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ANG PAGDALAW SA LIBINGAN NG MGA BUHAY

Tagaytay 5

 

Iwan n’yo na ang kandila, wag nang mag-abala sa bulaklak

Wag n’yo lang kalilimutan na magbaon ng halakhak,

Pagkat kailangan iyan ng nauupos naming tuwa,

Pampahalimuyak din iyan ng alingasaw ng dusta.

 

Kami ay ipinanganak noong taon ng pagkadupilig

At tinangkang patayin sa panahon ng paglupig.

Ngunit imbing krimen ay bigo; hindi nagtatagumpay;

Pasya ng sepulturero’y ibaon kami sa libingan ng mga buhay.

 

Ang binubulok dito’y hindi malamig na katawang lupa

Kundi mga pangarap at alab ng hangad ng paglaya.

Ang inaagnas dito’y hindi buto, buhok at ngipin

Kundi mga karanasan ng paglaban ng kauring alipin.

 

At kung maliligaw ka sa paghahanap ng aming puntod,

Hanapin lamang ang kurus na punglo sa baywang ng mga tanod.

Ang nitso nami’y di marmol, bagkus ay kalawanging rehas

At sa lapida ay nakaukit ang walang kamatayang pag-aaklas.

 

23 October 2006

Camp Vicente Lim

 

SA PAGDALAW SA LIBINGAN NG MGA BUHAY

Tugon sa Tagaytay 5

 

Wala kaming alay na kandila’t mga bulaklak

Baon namin sa pagdalaw ay galak,

Sapagkat hindi nauupos ang diwa

ng inyong paglaban para sa mga dukha

 

Tayo’y ipinanganak sa taon ng pagkadupilig

At hindi mananaig ang paglupig.

Imbing krimen ay bigo; hindi magtatagumpay;

Hindi maililibing ang inyong pag-aalay.

 

Ang binubulok diyan ay hindi malamig na katawang lupa

’Di rin nabubulok mga pangarap at alab ng hangad ng paglaya.

Maagnas man ang buto, buhok at ngipin

Magpapatuloy ang paglaban ng kauring alipin.

 

Sakali mang mayroong mahanap na mga puntod,

May tatangan sa kurus na punglo sa baywang ng mga tanod.

Wala mang marmol na nitso at kalawangin ang rehas

Sa puso ng masa, nakaukit ang walang kamatayang pag-aaklas.

 

Oktubre 29, 2006

 
 
Inaresto noong April 28, 2006 at inilabas lamang noong Mayo 1 ng mga myembro ng PNP at Naval Intelligence Security Forces (NISF) ang mga magsasakang sina Axel Alejandro Pinpin, Riel Costudio, Aristedes Sarmiento, Rico Ilagan Ybañes at Micahel Mahayahay. Sa loob ng 58 oras nilang pagkawala, sila ay sumailalim sa matinding mental at pisikal na tortyur. Ang grupo, na mas kilala na ngayon sa tawag na “Tagaytay 5” ay inaakusahang mga miyembro ng CPP-NPA. Inaakusahan rin silang may tangkang pasabugin ang Malacañang noong Mayo 1. Hindi na inilitaw ng PNP ang nasamsam nitong perang umaabot sa P400,000 na pambili sana ng mga magsasaka ng kagamitan sa pagsasaka. Hanggang ngayon, nakapiit sila sa sa Camp Vicente Lim, sa kasong rebelyon.

 

Posted by: ronalyn at 08:30 | link | comments (2) |

 









Gawa ng Ugatlahi. G-bomb ang tawag nila rito. Ayos ba? Ipalaganap natin :-(

Posted by: ronalyn at 09:37 | link | comments |

Ano ang kasya sa P25?

Kamakailan, inihayag ng regional wage board sa NCR na itataas ng P25 ang sahod ng mga manggagawa.

Ano ang kasya sa P25 mo?
... isang kilong bigas
... tatlong sakay sa jeep, minimum fare
... dalawang lata ng sardinas
... apat na noodles
... economy load sa Globe
... ukay-ukay t-shirt o shorts na may butas nang konti
... dalawang banana-que at isang gulaman

Buti sana kung walang pamilya ang mga manggagawa.

Sa mga talumpati ni Gloria, paulit-ulit niyang sinasambit:
"Labanan ang kahirapan!"

Mabuhay!

Posted by: ronalyn at 10:07 | link | comments (2) |

Chika Kontra-Cha-Cha

Redemptorist Church, alas-9 ng umaga, isang Miyerkules

Maraming tao sa Baclaran. Pumwesto kami sa gilid ng simbahan para mangalap ng pirma kontra-Cha-Cha. Suot ang body placards, “Pirma Kontra Cha-Cha! Pirma Kontra kay Gloria!” para kaming promo girls and boys.  Lamang, hindi produkto ang inilalako namin kundi pagsusuri at panawagan.

Lumapit ang isang ale, binasa ang sign-up sheet na naglalaman ng Limang Dahilan Bakit Dapat Tutulan ang Charter Change ni Gloria. Tumango-tango siya at pumirma. Sabi niya sa ‘kin, “Noong isang linggo pa ako naghahanap ng ganito eh.”

Lumapit naman ang isang mama. Binasa ang plakard. Tinanong ako, “Sigurado ka bang anti-Cha Cha kayo? Baka mamya palitan ninyo ‘yan ha?” Sabay turo sa nakasulat sa sign-up sheet.  Hindi ko naman masisi si Manong. Dahil sa panloloko ng gobyerno, naging paranoid na siya.

Mataas ang sikat ng araw.  Pawis na pawis kami at hindi magkamayaw sa dami ng pumipirma. Wala kaming mesa at upuan. Paikot-ikot lang kami sa gilid ng simbahan, sa harap ng stalls ng mga manininda. 

Maya-maya, lumapit sa akin si Ate Norma, sabi niya nagkwento raw ang ale sa kabila. Pinapirma raw sa barangay nang hindi sinasabi para saan. Sinita kami ni Manong na nagtitinda ng diyaryo. “Uy, maghiwalay kayong dalawa. Mamya na ang kwentuhan para marami pa kayong mapapirma.” Nahiya tuloy kami.

Iyong isang manong, naghimutok pagkabasa ng polyeto, “Hmp! Gloria talaga! Kung hindi ko lang katatapos magsimba!” Halatang nagpipigil magmura.

Mayroon ding mag-asawa na pagkatapos pumirma, sumama sa aming manghikayat ng iba pa. Kahit walang hawak na megaphone si mister, yaya nang yaya sa mga tao. Ang linya niya, “Para sa atin din ito. Para ito sa bayan. Pirma na kayo.”

May isa pang empleyada ng gobyerno, humingi na maraming sign-up sheets. Papipirmahin niya raw ang kanyang mga ka-opisina. Binigay naman namin an gaming address. Ipapadala na lang daw niya kapag napuno na.

Nakakapagod pero masaya. Naipapahayag ng karaniwang tao ang kanilang disgusto sa pakanang Cha-Cha at kay Gloria.  Hindi kailangang bayaran o suhulan ng bigas kagaya ng ginagawa ng mga kapanalig ni Gloria.

 Sabi ng isa pang pumirma, “Kailan ang rali?”

Walang dudang ibabasura ng taumbayan ang Charter Change. Kahit nasa kanila pa ang malaking pondo at mga rekurso, hindi nila maloloko ang sambayanan. 

Posted by: ronalyn at 11:37 | link | comments (2) |

Post-PP1017

What happened after Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lifted the state of emergency?

• Violent dispersal of rallies and protests.  A peaceful, non-violent Walk for Democracy by church people was violently dispersed by elements of the Philippine National Police, on March 22.  Fr. Arnel Glodobe, O’Carm and Bro. Tony Bayod, MSC were hurt.

•  Curtailment of press freedom and violation of the people’s right to know. The government continues to monitor and censor the media through different means. No less than Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales threatened some media outfits of sedition charges.

•  Illegal Detention and Threats of Warrantless Arrest.  Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran remains in detention despite a release order issued by a proper court. The Batasan 5 are still threatened with illegal arrest. They are charged with rebellion based on concocted pieces of evidence.

•  Extrajudicial Killings. For the past two weeks, five have been killed by suspected government agents, including the wife and seven-year-old son of a peasant leader.

 Crisanto Teodoro, chair of Bayan-Malolos was shot dead, March 10. Tirso Cruz, officer of the United Luisita Workers’ Union (ULWU) was shot    and killed, March 17. Cris Hugo, regional coordinator of League of Filipino Students (LFS) in Bicol was shot, March 19.  Less than 24 hours later, Amante ‘Abel” Abilon Jr., his wife and their seven-year old son were assaulted inside their home in Barangay San Rafael, San Marcelino, Zambales. Abilon, Anakpawis provincial coordinator and vice chairperson of militant farmers organization, Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL - Zambales), is now in critical condition. His wife Agnes and son Elvin John did not survive the attack.

No, this is not martial law.

Posted by: ronalyn at 11:00 | link | comments |

Posted by: ronalyn at 08:09 | link | comments (2) |

Boycott Nestle products!

In the Philippines, Nestlé is among the country’s Top 10 Corporations. Its products are No. 1 or strong No. 2 brands in their various categories.

The Nestlé logo of a mother feeding her young, snuggled warmly in a nest, illustrates the company's mission to provide good food at the various stages of human life. It also speaks of the Nestlé work culture of nurturing support and encouragement, of teamwork and cooperation. Nestlé does not only look after the employee, it also looks after the welfare of his family. (www.nestle.com.ph)

Diosdado ‘Ka Fort’ Fortuna was killed Sept. 22. He was the president of the union of workers in Nestle-Cabuyao.  On his way home, two men riding in a motorcycle shot him twice at the back.

The union has been on strike since 2002. The management refuses to give workers retirement benefits through a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) despite a Supreme Court decision in favor of the union.

There have been a series of violent dispersals in the picket line and continuous harassment of union leaders. At least ten striking workers have already died due to poverty and illnesses.

Ka Fort had worked in Nestle since 1976.  He was the second Nestle union president killed. In 1987, Meliton Roxas was shot in front of the picket line, also in Cabuyao.

Who had the motive to kill Ka Fort?

So when you see Maggi, Nestea, KitKat, Nescafe, Milo and other Nestle products, think of Ka Fort. Think of the striking workers of Nestle. Boycott these products. It is just a small, concrete way to fight a multinational. It’s just a small, concrete way to fight injustice. Ask others to do the same. Repost this in your blog, bulletin board, email groups. The Nestle company has full control of the mainstream media. The big fu---ng Nestle company took a life and is still taking other people’s lives. We only want to take a little from their filthy profit.

Posted by: ronalyn at 05:22 | link | comments |

Ang Sistema/1

Salin ng tula ni Eduardo Galeano

Hindi gumagana ang burukrasya.
Nagsasalita ang mga pulitiko pero wala namang sinasabi.
Bumoboto ang mga  botante pero hindi naghahalal.
Nagkakalat ng maling impormasyon ang midya.
Kamangmangan ang itinuturo ng mga eskwelahan.
Pinarurusahan ng mga hukom ang mga biktima.
Dinidigma ng mga sundalo ang kanilang mga kababayan.
Hindi sinusugpo ng mga pulis ang krimen dahil abala sila sa paggawa nito.
Ang pagkalugi'y sosyalisado, ang kita'y isinasapribado.
Mas malaya ang salapi kaysa tao.
Ang tao'y alipin ng mga bagay.

Posted by: ronalyn at 17:12 | link | comments |

THE SACADAS HAVE STAYED

We searched for them.  It was only 6 pm but darkness had fallen.  I could not recall how long did it take us to reach the place of the sacadas in Haciend Luisita.  All I remembered was the vast cane field.  I was with Lisa (Ito), Raffy Lerma  of the Inquirer and some local journalists in Tarlac.  After Dabet (Castañeda) told me about them, I’ve been restless, wanting to see and talk to them.

Finally, we found them.  We walked through the wet and muddy path.  It was December.  There were lanterns made of cane grass hanging at the entrance of their bunk house.  We introduced ourselves.  One of the sacadas immediately said, “Hindi kami pwedeng magpa-interview.  Kausapin ninyo muna ang contractor namin.”  The others were silent.  For a moment, we did not know what to say.

Nevertheless, I began asking questions to the one standing beside me.  He looked young, probably 16 years old.  He told me he is already 18. I was convinced the hard work has made him look older.  He was only five-feet tall, thin and dark.  The muscles on his arms were not yet fully developed. I did not believe what he said but decided not to express my doubt.  At the back of my mind, I was thinking he has been asked by the contractor to lie about his age. 

He told me his story.  Like most of the sacadas, he came from Negros Occidental.  I went on asking about his work, his pay, his everyday life at the hacienda.  He spoke slowly, groping for Tagalog words to say. 

I interviewed two more sacadas. One of them showed me where they cook their meal: a hole dug from the soil.  Their daily food supply: a kilo of rice, sardines, noodles. 

Their sleeping quarters are no bigger than two cubicles of the comfort rooms in Manila’s malls.  On one of them was a couple with their two children—a two-year old boy and an infant, less than three months.  The mother was feeding her child when we came to see them.  The only light was coming from a gas lamp.  We asked the usual questions. But I found myself groping for the right words to say.  The fully lit, airconditioned Luisita Mall came to mind.  I could hear Kris Aquino flaunting her necklace, “Katas ito ng Hacienda Luisita.”  Was it rage that struck me?

 

A few minutes later, I could hear someone lashing out invectives.  The contractors arrived.  They were angry, as though they could kill us for the crime of breaking the silence of the sacadas.  An older companion told them we just asked questions.  And I said was, “Wala silang kasalanan,” referring to the sacadas.   I feared the contractors might do something against them. 

Then again, what could be worse than not being able to speak freely? Than to live in a “bunk house” only fit for animals?  Ripped of their dignity as human beings, the Cojuangcos have deprived them of simplest dreams.     

We left.  But they have stayed with me. 

Posted by: ronalyn at 06:35 | link | comments (3) |

 HEADLINES PAGKATAPOS NG PEOPLE POWER 2

106 colleges and universities to increase tuition

Premyo sa libong kabataang dumagsa sa Edsa, Mendiola at iba pang punong lungsod

Oil prices up

Gaganda ang ekonomiya pagkatapos ng Edsa

No salary increase for gov’t employees

Malaki ang budget deficit, kailangang magtipid

GMA allots P4.2B for AFP modernization

Sinsero ang administrasyong Arroyo sa usapang pangkapayapaan

Danding jet to ship Erap

Hindi takot makulong ang pinatalsik na pangulo

NPA, banta pa rin sa seguridad—DND

Sa kanayunan, sumusulong ang digmang bayan

 

Lucena, Quezon

(Marso 6, 2001)

Posted by: ronalyn at 03:54 | link | comments |