Gov’t designed Kaliwa loan to favor China
Sa Kidapawan
Ni MARVIN LOBOS
Nagtanim kami
Ng lakas-ng-loob
Ng baka-sakali
Sa burak
Na napaglubugan na halos
Ng kaliwa naming paa.
Doon
Hindi mo na makikilala
Ang aming pawis
Libag
Luha
Dugo
Pagkat pinag-isang dibdib na mga iyon
Ng aming lunggati
Sa dalisay na tubig at putik
Upang malayang magniig
At magbunga ng mga palay ng pag-ibig.
Ngunit
Sadyang kapos ang kapalaran
Gaya namin
Kaya nabitak ang lupa
Gaya ng ginuhit ng tadhana
Sa aming talampakan
Ngayong panahon ng El Nino.
Kaya nagbaka-sakali lamang kami.
Nagbaka-sakaling
Makakaani kami sa inyong puso
Ng ilang bigas ng pang-unawa.
Lunggati at pag-ibig,
Hindi at higit sa anuman,
Ang lakas ng tinig ng aming protesta
At ang nagtutulak sa aming paa
Kaya nagpakupkop muna sa kalsada.
Pero bakit tinugon n’yo ay bala? Bakit
Tinugon n’yo ay bala?
Isang araw,
Natatakot kami
Na baka hindi na lang palay
Ang tabasin ng karit namin
Unti-unti
Dahil sa itinanim n’yong pagkamuhi
Baka matutunan na namin
Mga ulo na ninyo
Ang aming tagpasin.
The post Sa Kidapawan appeared first on Bulatlat.
Dugo Sa Bukang-Liwayway
Ni RENE BOY ABIVA
(Para sa Negros 14)
Pinakawalan ni Haring Sauron ang higit isandaan
sa pinakamakamandag-pinakawalang puso’t kaluluwa
niyang sahurang mamamatay tuwing kinsenas-katapusan
sa payak-pobreng lupain ng mga magsasaka
ng Canlaon, Manjuyod, at Santa Catalina
habang ang buong mundo’y tahimik na inuugoy sa kama
na yari sa hinabing hibla at tinik ng makahiya;
at habang hinihilom ng mapagkalingang panaginip
ang pagod-payat-banat-sunog sa araw na katawan
-na mula musmos ay kalabaw at karit na ang kaulayaw-
ng labing-apat na anakpawis-anakdalita na nagpapakain
sa bawat hapag-kainan ng mga sambahayan
ng buong sambayanan at mga bayan sa buong daigdigan,
mabigat-mabagsik-bakal na tadyak ang kumatok
sa pinto’t haligi ng mga dampang puno ng dusa-gutom-himutok
paglao’y tumilaok ang bunganga ng armalayt, pistola, at masinggan
at pumisik-pisik ang liwanag na mula sa nasusunog na pulbura
habang humahalakhak ang mga lalaking walang mukha
habang anong wili nilang pinipisil ang gatilyo ng kanilang baril
habang nangagsisisayaw sa isang-iglap sa lalamunan ng dilim
ang nagbagsakang mga mumurahing labing-apat na katawan,
wasakwasak-gutaygutay-habang naliligo sa sariling dugo;
at walang narinig ni isang sigaw ng pagmamakaawa
noong sandaling yaon sapagkat lahat ng mata, tainga, at bunganga
na nakakita at nakarinig na maaaring magsalita
ay kanilang ‘alang pakundangang binulag-biningi-itinumba;
pagliwanag- Marso a-trenta- ay umalingawngaw sa buong isla
ang alulong ng mga naulilang Anak at nabalong Ina
at habang binabalot ang labing-apat na katawan
lumitaw ang aparisyon ni Juan Kristo sa mga bangkay na nakahandusay-
ibinababa-kinakalas silang lahat sa bakal na krus
habang aali-aligid sa lupa at langit
ang mga gutom na uwak at limbas
habang ang butas sa lipakin-kalyado nilang palad at paa
ay likha ng ipinampakong tansong bala
habang ang mga malalim-malaki-malapad na sugat
sa kanilang ulo at noo
ay mula sa nilagang alambre na ipinangkorona sa kanila
habang ang simoy ng hanging mula sa mga tuyo-nagbabagang sakahan-kaingin
ay alingasaw ng mga naaagnas-inuuod na bungo’t kalansay
sa paanan hanggang tungki ng Bagong Golgota.
*Sauron- tumutukoy ito sa Oplan Sauron.
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Alaala ng Isang Magsasaka sa Negros
The post Alaala ng Isang Magsasaka sa Negros appeared first on Bulatlat.
PCIJ REPORT| The Dutertes: Wealth Reveal & Riddles
Law firm not registered, some biz interests not disclosed, debtor gets deal to import rice First of Three Parts By…
Children rights groups urge electoral candidates to address Filipino children’s needs
Approximately 4 million Filipino children are out of school while a staggering 2.1 million children are employed in informal or manual work to contribute to their family’s low income.
By ALYSSA MAE CLARIN
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — A children rights group called on those running for public office to take on various issues affecting Filipino children as part of their electoral agenda.
“It is a concern for the children– because in the end, who would suffer the consequences of the actions of the current generation? Eventually, it would be our children today,” said child rights advocate Eule Rico Bongonay during the ‘Bata, Boto, Balota: The 2019 Filipino Children’s Agenda.”
During the forum, Bongonay, who is the secretary general of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, pointed out that despite his promises, the majority of Filipino children are still living on or below the poverty line under the Duterte administration – bearing the brunt of the economic decline.
Citing a study conducted by the IBON Foundation, at least 31 percent of Filipino children live below the poverty line. Studies have also revealed that about 29,000 children under five years old die due to under-nutrition annually.
Salinlahi urged the government and those aspiring for public office to focus on these concerns, rather than conducting projects like the government’s tax reform law and its infrastructure spending, which critics consider as two of the biggest contributors to the declining economic status of many Filipino families.
On schooling, tokhang
The worsening economic conditions have resulted to Filipino children being forced out of schools and into child labor.
Approximately 4 million Filipino children are out of school while a staggering 2.1 million children are employed in informal or manual work to contribute to their family’s low income.
Children are also victims of the President’s War on Drugs, including the 54 children reported killed under this war against drugs, one of the most known cases was the murder of 17-year old Kian Lloyd delos Santos.
Related story: #JusticeForKian | Summary killing of Grade 11 student breaks internet
What do the children want
Jhon Matthew Ocquia from Salinlahi Youth Caloocan chapter listed down some of the basic demands of the Filipino youth that candidates should answer and provide.
In his presentation, Ocquia noted the importance of providing decent housing and job security for their parents.
He said that the minimum wage is not enough for Filipino families to sustain their needs especially with the increasing prices of goods and services.
“Hindi na nga mataas ang sahod, mataas pa ang mga bilihin.” (Wages are low and prices are high.)
“What do the children want in a candidate?” was the primary question Salinlahi proposed and the question that the event revolved around.
The answer, Filipino children want a candidate who can genuinely secure their bright future by actually working toward it, and not just by promising it.
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