Bisita sa loob

"Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free."
-Eugene Victor Debs

Natural lang sigurong kabahan kapag first time na pumunta sa isang kulungan. Mga imaheng katulad ng sa pelikulang "Anak ni Baby Ama" ang pumapasok sa isip ko habang naglalakad kami papuntang City Jail. Lahat kami, unang beses na papasok sa loob.

Ang cellphone, mp3 player at iba pang elektronikong gamit ay kailangang iwan sa labas. Ang polisiyang ito ay ginamit ng ilang tindahan sa paligid para magpabayad ng P10 para iwanan ang cellphone. Bawal magsuot ng yellow at orange. Baka hindi na palabasin. Kailangan magpakita ng ID. Bubutbutin ang bawat bulsa ng bag. Hindi ito tulad ng "security inspection" sa MRT.

"Sino bibisitahin ninyo?" tanong ng isang preso.

"Kay Ka Randy Echannis po." sagot namin.

Pag-unawa ang nakita namin sa preso. "Yung NPA?"

"Hindi po. Napagbibintangan lang."

Siya na rin ang naghatid sa amin. Nanghingi ng barya bilang kapalit. Kilala na si Randy Echannis sa kulungan kahit tatlong buwan pa lamang siya matapos ilipat sa City Jail ng Lungsod ng Manila pagkatapos ng anim na buwang pagkakaditena sa kulungan ng Leyte kung saan siya inaresto.

Sa isang kumperensya ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng PIlipinas kung saan siya ay isang opisyal inaresto si Ka Randy. Walang warrant of arrest na ipinakita. Kakaiba irin ang naging pag-aresto sa kanya. Mga lalaking nakasibilyan at naka-ski mask ang bumulabog sa kumperensya ng KMP para siya dakipin.

Agad na nakapagmobilisa ang mga kasapi ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan sa Leyte. Hindi man nagpakilala ang mga humili, tiyak ang marami na elemento ito ng pulisya. Hindi naman sila nagkamali at inilutang si Ka Randy.

Arestado raw siya para sa mga mass graves na nakita sa Leyte. Mga biktima raw ng purging ng NPA ang may-ari ng mga nahukay na buto. Subalit, natawa na lamang si Ka Randy nang ikuwento niya sa amin na tulad nina Satur Ocampo at Jose Maria Sison na akusado rin, siya ay nakakulong noong panahong naganap ang purgingI na ibinibintang sa kanya ng militar.

Kinuwento niya sa amin ang isang araw para sa isang bilanggo. Champorado o kaya nama'y Lugaw ang agahan na puro sabaw. Tinola sa hapunan na puro sabaw. "Nireretoke" na lamang daw ng mga bilanggo ang ulam. Itinatapon ang sabaw at muling iniluluto upang makain.

"Baka at baboy ang pagkain dito. Baka 'di mo makain dahil pagkaing baboy."

Buti na lamang, aniya, madalas ang bisita sa kanya ng mga kasamahan mula sa KMP at First Quarter Storm Movement na nagdadala ng pagkain.

Dinala din niya kami sa kanyang kubol. Isang kwarto sa loob ng dormitoryo na kanyang tinutulugan. Bukod sa matres, laman ng kanyang kubol ang ilang libro, dyaryo, at larawan ng kanyang mga anak at pamilya.

Nakilala rin namin dito si Loi, isang kasapi ng Migrante na napaghinalaang nagnakaw ng mga rehas mula sa isang sementeryo sa Maynila. Nakakagulat na para sa isang napakaliit na kaso, lagpas tatlong taon na siya sa kulungan. Wala pa ring disisyon ang korte sa kaso niya.

Kung sakaling lumabas ang desisyon, tiyak, lagpas na sa magiging hatol ang pananatili niya sa kulungan. Buto na lamang daw at nakilala niya si Ka Randy na tumulong sa kanya para maghanap ng abugado.

Sa pakikipag-usap ko kay Loi at Ka Randy, naalala ko na ang kulungan nga naman pala ay bahagi ng pamamaraan ng estado upang mapanatili ang kapangyarihan sa naghaharing uri.

Kalakhan nga naman ng bilanggo ay nagmula sa masang anakpawis. Urban Poor na naitutulak ng umiiral na sistema upang gumawa ng krimen dahil sa kawalan ng trabaho. Ang ilan, anila, mas gusto pang nakakulong. Wala rin naman daw sialng buhay pag nasa labas. Wala rin namang silang makikitang trabaho. Sa kulungan, may pagkain at matutulugan.

Siyempre, ani Ka Randy, marami ring mga lumpen o yaong ispesyal na uri na nabubuhay sa pamamagitan ng anti-sosyal na gawain. Pero ipinaalala niya na madalas, may pang-ekoniya pa rin itong batayan.

Nalaman din namin sa kanila na walang pamamaraan ang kulungan para sa tuluyang rehabilitasyon ng mga bilanggo. Walang livelihood training o anuman na ginagawa ang kulungan para sa mga preso. Kung mayroon sana, may magiging trabaho na sila paglabas, kaso, wala kaya ilang araw pagkalaya, asa presinto na uli.

Napatunayan rin ng aming bisita sa kulungan na hindi totoo ang imahe ng hustisya na mayroong piring na sumisimbolo sa pagkakapantay-pantay ng lahat sa mata ng batas. Kinuwento nila ang anak ng isang opisyal na nahulihan ng ilang kilo ng droga. Ilang araw lamang, nakalaya na. Ni hindi daw siya nakulong tulad ng ibang mga preso. Sa opisina lamang daw siya nanatili.

"Pero 'yung iba, tulad nitio ni Loi. Nakakulong na ng matagal kahit di pa napapatunayang nagkasala. Hindi nakakagulat na may mga nagbibigti dito," kuwento ni Ka Randy.

Ang kadalasang ginagawa na lamang niya ay magsulat at magbasa habang hinihintay ang disisyon ng korte. Tapos na kasi ang mga pagdinig sa kanyang kaso.

"Paborable man o hindi, basta may desisyon," ani Ka Randy.

Maya-maya, may dumating na mga intsik na umupo sa mesang katabi ng sa amin.

Nagtaas kamao si Ka Randy at may sinabi sa intsik.

Ngumiti at nagtaas rin ng kamao ang mga intsik na may kasong may kinalaman sa iligal na droga.

"Yun lang kasi ang alam kong sabihin na intsik," ani Ka Randy. Nagsalita na rin siya agad bago pa kami makapagtanong. "Long live Chairman Mao."

Ani Ka Randy, ang gusto ng estado sa pagkakakulong sa kanya ay niyutralisahin siya at ang mga tulad niyang lider sa pagkilos at patayin ang kanyang moral.

Subalit, sa ilang oras ng aming pagbisita, halatang binibigo ni Ka Randy ang estado.

"Lumalapit sa akin ang mga bilanggo at nakikipagtalakayan sa akin ng mga usaping pampulitika. Alam naman nila ang mga nangyayari sa labas dahil halos lahat sila, nanonood ng balita. Minsan nga may nagmumura kapag nakikita si Gloria," kuwento ni ka Randy.

Aniya, kailangan lang, itaas ang linya ng mga pagsusuri ng mga bilanggo na kanya namang ginagawa sa pakikipagtalakayan sa kanila.

Kung gayon, bagamat limitado, nakakapag-organisa pa rin si Ka Randy. Makikita rin sa kanyang mga mata na nananatili sa kanya ang determinasyong ipagpatuloy ang pakikibakang siya ay bahagi.

Matapos naman niyang kumustahin ang LFS at ang kilusang kabataan, kami ay nagpaalam na. Nag-iwan kami ng pangako na kami ay babalik upang siya ay muling kumustahi habang bitbit naman sa paglabas ang kanyang mga aral na ibinahagi sa amin at ang mas matinding determinasyon na ipanawagan ang pagpapalaya niya at ng lahat ng detenidong politikal at isulong ang pakikibaka hanggang sa ikatatagumpay nito.

My first vdeo

This is the first video that I ever made. It took me over two hours to do as i was learning the software while making the video.

I'm quite proud of it and is already planning more projects in the future.

The music came from teachers belonging to CONTEND-UP.

The lyrics:

Pangarap ko, sa palasyo ‘ka’y lumayo.
Ang tangi kong hiling ay ang paglayas mo
dahil ang wangis mo’y nakangising demonyo.
Kaban nitong bayan, lagi mong kinakamkam, di ba?

Matagal nang lipas ang iyong araw!
Pamumuno mo’y di maaasahan!
Bayan ko’y lugmok na sa ulan,
bayan ko’y lugmok na sa ulan!

Boses ng masa’y babaunin,
tagumpay ay mapapasaamin!
Di mo na kami maiisahan,
di mo na kami maiisahan!

Di na, di na, hnde, h’nde h’nde,
hindi na maiisahan! (3x)

Di na, di na, h’nde, h’nde, h’nde, h’nde

Sweldong katiting, bigas pa lang ay bitin;
presyo ng langis, pamasahe ko ang buwis.
Pilipinong hinihilo mo’y kabisado na ang kilos mo.
Maliwanag na’ng lahat, di kami pabibitag, di na!

Matagal nang lipas ang iyong araw!
Pamumuno mo’y di maaasahan!
Bayan ko’y lugmok na sa ulan,
bayan ko’y lugmok na sa ulan!

Boses ng masa’y babaunin,
tagumpay ay mapapasaamin!
Di mo na kami maiisahan,
di mo na kami maiisahan!

Di na, di na, hnde, h’nde h’nde,
hindi na maiisahan! (3x)

Di na, di na, h’nde, h’nde, h’nde, h’nde.

Firefox 3

Heads-up!

After three years in the lab, Firefox 3 is now scheduled to be released to the wild. This Tuesday will be Download Day 2008 for Firefox 3 which is claimed by its developers to be the fastest and safest web browser today.

Mozilla shall also attempt a Guinness World Record on that day for the most software downloads in 24 hours. As of writing this post, there is 1,247,219 download pledges on that day.

For an in-depth look at what Firefox 3 has to offer, visit the Field Guide to Firefox 3 , and of course, pledge your support to download on Tuesday here

i'm back

shet. it's been months since i posted a new entry at goodbye blue monday. dunno the reason why i stopped writing for this blog and i do not plan to come up with an excuse nor to ask for an apology.

anyways, what happened for the whole summer break?

1. i have officially graduated from the University of the Philippines (still waiting for the graduation gifts to come though *wink*) and is now a proud full time activist for the League of Filipino Students despite the pleadings of my parents to get a "regular" job. My only regret during the ceremonies was that I wasn't the one who spoke in our lightning rally for the ceremonies...

2. an anecdote

as we were going to Baguio for an activity by Youth Act Now, the bus we were riding stopped at the front of the College of Business Administration at the UP. Some of us needed to go to the restroom so we went to the CBA.

us: Puwede po bang mag-CR?

guard: Bawal. (Points to the "No ID, No Entry Sign" by the door.) 'Dun na lang kayo sa Vinzons. Puwede dun.

Because it was raining, we had to insist.

me: estudyante po ako. (takes out my wallet, shows my ID to the guard, praying to God that she'd hurry as mother nature's calls were getting louder)

guard: (after a few seconds of hesitation) hindi puwede. (points to my shoes) madumi sapatos mo. hindi puwede.

WTF!

3. another anecdote

a friend of mine asked me what last agitated me. my reply was meeting the family of Rei Mon "Ambo" Guran, the second victim of extrajudicial killings from the LFS. (more about the meeting on a later post.)

4. another major regret during the summer break was being unable to attend the wake of the late, great, Crispin, "Ka Bel" Beltran, whose convictions has touched the lives of so many and whose unwavering determination in advancing the people's interests is worth emulating.

Speeches

First article for Battle Briefings, my contribution to our decision to make lfs.ph a weekly internet magazine of sorts. We are still working on the technical, aesthetic and other details of the webstie remodelling so I'm going to post this entry here for a while. For want of something to post. Hehe.
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This week, it was speeches that made headlines, the first, from an embattled house speaker, hours before he was ousted by Malacanang’s cohorts in Congress, and second, from the star witness in the continuing soap opera in the Senate, the ZTE-National Broadband Network hearings.

In a well-applauded speech that was supposed to last only ten minutes but dragged on for over an hour, (now former) Speaker Jose de Venecia raved about her past relations with Mrs. Arroyo and then “burned his bridge” to Malacanang. Speech here

Hours before the speech and the voting that put an end to JDV’s five terms as house speaker, the Palace in a press conference has already been calling him “the former speaker,” a reminder that lower house, after all, with a large majority belonging to the administration coalition is a mere stamp-pad of the Arroyos.

But the JDV's outbursts and his ouster was years in the making, with a widening rift between the Pangasinan Congressman and Arroyo, the gap between both factions being heavily widened after JDV’’s son and namesake testified in the Senate hearings on ZTE, naming former COMELEC Commissioner Benjamin Abalos and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo as brokers in the controversial project. “Back off,” continues to ring in our ears.

However, it must be noted that JDV did not tell us anything new. All he said were things that we already know. The only difference is the fact that this time, it is not an activist speaking but a long-time friend and (former) hard-ally of Arroyo. We already know that the Arroyo family has been running the government like a family business in a syndicate and mafia-like manner.
In fact, JDV’s speech was soft. He only gave us whiff of the foul-smelling Malacanang odor that he can open with what he knows about the dealings of Arroyo. Apparently, JDV has not yet given up full hope, and his speech was a vain attempt to blackmail Malacanang into not letting him go to the pits.

However, Arroyo, her sons, and their accomplices have other plans, knowing that there are other traditional politicians in Congress, hungry for power (and cash) that is willing to take JDV’s place as Malacanang’s speaker in Congress (pun intended).

And this is the major point in the JDV affair of the week. Of course, we know that JDV’’s speech and eventual ouster is an attestation to contradictions within the ruling class, even within the ruling faction of that class, to which progressives must grab as an opportunity to further isolate the narrowest target (the Arroyo family). But more than that, the ouster was another maneuvering of Arroyo to tighten her grip in Congress.

Arroyo knows that the ongoing ZTE hearings especially with a new star witness may provide another opportunity for an impeachment complaint which may fare better than its predecessors. She cannot have a rogue house speaker at a time like this.

Which brings us to the second speech that made this week’s headlines and removed JDV from the limelight was that of the ZTE star witness himself, Jun Lozada, who resurfaced after being incomunicado for some time at 2:00 am in La Salle, Greenhills.

Teary-eyed and between sobs, the long-time friend of fellow ZTE witness Romulo Neri recounted how the PNP forced him to sign an affidavit that would negate an earlier affidavit that began with the words “If you are reading this, I am probably dead.”

Apparently, the reports of how Lozada made an affidavit to safeguard himself from an assassination plot or threat to life is true. The very fact that he remains alive and that the PNP had to force him to sign the second affidavit would reveal how sensitive the contents of Affidavit A is.

In his speech, Lozada also linked Abalos and Mike Arroyo to the scandal, corroborating the earlier testimonies of ZTE scandal whistle blower Joey de Venecia III.

“

Hindi lang tumutukoy sa isang pamilya. Ang salitang Pilipino ay tumutukoy sa
isang bansa, isang bansang Pilipino.Sometimes it is worth taking a risk....
(sobs)... for this country. Maraming salamat po

”

This may very well be the quote of the week, for it sums up the frustration of all Filipinos to the Arroyo family syndicate.

Hopefully, CHEd Commissioner Romulo Neri and JDV would follow Lozada’s example and spill the beans on Malacanang and expose how rotten the rule of Arroyo is. And they better do it soon, because for all we know, Malacanang will be pulling another dirty trick from its sleeve.

Speaking of speeches, they may also like to learn a thing or two form US Presidential aspirant Obama, in his Martin Luther King-like speech, “Yes, we can,” turned into a song by Black Eyed Peas’ will.I.am and now being broadcasted in Youtube, and giving us the LSS.

Lahat ng lalake, baba.

Had a first hand experience with Arroyo's creeping Martial Law the other night, and it has become a personal reminder of the chilling and unnerving state that the country is in (other than my friend Karen Empeno's along with fellow UP student Sherlyn Cadapan's continued enforced disappearance).

I was with Vencer and Ian of LFS-UP, riding the flashy patok, enjoying emo-rock music blasting from the speakers at ear splitting volume and holding on for dear life as the jeep zoomed along Aurora Boulevard at a speed that would make Sonic the Hedgehog run for his money. We were on our way home to QC, after attending an education summit hijacked by us and turned into a discussion of the recession being experienced by the US and its effects on our neocolonial country (more on that on other posts here or in the LFS website), and an LFS all-leader's meeting at PUP.

All of a sudden, the jeep stopped. The flashing red and blue lights of a police patrol car parked on the side of the road was enough to tell us that something was up.

"Baka magtutulak tayo," said Ian, when suddenly, we heard a stern voice call out to us passengers from the jeep's window.

"Lahat ng lalake, baba."

Upon hearing those words, the "Is this it?" question immediately sprung to mind.

Of course, who were we to argue against around five police officers, one of whom I remember was carrying an M16 rifle?

As we went down the jeep, the same voice who called us to go out gave his second command. "Buksan mga bag. 'Yung mga walang bag, taas ang t-shirt. Bilisan 'nyo na para 'di na tayo maabala."

Shit. My bag was filled with LFS publications and a red LFS flag. I was with Vencer, whose shirt was screaming "Imperyalismo, ibagsak," and who is still hot in the eye's of Manila's Finest (Bastards) after two days of his making fools out of them in consecutive rallies at the Western Police District Headquarters.

Again the question, "Is this it?" Heartbeat racing to newer heights. Chest tightening.

After a split second of flashing a light at the insides of our bags, we were herded back on the jeep without so much as an explanation of why the search, even a token "Thank you for your cooperation and we are sorry for the inconvenience."

No. This is not a case of another paranoid activist, thinking that he is the next target of enforced disappearance. What this is is political harassment. An attempt to remind our country's citizens that "big brother is watching."

Then again, has not mass paranoia has become the norm of today? A reaction to an even more paranoid state and government, afraid that the people are becoming aware of how they are being fooled and hence have been resulting to fascist means at the mere sight of a red banner, or readily accusing anyone of being a "terrorist" or a "destabilizer" for the simple reason that one calls for national industrialization or genuine reform, which so happens to be the same program of the CPP-NPA-NDF, regardless of the fact that the individual whose back is behind a gun barrel is a simple student, critical, and the only thing he holds is a placard, not a rifle.

This same mass paranoia, along with mass hysteria brought about by bombings (perpetrated by no less than the military) etc. is actually being used by the government to further enact fascist policies being masqueraded as security and counter terrorist measures (national ID system and ROTC restoration now at front row, center in the long line of such policies).

That there was no sincere efforts from the police to do a thorough search proves that the entire purpose of the exercise was to harass individuals, reminiscent of checkpoints set up by the Philippine Constabulary during Martial Law. I would even go as far as say that it is another one of the government's "testing waters".

Does the people know that it is their right to refuse such a search, where there was no search warrant? And even if they did, would they demand that their rights be respected, with an M16 carrying policeman eyeing everyone. Even we were dumbfounded, our tongues caught in mid-air. These men (if that is what they believe themselves to be) who were searching our bags after all are wearing the blue uniform that has been stained by the blood of hundreds of dead activists, journalists and civilians, trigger happy who kill young children when they are drunk, who turn their weapons into noisemakers during New Year celebrations, who, a few days ago, beat the crap out of students (me included) and teachers whose only crime was to have the guts to speak out against another government farce.

Hell, if they have nothing better to do with the time that the people are paying them, they should have instead went to Gilmore, where a CRV crashed into a truck that was carrying two container vans which was then blocking both lanes of Aurora Blvd., and causing traffic. The truck was visible from where the search occurred.

kwentong rally No. 1

lintik lang ang walang ganti.

Dalawang araw na akong pagod, puyat, at halos hindi makalakad o makagalaw dahil sa sakit ng tuhod, binti at balakang, tulad na rin ng iba pang kabataang aktibistang aming nakasama sa dalawang-araw ng pagkilos bilang tugon sa Education Summit 'kuno ni GMA.

Hindi simple ang gumising ng ala-sais ng umaga (lalo kung ang sanay kang ang gumigising sa iyo ay ang ingay sa labas ng bahay 'nyo dahil magtatanghali na). Pinakamahirap na bahagi ng umagang rally-day ang pagpapasyang bumangon. Isang internal na istragel ito tuwing umaga (sa isang bahagi ay ang malambot na kama, ang katamaran ng isang peti-burgis habang ang pagkilala sa responsibilidad, tungkulin at pagnanais na mag-ayos ng sarili sa kabila). Pero dahil internal ang mapagpasya, kailangan pang magsulat, mag-email at magparepro ng Press Release, malayo at traffic ang biyahe, sa kabilang bahagi ng Maynila ang venue, at inaasahan na magiging ma-aksyon ang araw, nananaig ang ikalawa. (Buti naman.)

Nabanggit ko na dito na sa biyahe pa lang, kaba na ang mararamdaman mo. Lalo 'pag bumaba ka na ng bus at nagsimulang maglakad mula Taft tungong Kalabaw (statwa ng Kalabaw pagtawid ng Roxas Blvd. mula sa monumento ni Rizal sa Luneta. Buti na lang, nakasalubong ko si Anna ng kabataan at may kasama akong maglakad (kontra-aning, kontra-boredom).

Siyempre, dahil sa ilang karanasan ko sa rally sa Roxas Blvd. (kabilang na ang US Emba mob), at dahil inaasahan ang pagdalo ni GMA sa Summit, tiyak na ang dahas. Pordat, habang naglalakad, alisin na ang relo, at iba pang laman ng bulsa.

Extra tips:
1. 'Wag magsusuot ng skinny jeans at iba pang pantalon na mahihirapan kang gumalaw. Sa babae, bawal naman ang skirt at mga damit na kinulang sa tela kung ayaw mong mawalan ng dangal nang tuluyan.

2. 'Wag magsusuot ng sapatos na madaling maalis, masyadong masikip o maluwang. Baka umuwi ka ng nakapaa.

3. Magdala ng maraming tubig, alkohol, iba pang first-aid kit. (Hindi required, pero maraming magpapasalamat sa iyo kung sakali).

4. 'Wag kakalimutan ang prop materials.

5. Maging handa.

Minsan, nanakungkot talagang makita na pagdating mo sa kitaan, ilang piraso lang kayo lalo kung medyo delikado ang rally na pupuntahan ninyo.

"Wawalisin lang tayo nito."

Pero dahil bumubukol na at hindi na kaya pang itago ang mga tibak (na pare-pareha kung manamit kaya obvious talagang tibak) upang maghintay pa ng iba...

Asembol. Sigaw. Takbo!

Pagdating sa Manila Hotel, agad ang salubong ng halos 20 pulis, dala ang shield at truncheon (ang truncheon pala ay ang batuta at hindi ang shield). Walang negosasyon. Tulak na agad. Kinukuha rin ang mga streamers at placards na aming dala para magmuka sa media coverage na kami ay mga pasayaw at manggugulo lamang. Ilang segundo ng body-to-shield at tulakan, may ilang kasamang bumigay na at tumakbo. Siyempre, kahit anong pilit mong sumigaw na "walang tatakbo," may domino effect na magaganap. Lahat na, tatakbo. Salamat na lang sa iba na nakatingin pa rin sa likod, sinisigurong walang naiiwan o nadadakip.
Takbo sa Luneta.

"Freedom park ito. Hindi na nila tayo idedesperse at huhulihin."

Akala namin 'yun.

Nang mapansin ng mga pulis na lumalaki ang bulto at nakakakuha ng media coverage, round two na ng dispersal. Mas marahas. Pumapalo na sila ngayon. Nagtatarget nung mga nakatulak nung una, o kaya nung mga maaangas. Palo lang ng palo. Mumurahin ka pa.

Takbo uli. Pero siyempre, hindi every man for himself. Makinig sa komand.

Pagdating ng Taft, casualty report.

Nahuli: anim.
Nasaktan at nasugatan: 23
Nawawala: isa (baka dinakip na hindi kasama nung anim, baka umuwi, baka nahulog sa manhole) Walang kain, at sa kabila ng mainit na sikat ng araw, rali naman sa WPD. Masaya 'to. Agit ang lahat. Naghahanap ng magagantihan.

Inalog ng mga kasama ang gate. 'E bumukas. Naku, 'di alam ang gagawin. Di naman kasi inaasahang bumukas. Wala namang kumand na pumasok at sugurin ng tuluyan ang headquarters ng WPD.

Rally uli.

Nakipag-usap maga pulis. Kung aalis daw kami, palalayain na sila. Sige. Uwi muna, kami naman sa LFS, kuha ED. Tapos, malalaman mo na lang, hindi pa pala sila nakakalaya maliban sa isa dahil under-age.

Kinaumagahan, rally uli! Una, sa Manila Hotel para sa second day nf summit. (depensibo na ang mga pulis dahil maganda ang covergae ng media sa unang rally). Kahit masakit pa rin ang buong katawan, sige lang. Ahitado pa rin. Tapos, sa WPD uli para idemand ang paglaya nung mga nahuli sa naunang rali.

Matapos ang lagpas 24 oras, lumabas na sila. Ang mga kasama, nabuhayan ng loob. Handa nang umuwi para mag-organisa at maghanda para sa isang panibagong araw ng pakikibag-buno.
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Ang mga balita hinggil sa naganap na rali ay makikita dito, dito, dito, dito, dito, at dito. (Ung iba' parepareho ang laman. 'Yung iba naman, iba ang anggulo).

May grabbed video rin ang arkibong bayan mula sa coverage ng dos. Click dito. Para naman sa coverage ng siyete, punta dito.

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Ito ang unang post sa Kwentong Rally na magiging serye dito sa goodbye blue monday. Hindi lahat ng rally, pare-parehas. Bawat isa ay may katangian na puwedeng ikuwento. Ang ilan, tulad ng mga naganap nitong huling mga araw, tiyak na magiging subject ng kuwentuhan sa Vinzons, sa West 115, at iba ang tambayan ng tibak. Pakitaan ng battle scars, inggitan sa mga hindi nakapunta.

goodbye blue monday goes to Mendiola

I was only able to reach the historic Mendiola in a rally once last year and so I got excited as soon as I heard that in commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the First Quarter Storm, veterans of the historic days of student activism were planning to go to Mendiola.

It was a nice feeling to finally step again in the historic bridge where the statue of democracy-hero Chino Roces stand, the bridge that bore witness to peasant massacres, people's demonstrations in exercise and defense of their rights and police-state efforts to repress these rights which has led to countless street battles.

So here are a few pics of yesterday's rally, courtesy of arkibongbayan where I had the opportunity to once again hold the mic and speak atop the equally historical tora-tora, the jeep of the KMU, where we were able to sing the 70s version of the Internationale, where we were able to hold banners bearing the names of FQS organizations such as the Student Cultural Association of UP, the Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan/span>, and of course, Kabataang Makabayan.

Hidden meaning daw ng "Roneil Villegas"

Mula sa: dito

What Roneil Villegas Means

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are very hyper. You never slow down, even when it's killing you. You're the type of person who can be a workaholic during the day... and still have the energy to party all night. Your energy is definitely a magnet for those around you. People are addicted to your vibe. You are deeply philosophical and thoughtful. You tend to analyze every aspect of your life. You are intuitive, brilliant, and quite introverted. You value your time alone. Often times, you are grumpy with other people. You don't appreciate them trying to interfere in your affairs. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

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komento

Ito ay repost ng aking komento sa studentstrike, ang blog ni Vencer, pambansang pangulo ng League of Filipino Students hinggil sa nagaganap na debate sa blogosphere sa pagitan nina Manuel L. Quezon 3rd, (sa post na ito at ito) at ni Tonyo Cruz (sa post na ito at ito).

Sa paggamit ni MLQ3 ng resulta ng nakaraang eleksyon upang masukat ang laki at lakas ng Kaliwa kumpara sa mga dominante at pangunahing partido ng bansa, nakalimutan ata niya ang konsepto ng dagdag-bawas kung saan nabiktima ang mga kaliwang partylist at tumabo ng ganansya ang mga kandidato at partido ni Gng. Arroyo. Lalo pang magiging katawa-tawa ang kanyang pagtutsa na mas malaki pa ang natanggap na boto ni Chavit kesa sa pinagsama-samang boto ng mga partylist na ito kung aalalahanin ang maruruming taktika ng administrasyon upang makakuha ng boto bukod sa dagdag-bawas tulad ng pagbili ng boto, etc. Wala akong naaalalang kaso kung saan ang mga partido mula sa kaliwa ay pinaratangang nandaya o bumili ng boto.

Kung gayon, hindi maikakaila, kahit mismo ni MLQ3 na patuloy na lumalaki ang papel na ginagampanan ng Kaliwa sa mainstream na pulitika. Wasto ang pagsabi ni Cruz na ang bukod sa pagbibigay ng "warm-bodies," makabuluhan ang kanilang papel sa pampublikong diskurso, sa pagbabago ng itsura ng mga debate, at sa pagbibigay ng alternatiba sa kasalukuyang kaayusan. Mahalagang banggitin muli na ito ay kanilang nagagawa sa kabila ng black propaganda at represyon ng administrasyon at militar.

Sa mga komento, binaggit din ni Manolo na "in retrospect, the resign all call was the correct one to make." Hindi ba't ito ay dogmatismo sa pinakapayak na depinisyon ng salita?

Una, sa pagtawag ng "resign all", ihinihiwalay mo ang isyong sarili sa mga grupo na naniiwalang patalsikin ang pangulo ngunit hindi ang lahat. Pangalawa, at lagi't lagi na ngang inuulit sa ilang mga blog ng mga progresibo, ang people power ay hindi tutungo sa matagal nang pangarap na pagbabago pagka't hindi nito binabago ang esensyal (malakolonyal-malapyudal) na katangian ng bansa.

Hindi rin naman isinasawalang-bahala ni Tonyo ang mga tumututol sa extrajudicial-killings. Ang sinasabi lamang niya, ang pagsasawalang-bahala at paglimot sa papel ng Kaliwa sa mga makabuluhang pangyayari sa bansa tulad ng EDSA dos ay tumutulong upang maipagpatuloy ang mga pamamaslang.

Salamat kung inyong kinukundena ang pamamaslang. Subalit hindi rin naman nakakatulong upang matigil ito kung patuloy na ilalagay sa margins ang kaliwa. Kung patuloy silang ikokonsiderang insignificant. Kung patuloy na sasabihin na hindi pa sila tanggap ng mamamayan kahit na ang kasaysayan na ang magpapatotoo sa kabaliktaran nito.

Huli na lamang.

Maaaring totoo ang sinasabi ni Manolo na kulang ang galit na ipinapakita ng mamamayan sa mga pamamaslang sa mga kasapi ng Kaliwa at kung gayon ay hindi pa rin sila tanggap ng publiko.

Subalit, mali na ikonsidera ito bilang ultimate na batayan sa pagtanggap ng mamamayan sa Kaliwa.

Hindi rin maikakalila na malaki ang isinusugal ng mamamayan sa pagsasalita laban sa pamamaslang - ang kanilang sariling buhay. Nagbubunga ng matinding takot ang mamamayan hindi lamang sa ilang kasapi ng Kaliwa kundi sa publiko mismo.

Dagdag pam ano ba ang hinihigi ni MLQ3 upang masabing may simpatya ang mamamayan at sila ay concerned sa mga pamamaslang? Sino ba ang kanyang "naririnig" at "nababasa?"

(Patawad sa mambabasa kung magulo. malayang paglalabas lang kasi ito ng mga naiisip at walang outline o ano pa man.)

Canary in a cat house

I was with Olga yesterday, browsing the shelves of the bookstore beside the office of the All-UP Workers Union at UP Diliman, looking for nothing in particular, waiting for time to pass by, doing the occasional "Tignan mo 'yun o!(point to a book)," and "Mahal naman nito" when Olga noticed in one of the shelves one of the books by our favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., behind it were other books of his, and we did not do much effort in reading the titles as we thought we have copies of them already.

Or so we thought.

We noticed this one thin book, and yes, the title was Canary in a Cat House in quite good condition apart from a tear in the back cover.

A quick search on the internet confirmed it. This is indeed the Holy Grail of Vonnegut Books. Published by Gold Medal (Firs Print in 1961), it could now fetch as high as $100 online (check out e-bay or amazon.com). Buccaneer Books published an illegal bootleg in 1991, which costs $25.

Canary in a Cat House is a collection of 12 Vonnegut short stories, all of which later appeared in Welcome to the Monkey House, apart from Hal Irwin's Magic Lamp which is included in the collection Bagombo Snuff Box.

Yes. this means that unless you are a collector of Vonnegut, Canary in a Cat House is of little value. But hey! I got my copy for Php100.

Did I enjoy my copy? The thought of having it when I didn't was greater than now that I have it. But that does not mean that I didn't love relishing the thought of having something that other book lovers would like to have.

This is my second time that I found a relatively expensive book dusting away in the shelves of second hand bookstores. My first was last year when I got Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude for Php50 at Recto.

Indeed, one man's garbage is another man's treasure. All it takes is diligence, determination, and the occasional bit of luck.

Will I sell it? I plan to hold to it yet for quite a while. I think the price will go up soon as Vonnegut just passed away last year. Huhu.

Well, that brings my list down to: Bagombo Snuff Box, God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian, Between Time and Timbuktu, Happy Birthday Wanda June and Sun/Star/Moon.

Help with these would be highly appreciated! Wink wink

Edsa Dos

When I recieved a text message from a friend of mine calling for everyone and anyone to go to the streets of EDSA and join the crowd calling for the removal of then President Joseph Estrada in what would later be known as People Power II, I immediately turned off the TV, changed clothes and despite the pleas of my mother went out of the house, took a bus and got off in Ortigas.

That was me in EDSA II. Then again, that was were I would have been had I not been stuck in Pangasinan when history was made.

I was in second year High School in Pangasinan then, five hours away from Manila (the North Luzon Expressway was yet to be fixed). So, I was one of those who watched the events unfold from the comforts of my home, eating potato chips and exchanging gossip and news with my mom.

Nonetheless, that does not mean that EDSA Dos was just another event for me.

In the days leading to EDSA II, we found ourselves hungry for news of what was happening in Manila. Suddenly, everyone was reading Newspapers or were willing to sacrifice Cartoon Network and Cable TV for TV Patrol and local media networks.

Those who had cellphones (usually N3310 which just came some months before) were spending load to forward picture messages, SMS with others: mostly Erap jokes and the occassional news which the recipient already knew.

"The second envelope will not be opened!"

"Nene Pimentel just resigned!"

"Hindi marunong sumayaw si Oreta!"

"When are they going to shoot Miriam Santiago in Luneta?"

Like the Promdi that I was, I was enjoying EDSA dos, cheering the crowds while watching the live coverage on TV. In school, some teachers stopped holding classes and so we watched TV from the set in our school's faculty room. I was staying up late to catch news, and send messages to my friends who were studying in Manila.

"How is it in there?"

"Are you in EDSA right now? How is it like to shout at a rally? Will you be joining the march to Malacañang?"

It was a rare, and awesome event for me, seeing millions of Filipinos joining together for a single cause that does not involve waiving white hankerchiefs in the air or anything to that effect. (i was yet to become a member of the LFS to know that the people, in varying degrees and level of commitment has been uniting together for change).

True, EDSA IIs was more of a TV spectacle for me. However, it was probably one of those early events that told me to become an activist. Join rallies. Make history. Don't just watch them from the sidelines and be the spectator.

Seven years after the events of People Power II, we are once again faced with a regime that is unpopular, repressive, corrupt, subservient, (i could go on and on with these adjectives). However, instead of the one at the receiving end of the "join the rally" text message, I am the one mass forwarding it.

The liberals in the Philippine media said that if there is anything that Juan has learned after two People Power uprisings, its that ousting Presidents do not bring about the change that everyone has been hoping for.

I agree. What I don't agree with is when they say that this lesson has brought People Power fatigue, and that they have lost all hope for progress.

What the people has learned is that for a country that is f***ed up (read: foreign dominated, pre-industrial and backward agrarian) like ours, changing presidents will never be enough. Especially since the replacement will come from the same ruling class, the same traditional politician: corrupt, subservient to foreign impositions, bankrupt (No more adjectives, you get the point), albeit from a different faction.

The much-used (and abused) slogan of "Change the system" remains true to this day.

How? I reserve that for another post.

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By the way, if unlike me, you were one of those who did not spent EDSA dos being a couch potato, wear this badge!

Click here and here

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Also, head to Kape Tasyo (Freedom Bar) in Anonas, Quezon City on January 19 at 2:00pm for Bloggers Kapihan 3.0, Remebering EDSA Dos, with, of course, EDSA Dos personalities.

Seer you there!