DISSECTING AURAL CULTURE

AURAL CULTURE     
WILHELMINA S. OROZCO 

I turn on the radio to classical station -- every day but this Christmas day, I tuned into Radio hy and listened to wonderful Christmas songs -- traditional, jazz, choir, solo, etc, 

Our aural culture is largely crowded with western pieces that are well-composed -- with lyrics that have different themes, and well-recorded with different combinations of musical instruments and tempos. 

I try very hard to listen to Pilipino songs on the radio but I feel a grating on my nerves. I prefer choosing live performances like that one of Noel Cabangon, the jazz artists like Richard Merk and his mom as well as  Ms. Jackie Magno. But listening to the Pilipino songs on radio you cannot really force me to do that. 

Then when I ride the jeepney, I hear the stereo blaring Pilipino rap (kinopya ang style sa blacks), or the ad misericordiam type of lyrics that could make you wallow in tears because the guy or the girl singing is pining endlessly for a lost love. 

Then when I listen to DZBR, I hear only western standard songs. Sometimes Pilipino music is aired but very rarely. 

Over DZFE, the only time we hear Philippine musicians, sometimes music is between 12 to 1 lunchtime, which runs smack into the news time of other AM radio stations that I feel compelled to listen to everyday. 

You know Folks, our print culture is so much more full of variety and lots of things can be read, too, from personal to high-falluting articles on philosophies about nature, about culture, etcetera. Now I wonder why our aural culture cannot go above the level that I have talked about. 

One time, I asked a composer, bakit hindi natutugtog lahat ng mga compositions ng Filipino Society of Composers? Dahil sa payola, I was told. What is payola? It is the pay given to the station or the announcer to play a piece over and over again. 

So this is how one reaches the top of the Billboards, by paying for your song to be aired. 

No it does not have to be this way at all. 

Maybe the non-government organizations dealing with aural culture -- lyricists, composers, and publishers -- can make the government reserve and budget one station that will air only 
original music compositions. In this way, we will be able to broaden the opportunities of our aural artists and let them have their space in our society. 

Now why is nurturing our aural culture important? Is it not that the Filipino people are attuned more to the radio than to TV or the movies? That it has the biggest audience compared to other media? Actually our ears are very sensitive. You talk down to a Filipino and he/she would clam up, give you the smirk, or get teary-eyed. They do not talk back, but rather keep it to themselves. 

As an aside, you know Folks as I am writing my blog, a passerby came in here in the kiosk and started making noise trying to distract me from writing. That is how disgusting harassment is in our country. A simple blog merits this kind of treatment. 

Maybe if we straighten out our aural culture, we will have a more respectful government, respectful of the rights of people to express themselves. Aural connections are more lasting and stay in the memory longer than writings. 

Have a happy new year!

ON STUDYING MANDELA 'S LIFE

What movement is easier to work on, human rights or anti-racism? Looking back to our work over here in the Philippines restoring democratic rights seemed so easy to do. In fact I would measure it done in 4 years, starting from 1982 to 86. Anti-racism is much more difficult to do because racial discrimination is like a "congenital disease" that is very hard to eradicate. A person feeling eeky over another because of color has a convoluted mind that could raise all kinds of irrational ideas and fears about dealing with everyone regardless of race. 

I once sat in a London bus way back in the 80's and one girl child looked at one passenger and asked her mom, "Mom why is her color like that?" I looked around and saw some black people seated. I cringed in my seat feeling half-referred to by that comment. 

In other words, some children are not oriented to thinking of the world as composed of people of different skin colors. 

Thus, I really think that Nelson Mandela's work in South Africa was truly so much more difficult than ours. He endured imprisonment for 27 years but eventually was alive to conduct the anti-apartheid, unlike Cory who did not suffer the same experience yet was able to rally the Filipino people to restore human rights in our country. 

Actually, Mandela's life and all other black heroes' should be studied by our elementary schoolchildren. By reading their contributions to humanity they would grow up enlightened about the need to respect other people's rights regardless of color. Unfortunately now, our children are being oriented to thinking to be white, to use whitening lotions and taking glutathione is the norm to being called a "normal adult." Even the actors and actresses are predominantly mestiza, and some are even imported from western countries because they will surely  be adored by the audience. 

So now, I would like to ask the Dep Ed, how far have we gone into inculcating the need for a humane, nonracist society?  Is our education enough to make us venture into the world? 

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world, " Mandela said. It means education raises people from low to high social class. Sad to say,  our people, our OFWs who are highly educated yet have become the caregivers in rich countries. Their education has not been enough for them to rise in the ladder of success in our country. 

Hence, we should ponder the life of Mandela and rethink our values again and again, on whether we are on the right path. 

CATCHING THE COUNTRIES THAT CAUSE GLOBAL WARMING

If we really want to be scientific about it, the typhoon that hit us, Yolanda, started as a cyclone. According to a scientific record, a cyclone "a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth.^[1][2] This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anti-clockwise in theNorthern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. "

Now, tropical cycles start from heated up places,  "driven by significant thunderstorm activity, and are warm core.^[10] Cyclones can transition between extratropical, subtropical, and tropical phases under the right conditions."

The following  information is important:  "Waterspouts can also form ...from environments of high instability and low vertical wind shear.^[12] In the Atlantic basin, a tropical cyclone is generally referred to as a hurricane a cyclone in the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific, and a typhoon in the Northwest Pacific region."

In other words, Folks, the tropical cyclone developed into a strong typhoon due to the warm sea, as it came from the Pacific Ocean. 

Mr. Reynaldo, not his real name, a victim of typhoon Yolanda, told me that at around 5 a.m., while he was in Palo, Leyte, he and his two boys heard a whistling sound and then later, came the strong wind and rains. 

He prayed to God to spare his rented dilapidated house, even just one half of it, and for the two fruit trees in front not to fall on it as it would surely destroy everything and kill them as well. Luckily, the winds only sucked up half of the house's roof and the two trees fell against each other, sparing them of destruction. 

I am sure all of us are still wondering why that calamity happened to us. We can almost surmise that this is due to climate change. But what is climate change? This phrase is in the lips of everyone and now, let us find out what this is. 

Extreme and significant changes in what is the usual weather is what we may call climate change. Usually this has been caused by human activities that border on the use of fossil-based fuels. Whenever gas, coal or oil is burned, then carbon dioxide flies into the air. We know that we, humans and animals exhale carbon dioxide and need oxygen, we need to inhale oxygen in order to survive. Plants and trees, meanwhile reabsorb carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. However, due to cutting of trees, depletion of forests, and polluting substances that fill the air, fewer plants and trees are giving us oxygen. So much carbon dioxide remains in the air causing too much heat or what we know now as global warming. Carbon footprint is the term used for the total carbon that individuals cause. 

Today, our climate is changing very fast because of too much carbon in the air. The weather is very erratic -- sometimes it rains at unusual hours, and floods suddenly occur in the most unlikely places. 

Yet we need energy to run vehicles, to grow food, to manufacture food and other goods. Factories use fossil  fuels to run their boilers and turbines which generate electricity. Restaurants need to use gas to fire their stoves; cars use gasoline or diesel to run. But when carbon is combusted, it produces carbon dioxide. Can you imagine inhaling carbon while in MetroManila? Just look at it from the Antipolo mountains -- a large black cloud hovers over our homes. 

Here is a simple explanation how carbon dioxide cause global warming from the Lansing State Journal, August 31, 1994

How does carbon dioxide cause global warming?

---

Fossil fuels such as gasoline, methane and propane contain mostly carbon.  When these fuels are burned, they react with oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.

Because of our heavy use of fossil fuels, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been increasing since the industrial revolution.  The destruction of forests which use carbon dioxide also contributes to the increase in carbon dioxide.

Most of the light energy from the sun is emitted in wavelengths shorter than 4,000 nanometers (.000004 meters).  The heat energy released from the earth, however, is released in wavelengths longer than 4,000 nanometers.  Carbon dioxide doesn't absorb the energy from the sun, but it does absorb some of the heat energy released from the earth.  When a molecule of carbon dioxide absorbs heat energy, it goes into an excited unstable state.  It can become stable again by releasing the energy it absorbed.  Some of the released energy will go back to the earth and some will go out into space.

So in effect, carbon dioxide lets the light energy in, but doesn't let all of the heat energy out, similar to a greenhouse.

Currently, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing at the rate of about one part per million per year.  If this continues, some meteorologists expect that the average temperature of the earth will increase by about 2.5 degrees Celsius.  This doesn't sound like much, but it could be enough to cause glaciers to melt, which would cause coastal flooding.

But here are the more lugubrious facts:

"The People's Republic of China is the largest consumer of coal in the world. Its coal consumption in 2010 was 3.2 billion metric tonnes per annum. In 2001 the carbon emissions from coal use in China made up about 10% of the world total CO₂ emissions at the time. By 2004 this fraction rose to 14%." 

The biggest country users of coal are in Asia, reaching as much as 67% of global goal consumption, with China being responsible for 14% of it. Other countries that use coal to meet their energy needs are Japan, Taiwan and Korea. They use steam coal to generate electricity and coking coal for steel production. 

Here is the catch: 

The four countries can all be found with their shores going out to the Pacific Ocean. Our country is connected to all of these countries by this ocean. And so the heating up of the Pacific ocean could be attributed to the high use of coal in these countries which then could have caused the tropical cyclone, Yolanda. 

As of 2008, China is number 1  in carbon dioxide emission. Japan is 5th, South Korea is number 8th, and Taiwan is the 20th. The United States is 2nd in the list. 

What happens to the  initiatives  to stop global warming? Are they really effective? 

Meanwhile, let us not forget:

Casualties of the typhoon Yolanda as of 22 November 2013, Ph Official Gazette:

Deceased: 4015

Injured: 18579

Missing: 1602

Folks, please help me correct if there are some facts that need correction, or are missing. Thank you. 

HUNGER AND THIRST IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM?

Knowing how to move in abnormal circumstances is the mark of a well-rounded personality, and most especially of an activist. Under the worse if not the worst circumstances as in what is happening in Tacloban, Leyte, hard hit by super typhoon Yoling, the officials of the Philippine government are being measured in terms of how and how fast they attend to the very basic needs of the victims in terms of food, shelter and safety, among other things. 

I think that bureaucratism has no place under these circumstances. Everyone has to act with speed to save lives. I heard over the radio that a girl child died because she had not eaten presumably since Friday. That means that the people have no other office nor officer to turn to at that time. Yet many millions of dollars in aid are pouring in. 

Question, how come this money has not been put to good use? Who is halting the immediate release of funds for buying food, water and transporting all basic necessities of the people?

The Visayas islands is just that -- island after island after island. We glory in their pristine sands and deep blue seas but that is all past now because we have seen the wrath and anger as the waves -- so called storm surge-- the waters rising up to 15 feet. Now that does not look enthralling anymore as a scenic come-on for tourists. 

We have not really conquered the problem of connecting these islands so that they could be navigable without much danger and easily link peoples, as well as transport goods and services. Now I am imagining an underground tunnel that would link all these islands so that even four-wheeled vehicles could cross them. Will that be possible in the future? 

The scenes on TV showing how the people cried and pitifully asked for food sent me shivers.  I think it is the height of demeaning the humanity of the people. After five days, the people are still crying for food, water and the bagging (burying) of the dead. Why so difficult to perform tasks at this time? What is hampering the movements of officials, not money, but a work ethic that is desk-bound. 

I can only offer suggestions although I have no clear basis nor actual experience of the situations the people are in:

1. Have rice centers all over the affected areas, where groups of volunteers would be cooking rice all day and all night long to feed the people;

2. Have water stations where they can drink clean water at any time. Digging wells and putting anti-bacterial tablets in them could be a corollary activity;

3. Children's concerns centers where people can bring their children. These centers should have pediatricians and ready food and milk for children to drink.

4. Distributing bags for bodies lying around could encourage people to go "Bayanihan" and lessen the pressures on the Department of Health or any other agency that is tasked to bury the dead;

5. 24-hour message center or three-numbered phones and celfones where donors could call to ask how they can send in help or donate whatever they can, goods and services; 

6. The telecoms have already set up free calling stations which is really good and as well, TV and radio stations are accepting calls from victims to inform their relatives where and how they are. 

7. Always have clear instructions when and where food will be forthcoming. I think looting and frustrations will be reduced if the people are assured that they will not go hungry for a long time and that food will be readily accessible. 

8. For those victims who choose to go somewhere else, instead of stay in the typhooned areas
times of departure of vehicles, whether airplanes or land transports, must be made available. 

9. Looting is not a pardonable act. We must conscientize the looters. 

10. All government warehouses of food, of rice must be opened and distributed without preconditions. 

11. Scientists should be tapped to give us concrete solutions -- not only to predict typhoons, not only how to act when a typhoon is coming  but to discover inventions that could deter typhoons from becoming too strong for people to handle.

I remember in 1976 when the Pantabangan dam suffered from 5-day rains and I was there as part of a seminar-workshop on how to be a social worker under the UP ISWCD auspices. The tombs slid down the dams, the houses cracked, those which were built for residents who had vacated the old Spanish era town of Pantabangan which was submerged in waters to give way to the dam. 

The Red Cross came and people crowded in droves to get their share of food and clothing. We cautioned the people to stay in their evacuation places and wait for the staff to come and give them what is due to them. So the distribution became very organized. 

What is happening in Tacloban right now is showing that governance is on a "ouido" basis. The officials are stepping too slowly to address the needs of the people. We need fast-thinking and creative-minded officials who should be able to think beyond the box. 

To experience hunger and thirst in this new millenium is a great aberration in running any country.

COMELEC AND NON-PDAF THINKING OFFICIALS REVISED

Billions of stolen people's money start not in Congress nor in the Senate but in the barangay -- those who elect the corrupt officials who would later on steal through their Priority Development Assistance Funds or PDAF. The barangay voters are the ones who choose who should sit in Congress and the Senate. So if we should want to clean up our politics so that we would be electing honest officials, then we must start to look intently on how the barangay politics is manipulated and driven to come up with officials who would be future king and queen makers in Congress, the Senate and Malacanang.

 Having been in close contact with the elections in our barangay, I have reflected on many things which show that politics here is not really taken seriously by the people, not even by most of the voters. "Barangay lang yan," they say. But the barangay is the microcosm of the larger political situation in our country. It is the training ground for those who aspire to be in Malacanang -- who will need to be sensitive and nurturing of the needs and welfare of the people. Ergo, let us look at elections as the most significant time for us to choose leaders who will SPEND THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND USE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES later on.

At the barangay level, elections are held to choose the barangay captain and the kagawad -- the latter being future heads of committees that will take care of peace and order, livelihood, culture, environment, health and sanitation, among others. If the barangay captain is running for a 2nd or third term, all the government resources are open for disposal and the staff under him/her would not want to disobey orders not to do so for fear of losing their jobs. Hence all challengers of the incumbents are working on an uneven playing field, because the Commission on Elections hardly has the time nor the resources to look at every violation being committed during elections in 42,027 barangays all over the country. Thus, preventing the use of government resources for personal interests of the incumbents is hardly tackled at all.

 What are the issues that need to be addressed by the COMELEC then?

1. Candidates who break election rules should be penalized heavily, not just reprimanded. They are actually guilty of distorting democratic processes and providing erroneous role models to the youth who would later on want to be get involved politically. Also their act/s violate everyone's right to free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections which is mentioned in our Constitution, Article IX-C. Acting contrary to this provision is a form of Constitutional sabotage.

 2. Election registrars who turn a blind eye to violations should be transferred to a lower position immediately to show that the COMELEC means business;

3. The COMELEC should provide an allotment of P100,000 per barangay for the duration of the campaign period to finance the allowances for those who will watch over the violations of rules and regulations regarding campaigning. Time and again, barangay elections appear like an entertainment program being promoted at every street with tarpaulins, posters tacked here and there. There seems to be no serious effort nor attention to stop these violations when the proper thing to do is just place them at the designated poster area.

 4. The allotment should also be used to reward citizens who report such violators/violations in order to encourage them to be vigilant. Later on, we could expect them to do these things voluntarily without reward, and the candidates to be more wary about committing violations.

5. The total allotment is only P4,202,700,000, an amount that is minuscule if we could insure electing honest officials who will perform without pocketing a single centavo and thus save the coffers for meaningful programs and projects.

 6. The COMELEC should not allow candidates who have no platform to run. How could any candidate run without knowing what he or she will do later on once elected? The people should be allowed to choose intelligently from candidates who would explain and tell them that their involvement in the barangay would benefit them. If the candidate has no program of action, then the people will not be able to pin him or her down on anything because they had merely voted them into office without requirements. So then, that would be the start of corruption. Why, even the deaf and blind candidates would be able to tell through sign language (deaf) or voice (blind) what they could do for the people.

7. The COMELEC must provide security to all candidates. There are many hecklers in the barangay especially those who are linked to the present administration. The candidates should be protected and respected at all stages of their campaigning as all citizens should be. Being candidate should be a respectable state.

8. There should be a limit to the number of political paraphernalia -- posters and tarpaulins. To insure that all candidates adhere to the limitations, the COMELEC should choose three printers who would report honestly on how many they had produced. Then the watchers should count how many of these were put up in the barangay and if the number conforms to that ordered by COMELEC. Should there be violations, then these should be reported and candidates' paraphernalia shall be removed at their expense and penalties against such actions provided as well.

SOCIETAL CHANGES especially those that will strengthen our democratic processes, thus insuring that everyone has equal opportunities to serve in the government will take time but now is the best time in preparation for 2016. The presidential elections then should be a model for all election periods that will forever be remembered. While well-meaning people are still in COMELEC we must insure that they perform their role well and that they bring about changes that should redound to a creating a vigilant citizenry that will elect honest and not-PDAF thinking officials.

SERYOSONG USAPAN REVISED

Habang hindi natin pinagtutuunan ng pansin ang barangay elections, asahan natin na marami pang mga anak at apo ng mga PDAF corrupt officials ang darating sa ating buhay. Sila'y magiging mas masigasig sa pagtatrabaho sapagka't alam nilang maiksi lamang ang buhay ng kanilang gawain. Kung kaya't sa higit na madaling panahon, kailangang matapos ang "trabaho" nila at makaeskapo sila sa mapanuring mga mata ng ating mga kababayan.

Alaam ba ng ating mga kababayan kung an-ano ang dapat nilang asahan mula sa barangay?

Una. Kailangang may mataimtim na programang kultural sa bawa't barangay, hindi lamang basketbol, o parada ng mga kostyum ng mga makikilahok. Kailangang ang buong sistema ng sining -- painting, audio-visual, theatre arts, dance, music, sculpture -- ay dapat na maipadama sa bawa't residente ng barangay. Dapat maglaan ng P5 libo kada isang residente na may kakayahang gumawa ng makasining na gawain sa isang taon ang barangay upang sa ganoon, walang naiiwanan, at lahat ay mahahasa sa paggawa ng mga makasining na produkto.

Pangalawa, ang mga problema sa kapaligiran (environment) ay dapat na problemahin ng mga opisyales, araw-araw, hindi lamang kung may darating na taga DILG o City Hall upang magbigay ng mga pananalita. Kailangang araw-araw, sinisipat ang bawa't kalye, mga bakanteng lote, kung may mga hindi marunong mag zero-waste management. Kailangang ipagbawal ang mga proyekto tulad ng piggery sa mga mataong lugar. Ang alam ko pamprobinsiya lamang ito, hindi pang syudad. Pero sa subdivision namin, meron; ewan kung bakit napayagan. Madaling magbulag-bulagan talaga kung malakas (sa pera o impluwensiya) ang may proyektong ito.

Pangatlo, ang baha ay dapat pagtuunan ng bawa't mamamayan. Ang mga taga DPWH na nagtatrabaho sa mga creeks o estero ay kinakailangang taningan ng oras ng mga taga barangay kung gaano na kalaki o karami ang nagawa nila. Sa tulay sa E.Rodriguez, malapit sa Araneta Avenue, mahigit isang taon na ang trabaho noong mga platform floats pero wala pa rin akong nakikitang progreso. Umulan lang sandali noong isang buwan sa amin, bumaha na. Baha ng baha kada may ulan. Paano na kung magtuluy-tuloy ang ulan ng tatlong araw? Ondoy na naman? Siyanga pala bakit ganun. Marurunong namang ang mga civil engineers natin. Matataas ang napag-aralan nila sa UP, sa Mapua, at sa iba pang eskuwelahan. Pero itong baha talangang hirap yata silang ayusin.

Si Robert Marin, isang engineer, na kasama sa Coffee Clutch na nagmi-meeting sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Ike Seneres tuwing Biyernes, sa Corinthian, ay nagpanukala na kailangang laliman ang Manila Bay. Kasi tuwing high tide, bumabaha ang Maynila. Samakatuwid, mas mababa ang Maynila kaysa sa Manila Bay. Kung kaya't kapag dumami ang ulan sa Kamaynilaan, bababa sa Manila Bay ang tubig at hindi na magtitigil sa mga kalye natin. May nakikinig ba sa mga opisyales natin sa panukala na ito? Wala. Mas abala sila sa pagdedepensa ng DAP.

Pang-apat, Kung may mga taga MMDA o DPWH na nagtatrabaho sa paligid, dapat ipag-alam nila sa mga residenteng malapit doon na hindi sila basta-basta magbubutas ng kalye. O kaya ay mag-iingay hanggang hatinggabi para lamang matapos ang trabaho nila (at the expense of our health.)

Panlima, kailangang ang mga pusisyon sa barangay ay ibukas sa mga residente. Bakit ganun, may mga pusisyon na hawak ng ilang tao na kung titingnan mo ay parang nangangapa pa sa kanilang gawain sa opisina. Parang noon lamang nila nahawakan ang mga gamit. Nanghiram ako ng computer dahil susulat ako ng complaint ko laban sa isang tao na ayaw magbayad ng utang. Ayaw ipahiran. O sige kako, pakiprint na lang mula sa USB ang aking sulat. Hindi pa rin puwede.

Ano ibig sabihin nito? Sa halip na propesyonalismo ang mamayani, ang tingin ng mga local government officials ay private property nila ang mga equipment. Magkakavirus ba kung mageencode ako ng sulat ko? Siyanga pala, nangyari din ito sa ilang opisina sa City Hall noong nagpunta ako roon. Sa isang departamento, sabi ko, puwede ho ba akong maki-fax, kahit na magbayad ako ng sampung piso. Wala raw silang fax machine. Nagpunta ako sa bandang loob ng opisina at may nakita akong fax machine. at nakapag-fax ako ng libre sa kabutihang loob ng isang empleyadong lalaki. Alam nyo kung sino ang nagsabing wala raw silang machine? Isang empleyada sa Administrative Division. Calling, calling head of DPOS.

Pang-anim, kailangang buwan-buwan may asemblea ang barangay, kung saan magre-report ang mga opisyales kung anu-ano ang kanilang nagawa para sa kabutihan ng mga mamamayan. Kailangang ireport din kung magkano, saan napunta ang budget. At kailangang may hard copies ang mga reports. In black and white, nakasulat ang financial report. Dapat ding makita natin kung sinu-sino ang mga performing kagawad hindi lamang ang kapitan o kapitana. Ilang beses silang nagre-report sa opisina sa loob ng isang buwan? Karapatan nating malamang ang mga bagay na yan.

Pampito, ang barangay ay may budget para sa mga seminars at workshops. Kailangang ianunsyo ng maaga para lahat ay malaman ito at makapag-aplay. Minsan nakakita ako ng candle-making workshop nakapaskel sa tarpaulin doon sa sentrong kalye ng aming barangay. Tapos na. Nanghinayang ako dahil gustung-gusto ko ng mga handicraft seminars, lalo na ng mga gumagawa ng mga bagay na yun tulad ng kandila - puwedeng lagyan ng pabango, puwedeng magiba-ibang hugis, etc.

Hindi maganda na namimili ng mga dadalo sa seminars at workshops na ganyan. May isang workshop din tungkol sa environment. Ang pinadalo ay kagawad. Nagpadala ba ng mga mamamayan? Nag-echo ba ng seminar na yun? Wala akong nalaman o narinig man lamang.

Pangwalo, naglakad ako sa San Juan City, sa may Jose Abad Santos, at kauulan lamang. Ang bango ng paligid, amoy ng pinutol na damo. Sana ganyan din ang bango ng barangay, hindi yung amoy imburnal sa bawat kanto. Yung isang kanto sa aming barangay sa tabi ng templo, parating binabaha tuwing umuulan. Paulit-ulit ang problema. At kapag daraan ka, makikita mong bukas pa yung imburnal. Bakit ganun? Paulit-ulit ang mga problema?

Pangsiyam, may 70 milyon budget ang barangay. Magkano ang napupunta para sa pagkakaroon ng livelihood projects? May anunsyo ba tungkol sa mga ito? Anu-anong pautang ang binibigay ng barangay? May isang residente, mahirap, nagtatanong kung puwede siyang makautang ng limang libo para magsimula ng paggawa ng suman na may latik, recipe na galing pa sa Samar. Pero wala raw ganun. Bakit? Walang sagot.

Pangsampu, may feedback mechanism ba sa barangay? May regular na panahon ba na 
nakikinig ang mga opisyales sa mga hinaing at suhestyon ng mga mamamayan? Dito sa karatig na barangay namin, ang kapitan daw dito ay marami nang four-story na gusali. Saan nya kinukuha ang pera para magpatayo ng mga ito? Magandang tanong na hindi natin alam kung sasagutin; puwera na lang kung ang DILG at ang COA ay maglalabas ng audit ng mga barangay. At kung may ilalabas, kailang ilalabas?

Marami pang dapat kalkalin sa barangay. Kailangang simulan na.

But an anemic Comelec that selects the problems to look ito will always rear PDAF thinking officials. A Comelec registrar spoke at a covenant for peace meeting of all candidates and she said: "Kung may reklamo ka, at ang gagawin mo ay maghahain ka nito sa tanggapan namin, mauubos ang oras mo. Mabuti pa mangampanya ka na lamang." Is that the proper attitude of a Comelec registrar, one who will discourage people from doing what is righteous and just?

The COMELEC is full of loopholes in its actions. Since the 70's my friend in Cebut had told me that the COMELEC is corrupt; they do not move without money. When someone wants to run as congress representative or senator, or any other high position in government, they have to pay. I know that too. Someone told me I had to pay when I applied to be a senatorial candidate. When I told him I did not have a single centavo to pay, he later said :there is no way that you would be a candidate." How did he know? Later on, a former senatorial candidate in the last elections told me, "He is an operator for Comelec."

The COMELEC is Constitutionally created but its people are appointed by the person in Malacanang. So to whom are the commissioners beholdened? To the person in Malacanang. It is a vicious circle. We do not have a professional government service. Somewhere always there is a kink that makes government service a disservice to the people. 

We should make COMELEC accountable for the corrupt officials that have been elected. In fact, I would go to this extent, a body should be created to check on the morals of those running for office -- are they prone to materialistic urges? Are they prone to influence-peddling? This could be a psychological or attitudinal test that would reveal how that individual/s would react in future situations that would call for their moral perspectives to surface.

Or maybe, the COMELEC should publish the background of every person running for office down to the barangay level. Unfortunately, during the last barangay elections,
so many people ran all over MetroManila but all I saw were merely photos and names and some included positions. That was all. One or two published missions, programs and projects they would do.

Thus, our elections become mere popularity contests.

Then the COMELEC allows motorcades, but not in major roads and streets during elections. How much gasoline does one vehicle need to cover a barangay? How much gasoline do 20 vehicles need in order to honk their way through every street in the barangay? Or how many people dressed up in similar attire, containing the picture of the candidate should be allowed to roam the streets of the barangay, coupled with a Ati-atihan banda? How much would that cost?

Does the COMELEC compute the costs that candidates spend for those things? No. There are a lot of things that the COMELEC glosses over. Is it a case of being under-budgeted? I don't think so. It is a case of WILL. If there's a will, there's a way.

Let us see if there would be truthful accounting of the expenses of each candidate by November 27th, the last day for submitting the Statement of Expenses incurred during the last elections. Let us see what for that report should be. Will the COMELEC investigate which are the truthful accountings? Will they check on the veracity of the submissions? And should they find discrepancies, will they do something about it?

Now is the time for everyone to shine and be a hero or a heroine.

Folks, is high time that we professionalize the COMELEC, insure that more righteous officials are there to conduct fair, just and equal elections. Also, every month, we must have a checklist of what it is doing in preparation for clean elections come 2016.

SERYOSONG USAPAN TUNGKOL SA ELEKSYON

Habang hindi natin pinagtutuunan ng pansin ang barangay elections, asahan natin na marami pang mga anak at apo ng mga PDAF corrupt officials ang darating sa ating buhay. Sila'y magiging mas masigasig sa pagtatrabaho sapagka't alam nilang maiksi lamang ang buhay ng kanilang gawain. Kung kaya't sa higit na madaling panahon, kailangang matapos ang "trabaho" nila at makaeskapo sila sa mapanuring mga mata ng ating mga kababayan. Alaam ba ng ating mga kababayan kung an-ano ang dapat nilang asahan mula sa barangay? Una. Kailangang may mataimtim na programang kultural sa bawa't barangay, hindi lamang basketbol, o parada ng mga kostyum ng mga makikilahok. Kailangang ang buong sistema ng sining -- painting, audio-visual, theatre arts, dance, music, sculpture -- ay dapat na maipadama sa bawa't residente ng barangay. Dapat maglaan ng P5 libo kada isang residente na may kakayahang gumawa ng makasining na gawain sa isang taon ang barangay upang sa ganoon, walang naiiwanan, at lahat ay mahahasa sa paggawa ng mga makasining na produkto. Pangalawa, ang mga problema sa kapaligiran (environment) ay dapat na problemahin ng mga opisyales, araw-araw, hindi lamang kung may darating na taga DILG o City Hall upang magbigay ng mga pananalita. Kailangang araw-araw, sinisipat ang bawa't kalye, mga bakanteng lote, kung may mga hindi marunong mag zero-waste management. Kailangang ipagbawal ang mga proyekto tulad ng piggery sa mga mataong lugar. Ang alam ko pamprobinsiya lamang ito, hindi pang syudad. Pero sa subdivision namin, meron; ewan kung bakit napayagan. Madaling magbulag-bulagan talaga kung malakas (sa pera o impluwensiya) ang may proyektong ito. Pangatlo, ang baha ay dapat pagtuunan ng bawa't mamamayan. Ang mga taga DPWH na nagtatrabaho sa mga creeks o estero ay kinakailangang taningan ng oras ng mga taga barangay kung gaano na kalaki o karami ang nagawa nila. Sa tulay sa E.Rodriguez, malapit sa Araneta Avenue, mahigit isang taon na ang trabaho noong mga platform floats pero wala pa rin akong nakikitang progreso. Umulan lang sandali noong isang buwan sa amin, bumaha na. Baha ng baha kada may ulan. Paano na kung magtuluy-tuloy ang ulan ng tatlong araw? Ondoy na naman? Siyanga pala bakit ganun. Marurunong namang ang mga civil engineers natin. Matataas ang napag-aralan nila sa UP, sa Mapua, at sa iba pang eskuwelahan. Pero itong baha talangang hirap yata silang ayusin. Si Robert Marin, isang engineer, na kasama sa Coffee Clutch na nagmi-meeting sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Ike Seneres tuwing Biyernes, sa Corinthian, ay nagpanukala na kailangang laliman ang Manila Bay. Kasi tuwing high tide, bumabaha ang Maynila. Samakatuwid, mas mababa ang Maynila kaysa sa Manila Bay. Kung kaya't kapag dumami ang ulan sa Kamaynilaan, bababa sa Manila Bay ang tubig at hindi na magtitigil sa mga kalye natin. May nakikinig ba sa mga opisyales natin sa panukala na ito? Wala. Mas abala sila sa pagdedepensa ng DAP. Pang-apat, Kung may mga taga MMDA o DPWH na nagtatrabaho sa paligid, dapat ipag-alam nila sa mga residenteng malapit doon na hindi sila basta-basta magbubutas ng kalye. O kaya ay mag-iingay hanggang hatinggabi para lamang matapos ang trabaho nila (at the expense of our health.) Panlima, kailangang ang mga pusisyon sa barangay ay ibukas sa mga residente. Bakit ganun, may mga pusisyon na hawak ng ilang tao na kung titingnan mo ay parang nangangapa pa sa kanilang gawain sa opisina. Parang noon lamang nila nahawakan ang mga gamit. Nanghiram ako ng computer dahil susulat ako ng complaint ko laban sa isang tao na ayaw magbayad ng utang. Ayaw ipahiran. O sige kako, pakiprint na lang mula sa USB ang aking sulat. Hindi pa rin puwede. Ano ibig sabihin nito? Sa halip na propesyonalismo ang mamayani, ang tingin ng mga local government officials ay private property nila ang mga equipment. Magkakavirus ba kung mageencode ako ng sulat ko? Siyanga pala, nangyari din ito sa ilang opisina sa City Hall noong nagpunta ako roon. Sa isang departamento, sabi ko, puwede ho ba akong maki-fax, kahit na magbayad ako ng sampung piso. Wala raw silang fax machine. Nagpunta ako sa bandang loob ng opisina at may nakita akong fax machine. at nakapag-fax ako ng libre sa kabutihang loob ng isang empleyadong lalaki. Alam nyo kung sino ang nagsabing wala raw silang machine? Isang empleyada sa Administrative Division. Calling, calling head of DPOS. Pang-anim, kailangang buwan-buwan may asemblea ang barangay, kung saan magre-report ang mga opisyales kung anu-ano ang kanilang nagawa para sa kabutihan ng mga mamamayan. Kailangang ireport din kung magkano, saan napunta ang budget. At kailangang may hard copies ang mga reports. In black and white, nakasulat ang financial report. Dapat ding makita natin kung sinu-sino ang mga performing kagawad hindi lamang ang kapitan o kapitana. Ilang beses silang nagre-report sa opisina sa loob ng isang buwan? Karapatan nating malamang ang mga bagay na yan. Pampito, ang barangay ay may budget para sa mga seminars at workshops. Kailangang ianunsyo ng maaga para lahat ay malaman ito at makapag-aplay. Minsan nakakita ako ng candle-making workshop nakapaskel sa tarpaulin doon sa sentrong kalye ng aming barangay. Tapos na. Nanghinayang ako dahil gustung-gusto ko ng mga handicraft seminars, lalo na ng mga gumagawa ng mga bagay na yun tulad ng kandila - puwedeng lagyan ng pabango, puwedeng magiba-ibang hugis, etc. Hindi maganda na namimili ng mga dadalo sa seminars at workshops na ganyan. May isang workshop din tungkol sa environment. Ang pinadalo ay kagawad. Nagpadala ba ng mga mamamayan? Nag-echo ba ng seminar na yun? Wala akong nalaman o narinig man lamang. Pangwalo, naglakad ako sa San Juan City, sa may Jose Abad Santos, at kauulan lamang. Ang bango ng paligid, amoy ng pinutol na damo. Sana ganyan din ang bango ng barangay, hindi yung amoy imburnal sa bawat kanto. Yung isang kanto sa aming barangay sa tabi ng templo, parating binabaha tuwing umuulan. Paulit-ulit ang problema. At kapag daraan ka, makikita mong bukas pa yung imburnal. Bakit ganun? Paulit-ulit ang mga problema? Pangsiyam, may 70 milyon budget ang barangay. Magkano ang napupunta para sa pagkakaroon ng livelihood projects? May anunsyo ba tungkol sa mga ito? Anu-anong pautang ang binibigay ng barangay? May isang residente, mahirap, nagtatanong kung puwede siyang makautang ng limang libo para magsimula ng paggawa ng suman na may latik, recipe na galing pa sa Samar. Pero wala raw ganun. Bakit? Walang sagot. Pangsampu, may feedback mechanism ba sa barangay? May regular na panahon ba na nakikinig ang mga opisyales sa mga hinaing at suhestyon ng mga mamamayan? Dito sa karatig na barangay namin, ang kapitan daw dito ay marami nang four-story na gusali. Saan nya kinukuha ang pera para magpatayo ng mga ito? Magandang tanong na hindi natin alam kung sasagutin; puwera na lang kung ang DILG at ang COA ay maglalabas ng audit ng mga barangay. At kung may ilalabas, kailang ilalabas? Marami pang dapat kalkalin sa barangay. Kailangang simulan na. But an anemic Comelec that selects the problems to look ito will always rear PDAF thinking officials. A Comelec registrar spoke at a covenant for peace meeting of all candidates and she said: "Kung may reklamo ka, at ang gagawin mo ay maghahain ka nito sa tanggapan namin, mauubos ang oras mo. Mabuti pa mangampanya ka na lamang." Is that the proper attitude of a Comelec registrar, one who will discourage people from doing what is righteous and just? The COMELEC is full of loopholes in its actions. Since the 70's my friend in Cebut had told me that the COMELEC is corrupt; they do not move without money. When someone wants to run as congress representative or senator, or any other high position in government, they have to pay. I know that too. Someone told me I had to pay when I applied to be a senatorial candidate. When I told him I did not have a single centavo to pay, he later said :there is no way that you would be a candidate." How did he know? Later on, a former senatorial candidate in the last elections told me, "He is an operator for Comelec." The COMELEC is Constitutionally created but its people are appointed by the person in Malacanang. So to whom are the commissioners beholdened? To the person in Malacanang. It is a vicious circle. We do not have a professional government service. Somewhere always there is a kink that makes government service a disservice to the people. We should make COMELEC accountable for the corrupt officials that have been elected. In fact, I would go to this extent, a body should be created to check on the morals of those running for office -- are they prone to materialistic urges? Are they prone to influence-peddling? This could be a psychological or attitudinal test that would reveal how that individual/s would react in future situations that would call for their moral perspectives to surface. Or maybe, the COMELEC should publish the background of every person running for office down to the barangay level. Unfortunately, during the last barangay elections, so many people ran all over MetroManila but all I saw were merely photos and names and some included positions. That was all. One or two published missions, programs and projects they would do. Thus, our elections become mere popularity contests. Then the COMELEC allows motorcades, but not in major roads and streets during elections. How much gasoline does one vehicle need to cover a barangay? How much gasoline do 20 vehicles need in order to honk their way through every street in the barangay? Or how many people dressed up in similar attire, containing the picture of the candidate should be allowed to roam the streets of the barangay, coupled with a Ati-atihan banda? How much would that cost? Does the COMELEC compute the costs that candidates spend for those things? No. There are a lot of things that the COMELEC glosses over. Is it a case of being under-budgeted? I don't think so. It is a case of WILL. If there's a will, there's a way. Let us see if there would be truthful accounting of the expenses of each candidate by November 27th, the last day for submitting the Statement of Expenses incurred during the last elections. Let us see what for that report should be. Will the COMELEC investigate which are the truthful accountings? Will they check on the veracity of the submissions? And should they find discrepancies, will they do something about it? Now is the time for everyone to shine and be a hero or a heroine. Folks, is high time that we professionalize the COMELEC, insure that more righteous officials are there to conduct fair, just and equal elections. Also, every month, we must have a checklist of what it is doing in preparation for clean elections come 2016.

COMELEC AND NON-PDAF THINKING OFFICIALS

Billions of stolen people's money start not in Congress nor in the Senate but in the barangay -- those who elect the corrupt officials who would later on steal through their Priority Development Assistance Funds or PDAF. The barangay voters are the ones who choose who should sit in Congress and the Senate. So if we should want to clean up our politics so that we would be electing honest officials, then we must start to look intently on how the barangay politics is manipulated and driven to come up with officials who would be future king and queen makers in Congress, the Senate and Malacanang. Having been in close contact with the elections in our barangay, I have reflected on many things which show that politics here is not really taken seriously by the people, not even by most of the voters. "Barangay lang yan," they say. But the barangay is the microcosm of the larger political situation in our country. It is the training ground for those who aspire to be in Malacanang -- who will need to be sensitive and nurturing of the needs and welfare of the people. Ergo, let us look at elections as the most significant time for us to choose leaders who will SPEND THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND USE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES later on. At the barangay level, elections are held to choose the barangay captain and the kagawad -- the latter being future heads of committees that will take care of peace and order, livelihood, culture, environment, health and sanitation, among others. If the barangay captain is running for a 2nd or third term, all the government resources are open for disposal and the staff under him/her would not want to disobey orders not to do so for fear of losing their jobs. Hence all challengers of the incumbents are working on an uneven playing field, because the Commission on Elections hardly has the time nor the resources to look at every violation being committed during elections in 42,027 barangays all over the country. Thus, preventing the use of government resources for personal interests of the incumbents is hardly tackled at all. What are the issues that need to be addressed by the COMELEC then? 1. Candidates who break election rules should be penalized heavily, not just reprimanded. They are actually guilty of distorting democratic processes and providing erroneous role models to the youth who would later on want to be get involved politically. Also their act/s violate everyone's right to free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections which is mentioned in our Constitution, Article IX-C. Acting contrary to this provision is a form of Constitutional sabotage. 2. Election registrars who turn a blind eye to violations should be transferred to a lower position immediately to show that the COMELEC means business; 3. The COMELEC should provide an allotment of P100,000 per barangay for the duration of the campaign period to finance the allowances for those who will watch over the violations of rules and regulations regarding campaigning. Time and again, barangay elections appear like an entertainment program being promoted at every street with tarpaulins, posters tacked here and there. There seems to be no serious effort nor attention to stop these violations when the proper thing to do is just place them at the designated poster area. 4. The allotment should also be used to reward citizens who report such violators/violations in order to encourage them to be vigilant. Later on, we could expect them to do these things voluntarily without reward, and the candidates to be more wary about committing violations. 5. The total allotment is only P4,202,700,000, an amount that is minuscule if we could insure electing honest officials who will perform without pocketing a single centavo and thus save the coffers for meaningful programs and projects. 6. The COMELEC should not allow candidates who have no platform to run. How could any candidate run without knowing what he or she will do later on once elected? The people should be allowed to choose intelligently from candidates who would explain and tell them that their involvement in the barangay would benefit them. If the candidate has no program of action, then the people will not be able to pin him or her down on anything because they had merely voted them into office without requirements. So then, that would be the start of corruption. Why, even the deaf and blind candidates would be able to tell through sign language (deaf) or voice (blind) what they could do for the people. 7. The COMELEC must provide security to all candidates. There are many hecklers in the barangay especially those who are linked to the present administration. The candidates should be protected and respected at all stages of their campaigning as all citizens should be. Being candidate should be a respectable state. 8. There should be a limit to the number of political paraphernalia -- posters and tarpaulins. To insure that all candidates adhere to the limitations, the COMELEC should choose three printers who would report honestly on how many they had produced. Then the watchers should count how many of these were put up in the barangay and if the number conforms to that ordered by COMELEC. Should there be violations, then these should be reported and candidates' paraphernalia shall be removed at their expense and penalties against such actions provided as well. SOCIETAL CHANGES especially those that will strengthen our democratic processes, thus insuring that everyone has equal opportunities to serve in the government will take time but now is the best time in preparation for 2016. The presidential elections then should be a model for all election periods that will forever be remembered. While well-meaning people are still in COMELEC we must insure that they perform their role well and that they bring about changes that should redound to a creating a vigilant citizenry that will elect honest and not-PDAF thinking officials.

FAITH AND DEATH

Abraham is said to have offered his son Isaac as sacrifice to show his faithfulness to God. That was during Biblical times. Nowadays, being faithful is measured not in terms of killing (although probably among organizations with nefarious activities that is the norm), but rather in terms of being united with the principles of the organization, like a political party extracting unwavering loyalty among its members.

However, that faith or loyalty can be questioned if the political party is mandated by a higher goal and that is to protect and serve a greater number of people, or the national interests instead of their particular concerns, such as insuring the victory at the polls.

Difficult isn't it to be in a party, as you will have to challenge the leadership of people who espouse such truncated set of values that give more premium to continuous political power, instead of the interests of the people. Quezon aptly said, "My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins." He died of tuberculosis at Saranac lake while in exile in the United States, and at the height of the Japanese regime in our country. Nonetheless, his statement is oft quoted because of its ardent love of country seldom? or often found among politicians.

I would not delve into political life so much as the short time we have on this earth. How long can an individual live, 70, 80 or 90 or 110 years? What happens when people age - wrinkles, grey hair, absentmindedness, decrepit bodies -- everyone seems to be vulnerable to all these changes in life, probably except those who drink goji and other berry juices, supposed to be rejuvenators of cells in the body.

And when we die, what happens to our bodies? They turn to dust, or would turn to dust if exposed to the elements. Buddhists say that the individual assumes another life, whether another human or an insect's body, it all depends on the karma earned while living. Christians say that we either sit on the right side of Christ, live in paradise, or in hell, no longer any in-between like purgatory. So what happens after death, can we still be repentant and ask the Almighty for another good life on earth?

I am sure that all those who have died ask themselves, I wonder what I had done on earth. Did I live truthfully? What is living a truthful life? Necessarily a truthful life lets other people live truthfully and humanely, I would say. No other positive life is worth commending than that of being humane to other folks especially those in need.

But supposing, instead of doing that, an individual schemes to make life hellish for other people, like divesting them of jobs, making sure that they would not be able to earn a living, or make them feel insecure for the rest of their lives, or even for a short while, would he or she still merit a good place in paradise, or any another life that is full of blissful blessings?

I think we Christians or Buddhists or any other faiths, know that there is some norm to follow to define what is a humane life. And faith has nothing to do with that at all. Instead, let us talk of the moral life -- of being humane to others -- ensuring that they have the right to live decently and humanely and not use them for whatever evil purposes -- this is the only kind of life that I know of. Maybe it also has some hint of being faithful -- faithful to some principles in life as this in itself -- to lead a moral life, an ethical life -- is a principle -- and so it must be embraced by all.

If the countries in the world are not able to surmount the great materialistic tendencies in politics -- whether for silver or greed for political power -- then it is time for us to prepare ourselves for a higher cause. With that, we need to start with the young, to insure that they will be the right guardians of the world not only in the realm of politics.

MAKASAYSAYANG LAHI

Self – identity is very important for a nation to co-exist equally with other nations. Without self-identity that nation will always be a slave to others and will not be able to carve its own destiny. It will just be a follower of world events, and its people become mere so-called cogs in the machine.

Hence it is important for use, the Filipino people to recognize our own self-identity. What distinguishes us from other people? During the Spanish colonization, the Filipino people were considered literally as slaves. Our forefathers and foremothers were not given education, and if there were any at all, they were reserved for children of the social elite. During the American period, our parents were given education but denied full independence not until 1946. Our country was a great source of labour for the Hawaiian pineapple plantations and natural resources – like gold and other minerals -- for the American factories.

After independence in 1946, our sense of identity was still not fully carved. Our consciousness was largely colonized as the books and magazines, as well as films that were shown then heavily put up the stars as white, tall, with aquiline noses. Thus, compared to them, we were patsies – short, dark or kayumanggi, with almost flat noses. It is logical to feel diffident, less confrontational and obedient under that set-up.

Actually, we have many things to feel great about like our own history. Did you know that there were already people in the Philippines way back 250,000 to 500,000 BC, according to the voluminous tome KASAYSAYAN NG ATING BAYAN written by Fe Mangahas and adeptly illustrated by Imelda Cajipe. Although no human bones were found then, yet, some animal bones which could not have existed without humans disciplining them were discovered. The same animals were found in Cagayan Valley and parts of Mindoro.

Why do we say that there were people then at the same time that the animal bones were found? That is because, in other places like the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes and Formosa, the same animal bones had been found together with human bones. And we were connected to the same places via land bridges. At that time, people moved about through these land bridges and so we all belonged to one region without boundaries.

Homo erectus --- meaning capable of standing up -- was the name of the people inhabiting the land then. They were nomads, living off fruits, seeds and plants. They knew how to set fire to cook their food and to keep themselves warm during cold climes. They also lived inside caves when the weather was not so good. For evidence, Fe Mangahas cites stones used by them at Cagayan, Novaliches and Angono, Rizal

Around 100,000 to 30,000 BC human bones had been found in the islands, in the caves of Callao, Cagayan, a female skull in Tabon Cave in Palawan (around 43,000 BC) .

Kasaysayan ng Ating Bayan: Ang Pilipinas Noon at Ngayon is very creative in teaching our history as a people and written in Pilipino, thus understandable to any group in the islands. It is full of illustrations, page by page actually, and can be readily understood even by those with not a full grasp of Pilipino.

The book is composed of four volumes:
Volume I –our roots in the ancient period – 500,000 to 1500 AD
Volume ii –the Spanish period from 1500 to 1898
Volume iii – the American period from 1899 to 1946
And Volume iv – Government and the people from 1946 to 2012

The second volume covers very meticulously how the Filipino people were made completely subservient through religious upbringing. It also mentions the important role of Filipino women revolutionaries in the Katipunan thus revealing that not all had felt at ease with colonial rule and even to the leadership of male revolutionaries. The third volume mentions that the Americans paid Spain $20 million dollars in 1898 as compensation for the turnover of the country to them as well as how the process of Americanization was carried out. The fourth volume covers post-independence, martial rule, and then the various regimes of Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The book is not only full of facts but also has discussion points for those studying by groups. Then after discussion, activities are posited like exhibits, drawing, making dioramas and dramatizing the fight in Mactan between Lapulapu and Magellan, as well as singing of songs that will enhance our idea of being Filipino and Filipina like Florante’s entitled “Ako’y isang Pinoy.” Gary Granada’s song lyrics, “Ang Misyon” is also quoted which talks of the aspirations for justice and the need to answer the call for involvement to obliterate poverty in reality.

Fe Mangahas tackles fearlessly political questions and issues. involving the left, the right and the centrists in Philippine society. Her book tackles the basis for and corruption under martial law, the problems of the Cory Aquino government in strengthening democratic processes in the country, Fidel V. Ramos, the first soldier to become president of the country and how he tried to change the Constitution to extend his term; Joseph Estrada’s unbelievable poll victory at more than 40% of the votes and how he had to leave Malacanang in order to prevent bloodshed that was being foisted by some groups massing at EDSA led by Cory, Ramos and the Church; the unwieldy rule of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who relied on corrupting legislators and the military in order to stay in power; and lastly Benigno Aquino III and the need for his administration to be transparent in fund allocations, among other issues. Fe does not mention that Cory revealed her misgivings later on in supporting the bringing down of Estrada and had even apologized to him for having been a part of the group that sought his toppling.

Imelda Cajipe Endaya has a full article in Volume iv, entitled “Sining Biswal sa Pagbubuo ng Bansa: 1946-1986,” where she discusses indigenous art, and foreign influences in the current crop of artworks - films, sculpture, paintings, and print, as well as women’s art.

For Philippine migrants in other countries with children who find it difficult to related with the roots of their parents, the book will open their (both parents and children) hearts and minds and make them feel proud of our race. No longer will they think that being alive means being subsumed to any other race.

Moreover, the book has spiritual leanings, as it asks questions like: “Paano mo maiuugnay ang ebolusyon ng tao sa kabanatang ito sa Genesis 1:1-31?“

Another is, “Sagabal ba ang sinaunang pananampalataya sa iyong pagiging Kristiyano? Ibahagi ang iyong personal na repleksiyon tungkol dito.”

We must read this book, even just by devoting our chapter a day, in order to understand that in the world history, the Philippines has been part and parcel of that march to full development from the very beginning as all other humans in other countries. By absorbing that thought, there is no way by which we could underestimate our capability to progress at all as other nations.

“Actually it is often the people of faith who preserve their culture and history. Sila iyong ‘people of history.: Kasi tayo ang daluyan ng continuity ng faith natin mula noong unang panahon hanggang ngayon. Mahaba ang kasaysayan natin at mahaba rin ang lalakbayin sa hinaharap.” – Melba Padilla Maggay, Ph.D. Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture.


Ed Lapiz, pastor and active Day by Day Ministries, says “Kailangang matagpuan nating muli ang ating sarili. Hindi ito mangyayari kung ang alam natin sa kasaysayan ay nagsimula lamang sa 1521. Kung ganito, malayo tayo sa simula, malayo tayo sa sarili, sa Lumikha.”

“Ang aklat na ito nawa’y magbigay-daan upang maiwaksi nating ang poot, pait at tinik sa ating buhay at kasaysayan. Bigyan natin ng patotoo ang winika ng Panginoon sa bibig ni Isaias 65:17-25. Gamitin natin ang malalim na pananampalatayang kaloob ng Diyos sa bawat Pilipino. Pagyamanin natin ito sa paglikha natin ng bagong kasaysayan para sa bagong Pilipinas bilang tahanang nagpapahalaga sa katotohanan, katarungan, kaunlaran at kapayapaan.” – Ruth S. Callanta

Kasaysayan ng Ating Bayan makes reading history a living and reflective experience that must be related to our innermost core as beings with faith and understanding of our own roles in society and in the universe.

The book – four volumes all in all – is available at the publisher’s office, Center for Community Transformation Group of Ministries headed by Ms. Ruth S. Callanta, president. CCT is located at 5/F Joshua Center, Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila with telephones: 632 – 524 1819 or email at ho@ cct.org.ph.

BASTARDIZING RIGHT TO LIFE

AS POLITICAL EVENTS ARE UNFOLDING ALL OVER THE GLOBE IT WOULD BE IMPERATIVE FOR US TO REVIEW THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

How has the world been run since December 10, 1948? How have the countries affected the lives of their constituents?

I really cannot understand why the Taliban and the Al Qaeda exist in any manner than ethical. They do not really care about the right to life of any citizen, their own compatriots many of whom they send to suicidal acts just so to create havoc and capture international attention. What kinds of upbringing were they subjected to? Why did they turn out to be anti-human? Is violence the only way to solve problems?

Last night, I found out that my pillow, which used to have very soft fillers, suddenly was filled with hard cotton balls. I don't know who did it but I suspect someone from our compound. I examined the pillow and my attention was caught on the kind of thread used -- pink which can be found in my box of threads. The sewing is new on one side where presumably the soft fillers were removed. It is new because the color is bright pink whereas the rest of the thread on the other sides were grayish from use for many years.

Now this is the kind of intel gathering that is being done under PNoy's administration by the PNPolice. And I feel too weak to shout help to anyone because it is a gang of intruders who violate my privacy, my bed, my pillow where I lay down my head and most of the time ruminate on what I could write about.

Do I deserve this? Isn't this a kind of bastardizing my right to a decent life? A Buddhist would say, keep silent, let it pass. A Christian would say the same thing. But why should I keep quiet?

I think that that "RIGHT TO LIFE" is being violated every minute all because of power, POWER to be wielded secretly and openly against those who choose not to bow down to dictatorship and all other forms of authoritarianism.

I could say the same thing is happening to the American people on a grander scale. The stand-off which hinges on the issue of delaying or not delaying the funding of Affordable Health Care, among other things is creating jitters, insecurity, and renders meaningless that UN Declaration that everyone has the right to life.
I must say that

...this is a clear case of "disregard and contempt for human rights which outrages the conscience of mankind." Rendering people jobless at this time in that part of the globe where autumn has come and winter not far behind is unfathomable indeed.

The right to life which basically means having a job that gives an individual income is not being respected, but rather disregarded.

Folks, let's reread those UN statements which have a lot to do with how we lead our lives today. I hope that those responsible for not respecting the right to life would see the light.


Here is the UN Preamble and the pertinent provisions:
PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.



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Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

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Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

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Article 3.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

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Article 4.

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

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Article 5.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

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Article 6.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

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Article 7.

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

REREADING PAST PRESIDENTS' THOUGHTS

Maybe it's time for us to review some thoughts of presidents which have guided the people in one way or the other as developments in politics have gone on. By rereading them maybe those responsible for shutting down the US government will be able to rethink what they have done to others. As well, those in the Philippine government responsible for bringing our country to its sorry economic state could feel remorse, return the money and promise, swear while kneeling not to do it again. - a Christian punishment.)

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Abraham Lincoln 
(Who in the government is doing this? In our country, those destroying our faith in good governance are the officials who are being bribed with pork and the briber too)

We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln
(Do we need to overthrow those who pervert the Constitution? Let them have their day in court. So we may know the kind legal defenses they have and respond to them as intelligently as we can. In a sense we are honing our skills in democratic exercise.)

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Abraham Lincoln
(Yes, they tried fooling us that pork is good. Now we know -- it brings out the worst in people -- the worst which is to buy people's votes.)

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.
Abraham Lincoln (Hallelujiah! Sana! Sana! Sana!)

A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Abraham Lincoln 
(Our Congress is not really divided because most have had their pork. They are only divided -- on whether to share the loot or not.)

WE SHOULD NEGOTIATE ON THE MALAMPAYA FUNDS THIS WAY: BRING DOWN FUEL OIL PRICES BY 50%. THAT IS WHAT MALAMPAYA IS FOR -- TO HELP THE PEOPLE.!

Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.
Theodore Roosevelt 
(That sounds like the TP.)

Andrew Jackson
Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.
(May there be brave men and women who will accept their error.


Abraham Lincoln
Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.

Nelson Mandela Speech, May 1994
Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves.

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

Nelson Mandela

Getting into Peaceful Politics

Reading the news about American politics, I can see that one really needs a good grounding in English, a firm knowledge on politics and handling political wranglings, as well as having a good supportive network of officials who value and will stand by you through thick and thin. I wonder if our Kababayan in the United States of America view this as true. I am sure that they also want to advance politically and not just wait on the sidelines, watching what will happen to the fight between Democrats and Republicans. I hope they would stand by democratic principles.

Now why is it so difficult for the Republicans to see the value of health care? It seems as if this is going back to square one, defending the value of the law so that all of the American people, not just our Kababayan, mind you, could enjoy living and when getting sick, know that they could always go to health institutions and be cared for. That's as simple as I understand the health care which the Republicans want to curtail by delaying its funding.
How could the American voters vote into office such people who would not want them to get cared for? I don't really understand that side of the question. Maybe it is time to

Our political conflicts in the Philippines have been resolved not only in the halls of Congress but outside, in the People Power sites since 1986. I think that People Power should not be misused again, as what happened during the Estrada administration. We must be more circumspect now and see through the hidden aims of people who are behind the scenes and stoking the fires for us to conduct People Power.

It is good that we are able to hold PP so that we can air out our views in public, which otherwise could be shut out in the media -- which by the way selects those views of people that should be printed or aired. Not all have a say. But being in the demonstration allows us to feel and shout our slogans if need be in order to give vent to our pent-up emotions.

Some quarters are still hopeful for the resurrection of GMA in the political limelight. Or some pork-barrel-guilty senators want the issue to die or to let those pushing for its abolition to fade away as well. Hence, the intelligence community has to be more vigorous in unearthing such plans of these people and find out how to quash their anti-democratic acts even before they are started. That is what those funds are for, right? and not for destroying the work of democratic writers who are asserting their principles in their works.

Come October 4th, tomorrow, let us bring banners of peace, and flyers detailing how we can use democratic means to resolve conflicts, no longer attracted to quick fixes like violence, and murder. (Let us have more artworks and paintings most of all that will depict peace-loving themes.) I think that is what is lacking in our educational system, ideas on how to negotiate (which most of the time is only confined to business and some social-work courses.)We must teach the young, starting as early as the grades on how to assert themselves, how to get what they want in a gentle manner, and how to have their way without using fisticuffs.