Summary on the Using of Folktales in Community Organizing: by James Julian Castillo

Ang Pag-gamit ng Kwentong Bayan sa Pag-oorganisa sa Komunidad
By James Julian Castillo

Magkaugnay ang kwentong bayan at pag-oorganisa sa komunidad. Ang kwentong bayan ay tungkol sa mga karanasan ng karaniwang tao at ang pag-oorganisa naman ay tungkol sa hangarin na mapa-unlad ang buhay nila.

Merong pagkakaiba ang pag-oorganisa sa Pilipinas at US at isa dito ang pagkakaugnay ng mga organisasyon sa ibat-ibang sektor. Sa Pilipinas malapit ang kanilang mga pag-kilos, dito sa US parang walang conection. Pero, ang dalawang bansa ay may kasaysayan sa kilusan para sa kalayaan.

Sa Pilipinas, madalas ginagamit ang kwentong bayan sa pag-oorganisa. Halos lahat ng mga hakbang ay merong kasabay na kulturang pagtatanghal. Ang itinatanghal ay hindi lang kung kahit anong kwento kundi kwentong bayang ang kinakanta, isinusulat, isinasadula at pinipinta.

Taon-taon, ang Sining Dilaab, isang grupong pangkultura at ang VMPRDC (Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center) na isang NGO, ay nag oorganisa ng isang camp para sa kabataan para malapit sila sa mga isyu sa lipunan at mabigyan sila nga mga workshop sa ibat-ibang sining na magamit nila sa pagtatanghal ng mga kwentong bayan. Mayroong dance, songwriting at theatre workshop. Meron ding workshop sa leadership at journalism.

Ang malungkot na kwento ay ang mga pangyayari sa Pilipinas. Taon taon maraming kabataan ang gumagraduate pero halos lahat sila ay napupunta sa call center kahit meron silang mga degree na pang propesyunal. Dito sa US marami din ang naghihirap. Halimbawa nito ay ang article sa LA Weekly na nag frontpage ang isang Pilipina ang nakakadena sa isang matanda. Ang sweldo ng Pilipina na ito na nag caregiver sa Long Beach ay 42 cents lang kada oras.

Kailangan natin magkaisa sa mga pagkilos sa Pilipinas dahil magkaugnay ang buhay natin dito sa buhay doon. Sila rin sa Pilipinas ay kailangan magkaisa sa pagkilos natin dito. Nasa pagkakaisa lang nating lahat matikman ang tunay na bunga ng demokrasya.

-Para sa video ng talk isearch lang ninyo ang (using folktale in community organizing) sa youtube. Ang link sa channel kung saan na upload ang video ay www.youtube.com/user/onlinenppcforum
------------------------------------------English translation------------------------
Using Folk Tales in Community Organizing

Folk tales ang community organizing are inter-related. Folk tales are about the experiences of ordinary folks while community organizing is about the aspiration of making their lives better.

There is a difference in organizing in the Philippines and the US and one of them is the way the different organizations in the different sectors connect. But, the two countries have a history in the movement for freedom.

In the Philippines, folk tales are often used in organizing. Almost all efforts have a portion of cultural presentations. The presentations are not just any kind of story but folk tales that are sung, written, dramatized on a play and painted.

Every year, Sining Dilaab (Arts Ablazing), a cultural group and VMPRDC (Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center) that is an NGO, organize a youth camp that aims to bring the youth closer to societal issues and provide workshops in the different fields of arts where they can use to present folk tales. There is a dance, songwriting and theatre workshop. There is also a leadership workshop and journalism.

A sad story are the happenings in the Philippines. Every year a lot of the youth graduate but almost all end up in call centers even though they carry professional degrees. Here in the US many are also having a hard time.An example is the article from LA Weekly where a Filipinas who was chained to an elderly man was on the front page. The hourly wag for the Filipina caregiver in Long Beach was 42 cents an hour.

We need to be in solidarity with the movements in the Philippines because our lives are connected with their lives. They, in turn, also have to be in solidarity with our movements here. Only in the unity of all of us can we taste the fruits of democracy.

-To watch the video of the talk just search (using folktale in community organizing) in youtube. The link to the channel where the video was uplaoded is www.youtube.com/user/onlinenppcforum

A Statement on the Charter Change-Constituent Assembly

Frustrate GMA’s maneuvers to extend her rule!

The House of Representatives did it again. This bastion of reaction in Philippine politics again displayed their capability for brazen, shameless railroading of decisions once commanded by those who control the public coffers.

Last Monday, June 1, the Lakas-Kampi majority coalition in the House decided to give precedence to floor debate on House Resolution 1109, a resolution calling on Congress, acting as one or jointly, to constitute itself into a constituent assembly (con-ass) for the purpose of proposing amendments to the 1987 Philippine Constitution. With such decision, they immediately set aside discussions on two other urgent issues before the House – the bill on the right of reply, which mandates media outlets and practitioners to ensure the reply of public officials on issues concerning them or face prosecution, a clear suppression of the press freedom, and the long-demanded agrarian reform, which the Congress has by-passed in the past sessions.

The idea of Congress acting as one (with each legislator having equal voting weight) has long been toyed in the House in the face of the continuous refusal of the Senate to approve the Con-Ass path to charter change. It is the desperate maneuver by a House dominated by GMA-paid hacks to skirt the bicameral character of the present legislature. Worse, the proponents of the Resolution, and their nit-wit, ‘pork barrel’-powered allies in the House, obviously hope to pass off the House decision on the Resolution, under their rules to be decided in only by a simple majority (136 votes), to be a Congress decision. After all, they cannot hope for a similar resolution to be processed by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, much more be deliberated in the Senate floor.

House Resolution 1109, then authored and sponsored by Congressman and Kampi president Luis Villafuerte (he now claims it was Nograles’ idea and he just wrote it), was submitted for deliberation to the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments as early as the resumption of the Congressional sessions last April 13. Presidential son Mikey Arroyo actively sought Lakas-Kampi representatives’ signatures for the Resolution. For weeks, the House Committee could not agree on what to do with the Resolution. At one point, Villafuerte himself withdrew, and the Committee decided to drop the resolution. But a signal from Malacanang gave the ruling majority in the committee renewed enthusiasm, and they resurrected and endorsed it for floor deliberation. The hasty Lakas-Kampi merger last Thursday May 28, presided over by GMA and pursued despite the absence of some Lakas and Kampi stalwarts, gave the final marching orders to Lakas-Kampi House representatives to fast-track the passage of the resolution before Congress goes on recess. Rumors circulated that millions of pesos changed hands to ensure passage, even as the crucial CDF, better known as ‘pork barrel’, for the last fiscal year for this Congress, will also be at stake for those who dare oppose it.

True to form, those in the ruling Lakas-Kampi majority acted in indecent haste. They decided by nearly noon Monday, June 1, to give the resolution utmost priority, and when confronted with the technical flaw of absence of committee approval - a condition that bars floor deliberation on it - the House Committee hastily met, and in a few hours approved (!) what they could not decide upon in the past month. They sent back the approved HR 1109 to the House, where the rest of the Lakas-Kampi members (211) railroaded its passage last night (June 2). The monster in Malacanang got the approval she sought; at what price, anybody can now guess.

Filipinos can dismiss all these recent maneuverings with exasperation over what the Philippine legislature, specifically the House of Representatives, has reduced itself to – an idiotic, uncritical, undemocratic, shameless mob of people who kowtow to the dictates of those who control the people’s funds, i.e. Malacanang, from whom they get the funds to fuel their own political ambitions. Indeed, a despicable mob! After-all, Malacanang apologists Gabriel Claudio and Reynaldo Puno and even administration allies in the Senate, among them Juan Ponce Enrile, have been quick to dispel people’s suspicion over such moves with ‘assurances’ that nothing will come out of it; at least nothing to offset the scheduled May 10 general elections.

Yet, the question should be asked: if nothing is expected to come out of it, then why did GMA, her sons and her allies, go out of their way to wring out that decision?
To venture an answer, one must view the administration coalition’s, specifically GMA’s, obsession with cha-cha, in its proper perspective.

First, the main force behind the maneuver is definitely GMA; this indubitable fact every Filipino knows. Second, GMA faces a string of unresolved cases – electoral cheating (the Hello Garci tapes, the “I am sorry” performance, and murders of election officials); the fertilizer scam, the Diosdado Macapagal highway scam, the ZTE-NBN scam (and subsequent kidnapping of Lozada, and recent assassination attempt on a vital witness), the extra-judicial killings, and a lot of several others – unresolved because presentation of evidences could not even proceed under the tyranny of the majority in the House. Third, the end of GMA’s illegal (at it resulted from a fraudulent election) term in May 2010 will make her no longer immune to suits stemming from all the unresolved cases. Her only recourse to protect herself is to be able to maintain herself in power, while promoting imperialist’ interests as well.

One way is via a constitutional amendment that will make possible her getting past the current constitutional prohibition or ban on her further holding the most powerful position in the land. It can be via a change in the form of government, where she can be the Prime Minister therefore head of government, or President, thus, head of State.

Can such a move be done before an election under the 1987 Constitution? Yes, if the Comelec fails to prepare for the May elections and the election is postponed, an idea Comelec Chairman Jose Melo himself presented as their nightmare; if the Supreme Court, now dominated by GMA appointees, upholds the intent of House Resolution 1109; if a “Joint Congress or Congress acting as one” railroads amendments, and “Congress” comes up with supplementary appropriation for a railroaded plebiscite. But all these possible only if GMA appointees, now dominant in the Comelec and the Supreme Court, act according to her desire (or command?), be it in flagrant violation of the people’s expressed sentiment and will (which has consistently been anti-GMA) and of the spirit of the 1987 Constitution.

Can such a new form of government be put in place after the May general elections? Obviously, the GMA camp is working out that alternative. In fact, her National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, in a slip of his tongue, revealed that alternative scheme when he said “the next president will only be a transition president”, seemingly so sure that a new government, under a new form, most likely headed again by GMA, will be put in place even after the May elections. A Lakas-Kampi dominated legislature after election to constitute itself as Constituent Assembly immediately after election and put in-place a new form of government? It seems to be what Norberto Gonzales had in mind. Could that be the reason for GMA’s obvious wooing of the second district of Pampanga – for her to be its first MP under the parliamentary form of government?

Or could the recent maneuvers be calculated moves to create a calculated disorder – a convenient excuse for a declaration of a state of emergency? It cannot be ruled out. After all, if one monitors GMA’s unusual moves on AFP promotions, one cannot miss the fact that she is putting her most loyal generals in positions of power, by-passing other generals who by the current political system’s own measure should not have been by-passed. A coup from the center is still possible.

Simultaneously, GMA is keeping US monopoly-capitalism, the most dominant force in Philippine politics, at bay by promoting its interests as well, as is contained in the other amendments she is promoting, among them the liberalization in foreign ownership over land, mineral resources and the media, contained in HB 767.

GMA’s maneuver is most probably premised on the assumption that the masses of ordinary Filipinos would not actively intervene in politics; that they are so exasperated over elite squabble for power, so preoccupied with eking out a living amidst the current crisis, so reduced to inaction by their resignation to their own powerlessness. She probably thinks she can get away with her moves, for as long as she controls institutions of power and her elite rivals can only shout in disgust. So she can cheat, rob, misuse and disabuse the public coffers, suppress civil liberties and violate rights and processes with impunity, because others are helpless.

GMA and her likes may yet be in for a surprise. When people are made to bear the burden of an economic crisis exacerbated by government programs and policies while those in power squander urgently-needed funds in incessant political maneuvers; when their just claims to economic and political rights fall on deaf ears and their struggles are met with water hoses, tear gas and batons, when the hunger pangs gnaw amidst the flaunting of illegally acquired wealth, when disrespect becomes so blatant and insulting, the people may yet decide to take the matters in their own hands, awaken to their strength and assert what is rightfully theirs – their sovereignty. May that awakening be now, before more children are wasted, more women are prostituted, more patriots are killed!

Frustrate GMA’s maneuvers to extend her rule!
Assert the people’s democratic rights in the midst of crisis!
Power to the people!

3 June 2009

Struggle for Protection and Social Change Response to the Imperialist Crisis

Global recession—this is the logical outcome of two decades and a half of implementation of neo-liberal “globalization”. Today capitalist crisis hammers on lives and livelihood of billions of workers and other toiling masses all over the world. The current global recession broke open the myth of globalization

The crisis has long been looming to explode. Various schemes of the world’s capitalists to boost profit have reduced the income and capacity to pay of workers and of other toiling masses. Outsourcing; contractualization; and downright reduction of the workers wages and benefits are but a few examples of their schemes. Globalization rendered bankrupt many medium-sized producers of the world over through the uncontrolled influx of surplus products from industrialized countries to relatively backward ones.

In the US and in other industrialized countries, unrestrained giving out of loans especially for housing temporarily concealed the decreasing buying capacity of the people. The rapid rise in housing prices fanned speculations in this field. Through speculation and high interest of loans, the accumulated capital of financial institutions earned enormous profits. And to further widen from which their money could earn more profits, financial capitalists created diverse instruments and financial schemes such as securities, credit insurance, etc.

For almost two decades, big banks and financial institutions held sway in amassing billions in profits while pushing a growing number of people into abject poverty. But when the market for housing contracted and their prices soared, many of those consumers that bought overpriced houses could no longer pay.

Banks experienced shortage in money. The value of the financial instruments they were holding shrunk or perished. They restricted lending and the artificial market disappeared like bubble. The real state of the people’s livelihood was exposed. The problem in lending and the shrinking market translated into diminished production. The world financial crisis turned into a world recession in production and services.

Foreign investment apparently declined. This was immediately reflected at the stocks exchange and hit even the industry and service sector. Plans for expansions in the country were impeded, despite the fact that capitalization comparatively declined.

Doubtlessly, capitalists immediately passed on their crisis to the workers. In different parts of the world, especially at industrialized countries, millions lost jobs. Like bubble, they lost security in their jobs, education and health care. Wages dropped. Millions of families were thrown out of the houses that the banks locked.

Almost all governments in the world allotted money to rescue the rapidly falling economy. But instead of allotting these funds that were usually loaned to rescue the workers and other toiling masses that are experiencing severe hunger and homelessness, these were allotted for big banks and businesses. This is triple beating for the masses: they are victims of the crisis, deprived of public funds and burdened by additional public loans.

The crisis is still worsening and its end is not yet in sight.

In the Philippines, the bankruptcy of an economy that has no foundation or of an economy that is anchored on foreign economy is bared

The import-dependent, foreign investment-led and service provision-centered Philippine economy is slowly burning out like a candle. Philippine exports have dropped by 41%. Badly hit were the electronics parts and car industry. Production was reduced or factories shutdown. The price of exported coconut oil and copra has also dropped.

This immediately meant massive job cuts for Filipino workers. More than 65, 000 workers has been laid off from factories of electronics, car, garments, handicraft/furniture and other exported products and it is estimated that this will reach 300,000 by the end of June while 60,000 workers are estimated to be working at less than 40 hours a week.

More than 15,000 OFWs went home due to layoffs. Many others remained overseas taking chances at finding other jobs. Despite the 26% increase in OFWs in 2008, remittances registered a 15% growth only. Last December, only a 0.21% growth was recorded. It is expected that actual decline of OFW remittances will be seen this 2009.

The continued dumping of foreign surplus products to our local markets worsens our economy. Local production cannot hold out in the market resulting to diminished profits or bankruptcy for local producers.

Costs of social services are rising: water, power, tuition fee and hospitalization. In desperation, many resort to committing crimes.

Capitalists further make use of contractualization and repression of workers

Instead of taking responsibility for the crisis and the havoc it wrecked upon the people, capitalists use their crisis to justify intensified exploitation and repression of workers. As an example, the tuna producers of General Santos City agreed not to raise their workers’ wages In almost all industries, haggling for additional benefits and wage increase becomes very tricky.

Forced retirement of regular workers, to give way to the hiring of contractual ones when production resumes, continues to be the employment policy of the day. In the process, it weakens unions and unionism. And in cases when unions have asserted themselves, capitalists resort to temporary closure, with the crisis as their pretext, and opening again under a new name to facilitate hiring of contractual workers. These are clearly anti-worker maneuvers, to which the Arroyo administration turns a blind eye.

The government is insensitive to people’s suffering

GMA is busy with her junkets, supposedly to beg for jobs that will employ Filipinos abroad. The Arroyo’s government is occupied with contracting loans for its deficits and budget for cover-up-top-gap responses to the crisis. She is occupied with giving rewards to her most faithful partners in various crimes they committed against the country and in her manipulations to remain in power beyond 2010 through charter change and other schemes. The toiling masses cannot expect anything from a government that defends and runs a system that has brought us nothing but suffering and misery, a government that refuses accountability to its people.

Struggle for social change!

The mammoth devastation hammering on the people today proves the rottenness of the current system. Experience taught us that the solution to the crisis does not lie in the hands of the people who are supposed to account for it. And the vastly damaging effects of the crisis show that getting uninvolved or silent will not exempt any one from the crisis. As long as this system exists, crises of this kind will lash on everyone especially on us—the marginalized sector.

Only through the concerted effort of workers and other toiling masses can we protect, assert and fight for our interest and betterment. Only through making a stand can we build a better future for our children. It is high time to take control of our own lives and future. Achieve social change! This is imperative.

Struggle for social protection or temporary relief against this crisis!

Along with our fellow overseas workers, let us, in unison, renounce and fight the global capitalist system that is riddled with crisis. Let us oppose its neo-liberal designs and policies. In the Philippines , let us assert and fight for an economy that cares for the toiling masses and will redress the century-long injustice we had been enduring. Let us work for a genuine agrarian reform and for the development of national industrialization.

Immediately, let us demand for temporary relief from this crisis. For this, we will demand for foreign and local capitalists that amassed thousands of profit for more than two decades from the neo-liberal policies to take responsibility for this crisis. This government that implemented and benefited fro the neo-liberal programs and brazenly stole public finds must be made to account and pay.

To pay for the immediate ease from this crisis, together we will push for the suspension of the annual debt payments especially for debts that found their way into private bank accounts; the collection of taxes from foreign-owned businesses that have long been exempted from payment; the raising of income tax of multi-millionaires and billionaires; and the retrieval of public funds stolen by bureaucrats. Our demands are justified. Unite and Struggle!

Beginning this May one, with solid strength and unity let us highlight and pursue the following demands:

JOB SECURITY, NOT CONTRACTUALIZATION!

RESPECT OF RIGHTS, NOT REPRESSION!

SUBSIDY FOR THE UNEMPLOYED!

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FREE EDUCATION and HEALTH CARE for the POOR!

ADDITIONAL TAX for FOREIGN INVESTORS, TAX EXEMPTION for WORKERS and the POVERTY STRICKEN MASSES!

RENOUNCE the SCOURGE OF GLOBALIZATION!

RELENTLESSLY PURSUE THE STRUGGLE for TOTAL SOCIAL CHANGE!

BC for Sale: A Video on the Provincial Elections of british Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

BC for Sale from Twyla Roscovich on Vimeo.

A Statement against the Revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP)

We are Filipinos who view with concern and alarm the proposal to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) located at Napot Point in Morong, Bataan.

We have not forgotten that this plant is conceived from a corrupt and anomalous deal struck during the Marcos dictatorship which profited the Marcos cronies and burdened the public for the last three decades, the time it took to write off the USD 2.3 Billion cost of constructing the plant.

The plant in question is riddled with defects from its cover design, construction, quality assurance, workmanship and project management; it sits on a geologically unsafe location and poses a very high risk to the lives and livelihood of underlying communities and provinces.

Also, there is yet to be any effective technology to store or dispose nuclear waste.

We believe that there is no need to burden the people twice with this white elephant, whose revival will cost a whooping USD 1 Billion. And we view with wariness and misgiving the alleged benefits pointed out by pro-BNPP legislators.

We call on our legislators and public officials to look beyond self-serving interests and uphold interest of future generations and reject the BNPP.

We believe that BNPP remains to be:

-Deadly and Dangerous
-Burdensome to the public and
-Unnecessary

Thus, we are coming together, from all walks of life, to join in a broad call to oppose the resuscitation of this plant known as the “Monster of Morong “.

Protect our Communities from Danger! Oppose the Revival of the BNPP!

Bury the Monster of Morong!

to sign up for this on line petition, please log on to:

multiply:
http://nfbmnet.multiply.com/

online petition:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/nuclear-free-bataan/signatures.html

Tungkol sa Sinasabing Pagbaligtad ni Nicole 1
Paglilinaw sa Kasapian ng KAISA KA:

Tungkol sa Sinasabing Pagbaligtad ni Nicole

Iba’t iba ang reaksyon sa tinataguriang “March 12 Affidavit”* ni Nicole at sa binitawan ng kanyang ina na nasa US na umano si Nicole para mamuhay nang matahimik. Marami ang nagalit at ang tingin nila ay natraidor sila. Tinitingnan naman ng iba na iniwan sila sa ere. Marami ngayon ang umaatake kay Nicole. Kung dati ay kinulapulan na siya ng putik, inilulublob pa siya ngayon. Lalo pang piinagdiriinan ng iba na maruming babae nga si Nicole.

Ano ang ating aktitud?

Paano natin ito ipaliliwanag sa mga mamamayang pinalahok natin sa laban para sa katarungan kaugnay ng Subic Rape Case?

Hindi natin pinagsisisihan ang pagtulong kay Nicole.

Ikinagagalak at ipinagmamalaki ng KAISA KA na naging importanteng bahagi ito ng mga pwersang sumaklolo, umalalay at nakipaglaban para kay Nicole. Ipinagmamalaki nating naging importateng bahagi tayo ng paglaban para sa katarungan ng unang biktima ng pang-aabuso ng mga sundalo ng US na tumakbo sa husgado at nakakuha ng conviction para sa isa sa mga akusado. Ipinagmamalaki natin ang walang pagdadalawang-loob na pagdadala ng laban ng unang biktimang nangahas tumayo sa unang kasong sumalang sa kawastuan ng VFA.

Naniniwala tayong totoo ang kanyang sinabi sa kanyang mga isinalaysay sa panahon ng pagdinig sa RTC sa Makati. May ilan sa ating nakasama mismo

* Inilabas ito sa midya ng kampo ni Smith noong !7 Marso 2009. Sa apidabit na ito, sinabi ni Nicole na siya ay nakukonsensya at di eksakto ang nauna niyang salaysay. Kabilang sa mga bago niyang salaysay ay: Pinagdududahan daw niya kung talagang may intensyong gahasain siya ni Smith o baka naman nawala ang mga inhibitions niya dahil sa alak kaya naging
mapusok siya. Inamin din niya rito na tumanggap na siya ng P100, 000 bilang bayad sa danyosayon sa inutos ng Hukuman.

sa pagkausap sa kanya bago ang mga pagdinig at di nagbabagu-bago ang kanyang salaysay. Maliwanag sa mga ebidensya at patunay na totoong grabe ang kanyang pagkalasing at nawalan siya ng malay dahil dito at sa gayon ay di makapagbibigay ng kanyang pagsang-ayon para pakipagtalik.

Hindi natin kinukondena si Nicole

Matindi ang kanyang pinagdaanan. Sa Pilipinas, liban kung bata ang ginahasa, nauuna pang ipako ang biktima kaysa sa rapist. Hindi na siya sinuportahan ng gubyerno, pinangunahan pa mismo ng “Justice” Secretary ang pangungutya sa kanya at sa kanyang pagkatao. Pinagsikapan niyang sanggain ang sari-saring pwersang pwedeng magpahina sa kanyang paglaban. Habang agad siyang pinaratangan, agad ding niyang nilabanan ang mga “mungkahi” ng ilang pulis, tauhan ng City Hall ng Olongapo, at iba pa na imbes na magkaso ay “makipag-ayos na lang, umiwas sa kahihiyan at magkakapera pa”. Tinanggihanr niya ang alok noong kasagsagan ng pagdinig sa Makati na ipatalo ang kaso kapalit ng blank cheque, bahay at lupa sa US at visa. Ilang beses niyang pinagrebeldehan ang mismong malalapit sa kanya na nanumbat sa kanya tungkol sa pagkaistorbo ng kanilang buhay, paghahanapbuhay at kabuhayan dahil sa pag-asikaso sa
kaso.

Kung anuman ang naganap na humantong sa March 12 Affidavit, hindi natin alam ang ditalye pero ang malinaw, ang mga nakasaad sa kanyang apidapit ay mga argumentong ihinarap ng kanyang kalaban at ang pormulasyon ng salaysay ay hindi kay Nicole.

Sikapin nating palawakin ang ating pang-unawa. Dumaranas ang isang biktima ng panggagahasa ng sarisaring emosyunal na pagpapababalingbaling na pwedeng makaapekto sa kanyang mga tindig sa buhay. At kung sakali’t totoong naakit na siya ng alok na mabuhay sa US nang may karangyaan at katahimikan, alam nating matatanto rin ni Nicole ang kahungkagan ng pangakong iyan.

Ganoonman, laging hangad natin ang pinakamabuti para kay Nicole.

Nais ng kalaban ni Nicole, sa pagkakagawa ng ikalawang apidabit, na impluwensyahan ang kaisipan ng mga magpapasya sa Court of Appeals para acquit si Smith at madaling ipatanggap sa mamamayan ang acquittal.

Wala naman talagang kabuluhang ligal ang March 12 Affidavit, na ninotaryuhan at sinumpaan sa harap ng isang abugado ng bupeteng nagsisilbi kay Smith, sa pagpapasya ng apila ni Smith sa kanyang kaso sa Court of Appeals dahil hindi naman na pinag-uusapan sa CA ang mga “bagong ebidensya”. Pero para sa akusado at sa mga abogado nito, malaki ang magagawa ng “ganitong salaysay” para impluwensyahan ang kaisipan ng mga magpapasya tungkol sa apila ni Smith.

Liban pa, mahalaga para sa pro-VFA na administrasyong Arroyo ang ganitong salaysay. Maliwanag na may mga pahayag ang ilang tao ng Malakañang na nagpapahiwatig na umaasa silang mampapawalan-sala si Smith ng CA at sa gayon, mapapahupa ang tension tungkol sa di pagbabalik kay Smith sa kulungang Pilipino at tungkol sa pagiging makaisang panig ng VFA.

Sa pangwawasak sa kredibilidad ni Nicole, nais din ng gubyerno na patayin ang kilusan para sa katarungan kaugnay ng Subic Rape Case at buhusan ng malamig na tubig ang umiinit na panawagan para sa pagbabasura ng VFA.

Pansinin nating masyadong pinatitingkad ang puntong nasa US na si Nicole. Ganoondin ang puntong tinanggap na niya ang inutos ng korte na P100, 000 kabayaran ni Smith sa danyos.

Kung tutuusin, wala namang katiyakang nasa US nga si Nicole At ang pananagutang sibil, ang P100,000 kabayaran ay ayon sa pasya ng nakabababang hukuman. Inilabas ito sa publiko at lubhang pinagdidiinan para palabasing “cheap” talaga si Nicole. Ito ay karagdagang paglulublob ng mukha ni Nicole upang lubos na mawasak ang kanyang kredibilidad at ng mga nagtaguyod sa kanya. Sa gayon nila nakikitang mapapatay o kahit pansamantalang mapipigilan ang lalo pang pag-init ng panawagan para sa pagbabasura ng VFA.

Hindi mabubura ng March 12 Affidavit ang isang mukha ng VFA, ang mukha ng karahasan sa kababaihan na maliwanag na inilarawan ng Subic Rape Case

Malaki ang kabuluhan ng Subic Rape Case at ng pagtindig ni Nicole para ilantad at ipaglaban ang katarungan para mailadlad ang marahas na mukha ng VFA. Naipakita ng laban ni Nicole ang matagal nang ibinababala ng mga organisasyong pangkababaihan na sa pagkakaroon ng VFA, lalo lamang nailalagay ang kababaihang Pilipino sa panganib na makaranas ng pandarahas militar.

Maliwanag na inilantad ng paglaban ni Nicole at ng mamamayan ang matagal na nating sinasabing kinukunsinti ng pwerang militar ng US ang panggagahasa ng kanilang tropa sa ginagawa nitong pagtatakip at pagbibigay proteksyon sa akusado. Pinatutunayan nitong hanggang ngayon, dala-dala pa rin ng pwersang militar ng US ang patriarkong kulturang militar na tumuturing sa katawan ng kababaihan bilang premyo o pabuya sa mga pagod na katawan ng kanilang mga sundalong nagtatanggol sa mga estratehilong interes ng imperyo.

Hindi mabubura ng March 12 Affidavit ang isa pang mukha ng VFA na inilarawan ng Subic Rape Case, ang VFA bilang pagyurak sa soberanya ng bayang mahina.

Matagal na ring nagbabala ang mga taong masikhay na nagsuri sa VFA bago at matapos itong pagtibayin ng Senado. Marami ang di-pantay na prubisyon nito at lubhang dehado ang Pilipinas. Kasama sa mga prubisyong dehado ang Pilipinas yaong tungkol sa: kawalang karapatan ng gubyernong Pilipinas na tsek-apin ang mga ipinapasok na armas ng US sa Pilipinas, na tsekapin
kung may mga nakahahawang sakit ang mga sundalo, na tingnan ang kanilang mga passport o hanapan ng visa, na buwisan ang kanilang mga ipinapapasok na produkto at sasakyan galing sa labas at ang tungkol sa Criminal Jurisdiction na siya ngang nasalang sa kaso ng Subic rape.

Pinatunayan ng Subic Rape Case at ng paglaban natin para sa katarungan kaugnay nito na hindi puro pangamba lamang ang mga babalang iyon. Mula noong mangyari pa lamang wala na ang kustodya sa suspects sa kamay ng Pilipinas. Noong makasuhan na, at dapat madetain na ang mga akusado, tumanggi pa rin ang gubyernong US na ibigay ito sa Pilipinas. Noong masentensyahan na si Smith at nagpasya na ang Huwes na sa Makati City Jail ito ikulong, kinutsaba pa rin ng US government ang gubyerno ni Arroyo upang bawiin si Smith at ilagay sa air conditioned na kwarto ng US Embassy. Lagi’t lagi ang prubisyon ng VFA tungkol sa Criminal Jurisdiction ang isinasangkalan. Pero kahit na nitong nagpasya na ang Supreme Court na hindi ayon sa VFA ang pagbalik kaya Smith sa US Embassy, tumatanggi pa rin ang US na ibigay si Smith sa awtoridad na Pilipino para ikulong sa Pilipinas.

Hindi pa tapos ang laban ganoon man ang inabot ng pampipresyur kay Nicole

Lampas kay Nicole ang laban para sa katarungan kaugnay ng Subic Rape Case. Ito ay laban ng kababaihang Pilipino at ng mamamayang Pilipino sa kabuuuan.

Patuloy nating igiit na maparusahan si Smith. Kontrahin natin ang pressure sa CA na pawalang-sala si Smith at igiit nating maikulong si Smith sa isang penitentiary (kulungan ng mga napatunayang nakagawa ng mabigat na krimen) sa Pilipinas.

Patindihin natin ang paglaban sa VFA at buhaying muli ang isang kilusan para pawalambisa ang VFA. Gagamitin pa rin nating pambala laban sa VFA ang Subic Rape Case at ang dinaanan nito. Pero daragdagan natin ng maraming iba pang pambalang naipon natin sa sampung taon ng pag-iral nito. Kabilang dito ang pag-iral ng mga pasilidad o base militar ng US sa Pilipinas; ang
paglulunsad ng US, sa pamamagitan ng VFA ng unconventional warfare o isang klase ng pakikipaggera sa Mindanao; ang pagkakasangkot nila sa pamamaslang ng mga sibilyan kasama na ang isang babaeng buntis at mga bata; ang dislokasyon sa mamamayan dulot ng kanilang exercises at gera; ang pagkakatulak sa kababaihan, bunga nito, na maramihang mag-OFW lalo na tungo sa Malaysia at mahulog sa ibayo pang pagkakapahamak; at ang papel ng mga sundalong US sa patuloy na pandarambong ng likas na yaman sa Mindanao.

Ituloy natin ang paglaban para sa katarungan.
VFA: Ibasura!
Pambansang Komiteng Tagapagpaganap
KAISA KA
Marso 21, 2009

Uncertainty is the “in” word nowadays.

Various massive company lay-offs and corporate downsizing schemes; a number of abrupt bank holidays and closure of financial institutions; the ill economic news left and right – these are just the surface of a deepening global economic recession (we dare say depression) that is not an inch of good news at all.

No matter how much the present GMA regime and the reactionary forces from here and abroad sugarcoat the series of events leading to the global depression, the prevalence of poverty and economic turmoil among the ordinary citizenry is the real score.

And this purported lack of adherence to the principles of truth by those who banner the dying cause of capitalism (in general) is a blatant insult to the injury of the world’s populace – and truth is what we all should pursue if we intend to solve our present misery under the rotten present social system.

How the global economy, triggered by the strategic downfall of U.S. imperialism, ended up bleeding profusely to the point of dying – and why we Filipinos should be caring to take notice of these events?

Tied in servitude to U.S.’s imperialist interests, let’s analyze the annals of history to better understand how the current American demise brings forth doom to our livid nation.
Needless to say, the reality is that the Philippines – being a neo-colony – isn’t too invincible not to be affected, Mrs. Arroyo.

U.S. Imperialism – An Interlude
Inspired by the bourgeoisie revolution erupting in various parts of Europe and fueled by the technological innovations of the industrial revolution (ushered and maximized by capitalists themselves in order to hasten their profit), it didn’t take long before the emerging American capitalist nation (fresh from winning its independence from colonialist Britain) made itself known to the world politically and economically.

But because the capitalists’ mind is programmed for “more profit”, monopolist American tycoons and small market investors sought to double their profit in the most feasible way without having to hassle themselves with putting up resource-consuming industries or formal businesses – hence the stock market was born.

Add this to U.S.’s rapidly expanding industries and booming banking system and it was no sooner that America bloomed to the point of deterioration even as early as the 1870’s.

As feared by experts, U.S.’s and other imperialist nation’s speculative economy (e.g. Wall Street or the stock market – the gambling juncture for big-time capitalists and ordinary investors) busted half a century later and paved the way for the Great Depression (1920s).

In those times, millions of workers lost their jobs and millions of families suffered hunger pangs and literal nothingness (very much like the impoverished condition in our country now) in a daily basis while basic commodities flooded the market to rot. Indeed, the Great Depression was the darkest fiscal turmoil the world has ever seen in decades.

This imperialist crisis of overproduction and shrinking market pointed to one solution: WAR, the most lucrative business up to date in the capitalism era.

Fast-track to post-World War II.
America was the least ravaged country among the warring imperialist nations – in fact, it even profited and fed-off from the destruction that rampaged across the Atlantic and beyond (save for Pearl Harbor and U.S.’s armed forces who were sent as war machinery).

After the war, the vastly devastated European and Asian countries had incurred not only war damages in the process of the fighting but also a ballooning indebtedness – to no other than the U.S.

This debt bondage to U.S. and its apparent military strength served as the basis for the nation’s rise to economic prominence and its transformation into an imperialist superpower.
America at present.

Being a dominant superpower after World War II, America is currently in the middle of a wide scale economic uncertainty. In truth, it’s this fear of what lies beyond an institutions’ financial comfort zone that is spelling doom to the general economy of the world.

After almost a decade of failed policies under the war-freak, terrorism-obsessed Bush administration, the American people sought for a relief from the ongoing financial crisis that shook the nation’s economy (which first manifested in the form of the housing mortgage flop early last year).

November 2008, the presidential elections – Bush goes OUT and Obama comes IN.

The Obama hype, apart from being a history-setting racial win, was largely due to the fact that U.S. was deep in recession and it needed somebody to come pick it up from despondency.

Now that all the confetti has fallen, the question is: has the world, especially the American people, found a savior in president Obama? Or is the world forgoing another chapter in its history books where the faces change but nevertheless poverty prevails?

NO and YES.

In what has been dubbed as an impending depression far worse than the Great Depression, the scale of this foreseen period is unprecedented – the expected global shockwave is off the Richter and the forecasted 200,000,000 jobs shed off during the year (according to International Labor Organization – ILO) is just the tip of the iceberg.

Now, where’s Barack’s “distribution of wealth” platform when he himself signs a bail-out plan that covers big financial institutions and not the ordinary citizen?

Funny but it’s also the move of various imperialist governments that are affected by the “crunch”

Clearly, the capitalist-riddled bureaucracy has no heart for the toiling masses – as is the case in the Philippines.

Going Back to Our Shores.
Recently named among BizNews Asia magazine’s “Power 100,” Gloria Arroyo surely succeeded building an iron-walled regime based on sleaze, puppetry and fraud.

Looking back, in the eye of the global economic storm, she assured the public of stability and even boasted of the dubious 0.3 GDP growth that the nation recently enjoyed – now, she calmly assures the public on one side still but strongly urges the present and upcoming labor force to search for greener pastures abroad.

This logical move by GMA to rid the country of more of its labor resource is due to the fact that our economy floats merely from the increasing OFW remittances (and the news of continuous lay-offs of thousands of OFWs overseas knocks on Malacañang’s doors like an inevitable catastrophe). Locally, unemployment is expected to soar higher than never before this year – leaving a bulk of ‘09 graduates to be on an indefinite standby.

To top this scenario is the fact that:

• 7 out of 10 Filipinos suffer involuntary hunger (eat less than 3 times a day).
• DOLE conservatively predicts that there will be 300,000 Filipinos who will lose their jobs until June this year (not counting the overseas lay-offs).
• Only 25% companies in the country abide by the minimum wage law (Cebu – Php 267.00) while the daily cost of living for a family of 4 has already climbed to Php 750+.
• Our total debt has reached 7.6 trillion pesos – divided equally among the populace equates to an individual debt of 89,000 each one.
• An astounding number of 45 million Filipinos don’t own a land or a decent home to live in.
  To the rising incidence of poverty in our country, what is Arroyo’s call on the nation? Charter change – a clear ridicule of Juan dela Cruz’s plight.

Yet, when did the reactionary elite of our country ever have the heart to see the misery of the ordinary Juan? Isn’t it that they took a seat in power for further profiteering and not to heed the people’s cry for true equality and economic equity?

Feng shui experts may have recommended that in this Year of the Ox, it pays to persevere and toil doubly hard to achieve our short and long term goals – yet let that not serve as a reason to be passive to all the anomalies that pester our nation to utter wretchedness.

In capitalism’s collapse comes the immediate need to study for other alternative social system that could well push the world to further advancement without having to result to widening the gap between those who have and those who have nothing.

The best time to usher in a new kind of society? NOW.