya ay nasa solitary confinement, bawal bisitahin ng ninuman bukod sa kanyang abogado. Ni hindi siya pinayagang pumili ng doktor na magbibigay ng medical assistance sa kanya. Bawal ang TV, libro, o kahit man musika sa kanyang piitan.

Matapos ang kanyang initial hearing noong Agosto 31, dinagdagan pa ng Dutch judge ng 14 na araw ang kanyang pagkakakulong dahil mabibigat daw ang mga kasong isinampa sa kanya at baka raw siya tumakas. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, nananatiling mataas ang morale ni Prop. Sison ayon sa kanyang abogado at mga mahal sa buhay.

Sino ba si Prop. Jose Maria Sison?
Kung nananatiling matatag si Prop. Sison, ito ay dahil hindi na bago sa kanya ang masadlak sa sitwasyong tulad ng kanyang kinalalagyan sa kasalukuyan.

Mula pa noong itatag niya ang Kabataang Makabayan noong 1968, batid na ni Prop. Sison ang lahat ng panganib at paghihirap na maaari niyang danasin sa ngalan ng pagtataguyod ng pambansa demokratikong rebolusyon.

Maikling talambuhay
Ipinanganak si Prop. Sison sa pamilya ng mga panginoong maylupa noong Pebrero 8, 1939 sa Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Grumadwyet siya sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas noong 1959.

Naging panandang-bato sa kasaysayan ng kilusang kabataan-estudyante ang puspusang pagkawing ni Prop. Sison sa KM sa mga unyon ng mga manggawa, lalo na sa Lapiang Manggagawa kung saan tumayo rin siya bilang pangkalahatang kalihim. Noong 1966, naging tagapagtatag na pangkalahatang kalihim siya ng Movement for the Advancement of nationalism (Man), isang malawak na alyansa para sa pambansang soberanya at demokrasya. Mula 1963 hanggang 1968, naging editor din si Prop. Sison ng dyornal na Progressive Review.

Taong 1971 nang isulat at ilathala ni Prop. Sison ang Philippine Society and Revolution (Lipunan at Rebolusyong Pilipino) na siyang nagsilbing esensyal na gabay sa pagtalakay ng pambansa demokratikong kilusan sa pagsusuri at mga tungkulin nito sa lipunang Pilipino.

Si Prop. Sison rin ang naging tagapagtatag na tagapangulo ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas noong 1969 sa diwa at gabay ng Kaisipang Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo. Noong Marso 1969, pinangunahan niya ang pagtatatag ng NPA, ang armadong pwersa ng PKP. Mula noon ay naglunsad na ang NPA ang pakikidigmang gerilya na kumalat sa pambansang saklaw.

Bago maaresto si Prop. Sison noong Nobyembre 1977, siya ang tumayong pampulitikang lider ng PKP at nagpayaman sa mga ideolohikal na batayan ng PKP. Nang makalaya siya matapos ang unang People Power uprising noong 1986, pumasok si Prop. Sison bilang faculty sa Asian Studies Center sa UP.

Kinansela ng gobyernong Aquino ang kanyang passport nang magtungo siya sa Europa noong 1988 at mula noon ay naninirahan na sa Netherlands bilang political refugee at nagsilbing Chief Political Consultant ng NDFP; at nitong huli’y tagapangulo ng International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS), isang pandaigdigang organisasyong anti-imperyalista.

Listahan ng mga ni-recycle at gawa-gawang kaso
Sa lahat ng mga kasong isinampa kay Prop. Sison, wala ni isang napatunayan at naipanalo dahil na rin sa kawalan ng mga ligal na batayan.

Makailang-ulit nang nagsasampa ng mga gawa-gawang kaso at panggigipit kay Prop. Sison, mula pa ng panahon ni Marcos hanggang sa kasalukuyan, ngunit lahat ng mga ito ay ibinasura ng korte at napatunayang pakana lamang at gawa-gawa.

1977-1986 – Ikinulong at matinding tortyur sa ilalim ng diktaduryang Marcos, kinasuhan sa dalawang magkaibang komisyong militar ng rebellion at subversion. Ang mga kasong ito ay ibinasura matapos mapatalsik si Marcos. Lumaya si Prop. Sison noong Marso 5, 1986 at pumasok bilang faculty ng Asian Studies Center at University of the Philippines.

1988 – Nagsalita si Prop. Sison, mula Setyembre 1986, sa mga unibersidad sa iba’t ibang panig ng daigdig hinggil sa kalagayan ng Pilipinas. Inatake ng militar ang kanyang mga pahayag at pinressure ang gubyerno ni Aquino na ikansela ang kanyang passport. Kinasuhan siya muli ng gawa-gawang ng subversion at kinansela ang kanyang passport.

1988-1992 – Naghapag ng political asylum si Prop. Sison sa The Netherlands noong Oktubre 1988 dahil sa arbitraryong pagkansela sa kanyang pasaporte. Dahil sa matinding interbensyon ng gubyerno ng Pilipinas, hindi binigyan ng asylum si Prop. Sison ng Dutch Ministry of Justice noong July 1990.

Pero ang desisyong ito ay binaliktad ng mas mataas na Judicial Department of the Council of State noong 1992 na nagpapawalang-bisa sa desisyon. Kinilala si Prop. Sison bilang political refugee at tinuligsa ang panggigipit sa kanya.

1992-1994 – Sa kabila nang desisyong ito ng Council of State, hindi pa rin binigyan ng asylum si Prof. Sison. Nirepeal na ang Anti-Subversion law noong 1992 sa Pilipinas na siyang batayan ng mga kaso, at dinidmiss na ng Pasig city court ang kasong subersyon. Ibinasura na rin noong Abril 1994 ang kaso ng Plaza Miranda bombing noong 1971 na “pawang ispekulasyon.”

Hindi pa rin ibinigay ang asylum at sa halip ay binansagan siyang “terorista” dahil sa mga gawa-gawang intelligence reports.

1995 – 1996 – Pinagtibay ng Council of State at iba pang korte ang kanyang mga karapatan bilang refugee at dahil wala naman siyang mga kaso, dapat siyang bigyan ng residency sa Netherlands. Pero sa kabila nito’y ginipit pa rin si Prop. Sison dahil umano sa mga ulat na may “links ito sa mga terorista.”

1998 – Abril 1998, ang justice secretary ng Pilipinas ay naglabas ng certification na nagsasabing wala ng pending na kaso laban kay Prop. Sison. Pero tuloy-tuloy ang gubyerno sa mga atakeng propaganda.

2001- 2002 – Nagrekwes sa US ang gubyerno na ilagay si Prop. Sison sa listahan ng mga “terorista.” Agosto 2002, nilagay ng US si Prop. Sison sa listahan ng mga “terorista.” Malinaw itong walang batayan dahil wala namang anumang kaso na maaaring pagbatayan nito. Sa kabila nito, pinagbawalan sya magtabaho, tinanggalan ng mga benepisyo, finreeze ang bank account. Kahit ang royalty payments sa pag-akda ng libor pinagbawal. Nilabag ang kanyang mga batayang karapatang pantao. Itinulak ding ilagay siya sa “terrorist blacklist” ng European Union na kanilang sinunod.

2003 – Kinasuhan si Prop. Sison ng pagpatay kay Col. Rodolfo Aguinaldo. Agad itong naisantabi ng mga abugado dahil sa malinaw na pagiging gawa-gawa nito at politically motivated.

2005-2006 – Nagsampa ng kung ano-anung gawa gawang kaso kasama na ang pagsampa ng kasong rebelyon noong Abril 21, 2006 kasama ang 50 pang mga tao, kasama ang Batasan 6. Saklaw nito lahat ng mga ginawa umano nya mula noong 1986, sa kabila ng mga nauna nang pagbabasura ng korte.

2007- Hulyo 2007, nagdesisyon ang European Court of First Instance na nagpapawalangbisa sa paglalagay kay Prop. Sison sa “terrosit list” at pagfreeze sa kanyang assets. Pinagbayad ng korte ang EU Council sa mga gastos sa litigation. Maaari pang kasuhan din ang Dutch government at pagbayarin ito sa paglabag sa karapatan ni Prop. Sison.

Hulyo 2, ibinasura na ang kaso ng rebelyon laban sa kanya at lahat ng mga umano’y ebidensya simula ng 1968 hanggang 2006, kasama ang sa mga akusasyon na ibinabato sa kanya sa kasalukuyang kaso. Lahat ng ebidensya ay hindi na maaaring gamitin sa mga bagong kaso sa korte ng Pilipinas.

Samakatuwid, malinaw na walang batayan ang mga panibagong kaso at panibago na naman itong paggagawa-gawa ng kaso para lamang i-harass at gipitin si Prop. Sison.

Bakit dapat ipanawagan ang kagyat na pagpapalaya kay Prop. Sison?
Makatarungan at dapat lamang na dumagundong ang panawagang kagyat na palayain si Prop. Sison dahil sa mga sumusunod na mga dahilan:

Recyled at gawa-gawa ang mga kasong isinampa sa kanya

Walang ligal na batayan, maging sa international laws, ang ginawang pag-aresto at patuloy na pagkulong sa kanya ng Dutch government.
Pinapatunayan lamang nito ang desperasyon ng gobyerno ni Arroyo at pakikipagkunstabahan nito sa gobyernong Dutch para masakote si Prop. Sison. Unti-unti na ring lumalabas ang interes at motibo maging ng imperyalistang US sa kaso ni Prop. Sison sa pamamagitan ng pinakahuling pahayag ni US Ambassador to the Philippines Kirstie Kenney na gagawin ng US ang lahat ng makakaya nito para ‘makatulong’ sa kaso sa ngalan diumano ng ‘gera laban sa terorismo.’

Lantaran nitong sinasabotahe ang usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng NDFP at Republika ng Pilipinas

Sinasalamin ng pag-atake at pag-reyd sa sentral na opisina ng nDFP na kailanman ay hindi sinsero ang RP na ipagpatuloy ang usapang pangkapayapaan. Bagkus, walang ibang layunin ito kundi ang ibulid ang NDFP sa kapitulasyon (pagsuko) sa mga kagustuhan ng gobyerno ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nang walang karampatang pagdinig at konsiderasyon sa mga lehitimong panawagan ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan.

Tulad ng ginawa nito sa MILF, gumagawa ng scenario ang RP upang i-demonize at ipawalambisa ang usapang pangkapayapaan habang buong kapal ng mukha na ipinangangalandakan ni Arroyo na ‘I have a peace to win’. Ang totoo, bukambibig ng gobyerno ang kapayapaan ngunit naghahanda ito para sa isang mas mapanupil at mapinsalang digmaan.

Lalong paiigtingin ng gobyerno ni Arroyo ang all-out-war laban sa ‘terorismo’
Ilang ulit mang ikaila ni Arroyo at ng mga alipores niyang sina National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales at DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales na wala raw bahid ng pulitika ang pagkaaresto kay Prop. Sison sa usapang pangkapayapaan dahil ito raw ay isa lamang kasong kriminal, mahalagang mabatid at masuri ang implikasyon nito sa paglaban ng malawak na mamamayang Pilipino para sa karapatang-tao at demokratikong mga karapatan.

Tinatayang tiyak na gagamitin ng RP ang pagkaaresto kay Prop. Sison upang bigyang-daan ang higit pang pagsupil sa mga ligal at lehitimong organisasyong matagal nang isinasangkot sa kanya at binabansagang komunista. Sa pamamagitan ng bisa ng Human Security Act o Terror Law, bibigyang ligal na batayan ang panggigiit sa mga organisasyong tinaguriang ‘communist fronts’ o di kaya’y sa mga personalidad at lider-aktibistang kilalang kritiko ng gobyerno.

Mangyari pa, naghahanda rin ang gobyerno ni Arroyo na supilin at dahasin ang mga malalakihang pagkilos bilang pagkondena sa ginawang pagkulong kay Prop. Sison. Isang halimbawa na rito ang di-makatarungang pagbuwag sa ginawang pagkilos ng mga progresibong organisasyon, sa pangunguna ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, sa Dutch Embassy kamakailan lang.

Ang pagtanggol sa karapatan ni Prop. Sison ay pagpapatibay sa pambansa demokratikong adhikain ng mamamayan
Hindi makakailang kinakatawan ng buhay at pakikibaka ni Prop. Sison ang kawastuhan at katatagan ng pambansang demokratikong adhikain sa harap ng ilang dekada nang mga pagsubok at pakikibaka.

Ang atake kay Prop. Sison ay atake sa lahat demokratikong at anti-imperyalistang interes na matagal na niyang ipinaglalaban. ###

Palayain si Prop. Jose Maria Sison!
Kondenahin ang panggigiit ng gobyernong US-Dutch-Pilipinas!
Itaguyod ang usapang pangkapayapaan!
Isulong ang pambansa demokratikong pakikibaka!

Accusations against Sison have already been junked by Supreme Court

2007-08-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

Details of the arrest of Prof. Jose Ma. Sison and the case being lodged against him have come to show how desperate people like Gloria Arroyo and Norberto Gonzales can get, just to harrass and unjustly persecute a revolutionary leader in the person of Prof. Sison.

The case now being lodged against him (calling for multiple murders of Kintanar and Tabara), is clearly another trumped-up charge as it is an accusation already part of a rebellion case charged by the Philippine govt last February. The case has already been junked by the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines last July 2, 2007.

All the government's so-called evidence, affidavits, etc., (that the Philippine government now admits to have provided the Dutch government and prosecutors), have likewise been rejected by the Supreme Court.

What do these evil morons do? They try to file the same case in another court, one that they hope might fall for their brilliance in fabricating stories (Dutch, if you may), use the same trash as evidence, and then now say that "oh, our recycled evidence must be strong, for these Dutch courts are far more superior than ours. See, they have white skin and they look more intelligent."

Link to really stupid PNP statement: ‘Sison arrest shows we have strong evidence’

----
For updates and details on how the arrest happened:

Read this statement by the International Committee Defend, this transcript of a DZMM interview with Luis Jalandoni, and the statement of the CPP.

Arkibongbayan posts photos and Tonyo writes about his personal meeting with Prof. Sison.

Release Jose Ma. Sison!

2007-08-28T04:19:00.000-07:00

Newsflash: Prof. Jose Ma. Sison has been arrested by the Dutch government today based on a warrant issued by a Dutch court judge.

The warrant alleged that Sison, 68, was wanted for "multiple murder" and for "calling for more murders."

Prof. Sison has been subjected to a series of false and politically motivated charges in 1988, 1991, 2003 and 2006. One after the other, these charges have been dismissed and nullified by Philippine courts in 1992, 1994 and 2007. Thus, they have been proven as malicious and pure fabrications of the Philippine military, police and intelligence authorities.

Trumped-up charges, lies and state terrorism will never stop Prof. Sison and the Filipino people from fighting US imperialism and its puppets.

We call on the Dutch government to release Prof. Sison immediately. We call on fellow youth bloggers to post their support to the call for Prof. Sison's release, email the Dutch government and to troop to the Dutch embassies all over the world to push for the release of Prof. Sison. Young activists from the Phils will picket the Dutch embassy in Makati tomorrow.

I am reposting a paper discussing how Prof. Sison has been unjustly prosecuted by the RP, US and Dutch Governments.

Chronology of the Persecution of Prof. Jose Maria Sison
by the Philippine, US and Dutch Governments

Issued by the International DEFEND Committee
18 August 2007

Since his release from military detention and the nullification of subversion and rebellion charges against him in 1986 after the fall of the Marcos fascist dictatorship, Prof. Jose Maria Sison has been subjected to a series of false and politically motivated charges in 1988, 1991, 2003 and 2006. One after the other, these charges have been dismissed and nullified by Philippine courts in 1992, 1994 and 2007. Thus, they have been proven as malicious and pure fabrications of the Philippine military, police and intelligence authorities.

But the Philippine, US and Dutch governments have used the false charges to persecute Prof. Sison. The trumped-up charges of subversion in 1988 and multiple murder in 1991 and the charges of subversion and rebellion nullified in 1986 have been used by the Dutch government to prevent the legal admission as refugee and residence of Prof. Sison in The Netherlands. Even the most unfounded propaganda attacks from the time of Marcos to 2006, which never materialized into formal complaints, have been used by the Philippine, US and Dutch governments to malign him as a "terrorist." These governments do so even as Philippine prosecutors and courts dismiss and nullify the formal complaints and charges.

1. Under the Marcos fascist dictatorship, the Philippine government subjected Prof. Jose Maria Sison to arbitrary detention from 1977 to 1986 and to various forms of physical and mental torture, including water cure, punching, more than five years of solitary confinement, prolonged deprivation of basic necessities as well as medical and dental care and repeated death threats. He was arrested and detained without judicial warrant and was charged before two military commissions for subversion and rebellion. He was thus put in jeopardy of being punished twice for the same alleged offense of seeking to overthrow the Philippine government.

2. After the fall of the Marcos dictatorship, the Aquino regime released Prof. Sison from military detention on March 5, 1986. The two charges of subversion and rebellion against him were nullified through the dissolution of the military commissions as organs of repression. He joined the faculty of the Asian Studies Center of the state institution, the University of the Philippines in April 1986. From September 1986 onwards, he went on a tour for a series of university lectures and solidarity speeches in Oceania, Asia and Europe on the situation and prospects of the Philippines. The Philippine military authorities publicly attacked his lectures and pressured the Aquino regime to cancel his Philippine passport. They trumped up a new charge of subversion against him in September 1988. This became the basis for the cancellation of his Philippine passport.

3. After the arbitrary cancellation of his passport, Prof. Sison applied for political asylum in The Netherlands in October 1988. The Dutch Ministry of Justice used the false charge of subversion and related false claims against him from the Philippine government as the basis for issuing a negative decision on his asylum application in July 1990. The US State Department admitted publicly that the Philippine government intervened in the asylum case in order to oppose it. But the highest administrative court, the Judicial Department of the Council of State (Raad van State), made a judgment in 1992 annulling the unfavorable decision of the Dutch Ministry of Justice. It recognized Prof. Sison as a political refugee and criticized the ministry for using secret intelligence dossiers against him in contravention of the principle of fair administration and for delaying for more than four years the approval of his asylum application.

4. Despite the 1992 judgment of the Council of State, the Dutch Ministry of Justice refused to grant asylum to Prof. Sison. It also ignored the repeal of the Anti-Subversion Law by the Philippine government in 1992 and the consequent dismissal of the charge of subversion against Prof. Sison by the Pasig city court and the related nullification of the specifications against him. It likewise disregarded the resolution of the Manila city prosecutors in April 1994 dismissing as something based on pure speculation the 1991 complaint of multiple murder arising from the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971. It continued to use the false charges against Prof. Sison and argue that to grant him asylum would run counter to the commitment and credibility of the Dutch state to its allies. Further, it cited raw intelligence dossiers to fabricate the claim that he is in contact with "terrorist" organizations. It was thus already using the "terrorist" label against him as early as in the years from 1990 to 1994.

5. In response to the new appeal of Prof. Sison in 1993, the Council of State, as the highest administrative court, issued in 1995 the judgment reaffirming its previous ruling that he is a political refugee under Article 1 A of the Refugee Convention and that he is under the protection of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It ruled that Article 1 F of the Refugee Convention did not apply on him because there was no sufficient evidence against him for crimes that would exclude him from consideration as a refugee. It directed the Dutch Ministry of Justice to grant him legal admission as refugee and residence permit if there was no other country to which he could transfer without violating the Refugee Convention and without putting him at risk of ill treatment prohibited by Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. But the Dutch Ministry of Justice ignored the judgment of the Council of State and continued to refuse him legal admission as refugee and the permit to reside in The Netherlands.

6. Prof. Sison appealed to the newly-created Aliens Court in 1996 against the refusal of the Dutch justice ministry to grant him asylum. The court ordered the Dutch government to make a new decision. The Dutch government ultimately took the position before the Law Unification Chamber (REK, Rechtseenheidkamer) that it had the freedom of policy or discretion to refuse to Prof. Sison legal admission as a refugee and not to give him residence permit but to cease and desist from expelling him from The Netherlands in order to avoid the violation of the principle of nonrefoulement in Article 33 of the Refugee Convention and Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Being dependent on justice ministry personnel, funds and facilities, the REK upheld the position of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and dignified the brazen lie that Prof. Sison was liable for the false accusations of the Philippine government and for "contacts with terrorist organizations" on the basis of intelligence dossiers already examined and evaluated by the Raad van State in 1992 and 1995. It ran counter to the 1992 and 1995 judgments of the Raad van State, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in the Chahal case, the dismissal of all charges against Prof. Sison in the Philippines from 1992 to 1994 and the total absence of any criminal charge against him abroad.

7. In April 1998 the justice secretary of the Philippine government issued an official certification declaring that there was no pending criminal charge against Prof. Sison and referred to the 1992 nullification and 1993 dismissal of the 1988 charge of subversion as well as the 1994 dismissal of the 1991 charge of multiple murder related to the Plaza Miranda bombing. From 1994 to 2003, the Philippine government, including the military and police authorities, took a rest from filing any formal criminal complaint against Prof. Sison. The Philippine military authorities merely hurled propaganda attacks against him, despite the fact that the Philippine government had already requested the US government in November 2001 to designate Prof. Sison as a "terrorist". It was only in 2003 that they submitted to the Department of Justice a complaint against him for the June 2001 killing of the intelligence officer Col. Rodolfo Aquinaldo. The Filipino lawyers of Prof. Sison succeeded in having the complaint archived because of its patent falsity and political motivation and because of the lack of Philippine jurisdiction over him in the light of Philippine and international law.

8. The US government designated Prof. Sison as a "terrorist" on August 12, 2002 and the Dutch government followed suit within 24 hours on August 13, 2002 despite the completely clean legal status of Prof. Sison, despite the absence of any specific act of terrorism that can be ascribed to him, despite the absence of any kind of criminal charge or investigation involving him and despite the Hernandez doctrine in Philippine jurisprudence concerning political offenses and the absence then of any anti-terrorism law in the Philippines. The "terrorist" blacklisting of Prof. Sison by the US and other governments has placed him in a position worse than that of a convicted murderer. He is prohibited from gainful employment. He is deprived of his social benefits, including living allowance, housing, medical insurance, civil liability insurance and old age pension. His bank account is frozen. He is prevented from receiving royalty payments for the publication of his books. He is preempted from receiving compensation for damages due to him for winning his human rights case against the Marcos regime. His fundamental rights have been violated, including the right to the essential means of human existence, the right to the presumption of innocence, the right to defense, the right to be informed of reasons for the sanctions, the right to judicial protection, the right to private and family life, the right of free movement, the right against slander and defamation and the right to be secure against threats to life and reputation.

9. Out to please the US and Philippine governments politically, the Dutch government, with the open lobbying of Philippine authorities, pushed the Council of the European Union to blacklist Prof. Sison on October 28, 2002. Two days after the blacklist decision of the Council, the Dutch government repealed its blacklisting of Prof. Sison but persisted in violating his fundamental rights and causing material and moral damage to him by invoking the Council decision. The Dutch and British governments are the main interveners in support of the Council of the European Union in the case filed by Prof. Sison against the Council before the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg since February 2003. The Dutch government is the main source of the lies given to the court that (a) Prof. Sison is liable for "terrorism" (and not for rebellion under the Hernandez political offense doctrine of Philippine jurisprudence) for being allegedly the Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines and head of the New People's Army and (b) the 1992 and 1995 judgments of the Dutch Council of State and the 1997 judgment of the REK on his asylum case held Prof. Sison liable for "terrorism" (contrary to the fact that these courts recognized him as a political refugee under Article 1 A of the Refugee Convention and as someone protected by Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights).

10. In 2005 Arroyo and her henchmen in the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security and the Anti-Terrorism Task Force started to escalate false accusations against Prof. Sison in the mass media and pushed military officers to file baseless charges of common crimes (like murder, robbery, kidnapping and the like) against him in connection with incidents ascribed to the New People's Army in various parts of the Philippines. The campaign of slander was obviously intended to reinforce the "terrorist" blacklisting of Prof. Sison by various foreign governments and to justify the intensified extrajudicial killing, abduction and torture of progressive legal activists. It was also intended to link Prof. Sison to a broad united front of legal political forces striving to lead the people to oust the Arroyo regime for having cheated in the presidential elections of 2004. The filing of criminal charges against Prof. Sison culminated in an omnibus charge of rebellion in April 21, 2006 against him and 50 other people, including underground revolutionary leaders, progressive congressmen and anti-Arroyo military officers. The purported facts of the charge of rebellion covered the entire period, from the founding of the Communist Party of the Philippines on December 26, 1968 to the filing of the charge on April 21, 2006 and disregarded the nullification of charges and the amnesty proclamations from 1986 to 1995.

11. On April 23, 2007 the Council of the European Union sent to Prof. Sison a letter with a one-page statement that repeats the two lies provided by the Dutch government, as mentioned in No. 9 above. On May 22, 2007 he sent a letter of reply and told the Council that the statement of lies had already been presented by the Council to the European Court of First Instance, has been debunked in court and does not amount to a statement of reasons as required of the Council by the court in cases of "terrorist" blacklisting. Then the Council made a new decision on June 28, 2007 blacklisting Prof. Sison on the basis of the aforesaid lies it had made before. This new decision of the Council is obviously intended to serially perpetuate Prof. Sison in the 'terrorist" blacklist, continually violate his fundamental rights, cause material and moral damage to him and undermine or render useless any favorable judgment of the European Court of First Instance on his case against the Council of the European Union.

12. The European Court of First Instance issued its judgment on the Sison case on July 11, 2007 annulling the decision of the Council placing him on the "terrorist" list and freezing his financial assets. The annulment is grounded on the Council's infringement of Prof. Sison's right to defense, its failure to give a statement of reasons from the second time that it blacklisted him and the violation of his right to judicial protection. The court does not require the Council to pay for the material and moral damages suffered by Prof. Sison due to its decision and fails to mention that the Dutch government has invoked the decision of the Council in order to inflict material and moral damages on him. However, the court requires the Council to pay for the costs of the litigation to the lawyers of Prof. Sison as plaintiff and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines as intervener. Insofar as it can be established that the Dutch government has directly inflicted material and moral damages on Prof. Sison, he can take legal action to seek compensation for such damages. But it can be expected that the Dutch government will resort to every legal trickery to evade accountability.

13. In the meantime, Prof. Sison has won a resounding legal victory in the Philippines. The Philippine Supreme Court issued on July 2, 2007 a judgment nullifying the omnibus charge of rebellion and all the supposed evidence from 1968 to 2006 against Prof. Sison and his 50 other co-accused. In effect, the supposed evidence cannot be used again against all or any of them in any new charge. The solicitor general has publicly admitted that the value of the state's stock of purported evidence has been wiped out. This is the latest instance when Prof. Sison is cleared of a criminal charge. It previously happened in 1986, 1992, 1994 and 1998. At this moment, the Philippine and foreign governments persecuting Prof. Sison should be at a loss in holding him liable for any criminal offense or any semblance of this. The Philippine government can fabricate a charge of rebellion against Prof. Sison only from the date after April 21, 2006 and a charge of "terrorism" from July 15, 2007 which is the date the Human Security Act of 2007 became effective. However, the Human Security Act of 2007 is now under fire by a broad range of democratic forces, human rights organizations and legal experts in the Philippines and abroad for being patently unconstitutional.

Prof. Sison has won a significant legal victory with the July 11, 2007 judgment of the European Court of First Instance. But he still needs to complete his legal victory by contending with the preemptive June 28, 2008 decision of the Council retaining him in the "terrorist" blacklist and by filing a new application for annulment of said decision insofar as he is concerned. He still has to defend his fundamental rights and demand compensation for the material and moral damages inflicted on him.

We expect that the Philippine, US and Dutch governments will continue to persecute Prof. Jose Maria Sison by using against him their political power and the existing fascist "anti-terrorism" laws and decisions that they have devised in order to justify state terrorism and wars of aggression. We need to continue and intensify both the political and legal struggles of democratic forces and the people of the world in order defend the fundamental rights of Prof. Sison and other victims of the global trend of fascisation and aggressive wars generated by the imperialist powers and their reactionary puppets.

We must struggle to stop immediately the persecution of progressive leaders like Prof. Jose Maria Sison and the suppression of anti-imperialist and democratic forces and peoples fighting for national liberation, greater freedom, social justice, development and world peace!!!

Fore reference:

Ruth de Leon
International Coordinator
International DEFEND Committee
Email: defenddemrights@yahoo.com
Telephone: 00-31-30-8895306
Website: www.defendsison.be

The DepEd 'Recruitment Agency'

2007-08-28T02:00:00.000-07:00

Once again, 1.3 million students take the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) today.

For those who haven't read our past statements on the exam read this Inquirer letter to the editor and this past blog post.

Some high school students led by the LFS boycotted the exam today and trooped to the Department of Education (DepEd) to protest.

The DepEd refused to have a dialogue with the students and instead kept on feeding false arguments to the media to justify their imposition.

I have been thinking of easier ways to illustrate the DepEd's subservience to the interests of foreign mutinationals and blind adherence to globalization recommendations because the media seems to have a hard time picking up this important point in the argument against the NCAE.

Thus, today's LFS message to DepEd: stop acting like a recruitment agency for multinationals and instead provide quality and accessible education for Filipinos.

Here's our news on our statement for today:

LFS members boycott NCAE
Tells DepEd to ‘stop acting like a recruitment agency’

High school members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) boycotted the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) today and instead trooped to the Department of Education (DepEd) to protest the career exam.

“The DepEd has turned into the country’s largest recruitment agency for multinational companies,” said Vencer Crisostomo LFS national chairperson.

“We must remind Jesli Lapus that the Department’s job is not to create cheap semi-skilled labor for call centers and voc-tech companies but to provide quality education for our students,” he explained.

The students led by LFS boycotted the exam in belief that the NCAE’s goal is to “discourage the students from taking up college courses and is instead an authoritarian measure to force them to take up voc-tech.”

“The DepEd want to force us to go to voc-tech instead of going to college just because that is what’s in-demand. But what will happen if five, ten years from now the market changes its demands and these jobs goes out of uso? What will happen to those students that we misled into not taking up college?” he explained.

Crisostomo said “that it is not the government and the DepEd’s job to dictate what jobs or career paths the students must take. Rather, the DepEd should provide our students, through basic and secondary education, the basic knowledge and skills to prepare them for whatever life choices they would like to take.”

He said that the DepEd might even be considered violating important provisions of Batas Pambansa 232 or Education Act of 1982, stating that “no one should dare mess with students’ rights to choose their college specification preferences.”

“This is another case of blind adherence to recommendations of IMF-WB and ADB, that our role in the global market is to provide ‘cheap semi-skilled laborers,’” he said.

Crisostomo also called for public access and transparency in the results of the exam. “Given the record of this government in its puppetry and blind worship of foreign, pro-globalization dictates, we will not be surprised if the exam results were twisted and/or tampered to support these recommendations,” he said.

The LFS vows to block the passage of the NCAE as a mandatory exam in Congress. “With the support of our teachers, school administration, and parents, will strongly oppose the proposal to make the NCAE mandatory. We are confident that the sentiments of most parents, teachers and high school students nationwide are with us,” he said.

“The ‘job mismatch’ they are talking about is above all in the DepEd secretary’s office. There is indeed a job mismatch, when a government department which is supposed to provide us with quality and affordable education for Filipinos, chooses to play the role of a recruitment agency for call centers and multinational companies, making sure they have enough cheap labor workers at their disposal. This is deplorable,” said Crisostomo.

Sicko

2007-08-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Anybody who's experienced waiting in an ER of any public hospital in Metro Manila will go crazy upon seeing this movie. I doubt if this film is going to land in our cinema houses but if it does, we'll sure have more people shaking their heads in freaking disbelief in how our health system works, maybe even raising their fists in anger.

Micheal Moore, shakes up the American population by making them realize that the health system of the world's most powerful nation is hella fucked up. Moore brings a boatload of lung-sick firemen, heroes of 9/11, which were neglected by American hospitals, to Cuba (yes, socialist Cuba), and gets them the medical care they need. That's super.

Watch Sicko, Micheal Moore's most recent documentary on the problems of America's privatized health system. This is one of the best movies I've seen this year. You just can't not watch it.

Here's a review from rollingstone.com:

Note to the president: Here’s your chance to lock up Michael Moore. The radically fierce and funny fireball he aims at our health-care system is a flat-out invitation to steal. First, Moore shows us how France, England, Canada and – yikes! – Cuba actually help sick people instead of letting them wither and die for lack of health insurance. Then he instructs us to loot those places for ideas. Anti-American? Hell, no. Moore argues that if another country builds a better car, we buy it. If it crafts a better wine, we drink it. Why not free universal health care?

Here's another from flickfilosopher:

I can’t imagine a more important movie being released this year. I can’t imagine another movie making me feel so ashamed for America as a whole, or doing so with more justification. Damn you, Michael Moore, and bless you, for having the temerity and the guts and the balls to do what hardly anyone else is doing these days: yelling from the rafters that we are supremely fucked up as a nation, hollering about the very viable options we have to fix the mess if only we grew some backbone, and screaming with sincere conviction that it’s long past time to revolt.

Download it via torrent here.

If anybody knows where we can watch it online, please throw in a comment.

Back and blogging

2007-08-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

I’m back blogging. I regret not being able to update my blog for months, I just hate the feeling you get when you're making up for lost blog moments. Lots of catching up to do.

Bouncin’ with the beat. These past few months, we "got down with it" and turned hip-hop. Thanks to Kiwi and the Fil-Am friends who held their integration here in the Philippines, we got ourselves a sense of rhyme and rhythm. Sarah and her gang even got to organize this hip-hop gig with Gloc9, a Filipino rapper popular for his fast tongue and slick lyrics. Read Nato’s post and links.

“Anti-terror” treat. Here’s an anti-terror propaganda poster you’d want to reproduce and post. Let’s just say the “most wanted people” in the list are "special" (they have a hell lot more evil to go with their ugly faces).

Get off that classroom seat! Must read: Mula Tore Patungong Palengke, a collection of essays on the Philippine educational system edited by Bienvenido Lumbera, Roland Tolentino and Arnold Alamon. Reviews here and here.

Yah feelin' me now? :)

May 14 Anthem

2007-05-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

Up to the last minute: Patty Laurel endorses KABATAAN. More blog endorsements here.

Kiwi, a known hip-hop artist in the US gets this beat together for us. Get your ipods ready and plug it in. Bounce your way to your polling precincts. Lyrics here.

Let's spread it like a freakin' virus!

2007-05-10T04:14:00.000-07:00

Say goodbye to bulok, kurakot politics. Join the fever!

KA - Karapatan sa Edukasyon at Empleyo (Right to Education and Employment)
BA - Batayang Serbisyong Panlipunan (Basic Social Services)
TA - Talino at Galing sa Pamamahala (Excellence in Governance)
AN - Anak ng Bayan para sa Maningning na Kinabukasan (Sons and Daughters of the Nation for a Bright Future)

Our future IS our choice.

This coming May 14, vote for honest officials, for principled leadership and for change. Now more than ever is the time for the youth to be involved.

Vote for KABATAAN PARTY-LIST. Tayo naman sa Kongreso!

BLOGS for KABATAAN: Adarna’s Attic, Antala at Kaligta, Atomicgirl, Bikoy.net, Bintana sa Kasingkasing, Bittersweet Coffee, Coredump, Dashisip, Es2pido, Four-Eyed Journal, Judges 6-8, I am Katerin, International Relief, Kalabaw Farm, Karlamagandasobra, Kaulayaw, Kitrotsky, lanc3.blogspot.com, Lilredbook, Mainit na Sabaw, Misteryosa.com, Mongster’s Nest, Myepinoy, Ngrksz, Otom, Punong Bathala, Rob & The Blogosphere, Sinukuan, Stephani333, Student Strike, Talking Elephants, Tinig.com, TXTPower, Witness Statement, Young Radicals | more… | YES to Youth Representation in Congress! Link up and join the Kabataan Cyber-Fever!

Let's take over the web

2007-05-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

Todo na to!

It's less than a week before the elections and we are calling on all KABATAAN bloggers, egroup hijackers, chat addicts, forum hoppers, and all e-campaigners to give it all we've got and be most aggressive in our online campaigning.

We should secure the votes of both young and old netizens and make sure we be seen everywhere online during the last few days of this campaign. Let's take over the web!

Email everyone. Send personal and group emails to everyone in your list endorsing KABATAAN Partylist. Flood your egroups with daily KABATAAN updates.

Blog Barrage. Friendster blogs, multiply, myspace, livejournal, should be filled with entries for KABATAAN. If you don't blog, this is the time to start posting. Most friendster and livejournal blogs announce posts to your friends.

Friendster. Make KABATAAN the Friendster favorite. Barrage your bulletin, create header, message everyone, change primary photo to KABATAAN icon, post KABATAAN testimonials.

Comment. Bloghop everyone and post comments endorsing KABATAAN. Link to kabataanparty.com.

Forum flood. A friend told me that PinoyExchange.com has at least 5,000 people online at any given time. Visit all Filipino forum sites and post topics and start discussions on KABATAAN. Endorse KABATAAN in all election related rooms. The more posts the better.

Text Brigade. Use chikka, text everyone to vote for KABATAAN.

Don't forget to point your campaign to kabataanparty.com. Promote our videos too: kabataanparty.com/videos.

This is it! Panahon na natin KABATAAN!

Please don't hesitate to post other suggestions in the comment thread and pass this message to other e-campaigners.

Good news: MLQ3 endorsed KABATAAN Partylist today in his blog entry.

Kabataan Partylist TV ad

2007-05-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

This astig KABATAAN Partylist TV ad really shows how our young video raketeros could easily beat high-budgeted ads made by pros. Galing!

More new videos here.

Youth activist illegally arrested right after May 1 protest march

2007-05-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

Ken Mark Ambay, 23 years old, a member of Kabataan Partylist was arrested while walking with friends after the May 1 protest, a few blocks away from the rally site.

He was suddenly grabbed by a policeman in plainclothes and was brought to a precinct in Sampaloc Manila. He was accused of beating up a police agent, a charge that was clearly fabricated.

“When I resisted, the policeman along with two others shoved me so I fell on my back. They stepped on my neck and waist as they tightly placed handcuffs on my wrists,” recounted Ambay.

Until today, he is still in illegal detention at the WPD headquarters in Manila. No formal charges have been filed against him.

Whole story here and here.

Rage Against the Machine Reunion at Coachella

2007-05-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

Rage Against the Machine reunited and played at Coachella, last April 29.

Rolling Stones coverage here. More pics here. (via Boingboing.net).

Videos of the concert here.

The whole story on why Dela Rocha left Rage here.

Yeah! \m/

Party(list) People

2007-04-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

KABATAAN Partylist held a fashion show-concert against electoral fraud and violence last April 24, 2007 at Araneta Ave. cor Erod in Quezon City.

The fashion show featured different election-related issues that hound the May 2007 elections and the youth’s tasks to ensure clean and honest elections.

Here is the story from Bulatlat.com. And here are more party photos from Arti Entertainment.

Party Ng Kabataan - A Fashion Show and Rock Concert for a CLEAN and HONEST 2007 Elections held last April 24 ,2007 at Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.

Featured Fashion Designers are Ani Cunanan, Tracy Dizon, Ioeli Cabunilas, Jani Llave, Kermit Tesoro and Rei Raña.

Props Designers were Carla Ujano and Manolo Sicat.

With performances by Datu’s Tribe, WUDS, Kadangyan, Milagros Dancehall Collective, Reggae Mistress, Peace Pipe, Top Junk with Tuesday Vargas, Puny Eathlings and Brownman Revival

Directed by Jani Llave

Photographed by Cyrus Tantay

National Disgrace Award

2007-04-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

Today we will troop to the DOJ to award Raul Gonzales with a mudpie with words "national disgrace" written on it. This is after we gave a cake to SC Chief Justice Puno and hailed him as a youth idol and hero. We will also call for Gonzy's removal from office. I hope we get media coverage and land in the news.

If Gonzy agrees to retire, I think giving him a mug like this one as a retirement gift would be a great idea. But instead of a dog's mouth, I think an illustration of a mouth with a gag on it would make a lovelier sight. Hehe.

It's joke time

2007-04-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

Joke for the day #1: AFP takes lead in pact for clean polls

Joke for the day #2: Esperon orders troops to focus on solving political killings

Joke for the day #3: Chavit caught on video buying votes (again). Story here.

The punchline: when he realized there were media men, he took it back and said he was giving away not 50,000 pesos per barangay but 50,000 "anting-antings."

Sorry Chavit, but according to the COMELEC guidelines, it is not only money politicians are not allowed to give out but things of "use value". Including large volumes of anting-antings, I guess. (Hmm, on second thought...)

The best joke of the day award goes to Alan Cayetano: "DOJ Raul Gonzales should be added to the Guinness Book of World Records for most ridiculous things said and most excuses for breaking the law," he said on a TV interview reacting on news of Gonzales' vote-buying attempt. Nadale mo!

Joke time is over: 3 weeks before elections, Arroyo releases P1.76B for "infra repair." Bwiset.

Hack the vote and then get the 16gb flash disk

2007-04-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Try to dig this: Hackers Invited To Crack Internet Voting.

A comment hitting that "common-sense-lang-yan-c'mon" spot:

1. Find bug, 2. Don't report it, 3. ????, 4. Profit!

More techie news: 16GB flash disk soon to come.

Meanwhile, the breakthrough of "phase-change" memory, which is 500-1,000 times faster than the current "flash" memory, has been announced.

"You can do a lot of things with this phase-change memory that you can't do with flash," IBM senior manager of nanoscale science Spike Narayan told AFP.

"You can replace disks, do instant-on computers, or carry your own fancy computer application in your hand. It would complement smaller technology if manufacturers wanted to conjure things up."

Which means in a few years, we will have smaller chips doing unbelievable, beyond our imagination things.

Pekeng Partylists ng Pekeng Pangulo

2007-04-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Here's direct evidence of Malacanang's hand in the funding and operations of some partylists.

The memo, exposed by progressive partylists last week, was a letter addressed to the President made by the Office of External Affairs, informing her of the formation of the OEA Special Operations Group which will focus on the participation of Malacanang funded partylists in the May 2007 elections. P5.5 million was initially asked to fund the campaign.

The partylists:

Agbiag! Timpuyog Ilocano (Agbiag!)
Babae para sa Kaunlaran (Babae Ka)
League of Youth for Peace and Development (LYPAD)
Kalahi Advocates for Overseas Filipinos (KALAHI)

The objectives:

Provide full support to several Comelec accredited party-list groups that are ascertained to be pro-administration and ensure the winning of nine (9) to twelve (12) seats in the House of Representatives;
Form a party-list bloc that will support the plans and programs of the administration and help in countering destabilization moves by the opposition as well as left-leaning party-list groups;
Contribute in the overall campaign to substantially lower the number of votes of leftist and left-leaning party-list organizations, and in the process reduce the seats of these anti-administration parties in the House of Representatives.

Download/read the .pdf files of the memo and the OEA plan here. (via kabataanparty.com)

Paper graffiti for human rights

2007-04-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

Sulok ni Karl has some interesting stuff in his multiply account, including this paper installation art for Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, the 2 UP students abducted by the military in Bulacan.

Photos here.

More info on the Karen and Sherlyn abduction here.

Philippine Army kills 9-year old girl

2007-04-22T01:38:00.000-07:00

Young columnist Pat Evangelista today writes about the murder of Grecil Buya, a 9 year old girl, in Compostela Valley. Grecil was killed by AFP soldiers.

At the encounter site, they saw the dead girl lying on the ground. The back of Grecil’s head had been blasted off. Almasa claims no firearms were found near the body.

The fact that the AFP even had the guts to use Grecil's murder for propaganda is really deplorable. What kind of thinking breeds such disregard for life?

She was 9 years old. She had big brown eyes and shiny black hair. She liked spider-fighting and watching “Wowowee,” and woke up at six every morning for the hour-long walk down the mountain to her second-grade class. Her teacher said she should study harder, and she did, because she was a little girl who wanted to be a nurse someday. She had a medal for “Most Neat” at the end of the school year. In the summer, she played with the other children, racing rubber bands while hopping in green-slippered feet.

Her name was Grecil, and she was killed, shot once on the elbow and once on the head.

Angry reactions here.

More on the NCAE

2007-04-18T03:30:00.000-07:00

My statement on the NCAE landed on the letter to the editor page of the Inquirer here, last Friday, April 13.

I watched a show in ANC hosted by Tina Monzon-Palma tackling the same matter the other day. Carol Anoos, a recent high school graduate from Quirino HS, also a member of KABATAAN Partylist, was one of the guests in the show. Carol boycotted the exam because she did not believe it would have served its purported objectives.

Along with Carol is a DepEd undersecretary, a TESDA consultant, and a guidance councilor from Ateneo.

I shall answer some points raised by DepEd in the discussion which tried to justify their implementation NCAE. It is important to discredit these wrong notions once and for all for it is persistently being peddled by the DepEd and because many are actually falling for their arguments.

1. The NCAE will help the students in evaluating their skills and finding the right career path for them. Maybe help them choose a college course.

This might be a popular belief, more like a common sense thing, but this is not true.

If they wanted to help the students choose a course or a career path, they should have implemented the exam June or July of last year. That was the time the students were choosing the courses they would take. They would have already made a choice when the exam took place, much more during the release of the results. It didn't help with nothing.

The NCAE doesn't aim to help you find a course or a career for that matter. It is aimed to screen students who want to enter college. See the difference? The first wants you all to go to college and help you with it. The NCAE, in the word of Sec. Lapuz, "wants you to appreciate other alternatives to a college diploma."

Its a national entrance exam to college, much like the NCEE during martial law. Only, it's covered will a lot of bullshit.

Let's assume that they really did have the intention of examining the students' skills and academic tendencies to help them with their career path. The NCAE would, still, have not achieved such purpose. Why? Because you have an unbelievably low quality of education.

For example, if you want to evaluate what fruit juice would do to your body, you would have to drink an ample amount of fruit juice and observe what happens. You wouldn't drink water or poison, or wouldn't take a teaspoon of fruit juice.

You wouldn't be able to evaluate career skills of a student if in the first place, basic learning competencies and requirements were not taught to the student.

2. No need to worry, the NCAE is optional. It is just a "guide."

This statement is clear sign of bullshit. This is a pilot test. In a few years, they want this test to be required and they will push for a law to make it so.

3. It's no problem if you fail. There is high market demand for tech-voc anyways. This is actually the point of all this: to show students that they should go voc-tech.

There you go. That's what they really want. To push students to go voc-tech. What's wrong with that?

Let me tell you first where the idea came from. It's a 1998 Philippine Education Sector Study, from the ADB, IMF-WB has its own recommendation, saying that our "globalization" role is to provide "semi-skilled" labor.

What's wrong, is that, again, the DepEd is blindly following these recommendations. Voc-tech: call centers, transcriptionists, etc., are indeed wanted it the market TODAY. But what about a few years from now? 5 years? 10 years? 20? What if a new foreign recommendation comes out 2008?

These sunshine industries are just temporary, short-term jobs, that are 'uso,' for now. What if investors decided to suddenly pull out for whatever reason?

Employment in the long term would necessitate national industry development, that is self-sustained, stable and progressive. This would necessitate an education that is of reasonable quality, has strong nationalist characteristics, and scientific. Far from the education that the DepEd is pushing for with its recent NCAE.

----

What? Still hooked by that job mismatch thing? The mismatch is here: DepEd Sec. Jesli Lapuz is not an educator. He is a businessman and a politician. He should be booted out of that office before he makes more trouble.

At SM, We've Got it All/Tragedy at the Escalator

2007-04-10T22:11:00.000-07:00

Long story short: Kinain ng escalator sa SM ang tsinelas sa kaliwang paa ko at ang laylayan ng pantalon ko, muntik na yung paa ko.

I am not kidding. The escalator freak accident story about a child's jacket getting caught in the end of the escalator, pulling the kid and injuring him, could really happen. And I unfortunately had to find this out myself in an unbelievable fashion.

What follows is an account of how I got stuck in that damn escalator in SM North Monday after Easter, and how I dealt with the management who refused to take responsibility. (Damn greedy capitalists!)

And no, I am not making this up. I wish I am. I don't know if it was because my penitensya last holy week was not enough. It freaking happened.

The tragedy

Around 12:30nn, Silay and I were going up from the SM North Food Court which was at the lower ground floor to the upper ground. We were having a conversation while we boarded the ascending escalator.

When we reached the top, as the escalator folded, I stepped my right foot out of the escalator. As I lifted my left foot, I felt the back part of my left slipper being pulled down by the escalator, then something from the escalator snapped, and got the end of my khaki pants as well.

I resisted and tried to pull my slippers to prevent injury on my left foot. Good thing the escalator's force stopped pulling, half of my slippers and the end of my pants were just stuck.

A few seconds after, perhaps after noticing that people were getting stalled behind us, a technician and a security personnel pushed the emergency button and stopped the machine. I was waiting for the technician to tell me what to do since I was stuck there and half of my slipper was in the machine, or maybe reverse the machine so that I could get my foot out.

But hell, he didn't tell me anything. He just stared at the escalator and my foot and radioed security. Seems his job was to look after the escalator and not the people getting stuck in it.

The moment

For a moment, I was stuck there, until this man came from behind us in the escalator, and probably thought that the escalator was still pulling my leg. He hurriedly helped me pull out my pants from the machine and pulled my slipper which tore it. The back half of it was left in the escalator.

By then, security guards were already there but still no SM personnel talked to me to ask me if I was alright or if I was injured or anything. As it seemed, the "yes-ma'am/sir-how-may-I-help?" assistance was only available if you want to buy something from their stalls.

I stood for a while beside the elevator waiting for of the guards to assist me, but no, they were too busy, reporting the broken escalator.

The encounter

A kind woman who passed by with her kids told me, "Naku, wag nyong palagpasin yan. Demand nyo na dapat palitan ang tsinelas mo at pantalon mo, kung hindi idemanda nyo sila o kaya ireport nyo sa media. Mananalo kayo. Wag nyo yan palagpasin."

That was when I stopped expecting SM to come to my rescue and "assist" me. Heck, the way it looked, they were more concerned about the trouble a broken escalator was bringing to their daily sales. At that moment, the sense of artificial comfort, entertainment, pamamasyal, ease, you feel when you're in SM ceases to exist.

I suddenly felt like I was in Morayta, or Recto, having to deal with the bullshit of pulis patolas. Or in a picket, confronting the greed and profiteering schemes capitalists.

Me: "Sino bang pwedeng kausapin? Kinain ng makina nyo yung tsinelas ko e. Pano ba ito?"

Guard: "Hintayin lang po natin yung higher sa kin,"

Me: "Asan ba ang Customer Relations? Building Manager? Admin?"

(Hehe. If this was a rally, I would have asked for their ground commander.)

The office

We walked to the Customer Relations Office (it's also the Security Office) with my slippers pigtas and torn to half. The office looked like a police desk. It was ugly, with dirty walls, plastic chairs, nothing like the stalls inside SM.

Man at desk: "Ano po yun sir?"

WTF? Anong ano po yun?

One of your escalators is now broken and it almost injured my foot. Isn't that the reason you have walkie-talkies, to know what's happening inside the freaking mall?

Ano po yun?! Ano to, barangay hall?

Me: "Naipit yung paa ko ng isa sa mga escalators."

Man at desk: "So magcocomplain po kayo?"

Ay syempre. Anong gagawin ko? Magpapasalamat?

Me: "Oo sana. Sino bang pwedeng makausap? Yung building administrator nyo pwde ba?"

Man at desk: "Tatawagan ko na ho yung building admin. Pwede pong pasulat lang ng statement nyo." He gets a paper with a header saying "STATEMENT".

Me: "Sige, mamaya na ko susulat, kakausapin ko muna admin nyo."

Man: "Papunta na daw ho, sumulat na muna kayo jan para may reference lang kami."

It really felt like I was in a police station. I reminded myself: when you are in trouble, do not sign anything. I refused to sign the statement unless I saw the building manager.

The manager

I don't know if she's really the building manager, she most likely was a customer assistant or something. She looked younger and more middle class-ish than the security officers at the desk. Parang me highlights at nakarebond ang hair ng lola mo.

Building manager: "Ah, good afternoon sir."

Lintek.

BM: "Ah, kasi po first time lang ito nangyari. Aksidente po ito at hindi po naman nangyayari talaga.”

Translation: The mall was not responsible for the accident. It was not caused by the mall.

BM: “Bale sa ngayon po, papalitan natin ang tsinelas nyo para hindi kayo barefoot."

Translation: O, bibigyan ka pa namin ng pabor.
Me: "E yung pantalon ko?"

BM: "E hindi ko pa po masasagot yan ngayon. Bale mag-file na lang po kayo ng complaint tapos i-raraise pa po sa management,"

Me: "Pano ba yun? Hindi ba dapat may ibigay man lamang sa king pakonswelo ang management dahil sa nangayaring ito?"

BM: "Syempre we understand naman po. We assure you naman po na ang hindi pababayaan ng management ang pangyayaring ganito."

Her words were scripted. It was like talking to a government office. Protocol-ish.

Me: "I'm leaving my legal options open." Nanakot pa ko. "Sige, palitan na lang natin muna ang tsinelas ko."

We went inside the mall, looked for a pair of slippers. On the way, we rode two escalators. Both of which had missing chips, "bungi".

Me: "Tignan mo yan o, sira ang mga escalator nyo."

BM: "Ho?"

Ho?

I wanted the same kind of slippers I had but there was no size for me. I chose another kind, the ones with thick sole para hindi na sumabit sa escalator ulit. She payed for it with a credit card: P191.50.

The statement

We went back to the office as agreed for me to write down my complaint. I have never been comfortable writing down statements on papers, I don't trust my handwriting and always do my stuff on the computer. I seldom even write down notes of meetings or events.

"Kinain ng inyong escalator ang aking tsinelas at laylayan ng pantalon..."

I've decided to write in Filipino to make it easier for me and for whoever will read the complaint. I made it as simple as possible.

"...paakyat kami mula sa food court..."

But I've decided not to make a simple "affidavit" of what happened but, indeed, a "statement" of my demands.

"Dahil sa nangyari sa akin, hinihiling ko sa SM mgmt ang ss:

> Palitan ang lahat ng mga nasira sa akin. Tsinelas, pantalon.

> Bigyan ako ng sapat na halaga bilang kabayaran sa injury, perwisyo, kahihiyan at abalang idinulot sa akin.

> Ayusin na ang mga escalator ng SM at tiyaking hindi na maulit ang nangyari.

Matindi ang aking paniniwala na ang kapabayaan ng SM ang may kasalanan sa nangyari sa akin at hindi simpleng aksidente lamang."

BM: "We apologize po ulit. Tatawagan na lang kayo kung anong updates."

The aftermath

I went back to the "crime scene" to get the other half of my tsinelas, but was surprised to see that the escalator was already repaired and was functioning as if nothing happened.

This proved that they already knew very well how to repair the escalators in case of such accidents. This was definitely not their first time.

I still haven't talked to a lawyer for legal advice. Maybe I could give me at least SM gift certificates for compensation. Some people are saying that if this happened in the US, that I could sue for millions.

Asa pa sa SM.

Oh well. Buti na lang kamo hindi ako naka-Crocs. At buo pa ang mga daliri ko sa paa.

Hindi lang pang KABATAAN

2007-04-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

KABATAAN Partylist posts new videos featuring parents, vendors, teachers, and workers that will vote for KABATAAN.

This one features Nanay Malou, a vendor in Maisan, a community in Sampaloc, Manila.

Videos made by Sine Patriyotiko (SIPAT). And no, they're not a professional ad agency. Magaling lang talaga 'pag KABATAAN. :)

The rest of the videos here.

April Fools

2007-04-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

‘Keep up good work,’ Arroyo tells deployed Metro troops.

Is this a joke? Or does this president really take us all for fools?

It seems the COMELEC is also fooling with us, in its refusal to release the list of party-list nominees, which allegedly includes the son of Benjamin Abalos.

Kabataan Partylist thinks GMA is not fooling anyone with its lies regarding economic growth.

Take a break from government lies and senselessness: read the Alston report, which was also tackled by today's Inquirer editorial.

PhilippineRevolution.net comes out with new documentaries for the NPA's anniversary last March 29. Watch.

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Showbiz balita: friends texted me last weekend saying Dionne of PBB is a member of the LFS. I wasn't enthusiastic though. The last time I watched PBB, she was in trouble because of indecent conduct.

Did he fuck the system?

2007-03-31T03:15:00.000-07:00

Check this out. Interesting thoughts on the Manila hostage drama here via caffainesparks via MLQ3. It's saying that what Jun Ducat did was a form of non-traditional political action/activism. No, really. They even pointed to new social movements as theory, saying he's a "postmodern cadre."

I don't know. But maybe they're taking it too far. Like I said earlier, the "protest action" is filled with irony: it set aside many legit issues from the public eye, Ducat's statement assailed corrupt politicians while giving them free TV airtime (Chavit entering the bus turned the situation into a bunch of bullshit!). Heck, it even gave Arroyo a photo opportunity.

For me, the hostage didn't aim to change social system, it simply played with the politicians. It illustrated the Filipino urban poor's cynical attitude toward elections and politics.

Last 2004 elections, I was in an urban poor community in Quezon City. During the election campaign, dozens of "neighborhood associations" previously unheard of begin their activity, to "represent" their communities and the voters in their group (this particular community comprises of thousands of informal settlers). They offer to campaign for several politicians in return of favors and jobs for their members.

These groups do their own "Ducatist" (haha!) actions: dangling votes and publicity opportunities, in a sense "hostaging" their members and their neighborhood by falsely representing them and including them in organizations, in return they get favors, job opportunities for their members, welfare opportunities, government connections and whatever.

Take note that it doesn't matter if this particular politician is a "good" politician. For them, they're all the same anyways. What matters is the "winnability" of the particular candidate.

Some call this patronage politics, some opportunism, but for them its just the way politics is. The basic principle is to get whatever you can in this political system that everybody knows is rotten.

At the end of the day, it's the corrupt politicians that win. We get what we want, they get what they want; they stay in power, while we stay poor and abused.

We have to challenge this kind of thinking. We have to give direction to the masses' frustrations. We have to organize them and show them that there is another way, a way of social change and struggle.

In the news:

Please explain what kind of logic and guts this woman has: Arroyo lauds troops in Metro communities.

Ironies: thoughts on the Manila hostage drama

2007-03-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

Breaking news today: 32 Daycare Students and 2 Teachers Hostaged in front of Manila City Hall. Wowowee show was cut to air video footages of a tourist bus with children, being hostaged, with Bonifacio's monument in the background.

As of this writing, one child has been released, the hostage taker, Jun Ducat, has been given time to vent out his frustrations with politicians abusing the poor over DZMM and ANC.

The hostage taker expressed his disappointment in the rotten ruling system in the country, and demanded college education for more than a 100 children under his foundation and a land title.

Meanwhile, we were texting out to members of KABATAAN that the protest action to be led by graduates that was scheduled today at the DOLE to call for jobs and education was to be postponed. We knew that no news outfit would pay attention to our protest, and it would be a better idea to hold our activity some other time.

The hostage drama is expected to last until later in the evening today, maybe even until tomorrow. News of the hostage drama will surely be the main topic in the news for the following days, setting issues of political killings, repression, fraud and violence and even the election campaign aside.

Today, the drama undermined the news of Bayan Muna topping the SWS survey, garnering a whopping 28%, despite government harassment of their leaders, showing mass support for a party bringing forth a new kind of politics and a genuinely alternative platform.

The full report of UN rapporteur Philip Alston on extrajudicial killings is also set to be released at 9pm today, the same time the media expects the hostage takers to end the crisis and release the children.

The hostage taker condemns the corruption being committed by politicians, and calls on poor people not to be fooled by politicians this elections, a popular sentiment of most people. However, the irony starts sinking in once you see Senator Bong Revilla, entering the bus, talking to the hostage taker like it was a script in an action flick, and rescuing a boy being released from the bus, with the cameras on him, bringing back a scene from one of his action movies. Definitely something he could use in his political ad campaign come 2010.

News: Arroyo orders MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando to look into hostage crisis... Maybe he wants a role in Panday part 2? Arroyo will surely capitalize on the crisis to divert the public's attention from issues of human rights violations and tyrannical rule of her government.

After the drama, at the end of the day, the politicians, and the Arroyo government are the ones who gain from this. The hostage taking drama shows how the pulitikos and the corrupt government in power, take advantage of the frustrations and desperate acts of the poor and abused.

While this should highlight the people's frustration and expressions of protest against the rotten government and the ruling regime, this is also shows us that more people have to be politicized and taught how to turn their frustrations and anti-government sentiments into effective political actions. The people are counting on the organized political groups to lead them into the path of effective and genuine social change.

In other news:

Garcillano to run as Congressman in Bukidnon

KABATAAN Partylist: Gradweyt na sa Lumang Pulitika

NCAE results show DepEd's inability to address education crisis

2007-03-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the LFS statement on the recent NCAE results showing low aptitude for college education:

We express our disappointment not only on the results of the recent National Career Assessment Exam (NCAE), but also on the attitude the Department of Education towards the result.

It is an irony for us that the Department of Education seems happy and satisfied of the results, instead of showing dismay and regret in its recent statements. It even applauds the results and pats its shoulder for doing a job well done in creating voc-tech skilled students with low scholastic capability.

We find the Department of Education’s effort to discourage students to go to teriary education odd if not deplorable. Instead of vowing to improve the quality of basic and secondary education to make sure that the students become prepared for whatever path they would want to take in life, the DepEd imposes upon the students to ‘appreciate alternatives to the college diploma’ and take the voc-tech path.

It is not the government and the DepEd’s job to dictate to us what jobs or career paths to take based on a simple exam result. Rather, the DepEd should provide our students, through basic and secondary education, the basic knowledge and skills to prepare them for whatever life choices they would like to take.

The Department may even be considered violating important provisions of Batas Pambansa 232, stating that no one should dare mess with students’ rights to choose their college specification preferences.

It is clear that this step is in blind adherence to recommendations of IMF-WB and ADB, that our role in the global market is to provide “cheap semi-skilled laborers.” Given the record of this government in its puppetry and blind worship of foreign, pro-globalization dictates, we will not be surprised if the exam results were twisted and/or tampered to support these recommendations.

The students, with the support of our teachers, school administration, and parents, will strongly oppose the proposal to make the NCAE mandatory. We are confident that the sentiments of most parents, teachers and high school students nationwide are with us.

There is indeed a “job mismatch,” when a government department which is supposed to provide us with quality education, chooses to play the role of Madam Auring and predicts for us that it is for us to quit college studies for we might miserably fail.

We ask the DepEd, when we allot very little budget for education, when we allow textbooks to be riddled with errors, when we allow oversized classrooms and underpaid teachers to be a norm in our education system, whose fault is it in the first place?

Resbak: Boycott Globe Starting Feb 8!

2007-02-07T00:50:00.000-08:00

TxtPower is calling for a Boycott on Globe products and services in response to its refusal to implement the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) order to rollback its Unlimited Text Promo rates.

The NTC issued an order for Globe to hold in abbeyance its new promo and revert to the old rates after a TxtPower picket protest last Monday, which Globe refused to follow.

A show cause order was released by the NTC today, summoning Globe to a public hearing on Feb 9. The new order asked Globe to "restore" its old Unlimited Text Promo rates and "cease and desist" from implementing the new promo.

Here's some chismis from the press conference at the NTC: officials say Globe has never acted this way before and would usually submit to orders made by the Commission. "Eleksyon kasi eh," says the official we talked to, pointing out that Globe's confidence and arrogance might be because of its ties with politicians seeking its support during the campaign season.

TxtPower and Kabataan Partylist should probably reach out to national candidates and challenge them to take a stand on the issue to generate more support.

I'm going to have to reinstall my chikka text software and fix my SunCell fone for the boycott.

Read TxtPower's boycott declaration.

Dirty Tricks and Opportunism

2007-02-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

The chit-chat between some youth activists a few days ago was this inquirer front page article last Feb 1, reporting youth groups KABATAAN Partylist and College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines' apparent endorsement of JV Estrada’s candidacy for senator.

At the UP Bahay ng Alumni, Lloyd Zaragoza, lead convenor of the Kabataan Para sa Bayan, said his group believed that JV Ejercito would be "a good champion for the youth in the Senate" as he would "fiercely advocate legislative measures to greatly improve the lives of all young people of the land, ang pag-asa ng bayan (the hope of the nation)."

Kabataan Para sa Bayan is a coalition of youth groups that drafted the Kartilya ng Kabataan, which contains the needs of the youth today, like access to quality education, freedom of expression and from discrimination, and employment.

The coalition includes the Kabataan party-list group, Sanlakas-Youth, and College Editors' Guild of the Philippines, among other groups.

The event appeared like a campaign activity, with the crowd chanting "JV! JV!" as the mayor entered the building.

After the endorsement in the latter part of the program, tarpaulins bearing Ejercito's picture and the words "JV Ejercito para sa Senado" were unfurled, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

LFS is one of the organizations which founded KABATAAN Partylist (formerly Anak ng Bayan), a national youth party participating in the May elections. College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) is the only campus publication alliance, with more than 300 members nationwide. Both organizations are known to take a progressive stand on national and youth issues, and are not known to be campaign machineries of traditional politicians.

This was the reason why many were surprised upon reading the report that they were chanting “JV! JV!” during the said assembly in UP.

The whole story:

KABATAAN Partylist and other youth groups were invited at the Balay Kalinaw in UP for a “covenant signing” of a “Kartilya ng Kabataan,” containing a youth platform for the coming elections. The groups knew that several other organizations will be invited in the event spearheaded by Kabataan Para sa Bayan, a youth organization formed by JV Ejercito.

In good faith, the organizations sent some of their members to participate in the event and observe. They did not expect to see the names of their organizations published the day after, endorsing of Ejercito’s candidacy.

I asked a friend who was there what had happened, if there was anything that the KABATAAN and CEGP members have done that could be misinterpreted as an endorsement. He said they made an effort not to be really “seen” in the activity and just be there to participate in the covenant signing. When the part came about JV’s senatorial candidacy, the groups’ reps were silent and did not go up the stage.

He said that there was a deliberate effort on the part of the program handlers to make it seem that the organizations were endorsing JV’s senatorial candidacy. The names of the groups were mentioned during the JV-for-senator part of the event even though their reps refused to go up the stage and be part of the endorsement.

This kind of event shows how politicians take advantage of youth groups and the youth in general during their campaigns. This is not to say that JV is not deserving to be senator or whatever (between JV and Zubiri, I go for the former for not being an Arroyo ass-kisser), but is just an illustration of how vulnerable the youth groups are during election campaigns.

The youth, especially the progressives, must be extra careful and vigilant when dealing with these traditional politicians during the election campaign period.

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Speaking of opportunism: a few days ago, Globe increased its UNLIMITXT rates up 100%, from P50/5 days to P80/4 days. If you’re one of the Globe subscribers who’s mad furious about this new superprofit-making scheme, then sign-up.

Because of my super anger over the new scheme, I immediately accepted Tonyo’s invitation to become one of the convenors of TxtPower. Here’s my contribution to the campaign:

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This is my first entry. Thinking about what my first post will be made me look back at my first YR entry here. That one's really serious. Hehe.

Next entry will probably tackle the Melo Commission’s report on its findings re political killings in RP and a review of Babel, which I watched today.

Please subscribe and feel free to leave comments. The blog is still under construction so you might find broken links and some other errors.

Critical Thinking | Radical Action

2007-01-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

StudentStrike is an online journal managed and regularly updated by League of Filipino Students (LFS) chairperson Vencer Crisostomo. The LFS, founded in 1977, is one of the biggest, oldest, and most active youth organizations in the Philippines, with chapters in major universities and high schools.

StudentStrike provides news, commentaries and analysis on Philippine political updates and student concerns. It is an online portal for activists, providing links to relevant readings and resources on the web.

Email the author at venzie@gmail.com.

Links

2007-01-01T01:49:00.000-08:00