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?

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?

For those who lost their lives - even those unaccounted for - I leave you a prayer.

Requiescat in pace.

A Safer Haven for Bloggers: No More

The Philippines was declared as one of the unsafest place for Journalists since the dawn of Marcos's Martial Law in 1986. The Arroyo government was worse - journalists' blood colors the waters around Malacañang Palace bloody red. The last most inhumane treatment of Journalists was still unsolved as of Press time, referring to the Maguindanao Massacre done in cold blood by the Ampatuans - fed by the bloody hands of Malacañang.

Then the past few days, another alarming case reached my interest through one of the wall posts from Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela Women's Party-list: Maza raises questions on libel case filed against blogger. The blogger was named Ella who allegedly "exposed and criticized the DSWD’s alleged inability to deliver relief goods to typhoon victims and hoarding of relief items in its warehouses on October 21, 2009 at the height of relief operations for victims of tropical storm Ondoy," quoting Maza's statement on her website.

This fact is alarming. I have been a blogger for quite sometime now and oftentimes speaking my rage, sentiment, opinion on different issues that confront me as a citizen imbued with the right to freedom of speech and expression. To blog and speak against an entity - person or organization, who is known to the public as not different from what you are saying is now a ticket for you to stand before a judge and a court? Well, I don't think Ella is alone in her sentiments, isn't she? It is not only DSWD for chrissake.

Filipinos were never dumb Secretary Cabral. so don't make us one. Rep. Maza was correct - show us the facts and we will decide. But is it worth questioning is the question.

Now, with the new law that they are trying to pass in Congress - the CyberCrime Act, would things be worse than this?

Will there be no more safer haven for even us bloggers?

Out of Inspiration

When writing, I always look for an inspiration to write..

As of now, there is none. I don't know when one may come.. till then

soy un escritor de pluma-menos...

Dukot (Desaparecidos) Movie

From January 21, 2001 to March 31, 2009, there are a total of 1, 013 victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines according to KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights) Monitor from January to March 2009. This is no secret even to the international community. If you will read Wikipedia's article about extrajudicial, you will find the same data and information.

According to the same website, the meaning of extrajudicial killings is:

Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines refer to the illegal liquidations, unlawful or felonious killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines. These are forms of extrajudicial punishment, and include – extrajudicial executions, summary executions, arbitrary arrest and detentions, and failed prosecutions due to political activities of leading political, trades union, dissident and/or social figures, left-wing political parties, non-governmental organizations, political journalists, outspoken clergy, anti-mining activists, agricultural reform activists, members of legal political parties or organizations that the military claims are allied with the communist movement or suspected supporters of the NPA and its political wing, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by either the state government, state authorities like the armed forces and police (as in Liberia under Charles G. Taylor), or by criminal outfits such as the Italian Mafia.

Same perpetrator as well: the Philippine's own government, headed by the President herself, Gloria-Macapagal-Arroyo, and her agents such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) - of course backed and funded by the imperialist United States government. These has been investigated and proven by local non-governmental human rights organization KARAPATAN. The said organization's reports were further investigated and agreed upon by the international community through the following:

• UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Philip Alston
• 3 FIDH experts, Mr. Nabeel Rajab (Bahrain), Mr. Mouloud Boumghar (France) and Mr. Frédéric Ceuppens (Belgium), on August 13 to 23, 2007
  

Victims range from small children, to early teens, adults and even elderly. Children, women and church people even the media, none was spared as long as you are tagged and alleged as members of left-wing organizations opposing the government. Allegations again include being members, supporters and sympathizers of the New People's Army (NPA) and its its political wing, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The victims were also found out to be listed on various Orders of Battle being recovered from state agents such as the military or on crime scenes.

KARAPATAN has aired its fears that this killings might increase with the advent of the deadline of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 (OBL 2).

That is why, a very timely release of a new movie by Joel C. Lamangan will surely increase the people's awareness of these inhumane killings of activists:

You can also sign in our online petition that is being automatically sent to the following:

• Department of Justice of the Philippines
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
• UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
• Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines
• Pope Benedict XVI

Let us work together to prevent more blood spilled with impunity in our country to stop once and for all.

Justice for all the victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines!!!

End Oplan Bantay Laya 2!!!

Uphold our constitutional and democratic rights!!!

Finally: Solon files bill ensuring BPO workers’ welfare, protection

In a move seeking to protect workers of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry from labor abuses, KABATAAN Representative Mong Palatino today filed a bill that would allow BPO workers to join and form unions, institutionalize an occupational safety and health policy, and ensure just compensation for BPO workers who attend work during non-working holidays.

House Bill 6921 or the BPO Workers’ Welfare and Protection Act of 2009, Palatino said, seeks to ensure the welfare and protection of BPO workers and recognize of rights as provided by the Labor Code of the Philippines. Palatino also said his office has also been receiving a steady stream of reports and complaints on violations and abuses by BPO companies from call center workers.

Citing a data from the National Labor Relations Committee, Palatino said 327 cases were filed against BPOs involving 408 workers in Metro Manila. During the first semester of 2009, 124 cases were filed against BPOs involving 175 workers.

“There is an urgent need to pass a law that would ensure the rights of our BPO workers especially since the BPO industry touted by the government as the sunshine industry. Despite our labor laws, violations and abuses are repeatedly committed by companies, who put premium on ensuring profits at the expense of our workers’ rights and welfare,” Palatino said.

The young solon said, “We should not be distracted from the fact that even if this is a dollar earning industry, our mandate, especially the mandate of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is to protect the workers in this sector. I think it will be advisable for the DOLE to immediately come up with a proposal to establish programs or even a committee within the department with the major intention of advancing the welfare of BPO workers,” Palatino said.

Data from the DOLE shows that there are already 500,000 workers in the BPO sector, and government predicts that the number will increase to one million by the end of 2009.

Under the proposed legislation, erring companies shall be punished with a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000) and/or imprisonment of not less than two (2) months but not more than one (1), or both at the discretion of the Court.

Meanwhile, Palatino said Kabataan Partylist would launch a series of fora and symposia among call center workers to inform them about their rights as workers of the BPO industry.

Full text of the bill can be read here.

Typhoon Ondoy (International name Ketsana): Nature's Not-So-Motherly Reminder

September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy, with winds of up to 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness at up to 100 kph, devastated more than 30 areas, including Metro Manila, while it inches closer to Central Luzon that same day. In less than 24 hours time, the nation's capital experienced the worst flooding it had in 42 years. Rich and poor people alike were affected, no one was spared. Many lost a lot of their possessions; cars seem to be parked all over the place, parked askew. It was a day unexpected and dreaded by all. But it was also a very comforting and hair raising experience especially to see everyone trying to help. The media, non-governmental organizations, environmental organizations such as Green Peace, progressive partylists, personalities each did their share. Each and every ordinary person helping in his/her own way.

However, such devastation could have never befallen us, only if we are learning. We can see Mother Nature's wrath unleashed that day to our capital, where you will seldom see a patch of living greenery. We could have prevented these ordinary typhoons from becoming super typhoons if we could have taken care of our world; there could be no such a term as global warming as well.

Yes, the one affected the worst by our actions is Nature. However, if we will analyze deeper, it is not just Nature. But let us look into them one by one.

Global Warming

We don’t need any study or reference to prove that pollution in the country is worsening every day be it air, water or soil pollution. In addition, we do not want to present here numbers or data collected supposedly as to justify funds or foreign aid, e.g. the World Bank’s reports. Anyway, pollution in the country has contributed much to us experiencing the subtle yet worsening effects of global warming.

The months starting September until January are really typhoon seasons in the country. However, these typhoons are not the usual ordinary typhoons that we used to experience before. It seems like they’re leveled up typhoons.

Wherever you go around the world, all these never before experienced environmental catastrophes were all blamed to global warming, which is a fact. If we could just be more serious in proper factory waste disposal (which already killed the Pasig River and hundreds of rivers across the country), waste management, plastic eradication and stoppage of illegal logging, it could just have been one ordinary typhoon.

However, with the kind of environmental agency that we have in the face of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and our government herself represented by our President who always favor foreign requests for them to freely rape our own environment and sovereignty with the promise of prosperity, I don’t think that this would be given solution at the soonest possible time.

If the Pasig River is an alive and flowing river today, it could have easily drained the city of the waters and spilled them all to the sea. But with its current situation, it is one river that is being desperately revived with the efforts of Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig started by ABS-CBN, whose advocacy I also support by constantly sending GIVE ILOG to 2366.

One major cause as well of environmental problems especially landslides in some areas affected by typhoons is the unconstitutional and unregulated mining, legalized by our own government through the Mining Act of 1995. There was never such a thing as profit from these mining in the very start if you will read the said Mining Act but what is returned to us is poisoned seas, unusable soil, molested forests, destroyed lives.

Corruption in the Government and Misallocation of Its Funds

I read one post in Facebook on the height of the typhoon Ondoy that says that instead of the President spending millions for a dinner in the U.S., the said money could have been used to buy rescue boats that could have saved hundreds of trapped residents in different places in Manila.

Well that is not a bad solution indeed. Moreover, they could have come up with better solution other than buying rubber boats. We could have never experienced such catastrophe which also killed many lives if the government is building high-quality and efficient drainage system, which garbage clog from time to time. Instead of the people’s money going to the pockets of government officials and to some petty projects like paving of streets which after 3 or so months would be a hellish drive because the cement were already chipped off. That money could have been used honestly to building those lasting and efficient infrastructure.

Well, enough dreaming of Utopia. As long as this government remains to its current trending, then nothing will happen. (I do not mean Charter Change here OK. I am not in favor of it. I meant change as to whom the government is for.) But with such rigorous, patriotic and heart-full citizens and people that we saw after the typhoon, even a government who does nothing will be forced to do what it’s supposed to do and accomplish – hopefully. But this government should know its priroties. A government was created to serve the people, not a foreign few, and mostly not the few people holding positions on it.