Incident Report of the League of Filipino Students

LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
University of the Philippines Visayas
Miagao, Iloilo

INCIDENT REPORT

Last August 22, 2009, the Reserved Officers Training Corps with first year students held a camp visit at Camp Peralta, Jamindan Capiz. In the light of an orientation with the first year students, an official of the Philippine Army in the name of Maj. Delos Reyes asked the first year students whether they know anything about LFS and then maliciously asked them whether they could readily identity members of the organization. Then the orientation turned to be a sermon on the camp. The said official started saying that “pumasok kayo ng UP para mag-aral hindi para pumasok sa LFS at umakyat sa bundok para maging ‘red figthers’” (you entered UP for study, not to join LFS and depart to the mountains and be ‘red fighters’) to the students. The official also encouraged the students not to join LFS because it is an “anti-government” organization. Further, the official warned the students that the legal activities of the League of Filipino Students are all backed–up by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA). The said official also asked the student “tutulungan ninyo ba kaming gipitin ang kalayaan ng LFS dyan sa loob ng UP?” (will you help us limit the freedom of LFS in UP?). In addition, one of the officers in the ROTC was observed to be affirming what Maj. Delos Reyes stated.

We have verified the accuracy and truthfulness of the events from the NSTP-ROTC first year students.

As a legitimate and recognized student organization, not only in the university, but throughout the country, we are clearly maligned and deprecated by what was supposed to be a simple academic activity for the students of the ROTC. We assert that our organization should not be threatened and defamed by any entity within or outside the university.

In line with this,

(1) we demand clarification and repudiation of the statements that were channeled through the NSTP-ROTC;

(2) we want a direct dialogue with the first year NSTP-ROTC students to defend the credibility and autonomy of our organization;

(3) we ask support from the administration for the confidentiality of the first year NSTP-ROTC students who gave their testimonies regarding the incident.

We are hoping for an immediate positive response from your office regarding this matter.

In the continued service to the Filipino people,
League of Filipino Students

Cc:
-OSR
-USC
-OSA
-OVCAA
-Offiice of the Chancellor

LFS Remembers Cory – Fellow Traveler in the Anti-Marcos Struggle, EDSA II and Truth and Accountability Under the Arroyo Regime

The League of Filipino Students extends its deepest condolences to the family of President Corazon Aquino – an insurmountable ally of the students and the people in the anti-Marcos struggle, EDSA II, and truth and accountability under the Arroyo government.

"While the LFS have had principled disagreements with President Aquino on agrarian reform and her anti-insurgency campaign during her term, we shall not forget the periodic unities for good governance and reform shared with the students through the decades, from the people power uprisings against Presidents Marcos and Estrada, and the continuing campaign for truth and accountability today. The fight for systemic reforms shall continue through us." This was the statement of Terry Ridon, Secretary-General of the League of Filipino Students.

Youth Agenda 2010: A critique to the so-called Youth Vote

The youth age transcends from 13 years old until he/she reaches 35. According to National Statistics about 40% of the population is comprised by the youth. Furthermore, even in the labor force and production of economy, the youth has the biggest share of suppliers and those who comprise the demand. In politics, the youth serves as opinion-maker, making public opinion equal to whatever position the youth would take. Now that election 2010 is fast approaching, it is undeniable that politicians, traditional politicians that is, are taking more steps in making agenda for the youth as their banner platform. But have you ever asked what the “real” youth agenda is?

Historical Role of the Youth

For centuries, tracing back since the Philippines colonial and Martial Law era, the youth played an important role in shaping the course of history. Even the heroes of the past, Andres Bonifacio, JP Rizal, and Gen. E. Jacinto took nationalism into their own hands and offered themselves in the name of freedom. Even the famed Prof. Jose Ma. Sison, founder of the new Communist Party of the Philippines, was still in his youth when he dreamed of a socialist Philippine society. Martyrs like Lean Alejandro, Lorena Barros, Edgar Jopson and Emmanuel Lacaba, all victims of state fascism and dictatorship under the Martial rule of Ferdinand Marcos, were in their youth when they faced torture, abduction and death for the sake of national democracy. All of these names remained uncertain to the present generation as to whether what kind of agenda they would like to bring. If so, have we carried on their agenda for nationalism and democracy? So to say, the historical role of the youth is put into question when we give a distorted orientation of being “youthful”.

Promise of a better tomorrow?

I made some observations in the present trend of politics and how politicians took advantage of the youth’s vulnerability for change. Is this their (politician) way of promising for a better tomorrow? Or just some colloquial methods of publicity? It is quite sad to see, however, the youth’s participation and idealism that most politicians’ method of change is pragmatic and practical in essence, disregarding the genuine struggle for nationalism and democracy.

There are those who claim for individual change and let the vote of the youth actually possess change. Such pronouncements of “youth vote” undermine the real essence of change by giving a promise of transformation once elections will push through. Hence, will it no longer capture traditional politics and the culture of bossism if that happens? Others claim a fashionable youth genre of electioneering, aggrandizing the youth with popular methods such as (sic) “rock the vote”, a schematic method of youthful campaign to attract massive young voters. But the most proliferated promise for change is “Ako Mismo”, a clever way to project their intentions of capturing the youth vote in 2010. Now, before making a comment whether my claims are of factual basis, have you ever asked who the people behind these campaign propaganda are?

Sometimes, I find it more understanding to see politicians’ campaign ad for their own benefit, such as the “padyak” of Mar Roxas, “sipag at tiyaga” of Manny Villar and “ganito kami sa Makati” of Jojo Binay. In one perspective they directly enjoin people to know their real intentions rather than giving false attractions. But I’m not saying their methods are qualified for righteousness and genuine change. All I’m saying we see a clear difference of their intentions from the campaigns we see about them. Let’s ask then, where will all these youth-smearing campaigns end up? Yes, very promising but subsequently, a selfish and blatant way of blinding young voters with the promise of change.

If we follow through on the youthful campaigns, will there be genuine change or still rhetorical old-school propaganda? Think about this, in order to achieve change, according to these campaign ads, you ought to buy and wear a dog-tag with a very fashionable design and proclaim to the world you are part of the process of change. Or, signify your intention for change by signing up to a company-owned advocacy and carry their name for public sympathy. Such a shame that out of the desperate desire for change, we cling to at least any possible means available, even at the most despicable sense.

The real Youth Agenda

The real Youth Agenda should contain some simple truths and a bit of idealism. It should be supportive to the real definition of what is youth. Simple truths like, corruption will not end unless you change people in the system, genuine change will not happen without the essential ingredient of a revolution, and History will keep on repeating itself if we continue to believe that politicians will change our future. Take a break and reflect on the real situation of politics in the country. A third generation of an old political clan will run for president, a politician who clings to power and to the present administration just to maintain political supremacy, a business minded magnate with issues of corruption is topping the presidential surveys, a landlord is making himself popular among the youth by claiming he is part of the young generation, and what’s worst of all, a deposed president will try to run for re-election! Now, if you say then, who will best be our president? My only answer is none of them. Unless there’s a candidate who can resist tuition fee increases, stop commercialization of education and invest more on state-run academic institutions, remove excessive taxes to allow more investments in the country and target all billion-earning corporations to pay their taxes without exemptions, I will be all-out support to that candidate. Sad to say, none of them exists.

That is why the question of the real youth agenda still remains unanswered. Going back to my critique on these “youthful campaigns”, do any of them made mention of simple realities in life? Or are they suspending reality and provide a mockery of the youth’s idealism? My point here is, stop making us, the youth, feel that we are mediocre with all your promising youth agenda! Yes, I do believe that the youth will change greatly the results of the election, and yes I concede that probably the vote of the youth will give a significant change. But don’t mislead us by giving false impressions of change if only the youth will cast its’ vote. Our vote is important that we don’t want to waste it to some selfish interest. Our vote should signify our intention for change, change that is rooted on the principle of nationalism and democracy. But voting is not simply the answer; I believe that in order for genuine change to happen we should accept that an imminent revolution should take place. I’m not advocating for violence, but we have been faced with so many violent offensives from the present regime that the only way to defend ourselves is taking violence as an alternative resort.

Our Challenge

And so, let us take this bit-by-bit. We want change and the youth will forever be resilient with this. Our methods for change, you might say too radical, but will result to a progressive rather than regressive change. As the lyrics in the song “Next in Line: So I sing this song to all of my age, for these are the questions we’ve got to face, for in this cycle that we called life, we are the ones who are next in line”. Don’t tell us that the only thing we could do is go out and vote, we could do more than just voting! I am not pretending to know everything, but a simple truth that the youth aspires for change is enough already to spark a revolutionary spirit for national democracy. So the question I raise to all politicians and those so-called youth campaigns, what have you really done to cater the desire for national democracy? I do believe there are genuine youth movements, but remains isolated because of black propaganda and character assassinations.

Now that 2010 election is just less than a year, whose agenda will you bring?

Youth builds alliance against Con-Ass, ChaCha

Iloilo City, – Upholding the principle that youth plays a vital role in nation building and registering social changes in our motherland, student and youth organizations in Iloilo convened last June 13, 2009 at the Retreat House St. Clements’s Church, La Paz, Iloilo City and formed an alliance group called the “KABATAAN KONTRA CON-ASS AT CHACHA” or K2C2 with the theme “Ngayon na ang panahon. Kabataan, bahagi tayo ng pagbabago!”. The alliance condemns and protests congressmen who signed and agreed on the passage of House Resolution (HR) 1109, stating that the Lower House of the Congress shall convene as a Constituent Assembly to amend the 22-year old Constitution.

‘Youth can make a change!’

“Youth occupies almost 60 percent of the population. This remarkable number, undeniably, can truly make a change! It is prudent to be vigilant and militant regarding issues. Taking no stand should not be an option because if we take it to legal matters, silence means consent.”, Atty. Joshua Alim, one of the convenors of Ilonggo’s Movement Against Arroyo’s Charter Change (I-MARCH), said during the discussion of Charter Change and the youth’s role on the issue.

He also emphasized the reason why the campaign is against ‘Arroyo’s Charter Change. “Sang ginpasar sang mga Kongresista naton ang HR 1109 sa Kongreso, naghambal si Gloria [Arroyo] nga untata kag ibasura ang Con-Ass haw? (When HR 1109 was passed and approved by our Congressmen in the Lower House, did Gloria ever take actions to stop and junk Con-Ass?”

Why Chacha now?

Julie Bedrio, one of Lead Convenors of K2C2 and Western Visayas Regional Director of Kabataan Party, said “Ang kabataan at ang bayan ngayon ay nahaharap sa napakaraming mga krisis, tapos [mas] uunahin pa ng mga kongresista natin ang Cha-cha na yan?(The youth and the nation are facing numerous crises yet our lawmakers in the Lower House prioritized Charter Change.)” K2C2 strongly denounces the continuous increases in Tuition and other Fees amidst global financial crisis. It reiterates the youth’s right to education and the state’s responsibility to make such education accessible to all, as stipulated in the Constitution.

“Yung House Bill 2044 nga na nagtatakda ng tatlong taong moratorium sa pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin ay hanggang ngayon ay nakabinbin pa rin sa kamara, na alam naman natin na [kahit papaano] ay makakatulong sa mga kabataan at kanilang pamilya.(House Bill 2044, the one that mandates a three-year moratorium in tuition and other fees, is still pending in the Congress until now, yet we all know that this would [at least] help the youth and their families.)”, she added.

Edgar Pelayo, one of the speakers during the convention, said “Youth should do something now. Their future is at stake. These congressmen won’t do well for the people because they will only bring and assert their personal and of their master’s interests. It is the time for the youth to move.”

‘Expect more of the youth!’

After the discussions and open forum, the newly-formed alliance made plans for their campaigns and propagandas in relation to their opposition to Con-Ass and Cha-Cha. They collectively created their manifesto of unity, asserting that amending the constitution by a Con-Ass will not bring the true interest of the youth, in the particular, and of the nation, in general. Every school or unit will hold local activities such as teaser-hanging, room-to-room campaigns and discussions, picket rallies and posting of teasers and position papers in their respective campuses, aside from the activities that the whole alliance will be consolidated. On June 15, K2C2 planned to hold a candle-lighting activity at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

James Saguino, one of the Lead Convenors from League of Filipino Students-Iloilo, said “Expect more of our movements and mobilizations to show our protests to this Constituent Assembly. The youth shall not remain timid and quite as long as basic human rights are concerned.” Leo Balidiong, also a Lead Convenor from WVSU-Anakbayan said “Only through militant struggle can the best in the youth emerge.”

Organizations who attended the said convention were WVSU-USC, WVCST-SG, Young Christian Workers, UPV-Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan (SAMASA), UPV-Oikos, WVSU-Political Science Students Organization and WVSU-Oikos, together with the Kabataan Party, League of Filipino Students and Anakbayan as Lead Convenors’ Organizations.

KKCC asserts stronger gripe against Cha-cha, PGMA

Iloilo City – The protests of youth leaders and organizations in Iloilo City against House Resolution 1109 become stronger as the ongoing quandaries agitate them more in fighting for the end of Arroyo’s regime. Among these issues were Arroyo’s trips abroad amid crises, the allegedly secret agreement on land between the Philippine government and Bahrain, the ceaseless cases of extrajudicial killings [and until now, justice has not been served] , the incessant increase of oil prices, the high cost of education, corruption cases and a lot more.

The newly-founded Kabataan Kontra Cha-cha (KKCC), a nationwide alliance of youth and students condemning the passage of the said resolution, leads the present youth movement calling for the government and the Congress to refrain both the attempt for Charter Change and doing such through a Constituent Assembly, as stipulated. In the midst of crises, instead of brainstorming the solutions to these predicaments, the Lower House prioritized the passage of the resolution stating how our constitution would be amended. KKCC was launched on June 19, commemorating also the birthday of our national hero, Jose Rizal.

Broader youth movement

The alliance formation of KKCC in Iloilo first convened last June 13 at the St. Clements’s Church in La Paz, Iloilo City. On June 27, the alliance, again, called for a convention for a broader and more comprehensive alliance formation. Previously, it was participated by youth and student organizations in Iloilo City like Kabataan Party-Panay, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), League of Filipino Students (LFS)-Iloilo, Anakbayan-Iloilo, Young Christian Workers (YCW)-Iloilo, West Visayas State University Political Science Students’ Organization (WVSU-PSSO), Western Visayas College of Science and Technology Student Government (WVCST SG), LFS-UPV Iloilo, UPV-Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan (SAMASA), UPV Oikos, WVSU-Oikos, Anakbayan-WVCST, Anakbayan-WVSU and Anakbayan - Community.

During its second convention on the 27th, new organizations joined the alliance, namely John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University Supreme Student Council (JBLFMU SSC), WVSU Institute of Management Student Council (WVSU IMSC), WVSU Scintilla Juris Fraternity and the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines. KKC created a resolution reiterating their objective for a wider alliance.

KKCC to hold Iloilo-wide alliance launching

After the grand launching of the national alliance of KKCC, the alliance of Ilonggo youth and students will hold a launching, tentatively schedule on July 4. It will have a whole day activity to be participated by the convenors and members of the alliance. KKC has invited Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino to be the guest speaker. Every school also has their local activities to show opposition to Cha-cha. Rep. Palatino will hold school hopping to talk about Charter Change and how it is related to the Philippine Educational System. The Kabataan Partylist (KP) is one of the partlylists who were given one seat in the Lower House just his year and it is the only partylist inside the Congress that asserts youth interests. KP is one of the authors of HB 2044, stipulating of a three-year moratorium on tuition and other fees increases.

Manifesto of Unity

The alliance also drafted and promulgated a manifesto of unity which was disseminated nationwide. It narrates youth’s role in nation-building and registering real social change. “We have always been at the forefront of uprisings and revolutions every time the social, political and economic conditions in society become too intolerable. We cannot remain silent or with our arms crossed. We cannot remain indifferent while our own future as a people and a nation are being compromised for selfish political ambitions. The stakes are too high for us to take a pass.”

The manifesto pointed out five major points why they oppose the said actions in amending the constitution: 1) Any attempt at charter change by the Arroyo administration would only serve to extend President Arroyo’s regime; 2) Charter change can be used by Arroyo to perpetuate herself in power through Martial Law; 3) Charter Change will worsen the economic and social crises plaguing the country; 4) Charter change will aggravate the colonial, corrupt and commercial characteristics of Philippine culture, education and mass media; and 5) Charter change can allow further foreign intervention and exploitation by allowing one-sided treaties detrimental to national development and progress.

The manifesto of unity was given to the different schools for signature campaign. The signatures consolidated will be submitted in the Congress on PGMA’s State of the Nation Address which will be on the 27th of July. This manifesto is also in the internet for the online petition signing (http://www.kabataanpartylist.com/notochacha).

“We call on all democracy-loving youth and citizens to stop efforts to change the Constitution before the 2010 elections. The government's desperate efforts to continuously cling to power have sown deep social discontent and division among the people. We strongly believe in the sovereign right that rests on the people to change a morally bankrupt and corrupt regime with a conscientious leadership that can genuinely unite the nation and can bring forth meaningful social change.” – Kabataan Kontra Cha-cha-Iloilo

Words of Courage

The struggle started already. I had faced a lot of difficulties. I bid a hard farewell. I surpass them all. I know I can surpass the next to come. I believe. I believe I can. Funny to say but I will say. ‘I love difficulties after the bidding of goodbye’. Haha. Why not, di bala? Difficulties won’t let you down. It will make you a better person in preparation for a harder adulthood. Goodbye is a two-sided element. Though you feel the agony, yet in exchange to it is gratification.

The essence of the existence of problems is not to make people hopeless or make them feel the agony of the consequences. Agony is neither the end of everything nor the start of the end. It is part of what we call LIFE. When you feel you’re in great despair, just go on, as what the song ‘Pagsubok’ uttered in its lyrics: ‘Pagkabigo’t alinlangan gumugulo sa isipan, mga pagsubok lamang yan, huwag mong itigil ang laban. Huwag mong isuko. Iyong laban.’ That is what life wants you to feel first because after the suffering and pain is gratification. Here is a practical question: ‘What do you want to feel first, pain or joy?’ It is somewhat the same in asking ‘What kind of ending do you like?’ See? Do not feel bad when you are suffering. No one is to be blamed. Just face anything.

Since I love difficulties, I, Joy James Saguino, officially declare that MY LIFE IS NOT DIFFICULT.

Loving Others' Kite

Difficult. There is guilt (sometimes). Doing what you don't like is risky and challenging, yet if you look at the other side of the paradigm, it is prudent. Why? I looked more on the needs of others, especially my family, before mine.

If you can still remember on one of my reflection papers, on the book Like the “Flowing River” by Paulo Coehlo, there is a part in there entitled “Flying Others Kite”. I stated my struggle in giving up my passion for my family's sake.

I do not want my parents to get disappointed. They have great expectations on me. Honestly, I am still having confusions regarding the 'degree' issue now. There will always come a point that 'What if I shift course?', 'No James! Do not do that! Think of your family!' Haaay. . .

I love my family. Everyone, perhaps, does. Everyone, also perhaps, wants the best for his or her family. Everyone will do his or her best to shun and overcome any ordeal that they will encounter.

I learned in my Economics 11 class last year about ‘opportunity costs’ and that nothing is free. The concept of opportunity costs states that something is earned when another thing is given up in exchange to what you got. In accounting, it is not always cash inflow. There will always be cash outflows in the form of expenses for operating, financing and investing activities in a company.

You cannot own two things at a time, especially that one is willed to be given up. Unfortunate for me that what I should give up is my ‘happiness’.

Give up. Give up. Give up. I may often think that life is all about giving up.

True. Life is a quest of your happiness. Happiness is not about what makes ‘you’ happy. The epitome of this pursuit is not egocentric. It focuses on how you make yourself as a tool in making other people’s happiness come true.

I don’t want to be an accountant. I want to be a journalist. Irony: I am taking Accountancy, not Journalism.

Acceptance is the hardest part of all. “I am flying my parents’ kite — the kite they made for me.” This kind of acceptance is mediocre. Love is the missing element here. For you to show and justify that you made the right decision, you have to face and accept its consequences. You may not expect what these are, but what I am trying to say is preparing oneself to anything. Love is its prerequisite.

I am learning to love Accountancy now despite the fact that I still wanted to be a journalist someday. I learned that being a ‘journalist’ does not need to take a journalism course. If there is a will, there will always be a way. I am doing this for a purpose — for my family. I can do it!

Reason for Living

I was in my third year in high school. 21st century was the start of the global financial crisis. I thought it will only be the elite who will be affected. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Crisis chose no class.

The rubber industry in our place was in great crisis. Rubber price and value went down rapidly. Since most of our customers are rubber farmers, our bakery is also affected. Sales were also dropping rapidly.

Our bakery is small. It's just about a quarter or one third of a classroom (classrooms here at UPVCM) ― with a big baking oven in a corner and some wooden cabinets attached on the walls. Consuming approximately 2-4 sacks of wheat flour daily for baking, our family can surpass a day with enough food in our stomach.
Since the start of the crisis, I have been decisive to take part of my family's predicament. I planned to do this and that. I looked forward that on that certain time, I will have this and that and etc. I really wanted to help and I know that finishing a degree and having a stable job is the answer. From then on, I've been torn between two choices of degree to take ― whether Accountancy, which is my parents' top choice, or Journalism, which is mine. I ended up no choice at all but to take what my parents and other close people advised me. I took it, despite the fact that I don't like the field I am taking.

Gratitude to Mamang and Papang (A Flsahback)

“Dong! Pagmata na mo oy! Udto na intawong dako!” (Dong! Wake up now! It's late in the morning already!)

That was the wake up call of my mother. She was the bell of the home every morning. Six o' clock to be exact, and that is late for her. We are surely awaken of this call. Ikaw ba naman ang hindi magising sa lakas ng boses ni Mamang. Dishes, done! Bed, fixed! Floor, swept! Breakfast, cooked! My Ate and I are doing different chores simultaneously to manage our time well.

Mamang and Papang are awake already at four. They are already working in the bakery that early since there are four other bakery in our locality to compete with. I really enjoyed a lot, especially every summer. Since there's no class, we were awake already around three in the morning. We were helping our parents in the bakery and after the pan de sal were baked, around 4:30, we wander and roam in our barrio and in the nearby barangays to sell hot pan de sal putted inside a 'karton'. “Pan de sal ni Cedie! Pan de sal ni Pedie!” (Cedie and Pedie are the nicknames of my mother and father, respectively.) Together with my older sister, we shout these phrases to inform the community that 'Hot Pan de Sal from Saguino Mini-Bakeshop is available now.'

We were doing this for almost eight years since 1999. I was Grade 2 that time. My sister was only with me doing this when she was 13 because she is really weak before, She was admitted in hospital. She is anemic. Thank God that she was cured early or else, she might end up having anemia. I was not alone doing this before. I invited my childhood friends and my cousins to come with me in selling pan de sal. Some agreed. Some didn't. Anyhow, I had companions.

I am very grateful. Mamang and Papang are very responsible and dedicated to provide us our needs and, I am happy to say that, I also become a part of their hardships. Their perspirations, tears, blood, sickness and exhaustion became our papers, ballpens, pencils and bags in school, and most of all, the learning that we absorb from them. Although my parents were not able to finish their studies (my father only reached Grade 5 and my mother graduated from high and then stopped.) My parents are the most intelligent people I have met.

Now, I am trying to walk alone but bringing the thoughts and principles my parents have taught me. It is so sad knowing and always remembering that, somehow at some point, I am leaving the people who had contributed a big part of your social development; I am leaving my family who, at the point of our obscurity, needs me very much. Why am I doing these? I can be happier, perhaps, if I would stay with my parents and just study in the nearby college who presented a very overwhelming offer than going in Iloilo (which is very far from Zamboanga).

Woe and Guilt

I can still remember the day, almost two years ago, the first time I left my family. I was inside the van. My mother is three meters away from the van. The van's window was closed. I looked at her. It was quite a long moment of stare. I felt doubts. I felt guilt. Am I conceited?

“Why am I leaving them? I am a bad son. I should stay to help them. Papang has kidney problems. Mamang has goiter. My older sister is anemic and weak. My two younger siblings were just 11 and 9 years old. I should have been the breed winner of the family. Yes! I am conceited! Though my farewell is for them, I cannot swallow the fact that I could have helped them without leaving.”

These were the subtexts that entered my mind few moments before the van left. I was thinking of recanting my decision of studying at UP — go outside the van, take my big bags out, ask the van driver for a fare refund and go back home. I thought of a very dramatic scenario. I remembered my fifteen years of stay with them. I remembered the child that once in the arms of his mother, now trying to live in his own arms. . .

Agony of Goodbye Introduction

Introduction

“Once we truly know that life is difficult — once we truly understand and accept it —then life is no longer difficult.”


People tend to live the simplest way possible. Life, for them, is a “choice-ful” thing. They even ask “Why do you let yourself suffer where in the first place, there is an easy way out?” I say to myself “Yeah right! It has a point. . .BUT does everything really has an easy choice? Is choosing the easy choice can make things better and can make you a better person?”

This may be a relative thing. It will depend on the person's perspective. “Making life easy is simple. Just choose the easy choice!” What if I choose the other way? Is choosing the difficult thing will make my life miserable? For me, life is about taking risks. The more you risk, the stronger you are and this will make yourself prepare for more and bigger risks along your quest of life. The more you shun these risks, the more you take a piece of yourself away from you. I mean, risks are complement and not those that would degrade you or put you down.

People who tend to live life the simplest way possible know that life is difficult, very difficult. Everybody knows it. The difference is the taking of risks and challenges. Isn't it a good thing that even though you know that life is difficult, yet you still face its difficulties? Isn't it a good thing that even though you know that life is difficult and you think that you cannot make, yet you made it?

The 'Agony of Goodbye' is a compilation of real life stories — stories that are engraved in my mind and shall be my strength in the next stories to come. It will justify that taking risks is what life tells you to do so. Life, indeed, is difficult but once we truly know that life is difficult — once we truly understand and accept it —then life is no longer difficult.

Books:

Introduction

Woe and Guilt

Gratitude to Mamang and Papang

Reason for Living

Loving Others' Kite

Words of Courage

Nicole's Recantation Manifests How Unjust The Philippine Justice System Is

I CANNOT JUDGE NICOLE. . . TOO MUCH.

It has been more than three years that the crime occurred and more than two years that Daniel Smith was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment. Nicole wanted him to suffer the consequences (She even wanted him in death.). After the verdict was out Nicole and her family were happy that justice was fulfilled.

This success was troubled by the existing Visiting Forces Agreement(VFA) which allows US Military Forces to 'visit' the Philippines for the desire in strengthening international and regional security. There were appeals and confusions to where Smith should be detained. After few days of detainment in the Philippines Prison, he was then transferred to the custody of the US Embassy.

Nicole was not caressed by the government. Shame. The government even favored the alien alleged of committing rape to a citizen of this country for the Regime's and USA's Interests.

Sad. Provocative. Et al.

Nicole's recantation manifests how unjust the Philippine justice system is. This is true. We are not surprised of this prejudice. We know this is wrong that is why there is a movement for social change.

Nicole, perhaps, doesn't know about this and did not have enough courage to fight for her right. This is the other angle of the story. Napakaraming lumalaban para sa kanya at sa iba pang dumanas ng karahasan. Nicole loses hope and some courage. She expected that everything will be fine after winning the case against the alleged rapist. BUT it was not.

If I were in here in position, I would also feel despair and disappointment.

However, in this circumstance that the state proved its being unjust, Filipinos should be more militant. Nicole was not. She had given up the fight for justice for her personal interest. She had wanted justice and escape then from this predicament. She is weak. She is egocentric. She is conceited. [Hope this isn't much.]

Also, here comes another angle of the issue - bribery. Well, perhaps, this is true. Why recant now amidst VFA debate? The Arroyo Regime doesn't want to get embarrassed to their 'BRO'. That is why they let Daniel Smith be in the custody of the US and was given special treatment [See how Daniel Smith grow and gain a lot of weight. Haha.] and assert the legitimacy of the VFA.

And shame to Nicole, if bribery is indeed true, that she accepted it. [I am not pertaining to the 100k that her family received because as what I've read, it was legal and court-mandated.]

What is also more confusing is that the counsel of Daniel Smith processed the affidavit that Nicole filed [I smell something.] and not her own counsel. There was really an 'outside-court' transactions since Atty. Ursua did not have any communication for almost/more than a month and she received a letter of terminati0n from Nicole's mother days after. Why didn't Nicole, if she really wanted to recant her first pledged statements, consulted and let her counsel process it? And what the hell that among the thousands of lawyers in the Philippines, why under the counsel of the alleged rapist?

She already flew outside the Philippines.

"Nicole’s departure for the United States was announced on March 17, by her now ex-lawyer, Evalyn Ursua, who said she had no prior knowledge of the move. Nicole’s mother confirmed Ursua’s announcement.

Based on records of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Bureau of Immigration office made available to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nicole flew to Japan on Mar. 16 on board Flight 746 of Japan Airlines.

Flight 746, a Boeing 747 plane with 400 passengers, left NAIA 1 at 9:06 a.m. and arrived at Tokyo’s Narita Airport at 1:55 p.m.

Nicole was listed among the passengers, but the records did not indicate her connecting flight to United States."-Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Wherever she is now, she should have not left. She should be here now. Questions uttered in the air need answers. I know NICOLE WILL GO BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES. She still has to face the court regarding her affidavit which is, not really contrary but, putting uncertainties to her statements.

Her recantation even affirms the intervention of outside forces, who ,perhaps, are those people who wanted to clear the name of USA and those who wanted to protect the interests gained from it. [Remember US pulled out Balikatan after the guilty verdict of Daniel Smith.]

MANY ARE DISAPPOINTED.

MANY ARE ANGRY.
MANY CONDEMN 'NICOLE'.

BUT her recantation will not stop the struggle for justice and truth. This will even trigger people's movement. The struggle continues and will continue. As long as there are still abused, as long as there is still discrimination, people will not remain quite. Voices will become louder and louder.

WE DO NOT DESERVE A FASCIST, SEMI-COLONIAL, SEMI-FEUDAL AND BUREAUCRAT CAPITALIST SOCIETY!

PATULOY ANG LABAN PARA SA ISANG TUNAY AT PURONG KALAYAAN!!!

MABUHAY KABATAANG PILIPINO!

Isn't it strange? Why recant now, Nicole?

By Michael Lim Ubac, Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:05:00 03/20/2009

MANILA, Philippines— Was her convicted rapist, if not the US government itself, behind change of heart of " Nicole", the Filipino woman wh briefly served as a symbol of the purported inequity of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)?

At least three senators are nursing suspicions in the wake of Nicole’s submission of a sworn statement raising doubt about her rape by Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, and her flight to the United States, apparently for good.

According to Sen. Loren Legarda, Nicole’s case has implications on the VFA, which governs the conduct of US troops in the Philippines and which is now the subject of calls for review or outright termination.

“There’s more than meets the eye in this issue,” she said, noting that the agreement that became effective in 1999 was very important with respect to the United States’ war on terror and its strategic and security interests in the Asian region.

“It cannot be discounted that extreme pressures may have been applied on Nicole for her to recant her [court testimony] at the risk of inviting perjury and other charges against her,” said Legarda, who had voted against the ratification of the agreement.

“Nicole’s leaving for the US also raises questions because if it is true that she may have wrongfully accused Smith of raping her, why would she choose to live in the native land of the man she may have wronged?” Legarda said.

Form and timing

In a statement, Sen. Francis Pangilinan raised “serious questions about the form and timing” of Nicole’s sworn statement dated March 12.

“What boggles my mind right now is why the new affidavit came from the lawyer of Daniel Smith and not her own lawyer,” Pangilinan said.

“Isn’t that strange?” he said, calling attention to “the timing of events” that included the “scuffle over Smith’s custody,” US President Barack Obama’s telephone call to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stating his commitment to the VFA, and Nicole’s affidavit.

“Why just now?” said Pangilinan, who filed in February Senate Resolution No. 892 calling for the termination of the VFA.

He added: “We do not wish to question Nicole’s integrity, but we wonder if there’s a higher hand behind all this.”

On the phone, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said that if not the US government, “others operating to acquit Smith” were behind Nicole’s affidavit.

Pimentel declared, however, that Nicole’s moves would have no bearing on the planned review of the VFA.

Japan Airlines

Nicole’s departure for the United States was announced on March 17, by her now ex-lawyer, Evalyn Ursua, who said she had no prior knowledge of the move. Nicole’s mother confirmed Ursua’s announcement.

Based on records of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Bureau of Immigration office made available to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nicole flew to Japan on Mar. 16 on board Flight 746 of Japan Airlines.

Flight 746, a Boeing 747 plane with 400 passengers, left NAIA 1 at 9:06 a.m. and arrived at Tokyo’s Narita Airport at 1:55 p.m.

Nicole was listed among the passengers, but the records did not indicate her connecting flight to United States.

The US Embassy in Manila Thursday maintained a tight lip on the matter, saying it had no knowledge of Nicole’s whereabouts.

Spokesperson Rebecca Thompson told the Inquirer that the embassy was aware of media reports stating that Nicole had flown to the United States.

“We don’t have further information suggesting her whereabouts,” Thompson said.

“Every day, people come here for visa applications and for privacy reasons, we don’t divulge details about them or their applications,” she said.

Palace to the defense

Malacañang defended Nicole against criticisms over her decision to all but clear her convicted rapist.

Anthony Golez, deputy spokesperson of Ms Arroyo, said Ursua should respect her former client’s decision.

“The lawyers know that they cannot be very emotional on a case. They should be objective. They must also respect the client’s right to reach her decision. The reason is very personal to Nicole, whatever that is,” Golez told reporters in a chance interview.

“We should all respect [the decision] and we should move on,” he said, adding: “We cannot do anything about it because Nicole is the key player in this and it’s her right to [do] what she has done. [Let’s] respect that. Lawyers, most especially, should also.”

Golez said the government would continue negotiating with US authorities on the Philippine-run facility that should hold Smith. “The process still continues,” he said.

But US Ambassador Kristie Kenney has yet to sit with Foreign Secretary Albert Romulo for a formal negotiation.

Smith has been detained at the US Embassy since his midnight transfer there from the Makati City Jail in December 2006.

In a ruling issued last month, the Supreme Court said Smith should be held in a Philippine-run facility while he awaits the resolution of his appeal.

The ruling also upheld the constitutionality of the VFA.

Golez said Malacañang was also awaiting the high court’s word on its motion for clarification regarding Smith’s custody.

Asked if Malacañang was open to the review of the VFA, he said: “Anything for the betterment of anything in our government, the Palace is for it.”

But he said the government could not just rush into the review of the agreement: “There is a process in reviewing the VFA. It must not be unilaterally done.”

Dismayed

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said he too was dismayed by the contents of Nicole’s affidavit.

He said it had put the Philippines’ criminal justice system “in an embarrassing situation.”

“Because of the involvement of money in her recantation, people will somehow doubt the credibility of her recent statement,” Lagdameo said, referring to the admission of Nicole’s mother that the family had received P100,000 from Smith as payment for “damages.”

He said other rape victims whose cases were still in court and who probably found some inspiration in Nicole’s legal victory in 2006 “would somehow be confused” by her current stance. With reports from Jerome Aning, Cynthia D. Balana and Dona Z. Pazzibugan.

SOLON SAYS ‘Nicole’ more truthful in latest affidavit

By Leila Salaverria, Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
Philippine Daily Inquirer, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:21:00 03/19/2009

Filed Under: Crime and Law and Justice, Subic rape case

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) “Nicole”, the Filipino woman who accused an American Marine of raping her in 2005, told more of the truth in her latest affidavit, according to a lawmaker who was among the first to talk to her following the incident.

Zambales Representative Milagros Magsaysay said the March 12 affidavit that virtually cleared American serviceman Daniel Smith of rape is more credible than the first one that she had filed along with her criminal complaint.

Speaking at the Serye Forum in Quezon City, Magsaysay said Nicole's first affidavit was actually not the complete version of the truth that Nicole had narrated to her.

Based on the circumstances surrounding the case, she said it seems that no rape took place.

“If you would look at the circumstances surrounding it, it would appear that she was not raped,” Magsaysay said.

Three years after Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was convicted of rape and sentenced to 40 years in jail, Nicolas submitted a five-page affidavit to an appeals court Tuesday saying she now doubts her own version of events.

"My conscience continues to bother me realizing that I may have in fact been so friendly and intimate with Daniel Smith ... that he was led to believe that I was amenable to having sex or that we simply just got carried away," the woman said in the statement.

She described the two were drinking, kissing and dancing at a bar at the former US Naval base at Subic Bay before moving to a van, where she originally told the court she was raped while she passed out on November 1, 2005. Smith had insisted the sex was consensual.

Magsaysay said: “Whatever she said in this affidavit that came out is more or less sticking to the facts.”

Magsaysay was among the first persons who had spoken to Nicole and several witnesses, including Nicole’s cousin, sister and the driver of the van, shortly after the incident.

The incident happened in Subic, which is part of Magsaysay’s congressional district.

Magsaysay said that the details mentioned by Nicole in her second affidavit were consistent with what the victim told her in 2005.

“All of them were correct— that she was mixing her drinks, that she didn’t want to return to her room, that she went with the American, she rode on the van, all those are correct,” Magsaysay said.

Asked how the first affidavit differed from the latest one, the lawmaker replied: “All I can remember is it was not a factual [account] of the truth as she told me. Parang medyo [It's as if] there were some information left out … of her affidavit and the driver's affidavit.”

Magsaysay said that Nicole “might have invited (Smith) and gave him the wrong signals.”

The congresswoman said that when she talked to Nicole, she latter did not say she was raped.

“She was more afraid that her mother would get mad at her for what happened,” Magsaysay said.

The turnabout has shocked Nicole’s supporters, including lawyer Evalyn Ursua, who said her client terminated her services this week then moved to the US to start a new life and was no longer willing to talk.

Smith, 23, from St. Louis, Missouri, has been detained at the US Embassy while his case is on appeal. Last month, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled he should be serving his sentence in a Philippine jail but left it to the government to negotiate his transfer with Washington. Smith is appealing his conviction.

The case has strained US-Philippine military relations amid calls for the scrapping of a pact allowing US troops to train Filipino soldiers, and has become a rallying point for anti-American protests. With The Associated Press

REPOST- Bakit Puro Na Lang Rally? (Why not?)

REPOST- Bakit Puro Na Lang Rally? (Why not?)
By Karl Castro*

Upon hearing the phrase "the July 10 walkout," your immediate reaction may be a wrinkling of the nose, or a doubtful frown. Perhaps you immediately think, Rali ng rali, wala namang nangyayari. Or even, There are other ways to settle the issue. There are other ways to participate.

But you're wrong. At the very least, you've been misled.

Mass demonstrations remain to be the strongest statement of solidarity among citizens. Yes, it is difficult to gather people, organize a program, and reach a broad unity for a particular stand on today's issues. Yes, it is tiring and seemingly impossible--but that is what makes mass actions all the more effective. Its difficulty is precisely the reason why it is the best means of registering dissent.

It is a fallacy to expect that a mass demonstration will bring about immediate and tangible change. If one holds that opinion, one is either heavily brainwashed (by parents/administrators/backward student political formations) or overly and wrongly utopian (read: ultra-left). As John Berger said in his brilliant essay (a must-read for the newbie rallyist), the value of a mass demonstration is symbolic. It is a demonstration of the power of the people, a "rehearsal of revolutionary awareness." It is for the participants, more than anyone else, for it heightens their sense of solidarity. As members of an oppressed class fighting for their basic rights, the demonstrators also "dramatize the the power they still lack."

Though largely symbolic in value, mass demonstrations are far from futile. Berger explains the state dilemma which a huge mobilization poses:

Either authority must abdicate and allow the crowd to do as it wishes: in which case the symbolic suddenly becomes real, and, even if the crowd’s lack of organisation and preparedness prevents it from consolidating its victory, the event demonstrates the weakness of authority. Or else authority must constrain and disperse the crowd with violence: in which case the undemocratic character of such authority is publicly displayed. The imposed dilemma is between displayed weakness and displayed authoritarianism.

Why all the friction, then? one may ask. Isn't there a safer, more quiet means to achieve social change more concretely?

That depends on the kind of change you want to achieve. For example, hindi ba pwedeng mag-donate na lang sa charity ng pera or relief goods? Or magtayo ng mga bahay through Gawad Kalinga? Yes, that's helpful to some extent, but it in no way changes the unjust social relations which brought about the need for charity organizations in the first place. Though the feeling of "unselfish" hard work (in the form of old-school carpentry and other menial jobs generally alien to the bourgeoisie) must do wonders for one's heart and conscience, well, that's the problem. It's done to placate oneself, to make one feel less guilty of being "privileged" in society.

That is the problem with (oxymorons like) corporate social responsibility. In the 2008 World Economic Forum, obscenely-rich Microsoft person Bill Gates extols corporate responsibility (or what he likes to call "creative capitalism"):

The challenge here is to design a system where market incentives, including profits and recognition, drive those principles to do more for the poor. I like to call this idea creative capitalism, an approach where governments, businesses, and nonprofits work together to stretch the reach of market forces so that more people can make a profit, or gain recognition, doing work that eases the world's inequities.

[Insert collective smirks and giggles here.] Gates' speech is an example of the inherent problem of capitalism, namely, it needs inequality to survive. In spite of all the corporations' pseudo-activist rhetoric, one cannot eradicate poverty in a capitalist society simply because it is its lifeline. The mere concept of private property and drive for profit is enough to illustrate this. In fact, these corporate social responsibility spectacles are merely grand PR stunts which help give companies a more humane and acceptable image, an endeavor ultimately undertaken not to uplift people from poverty, but to increase profit.

Capitalist incursion into education, in particular, also banks on this humane face. Scholarships, donations, buildings and facilities bearing the companies'/donors' names--these are the marks of education in a capitalist society. These "acts of kindness" are a smokescreen for the blunt reality that education has been commercialized and is out of reach for the majority. At the very least, recipients of corporate kindness (both students and educational institutions) are compelled to feel indebted to the companies which support them. More often than not, scholars are drawn to work for them (like, say, SM scholars).

Fine, you say. Charity work may not be the best option. What about lobbying? Or table battles with the administration?

It is a false dilemma, the choice between mass demonstrations and table battles. This is a line pseudo-progressive political formations are wont to toe. In reality, however, one must do both. The outcome of table battles without accompanying mass demonstrations are insufficient. Take for example the 2003-04 fight against Senate Bill 2587 (which is pretty much the new UP Charter). Despite the massive lobbying efforts on the part of the students, the bill's main proponent, Senator Francis Pangilinan, still challenged them to show their numbers. They did, and thanks to simultaneous mobilizing and lobbying, the bill was not passed.

Table battles, even with mass demonstrations, are generally weak. Administration officials, after all, have the densest conscience. The 2006 passage of the 300 percent tuition hike in UP is a prime example, where the repeated assertion of dissent in various fora, consultations and even Board of Regents meetings led the administration to evade table battles altogether, just to pass the damn thing.

This is where we come in. This is where our current interventions, in the form of the July walkouts, are necessary. We were strong in the past, and we have only achieved moderate success. We need not be afraid nor reluctant to participate in mass demonstrations; the current national crisis, especially in education, cannot be any more concrete and compelling. History tells us that we need to be stronger, and mass actions give us that.

*Karl Castro is the former Editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, the official paper of the students of the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

On my Multiply

Leave ‘Nicole’ alone—Palace

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:17:00 03/19/2009

Filed Under: Treaties & International Organisations, Congress, Justice & Rights, Migration, Protest, Subic rape case

MANILA, Philippines—The Palace urged critics of “Nicole” to leave her alone and respect her decision to leave the country.

Nicole has recanted her case against an American marine who was convicted of raping her.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Anthony Golez said Nicole’s lawyers and supporters “cannot be very emotional” because it was their client’s “right” to make such a move.

“That’s very personal to Nicole, whatever her reasons are, and I think we should all respect that and we should move on,” Golez told a news conference at the Palace.

“We cannot do anything about it because Nicole is they key player in this and that’s her right to do what she has done,” he said.

Asked if Nicole should be left alone, Golez said: “She should be left, because yun ang gusto niya, kagustuhan niya e [that’s what she wants].”

But despite Nicole’s move, Golez said Manila would still continue with negotiations with Washington to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the transfer of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith from the US Embassy to a Philippine facility.

“Tuloy pa din ang proseso [the process continues] in view of improving systems,” he said.

The Solicitor General has sought clarification from the High Tribunal since it maintained that the agreement between Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and US Ambassador Kristie Kenney did not violate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Kenney, meanwhile, has said that the US embassy would wait for word from the US State Department in Washington.

On Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Palace remained keen on a review of the VFA, which governs the conduct of American troops in the Philippines.

In December 2006, the Makati regional trial court found Smith guilty of raping Nicole at the back of a van, as three other US Marines cheered him on after a drunken night out at the former Subic Naval Base in Olongapo City on November 1, 2005.

The American soldiers left Nicole’s half-naked body by the roadside.

In her latest affidavit, Nicole claimed that she was too drunk to remember whether or not Smith forced her to have sex.

Airah Cadiogan Nominated as UP Student Regent

Outgoing University Student Council Vice Chair and the Current STAND-UP (Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP) Chairperson Airah Cadiogan has been nominated to succeed Ms. Shahana Abdulwahid as UP’s next Student Regent.

Her name was forwarded by UP Sining at Lipunan, a CMC based organization, during last week’s League of College Council meeting (which Ms Cadiogan herself presided).

On March 17, there would be a CMC college assembly to deliberate Cadiogan’s nomination. By March 20, the University Search Committee should be able to file its recommendations for the unit nominee to the Office of the Student Regent.

Aside from Cadiogan, Mark Titus Cebreros from the College of Law has also been nominated. Asked about having another Titus as her ‘co-nominee’ (she said she prefers this term over ‘opponent’), Cadiogan said: “Oo nga. God really has a sense of humor.”

The Student Regent is the lone student representative to the UP Board of Regent (BOR).The BOR is the highest policy making body of the UP system. The UP system-wide Student Regent selection would be on April 14-15 at UP Visayas – Miag-ao. The Katipunan ng Mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP would be facilitating the selection process. #

Collective Action for Social Change

Those who profess the futility of collective action know nothing of their history. For the tide and ebb of world events are determined precisely by collective action.

As one revolutionary put it, “The history of the world is the history of class struggle.” Throughout the world, regimes and tyrants have been toppled down, and democracies established by the strength of collective action. The wheels of history from feudalism, capitalism to socialism, from monarchies to parliaments to peoples’ governments, were concrete conclusions of class struggle. Examples of which are the anti-colonization movement in Africa and Latin Amercia, the Liberation movement in Southeast Asia and Indo-China, the Religious Tolerance and Women’s Rights Movement in most parts of the world, the anti-apartheid movement in Africa, and the establishment of the International League of People’s Struggle against Imperialism. And even individual heroes are propelled by the thousands of men and women who clamor, hand in hand, for a common aspiration.

History itself reveals that there is no stronger mark of popular sentiment than mass actions, making collective demonstrations indispensable in the realization of our common goals. In the Philippine setting, the stirrings of collective dissent began in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest. For instance, the Katipunan was borne out of the unity of the peasants and artisans against the colonizers. From the Spanish to the American regime, a common sentiment for national sovereignty fueled radical movements for freedom. Corrupt and authoritarian regimes were crushed when confronted by the ferocity of widespread mass demonstrations. In fact, the mere existence of repression attests to the potency of collective action – why suppress mass demonstrations if it does not instigate fear in the most hardened of dictators?

Thus, our stance remains – collective action is still our most potent weapon for social change. For only by participating in a coordinated action of thousands of people can individuals pursue both their personal and social liberties. As long as there are forces and establishments that conspire against the democratic rights of the people, individuals have to unite to register their shared will.

The sharpest position is to stand for collective action, which is comprised of all arenas of struggle, whether in the parliamentary or in the streets.

Indeed, claiming that collective action is “passé” succeeds only in exposing the crass ignorance of the groups doing the claiming. The history of UP alone is rich with instances that illustrate the potency of concerted action. During the 1950 witch hunts, when calls for nationalism were vilified as communism, our shared efforts were crucial in the struggle for academic and press freedom. In the 1970s, at the height of political repression during Martial Law, our united dissent contributed to the struggle for democracy, with hundreds of student leaders heeding the call of history, whether in cities or in the countryside. The social ferment generated by the Diliman Commune and the First Quarter Storm pierced the core of national affairs.

Student institutions, publications, and formations were reestablished in the 1980s through adamant and tireless collective action. The list goes on, from the closure of US military bases in the country, the ouster of Erap in 2001, the retraction of the largest budget cut in 2000, and the removal of Provision 444 of the University Code, which unduly prohibits religious and provincial organizations. Despite the machinations of the state and administration, the student movement persists because it has forged an inextricable link with all sectors in the call for social change. After all, the aims of collective action are collective victories – a gain enjoyed by the broadest and the most democratic.

At present, we are facing the blatant implementation of neoliberal policies, which direct the state to fully abandon state universities and colleges. The manifestations of commercialization are increasing, from corporatization to the endless proposals to increase tuition and other fees. As students reject this overall scheme through protest actions and other peaceful activities, the state and administration have responded with crushing repression, through direct attacks against student formations and institutions.

All over the nation, there is a systemic effort to entrench an education that is colonial, commercialized and fascist. Meanwhile, in the political arena, the state continues to commit grave sins against the people – intensified suppression and repression, political killings, the neglect of social services, high unemployment, lack of genuine land reform, increasing hunger, and continuing plunder – while aiming to extend its term through Cha-Cha. Now, more than ever, we need the force of collective action.

The fact of the matter is, those who say that collective action is “illusory” are themselves in delusion – they do not understand history nor do they know their place in history.

The challenge for us, iskolars ng bayan, is to participate in the struggle for social change. We must fight for an education that is nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented. Because we cannot spur change in isolation, we must therefore link arms with the broadest masses in our struggle for a better society, where there is genuine land reform, national industrialization, genuine freedom, and social justice. For the broadest collective is also the strongest. Ultimately, we must recognize that our collective is our people and our nation.

LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS-DILIMAN

http://vvillanueva.multiply.com

Para sa Estudyanteng Nakikibaka

Hindi ito sermon mula sa nakatatanda kundi isang munting paalala.

Alam mo na ang iskedyul ng mga kilos-protesta mula ngayon hanggang sa pagtatapos ng semestre ngayong Marso. Malamang na magpapatuloy pa ang mga ito hangga’t ang Pangulo ay hindi pa bumababa sa puwesto.

Inaasahan kang makiisa sa mga ito para ipakita sa mga nasa kapangyarihan ang malawakang pagtutol ng mamamayan sa katiwalian ng pamahalaan at pangkalahatang kabulukan ng sistema.

Nasa iyo ang desisyon kung hanggang saan mo gustong dalhin ang iyong pagkilos. Sa isang lipunang “normal,” tungkulin ko bilang guro na sabihan kang unahin ang pag-aaral dahil ito ang pundasyon ng iyong magandang bukas.

Pero alam mong malayo sa “normal” ang ating kalagayan, at wala akong karapatang sabihing magkakaroon ka ng magandang bukas dahil lang sa nakapagtapos ka ng pag-aaral. Bilang estudyanteng may mataas na antas ng kamulatan, alam mong ang pagtatapos ng pinili mong kurso sa kolehiyo ay hindi awtomatikong magpapaunlad sa iyong buhay.

Sa katunayan, mula sa pagiging kasama sa mga kilos-protesta, baka magiging kasama ka na lang sa lumalaking bilang ng mga walang trabaho. O mas malala pa, baka magiging kasama ka na lang sa nabigyan ng trabaho kapalit ng iyong prinsipyo.

Ito ang dapat mong iwasan – ang pagkawala ng pakikibaka sa iyong pagtanda.

Marami na akong kakilalang seryosong kasapi ng parlamento ng lansangan na naging seryosong empleyado ng tubo. Tuluyan na nilang kinalimutan ang kahalagahan ng pagkilos, at kasama na sila sa kumokondena sa mga nangyayaring protesta bilang “simpleng pinagdaraanan lang ng kabataan.”

Napapailing na lang ako sa kanilang katwiran: “Dati rin kaming aktibista, pero namulat kami sa katotohanang mahirap baguhin ang sistema. Kailan din naming kumita para sa pamilya, kaya mas mabuti pang isipin na lang ang sariling pag-unlad kaysa mapaos sa kasisigaw sa mga problemang mas matanda pa sa atin.”

Sigurado kong may mga kakilala kang may ganitong aktitud na kumukumbinsi sa iyong kalimutan na ang pagmamartsa dahil ang iyong pagsigaw ay pansamantala lang ang alingawngaw. Kahit sabay-sabay kayo, lulunurin lang ng ingay ng tao’t sasakyan sa lansangan ang anumang mensaheng nais ipahatid. Ang nakararami diumano ay may praktikal na pangangailangang kumita para gumanda ang buhay ng pamilya.

Malamang na may mga panahong nagdududa ka kung tama ba ang pinili mong tahakin. Habang ang mga kaklase mo’y pinoproblema lang ang kasiyahang gagawin sa pagsapit ng gabi, nakikipagpulong ka sa iba pang kasama para sa mga susunod na pagkilos. Sa halip na malasing sa alak at basta na lang tumumba sa tindi ng tama, pinipilit mong magising sa tapang ng kapeng iniinom para labanan ang antok.

Mula sa iilang nakatatandang alam ang iyong pinagdaraanan, maniwala kang may dahilan para ipagpatuloy mo ang ganitong buhay. Sana’y huwag kang magpadala sa pambubuyo ng mga walang pakialam. Sana’y huwag kang matukso sa kinang ng salapi sa oras ng iyong pagtatapos sa kolehiyo. Patuloy mong tingnan ang pag-aaral hindi lang sa loob ng klasrum kundi maging sa labas nito.

Sa panahong katulad nito, lubhang kailangan ang mga katulad mo.


N.B. - This was published in Vol. 7, No. 10 (March 12-28, 2008) of Pinoy Weekly (p. 5).

PANATANG MAKABAYAN

Iniibig ko ang Filipinas
Aking lupang sinilangan
Bayang matagal nang nalilinlang
ng makasariling mga opisyal
Kinukupkop ako at iminumulat ngayon
na mahalin ang totoo
at itakwil ang pinunong sinungaling.

Dahil mahal ko ang Filipinas,
susuriin ko ang mga panukalang batas
ng mga mapagsamantalang pulitiko
tutuparin ako ang mga tungkulin
ng mamamayang makabayan.

Nagsusuri, nagdarasal at kumikilos
upang magtagumpay ang katotohanan
Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap, pagsisikap
sa malayang Filipinas.

Source:
http://etsapwera.multiply.com/journal/item/49/PANATANG_MAKABAYAN

Tuition increases continue amidst crisis

The following is the list of schools (in the National Capital Region) that will increase their tuition in Academic Year 2009-20010 based from the reports that the NUSP, through its Tuition Monitor Campaign, has received

Lyceum of the Philippines
+ 5% increase in tuition and another 5% increase in miscellaneous fees

University of the East (UE)
+ 5% tuition increase

Far Eastern University (FEU)
+ 6% tuition increase

San Juan de Letran College
+10% tuition increase

Philippine School of Business and Arts (PSBA)
+15% increase

San Beda College
+20% tuition increase

University of Sto. Thomas (UST)
+7% tuition increase to incoming 1st-3rd year students
+8.52% tuition increase to incoming 4th year students

Miscellaneous Fees Increase:
+ 90.5% Guidance and Counseling Fee increase
+ 7% Library fee increase
+ 5.56% registration fee increase
+ 66.7% Audio-Visual Fee increase to incoming 1st year students and 14.3% increase to incoming 2nd-4th year students
+ 7.14% drug testing fee increase
+ 9.09% energy fee increase
+ Student activity fee increase of 3.58% to 1st-3rd year students and 42% increase to incoming 4th year students
+ 7% ROTC/NSTP fee increase
+ 7% related learning experience fee increase
+ In the College of Science, 70% thesis advising fee increase
+ In the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery: 7.61% Learning Materials/ Test paper fee increase to 1st-3rd year students and 88.32% increase to 4th year students; and 46% LRU fee
+ 40- 50% Community Service Fee increase in college of commerce, Institute of Physical education and athletics, Institute of tourism and hospitality management, college of accountancy, college of fine arts and design, and faculty of arts and letters
+ In the College of Fine Arts, 8.52% increase in thesis advising fee
+ In the faculty of Arts and letters, 81.82% increase in Special lab fee- Edtech radio and TV

The following are the schools that conducted tuition consultation with students but did not inform them about the exact rate: Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), Jose Rizal University, Manila Central University.

Mahimbing Niyang Alab

Dinig ko ang bulong ng bawat pagpatak ng ulan,
Ang sigaw ng sinag ng araw na tumatama sa lupang tigang.

Digmaan. . . Isang digmaan ng init at lamig.
Ng liwanag at dilim. . . ng lungkot at galit.
Digmaang walang kahihinatnan kundi pagtulog ng isang nilalang
sa kandungan ng isang taksil.

Iiyak. . . iiyak. . . Pipikit. . .
Makakatulog. . .Tatahimik. . .

O, Oble. . . Kawawang Oble.

Nagbago ka na nga!
Bakit ka matutulog?
Iiyak ka na lang ba at tatahimik?
Gumising ka Oble! Gumising ka!

May digmaan!
May dilim!
May galit!

Magtatago ka na lang ba dahil may digmaan?
Pipikit ka na lang ba dahil madilim?
Hahayaan mo na lang bang itago ang galit?

Oble! Oble!

Bumangon ka!
Ikaw lamang ang tanging pag-asa ng lupang tigang.

Magalit ka!
Ilabas mo ang galit na yan!
Ang galit na yan ang makapagbibigay ng liwanag
sa madilim nating daan!
Ang galit na yan ang makakapagpanalo
sa digmaang ilang siglo nang nasimulan!
Alam kong galit ka! Ipakita mong galit ka!

O, ano? Ayaw mo pa rin bang magising?
Hindi mo nga ba talaga ako naririnig?
O ayaw mo lang talaga akong pakinggan?

Di mo ba naiintindihan?
Kung wala kang gagawin, kawawa ka!
Kawawa kami! Kawawa tayo!

Huwag mong talikuran ang responsibilidad mo
Bilang Iskolar gn Bayan!
Sinugo ka upang gampanan ang nakasulat sa iyong paanan
noong ikaw ay sinilang.

“Nasaan ang kabataang mag-aalay
ng kanilang kasibulang buhay,
ng kanilang adhikain at sigasig
sa kabutihan ng bansa?

Nasaan ang siyang puspusang
magbubuhos ng dugo
upang hugasang lariat ang ating kahihiyan,
ang ating mga kalapastanganan,
ang ating kabalintuan?

Tanging yaong dalisay at walang bahid
ang karapatdapat na naging alay upang
matanggap ang kasalantaang ito.”

Winika rin ni Andres, hamon sa atin
bilang anak ng bayan, madama't gampanan natin.
“Aling pag-ibig pang hihigit kaya
sa pagkadalisay at pagkakadakila
gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa
Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.”


Huwag nang itago pa!
Huwag lamang umimik sa isang tabi
at maghihintay ng walang kasiguraduhan.
Kumilos ka habang may magagawa ka pa!
Dahil ang labang ito ay hindi makakaya
kung iilan lamang ang nakikibaka!

Oras na Oble para bumangon muli.
Ngayon, ipakitang karapat-dapat kang tawaging iskolar ng bayan.
Ngayon, ipakitang karapat-dapat kang tawaging anak ng bayan.
Ngayon, ipakitang karapat-dapat kang tawaging pag-asa
ng ating tinubuang lupa.

Tanggapin mo ang hamon!
Huwag mong hayaang supilin ka ng iyong takot!
Dahil ang labang ito ay laban
para makamit ang hinahangad nating
tunay na kalayaan!

When Taming is Over

A century of wisdom. . .
A century of bravery. . .
A century of militancy. . .


This is UP Trademark. University of the Philippines has been tagged as the ‘university for the poor’ because it offers quality education that is accessible to the masses and to the proletarians.

Since the implementation of the STFAP (or the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program) twenty years ago, which is just a ‘defensive mechanism’ of the UP Administration to cover the issue of Tuition Fee Increase, the essence of being a state university have slowly faded and the duty of the state in providing quality and affordable education to the youth has deviated.

The main reason for the high cost of education of the university is the low budget allocation of the government to UP. It is proposing this certain amount, but what is being approved by the government is lower than the proposed one. To cover up and to compensate to this ‘budget deficit’, students pay high matriculation.



Article 2
Section17. The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.

Article 14
Section1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

Section4.(1) The State recognizes the complementary roles of public and private institutions in the educational system and shall exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions.

Section5.(5) The State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.



It is ironic, indeed. It is stipulated in the Philippine Constitution that the state is responsible in providing basic services, like education, to the people, especially to the youth. Cutting the UP Budget seems to be an initiative of the government to separate itself from the institution. RA 9500 makes it more obvious. So does the Board of Regents (BOR), since the majority of the BOR are allied and are appointed by ‘your’ President GMA.

We have been created and tamed by the government for a century. We then become satisfied and dependent to it through state subsidies.

The university’s push for fiscal autonomy is a violation to what is stipulated in the constitution (well unless this is also, at the same time, their initiative for a ‘Constitutional Amendment’).

UP should not be separated from the state. This will make its legacy which lasted for more than a century already perish. If this occurs, what will happen to the youth? The cost of UP education will continue to soar higher for it to generate revenues and for the system to continue working. This high cost of education deprives youth, especially the majority who are poor, from acquiring this education that should be given by the government. Their life might end up in misery.

It is indeed a prejudice to the poor youth if the UP Administration pushes fiscal autonomy and the government, at the same time, will continue to decrease our budget and perhaps, will end up subsidizing us.

Will you let the students and the youth suffer the consequence of protecting the interest of the government? You should be ashamed to the poor, where in the midst of the economic and political turmoil are the first who are affected.

Separation is not an option. Let is collectively demand our administration, especially the BOR, to be more aggressive in demanding the government to provide us the budget we deserve. If they [UP Administration], let us take the initiatives. We will fight for our rights! We will not let the government stop in subsidizing us because in the first place, it is their duty. We will not stop the struggle for a truly democratic society to shun the epoch that the youth will be forsaken.

Harapin ang Krisis, Kumilos Para sa Panlipunang Pagbabago

Ang bagong taon ay nangangahulugan ng pagharap ng kabataan at mamamayan sa papaigting na panlipunang krisis.

Hindi na maikaila ng rehimeng US-Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at mga lokal na kasapakat nito ang dinaranas at daranasing malalang krisis sa ekonomiya dulot ng kasalukuyang pandaigdigang resesyon. Hindi na kayang pasubalian ng anumang mga pahayag nito ang nakaambang matinding pandarahop at ipalabas na minimal lamang ang magiging epekto ng tinaguriang Great Depression II sa kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan sa buong daigdig.

Bago pa man matapos ang nakaraang taon, sinalanta na ng malawakang disempleyo ang mga manggagawa sa buong daigdig dulot ng malawakang tanggalan sa mga nabangkaroteng mga empresa at negosyo. Pinakahuling nagpahayag ng pagkabangkarote (bankruptcy) ang tatlong dambuhalang automotive companies sa US, ang Ford, Chrysler at General Motors, na magreresulta sa malawakang tanggalan sa trabaho kahit pa nagdeklara na ang gobyerno ng US ng bailout para sa mga ito. Ang General Motors, halimbawa, ay may tinatantyang magtatanggal ng 30,000-100,000 manggagawa dulot ng kanilang pagkalugi.

Sa US pa lamang, tinatayang may 4 milyong manggagawa ang mawawalan ng trabaho pagsapit ng unang kwarto ng taong ito. Hindi pa man tuwirang pumuputok ang pandaigdigang resesyon ay milyun-milyon na ang nabubuhay sa $1-$2 sa isang araw.

Sa Europian Union, tinataya ang malakihang tanggalan ng trabaho sa North Eastern England. Sa Germany, may 10-15% ang inaasahang mawawalan ng trabaho sa mga automotive companies pa lamang. Nagdeklara na rin ang General Motors at Nissan-Renault sa Spain ng malawakang tanggalan dulot na pagbagsak ng benta ng kotse sa halos 40% Oktubre pa lamang noong nakaraang taon (Agence France Presse). Sa pinakahuling balita mula sa Wall Street, tinatayang may 200,000 ang matatanggal sa trabaho sa buong mundo bago pa man matapos ang Enero 2009.

Gayundin, sunud-sunod ang pagsara maging ng mga komersyal na bilihan, kainan at serbisyo hindi lamang sa US kundi maging sa iba pang mga abanteng bansang tinamaan din ng resesyon. Hirap ang mga kumpanyang nasa linya ng consumer retail dahil patuloy na bumubulusok ang kakayahan ng mga mamamayan para bumili ng kanilang mga produkto. Bumagsak na ang share prices ng JC Penney at Nordstrom, dalawang malalaking department store sa US. Sa London, nagsara na ang ilang mga sangay ng Marks and Spencer at Bloomingdale’s. Mahigit 100 sangay na rin ng Starbucks ang nagsara sa US noong Nobyembre pa lamang (USNews.com, Nobyembre 2008)

Bagsak na rin maging ang ilang malalaking kumpanya ng electronics at teknolohiya. Ang Vodafone Group PLC, ang pinakamalaking kumpanya ng mobile cellular phone sa buong mundo, ay hindi na makaraos sa pagbagsak ng halaga ng mga stocks nito (Associate Press, Nobyembre 2008). Nagsampa na ng hiling para sa bailout ang Circuit City Stores Inc, habang ang Best Buy, isang electronics retail chain, ay nagdeklara na rin ng pagkalugi (USNews.com, Nobyembre 2008). Patuloy namang humahaba ang listahan ng mga real estate companies na nababangkarote dulot ng pagputok ng tinaguriang housing bubble/subprime mortgaging.

Kaalinsabay naman nito ang lumolobong utang ng gobyernong US at iba pang bansa, malalaking multinasyunal na kumpanya, hanggang ng mga tahanan at mamamayan dulot ng kasalukuyang pinansyal na krisis.

Kahit ang matagal nang taktika ng US na manggera para isalba ang kanyang ekonomiya ay hindi na kayang isalba ito sa krisis, bukod pa sa lalong nabubunyag ang tunay na interes ng US sa mga gerang agresyon sa Iraq at Afghanistan. Nitong huli, malawak ang pagkondena ng mamamayan sa buong daigdig sa tuwirang pagsuporta ng gobyernong US sa pambobomba ng Israel sa Gaza na patuloy na pumapatay at sumasalanta sa mga inosenteng sibilyan sa likod ng motibong makontrol ang pipelines sa Gaza. Matagal nang nalantad ang ‘gera laban sa terorismo’ ng US bilang taktika para sa makasariling interes nito.

Epekto na krisis sa malakonyal at malapyudal na Pilipinas

Samantala, anumang paliwanag ni Arroyo na hindi o minimal lang ang magiging epekto ng pandaigdigang krisis ay hindi na makakalusot sa mamamayan. Sa halip, mas magiging masahol malala, matagal at mapanalanta ang resesyon sa mga atrasado at pre-industriyal na mga malakolonya tulad ng Pilipinas.

Tumaas na naman ang presyo ng bilihin, tulad ng LPG at pagkain. Habang ayon sa huling Social Weather Station sarbey, 52% ng mamamayang Pilipino ang tinuturing ang kanilang sarili na mas mahirap pa sa daga. 23.7% (21.5 milyon katao) ng mamamayang Pilipino ang dumaranas ng iba’t ibang antas ng kagutuman. Mas malala pa rito ang 40% tantos ng kagutuman, ayon sa sarbey ng Gallup International nitong Nobyembre. Doble ito ng pandaigdigang average at naglagay sa Pilipinas bilang ikalima sa talaan ng kagutuman sa buong mundo.

Nauna na ring binaggit ng Ibon Foundation na para makaagapay sa krisis, mas maraming buwis na babayaran ang mamamayan ngayong 2009. Tunguhin, halimbawa, ng gobyernong US-Arroyo na magpataw ng mas marami at panibagong mga buwis ngayong taon ito na aabot sa P12-25 bilyon sa pamamagitan ng buwis sa tabako, alkohol (sin taxes) at maging sa ‘Internet blogging’ para lamang makapangalap ng dagdag-pondo sa gitna ng krisis.

Tuwiran rin ang magiging epekto ng resesyon sa eksport ng bansa. Pangunahin na rito ang industriyang elektroniks na nagluluwal ng 67-70% ng eksport ng Pilipinas, kalakhan sa US. Bunga ng pagdausdos ng pandaigdigang pamilihan para sa mga produkto nito, bumabagsak ito nang mahigit 30% kada buwan, at inaasahang patuloy na babagsak ngayong taon. Marami sa mga 600,000 manggagawa sa industriyang ito ay pinagtatanggal na o nanganganib na matanggal.

Gayundin ang magiging epekto sa OFW remittances. Tinatayang 30,000 migranteng Pilipino na ang nahagip ng malawakang tanggalan sa US. 500,000 migranteng Pilipino na mawawalan ng trabaho at maoobligang umuwi (Ibon Databank).

Tiyak din ang magiging epekto ng kasalukyang krisis sa kabataang Pilipino, habang patuloy namang tumataas ang halaga ng edukasyon sa bansa dulot pa rin ng mga patakarang pribatisasyon, komersyalisasyon at deregulasyon ng matrikula. Noong nakaraang taon, 378 sa mahigit 1,800 pribadong kolehiyo at unibersidad sa bansa ang nagtaas ng matrikula. Tumaas ng 9.93 porsiyento ang matrikula o P38.92 mula noong 2007 na naglagay sa national average tuition rate sa P437.10 kada yunit. Tinatayang lalong dadami pa ang mga administrasyong magpapanukalang itaas ang kanilang mga matrikula ngayong darating na Pebrero sa bisa ng muling pagpapataupad ng Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Memorandum 13. Habang tiyak din ang patuloy na paglunsad ng mga state college and university ng tinaguriang income generating projects sa muling pagkaltas sa badyet sa sektor ng edukasyon sa inaprubahang pambansang badyet ngayong 2009. Pinakahuling dagdag-pasakit naman sa mga estudyante ang ipinataw ng CHEd na karagdagang isa pang taon sa kursong nursing na magiging epektibo sa susunod na academic year (2009-2010).

Samantala, apektado rin maging ang mga nagtatrabaho sa mga semi-processing zones at business process outsourcing (call centers). Sunud-sunod na rin ang malawakang tanggalan sa trabaho maging sa mga lokal na sangay ng mga kumpanyang multinasyunal dito sa bansa, tulad ng Intel sa Cavite at Texas Instruments sa Baguio na pawang nakararanas ngayon ng matinding pagkalugi. Tinatayang mas dadami pa ito sa mga susunod na buwan, habang walang ibang tugon ang gobyerno kundi ang mamigay ng mga panandaliang subsidyo o di kaya’y dole-outs. Lolobo ang disempleyo, laluna pagsapit ng graduation sa Marso.

Desperasyon ni Arroyo na makapanatili sa estado-poder sa gitna ng malawakang krisis

Sa gitna ng tuluyang pagkakahiwalay ni Arroyo sa mamamayan dulot ng krisis, gayon pa rin ang kanyang desperasyong makapanatili sa pwesto.

Walang kamatayang charter change

Bagamat malaon nang nailantad ang motibo ni Arroyo sa cha-cha at sa kabila ng malawak na pagtutol dito ng mamamayan, cha-cha pa rin ang pangunahing inaasahan ni Arroyo para manatili sa pwesto at maisalba ang sarili sa paniningil ng mamamayan.

Maging ang kinakaharap na pinakamatinding krisis sa ekonomiya ng mamamayan ay kinakasangkapan ni Arroyo para igiit ang cha-cha – sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggal ng mga ilang nalalabing proteksyon sa Konstitusyon para sa pambansang patrimonya at soberanya. Pangunahin dito ang pagtanggal sa probisyong naglilimita sa dayuhang pag-aari sa bansa para diumano mas makapang-akit ng dayuhang negosyo at pamumuhunan ngayong panahon ng krisis. Ani House Speaker Prospero Nograles, ito raw ang pinakamainam na paraan gayong tiyak na naghahanap ng mapaglalagakan ng kapital ang mga kumpanya sa US at iba pang mga bansa ngayong panahong ng global financial crisis.

Nitong huli, tumambad sa publiko ang pakanang pagpapatalsik kay Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno ng mga kaalyado ni Arroyo sa Kongreso. Mabilis na binatikos ito ng Oposisyon at iba pang mga sektor at grupo. Sa pakanang ito, walang ibang makikinabang kundi si Arroyo at ang panukalang cha-cha dahil si Puno na lamang ang matitirang mahistrado na hindi kontrolado ng Malakanyang sa Korte Suprema matamang magretiro ang pito sa kanila ngayong Enero. Sa kasalukuyan, 12 sa 15 na mahistrado ay appointees ni Arroyo. Ang pinakahuling mahistradong in-appoint sa Korte Suprema, si Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, ay kilalang malapit na kaibigan ni Arroyo.

Ngayong muling magbubukas ang Kongreso, tiyak namang ipagpipilitan ni Arroyo ang paggiit sa ‘magkasanib na Constitutional Assembly (unilateral Con-Ass)’ kahit na siguradong tatanggihan ito ng Senado at idineklara na ring labag sa batas. Paborable ang isang magkasanib na Con-Ass para kay Arroyo lalo pa’t mayorya ng Kongreso ay kanyang mga kaalyado – tulad ng kung paanong nakasangkapan niya ang kanyang mga kaalyado upang ibasura ang naunang mga impeachment complaint laban sa kanya. Sa nauna nang pinagsanib na resolusyon ng lahat ng mga Senador kontra-Con-Ass, tinatayang ang Korte Suprema ang huling hantungan para maipasa ang panukalang cha-cha.

Pasismo, panunupil at panlilinlang

Dahil desperadong makapanatili sa pwesto, ginagawa ni Arroyo ang lahat ng paraan upang hatiin, hadlangan at supilin ang hanay ng mga ligal na oposisyon at kilusang masa. Tuluy-tuloy ang pagbigwas ni Arroyo ng pulitikal na panunupil at dahas, pangunahin na sa mga lider-aktibista at kasapi ng mga aktibistang organisasyon. Tampok ngayon ang ‘kriminalisasyon’ ng mga aktibista sa pamamagitan ng pagsampa ng mga kasong pulos paratang at walang batayan.

Samantala, patuloy pa rin ang extra-hudisyal na pagpatay at forced disappearances na sangkot ang hinihinalang mga elemento ng militar.

Tagos naman ang bangis ng panunupil ng estado maging sa mga kampus at eskwelahan. Ilang mga lider-estudyante ang hayagang pinararatangang mga ‘NPA recruiter at komunista’ at sukdulang sampahan ng gawa-gawang kasong rebelyon ang limang estudyante ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) sa Lopez, Quezon.

Patuloy ang paglulunsad ng mga forum at symposium ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa pamamagitan ng ROTC (Reserved Officers Training Corps) na walang ibang layunin kundi siraan ang mga aktibista at progresibong organisasyon ng mga kabataan sa mga eskwelahan.

Panlilinlang din ang isinusulong na nag-aastang progresibong Magna Carta of Students ni Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel sa Kongreso na naglalaman ng mga panukalang magliligalisa, reguralisa at magpapahintulot ng higit pang panunupil sa mga estudyante.

At habang papalapit ang Eleksyong 2010, ngayon pa lang, unti-unti nang kinokonsolida ni Arroyo ang kanyang makinarya para sa malawakang dayaan, panunupil at panlilinlang. Nitong huli, tampok ang isinagawang Cabinet revamp ng Malakanyang kung saan pawang mga retired general, ang ilan sa kanila’y sangkot sa kontrobersyal na Hello Garci, (Razon bilang Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Esperon sa Presidential Management Staff, Danga bilang AFP Chief of Staff, atbp.) ang itinalaga ni Arroyo sa mga susing pusisyon sa kanyang Gabinete, habang si Retired Gen. Jovito Palparan ay nababalitang itatalaga sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)at/o Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Harapin ang krisis! Kumilos para sa panlipunang pagbabago!

Napakapaborable ng kasalukuyang krisis para lalong magkaisa ang kabataan at mamamayan na kumilos para sa panlipunang pagbabago.

Hamon sa atin sa kasalukuyan na mas patiningin ang pambansa-demokratikong pagsusuri at solusyon sa harap ng malawakang kahirapan, kagutuman at lumalalang pasismo at tiraniya ng rehimen.

Kailangang maging mapagmatyag at mapagbantay sa mga kaganapan pag-usad ng mga usaping pambansa habang patuloy na inilalantad ang kabulukan ng imperyalistang sistema sampu ng pandaigdigang resesyon.

Kailangang puspusang maglunsad ng tuluy-tuloy at sustinidong malawakang kampanyang higit na maglalantad sa desperasyon ni Arroyo na makapanatili sa pwesto. Nakaamba ang kaliwa’t kanang mga pakana kabilang na ang iba’t ibang mga iskema at paraan sakaling mabigo ang cha-cha at matuloy ang halalan sa 2010. Hindi kailanman pahihintulutan ni Arroyo na mawala sa estado-poder dahil nangangahulugan ito ng kanyang pagharap at pagkakalaboso sa lahat kanyang mga krimen sa mamamayan.

Kailangang tiyakin ang pagkakawing ng mga isyung lokal at sektoral sa paniningil sa rehimeng US-Arroyo. Malakas na labanan ang mga pakana ni Arroyo para atakehin at supilin ang mga demokratikong karapatan at interes ng mamamayan.

Kailangang mag-ipon ng sapat na lakas at pwersa ang kilusang kabataan at masa upang masustini ang kampanya laban sa diktadura at panunupil ni Arroyo habang masusi at patuloy na ikinakampanya sa pinakamalawak na bilang ng masang kabataan at mamamayan ang kawastuhan ng pambansa-demokratikong pakikipaka. Magagawa lamang ito kung sasanib ang kilusang kabataan-estudyante sa hanay ng batayang masa. Ang sustinido at solidong lakas ng kabataan at mamamayan ang siyang magiging salalayan para sa inaasahang bugso ng kampanyang masa ngayong taong ito.

Tanging sa isang dumadagundong kilusang masa mapagtatagumpayan ng mamamayan ang laban para sa tunay na pagbabago, demokrasya at katarungang panlipunan.

*disregard default byline

LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS