Monday, October 27, 2008
I Miss...
I made a mistake.
I believe it was two years ago that I decided to distance myself with EPAFI, my very first community involvement activity. EPAFI stands for Environmental Protection of Asia Foundation, Inc., an non-profit, non governmental organization which helps protects the environment. To make the story short, I decided to cut any involvement to the organization.
It was a decision I didn't want to do, but there were certain factors that made me decide to quit. The organization has taken a lot of my time that there were times I neglected some of my parental duties. And also, financial problems have started to give me a lot of pressures that broke my wallet, figuratively. I had a part time job during that time, and I was shuffling my schedules between the organization and my job. When my earnings was not enough for me to have allowances during my volunteer days at EPAFI, I felt the relationship with the organization was doomed. I loved working with EPAFI, but I need to seek greener pastures. It was not enough to cover the daily expenses that even going to the EPAFI office was even very hard. It was located during that time near the edge of Clark Economic Zone, almost just like going to a remote town with no way of going out after the sun sets.
Even though Bruce, our chairman, was sometimes eccentric, visionary, meticulous, very much talkative, and was always very demanding in terms of work, most of the time it did not affect me much that I admit I had enjoyed my days with them. I got McDonalds for free at breakfast every travel to Zambales, ocasionally a pound of burger steak, roasted chicken, and your typical american meal – without rice. Beach patrols at Pundakit, trips to Capones Lighthouse, dinners and sometimes breakfast at Subic Bay, and even having to drive from Dinalupihan to Angeles one moonless night without any license, hahaha.
Most important of all, I got firsthand experiences on community work, information dissemination about EPAFI and our pet project, the Turtle Conservation Program. I was one of the facilitators of the first technical seminar on turtle conservation in 2004. We spent 10 days at the beach preparing the materials, I even had participated in one of DENR's research, although I hated how ugly I looked in the video. And most of all, I had experiences with live marine turtles and even baby hatchlings.
Right now, I miss all the fun, I even misses James' red Acura Integra 91' traversing the uphill road going to Olongapo in 4th gear having a blue plate that is immune to almost every traffic violations that can be easily created on the spot by traffic enforcers. I miss Pundakit, Capones, the hatchery, the San Antonio town plaza, Times Square in Subic, Scuba Shack where you can find the best breakfast egg omelets, the bus terminal in Olongapo, Magsaysay drive, and even the Dinalupihan-Porac alternate road.
I miss the baby turtles that I used to hold during hatching season and I miss the sleep at the beach.
I miss the good old times with EPAFI.
I wish I were still with the organization, for I wouldn't have missed this:
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Philippine History: US afraid of a cripple
There was this article I came across, its about the time when the American Government was troubled by one crippled man. I apologize for the selective amnesia that I have been experiencing right now, since I could not in any way remember when and where I have seen the article, which has been probably lost in archives. But some of the parts of the letter that I had saved, I am posting in behalf of you so that at one time during our colorful history, there was a time when the Americans have felt fear for a certain Filipino.
In January 1903 W. H. Taft wrote the US secretary of war about Apolinario Mabini coming back to the Philippines from his exile in Guam:
"The question of the power of the Government to detain Mabini at Guam is not one on which I am called upon to express an opinion. I do think, however, that for self-protection it is within the power of this Government to deny to any person seeking to land within the Archipelago the opportunity to do so unless he will take an oath to be loyal to the Government while in the Islands and to acknowledge the sovereignty of the United States. Such a law is now in force. Certainly the Government of the United States might very well say to Mabini that it would not carry him from Guam to the Philippine Islands unless it could be assured that he would take such an oath and thus be admitted to the Archipelago."
Mabini has been a consistent opponent of American sovereignty and a persistent inspirer of rebellion and insurrection. He was for a long time the chief adviser of Aguinaldo. He has manifested such skill and cunning in his appeals to the people of the Philippine Islands against the American Government, and may be said to be 'the most prominent irreconcilable among the Filipinos.' His physical infirmity, of course, has appealed to the imagination of the Filipinos and to the pity of all who have seen him.
His consistent course of opposition to the Government, in prison, and out of prison, his physical condition as a hopeless paralytic, and his gentle and courteous manner, have all served to place him in the attitude of a martyr and to give him that kind of influence and popularity which it may be supposed would come from such qualities and circumstances.
As a matter of fact, while in custody in Manila he was much more comfortable than when he was at his home, and I presume the same is true of his life at Guam, and that so far as personal comfort is concerned he is better off where he is. If he were allowed to come to Manila he would form a nucleus for all the discontented elements which he would be certain to encourage in every form of plot and conspiracy against the existing government.
Nothing he writes, nothing he says, but contains unjust insinuations against the American Government and its good faith. The claim that he is just as well able now to decide in Guam whether he will take the oath as when he comes to Manila, is a palpable pretence. What he desires is to be brought to Manila, because he thinks that even if imprisoned here he will form a point of concentration for the rapidly diminishing number of irreconcilables in these Islands.
I think it would be unwise to allow him to come unless he is willing in advance, by his oath of allegiance, to agree not to plot against this Government. This Government we are sworn to maintain, and a policy of allowing openly avowed enemies of our Government in our sight to take steps to inaugurate conspiracies and plots against it, is not one that I favor.
All that Mabini has to do to secure his liberty and his return to these Islands is to take the oath by which he agrees that he will not plot and conspire against the existence of this Government. If he is not willing to make this agreement then he ought not to come into the country. One can have an admiration for his consistency and his utterly wild dreams of benefit to his country from independence without being in favor of exposing the Government, which is doing more for the Filipino people than any government did, to the danger of disturbance and conspiracy which his presence would promote and of a possible new insurrection, which could work nothing but misfortune and hardship to the people whom he thinks he loves and would aid."
They say we are often honored by our enemies. This letter reflects the fear and respect the United States had for a quiet cripple who was born in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas from a poor family, who dreamt of defending the poor, studied law and achieved the title Professor of Latin, and is being immortalized as the “Sublime Paralytic”. Apolinario Mabini, true blooded Batangueño, crippled, intelligent, had not only written the constitution of the first Philippine republic, but had also earn the admiration and respect of even those who are opposed of his vision and goals for the country. He is the only person recorded in history that has been the constant headache of the American government from 1898 to 1903. Not Marcos, not Erap, and certainly not GMA. If the Americans have made fool of the Filipino people for the past century, there was one man who had stood against them and have caused a little bit of fear.
Even Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was called to give his testimony during the investigation and trial that would later be known as the Lodge Committee of 1902, when asked to describe Mabini could only say:
"Mabini is a highly educated young man who, unfortunately, is paralyzed. He has a classical education, a very flexible, imaginative mind, and Mabini's views were more comprehensive than any of the Filipinos that I have met. His idea was a dream of a Malay confederacy. Not the Luzon or the Philippine Archipelago, but I mean of that blood. He is a dreamy man, but a very firm character and of very high accomplishments. As I said, unfortunately, he is paralyzed. He is a young man, and would undoubtedly be of great use in the future of those islands if it were not for his affliction."
In January 1903 W. H. Taft wrote the US secretary of war about Apolinario Mabini coming back to the Philippines from his exile in Guam:
"The question of the power of the Government to detain Mabini at Guam is not one on which I am called upon to express an opinion. I do think, however, that for self-protection it is within the power of this Government to deny to any person seeking to land within the Archipelago the opportunity to do so unless he will take an oath to be loyal to the Government while in the Islands and to acknowledge the sovereignty of the United States. Such a law is now in force. Certainly the Government of the United States might very well say to Mabini that it would not carry him from Guam to the Philippine Islands unless it could be assured that he would take such an oath and thus be admitted to the Archipelago."
Mabini has been a consistent opponent of American sovereignty and a persistent inspirer of rebellion and insurrection. He was for a long time the chief adviser of Aguinaldo. He has manifested such skill and cunning in his appeals to the people of the Philippine Islands against the American Government, and may be said to be 'the most prominent irreconcilable among the Filipinos.' His physical infirmity, of course, has appealed to the imagination of the Filipinos and to the pity of all who have seen him.
His consistent course of opposition to the Government, in prison, and out of prison, his physical condition as a hopeless paralytic, and his gentle and courteous manner, have all served to place him in the attitude of a martyr and to give him that kind of influence and popularity which it may be supposed would come from such qualities and circumstances.
As a matter of fact, while in custody in Manila he was much more comfortable than when he was at his home, and I presume the same is true of his life at Guam, and that so far as personal comfort is concerned he is better off where he is. If he were allowed to come to Manila he would form a nucleus for all the discontented elements which he would be certain to encourage in every form of plot and conspiracy against the existing government.
Nothing he writes, nothing he says, but contains unjust insinuations against the American Government and its good faith. The claim that he is just as well able now to decide in Guam whether he will take the oath as when he comes to Manila, is a palpable pretence. What he desires is to be brought to Manila, because he thinks that even if imprisoned here he will form a point of concentration for the rapidly diminishing number of irreconcilables in these Islands.
I think it would be unwise to allow him to come unless he is willing in advance, by his oath of allegiance, to agree not to plot against this Government. This Government we are sworn to maintain, and a policy of allowing openly avowed enemies of our Government in our sight to take steps to inaugurate conspiracies and plots against it, is not one that I favor.
All that Mabini has to do to secure his liberty and his return to these Islands is to take the oath by which he agrees that he will not plot and conspire against the existence of this Government. If he is not willing to make this agreement then he ought not to come into the country. One can have an admiration for his consistency and his utterly wild dreams of benefit to his country from independence without being in favor of exposing the Government, which is doing more for the Filipino people than any government did, to the danger of disturbance and conspiracy which his presence would promote and of a possible new insurrection, which could work nothing but misfortune and hardship to the people whom he thinks he loves and would aid."
They say we are often honored by our enemies. This letter reflects the fear and respect the United States had for a quiet cripple who was born in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas from a poor family, who dreamt of defending the poor, studied law and achieved the title Professor of Latin, and is being immortalized as the “Sublime Paralytic”. Apolinario Mabini, true blooded Batangueño, crippled, intelligent, had not only written the constitution of the first Philippine republic, but had also earn the admiration and respect of even those who are opposed of his vision and goals for the country. He is the only person recorded in history that has been the constant headache of the American government from 1898 to 1903. Not Marcos, not Erap, and certainly not GMA. If the Americans have made fool of the Filipino people for the past century, there was one man who had stood against them and have caused a little bit of fear.
Even Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was called to give his testimony during the investigation and trial that would later be known as the Lodge Committee of 1902, when asked to describe Mabini could only say:
"Mabini is a highly educated young man who, unfortunately, is paralyzed. He has a classical education, a very flexible, imaginative mind, and Mabini's views were more comprehensive than any of the Filipinos that I have met. His idea was a dream of a Malay confederacy. Not the Luzon or the Philippine Archipelago, but I mean of that blood. He is a dreamy man, but a very firm character and of very high accomplishments. As I said, unfortunately, he is paralyzed. He is a young man, and would undoubtedly be of great use in the future of those islands if it were not for his affliction."
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Save Mt. Kanlaon
MT. KANLAON IS LIFE MURDERED BY
RAPACIOUS AND CONSCIENCELESS CAPITALISTS
RAPACIOUS AND CONSCIENCELESS CAPITALISTS
When we look at Mt. Kanlaon, we see a gasping paradise for myriad species of animals and plants eking out a tottering existence on little more than a patch of what was once a thriving forest. When we stare in amazement at the dominating form of the majestic volcano, we see the center of a vast environmental network that has supported life for farming villages and communities and maintained ecological balance.
Yet, the Lopez-controlled Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is poised to change all these. The EDC has started to cut down trees in the 169-hectare buffer zone of the protected Mt. Kanlaon National Park (MKNP) for geothermal exploration. Aside from the fact that this is plainly illegal, as the buffer zone is considered a protected area by Republic Acts 7586 and 9154, the geothermal exploration threatens the fragile ecosystem of the island of Negros. And for what? The primodial concern for the Lopezes, for which everything else must be subordinated, is nothing more than crass monopolistic profit in the energy sector.
We condemn this wanton destruction of a vital life support for the people of Negros in the name of capitalistic gain. We condemn this genocidal drive for profit that trifles with the lives of many for the enrichment of a few. This licensed murder must be stopped NOW!
We support the legal struggle waged by the Task Force Kanlaon in seeking to enjoin, before the Regional Trial Court of Bacolod City, the unabated geothermal exploration by the EDC within the MKNP buffer zone. In addition to that, we join the growing mass campaign to save Mt. Kanlaon, which is part of our struggle against capitalist exploitation and our fight for social justice, sustainable development and inter-generational responsibility.
Let us not test the wrath of nature. For when it comes its destructive force shall make no distinction between rich and poor.
SAVE MOUNT KANLAON. STOP THE GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Pagkilos
Kabayan, kelan ka pa kikilos?
Binabagyo ka na ng katiwalian ng gobierno. Sandamakmak na kaso ng scam, magmula sa world’s most expensive highway, sa procurement ng military weapons, pati fertilizer pinatulan na rin, at ngaion pati broadband technology pinasok na rin nila. Hanggang kailan ka mananahimik sa kina-uupuan mo?
Tila yata may selective amnesia ka. Hindi mo na ba naaalala ang pandaraya ng 2004? Kukunsintihin mo na lang ba ang sabuatan nila ni Garci? Dahil ba action star lang ang mahigpit na kalaban nya sa eleksyon? Nagsawalang-kibo ka na lang dahil pakiramdam mo walang alam yung isa mapatakbo ng bansa? Nanahimik ka lang, kasi mas ok ang credentials nia kesa sa acting awards nung isa?
Naalala mo pa kaya ang decada 80? Inilabas mo ang lahat ng emosyon mo nung 1983. Ang sipag mong kinalampag ang bacod ng Malacañan nung 1986. Pinuno mo ang kahabaan ng Mendiola nung 1987. Hinarang mo pa nga ang mga tangke sa EDSA. Kaso… parang nauwi lang sa wala. Yung mga pinaglalaban mo noon, bakit tinatalikuran mo ngaion? Katiwalian, pandaraya, pangungurakot, at karapatang pantao. Hindi ba yan pa rin naman ang isyu ngaion? Napalitan lang ng starting line-up, pero sila sila pa rin ang magkakasama sa iisang team.
Pinipilit mo lagi na walang mangyayari sa pag-aaklas ngaion. Bakit sa tingin mo ba may magandang nangyari sa pag-aaklas nio noon? Ipinahamak nyo lang ang susunod na henerasyon. Nakamit nio nga ang pagbabago ng liderato, pero hanggang dun lang ang naitulong nio. Pinalitan nio nga ang mga namamahala, pero ang sistema pinabayaan niniong lumala. Sabi nio naging malaya tayo, pero ang mga demoniong nagpapahirap at lumalapastangan sa bayan natin, malaya rin.
Oo nga nagpapahayag ka ng pagtutol sa mga kabulukang nakikita mo, pero may ginawa ka ba bukod dun? Mas importante pa yata sa yo ang magliwaliw kasama ng iyong mga kaibigan sa Tiendesitas, Libis, Fort, Makati at Morato. Mas gusto mo pang nananahimik, dahil iniisip mo may mga sariling agenda ang mga nasa likod ng pagkilos. Maghihintay ka na lang ba ulit ng mga tangke sa EDSA bago ka umasta? Ningas-cogon ka lang ba?
Kabayan, karamihan sa atin pahirap na ng pahirap ang buhay, puera na lang siguro kung ang apelyido mo eh Ayala, Lopez, Madrigal, Abalos, Arroyo, Sy, Tan, atbp. Ang ibang kapitbahay mo nagpapa-alipin sa ibang bansa may makain lang ang familia. Ang iba dun umuuwi wala nang hininga. Bawat isa sa atin ay may utang ng mahigit na singcuenta mil sa IMF at World Bank, kasama dian ang magiging apo ng apo mo. Pasalamat ka at may isang Lozada na minsan nag-sacrificio para sa katotohanan, kung hindi eh kaya mo bang bayaran kung sakaling umabot pa sa ciento mil ang sisingilin sa yo na inutang ng gobierno mo pero ikaw ang sasalo?
Kabayan, tama na ang pagmumuni-muni lang, itigil na ang pananahimik lang, tama na ang sadiang pagwawalang-bahala. Kikilos ka lang ba pag ochenta pesos na ang halaga ng bigas? Pag beinte pesos na ang pamasahe sa jeep? Sinasayang mo ang panahon. Simulan mo na ang pagbabago, simulan na ang pagkilos... simulan mo na ang revolucion!
Para naman magkatotoo ang inaasam cong slogan para sa bayan:
“Esta nación será grande otra vez…”
Binabagyo ka na ng katiwalian ng gobierno. Sandamakmak na kaso ng scam, magmula sa world’s most expensive highway, sa procurement ng military weapons, pati fertilizer pinatulan na rin, at ngaion pati broadband technology pinasok na rin nila. Hanggang kailan ka mananahimik sa kina-uupuan mo?
Tila yata may selective amnesia ka. Hindi mo na ba naaalala ang pandaraya ng 2004? Kukunsintihin mo na lang ba ang sabuatan nila ni Garci? Dahil ba action star lang ang mahigpit na kalaban nya sa eleksyon? Nagsawalang-kibo ka na lang dahil pakiramdam mo walang alam yung isa mapatakbo ng bansa? Nanahimik ka lang, kasi mas ok ang credentials nia kesa sa acting awards nung isa?
Naalala mo pa kaya ang decada 80? Inilabas mo ang lahat ng emosyon mo nung 1983. Ang sipag mong kinalampag ang bacod ng Malacañan nung 1986. Pinuno mo ang kahabaan ng Mendiola nung 1987. Hinarang mo pa nga ang mga tangke sa EDSA. Kaso… parang nauwi lang sa wala. Yung mga pinaglalaban mo noon, bakit tinatalikuran mo ngaion? Katiwalian, pandaraya, pangungurakot, at karapatang pantao. Hindi ba yan pa rin naman ang isyu ngaion? Napalitan lang ng starting line-up, pero sila sila pa rin ang magkakasama sa iisang team.
Pinipilit mo lagi na walang mangyayari sa pag-aaklas ngaion. Bakit sa tingin mo ba may magandang nangyari sa pag-aaklas nio noon? Ipinahamak nyo lang ang susunod na henerasyon. Nakamit nio nga ang pagbabago ng liderato, pero hanggang dun lang ang naitulong nio. Pinalitan nio nga ang mga namamahala, pero ang sistema pinabayaan niniong lumala. Sabi nio naging malaya tayo, pero ang mga demoniong nagpapahirap at lumalapastangan sa bayan natin, malaya rin.
Oo nga nagpapahayag ka ng pagtutol sa mga kabulukang nakikita mo, pero may ginawa ka ba bukod dun? Mas importante pa yata sa yo ang magliwaliw kasama ng iyong mga kaibigan sa Tiendesitas, Libis, Fort, Makati at Morato. Mas gusto mo pang nananahimik, dahil iniisip mo may mga sariling agenda ang mga nasa likod ng pagkilos. Maghihintay ka na lang ba ulit ng mga tangke sa EDSA bago ka umasta? Ningas-cogon ka lang ba?
Kabayan, karamihan sa atin pahirap na ng pahirap ang buhay, puera na lang siguro kung ang apelyido mo eh Ayala, Lopez, Madrigal, Abalos, Arroyo, Sy, Tan, atbp. Ang ibang kapitbahay mo nagpapa-alipin sa ibang bansa may makain lang ang familia. Ang iba dun umuuwi wala nang hininga. Bawat isa sa atin ay may utang ng mahigit na singcuenta mil sa IMF at World Bank, kasama dian ang magiging apo ng apo mo. Pasalamat ka at may isang Lozada na minsan nag-sacrificio para sa katotohanan, kung hindi eh kaya mo bang bayaran kung sakaling umabot pa sa ciento mil ang sisingilin sa yo na inutang ng gobierno mo pero ikaw ang sasalo?
Kabayan, tama na ang pagmumuni-muni lang, itigil na ang pananahimik lang, tama na ang sadiang pagwawalang-bahala. Kikilos ka lang ba pag ochenta pesos na ang halaga ng bigas? Pag beinte pesos na ang pamasahe sa jeep? Sinasayang mo ang panahon. Simulan mo na ang pagbabago, simulan na ang pagkilos... simulan mo na ang revolucion!
Para naman magkatotoo ang inaasam cong slogan para sa bayan:
“Esta nación será grande otra vez…”
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