The Color Yellow As The Symbol For Peace and Freedom: The Death of President Corazon "Tita Cory" Aquino

3:18 a.m. Saturday (3:18 p.m. Friday ET), August 1, 2009, former President Corazon "Tita Cory" C. Aquino died of cardio-respiratory arrest at the Makati Medical Center. She has been battling with colon cancer as well since March 2008. Today has been another more than sad times from us Filipinos. An icon of democracy not just of our country, but of the whole world has passed away.

According to color experts the color yellow symbolizes optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future.

If you are a Filipino, whenever you see the color yellow, you will only think of one thing and of one person, the people’s revolution of 1986 and former President Corazon C. Aquino, the champion of the said revolution. I can just speculate that she chose that color for the aforementioned reasons, specifically the “promise of a positive future.” During those times when she died from her private life of being the plain housewife of then assassinated opposition leader Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, the Philippines have been in such dire situation and turmoil under the military regime of President Ferdinand Marcos.

The color that she chose when she took responsibility over what was left and expected of her fallen husband by an ailing nation, is a beacon of hope in itself and a silent promise for a positive future. She led demonstrations and marched during her campaigns wearing that symbolic color, literally all the time. During the historic People Power Revolution I, the dominant color that you will see is the color yellow, the color that toppled a dictatorship. She has led the Philippine nation in one of the world's most peaceful people power movement, the EDSA Revolution I or People Power I, which toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. We Filipinos will never forget the horrors of the said dark regime sent by hell itself. I have not lived yet in those times, but knowing what happened then made me shudder and be outraged.

A lot of Filipino lives have been lost, some were never found, whole tribes and groups massacred. Even the then Opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Tita Cory's husband, was gunned down the moment he stepped down the plane he boarded from the U.S., supposedly to save the ailing Filipino nation. That was the time that Tita Cory's unprecedented political rise started. She took over the responsibility of becoming the nation's leader and mother against the dictatorship of Marcos. Seeing just the videos and pictures of the EDSA I will make the hairs behind my neck stand up.

[We should never forget as well the real heroes, working underground, the UGs as they are called, who were fighting with their heads on the scaffold for National Democracy. We have thousands of desaparicidos in our line. A lot of unsung real martyrs of democracy]

With this, Tita Cory gave another meaning to the color yellow. For us Filipinos, and for the whole world, it didn’t just become a promise of a positive future but it has become the fulfillment of that positive future, the symbol of freedom, of genuine democracy. Sadly, our icon of democracy passed away. The whole nation, opposition or not, Catholic or not, along with the whole world, mourns for such a huge loss. If one will think over it, we might ask ourselves, did that beacon of light for a better future dimmed away with her death? But alas, not, for that beacon has stayed with us all Filipinos. As long as we have the color yellow, hope remains.

However nowadays, it seems like many of us have misinterpreted the said color. What I mean is their understanding of freedom and the way of fighting for it has adopted that color; in layman’s term, “dilawan.”

In one of the mass demonstrations of student youths here in Naga City, a student leader from a college publication in the same city said (quoted not in verbatim): “We are one with the Filipino youth’s advocacy. Even if we can’t find time to go and attend mass demonstrations and rallies, our hearts are with you and we are fighting.”

I whispered to a colleague, “In simple terms, don’t hope that they will ever join any rally or street demonstrations.”

We can’t help it but just smile to ourselves. But thanks anyway because at least they attended that demonstration. Well, that was supported and attended by the President of one of the city’s premiere University so that the said demonstration was wiped away of the taint of usual rallies organized by “leftists” as they say. But being one in heart is empty.

Like what a Bible passage says, “Faith without deeds are useless.” So is true with words. So those words are thus empty as well. Nothing can be accomplished if words will not be put into action. Even in the case of Dr. Jose Rizal, our National Hero, his words might have been empty if people who believed in those words did not enact and live by them. His words of patriotism were lived by the likes of Andres Bonifacio, Gregorio Del Pillar, and the thousands of unsung heroes Ramon Abella and Mariano Arana to name a few, who were martyred for their belief of a free and better nation.

This new generation of ours should learn from our history. It's time to end apathy which has become a cancer of our society. Let us live the color Yellow as it should be lived, not as a sugar coat of people who only wants spotlights over their worldly selves.

Lie-Filled: A Personal Thought on PGMA's Last SONA on Economy

Last July 27, 2009, Monday, 4:00 PM, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) delivered her last State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Batasan Pambansa. As usual, since PGMA is an economist, she lobbied her "good" points when it came to our Economy.

It has affected us already. But the story of the Philippines in 2008 is that the country weathered a succession of global crises in fuel, in food, then in finance and finally the economy in a global recession, never losing focus and with economic fundamentals intact.

A few days ago, Moody's has just announced the upgrade of our credit rating, citing the resilience of our economy. The state of our nation is a strong economy. Good news for our people, bad news for our critics.

She proudly presented numbers such as 1.5% Inflation rate, lowest since 1966; public debt to GDP ratio has declined from 78% in 2000 to 55% in 2008; half the debt of government corporations was cut from 15% to 7; foreign debt was likewise cut from 73% to 32%. Well, such numbers are indeed very impressive. But the real question herewith is how will the ordinary Juan Dela Cruz understand and measure such statistics - none other than his stomach right? Yes, some may say that changing such long-time demon of a country won’t take overnight, but for goodness’ sake, she has been sitting on that very same seat for almost 9 years now. Ask a Juan whom you will meet on the streets if he ever experienced such “better-than-other” economy, and he will ask from you money to at least meet the ends for that day, or ask you for a sustainable job. In the 9 years of her stay in Malacañang, the Filipino nation continued to ail. The Philippine Economy was actually worse under her administration according to economists. We’re not impressed by your Katas ng Pantawid Koryente, which was actually the money of those to whom you gave them. She even bragged about the BPO Industry. If some of you are not aware of what BPO is, it stands for Business Process Outsourcing, or in layman’s term, the Call Center Industry.

Kung noong nakaraan, lumakas ang electronics, today we are creating wealth by developing the BPO and tourism sectors as additional engines of growth. Electronics and other manufactured exports rise and fall in accordance with the state of the world economy. But BPO remains resilient. With earnings of $6 billion and employment of 600,000, the BPO phenomenon speaks eloquently of our competitiveness and productivity. Let us have a Department of ICT…

Madame President, I could be one of the beneficiaries of the BPO sector you were bragging as one of the most resilient industries, which your administration has developed. We are one of the unfortunate victims of the worse insufficiency of real and adequate jobs, or jobs in line with our degrees. This is the other side of the coin of the BPO industry you are bragging about. Or I should say, just one side of the many coins she tossed at us during her not-so-cleared last SONA, to which her aliporeses clapped upon. You might throw us the impatient question, “Why can’t you just be grateful?!” With our spirits scalded by a few racists and so seldom discrimination has been our daily bread, will we be grateful? This is a simple and subtle way of selling out your country’s brains. The least noticed biggest brain draining industry in the country. Unless the government takes a genuine step to create real sustainable jobs, then we on the BPO sector will remain as donkeys of foreigners taking advantage of our minds and strengths.

No wonder the President delivered her SONA in English so the common tao will not understand and not be outraged. The SONA is supposedly for the Filipino people, not for foreign investors who are actually leaches sucking all good things from us, giving little or no great things in return. Hopefully, this will be the last lie-filled address to the nation that you will give to us Madame President. But alas, you never said crystal clear, upfront, that this will be your last. You even have plans beyond 2010.

The real question then is how are we going to give realistic and genuine solution to these economic problems that our country’s experiencing and has experienced? Well, stop the rampant graft and corruption in the government. Spend the money to feasible and helpful projects aiming to benefit Filipino people, not other countries or your own tummies and pockets. Lastly, step down President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, or at least stop your ambitions in 2010, kung may hiya ka pa po.

LET THERE BE GENUINE CHANGE!

Mabuhay ang Pilipino: A Filipino's Dream for the World

Above was Google's logo. A symbol of Google's sympathy to the ailing Filipino nation: celebrate with her her 111th Year of Independence. This may be so simple, but its big impact is the fact that the whole world is united, celebrating another nation's dreams, successes and aspirations. A world united by one air to breath, bread to break and water to gulp. A world worthy to live in.

Oh when will that be? When will we have a world wherein no one is pushing another to go down? When will we have a world not driven by each and every one's personal ambitions and greed? When?

Until that time comes, then there will as well come the time that we can say, we are free, we are independent, we are great.

Still, MABUHAY ANG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO! (HAIL, THE FILIPINO PEOPLE!)

Prosper my beloved country.

Youth, students outraged over Con-Ass; GMA behind ‘Con-Ass scandal’ – Kabataan Party-list

Wed 7:21pm

Youth, students outraged over Con-Ass
GMA behind ‘Con-Ass scandal’ – Kabataan Party-list

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino today said to expect widespread youth and student outrage over the railroading of Con-Ass in Congress last night.

Supporters of Kabataan Party-list and youth and student groups led by Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Student Christian Movement and the National Union of Students of the Philippines stormed Mendiola today to condemn Malacanang’s hand in the rash passage of House Resolution No. 1109 Tuesday evening

“What happened yesterday was a scandal of the sickest and most perverse degree. Only a veteran in political scandals like President Arroyo can stage such a costly production. Only Malacanang has the machinery and resources to put up a show like that,” Palatino said.

Palatino added, “Dozens of administration lawmakers may have flocked to support the Con-Ass resolution in Congress but it’s a flop everywhere else. Filipinos, especially the youth, simply abhor it.”

The young lawmaker said today’s protest actions are just the start of a series of anti-Cha-Cha demonstrations in schools, communities and even in cyber space.

"We will not allow this government and its lapdogs in Congress to compromise the youth and the nation's future for selfish political ends. The railroading of the Con-Ass resolution only shows the real intentions of those who are pushing for it. These critical times warrant our defiance and collective action against abusive and greedy power wielders,” Palatino said.

“It is the responsibility of every patriotic and freedom-loving young Filipino to oppose the proposed Cha-cha. Our nation's future depends on us.” #

Let us stop the madness of these administration lawmakers and lapdogs. They are driven by their personal ambitions and interests, with our country's future at stake. Let them feel the power of the Filipino people which toppled a dictatorship in 1986, if they need to. Speak, walk, rally, write, pray against Con-Ass!!!

STOP CHA-CHA!!!

OUST GLORIA!!!

Fishy Huh

Asked why the Balikatan humanitarian mission was held in Bicol, Kenney said, “This is a sovereign nation and you have to ask the Armed Forces of the Philippines because they are the ones which decide (the venue of) this exercise.”

The Child's Silent Cry for Peace

I was enjoying my day off from work though I was at the office. While I was killing time, I went to watch television and I was channel surfing when I saw Discovery Channel's two-part special - Indochine: A People's War in Colour. I really was dumbstruck by the presentation. I believe the first part was during the French colonialism and war against Japanese while the second part, the one I was able to watch, was under the Americans. It (2nd part) retold the Vietnamese peoples' struggle, anguish, patriotism and hate against the Americans, sharpened by past experiences with the French and Japanese. The Vietnamese people were primarily led by the VietCom thru influence from the North. While the pictures and the footage were rolling, on the background, you will hear the explanations and accounts of first-hand witnesses along with the narrator. Very disturbing pictures were shown, of slain VietCom (though it was emphasized in the documentary that the Americans along with Australians, New Zealanders, and South Koreans, have branded all South Vietnamese as VietComs even before arriving), people forced to leave their houses, villagers living underground, children laughing, learning and anguishing, and a lot more, mostly disturbing and outrageous.

There was even this part wherein a first-hand medical person was narrating how they moved underground just to be able to operate. They'd never leave their patients and let them die alone.

One witness recalls how the South Koreans and some Vietnamese (those who have waged war against their own people) raped their women and did "more outrageous things." Depicted as well were how captured VietComs were tortured and forced to confessions (eventually killed we could guess).

Furthermore shown were slow motion videos of jets as they dropped bombs on all houses that lay on it's path. These air raids were authorized by then U.S. President Lyndon Johnson. A witness recalled how one of their shelters with five women in it was bombed. Only one woman was recognizable. There was that one woman who was hugging her dead child very hard that that they were unable to separate them.

It was really morale boosting how the Vietnamese retaliated against the U.S. and foreign forces, of women fighting, especially those women on the North whose husbands were fighting in the South. The Vietnamese had their share of violence of course, when they have these American pilot captives, whom they as well punished, before their authorities, though the citizens wanted to kill them right there and then, fueled by anger, by anguish of their loved ones lost. How they as well tortured those pilots through solitary confinement, physical torture and hunger. I however, don't know who did the worse evil when it came to torturing their captives.

One man witness even recalled how she got his wife's letter only after 2 years, and all he can do by then is kiss it because the writings were unreadable. It was so because the letters have to be hand carried by soldiers from the South through Cambodia and Laos before they reach their destinations in the North. That means going through rivers and everything.

But even after the Americans and all its allies left beaten, the war continued in the South, this time preventing the Communist North from taking over totally, which eventually the North was able to do later on.

What really touched me most was the crying child at the end of the documentary, with bombs exploding in the not so far background behind him literally. It was the most silent yet loudest and hardest message, or more of an appeal to all people. Stop this selfish fights. END WARS!

PEACE!!!

Racism in Hong Kong?!

Filipinos protest Hong Kong writer's maid column

By MIN LEE,Associated Press Writer AP - Monday, April 6

HONG KONG - Hundreds of Filipinos marched through central Hong Kong on Sunday to protest a newspaper column denounced by the Philippine community as representative of racism they say is endemic in the Chinese territory.

Hong Kong columnist Chip Tsao made a public apology earlier this week, saying he had not intended to insult Filipinos with what he characterized as a satirical article poking fun at Hong Kongers' poor treatment of their maids.

But hundreds of Filipinos still protested Sunday in the Central financial district. Marching peacefully, many wearing red T-shirts, they carried signs that said "No Chip shots at Filipinos" and "We are workers, not slaves."

About 130,000 Filipinos work as maids in wealthy Hong Kong to help support their families back home. They make a minimum monthly salary of 3,580 Hong Kong dollars ($462).

In the article published last Friday in the weekly HK Magazine, Tsao wrote he was so angered by the Philippines' claim on the disputed Spratly Islands, which China also claims, that he summoned his Filipino maid to give her a lecture.

Calling the Philippines "a nation of servants" that shouldn't challenge China, he wrote that he would be forced to fire her in the event of a war between the two countries.

Protest organizer Eman Villanueva said Tsao's column was an example of larger racism toward ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.

"This is also beyond Chip Tsao because Chip Tsao's article is just a symptom. It's not the main problem. The problem is racism. The problem is the unfair treatment of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong," Villanueva told Hong Kong's Cable TV in an interview.

Tsao said Sunday he had no further comment.

Filipino activists criticized the article and the Philippine government put Tsao on an immigration blacklist.

"He targeted and insulted the Philippine people, the Philippine nation and in particular Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong," Villanueva told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Ed Malaya said Sunday the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong has recommended that the ban on Tsao visiting the country be lifted after he apologized and "indicated interest to visit the country some day."

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Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.