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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImF8IrWRrTyRz73XwbDMoRQodZDONcmfwZamfyFkkExWQn5xkhZSii-ngbtgv4_BOHqjJNo7D4eV0bU6WL_cp2XOzmgG8nCBbdVXG3U0G_phFNa-0cIp5PnOwl0iub9ObbDmSJqxRhyw/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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49x2_TVyA58Lqm4dFpwegxbjY6VHCA934HD4oNWVDyyAsIFVT1Age0bc8VvjnHmVBA1M3ZizRbg_hPkVb6qXOQN-liVDSbh8QSrXOuCeOpvJEvPVMPL18H1dqtc6atyoD69GL2aPHEu0/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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjZVTAi3UiM8wsx9osxIowPpeabg-EkgWim2aeauwjkScBWGKp51bYwrQ-NmCZHzZ2nDok9jznLm6maT9Tawq3_yQ-LIATPBtbdPWB1MSfhnKBfEi1kgRTClA6AXXgFNzkf8uoLDtND4/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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0lC9Qy3dfo80QizEAM742E5f8OFSw0tUV19u-fj6K43OH3BLEHIK8FaYMG187uzhXIIIXyExI_UERkaU1ieNXO0_7euefCo9sHqwT-JlAZF5gjdqev6e91W7W5vrQp6UoNHptkDGsrI/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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5VTDfJicThvU5GbZqboIddHLWNVFVkwbtzusojP1F_grJYi6YjYrN20C1pdVR7TjRiQKTDx_b750vtywhAPOmDSWPVvNM7WhXao0_-prT7oWOodunn3Pjiho-mrs0P3tRYR8xcCBAyc/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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBciuySbcivyuv6osChPd6aJqGk7zdViIH4eMe6Sn4BzJZYcEKi-YDYO6O7zYsAUd_7hK9CApUGGceJawT-mGGYJiIjV0Eb_eMhNPs5lU9ns9ffUEdnKB4PVQEtDtuQZIu5egkUOTk38/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