I will work hard to get you CPMA...
Rebirth
1 month ago
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Start of the End: Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
24 January 2010
I have posted a blog entitled 'A Safer Haven for Bloggers: No More'.
There, I have made mention of the the 'Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2009', I believe it was H.B. 6794 that time. There have been other versions and now was passed into law last 12 September 2012 by Pres. Aquino.
It is now known as Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, officially recorded as Republic Act No. 10175.
The law's other provisions are beneficial. Except for the part that covers Internet Libel, where you can no longer express yourself in any form and venue over the internet.
The start of the end of freedom of expression in the Philippines. The start of the times when our mouths would have 'busals,' and our fingers, would have restraints.
I guess Pres. Aquino is trying to make another history - much worse than that of Marcos's Martial Law, which his late mother and former president, Cory Aquino fought for, believing that the Filipino people deserves freedom. The same freedom he has now allowed to be tainted and to be trampled upon with impunity by people who believed that their names don't deserved to be judged and spit upon.
Nonetheless, still many are not fooled. Just a few days ago, 9 October 2012, the Supreme Court has issued a TRO stopping its implementation - for 120 days.
And then what?
I need not quote the Constitution and our Bill of Rights just to say that I have justifications and contention.
It is my right to freely express myself, in any form.
I hope the new SC Chief Justice have enough guts to say know to her President and to the proponents of this law.
Revise it, fine. Just remove that part that denies us of our rights. And the very vague ones, where for sure those pathetic people have intentionally left out.
I have posted a blog entitled 'A Safer Haven for Bloggers: No More'.
There, I have made mention of the the 'Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2009', I believe it was H.B. 6794 that time. There have been other versions and now was passed into law last 12 September 2012 by Pres. Aquino.
It is now known as Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, officially recorded as Republic Act No. 10175.
The law's other provisions are beneficial. Except for the part that covers Internet Libel, where you can no longer express yourself in any form and venue over the internet.
The start of the end of freedom of expression in the Philippines. The start of the times when our mouths would have 'busals,' and our fingers, would have restraints.
I guess Pres. Aquino is trying to make another history - much worse than that of Marcos's Martial Law, which his late mother and former president, Cory Aquino fought for, believing that the Filipino people deserves freedom. The same freedom he has now allowed to be tainted and to be trampled upon with impunity by people who believed that their names don't deserved to be judged and spit upon.
Nonetheless, still many are not fooled. Just a few days ago, 9 October 2012, the Supreme Court has issued a TRO stopping its implementation - for 120 days.
And then what?
I need not quote the Constitution and our Bill of Rights just to say that I have justifications and contention.
It is my right to freely express myself, in any form.
I hope the new SC Chief Justice have enough guts to say know to her President and to the proponents of this law.
Revise it, fine. Just remove that part that denies us of our rights. And the very vague ones, where for sure those pathetic people have intentionally left out.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fourth of July: A Celebration on Chains
Fourth of July.
It is the day when all Americans commemorate their Independence Day from the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was also the Philippine's day of declaration of independence from the United States of America.
Or a bogus declaration of independence I should say. Historians strongly point out that there were numerous strings attached to that relinquishment of sovereignty. We are indeed the door to the great Pacific and it would be greatly advantageous for a superpower to have control on such a territory. So, even after the said independence, their military bases were retained; they've dictated and have been dictating directly their access and control over our economy so that they can molest our natural resources.
All of that were granted to them by the then congress unless we will rebuild our own nation all by ourselves and say, "No, thank you. We can manage," to their post World War II rebuilding funds. This has been the US government’s dirty strategy of blackmailing and taking advantage of a powerless state’s dire needing. You won't privatize your water or energy sources and World Bank or IMF loans won't be approved. They're basically done with a lot of our Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) starting with late President Cory Aquino's presidency and intensified under President Fidel Ramos – both are US puppets just like their predecessors.
What I am trying to point out though is that our nation has not really experienced any real and genuine Independence. The US government's idea of an empire has been deeply rooted in our system and being religiously nurtured until now. And yes, we have faced very grave and heavy consequences - our deteriorating educational system, the arbitrary, unlawful and extrajudicial killings of journalists and activists, just to mention a few.
Prof. Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist and Chair of Educators for Development (EfD) at the IBON National Educators’ Conference in Cebu City on 28 April 2010 perfectly put my thoughts into words:
He added:
If students have not stood up together to stop the tuition fee increase in major state universities like UP and PUP, what could have become of our worsening educational state already?
In the same manner, the US government led war on terror has indeed created ghastly terrors in our own land not just in Afghanistan or Iraq. For the past 9 years, the US-Arroyo administration has 900 lives of activists who were critical of the government, including students and labor leaders, to account for. No other administration in the Philippine history has so much blood spilled on their hands than the one under the US-puppet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Under the Oplan Bantay Laya, the US government has been using our own security forces to harass, exterminate and summarily slaughter our own people as they hide behind their just War on Terror that they themselves have created so that they can take over the entire world’s economy and resources. They and their brilliant idea of an Empire.
A lot have been hoping that the neophyte administration under the newly elected President Noynoy Aquino would bring about the advent of a new and reformed government. This five-day old administration has shown that it has no fangs and no serious motive to do something about the unrepressed arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings and summary executions of journalists and activists in our country.
Today, the first extrajudicial killing under the Aquino administration happened with impunity. Fernando Baldomero, the provincial coordinator in Aklan of the party-list group Bayan Muna and also a town councilor of Lezo, Aklan, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen early Monday.
The extrajudicial killing came two days after Jose Daguio, a 75-year-old reporter and commentator of Radyo Natin and a columnist of a community newspaper, was shot dead in his home in Tabuk City Saturday night.
This is the real independence we are currently enjoying. Moreover, it is so sad to say that the present generation, or many amongst us have been blinded and neutralized, are already apathetic, towards these issues. The United States’ strategy of instilling a false propaganda such as going to war for just causes like anti-terrorism, economic partnership and instability is slowly gnawing through our patriotic minds. So that one will be left questioning oneself, when will our hands and feet be unchained?
Quoting and rephrasing Prof. Lumbera’s words: we can only hope that a new generation of Filipinos with a nationalist orientation would arise to institute radical changes.
Let us fight for true Liberty!!!
No to US Imperialism!!!
Justice for all the victims of Oplan Bantay Laya II!!!
Sources:
"History of the Philippines (1946-1965)," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_%281946%E2%80%931965%29
"Analysis on Privatization," http://www.skyinet.net/~courage/position/private1.htm
"THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND NATIONALIST EDUCATION by Prof. Bienvenido Lumbera," http://www.ibon.org/ibon_events.php?page=&id=57
"First killing of activist under Aquino condemned," http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100705-279295/First-killing-of-activist-under-Aquino-condemned
http://kabataanpartylist.com/
It is the day when all Americans commemorate their Independence Day from the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was also the Philippine's day of declaration of independence from the United States of America.
Or a bogus declaration of independence I should say. Historians strongly point out that there were numerous strings attached to that relinquishment of sovereignty. We are indeed the door to the great Pacific and it would be greatly advantageous for a superpower to have control on such a territory. So, even after the said independence, their military bases were retained; they've dictated and have been dictating directly their access and control over our economy so that they can molest our natural resources.
All of that were granted to them by the then congress unless we will rebuild our own nation all by ourselves and say, "No, thank you. We can manage," to their post World War II rebuilding funds. This has been the US government’s dirty strategy of blackmailing and taking advantage of a powerless state’s dire needing. You won't privatize your water or energy sources and World Bank or IMF loans won't be approved. They're basically done with a lot of our Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) starting with late President Cory Aquino's presidency and intensified under President Fidel Ramos – both are US puppets just like their predecessors.
Right now, our country's economy greatly depends on other countries' investments. Perfect to mention are the ones in the Business Process Outsourcing industry. Yes, it provides us jobs but in reality a lot of injustices are being done to us. But better live with it than none is the common mentality.
What I am trying to point out though is that our nation has not really experienced any real and genuine Independence. The US government's idea of an empire has been deeply rooted in our system and being religiously nurtured until now. And yes, we have faced very grave and heavy consequences - our deteriorating educational system, the arbitrary, unlawful and extrajudicial killings of journalists and activists, just to mention a few.
Prof. Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist and Chair of Educators for Development (EfD) at the IBON National Educators’ Conference in Cebu City on 28 April 2010 perfectly put my thoughts into words:
"It must be pointed out that the colonial educational system did not go away after the so-called grant of independence in 1946. Like a parasitic plant it sunk deep roots on Philippine soil, nurtured by the original products of the Thomasites, and later when it had begun to age, revived by the Peace Corps volunteers. From time to time, there would be talks of reform, but the bureaucratic infrastructure set up by the Bureau of Education proved to be impervious to re-structuring in the hands of men and women who were themselves products of such a structure and therefore could not bring themselves to undo a system that made them what they are."
He added:
"Educators born generations away from the architects and vanguards of the colonial system can only hope that a new generation of educators with a nationalist orientation would arise to institute radical changes in the way the youth in schools are formed."
If students have not stood up together to stop the tuition fee increase in major state universities like UP and PUP, what could have become of our worsening educational state already?
In the same manner, the US government led war on terror has indeed created ghastly terrors in our own land not just in Afghanistan or Iraq. For the past 9 years, the US-Arroyo administration has 900 lives of activists who were critical of the government, including students and labor leaders, to account for. No other administration in the Philippine history has so much blood spilled on their hands than the one under the US-puppet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Under the Oplan Bantay Laya, the US government has been using our own security forces to harass, exterminate and summarily slaughter our own people as they hide behind their just War on Terror that they themselves have created so that they can take over the entire world’s economy and resources. They and their brilliant idea of an Empire.
A lot have been hoping that the neophyte administration under the newly elected President Noynoy Aquino would bring about the advent of a new and reformed government. This five-day old administration has shown that it has no fangs and no serious motive to do something about the unrepressed arbitrary, unlawful, and extrajudicial killings and summary executions of journalists and activists in our country.
Today, the first extrajudicial killing under the Aquino administration happened with impunity. Fernando Baldomero, the provincial coordinator in Aklan of the party-list group Bayan Muna and also a town councilor of Lezo, Aklan, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen early Monday.
The extrajudicial killing came two days after Jose Daguio, a 75-year-old reporter and commentator of Radyo Natin and a columnist of a community newspaper, was shot dead in his home in Tabuk City Saturday night.
This is the real independence we are currently enjoying. Moreover, it is so sad to say that the present generation, or many amongst us have been blinded and neutralized, are already apathetic, towards these issues. The United States’ strategy of instilling a false propaganda such as going to war for just causes like anti-terrorism, economic partnership and instability is slowly gnawing through our patriotic minds. So that one will be left questioning oneself, when will our hands and feet be unchained?
Quoting and rephrasing Prof. Lumbera’s words: we can only hope that a new generation of Filipinos with a nationalist orientation would arise to institute radical changes.
Let us fight for true Liberty!!!
No to US Imperialism!!!
Justice for all the victims of Oplan Bantay Laya II!!!
Sources:
"History of the Philippines (1946-1965)," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_%281946%E2%80%931965%29
"Analysis on Privatization," http://www.skyinet.net/~courage/position/private1.htm
"THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND NATIONALIST EDUCATION by Prof. Bienvenido Lumbera," http://www.ibon.org/ibon_events.php?page=&id=57
"First killing of activist under Aquino condemned," http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100705-279295/First-killing-of-activist-under-Aquino-condemned
http://kabataanpartylist.com/
Saturday, April 10, 2010
In Defense of the Truth
Kabataan Party-list is at the height of its campaigns. All through the years, the culture of Philippine politics had always been painted with name calling, harassment, destroying a candidate or a group's reputation and even murder and homicide. Most recent is the hideous Ampatuan Massacre in Maguindanao. We critique those who are not worthy, specially the government puppets. Oftentimes, those who just want to do it for fun and baseless rattling taints the essence of these critiquing. Oftentimes as well, we critics or the opposition are being critiqued. This became evident in one of the comments in our official campaigning website (http://kabataanpartylist.com/):
ray joey 03:53ano ba yang nilagay nyo na text sa isang poster nyo binasura nyo ba ang no permit no exam policy? di yan totoo, tsaka sa pork barrel na natatanggap nyo sana marami kayong skolar,nagpapayaman rin kayo
I cannot blame the likes of Ray Joey. A politician even told us the same thing when we solicited assistance for a regional activity.
A party-list is a group that represents the minority. Duly mandated by none other than our constitution itself, it aims to protect the rights and interests of the minority or the marginalized and underrepresented sectors. Yes, as a party-list voted upon by the people, we are also entitled to the P70 Million annual pork barrel allocation which will finance identified, worthy and endorsed projects for the sector or group the party-list is representing.
On our case, such big money could have indeed financed a lot of less fortunate yet worthy students through scholarship programs. However, as a matter of fact we were never given our pork barrel allocations. Last year, we, including other left-wing party-lists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela, were even accused by Bantay Rep. Jovito Palparan Jr. and Anad Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. (both government puppet party-lists) of using our pork barrel to organize and finance anti-government rallies and procure firearms and ammunition for communist rebels.
Then Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, chairman of the House committee on appropriations confirmed this and then after he briefly conferred with Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., he told us that the problem was lack of funds.
“We will not beg for the pork barrel funds and we cannot be silenced despite the oppression that we are being subjected to. But we want the people to know that despite the absence of our pork barrel funds, we even earned two seats for Gabriela and Bayan Muna got three seats in this chamber,’’ quoting Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela as she told the Manila Standard Today.
There is no lack of funds. We were oppressed. Hon. Prospero C. Nograles, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Hon. Edcel C. Lagman's, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations explained and justified pork barrel in their Understanding the “Pork Barrel”, "Indeed, understanding the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) is appreciating its necessity and import. It is not by any measure akin to the sinful “pork barrel” of the original American mold."
Despite the justification, many still believed that it is being used in favor of and against the enemy of the government. It was used during the times of the dictator Pres. Ferdinand Marcos (Salvador Miranda, “The Politics of Pork”, November, 1996). It is being used as well today by the corrupt and neodictator Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to oppress her enemies and critics, including us leftist party-lists. You might want to ask, how is that possible? She cannot. Well, unfortunately, she can. Let me copy here the exact words of Nograles and Lagman:
In the precedent-setting case of Philconsa vs.Enriquez, et al., the High Court declared in no uncertain terms that the CDF is valid and constitutional. It was ruled that:
Under the Constitution, the spending power called by James Madison as “the power of the purse,” belongs to Congress, subject only to the veto power of the President. The President may propose the budget, but still the final say on the matter of appropriations is lodged in the Congress. The power of appropriation carries with it the power to specify the project or activity to be funded under the appropriation law. It can be as detailed and as broad as Congress wants it to be.
The Supreme court further held that:
The Constitution is a framework of a workable government and its interpretation must take into account the complexities, realities and politics attendant to the operation of the political branches of government. Prior to the GAA of 1991, there was an uneven allocation of appropriations for the constituents of the members of Congress, with the members close to the Congressional leadership or who hold cards for "horse-trading," getting more than their less favored colleagues. The members of Congress also had to reckon with an unsympathetic President, who could exercise his veto power to cancel from the appropriation bill a pet project of a Representative or Senator.
And the sad truth is that, the Congress is dominated by Administration representatives. President Arroyo can veto our prospected projects and the Congress will support her. In spite of this, we were able to deliver impressive number of votes last 2007 elections. We were able to accomplish a lot even before we aspired for Congress and run as a party-list.
The most recent of our youth's victories are:
1. Anti No Permit, No Exam Policy
It was Kabataan Partylist that filed the HB6799 or the “Anti-No-Permit, No-Exam Policy” filed by Palatino last September 10, 2009. CHED duly acknowledged and said Okay to it with Commission on Higher Education's (CHEd) issuance of CHEd Memorandum Order (CMO) 02 series of 2010, directing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to be flexible in the implementation of ‘no permit, no exam’ policy.
CHED officially issued the memo on January 22, 2010. The CHED Memo states in Section 3 . Specific Guidelines, “As such, HEIs shall allow students with delinquent accounts to take school examinations.”
2. No to Tuition Fee Increase (TFI)
The stoppage of tuition fee increase in Major Universities in the country and even hundreds of other Universities nationwide after Rep. Raymond "Mong" Palatino of Kabataan, along with student and youth leaders, conducted a dialogue with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Emmanuel Angeles. He even asked to be furnished a list of schools being complained in the Kabataan Partylist hotlines that are planning to raise tuition fees and so that he would not approve them - that was after Palatino raised that most of the 233 private schools have tuition hike proposals that have violated consultation guidelines with students and parents. (http://kabataanpartylist.com/blog/breaking-news-students-triumph-over-tuition-hikes-ched-chair-angeles-declares-no-tuition-hike-in-pup/).
This May 2010, we are running once again for Congress not to collect our pork barrel and worse not to make ourselves rich, but to continue what we have started and aim for more and greater victories - victories that will address one by one the roots of the problems and dilemmas that confront not only the youth but the Philippine society as a whole. We, as the first and only youth partylist in Congress today, will continue to stand for the rights of the youth, students and every Filipino citizen to free and accessible education; adequate jobs for all new graduates and the protection of workers’ rights; against corruption and works for the immediate prosecution of corrupt government officials at all levels; continue its pro-environment advocacy.
Most importantly, Kabataan Party-list means politics of change.
In this time of corrupt governance and political unrest, the nation needs young, vibrant and innovative minds that will restore integrity and morality in governance and lead the nation to genuine progress and social change. This is what we stand for.
Ipagpapatuloy natin ang laban!
Mabuhay ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan na lumalaban!
Mabuhay ang Kabataang Pilipino!
Re-elect for Congress - KABATAAN PARTY-LIST!!!
References:
http://kabataanpartylist.com/
"Understanding the “Pork Barrel," by Hon. Prospero C. Nograles, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Hon. Edcel C. Lagman, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations
"Leftwing solons demand release of their pork barrel," http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2009/october/17/news5.isx&d=/2009/october/17
"10 Reasons Why We Should Vote for Kabataan Partylist on May 10," http://kabataanpartylist.com/blog/10reasons/
Sunday, February 28, 2010
When We Have To Make A Stand
The other day, I met my friend Cris over at Mr. Donut in one of the malls here in Naga City. She told me a story about how a mother chose the lives of thousands of people over her own child. Destiny is really fond of testing our faith once in a blue moon. Faced with such circumstance, we oftentimes choose what we believe is right morally.
One is expected to choose either of the two, never both or none at all. We are forced to choose either the left or the right way. These roads are most of the time trudged by only a few. Why of all the people in the world do I have to make this choice?
Responsibility. Is it wrong that once in your life you’d find courage to bear on your shoulders the others’ responsibility? Or is it more wrong to avoid that responsibility when you have an obligation to fulfill? Is there any difference between responsibility and obligation?
Well, as they said, once you step a single foot on a pit, you might bring your entire body into it in spite of your struggle to keep the other foot out of it. That is if you don’t know how deep that pit is. Or if they will ever let you know I should say.
Moreover, internal contradictions and personal beliefs, molded by your upbringing and faith, often come in the way. Social morality tells you it is right, but personally for you it is not moral at all. It is just justified by the saying “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” And the belief that power should be yours to attain the coveted, the much needed change.
Violence is part of our society, part of our being human. We tend to be violent even to ourselves whenever our instincts send the impulse to our mind to feel such feeling. But it is something that can be pacified, controlled. Violence to counter violence is deadly. Everything will just be in circles – unending. Somewhere, there has to be a dot, separating the infinite number of dots in a circle. Someone has to sacrifice.
Ah! I can’t think straight. I cannot decide. I cannot elaborate either. I envy a three-toed sloth. At least it doesn’t have to worry about the world even about itself. All it does is hanging upside down a tree enjoying the sky, barely moving. Meditating the sky?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Requiescat In Pace: When The Dead Are Politicized
Requiescat In Pace: When The Dead Are Politicized
November 30, 2006, our country especially the province of Albay was ravaged by the super typhoon Reming (international codename: Durian). That was barely two months after Milenyo (international codename: Xangsane), another typhoon hit us.
Its winds reached gusts of 265 kph or about 165 mph with 446 mm of rainfall, the highest amount of rain recorded in Albay since 1967 (equivalent to an average accumulated rainfall for a month), according to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). It also claimed about 388-430 lives affected 800, 000 residents. Bicol Region incurred the greatest damage in houses with 215,510 houses destroyed and 328,592 houses partially damaged according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council's (NDCC) December 14 report on the effects of typhoon Reming.
When all of these were taking place, I was in Baguio attending the annual National Convention of YMCA Philippines with my fellow USC (University Student Council of Bicol University) officers and officers from the College-based YMCAs. Helpless, we can only watch and pray that our own families are safe and that our province will be raised hopeful from all these hopelessness. We were having breakfast when the news came, however, for our peace of mind; we weren't allowed to watch any further news.
Lahar and volcanic debris with boulders almost wiped out an entire baranggay in Legazpi City. Until now, Brgy. Padang has not fully recovered from the devastation of the typhoon, after almost 4 years after it happened. I have a firsthand account of the aftermaths of the typhoon. Transportation can go until Brgy. Arimbay Bridge only. From there one has to walk about 5.4 kilometers just to reach Sto. Domingo Bridge, the farthest the jeepneys can go from Tabaco City. Along the way, you will pass by National Highways littered by electric posts, fallen trees. Along Brgy. Padang, you will trudge on sands, boulders higher than buses, water flowing from every direction, the stench of death in the air. At that time, we still saw a hand protruding from a mound of sand just beside the remaining window of a lone wall of a once concrete house. One woman shrieked at the site. It was ghostly.
We conducted relief operations in different municipalities in the region through the efforts of the BU-USC, Kabataan Party-list and Bikol Movement for Disaster Response (BMDR).
Months after that, every time the bus passes by that place while I was on my way to the University, I kept thinking of that experience. Then an idea came to my mind that time. Why not at least create a shrine for those who died and for those who were never found?
The idea excites me. I was also a member of the University YMCA that time and we can spearhead that project. Plans are forming on my mind. We can contact friend organization abroad and get a grant - why not? Proposals are on my mind. However, sadly, I was not able to materialize that goal.
Then here comes election time. A new party-list advertising a major project of creating a similar memorial site in Brgy. Padang. Their rationale is: [Ako Bikol] has adopted baranggay Padang, Legazpi City as a memorial site to serve as a reminder not only of the tremendous losses of lives and properties as a result of the havoc wreaked by typhoon Reming in the Bicol region, but more importantly, to serve as a mute testimony of the resiliency of Bicolanos to rise above personal tragedies, to overcome fears, and to transforms weaknesses into strengths. Eventually, this site will become a major tourist attraction that will generate additional income to the locals.
I am happy that an organization had fulfilled this dream of mine. They have a gallant vision. However, I cannot help but be afraid that our beloved dead may be used for politicizing. They say that everything happens on certain times for specific reasons. They could have done these 3 years ago if they don't want to give this a color of politics. The party-list just surfaced recently, but the individual organizations/groups/companies behind it didn't. My question then now is what is their purpose?
November 30, 2006, our country especially the province of Albay was ravaged by the super typhoon Reming (international codename: Durian). That was barely two months after Milenyo (international codename: Xangsane), another typhoon hit us.
Its winds reached gusts of 265 kph or about 165 mph with 446 mm of rainfall, the highest amount of rain recorded in Albay since 1967 (equivalent to an average accumulated rainfall for a month), according to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). It also claimed about 388-430 lives affected 800, 000 residents. Bicol Region incurred the greatest damage in houses with 215,510 houses destroyed and 328,592 houses partially damaged according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council's (NDCC) December 14 report on the effects of typhoon Reming.
When all of these were taking place, I was in Baguio attending the annual National Convention of YMCA Philippines with my fellow USC (University Student Council of Bicol University) officers and officers from the College-based YMCAs. Helpless, we can only watch and pray that our own families are safe and that our province will be raised hopeful from all these hopelessness. We were having breakfast when the news came, however, for our peace of mind; we weren't allowed to watch any further news.
Lahar and volcanic debris with boulders almost wiped out an entire baranggay in Legazpi City. Until now, Brgy. Padang has not fully recovered from the devastation of the typhoon, after almost 4 years after it happened. I have a firsthand account of the aftermaths of the typhoon. Transportation can go until Brgy. Arimbay Bridge only. From there one has to walk about 5.4 kilometers just to reach Sto. Domingo Bridge, the farthest the jeepneys can go from Tabaco City. Along the way, you will pass by National Highways littered by electric posts, fallen trees. Along Brgy. Padang, you will trudge on sands, boulders higher than buses, water flowing from every direction, the stench of death in the air. At that time, we still saw a hand protruding from a mound of sand just beside the remaining window of a lone wall of a once concrete house. One woman shrieked at the site. It was ghostly.
We conducted relief operations in different municipalities in the region through the efforts of the BU-USC, Kabataan Party-list and Bikol Movement for Disaster Response (BMDR).
Months after that, every time the bus passes by that place while I was on my way to the University, I kept thinking of that experience. Then an idea came to my mind that time. Why not at least create a shrine for those who died and for those who were never found?
The idea excites me. I was also a member of the University YMCA that time and we can spearhead that project. Plans are forming on my mind. We can contact friend organization abroad and get a grant - why not? Proposals are on my mind. However, sadly, I was not able to materialize that goal.
Then here comes election time. A new party-list advertising a major project of creating a similar memorial site in Brgy. Padang. Their rationale is: [Ako Bikol] has adopted baranggay Padang, Legazpi City as a memorial site to serve as a reminder not only of the tremendous losses of lives and properties as a result of the havoc wreaked by typhoon Reming in the Bicol region, but more importantly, to serve as a mute testimony of the resiliency of Bicolanos to rise above personal tragedies, to overcome fears, and to transforms weaknesses into strengths. Eventually, this site will become a major tourist attraction that will generate additional income to the locals.
I am happy that an organization had fulfilled this dream of mine. They have a gallant vision. However, I cannot help but be afraid that our beloved dead may be used for politicizing. They say that everything happens on certain times for specific reasons. They could have done these 3 years ago if they don't want to give this a color of politics. The party-list just surfaced recently, but the individual organizations/groups/companies behind it didn't. My question then now is what is their purpose?
For those who lost their lives - even those unaccounted for - I leave you a prayer.
Requiescat in pace.
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