RIGHT TO LIFE

Folks, below please find comments on how the massacre in Maguindanao could have been wrong moves of the victims, and of those who told them to proceed despite the threat of undergoing violence.


"I have a sneaky suspicion that this same women may have been the lawyers of the vice mayor in 2007 when the 2 sons of the Ampatuans were killed and the primary suspect was him...The political party bigwigs, the cowardly vice mayor, the lawyers, the journalists [in this order] were all one in making that "massacre" INSANE decision...All victims may not have the same reasons, but everyone by his/her act of going with the convoy signified approval to the decision as the RIGHTFUL ONE. How terribly sad.

"Be that as it may, here again, I end with a prayer for the victims and the misguided killers. All are, in truth, victims of our irresponsible society and leaders. You may not like my inclusion of the killers in my prayers, but I am just exercising my Christian faith in the best way I know how.

"Should non-Muslims be concerned about this RIDO? One friend who has never trusted a Muslim in his life said, "Hayaan natin ang mga iyon. Magtudasan na silang mga Muslim. Mabuti nga maubos na sila! I can trust only a dead Muslim."

"When a journalist goes with the enemy and acts as a bodyguard or a deterrent force, he is viewed as siding with the enemy and has declared his will to protect the life of the enemy who are known to be killers. Doing that makes him of friend of the enemy and a friend of the enemy automatically becomes an enemy himself.

"The journalists took the grave risk in siding with the enemy.without
weapons and adequate security. Without weapons and security
they were mowed down like helpless babies in a crib.

"Faced with the realities of “very serious risks,”for me it was insane to proceed. Even if it had turned out to be okay and not a massacre, I would still call it an insane decision."

The writer also brought out his suspicions of the material interest of the media persons who tried to cover the event, but got killed.

What kind of mindset is this when dead people are being blamed for what had happened? Those massacred were victims of family feuds, say, but does that absolve the murderers of their crimes? Why analyze the situation in this manner -- imputing motives on the dead, and blaming them instead of the killers?

Folks, this kind of thinking fans more hatred and anger, rather than rational view of the incident. When analyzing a negative situation like what happened in Maguindanao, we need to take stock of why this had happened, why a simple case of bringing the certificate of candidacy should cause them to get killed.

Are we to allow personal motives to get the better of us when assessing political acts? Or are we going to abide by certain democratic principles, that everyone has that right to put up his or her name as a candidate?

Now the writer imputes ill will on the victims just because two relatives of the killers had been killed before, and hence rido or vendetta was committed against the perpetrators of those killings.

This is where we need to take stock of what is called CONSERVATIVE THINKING which labels situations as "YOU AGAINST US AND WE AGAINST YOU." This philosophy really spawns trouble, and worse, as what had happened, a "do or die" attitude. This attitude or kind of thinking retards growth and closes all kinds of discussions, stops all kinds of negotiations.

I wonder if the Madrasah school teaches the students how to think in a manner by which they can distinguish what is democratic and what is undemocratic.

Yes, we have to revisit the educational curricula to find out how best to rear citizens respectful of everyone's right to life.

MASSACRE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

After our gaining a CNN Hero of the Year who taught literacy to children by pushing a kariton (cart), we have gained a notoriety for being number 1 in having the most dangerous place for media people, with the massacre of civilians including the democratic team led by Genalyn, out to register the certificate of candidacy of her husband, Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, lawyers and media people who joined to cover that historic event, which could have been the first challenge to the warlords in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

How sad indeed that day after day our national image is being tarnished by forces of reaction to the shake up of the non-democratic foundations of our country. But more than that image, we are now seeing the strong ties that bind the media, and other civilian groups who remain staunch advocates of the rule of law, and of adherence to democracy.

I do think that we need to be most vigilant at this time. Last night I listened to an ex-police general talk about the need to call for the resignation of GMA should she not be able to arrest the perpetrators of the crime. This afternoon, I listened to the press conference featuring the officials of this administration talking about how they are solving the problem, and pointing to the legal steps being taken so that the guilty will not be able to weave themselves out of the process.

This masssacre in the new millenium is a grim reminder to all democratic-loving peoples, not only in the Philippines but elsewhere in the world that there are still persons who will not relinquish their powers peacefully. The animalistic murder of those supporting the challenger to their powers shows that they are not even schooled whatsoever in any manner about what democracy means, and that is to respect the right of anyone to put themselves up as candidate for any position.

It is horrible that that this is just the filing of candidacy and not the voting proper yet for the position.

So we call on all freedom-loving peoples to remain vigilant. Let us wear the black armbands till that day that judgment is made of the case. Let us put up our own posters until the completion of the 2010 elections that Vigilance can cost our lives but it also means that our children, and our children's children will reap and enjoy the victories of our struggles for peaceful, honest and pro-people elections.

Let us all continue praying that we shall hurdle all the obstacles that will try to stop us from believing in democratic and honest elections.

Also, now is the time for all of us to join the Peoples' Primaries of the Transform Politics Movement so that together we can strengthen our ranks and contribute to the growing movement to have true democracy in the Philippines.

Lastly, let us pray for the repose of the souls of the departed, that they may find that their deaths will not have been in vain, after all.

So be it.

NEW POLITICS

The directions of the third force politics in our country is now taking shape. Although the organizers will not admit that it is such, the moves of the Transform Politics Movement or the Transformers, point to that direction: becoming a factor to contend with in the field of politics, vis-a-vis the old political parties that date back to many decades ago.

In its last meeting today, the 22nd of November 2009, the suggestions for the Peoples' Agenda were discussed which augur well the objectives of most of the non-government organizations like those programs for healthcare -- free; education -- free up to college; energy -- exploration of new alternative fuels; politics -- more grassroots participation in local and national politics; gender equity, and many more. These suggestions will be brought up in the General Assembly to be held sometime in December with the date to be announced by the main facilitator, Roy Cabonegro.

The birth of the TPM which arose out of the Peoples' Primaries discussions that started in the house of Patrick Pantaleon in Forbes Park and then had its assemblies at the Asian Institute of Management and Miriam College this year gives a very optimistic view of politics in our country. Many participants are idealists yet are grounded in the realities of our socio-political lives.

We can no longer remain mum in the face of so many problems we have been suffering from. Neither can we contain our desire to express ourselves politically anymore. TPM shall cultivate the voices of the people to express their preferences in terms of elections, governance, and the accountability of the officials, among others.

Times have changed since the eighties when all we wanted was to boot out the dictatorship; hence when Cory took over as president we had felt so comfortable and thought that she could do everything for us. Now we know, after 23 years that we must also take responsibility to steer the country into the kind of directions that we want -- truthful, honest and makamasa governance.

Our involvement is just starting and we cannot hope to achieve an overnight change. Change shall come, step by step, so long as we are aware of where we are, we know the proper methods to use, and that we can be more patient in dealing with our colleagues -- whether they have a penchant for grandstanding or not so long as they are sincere, or a desire to be heard.

Maybe the birth of new politics eggs many people to make speeches and so we must allow everyone to do so -- but also remind them that others may also want to share their ideas.

Yes, democracy is now taking root in our country and the greater thing is that we now know that speaking, negotiating, debating, arguing, arriving at a consensus are a big factor in making changes; that everyone will have a chance to speak and to contribute their ideas on the table.

So we say, "Welcome to the world of new politics." Let us protect it and make it mature more.

(For those who want to join the General Assembly of the TPM, please contact Roy Cabonegro at 09294418247).


- painting by Henri Matisse

FIRST DAY FOR FILING OF CANDIDACY

Hello Folks, Tomorrow is the first day for the filing for congress and the senate, and the presidential and VP candidacies. It is quite exciting to know that aside from those who have been in media limelight for so long now, there are others, unknowns who would also be filing -- in the hope that their desire to help the country rise up from the depths of degrading corrupt practices in the government service and stop it altogether eventually, they are willing to put up their names, endure whatever smear campaigns other may heap upon them, and even gather many obstacles just so they would fall into their traps and reveal their vulnerabilities.

Yes, those who have expressed desire to run in whatever positions, are being blocked very secretly, then tape recorders and even small cameras are made to record their booboos, whether in the privacy of their homes or outside under the public eye. Yet, no matter what these people do, the die is cast -- we need not slow down, nor lower our hopes but rather shout them out to high heavens that "Enough is enough of the zarzuela and moromoro in our country. Pilipinas, babangon tayong lahat sa pagkakalugmok, hindi bukas, hindi samakalawa, kung ngayon at ngayon din!" This shall be our cry from here on.

PAGKATAPOS NG UNOS

The deadline for filing of candidacies is drawing near. Only a few more days before the 20th whence the filing shall start for congressional, senatorial, vice-presidential and presidential slots. So far everyday is like waiting for the cockfighting to start. And things are shaping up individuals are surfacing to present themselves as candidates and pairs for President and VP's are being firmed up. A government guy with a mediaperson; a businessman with another mediaperson; an actor with a mayor with an HR demonstration background; an environmentalist without a pair; and so forth and so on.

It is getting to be too transparent who is presidentiable and who is not, actually depending on how we view the qualities of one.

Right now, however, our concerns can focus on the agenda that we want the candidates to carry, not necessarily how they look or how they can be approached. In the first meeting of the Second Batch of Peoples' Agenda group, we came up with a list of ticklers that we should ask the candidates to answer: what are your plans with regard to:
1. the economy
2. food and agriculture
3. civil liberties and human rights
4. labor and migration
5. education, culture and the arts
6. health and social development
7. defense, security and the environment
8. foreign policies

among others.

We, and that includes Dr. Aniceta Manuel Ortinero, Fe Mangahas and I think that we must have candidates who can readily respond to the demands on what should be the programs and projects under each category. We cannot afford a candidate who would be rattled once the media start asking about these; otherwise, we would think that they are merely second-guessing their jobs.

The tasks of serving the country, of raising the self-esteem and pride of our people on what is to be a Filipino after the series of regimes that have brought them to the dirt roads, the floods, the hunger and all those landslides of poverty and degradation ought to be lodged on those who are ready to take these one by one. Lift up the people from the claws of predators, from the hungry mouths of callous vultures who can no longer distinguish what is capitalism and what is governance.

Yes, the people's patience is being tried today. If anyone cares to know, they should listen to the radio and analyze the textings received by broadcasters. They range from anger to disillusionment to almost violent tendencies to annihilate everyone in government today. So what we need is patience. Let us teach the people patience, because the costs of violent methods are immeasurable.

Time cannot be rewound once it has passed.

Panahon na ng pagtatakal, pagsisisi, pagmumuni-muni at paghuhubog ng bagong kinabukasan. Matatapos din ang unos, at magkakaroon tayo ng maaliwalas na bukang-liwayway.

STRENGTHENING OUR WILL

So many things are occurring in our country today, natural disasters and political bandwagonism. We are being pulled from one place to another to take a stand, to say something, to act. Sometimes we can freeze at the thought of even just opening our mouth for fear that what we say could be taken against us.

But one thing sure nowadays, the Filipino people are testing our justice system day by day. The media are asking pointblank questions to issues that matter to our people, like the lifestyles of politicians, their sources of campaign funds and the way they deal with their relatives poking their fingers into the public funds and treasury, among others. The victims of the flooding have risen in protest and now have lodged their charges against public officials who should have warned them of the flooding beforehand, or the opening of the gates of the dams as the people have suffered much from their negligence. The transport workers are unbending against the wishes of the oil companies for the lifting of the price freeze on their products. All these show that the capacity to restore authoritarian rule is slowly being emasculated. We are not allowing anymore any petty or big tyrant to rule our lives, and that we want to participate in the democratic processes of the country.

I think Ondoy et al truly tested our people and we have come out with a stronger WILL, not bitter of the consequences of those disasters. Hopefully, we should be able to sustain this perpetually, especially in 2010 when we shall be choosing the leaders of this country.