Welcome back, Joc-Joc

Nampucha. We were really tied up with the Joc-Joc arrival, we didn’t realize Isadora was still alive. (Of course we had a feeling she was still alive, but visual confirmation is still important).

Back to Joc-Joc.

So we gathered at the “greeters’ area” of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport under the letter B. We had to pay P30 each to be able to go to that area of the airport. Ang dami namin, so it’s safe to say na kumita pa ang gobyerno sa protestang ito. Only in the Philippines.

By 10:30pm, we started unfurling our welcome placards, just all the other family well-wishers. Although our placards had words like, ARESTUHIN, PANAGUITN. People were blowing whistles, shouting MAGNANAKAW. It was as noisy as can be.

Friends from the Concerned Citizens Movement were there led by former DOTC secretary Josie Lichauco, the UMDJ-Erap folks were there too, the Black and White Movement and other individuals.

Sources say they haven’t seen this kind of wild welcome at the airport since the arrival of Taiwanese boy band F4 in 2003. (I’m just kidding.)

Anyways, it was a rousing welcome. We saw Bolante’s convoy leave at the departure area and not the arrival area. Seeing that, we raised our placards and did our noise barrage one last time.

It was only upon reaching home that I learned Isadora was still alive and that she left her loot with Sophia. So if there were those of you who watched last night’s episode, pa-update naman! wehehe.

Antok pa talaga ako.

INITIAL FINDINGS OF THE NATIONAL INTERFAITH HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO NORTH COTABATO AND MAGUINDANAO

The situation in North Cotabato and Maguindanao has deteriorated since renewed fighting between government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) broke out in Aleosan and Midsayap, North Cotabato last Aug. 8.

The Arroyo administration would have the public believe that the renewed skirmishes in North Cotabato broke out following the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order on the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) between the Philippine government and the MILF, which was scheduled on Aug. 5.

But based on a radio news report, there had been an encounter in Sitio Maligaya, Brgy. Malamote in Kabacan as early as June 30. This was followed by another firefight the next day in Sitio Tubak, Brgy. Pagangan in Aleosan, in which forces belonging to the MILF’s 105^th Brigade under Kato clashed with AFP troops.

Before these incidents, there was already massive military deployment to North Cotabato, purportedly to secure the province for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections on Aug. 11.

These clashes led civilians to evacuate to Brgy. Bagolibas in Aleosan and Brgys. Bualan and Nalapaan in Pikit.

Later in July, some of the houses in Brgy. Bual were burned by armed men while a number of farm animals in Brgy. Bagolibas were stolen.

More massive house burnings took place on Aug. 2, in which a total of 84 homes were razed to the ground. Fifty-one of these were in Brgy Bagolibas, 26 were in Sitio Puypuyon, Brgy. Dualing, and seven were in Sitio Taguan, Brgy. San Mateo – all in Aleosan. The government claimed these torchings were perpetrated by MILF fighters led by Kato.

Military offensives intensified following the Aug. 8 implementation of Oplan Ultimatum and military positionings in Pikit, Aleosan, and Midsayap; as well as the dissolution of the government peace panel in the negotiations with the MILF.

Aerial bombings were used with great frequency in North Cotabato. In a statement, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said that never before have they conducted air strikes as intense as what is now being done in the province.

While the government claims that these offensives are directed against Kato and his group, civilians have not been spared from the effects of the military’s attacks; in fact, civilians have been among the targets. They have suffered various human rights abuses, ranging from violations of the right to life to violations of economic, social and cultural rights.

The AFP’s offensives have led to mass evacuations. In the evacuation centers, the displaced persons suffer from inadequate facilities. Most of them have set up tents in whatever public place available. With heavy rains and flooding now common at this time of year, many child evacuees are sick with cough, cold, fever, and diarrhea. A number of evacuees have died of disease. There is also the trauma experienced by the evacuees, particularly the children.

The sufferings of the evacuees are compounded by the fact that even the “evacuation centers” are not spared from attacks by the military.

The local government units (LGUs) have virtually lost control of the situation as it is now the military which lords it over the areas affected by the fighting. Barangay officials seeking to help the evacuees are being threatened by the AFP.

Meanwhile, Solicitor-General Agnes Devenadera has said in a press interview that her office cannot sue the soldiers involved in the aerial bombings.

While fighting in North Cotabato continues, the armed confrontations are also spreading toward Maguindanao, leading to more and more displacement of civilians. There is an increasing number of evacuees in Maguinanao province.

In Datu Piang, Maguindanao alone, based on data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), there are 9,800 family heads with a total of 50,012 dependents as of Oct. 2.

The continuously growing number of evacuees paints a picture of what is now a humanitarian crisis. To say that government support for the evacuees is insufficient is an understatement. LGUs are forced to rely on assistance from various non-government organizations (NGOs) and local and international aid agencies.

Many of the evacuees have been away from their homes for as long as three months, and three months is already a long time for languishing in evacuation centers. But from all indications, their sufferings are not going to end soon. Some local officials believe that if the offensives do not stop, families be in evacuation centers well into the new year.

NATIONAL INTERFAITH HUMANITARIAN MISSION

On Oct. 22-23, various groups conducted a National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission (NIHM) to Pikit, North Cotabato and Datu Piang, Maguindanao. The NIHM conducted human rights documentation, psycho-social and medical treatment, and relief operations for evacuees in these two municipalities.

The NIHM was composed of human rights groups, relief workers, church-based groups, doctors, nurses, students, business groups, human rights advocates, peace advocates and various cause-oriented groups.

1. Human Rights Documentation

The NIHM documented, through direct testimonies from victims and witnesses, cases of forced evacuation, indiscriminate bombings, strafing, torture, destruction of property and livelihood, divestment of property, harassment, illegal arrest and detention and possible extra-judicial killing of a civilian.

At around 9 a.m. on Oct. 21, while harvesting coconuts with his sons from their farm in Sitio Pamalian, Brgy. Dapiawan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, Esmael Adam noticed several soldiers on a road leading to their sitio. He sent Walid to tell his wife to leave for the nearest evacuation center along with their other children. He also asked the other son to take the carabao to a safe place. The soldiers started firing before the wife and the five children she took along could run to a safe distance. (Their two oldest children were already staying at the evacuation center at that time.) They traveled across the river by holding on to the banks until they reached the Balubugan Dike in Brgy. Pagatin, Mamasapano. One of the children was almost hit by a bullet during their escape. They proceeded to the Mahad Buayan evacuation center, also in Brgy. Dapiawan. After a few hours, one of the sons arrived at the same evacuation center, pale and stuttering. When asked where his father was, he said Esmael had gone back to the house to check on them. Two days went by without Esmael showing up at the evacuation center. On Oct. 23, the wife received information that neighbors had seen Esmael being tortured and killed by soldiers. They have been barred by soldiers from claiming his body. The relatives tried to recover Esmael’s body so that they can bury him decently but the soldiers refused them access to the area.

On Oct. 15, at midnight, soldiers knocked violently on the door of a house in Brgy. Nalapaan, Pikit which had been serving as an evacuation center. They threatened to strafe the house if the occupants failed to open the door within five minutes. The owner of the house opened the door, whereupon the soldiers, who were carrying bolos, ordered the occupants to lie on the floor face down and beat them up, even stepping on the heads of some of them. The women and children were separated from the men and locked up in a room. The soldiers asked the civilians whether there was anyone upstairs, to which they received a negative answer. They then dragged Salasal’s wife upstairs, where they found Rakman Suleik hiding in the ceiling. They ordered him to come down, dragged downstairs and kicked him as he descended, causing him to fall. His son, 17-year-old Samsudin, was beaten up. The mother of the house owner pleaded to the soldiers not to hurt the civilians, whereupon they inserted a flashlight into her mouth. The soldiers took the Suleiks away and continued beating them up near another evacuation center, where their hands were tied with a rope. After a while, they were brought to the municipal police office in Aleosan, where Rakman learned for the first time that there was a case against him. He is still detained and there is no information on whether or not he has been slapped with any charges. His 17-year old son, Samsudin, was released on October 18.

On Sept. 8, at around 9-10 a.m., Mohalidin Mandi and his neighbors, including a number of children, were evacuating from Brgy. Tee, Datu Piang, Maguindanao as a fighter plane was indiscriminately dropping bombs in the area. They were in two boats, with one boat carrying the children. Because of the children’s seating arrangement, the boat that was carrying them ran the risk of capsizing, so they stopped for a while and alighted to switch places. The plane dropped a bomb near the children, killing six of them and injuring four others. Mandi’s wife – who was five months pregnant – and father-in-law were also hit and killed, while his son Jamalubin was among the wounded. As he was carrying the bodies to the street, soldiers threatened to kill him and only pleas from civilians prevented the soldiers from doing so. After he had gathered the children’s bodies, he made his way back to the river to carry the remains of his wife and father-in-law. The soldiers gave him 30 minutes to do so, after which they would shoot him. He was only able to get his wife’s body; he left behind that of his father-in-law out of fear that he would be shot. His father-in-law’s body was gathered only in the afternoon of the next day.

These are just a few of the incidents of human rights violations documented by the NIHM in Pikit, North Cotabato and Datu Piang, Maguindanao. There have been deaths due to strafing and aerial bombing. Those who have been “fortunate” to survive these attacks have suffered threats and intimidation, torture, abductions, illegal searches and arrests, as well as divestment and destruction of property.

None of the victims of house-burnings who were interviewed by the human rights documentation teams pointed to the MILF as the perpetrators.

1. Psycho-social Treatment

As a result of the military’s offensives, many children among the evacuees are suffering from trauma – manifested among other things in restlessness and the disruption of sleeping patterns.

The children were asked to share their experiences through drawings, sharing, and role-playing. Most of the drawings were of fighter planes dropping bombs on houses. The children 7-9 years old shared a common observation that the presence of soldiers means “there will be war,” while those 10-12 years of age expressed a common fear of guns and are afraid of going back to their communities.

The children feel fear and/or hatred toward soldiers.

The psycho-social activity served a total of 214 children, 131 of whom are in Pikit and 83 of whom are in Datu Piang. Nine of the children were identified for follow-up.

1. Medical Treatment

The NIHM notes the dire conditions in the evacuation centers the strain this puts on the health of the evacuees.

The medical teams rendered free health services to 192 patients in both areas. Of these, 118 were in Datu Piang and 74 were in Pikit.

About 2/3 of the patients are female and majority of them are in their reproductive age (18-45 years old). Also, about 1/3 of the patients are children.

Various complaints were heard by the doctors during the consultation. In both areas, about 1/3 of the patients were complaining of cough and colds, headaches and fever. Most of the children were also complaining of cough and colds, fever and skin itchiness and infections while most of the adult patients were complaining of headaches, dizziness, difficulty of sleeping, and abdominal pains. Also, in both areas, children were suffering from toothaches and diarrhea.

During the consultations, about 1/3 of the total number of patients were diagnosed to have upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Tension headache and insomnia were also noted in both areas.

In Pikit, some adult patients were diagnosed to have hypertension and arthritis while in Datu Piang, most of them were suffering from urinary tract infection and abdominal colic. Children in both areas were also having diarrhea and skin infections.

1. Relief

The National Interafaith Humanitarian Mission conducted a relief drive and many organizations and institutions responded and helped in the actual delivery of relief during the mission. Two relief teams were sent to both areas, serving a total of 1,749 evacuees. There were two waves of relief activities in Datu Piang: the first one, conducted in Pikit, Midsayap and Aleosan on September 29-30 had 766 beneficiaries, while the second wave, conducted in Brgy. Tee, and Poblacion in Datu Piang and Batulawan in Pikit on October 22 had 983 beneficiaries.

CONCLUSIONS

The military offensives in North Cotabato and Maguindanao are carried out under the pretext of pursuit operations against Kato and his group, but these in reality fall within the context of an all-out war. The policy of “disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation” (DDR) which is now being carried out by the government shuts the door to peace and leaves all-out war as the main option. The so-called pursuit operations and “surgical operations” being conducted in North Cotabato and Maguindanao are characterized by the excessive use of firepower mainly against the civilian populace.

No military personnel have been called to account for the atrocities against human rights. The military’s tactic has invariably been to divert the blame for atrocities on other groups.

The situation in the two provinces continues to deteriorate and has reached the proportions of a humanitarian crisis. As yet, there appears to be no end in sight to the miseries of those who have borne the brunt of the fighting.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In view of these, the NIHM thus puts forward the following recommendations:

1. that the government immediately put a stop to military offensives and allow the evacuees to return home;
2. that the issues being blamed as the reason for the escalating conflict be instead addressed in the proper forum, in particular the Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH);
3. that human rights violations be investigated and their perpetrators be made accountable; an independent probe can also be undertaken to fully take into account the wide range of human rights abuses that have so far taken place since renewed fighting broke out
4. that the victims of human rights violations be indemnified and assisted in their rehabilitation; and
5. that the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF be resumed.

The NIHM will publish a full report on its findings in North Cotabato and Maguindanao and submit these to relevant government agencies as well as international bodies.

Participating Organizations: Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, Gabriela, Karapatan, Kawagib-Moro Human Rights, Suara Bangsamoro, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao, Kalumaran, Health Action for Human Rights, Bangsamoro Medical Society, Ecumenical Mission for Peace and Development, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Southeast Mindanao Ecumenical Council, Cotabato Regional Ecumenical Council, Children’s Rehabilitation Center-Southern Mindanao, Kabiba Alliance for Children’s Concern, Center for Women’s Resource, Alpha-Sigma Phi – CCSPC Chapter, The Torch Publication – CCSPC, Moro Youth Religious Organization, Assumption College of Davao-Social Worker Students, Notre Dame University Peace Center, Notre Dame University College Of Nursing, Notre Dame School of Dulawan, United Youth for Peace and Development, Lay Forum Philippines, United Methodist Church – Mindanao Philippines Annual Conference, Episcopal Diocese for Southern Philippines, United Church of Christ in the Philippines – Southern Mindanao District Conference, Holy Cross of Davao College– Social Work Students.

IISA PA LAMANG: The awesomeness is back

We can now safely say….the awesomeness is back!

From the moment we read Scarlet’s note to Isadora, (Manigas ka, Bitch!), we knew that the awesomeness of IISA PA LAMANG has been restored. We had to sit through two weeks of lame and boring episodes before the story picked up again.

Last Friday, there was the Isadora and Scarlet confrontation:

Scarlet: Every inmate has a bitch. Then you will be mine.

Tonight we witnessed a lot of gun-pointing and some shooting. Almost all the major characters had guns. Miguel, Isadora, Catherine, Vernon. And while there was a lot of gun-pointing, there was also a lot of talking. Makes you wonder why is it that these characters take their time explaining things at gun-point. So we come to the confrontation between Isadora, Catherine and Sophia.

Sophia: Ma, she’s my sister.
Isadora (in a mocking tone): “She’s my sister…”

Isadora confesses to all the evil things she did, the murders, frame-ups and so on. Which drives Catherine into a murderous rage. Which prompts Isadora to shoot Catherine, only to end up shooting her own daughter Sophia.

Then we see Rafael Torralba (Gabby Concepcion) arrive with his congressional posse’ who were all armed. We then wonder at the scene where Rafael single-handedly confronts an armed Vernon. Why would a congressman with a dozen bodyguards, go after the armed villain on his own. What is even more ridiculous is after Rafael subdues Vernon, he turns his back on the latter and calls on his bodyguards on his cellphone. At this point, Vernon gets up and whacks Rafael from behind. WTF??!!

But the best scene tonight? An amazing twist happened.

While being pursued by Catherine, Isadora accidentally falls into…. QUICKSAND! Holy cow, there was quicksand in Hacienda Amadesto! Kala ko sa gubat lang yun. The quicksand did what it usually does, “swallow” its victim. Catherine now has a moral dilemma, to save Isadora or just let her sink to a much-deserved horrible muddy death. Of course Catherine does the noble thing, and that is to help Isadora by extending a tree branch she can grab.

But Isadora has a practical dilemma of her own. Does she let go of the bag full of money and jewels, her loot bag and last chance at wealth, so she can grab the tree branch that could save her life. Isadora, as expected holds on to her loot. Catherine, not knowing what to do, decides to run for help and leaves Isadora. When they got back, ISADORA WAS NO LONGER THERE!?

Holy crap, Isadora’s gone!? Swallowed by the earth!

It was Sophia who pointed out the irony of it all. That Isadora would meet her end at the hacienda which was the focal point of the conflicts between the characters. The hacienda she sought to control would be the hacienda that would be the end of her.

So to our avid viewers, the question on all our minds is, IS ISADORA REALLY GONE?

DZRJ anniversary Supersessions

O wala na bang remedyo
ang ating mga ulo ?
o wala na bang remedyo
ang ating GOBYERNO?!

- Joey Pepe Smith singing Balong Malalim at RJ Supersessions

Taaang–ena…minsan lang mangyari ito (Supersessions)…

- Joey Pepe Smith AFTER singing Balong Malalim at RJ Supersessions

As i listen to the live feed of the RJ Supersessions marking 45 years of DZRJ, I look back at my own musical history and experience which DZRJ helped shape.

I was a big fan of both DZRJ AM and DZRJ FM. Through these stations, I got my initiation to Pinoy rock and classic rock.

Through RJ, i appreciated The Juan dela Cruz Band, Asin, Pen-Pen, Sampaguita, and the occasional Lokal Brown and the Jerks mixed in the playlist.

Through RJ, i came to know of guitar legends The Ventures and The Shadows. I would look forward to the phone-in survey “Ventures vs. Shadows” to see who would win. It was usually a close fight. I think the Ventures would go on to win most of the time.

I also looked forward to the annual Elvis vs The Beatles phone-in surveys. This one usually goes down the wire, with the Beatles narrowly beating Elvis by say 5 votes.

Through RJ, I got to know The Supremes, the incredible Sam Cooke and timeless Ray Charles. I got to listen to Buddy Holly, the Cascades, Buffalo Springfield, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

Through RJ, i experienced Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, The Doors, The Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel, Santana and Jimi Hendrix.

Through RJ, i learned who Howlin’ Dave was.

There was a time in high school when we would play RJ’s MULI just because we liked the hook.

Currently, because of RJ, i get to hear the pioneers of Pinoy Punk in the Urban Bandits and the Wuds.

I started listening to DZRJ probaby back in 1989-90, when i felt i needed a break from the NU 107 programming (Fra Lipo Lippi overdose). I was in second year high school. Our favorite TV series at the time was ‘Nam: Tour of Duty, with the blazing intro of the Rolling Stones’ Paint it Black.

For me it’s been almost 20 years of listening to DZRJ. The Rock of Manila still stands strong, solid and unwavering. May the current generation reap the fruits of more than three decades of Pinoy and classic rock.

The colors of Iisa pa Lamang

As Abigail Ho correctly pointed out, Scarlet has used colors to describe her arch nemesis Catherine. We have heard the “merry widow in black”, the “gold-digger in red” and the slightly weird “dirty mistress in DIRTY brown”. Scarlet’s name is itself a reference to color.

During the court hearing, the prosecutor asked Scarlet to identify the person who shot Estelle.

Scarlet (pointing to Catherine): That’s the murderess in yellow

Later that episode, there’s the obligatory conversations between Miguel and Scarlet who perpetually disagree on everything especially when it comes to Catherine.

Scarlet: She deserves to rot in jail. And the best part is, ako ang susi na kakandado sa selda nya.

Other than these two semi-interesting quotes, there were no fireworks in tonight’s episode. My head hurts from the latest developments. People keep getting shot/killed, thrown in jail, and haled to court. Now we have more and more scenes shot at the detention facility and the court room.

Benefit gig for Ka Randy

Last night was the benefit gig for detained peasant leader Randy Echanis. My Bros. Mustache was packed! The featured artists that night were Chikoy Pura of the Jerks and pinoy folk-rock icon Lolita Carbon of Asin.

The affair was made possible through the efforts of the Tinig ng Silangan Party Alliance Alumni Association and the Free Randall Echanis Movement (FREEDOM). Ka Randy is being accused of mass murders at a time when he was in fact in detention. These are the same charges hurled against Ka Satur Ocampo and other leaders of the mass movement. The charges are fabricated and are part of the legal offensive against critics of the Arroyo regime.

First up was Lou who did a string of progressive songs and yes, one familiar Mirahel song which used to be the theme for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The release of that theme was controversial, coming at a time when GMA was really isolated. So Lou changed the lyrics this time to be anti-GMA and asked the crowd, “napatawad nyo na ba ako?” hehe.

Then came Danny Fabella, whom the waiters at Mustache recognized as “the guy who sang Rosas ng Digma”. One of my favorite performances of the night was his original “Ang gulo-gulo, gulo-gulo, gulo-gulo….baliktad na ang munod..” Think Bob Dylan meets punk rock. Angry yet witty. Danny, next time samahan natin ng harmonica!

Oh yeah, we also performed. =) Journalist A.R. (formerly of Patatag), Sarah and I did three songs. Pauwi sa Amin by Bong Ramilo (about a farmer’s son who went home because he couldn’t pay for tuition), Awit ng Peti-b (Bong Ramilo), and Joey Ayala’s “Bahay Lupa” (originally written for Patatag). A.R. was gracious enough to join the gig even at the last minute, right after her coverage.

LOLITA CARBON was a big hit with the crowd. It was like a big sing-along when the crowd would sing “Bayan ko, nasaan ka? Ako ngayo’y nag-iisa..” Or when the crowd would join in singing Usok. There was angst and intensity in the song Magulang, ang gentleness in the song Himig ng Pag-ibig. She did Masdan mo ang Kapaligiran to kick off the set. No one else has a voice like Lolit, and no one else can sing the way she does. She also brought along session guitarist Jazz, who did crazy things with his acoustic guitar, tapping the fretboard, using a wah-wah effect (i’m not sure if he had a pedal), and making his guitar sound like a violin to accompany Himig ng Pag-ibig. Lolit was at home with the crowd, sensing that “maraming kakampi dito”. As she left the venue, she thanked the organizers for inviting her to the activity.

Chikoy played two sets and gave another solid performance. Heck, even if his guitar cable had problems, he carried on. He did several Jerks songs during his first set, all memorable for the 80’s activists gathered in the place. I did love his rendition of Eve of Destruction, a 60’s anti-war song popularized by Barry McGuire and the Bob Dylan original All Along the Watchtower. Oh, and his rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah was truly moving. Some guys from the audience kept requesting song from the Clash which they wanted Chikoy to play on acoustic guitar. Hehe, maybe next time during The Jerks’ gig at 70’s Bistro.Kinakanta rin kaya nila ng Ruddie Can’t Wait?

Koyang Jess Santiago, who was just about to leave because he seemed tired, was asked to go on stage and perform some songs to the delight of the crowd. Jess’ songs never fail to connect to the audience because his songs reflect such universal experiences for Pinoys. Kumbaga, ang lupet sa mass line. He did the Dito lang sa Pilpiinas-Only in the Philippines song which details the uniqueness of Pinoys, then took a jab at apathy. Our hands-down favorite love song of the night was Laging Ikaw. Where else can you hear love being celebrated as “ikaw ang nyog sa puto-bumbong, sa kare-kare, ikaw ang bagoong”?

Surprise guests for the night were Bobby Mondejar and his posse who sang songs, sometimes in three voices. He didn’t know there was a benefit gig going on but nonetheless he went on stage “para makiramay”. His daughter immediately corrected him. “Para maki-isa!” she said.

We did a couple of songs later in the night since there were still many people at the venue. Edie Brickel’s Good Times, Rickie Lee Jones’ Chuck E’s in Love and Beat Angels. Bobby Mondejar and Wally sang back-up for Good Times and Time After Time.

Axel Pinpin, former political prisoner and part of the Tagaytay 5, read several of his poems which were written while in detention. The poem “Da Misadbentyur of Billy” is such a big hit now with activist crowds, one never tires of hearing him say “Huwag, Si Billy yan! Si Billy yan! Hesusmaryosep, Si Billy yan!”

The activity was a resounding success. I’d like to add that My Bros. Mustache has been such a big help for worthy causes by providing a venue where people can come together and enjoy good music. I told the Mustache folks that all the benefit gigs at Mustache turned out to be hugely successful.

Next week, October 20 is Ka Randy’s hearing at the Branck 32 of the Manila RTC. Ka Randy has strong legal grounds in proving his innocence. It’s made even stronger by the untiring and militant support of his family, friends and comrades here and abroad.

How government deals with poverty

Today is Blog Action Day on Poverty.

Let me just say that it is the responsibility of government to ensure that poverty is alleviated and eventually stamped out. I mean if governments can bail out big banks using taxpayers money, then poor folks also are right in saying government must do something for the poor as well.

Right now, the poverty incidence in the Philippines is at its highest. Conservative government estimates say that about 1/3 of the population is poor. Despite this, Mrs. Arroyo has spoken on many occasions that the poverty rate will go further down and thus in a few more decades, the Philippines will be a first world country.

So how has the government dealt with the issue of poverty?

1. Change the definition – One way of bringing down the poverty rate is by changing the definition of poverty. Change the threshold. One innovation done by the Arroyo regime is to place the poverty threshold at something like P36/day. So if you have that amount, you’re not considered poor. Jay Taruc once did an I-Witness episode challenging ordinary folks, and even the president, if they could live on such a small amount for a day.

2. Exports- One of the government’s main thrusts is to export people who can no longer make a living here. Announcements of jobs available abroad have become frequent. Hundreds line up everyday at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. I’m not sure if developed countries have such thing as an “overseas employment agency”. Only in backward and undeveloped countries can you see the government systematically exporting people. When news of about 50,000 Pinoy jobs abroad might be lost due to the global financial turmoil, the Arroyo government was almost in a state of panic. What will they do to all those returning Filipinos? The government can’t possibly give them jobs here! Well last night on TV, Noli de Castro announced a not-so-new program. Returning Filipinos can be “re-trained” so that they can be “re-exported” along with their new skills.

3. Tax them – During her State of the Nation Address last July, Mrs. Arroyo gave the outrageous assertion that the VAT on oil and electricity were the best means of alleviating poverty. It was the government’s way of helping the poor. More taxes on essential products. The argument is that revenues from the VAT will be used for poverty-alleviation programs, or dole-outs. What is revolting is that government actually collects more taxes from the poor than what government gives out in terms of subsidies. The subsidies are there to make you feel better after being robbed by government several times over. For example, a small consumer of electricity would have paid a cumulative P1,800 in VAT on power since 2006. For one month in 2008 though, he gets a P500 one-time subsidy. He will however continue paying for the VAT on power, way after he has used up his one-time subsidy.

4. Tax them some more – A law has been passed granting minimum wage earners and their counterpart in government service some substantial tax exemptions. The scheme would save them around P10,000 in a year, a big amount in these hard times. But the Bureau of Internal Revenue said that that implementation of the law would have to take effect on the date it was signed, which was June 2008. The law, says the BIR, cannot cover the period starting January 2008. Because of this, minimum wage and salary earners will lose some P5,000 worth of tax exemptions.

The harsh reality is that government has failed insofar as poverty alleviation is concerned. The people know it and have expressed their discontent many times. The slight improvement in Mrs. Arroyo’s approval ratings doesn’t change the fact that she still has NEGATIVE approval ratings.

Another harsh lesson is that unless the poor are themselves politically empowered, poverty would remain. Those in power now represent and will continue to defend, the class interests of the economic and political elite. Would the 2010 elections translate to serious efforts at eradicating poverty? I doubt it. There may be some openings for reforms but the structural changes needed to resolve this age-old issue may not be found in the upcoming electoral exercise.

Just look at Congress. How many of them are in the category of being poor? You can count them on the fingers of one hand. It is therefore no wonder that not many pro-poor legislation has passed.

The boardroom brawl and tonight’s IISA PA LAMANG awesome quotes

In the opening sequence, we see Katherine and Scarlet face off at the corridor, exchanging the usual barbs that make this such an interesting series to watch.

Scarlet: Social climber ka talaga. Pauwi na lang, nakuha mo pang mag-change costume. You look a bit overdressed para sa uuwian mong squatters area.

Then Miguel enters the scene, to the dismay of Scarlet. She thus addresses Katherine…

Scarlet: You look like a dirty whore who’s just about to do her job…

Catherine: Coming from you, I should be flattered…. (si) Miguel, excited.

(Nato: medyo confusing itong last exchange na ito.)

After receiving their respective nominations for president of Dela Rhea Foods, the two give their parting shots.

Scarlet: Good luck bitch.

Katherine: May the best bitch win.

Each nominee is given time to make their argument before the board.

Scarlet: Dear board members, mula pagkabata ko, mulat na ako sa kumpanyang ito. Walang ibang bukambibig ang tatay ko kundi DLR foods. This is my birthright…. Yung iba sa inyo dito, nanggaling sa wala…pero tiniyaga kayong i-train blah blah ng tatay ko… tignan nyo naman may inabot na kayo. Siguro naman dapat lang tumanaw ng utang na loob sa tatay ko. Let’s keep DLR a family corporation….

Scarlet: (After all), blood is always thicker… than canal water.

(Ang lupet, di ba?)

When her turn came, Katherine delivers an Obama-esque speech on why she must be voted president of DLR Foods.

Katherine: DLR Foods is indeed a family corporation… naging bahagi din ako ng pamilya nyo…blah blah. Nakita nyo naman kung paano ang pamamalakd at pagpatakbo ko. Karamihan sa inyo nakaranas ng pamumuno ni scarlet. Let the figures speak for itself. Well, nasa sa inyo yan, kung gusto ninyo na by the end of the year, ga-singko lang ang dividend na mauuwi nyo, vote for Scarlet…

Pero kung ako ang iboboto nyo, tinitiyak ko, lahat tayo, lalangoy sa pera.

Blood may be thicker than water, pero sino ba naman ang may gusto ng infected blood. Kung si Scarlet ang iboboto nyo, na parang infected ng HIV virus, para rin ninyong tinaningan ang kumpanyang ito.

In a desperate attempt to swing votes in her favor, Scarlet invokes the age old tenet of LOYALTY.

But Katherine invokes an even better age-old tenet, that of HARD WORK, to quote Katherine, “sipag at tiyaga” na “hindi lang basta minana”.

Katherine: Ako ang iboto nyo at wag ang spoiled brat na anak na si Scarlet.

Predictably, Katherine wins the vote thanks to her Obama-esque speech about failed leadership and the change we can all believe in (Read: lahat tayo lalangoy sa pera). This gives rise to the next exchange.

Scarlet: Mga wala kayong utang na loob!

Katherine: Di ka rin pala spoiled brat. Loser ka rin.

Scarlet: Tandaan mo, magtutuos pa tayong dalawa.

Katherin: Ok, bye. Tsupi. Alis.

Meanwhile, in a detention facility not far away…

Sophia: San ka ba makakita ng nanay na tinitiis makulong ang anak nya…

Isadora: Sige na, sige na, peace na tayo….

At the Kowloon West picket line, October 9, 2008

there was this couple, who suddenly turned deaf to the impassioned plea of striking workers to boycott kowloon west during the strike. the workers who pleaded with them were standing just 3 meters away from the take-out counter. i told one striking worker, “baka naglilihi, at talagang gusto ng siopao”. then again, maybe this couple just didn’t care for other people’s sufferings. the striking worker beside me then shouted “yang binili nyong siopao, puno ng sama ng loob ng mga manggagawa ng kowloon!”

yeah. i hope they get indigestion from eating their “favorite” siopao.

JPEPA, all the more fearsome because of global financial crisis

Last night’s ratification of JPEPA, late in the night in fact when most Filipinos were about to sleep, is truly a bad development for Filipinos.

The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement should now be viewed in the context of the worsening (and still no end in sight) global financial crisis (which has resulted in a financial meltdown for some).

Japan is also caving in under the weight of its own crisis of overproduction and financial crisis.  The value of the stocks for car manufacturers like Toyota or giant computer chip makers like Memorex are falling fast. Yesterday $250 billion value in stocks was wiped out.

Now comes JPEPA’s ratification.

One senator said that the deal would make the Philippines more competetive in a time of worsening global economic crunch.

But’s let’s look at the other side of the equation, Japan.

The near-recession Japan would use the JPEPA to maximize its profits and squeeze the most of what it can from the Philippines natural and labor resources. They will do this probably with little regard to the Philippine constitution. The exchange of notes from the foreign affairs officials at this point does not give any reassurance that we will not be taken advantage of. It also remains to be seen if such an exchange of notes is actually binding.

Japan will do everything and anything to help itself out of a recession. The concessions it reported gives the Philippines can be viewed as insignificant, even inconsequential. Ask the nurses. They know being a licensend Filipino nurse in Japan is not made any easier by this agreement. Ask the environmentalists who are wary of Japanese toxic wastes. Ask the fisherfolk who worry that Japanese fishing vessels will be allowed to roam Philippine waters. Ask the workers who know that the Philippines will be a dumping ground of Japanese surplus products, everything execpt uhm… salt.

This is not being competitive at all. This is all about being trampled upon and exploited. And the Philippine Senate, through the efforts also of the Executive, has just allowed that to happen.

The worse thing is, many other imperialist countries will also attempt to forge a similar free trade agreement with the Philippines. The JPEPA has set the precedent