Sunday, March 26, 2006

Titser

KRITIKA ni Teo S. Marasigan

Tuwing nagsasara ang taong akademiko, madalas papurihan ng midya ang mga nagsipagtapos o graduates -- bihira ang mga guro nila, ang madalas nating tawaging 'titser'. Ngayong taon, natawag ang pansin ng publiko sa mga guro dahil sa nangyari sa isang estudyanteng Grade 2 sa isang pampublikong paaralang elementarya sa Taguig. Namatay siya, hinihinalang dahil nalason o tumindi ang tonsilitis at pneumonia. Pinakain kasi siya ng guro niya ng pinagtasahan ng lapis. Ayon sa balita, parusa ito sa kanya - dahil nagsabog siya sa sahig ng pinagtasahan ng lapis - ng guro niyang nagwawalis.

Sa isang banda, karugtong ang balitang ito ng popular na istiryutipo (stereotype) sa midya ng mga guro: naninindak gamit ang nalalaman, mahigpit mandisiplina sa mga estudyante, 'terror' kung tawagin, kinakatawan ni Ms. Tapia sa telebisyon at pelikula. Pero sa isang banda, taliwas ito sa pagtingala ng publiko sa mga guro dahil sa kanilang dunong, malasakit, at tatag sa harap ng mahirap pero marangal na propesyon. Alam ang pagtingalang ito ng kampo ni Gng. Macapagal-Arroyo, kaya sa gitna ng matinding krisis pampulitika, ginawa siyang guro isang araw sa harapan ng mga bata at midya.

Mabigat sa loob ang nangyari. Hindi ito krimen ng mga karaniwang kriminal sa ating lipunan na mayaman - negosyante, panginoong maylupa, pulitiko o mataas na opisyal sa militar - o karaniwang kriminal na mahirap. Isang guro ang nakapagdulot na mamatay ang isang bata. Ang naghahanda sa mga bata para sa kanilang kinabukasan ay nakapawi ng kinabukasan ng isang bata. Ang humuhubog sa isipan ng mga bata ay nakakitil sa isipan ng isang bata. Ang nagtuturo ng kabutihang-loob at asal sa mga bata ay nagpakita rito ng mabilis na pag-init ng ulo at ng padaskul-daskol na pagpapasya.

Pero higit pa rito, mabigat sa loob ang nangyari dahil kayang ilarawan ang buhay ng salarin. Malamang ay mahirap siya, hindi kasya ang sweldo para buhayin ang sarili at pamilya. Sang-ayon sa istiryutipo sa mga guro, pwedeng mayroon siyang sideline bukod sa pagtuturo. Lagi siyang pagod sa trabaho at minsan o madalas umiinit ang ulo sa mga problema sa mga pasilidad at estudyante. Pangarap niya ang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa bilang guro o kahit katulong. Nilalaspag ang katawan niya sa paaralan at bahay. Ang buhay niya, sa madaling salita at esensya, ay kahawig ng sa nakakarami sa bansa.

Hindi siya ia-abswelto ng paliwanag na kahirapan sa kanyang krimen. Pero hindi ito isyu lamang ng pag-init ng ulo at maling pagpapasya. O ng maling pamantayan sa mga nag-aaplay maging guro at sa mga guro mismo - katulad ng pinapalabas ng gobyerno. Isyu rin ito ng pagkasadlak ng isang guro - na maraming katulad, sang-ayon sa mga kwento - sa ganoong mentalidad o dispusisyon. At sapat na iyon: Na ang isang tagahubog ng kaisipan ng mga bata ay masadlak sa ganoong bigat ng loob, dilim ng pag-iisip, kitid ng kukote, at kalupitan sa bata. Sapat na iyon para maging isang isyung panlipunan.

Hindi lang dahil hindi matatawaran ang halaga ng guro sa anumang lipunan - na siyang pangkalahatang pagtingin sa mga guro. Ang mismong estudyanteng namatay ay nangarap maging guro. Sinasabing pasimuno siya sa 'titser-titseran' ng mga bata sa kanilang komunidad na ipinapatawag niya pagkatapos ng klase. Katulad niya, marami sa atin ang nangarap maging guro - at doktor, abugado, bumbero, karpintero - noong bata. Bihira sa atin noong bata ang nangarap maging stock broker, ahente ng call center o real estate o may-ari ng bangko na pangarap ng maraming nakakatanda ngayon.

Malinaw ang pagkakaiba ng dalawang bungkos ng trabaho. Sa mata ng bata, ang nauna ay direktang tumutulong sa kapwa at nakakapagpasaya, malaki man o maliit ang kita. Ang ikalawa naman ay mga trabahong hindi direktang tumutulong sa mga tao, tiyak na may malaking kita, at nakakapagpasaya lang kapag ipinambibili na ang kita. Malinaw sa dalawa ang pipiliin ng mga bata: Nasa paglilingkod sa kapwa ang kaligayahan ng tao, hindi sa pagkamal ng kita o pananaig sa ka-kumpitensya. Prinsipyong sosyalista ito na malalim na nakatanim sa pagiging guro, gayundin sa mga pangarap natin noong bata.

Pero hindi ang kategorya ng kaisipang ito ang mahalaga. Mas mahalaga ang kung paanong ang mga pumipili sa una - sa paglilingkod at pagtulong sa kapwa - ay pinapatay ng lipunan. O kung paanong itinutulak sila ng lipunang ito na pumatay - bunsod man ng pagkabusabos o desperasyon o ng paglahok sa isang rebolusyon.>>>

Sumulat sa tsmarasigan_kritika@yahoo.com


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posted by adarna @ 12:06 PM 13 comments

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

To those who prefer to be anonymous

Hindi kita masisisi. Sa mga panahong tulad ng sa atin, safe ang anonymity.

You're probably, what,12, 18, 24, 30 years old? Or a fresh, vibrant, youthful 20 like Cris Hugo.

You sound like a lawyer, a professor, a bum? Or maybe you're a 4th year journalism student like Cris Hugo.

I imagine you to be a film buff, or a nerd, maybe? Or you probably love to now and then tinker with your guitar like Cris Hugo.

I sometimes like to humor myself and wonder how you would look like. Tall and dark? Pink and petite? Do you smile with your eyes, like Cris Hugo.

But you're not Cris Hugo, and so you live to pluck a melody or two in your guitar. You hide behind anonymity, duwag at pinipiling magkubli. And so you get to live another day.

Not Cris Hugo. He did not go nameless, not for one day. Cris Hugo is now dead, because he dared.

-------

Cris Hugo was a 20-year-old activist leader from Bicol. Last night, he was shot three times in the back. Only a coward would do that. He was declared dead on arrival when he reached the hospital.

He was a 4th year journalism student at the Bicol University. I don't really know when he turned 20. When I met him at the Anakbayan National Council meeting held in Bicol, he was probably only 19. That was only last November. He was so alive then, always eager to help, learn, participate.

I remember he loved to play the guitar. He would wait patiently for whoever was playing the guitar to finish and then he would play a song or two. He may not have known it but we realized that he was very self-conscious about it. He would peek at us to see if we were listening. To see if we heard him play and sing. Funny, when we finally asked him to sing for us in the cultural night, he refused and acted as if he had nothing to do with performing. He was just a kid, really.

But he was dead-serious with his convictions. He did a damn good job with it, too. Otherwise, those cowards who killed him wouldn't have been so threatened. He was a National Council member and regional coordinator of the League of Filipino Students when he died. He was a youth activist leader, a freedom fighter, democracy defender.

The last time I saw him alive was when he accompanied us to the bus station on our way back here to Manila. He was concerned with our safety. He told us to always look out for suspicious persons, elements of the military. We didn?t really take his admonition seriously. We figured, praning lang siya. We were after all among dozens of passengers, in broad daylight.

How I wish now that Cris had taken his own caution to heart on the fateful night he was brutally killed. He was so young, he was on his way home from a school outing. He was walking with his professor when they shot him.

-----
The Philippine National Police were quick to dismiss allegations that the killing was politically-motivated. They even had the gall to suspect the professor he was with. Marami raw inconsistencies ang testimonies nung professor. To hell with them. If I were the professor, I would probably be shocked senseless too and blabber on incoherently.

They did their research too. They were quick to suggest that the killing was in all probability frat-related. Cris was also the newly-elected Grand Chancellor of Alpha Phi Omega-Bicol University chapter. But friends and comrades attest that he had no enemies at all. No one would wish him dead.

Or only one. Cris was the 33rd victim of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by suspected elements of the military for this year alone. He was the third leader of a militant organization to be killed in the province of Albay and the 77th documented victim in Bicol under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration.

For this week alone, Cris was the 3rd victim of extra-judicial killings in the regions, ironically, barely a month after the lifting of PP 1017. First was Ka Santi Teodoro, chairperson of the BAYAN chapter in Malolos, Bulacan. A day before Cris was killed, Tirso Cruz, director of the United Luisita Workers' Union (ULWU) was shot dead in Tarlac by elements of the military. And even after barely a day of mourning Cris' death, a peasant couple and their son were ambushed in Central Luzon. Amante Abelon, Anakpawis coordinator and vice chairperson of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL-KMP), remains in critical condition. His wife Agnes and five-year-old son Elvin John are now dead.

The list goes on.

And even as our campaign to defend our Batasan Five legislators and for Ka Bel's freedom continues, more and more fall victim to political repression and harassment.

Last Friday, Raunil Mortejo, Anakbayan-Davao City chairperson, was abducted by suspected elements of the Isapf. He was released an hour later after rigorous interrogation of his fellow activists' whereabouts.

The reason: one of his comrades, Lorie Ann Cascaro, Anakbayan's National Council member and Vice Chairperson for Mindanao, was charged with seven others after being implicated as conspirators in inciting to sedition and rebellion cases filed against Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador.

The list goes on.

------
Anyone is vulnerable to warrantless arrests, political prosecution and, yes, even extrajudicial killings by the Arroyo administration. Those implicated in the baseless infamous arrest list released by the government earlier; or those pin-pointed by that modern day Makapili; or those who, simply, dare to stand up to "the powers that be" - they can range from Arroyo's most ardent political foes to the most unsuspecting ordinary bystander.

It's not so safe to be anonymous after all. ###


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posted by adarna @ 1:08 AM 5 comments

Friday, March 17, 2006

Friendsters for Freedom

We searched friendster for users named 'Gloria Arroyo' and here is what we found:

We got 127 results, out of which, more than a hundred had photos and profiles pertaining to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This is quite surprising, for we didn't expect the results to be this many.

We scanned the profiles of some of the accounts, and saw what we came for: friendsters in protest. While some were made before the 2004 elections perhaps to boost her popularity then, most of the accounts were clearly anti-Arroyo and were made to ridicule the president.

If profiles stating Arroyo's occupation as 'president sa umaga...stripper sa gabi' and her favorite song as 'my humps,' not to mention the photoshopped pictures, does not drive the point, then the unfriendly testimonials will do the job. Also, looking at Gloria's friends list will bring you to Virgilio Garcillano and George Bush, while some, left blank, the message is perhaps her being without any friends at all.

Friendster is very popular among the young people today, some do not have computers at home but have friendster accounts. Mobilizing friendsters' participation in the oust movement, thus, is a must.

So boys and girls, get ready for Friendster for Freedom. Here's how:

1. Make your own Gloria Arroyo friendster protest account. Make your profile creative and witty (or nonsensical).

2. Announce it to your friends, tell them to add. (Or not to add, this choice though is not recommended for it will not create an anti-Arroyo friendster network, which is the idea.)

3. Tell your friends to barrage the account with anti-Arroyo testimonials.

4. Update the account regulary, making it an alternative source of news, activities and opinions. Regularly post a bulletin. An option also, is to utilize the friendster blog.

5. Add other Arroyo friendster protest accounts. The idea is to link all anti-Arroyo networks together in order to make a large network of anti-Arroyo friendsters.

Friendsters unite! You have nothing to lose but a few minutes off your prepaid cards!


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posted by Vencer @ 12:52 PM 13 comments

Thursday, March 16, 2006

RP politics and the allegorical bus

Here's an interesting email forwarded to us, explaining the political crisis and the need to oust Arroyo by likening our political life to a bus journey.

It might convince some who are still thinking twice about joining the oust movement and might answer some questions regarding the prospects of the movement.

We are posting the email, said to have come from a writer from Northern Dispatch, a weekly newspaper in Baguio, in full:

Hi A--

Let me try to explain it this way: Our political
system is like a rundown bus that's more and more
frequently breaking down, and we are the passengers
who find ourselves in a very extended trip, much of it
over rough routes with many detours -- in a sort of
Extra-Challenge and Pinoy-Big-Brother type of reality
game. (How we got on this bus and over this route is a
long story.)



When the trip started, we were told that we would
periodically vote among ourselves who should be the
driver. (Many of us are capable drivers and mechanics,
and others have been acquiring the same skills along
the way. And by the way, some of us are armed --
supposedly for the protection of all the passengers.)


The problem is that one extremely ambitious, abusive
and irresponsible driver named Marcos took it upon
himself to make all trip decisions, prevent efforts to
replace him with other drivers, and bribe the armed
escorts to do his bidding. He not only abused the
other passengers but the bus engine itself, choosing
unknown detours and worsening the entire situation.


Most passengers wanted him kicked out, but he in turn
began to hogtie or kill other drivers. In a fit of
hubris, he called for an impromptu election at
gunpoint. The passengers supported a charming lady
named Cory who wasn't really a good driver (there were
many much better drivers), but she could persuade
everyone to cool off and sit down for a while while
rethinking what to do next.


The abusive driver was kicked out, we stopped for
repairs, the periodic driver change was resumed -- not
really perfect choices and the very rough route tended
to turn good drivers into bad ones. For some weird
reason, we soon chose a driver who was very popular
but a committed drunkard, gambler and womanizer. He
was a clear and present danger to the bus, and so we
had to kick him out before his time was up.


(How we persuaded the armed escorts to agree with us
in kicking out Marcos, and later Erap, is another
matter.)


But this time, we chose to get along with Erap's
assistant driver -- a Nora Aunor look-alike who had a
winning smile and seemed capable. She was indeed
capable of doing unimaginable things. She turned out
to be a Marcos-like gremlin who used black magic to
reelect herself, and who is now driving our
dilapidated bus like Rocky Horror Picture Show over
precipitous mountain trails.


Most passengers are now screaming, "Get that monster
off the wheel, for God's sake, she's gonna kill us
all!" Some of the more responsible passengers have
actually organized a plan to jump the gremlin and
wrestle her to the ground while a temp driver -- any
capable temp driver, for God's sake! -- shifts to
engine brake, goes into to a controlled skid before we
all fall into the precipice, and maneuvers to a safe
stop.


A few passengers don't like the idea. One asks, "Is
this constitutional?" But we've been through this
before, when we replaced Marcos with Cory, Erap with
GMA. Another thinks, "But who's going to be the next
long-term driver? Won't he turn out to be a worse
gremlin?" Another passenger wants to simply get off
the bus and hitch another ride. One guy doesn't want
to be disturbed because he's busy selling
tranquilizers to other passengers. A few others doubt
if the plan will work, and have adopted a wait-and-see
attitude.


You, A--, are particularly interested in who's going
to be the next driver. Most passengers certainly will
have their say on this matter once it comes to a vote.
But first let us all move to stop the gremlin in her
tracks. Any capable and responsible driver (or team of
drivers) already located near the seat should do for
now -- after all, the task of the moment is to bring
the bus to a temp halt and let the engine rest for a
while as the passengers cool off, regain their
bearings, and agree on the route, where and how to
repair the bus, who will be the drivers that must
cooperate to take us there.


Oh yes, we are a contentious lot of passengers, and
some of the armed escorts are up to no good
themselves. But the most important concern is for all
passengers to take directly responsibility for the
bus, and kick out the gremlin -- NOW! -- before she
drives us all into perdition.


I rather like the idea of bringing the bus, even if
very slowly, to the next crossing, where (hopefully)
all the passengers can agree on an alternative route
to our final destination, and organize a convoy of
locally assembled but tried and tested jeepneys, even
tricycles kung yun lang ang meron, to get there, still
as a group.


As for the tired bus, we can return later and haul it
to the museum, and I can try to answer truthfully when
my grandchildren ask, "Eh, Lolo, bakit kasi ang tagal
nyong nagtiyaga diyan sa sira-sirang bus at nagpatali
sa paisa-isang driver na dinala kayo sa mali-maling
ruta, e pwede naman pala kayong mag-convoy sa maraming
dyip at mas maraming driver na susunod sa gusto
ninyong ruta?"


--J


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posted by Vencer @ 11:19 AM 1 comments

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Rebyuhan on Emergencia Poemas

Rebyuhan critiques Emergencia Poemas in its recent entry.

This art and literature review blog commends Emergencia's quick response to the turn of political events:

Katangi-tangi ang makapag-ipon sa napakaikling panahon ng mga akda mula sa iba't ibang awtor at magkaroon pa rin ng malawak na saklaw pagdating sa anyo at estilo, bagamat nababakuran ng isang napakapartikular na temang emergency. Kunsabagay, ang tema na mismo ang nagbigay ng elemento ng pagmamadali - kakagyatang may malinaw na layon, at hindi hilong pagkataranta. Sa "Ambulansya" ni Sylvia da Sylvia ay sinusuma ang ganitong katiyakan: Pumutok ang sunud-sunod na trahedya: / Stampede sa Ultra, landslide sa Leyte, / Nagpatawag ng ambulansya si Madame, / Pero hindi ang mga tao ang sinagip / kundi siyang nagkukumahog sa Malacanang.

It also takes special notice of the sharpness and simplicity of most of Emergencia's entries, making it a significant contribution to the resurgence and re-emergence of protest art and literature and the struggle for social change:
Sa isang iglap, makikita na ang panitikang protesta ay buhay na buhay. Hindi ito nagkukumahog at naghihingalo na gaya ng rehimen ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Read Rebyuhan's Isang Iglap.


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posted by Vencer @ 10:04 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Emergencia Poemas: Break Glass in Case of National Emergency


A few days after the Proclamation of the State of National Emergency, young writers came up with a literary zine called "Emergencia Poemas: Break Glass in Case of National Emergency."

Download the zine here.

Update: For easier viewing and download, new Emergencia Poemas blogsite here.

Here's a poem contributed by our own Guiller Luna:

Xerox Republic
by Guiller Luna

i.
muling ginurlisan ang katawan ng EDSA ng mga
pamilyar na titik. May unawaan ang malawak nitong
pader at ang mumurahing pintura:
ang salita'y magkakatawang-tao
makakapagbago ng panahon.

ii.
napagkit ang mga mata/tenga sa telebisyon/radyo.
napanood/narinig mo na raw ito noon:
ang mga salita'y magkakatawang-pulis
mambubuwag
pipigil sa pagpihit ng panahon

iii.
walang pang-alala ang lansangan.
di makakalimot ang katawan
sa mga hambalos, suntok at tadyak.

iv.
saang tula ko ba nabasa na "ang kamao'y may hugis ng
daigdig na nakaamba?"




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posted by Vencer @ 10:54 AM 1 comments

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Paper Lifting 1017

March 5, 2006

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's proclamation of a State of National Emergency, lifted a week after, left us a clear message: that in desperation to stay in power, her regime will rely more and more on terrorism, repression and open acts of violence against the Filipino people.

Even as Arroyo lifted Proclamation 1017 , she left us with no guarantee that that acts of suppression, curtailment of civil liberties, attacks on the freedom of the press, together with warrantless and unjust arrests of anti-Arroyo leaders will cease. She and her apologists (Raul Gonzales, Mike Defensor, to name a few) instead categorically stated that such will continue and Arroyo will not hesitate to once again 'exercise her authority as Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief' to declare another State of Emergency when and if she deems necessary.

Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran's contiues to be illegally detained despite growing public clamor for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds. The five other party-list congressmen and leaders of peoples' organizations remain under threat of arrest. Police and military elements continue to "safeguard" major media outfits, while cases were filed against some members of the media a day after PP 1017 was supposed to have been lifted. On the actual day of the lifting of PP 1017, hundreds of protesting lawyers met with resistance and repression from police dispersal teams while attempting to reclaim Edsa shrine.

When Marcos retracted PD 1081 a few years after its declaration, it was then dubbed (coincidentally by Beltran) as a mere "paper lifting." And so it is too with Arroyo's lifting of PP 1017.

Unfortunately for Arroyo, her cheap attempts to imitate Marcos only made matters worse for her. The protests only grew bigger and angrier. The people, mouthing and reliving lessons in history, refused to allow the return of the dark days of Martial Law.

PP 1017 was a clear sign of the Arroyo government's weakness and desperation. For fear that the massive rallies and 'People Power protests' last February 24 would gather critical mass and get the support of disgruntled sections in the military, Arroyo shamelessly and unabashedly copy-pasted Marcos' Proclamation 1081:

Marcos 1081:
NOW, THEREFORE, I ...do hereby command the armed forces of the Philippines to maintain law and orderthroughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress allforms of lawless violence as well as any act ofinsurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience toall the laws and decrees, orders and regulationspromulgated by me personally or upon mydirection.

GMA 1017:
NOW, THEREFORE, I ....do hereby command the Armed Forces of the Philippines to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress allforms of lawless violence as well any act ofinsurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience toall the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction.

The government came out with an alleged 'tale of conspiracy' involving the political opposition, the "extreme left" and the "extreme right." It is now trying to portray the broad anti-Arroyo movement as a connivance between a few extremists and adventurists, downplaying the fact that the majority of Filipino people are fed up with Arroyo and are exerting all efforts to oust her.

Arroyo, upon declaration of 1017, withdrew and suspended all rally permits in attempt to quell street protests. But tens of thousands of people marched uncowered in the streets. A few days after her declaration, calls for people to wear black spread rampantly, series of student walkouts and demostrations ensued. Alliances and groups against PP 1017 and Arroyo's tyranny were immediately formed.

PP 1017 also tried but failed to silence the media and kill press freedom. Instead of keeping quiet and being threatened by Malacanang's threats, journalists and media entities stood up and forged unity against Arroyo's tyranny.

Arroyo wanted to scare the anti-Arroyo movement and break the broad anti-Arroyo unity by arresting known people's leaders, showcasing Rep. Beltran's arrest as a statement that in meant business. They expected other progressive leaders to run and hide and the middle forces to vacillate in their stance for fear of possible arrest. But this too backfired.

BAYAN MUNA Rep. Satur Ocampo and others showed up in Congress to perform their normal functions as leaders. Their colleagues in Congress came to their rescue -- unexpectedly, even administration congressmen granted them 'protective custody.' (Majority floor leader Prospero Nograles expressed support for the five solons. Even Speaker Jose de Venecia was forced to accommodate them in the House.) Former President Ramos strongly stated his 'waning, waning, waning' support by slamming PP 1017. Cory Aquino vowed to continue leading the people in prayer and protest.

The Fort Bonifacio stand-off in the Marines' ranks also proved that cracks in the military continue to exist and are still widespread.

Arroyo wanted to turn her illegitimate rule into open tyranny but failed. Instead, the people's dismay grew to anger and open defiance. She tried to convert her misgovernance into an iron-fist dictatorship but she only succeeded in transforming people's discontent with government into a resounding clamor for system change and social reforms. She is now trying to justify PP 1017 by pointing an accusing finger to an alleged 'left-right' conspiracy only to find herself facing extreme isolation from the majority of the Filipino people.

She may have superficially withdrawn PP 1017 but she cannot take back the anger and indignation it brought to the public. She is now faced with a more determined and united anti-Arroyo front.

Her government is expected to employ more tyrannical acts against human rights and civil liberties but one thing was clearly proven by PP 1017: the Filipino people will never again tolerate tyranny. More than anything else, this certainty will hasten her regime's imminent downfall. ###

Young Radicals


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posted by Vencer @ 9:37 PM 3 comments

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Filipino People's Proclamation of National Emergency

Here's our own version of Proclamation 1017 declaring the nation under State of Emergency:

WHEREAS, over these past months, elements in Malacanang have conspired to rule as authoritarians, represented by the illegitimate President, corrupt military officials and traditional politicans, who are now in tactical alliance and engaged in a concerted and systematic conspiracy, over a broad front, to subvert the will of the people and disregard the basic tenets of democracy, as it did by means of fraud in the elections in 2004.

WHEREAS, these conspirators have repeatedly tried to bring down the democracy;

WHEREAS, the claims of these elements have recklessly echoed and magnified in many parts of the country, suppressing dissent, silencing the critics and muzzling the truth.

WHEREAS, this series of actions is hurting our fragile democracy- by misrepresenting governance including including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people?s confidence in government and their faith in the future of this country;

WHEREAS, these actions are adversely affecting the economy;

WHEREAS, these activities give anti-democratic forces led by Arroyo and her minions the opening to intensity their avowed aims to violate our civil liberties and bring down our gains in preserving democracy

WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 4 of our Constitution makes the defense and preservation of the democratic institutions and the people the primary duty of Government;

WHEREAS, the activities above-described, their consequences, ramifications and collateral effects constitute a clear and present danger to the safety and the integrity of the Philippine State and of the Filipino people;

NOW, THEREFORE, WE the Filipino People, Free Citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon us by the Preamble, of the Philippine Constitution which states that:

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them."

and in our capacity as a people, do hereby call on the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to resist any orders from their fake commamnder-in-chief, protect justice and democracy throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well any act of oppression or suppression of rights and to disobey all the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by Arroyo, personally or upon her direction; and as provided in Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution do hereby declare a State of National Emergency.

People of the Republic of the Philippines


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posted by Vencer @ 12:19 PM 9 comments