REMEMBERING THE DAYS OF MARTIAL LAW: An Open Letter for the Filipino Youth

Most of us remember Martial Law as a painful turmoil that the nation ever experience.  A national situation associated to all forms of violence from killings, enforced disappearances, lifting of the writ of habeas corpus, massive human rights violations and grave abuses of military and politicians against the people’s civil liberties and democratic rights.  Other than all of these, who would forget to associate the former fascist dictator President Ferdinand Marcos to Martial Law?  It was a decade-lasting of political situation affecting all aspects of the country’s social system.  In fact, one of the 2 remarkable changes to the country’s political system ever known, 1^st to GMA’s legacy. We don’t mean a good and exemplary legacy but a traumatic, unashamed and decadent legacy. 

What then do we need to understand about Martial Law as a mark to our history, after 40 years of declaration?

The generation of today had not been born during the period, rather use as an excuse to have known how Martial Law impact our country’s social system, the generation of today is too fortunate to have the rich resources of information and the advancement of technologies to know the realities and become more aware and informed.

To start with, let us answer the question how did it all begin?  Some of you probably would answer that the attempt to assassinate Former Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile made it all possible, a big NO!  It was a manipulated and orchestrated incident to justify the declaration of Martial Law.  The reason behind the declaration has a deeper reason from the point of view of the reactionary politicians in the period, a move to mitigate the spread of their topmost fear: the growing vigilance of the Filipino people for genuine societal transformation.  You might wonder what is there for them to fear that democracy is in fact the power of the people!  That is exactly the reason why, they fear the power of the people heightening!

Important events of the economic and political situation globally and nationally happened before the declaration.  To cite the most important:  The state visit of former US President Nixon which craft policies for globalization, the approval of the bilateral state agreement on the IRRI rice research funding, the global siren of socialism spearheaded by the People’s Republic of China, the First Quarter Storm described as the height of the dynamic, vigilant and heroic social movement of the youth, the radical peasant movement at the countryside, the uprising of the Muslim-Filipinos against Marcos’ manipulation on the issue of Sabah, Marcos ending term as 2-termed President (1965-1972) and the global people’s movement of social change as the response of the people of the world to the massive and intensifying crisis of hunger, unemployment and inequality.  For your information, it wasn’t only Marcos who took the path of Fascism as a form of rule; it was a global trend amongst the governments at that period of time, an imposition of the USA’s foreign policy against the empowering people of the world.  A global call among the reactionary government to shove aside all possible results favoring the oppressed people of the world against the global crisis systematized in the campaign of Low Intensity Democracy.  These were the CONTEXT.

The big question is, why aren’t these written in our history books? Well, they wouldn’t want us to learn from it, they wouldn’t want for the new generation to learn from the past that indeed the response to an oppressive and exploitative situation can be answered by the people’s movement to change it!  This is however, to put it on a direct and straight-forward point of view.

As the state of Martial Law progresses, in real sense didn’t serve its purpose.  The vigilance and the heroism of the Filipino people with the important role of the youth at that period, intensified.  Student-youth who formerly did not believe on the idea of radical change became part of the movement for radical change.  Who wouldn’t be?  When hundreds of people are charged of cases whether criminal or political are pursued, when hundreds of people are gone missing without a trace, when pure and peaceful assemblies become a massacre and amidst all these no justice is achieved.   To add, the state of hunger, inequality and the global crisis of uncertainties remain and the governments are more antagonistic, manipulative and exploitative!

We believe you knew how the Martial Law ended and how Fascist-Dictator Marcos was put down in power.  You would answer the famous “EDSA PEOPLE POWER or the EDSA REVOLUTION” made it that placed former Pres. Cory Aquino as the next president of the Republic of the Philippines.  To put it on record she did not contribute nor spearheaded the MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE FASCIST-DICTATOR RULE.   She went into hiding at the whole duration of the Martial Law.  There is nothing wrong with it, we can understand why she needs to but for her to be attributed all of the efforts that culminated to the end of Martial Law and the ousting of Marcos is wrong.  IT WAS THE NAMELESS, FACELESS, VIGILANT, FEARLESS AND HEROIC FILIPINO PEOPLE AT THAT DECADE, our grandparents, parents, sisters, brothers who stand against oppression and exploitation made it all happened!

Do you see now, what is there to learn from remembering the days of Martial law? It is not the declaration, it is why Martial Law was declared in the first place and how did the people respond to it. 

VIGILANCE AND HEROISM SUCCEEDED!  It proved again that when people stand their ground for what is true, right and just, nothing is impossible to achieve.  No brick walls can’t be broken and no distant dreams can’t be achieved.

We are confronted by a context now, similar to the context of martial law; will you respond the same as our heroes?  We should be.  It only takes the Will to DO IT.  Start off by knowing the facts, draw truth from it, form your conviction to pursue what is right and COMMIT your life to COURAGE AND JUSTICE. 

LONG LIVE FREEDOM!

LONG LIVE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE!

Youth for Nationalism and Democracy-Cebu

September 20, 2012

Mobile phone number: 0923-960-4108/Facebook account: YND-Cebu

The Current State of Philippine Education

Written and delivered by Francisco “Ka Dodong” Nemenzo Former President University of the Philippines during the Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers' 

(ASSERT) Conference 

Knowing my professional background, I suppose you expect a reaction to Department of Education (DepEd) discussion paper from the standpoint of a university. Since my experience is limited to tertiary education, I gauge the quality of basic education by the kind of students we get. I can do this with confidence, because, as the President of UP, I constantly monitored our student profile to check how those who entered as freshmen performed in later years.

Despite passing a tough and highly competitive entrance exam, many of them are not prepared for college work. Their mathematical and communication skills leave much to be desired, and they lack intellectual curiosity and the capacity for critical thinking. For this reason we require them to take courses they should have already taken in high school. This cuts down the period for specialization since most degree programs are designed for only four years.

We therefore have a vested interest in upgrading basic education, especially in the public sector. I favor the addition of two years to the secondary curriculum, for reasons cited in the DepEd discussion paper. But before this is fully implemented, some fundamental changes have been made. Two more years of bad education will not improve its quality. It will just saddle the parents with unnecessary financial burden. In this paper I shall discuss what changes ought to be instituted to prevent the proposed, “Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program” from going the way of previous reform efforts.

Recruiting teachers

The DepEd discussion paper gives incontrovertible proof and arguments that the present Grades 1-10 scheme is inadequate both as a preparation for work and a preparation for college. But this is not the fundamental problem. The fundamental problem is the lack of teachers who have mastered the subjects they are teaching, who are strongly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic. This shortage of good teachers should be tackled first before putting into effect the K+12 plan. If we are serious about improving basic education, this is where to start.

Natatandaan ko na nuong ako’y estudyante pa, mas magaling ang faculty ng public shools kay sa private schools. They attracted some of the best and the brightest. Although teaching was never a remunerative profession, it offered psychic rewards. Teachers enjoyed professional pride. Kaya ang pinakamagaling naming mga kaklase ay galling sa public high schools. Sa umpisa siga-siga ang galling sa elite high schools katulad ng Ateneo dahil mahusay silang magsalita ng English. Pero paglipas ng iilang semester, kulilat na sila. Ang mga student leaders, Collegian editors at honor graduate kadalasan produkto ng public high schools. Hindi na ganito ngayon.

Alam ko na mayroon pang magagaling na guro, pero tumatanda na sila dahil ang kabataang graduado ay umiiwas sa pagtuturo sa elementary at high schools. The remaining few are demoralized by dismally low salaries and the low public regard. Good teachers are insufficient to cope with the enormity of the basic education sector. Worse, their ranks are being depleted because of the Americans are actively recruiting the better ones for their schools in depressed areas where white teachers do not want to go. Hongkong is also pirating Filipino teachers on a massive scale. Many Filipino domestics in Hongkong are veteran teachers who were recruited on the basis of their English proficiency because Chinese families prefer maids who can double as English tutors for their children.

The DepEd discussion paper has ignored this trend. It has no plan for reversing this. Unless, we provide incentives for them to stay, the decline of basic education in the public sector will continue because the recruiters target the best we have. Seguradong papalpak na naman itong K+12  plan kung hindi mapigilan ang exodus ng mahuhusay na guro.

The first time I examined the UP student’s profile, I was delighted to note an increase in the number of students in the College of education. However, my enthusiasm diminished when I learned that when most of them entered as freshmen they opted for the most coveted degree programs; they shifted to education because they failed to maintain the required averages in engineering, economics, business administration, etc.

Since they are nonetheless doing well in the College of Education, I wanted to believe that they have, at last, found their true calling. But I soon discovered that very few of them go into teaching after graduation. They just want a UP diploma to pursue other careers, or go abroad.

How can we attract and retain good teachers in basic education? Besides raising their salaries and restoring their professional pride, we should also upgrade the normal schools and colleges of education: these are our primary fields of recruitment. Pero tila mababa rin ang kalidad ng mga ito. UP professors have complained that the knowledge levels of BSE degree holders who are taking graduate courses is pathetic. They seem to have mastered the techniques of teaching but not the subjects they are supposed to teach.

The language issue

The DepEd discussion paper laments the miserable performance of Filipino students in the TIMMS surveys. TIMMS is (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) is a US-based research organization that conducts international countries of elementary and secondary students’ competencies in mathematics and science. In 2003 the 4^th grade Filipino pupils ranked 23^rd out of the 25 participating countries in both science and mathematics; in other words, we are 3^rd from the bottom. Our 2^nd year high school students fared no better. 43^rd out of 46 in science and 34^th out of 38 in mathematics.

Some experts attribute this to the use of the English language as medium of instruction. They seem to forget that English has always been the medium of instruction for Mathematics and Science. They also overlook the fact that, in the TIMMS surveys, the countries where English is the medium of instruction lag behind the Asian countries that use their own languages for teaching.

I put forward the hypothesis that the use of English for teaching Science and Mathematics has been counter-productive. It might even have contributed to our poor performance in the TIMMS survey. We should also reexamine the assumption that the Philippine languages are inappropriate for teaching science and mathematics because they lack the equivalents to English terms.

In my view, the important thing is not the terms used but how they are explained. Just as biology borrows Latin terms, we can use English terms but explain them in language the students are most familiar. This is how the Japanese do it. My son, a professor of Mathematics at U.P who did his Ph. D in Tokyo, told me that in his field (i.e., number theory) they use Japanized German terms because it was the Germans who introduced number theory to Japan in the early 20^th century. They did not bother to translate the German terms, but in the classrooms and textbooks they explain the concepts in Nihonggo.

The exponents of English constantly point out that the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Thais, etc. are now learning English, suggesting that English is the language of progress. It is true the progressive Asian countries encourage their students to learn English as second language. The Japanese even require English in their Senior high school curricula. But none of these countries have shifted to English as medium of instruction. They use their own languages for teaching.

I am not proposing that we drop English altogether. In several occasions I have articulated my stand on the language issue. Please allow me to reiterate it here: Filipino students ought to be bilingual or trilingual. They should master English as the international language, Tagalog as the national language and, if they are non-Tagalogs, they should also be proficient in their regional languages.

is this asking too much of our young people? Hindi ko mapaniwalaanna mas bobo ang Pinoy comparer sa mga Dutch at Scandinavians. As anyone who has been to Europe can attest, the Dutch at Scandinavians speak English, French and German besides their native languages. The Filipino talent for languages is demonstrated by the case with which the OFWs in the non-English speaking countries pick up the languages of the host countries.

The role of the mass media

The objective of education is not to pack young brains with facts, but to arouse their curiosity so they will be driven by thirst for knowledge. Teachers who can instill the habits of questioning, of reading and forming intelligent opinions of their own must themselves possess these habits. Judging by the freshmen we get in UP, these habits are getting rare.

Computers, videos and televisions are often cited explain why young people today do not read as much as those who grew up before the advent of these technologies. But rather than cry over the degradation of youth culture, the better course of wisdom is to learn how to use these new technologies for education. These technologies are not bad per se. They are good or bad depending on how they are used and for what purpose.

What we should deplore and fight against is their commercialization, the fact that the mass media (especially televisions) are operated for profit. They thrive on advertising revenues. Commercialized television is responsible for idiotizing or mis-educating our people. They cancel out the values taught in school. They nurture intellectual laziness; the unthinking acceptance of what they see on television and read in the newspaper.

But we should not overlook the positive side of audio-visual technologies. They are potentially a powerful instrument for education. Instead of banning them, DepEd should encourage the teacher training colleges to teach the future teachers how to use visual teaching. These technologies have opened up the prospect of realizing the ideal of a learning society where education occurs not only in school. They make possible life-long learning.

We have media professionals who have actually produced excellent educational programs. Unfortunately their works, if utilized at all, are broadcast in the most inconvenient times, or broadcast in cable channels that are accessible only to subscribers. The leading television networks, in their relentless drive for profit, reserve prime time for telenovelas and other inane shows.

Since the mass media have virtually dislodged the schools in shaping the hearts and minds of people, they have become in fact an integral part of the educational system. Just like the private schools, they should be regulated by the state; and turned into an extension of the classrooms.

Vocational courses in the Curriculum

I agree with DepEd discussion paper that the prevailing concept of secondary education as a preparation for college is too narrow and misdirected. Ideally, high school graduates should be adequately prepared to gainful employment or, if they have the capital, to embark on entrepreneurial ventures. I would even go further: let us persuade the prospective employers to drop the requirement of college degrees because, in fact, a wide range of jobs do not really need a four-year college education.

            In 1991 the EDCOM (Joint Congressional Commission on Education) put forward a bold proposal to convert the substandard and politics-ridden state universities into community colleges offering two-year intensive skills development cour4ses. I don’t know what happened to this proposal. I agree with EDCOM report that excellent community colleges are less expensive to establish and maintain than full-blown universities. With such institutions it is easier to adapt skills training to the requirement of the job market.

Social Studies in the High School Curriculum

            In striving to promote science and mathematics, we should not neglect the social studies. While preparing young people for jobs, they should also be prepared to understand and cope with the realities of Philippine Society, and the global village. To imbue them with the spirit of Nationalism, they should have an adequate grounding in history, economics, political science and sociology. A critical mind is absolute necessary for life in this age of Information Technology, and the social studies, if properly taught, are the most powerful catalysts for critical-thinking.

            Everyday we are bombarded with information and misinformation in media and the internet. Without critical minds, our people are prone to relegate to media the task of thinking. We have often heard, even among supposedly intelligent UP students, statements like “it must be true because I saw in television…or I read it in the newspapers.” This reduces one of our most precious chartered freedoms- the freedom of thought- into a mockery. For democracy to be meaningful, the citizenry should be equipped with the capacity to process information, i.e., to read between the lines and see beyond TV images. This is why the social studies are crucial in basic education.

           

            Intellectual lassitude lies at the roof of widespread apathy among the present crop of students. They do not seem to care about the country; and their adulation of affluent countries like the United States is disgusting. This is reflected in their choices of degree programs in the university. Nursing, physical therapy, hotel and restaurant administration, tourism etc. draw the largest enrolment because these are perceived as pathways to self-advancement.

            I do not condemn our compatriots who seek greener pastures abroad. Insofar as those who leave because they want to forget our country are concerned, I am only too glad to see them go. Floaters who have no sense of national identity tend to cause problems whenever they live. We can offer them as a gift to the United States. The Mexicans have a nice word for them: venganza bilogica”- the biological revenge of the Third World.

            But there are also many who leave and settle in foreign countries but retain their patriotic commitment. Their departure is not necessarily a brain drain but a brain gain. Some countries owe their development to their overseas nationals. India is one example.

            In the boom days of Silicon Valley several Indian Scientist and engineers immigrated to the United States. It turned out that they contributed to India’s fantastic leap from a backward nation to a super-power in the IT industry. When they left India for lack of opportunities at home, they brought with them a strong sense of nationalism, a strong commitment to lift their native land out of backwardness. Over the years they passed on to the Indian Institutes of Technology the most advanced knowledge and skills they learned in America. And when the Silicon bubble burst, they persuaded Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, etc. to relocate their research and development facilities to Bangalore and Hyderabad where there is an abundance of world-class scientific and technological manpower.

                        That is the kind of overseas Filipinos we should be cultivating through the social studies component of our educational system. Fired by a strong sense of nationalism, they will not only keep our flagging economy afloat with their remittances; they also serves as channels for technology transfer.

Summing up    

To summarize the points I made earlier: If we truly want our youth to get the education they deserve, we should restore the dignity of the teaching profession. We should make teachers’ salaries competitive vis-à-vis the other professions. The curricula of teacher training colleges should lay greater emphasis on subject matter content. We should fix these essential flaws to prevent the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program from going down the path of previous educational experiments. And we must act now before the General Agreement on Trades and Services consign our youth to the margin of our own labor force.

On the Philippine-Australia Status of the Visiting Forces Agreement

“Di na Natuto”- We haven’t learned

This song title best describes the nation’s leaders who are pushing for the ratification of another Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), that with Australia.

Only a few years ago the controversial Subic Rape Case showed the nation how the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) saved a convicted US soldier from serving term in Philippine jail.  Now, the president and some senators are courting disaster by allowing another agreement that explicitly exempts foreign soldiers from accountability to our domestic laws.

SOVFA that guarantees protection for Australian troops, it can greatly increase Australian military deployment to the Philippines.  It can hold more joint military exercises to enhance “interoperability” to muster effective collaborative force against US’ enemies it calls “non-traditional threats”.  

The VFA did not make the AFP a force that can truly defend the country’s territorial integrity.  But here is the Department of Defense extolling SOVFA’s benefits for the AFP.

The VFA and the MLSA were instrumental in making US troops presence permanent and not merely visiting.  Now, Senator Loren Legarda says the SOVFA with Australia has safeguards.

Shall we allow ourselves to be fooled yet again?

The timing of the ratification is instructive.  The US is now reasserting its dominance in the region, its defined frontier for recovery and growth, part of this is to contain China, a rising power. Re-balancing its troops in the Asia Pacific region, including 2,500 troops to Darwin, Australia is part of this tact.

Kilusan sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) believes that Australia is working for this agreement not for the mutual benefit of the two contracting parties but primarily to project its power in the Asia Pacific, playing a supporting role to the US.

In the past, Australia has always relied on another power to augment its defense capabilities. Phil-Aus SOVFA is one of the instruments to reinforce US’ Pacific wall against China.

The Philippines and our Senate should not fall for an old ploy, and should learn its lessons well. By taking sides, the danger of being reduced to collateral damage between two colliding powers becomes a certainty. ####

Historic Moment in the Continuing Quest for Truth, Justice and Genuine Democracy

May 30,2012 

More than two-thirds (2/3) of the senators have convicted Renato C. Corona. He is now to be removed from the post as chief justice and be permanently barred from holding any public office or position. 

The present House of Representatives and Senate have done their sole duty and authority to initiate impeachment and to try and decide on impeachment complaints against an impeachable official. This one against Corona is the first-ever impeachment process that reached conclusion. 

The judgement, which is indeed momentous and have wide and far-reaching implications, was not only expected but was demanded by the people even before the House of Representatives initiated the impeachment of Corona. 

This small and partial victory of removing Corona from the post, which was arrogated for him by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and which he assumed, is still to be pursued into its finality. Until Corona and his ilk comply and submit to the Senate’s decision, this episode is not closed. 

We should remain vigilant. The actuations and latest statements of Corona and his lead counsel are doubtful and suspicious. Corona has said that he accepts the verdict “if it would be for good of the people”. But before accepting the verdict, Corona first denounced the impeachment process as having been dominated by political manoeuvrings and re-asserted that his conviction is product of a conspiracy. 

His acceptance of the verdict is doubtful and betrays ill intentions. He has earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment process. His walk-out last May 22 also proclaimed that he does not recognize the impeachment court and actually wanted to lord over it. His lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas has also declared before the verdict was handed down that should Corona is convicted they would protest the verdict before the Supreme Court. 

Corona’s pending petition and the expressed plan of filing a new complaint before the Supreme Court are designed to hostage not only the Senate’s verdict but the principle of “check and balance”. Should they pursue this and should the SC act on it could lead to a constitutional crisis. 

The removal of Corona from the highest post in the Judiciary is now demanded by the people to proceed to major and fundamental reforms of the judicial system. 

The Aquino administration is urgently called for to fulfil its promise to bring to closure all the pending charges against GMA and her ilk. The more urgent ones include the human rights violations particularly the numerous extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and cases of illegal arrest and detention; the fraudulent 2004 and 2007 elections; the ZTE deal, Fertilizer Scam, etc. 

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” 

The ouster of Corona from a stolen post maybe the end of an episode but is also the beginning of a new chapter of more arduous struggle for truth, justice, freedom and democracy that would require heightened vigilance of the people. For the people, the most important lesson in the impeachment trial is vigilance and resoluteness for a just cause. 

The twenty senators who voted for Corona’s conviction may be commended but they may not claim victory for the people because they have to prove more as being their “representatives”. Although the senators may 

have acted and spoken in political grandstanding ways they have said a lot that have meaning to the people. 

But the people should not be misled by words of promises and place their hopes at the hands of leaders who do not genuinely represent their interests. Instead, the people should follow-through their other major and basic demands. That all public officials be accountable to the people by declaring the true state of their assets, liabilities and net worth is just one among the demands of the people to check graft and corruption. Public officials would all fail if they would be measured with the liabilities and promises they owe the people. 

One senator has expressed their other liabilities to the people: “impeaching poverty and hunger, unemployment, etc.” But he failed to air the need to repeal laws that are causing and exacerbating these symptoms of crisis. Among others the most urgent ones are Oil Deregulation Law, Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), Mining Act, the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement. A Marcos legacy that is the Foreign Currency Deposit Act belong to this ranking. 

President Noynoy Aquino is particularly being called to prove that his Matuwid na Daan is meaningful to the people. Other than arresting GMA and Abalos and ousting Corona his campaign against graft and corruption must redound to real and concrete benefits of the people that would pave the way towards fundamental economic, political and social reforms. 

The people’s historical and continuing struggle for truth, justice and democracy will certainly proceed from this one episode. It is for the people to decide the next chapters not only through the coming elections but in pursuing their struggle relentlessly. 

##### 

CJ IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: UNVEILING OF HOW THE ELITE DISPENSES JUSTICE

The executive, legislative, and the judiciary are the major branches of elitist rule in the country. They operate within the framework of maintaining such rule over the Filipino people.

Existing factions of the ruling class hold elections as part of the “constitutional process” - how to share among themselves the reins and spoils of political power stamped with the people’s imprimatur. They also have the impeachment again as a “constitutional process” - how to “discipline” erring members of the ruling class and their representatives for abuse of  exercise of such power.

The zeal and fervor of the present regime in going after CJ Corona, ex-COMELEC Commissioner Abalos, and the former President Arroyo spring from the fact that these accused  have almost destroyed the workings of the three pillars of the government with the potent combination of electoral sabotage, corruption, abuse of power, and  impunity. Perceived enemies of the state were either jailed or killed.

The nine years regime of Arroyo made a mess out of the “legitimacy” of the elite as well as the operation of the whole system. Using his popularity, PNOY has to fix this so as to not to isolate further the government from the people. Thus, it came as no surprise that judicial reform is one of the main agenda of the US government for PNOY.

The so-called “wheelchair approach” of practically all the accused, cannot be solely blamed on them. With all callousness, all of them wanted to illicit pity from the people they have oppressed.  The kid-gloves handling of the present government makes it a current fixture on our political landscape.  They have the best hospital doctors and facilities.  It is their right because they are part if not representatives of the ruling class.  Their rights should always be respected.

In contrast, what about the 871 deaths of ordinary inmates since 2010 from cardiopulmonary arrest and pulmonary tuberculosis while behind bars? What about the inmates sleeping on floors and corridors because

the jails operate at an average of 400 percent over their designated capacity.  They have no rights because they are non-entities and simple numbers.

CJ Corona’s performance last Tuesday, May 22, 2012 was without equal.  He was allowed to make an opening statement for three hours without questions coming from the prosecution and the senator-judges. He was never censured for his harsh and gutter-like language.  As one reporter said, he had conducted a press conference inside the session of the impeachment court. His walkout has rendered the impeachment court speechless.  Senators who had the nasty habit of battering lesser mortals in the witness stand have suddenly become inflicted with acute sore throats that no voice managed to come out from their mouths.  Enrile’s order of closing the gates of the Senate saved the day for them.  CJ Corona was forced to come back in the session hall.  Sulking in a wheelchair, the chief magistrate of the land looked like a disheveled god with a shattered ego.

CJ Corona’s apology last Friday, May 25, 2012 on his attempted walkout was unanimously accepted because of health reason. As a Senate that stuffed the public consciousness with materiality and relevance of facts and the pursuit of truth, it softly challenged CJ Corona’s premeditated walk-out. This was in sharp contrast with the Senate censuring of Atty. Aguirre that clasped his hands to his ears to signify his protest over Santiago’s berating tirades against the prosecution.  The attempted walkout was an affront against the whole Senate yet it was simply erased because of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.

What a zarzuela! Among the ruling class, an illness can be a passport for condoning misdemeanors much less crime.

CJ Corona has run the whole judiciary as his personal fiefdom (read Integrity of the judicial system) – insulating Gloria Arroyo as his main patron from further cases, interpreting the law for their own interests and using the court to grab properties from his wife’s relatives.  The rule of law even of the ‘burgis’ was undermined.

Recognizing the fact that impeachment is also a political process, CJ Corona tried to sway public opinion in his favor. Through his loyal stooge, Midas Marquez mobilized the whole judiciary to rally behind their embattled chief magistrate.  Rallies and masses inside the Supreme Court premises were  held and court holidays were declared so that court personnel can join these  mobilizations whose sole purpose is to  accentuate CJ Corona’s  innocence”.

Court personnel forgot their real boss, the sovereign people. How CJ Corona has inflicted the whole judicial system with his character and mindset is truly a remarkable feat for any bureaucrat.  Even the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has proven to be one CJ Corona’s avid supporter.

These court holidays only serve to further deter the already exceedingly slow wheels of justice. We know for a fact that the backlog of court cases exceeds 600,000. This does not include those who have been incarcerated yet no charges have been filed against them.  CJ Corona has turned the judicial machinery into his fans club rather than a swift dispenser of justice. Never mind, ordinary inmates come from the ranks of the masses.

The impeachment trial is about to wrap up its task and will render its verdict hopefully this week. Let us wait how the ruling class will put their imprimatur on this “constitutional process”.      ####

KILUSAN PARA SA PAMBANSANG DEMOKRASYA         May 28, 2012

Ibalik ang tiunay nga esensya sa “People Power”

Youth for Nationalism and Democracy

Pebrero 25, 1986

Mukabat ug tulo ka milyon nga mga Pilipino ang midagsa sa EDSA arun ipaduso ang protesta sa mala-diktador ug corrupt nga pamaagi sa panggrobyerno ni Marcos ug sa gayud, midaug ang inila ug bantug nga pag-alsa sa EDSA, ug mipuli ang bag-ong rehimen sa mga Aquino.

Natapos ang pag-alsa sa EDSA pinaagi sa hiniusang singgit ug kusog sa mga katawhang Pilipino, ug natapos usab ang pila ka tuig nga pagpanamastamas sa mga katungod sa mga nagkadaiya ug tanang sektor sa katawhan sukad madiklara ang “Martial Law”.

Kung atung sutaon, nagalangkub ba ug naga-representa sa kinatibuk-ang katawhang Pilipino ang maong pag-alsa? Sigun, duha lamang ka porsyento sa kinatibuk-ang populasyon sa Pilipinas ang misalmot sa maong kalihukan.

Naangkon na ba sa Pilipinas ang tiunay nga DEMOKRASYA human sa maong “EDSA People Power” niadtong Pebrero 25, 1986??

Gipatuo ang kabag-ang Pilipino nga tiunay na nga nakab-ot ang kagawasan pinaagi sa mga porma ug pagpanglingla nga sukwahi sa atong mga nakita ug nasinati. Nagpadayon lang gihapun ang langyaw nga kontrol ug pagpangolonya sa Pilipinas (ang gahum nga nagpaluyo ug nagkupot sa ekonomiya, politikal ug kultural nga aspeto ug gawi sa mga Pilipino). Ang mga adunahang pipila nag padayon sa pag-uswag ug ang mga kabus nagpadayon sa pagkunhod sukad sa maong makasaysayanung panghitabu. Kini tungod kay kontrolado sa Imperyalistang US ang atong pang-gobyerno ug ang kinatibuk-ang kalihukan niini sa mga pamaaging hilum arun dili kini maghatag kanato ug rason arun makigbisug sa tiunay nga KABAG-UHAN ug KAGAWASAN.

Atong mamatikdan nga ulahi na kaayo ang Pilipinas sa kinatibuk-ang dagan sa kalibutan , nga kung sumahun, kompleto man unta ang Pilipinas sa tanang matang sa mga minerales ug rekurso nga gikinahanglan sa usa ka nasud para sa pagpapa-industriyalisa.

Usa ka kongkretong magpamatuod nga ang ekonomiya sa Pilipinas gipagsilbi sa langyaw ug pagawas sa nasud, mao ang padayon nga pag-export sa atong mga local nga produkto, ug kusog pamuo ug sa bisan kinsa mang anaa sa katungdanan sa atong gobyerno aduna gayud kalambigitan sa Imperyalistang US, nga nagpasabot lamang nga gipanghinguptan ug kontrolado lang gihapon ang Pilipinas sa mga langyaw'ng Imperyalista (gipagsilbi ngadto kanila ang atong ekonomiya ug kontrolado ang politika ug kultura).

“People Power is more than just Ousting a Worst, Apathetic, ELITE President. It is Calling and Educating the People for UNITY to Change the Essence of the Current and General Societal System, Not just the Mere Form and Regime. Let us become more Vigilant in the Need of a Genuine National Democracy.”

IBALIK ANG GAHUM NGADTO SA KATAWHAN!!!

PAGKABAYANINHON SA PILIPINO, IPAHINGUSOG!!

TIUNAY NGA REBOLUSYON SDA KATAWHAN,

IPADAYUN UG PAKIGBISUGAN HANGTOD SA KADAUGAN!!!

“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say we are dreamers, but we are not the only one. We hope someday you will join us, and the world will be as one and equal.”

Ang kalaksot sa sistema, Undangon Na!

Legue of Urban Poor in Action (LUPA-Cebu)

Abril 2012

Sumala sa gipahamtang sa nagkalain-laing sirkumstansya, hilabi na sa ekonomikanhong kahimtang, naa na sa ika duhang guhit ang Pilipinas sa kalisod og kagutom. Sakit og subo man nga pamalandungon ta apan ang kamatuoran: LAKSOT NA KAAYO ANG KONDISYON SA KINABUHI SA MGA KABOS SA LAKSOT OG DUNOT NA KAAYO NGA SISTEMA! Apan si kinsa man ang angay nga basulon niini? Ang katawhan ba nga maoy tumang naninkamot og kamang? Sila nga maoy grabe kaayu nga naapektuhan sa tumang kalisod? Sila nga maoy nalapukan, makasugakod lang sa pang adlaw adlaw nga kalisod sa pangita? Sila nga maoy hinuypan sa ilang mga katungod, masalbar lang ang interes sa hut-ong mapahimuslanon? Budlay na kaayo nga pamalandungon nga kung kinsa pa ang napahimuslan, siya pa ang mugawas nga saypan!

Pipila na ba ka higayon hain tataw kaayo ang kawalay klaro nga suporta sa mga naa sa pangagamhanan ngadto sa mga uyamot! Ang karon nga administrasyong nanaad og kabag-uhan, duplikado ra gihapon sa mga miaging nagdumala nga walay laing tinguha kundili panalipdan ang ilang kaugalingong interes ubos sa sulsul sa tinuod nila nga BOSS! Kinsa mana nga boss? Ang giingon ba nila nga katawhan, nga walay laing naangkon og nadawat kundili kahagip-ot sa kinabuhi tungod sa dili makatarunganong pagpanag-iya!

Ang batakang serbisyo para sa masa,hain naman? Dili ba anam-anam nang gitangtang sa gobyerno ilang responsibilidad ngadto sa katawhan-nga hain subay ra pud kini sa nauso nga Globalisasyon nga walay laing boot pasabot kundi ang mas pagpauyamot sa mga kabos og pagpabilin sa pedestal sa mga hakog.

Maihap pa ba sa atong mga tudlo ang gidaghanon sa pagpanggun-ob nga gibuhat ngadto sa mga puluy-anan sa mga kabos tang mga kaigsoonan tungod og alang sa mga daw nanag-iya sa maong mga yuta? Sa mga panghitabong sama niini, wala na ba gayoy katungod nga mubabag pa kita sa demolisyon og musugot nalang ba kita nga gub-on ang atong kinabuhi?Maayo pa diay ang mga langyaw, adunay luna sud sa nasud ta! Ang mga mulopyo intawn, yanu-yanuhon lang og palayas sa panahon nga naa nay muangkon sa yutang tinamnan nila sa ilang mga pinobreng pangandoy!

Gihulagway na ang pagkupot sa mga elitistang hakog sa 90% nga bahandi sa Pilipinas-nga unta para sa 99% nga masa og dili para nila ra nga 1%ra man unta sila sa kinatibuk-ang populasyon sa nasod. Apan sa paglakat sa mga adlaw, buwan, mga katuigan, misamot ka timawa ang mga kabus!

Tanang panaliton niusbaw na ang mga presyo- pletehan, pagkaon, tambal., og bisan ang kantidad nga kinahanglanon sama sa edukasyon, ospitalisasyon og uban pa misaka na! Pero lilion ta ang presyo sa suhulan, misaka ba? Mas nigrabe paman gali ang dili makiangayaong kondisyon sa atong mga igsoong mamumuo tungod sa pagsagop og pagligalisa sa Kontraktwalisasyon sud sa atong nasud!

Walay benepisyo walay seguridad sa trabaho og mas sikbit sa pagpanamastamas- asa naman ang higayon ta nga mabuhi sama sa usa ka tawo? Kung in-ana nga way saka sa suhulan apan padayon sa pagsaka sa presyo sa mga panaliton hain naman ang higayon ta nga makapaeskwela sa mga anak, makapatambal sa mga nagmasakit,makapakaon og makapabisti sa mga pobre tang kaigsoonan?

Dili pagpakahilom ang tubag sa matag hait nga tunok nga mitusok sa dali mapukan tang kinabuhi og pagkatawo! Dili usa lang ka tawo ang muusab sa hagip-ot tang naabtan! Dili pagpakarun-ingnon nga saad ang muhunong sa kalisod tang nahiaguman- kun dili PAGBAROG, PAGLIHOK, PAGPAKIGBISOG!

Daghan tang napahimuslan

Gamay ra sila, di angay kahadlokan!

Tinabangay, mag-inunungay

Abton ta ang kinabuhing tinuoray!