By Jose Maria Sison Which shall come ahead? The blazing of forests, The thawing of the icebergs, The rise of the oceans, The drowning of cities, The parching of the land, The whimpering death? Which shall come ahead? Sudden fright at the big bang, Mushrooms in the sky, Too much light in a trice, Before […]
Sole youth representative in Congress aims for three seats as it files for 2019 polls
Kabataan Party-list (KABATAAN), the sole youth representative in Congress, closed the second day of filing as nominees submitted their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the 2019 midterm elections, on Friday October 12, at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) head office.
Photos by Jamela Santiago
Along with its founding organizations and supporters, the six nominees of KABATAAN marched from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to COMELEC, affirming that it aims of continuing its campaigns for free education, as well as forward the rights of the Filipino people, within and outside the Congress.
Panata ng Kabataan
In a short program outside the COMELEC, KABATAAN’s National President Angelica Reyes introduced the six nominees committed to continue what they call the ‘politics of change’ within the House of Representatives.
Incumbent legislator Sarah Jane Elago serves as the first nominee of KABATAAN, followed by Erika Cruz from the National Capital Region (NCR), Vennel Chenfoo from Northern Mindanao, Elle Balgos from Cagayan Valley, Florence Kang from the Ilocos Region, and Atty. Kristian Lora from Cebu.
The partylist reinforced its promise to deliver and legislate pro-people agenda committed to represent the marginalized youth and sectors. KABATAAN also highlighted the youth’s substantial role in nation-building and maintained its stand to fight against historical revisionism and state repression in its campaign for rights, freedom, and justice while also campaigning for a genuine free education with no preconditions.
“Ang ating inspirasyon sa pagtakbo sa susunod na eleksyon ay ang ating napagtagumpayan nang mga laban,” said KABATAAN’s representative Sarah Elago in the short program following the confirmation of the partylist’s COCs.
(“Our inspiration in running for the next elections is our victories in our campaigns.”)
Elago maintained that while there are merits in the implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, education is still not accessible to all, as is the case with ongoing militarization of Lumad communities and attacks on their alternative schools. The legislator expressed the partylist’s commitment to pass House Bill 4800 or the Comprehensive Free Public Higher Education Act, a more inclusive education policy filed by Kabataan Partylist.
“Hamon na patuloy na gampanan ang ating pagiging pag-asa ng bayan. Magagawa lang natin ‘yan kung sa harap ng atake sa ating demokratikong karapatan, sa harap ng atake sa ating sama-samang pagkilos, tayo ay magpapalakas ng ating hanay. Ang sandata natin ay ang ating pagkakaisa. Ang ating pagkakaisa ang ating ibabandila sa lahat ng nagmamaliit, na walang walang kinikilalang edad ang paglilingkod sa bayan,” Elago continued.
(“The challenged bestowed upon us is to continue our responsibility as the hope of our nation. We can only do that if, despite the attacks on our democratic rights, despite the attcks on our collective action, we are still steadfast in strengthening our ranks. Our only weapon is our unity. Our unity is what we will show to those who belittle us, that age should never be a requirement when it comes to serving the people.”)
Rage against Red-bait
KABATAAN also belied the accusations of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the latter’s statement that partylist members under the Makabayan bloc are terrorists and linked to communists groups, citing that it is an attack to the strength of the youth movement vocal against the current policies of the Duterte administration.
“Bitbit ng KABATAAN at ng Makabayan ang prestihiyo ng politikang nakabatay sa pag-asa, sa pagkilos, at sa pagbabago. Sa kabila ng atake sa demokratikong karapatan, mga atake sa kolektibong aksyon lalong lalo na sa kabataan na aktibo sa kanilang pamantasan, sa kanilang mga komunidad na nagsasalita at nagpapahayag laban sa extrajudicial killings, laban sa repressive provisions ng TRAIN, at laban sa kahit anong pagbabanta ng diktadurya, ang mga kabataan, nakikita niyo po kung paano siya nagkakaisa at matapang na isusulong ang kanyang boses hindi lang sa loob ng Kongreso kundi pati na rin sa kanilang komunidad. Kaya po kami ay lalo pang magpapalakas ng aming unities at isusulong ang collective aspirations ng mamamayan natin sa loob at labas ng kongreso,” Elago clarified.
(“KABATAAN and Makabayan [bloc] carries the prestige of politics grounded on hope, mobilization, and change. Despite the attacks on democratic rights and our collective action especially on the youth actively voicing out their stand against extrajudicial killings, against the repressive provisions of TRAIN [law], and against the signs of dictatorship in their universities and communities, you can still see their unity and how brave they forward their voice not only within the Congress but also within their communities. We aim to strengthen our unities the collective aspirations of the people within and outside the Congress.”)
The youth partylist also spoke out against red-baiting and seeing dissent as destabilization, claiming that it is only imperative for the youth to be critical of the society that they are part of.
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‘Farm to table enterprise is best for young agri-entrepreneurs’
A farm to table enterprise would be the best idea for young agri-entrepreneurs said John Tria, vice president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc. (DCCCII) in a press briefing on Wednesday at Habi at Kape.
Youth takes to the streets to rage against Red October
Students hailing from the 18 schools involved in the alleged ‘Red October’ ouster plot took to the streets to air their condemnation over the claims of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a protest in Mendiola on Friday, October 12.
Photos by JC Gilana and Jamela Santiago
Young protesters lambasted the claims over their schools serving as ‘recruitment grounds of CPP-NPA’ and challenged the Duterte administration to resolve the economic crisis instead of tagging dissent as a form of destabilization against the government.
In a statement, Youth Movement Against Tyranny (YMAT) regional convener Paco Perez blasted the Duterte government over its accusations. “Imbis na unahing solusyonan ang kronikong krisis sa ekonomiya, mas pinili pa ni Duterte at ng AFP na gumawa ng mga gawa-gawang kuwento tungkol sa mga kabataan na ‘di umano’y kasama sa destabilization plot. Pinatutunayan lamang ng rehimeng Duterte na ito ay anti-mamamayan sa pakana nitong pagpapatahimik sa mga kabataan at mamamayang lumalaban para sa kanilang karapatan,” Perez said.
(“Instead of resolving the chronic crisis in the economy, Duterte and the AFP chose to fabricate stories about the youth being involved in the destabilization plot. This Duterte regime only proves itself as a regime that is anti-people with its policies of silencing the youth and the people clamoring for their rights.”)
Educators and administrators also aired out dismay over the red-tagging, citing that the accusations have placed the whole school communities in danger. The Dean of the UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences, Dean Leonardo Estacio, released a prior statement regarding the red-tagging of their University in a press conference held by the UP Manila community on October 5, 2018.
Part of the statement reads:
“Hindi maitatanggi na aming isinusulong ang malaya at mapagpalayang edukasyon—ito ang sagradong tatak ng UP. Kaya sa loob at labas man ng aming silid-aralan, matatag ang aming paniniwala, paninindigan, at pagsasabuhay sa demokratikong proseso at sa malayang pamamahayag at kritikal na pagpuna sa mga nangyayari sa saan mang bagay at sa anumang antas – sa loob man ito ng aming unibersidad o kolehiyo at sa labas – sa ating mga komunidad, lansangan, at sa ating pamahalaan. Ito ang nais naming ipahayag nang tahasan – di po kasali ang aming Kolehiyo at Komunidad sa “Red October” – kung meron mang pagkakataon at kakayahan sasali lang po kami sa October Fest…Mabuhay ang CAS, Mabuhay ang UP Manila, Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino…”
(“We will not deny that we promote the free and liberating education—this is the sacred mark of UP. Within and outside our classrooms, we are steadfast in our beliefs, principles, and praxis of democratic processes and freedom of expression, as well as criticizing whatever is happening in all avenues—whether inside our university and college, or outside –in our communities, in the streets, and even in the government. This is what we would like to explicitly claim – our College and our Community is not involved in the “Red October” – if anything, we would rather join the October Fest. Long live CAS. Long live UP Manila. Long live the Filipino People!)
School communities of the University of the East, University of Sto. Tomas, Adamson University, Far Eastern University, Ateneo De Manila University, and De La Salle University among others also released their respective statements over the course of the week.
Students from red-tagged schools vowed to uphold democratic rights within and outside their campuses amid Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana’s announcement that Red October ‘fizzled out’ because state armed forces ‘uncovered and exposed it’.
“There is no longer any ‘Red October’ plot because there wasn’t any plot to begin with. It’s a mere fabrication of the Duterte government desperate to cover up its incapacity to resolve Filipinos’ increasing poverty,” said Perez.
Meanwhile, the students from the various school communities that mobilized state that they shall continue to fight for their rights amidst the situation.
“Patuloy na makikibaka ang kabataan, kasama ng mga mamamayan para sa tunay na malaya at makatarungang lipunan,” Perez stated.
(“The youth will continue to fight, along with the Filipino people, for a society that is truly just and free society.”)
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Utak Pulbura
Katatapos pa lamang ng masamang balitang walang matatanggap na anumang dagdag na umento sa sahod ang mga pampublikong guro noong Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Guro ayon na rin kay Kalihim Briones ng Kagarawan ng Edukasyon. Isa pang nakayayanig na balita ang ipinukol sa mga guro at propesor ng iba’t ibang kolehiyo at unibersidad- ang pagtuturing sa kanila bilang tagapaghikayat sa mga mag-aaral na makilahok sa pag-aaklas laban sa pamahalaan. Tila absent sa lahat ng itinuro ng guro ang ating kasundaluhan at kapulisang nag-anunsyo sa mga paaralang sanggot sa diumanong panghihikayat sa kabataang maging aktibista.
Sa katotohanan, nagbabago ang kahulugan ng salitang pagiging terorista, hindi awtomatikong terorista ang mga aktibista. Ang pangyayari sa kasaysayan ng mga Katipunero ang magpapatunay na ang konseptong ito ay nagbabago. Hindi kakaiba ang kanilang sitwasyon bilang tinaguriang tulisan ng mga mananakop ngunit sa kabilang banda sila pa ang nagbuwis ng kani-kanilang buhay para sa inaasam na kalayaan. Bilang isang gurong may pangunahing sinumpaang mabuti ang kalagayang pang-edukasyon ng bansa sa kabila ng mababang sahod at ‘di makataong kalagayan, pilit naming itinataguyod ang makabayang edukasyong oryentasyon tulad ng pagtataguyod ng programang laban sa terorismo.
Dahil na rin sa mahabang oras na nakakasama ng mga guro ang mga mag-aaral, tunay na isinasaalang-alang namin ang kapangyarihan ng mga salitang nagmumula sa mga diskusyon, dahil may kakayahan ang mga salitang itakda ang personal na katauhan at maging politikal na kamalayan ng mag-aaral. Hindi lamang pagbibigay-husay sa akademikong larangan ang dapat mabatid ng mga mag-aaral, kinakailangang hamunin ang kanilang pag-iisip na maging kritikal at mapanuri sa kanyang lipunan. Mahalagang maipaunawa na hindi hiwalay sa mga nangyayari sa ginagalawang lipunan ang mga napag-aaralan sa loob ng silid at maging sa mga aklat. Hindi lamang sapat na nakikihalubilo ang pag-iisip sa mga aklat, mahalagang maisangkot ang talino’t husay sa mga isyung panlipunan. Malinaw na obligasyon ng bawat responsableng mag-aaral ang makialam at manindigan sa pinaniniwalaang tama.
Mag-iba man ang pamamaraan ng pagtuturo ng mga guro ng bayan, ngunit hindi nito maiaalis at mababago na itaguyod ang pagbabago ng sarili para sa kapakanan ng kapwa at bansa. At sa panahong hinahamon ang kakayanan at pamamaraan sa pagtuturo ng mga guro, pagsisikil sa kanyang kalayaang pang-akademiko (academic freedom) at panggigipit sa karapatan ng mga guro, napakahalagang balikan ang kasaysayan sa naging papel ng mga guro para sa pagbabago mula sa loob hanggang sa labas ng paaralan. Hindi lamang tagapagmulat ng kamalayan ang naging gampanin nila, kundi pagpapalaya sa kaisipan na kilalanin at matutunan ng mga mag-aaral na may tama at mali, na may dahilan ang mga mali at kung bakit ang tama ang dapat manaig.
Ngayon, sino sa atin ang utak pulbura? Ang gurong pinapatay sa tambak ng trabaho, mga gurong naglalakad at tumatawid ng ilog para lamang makarating sa paaralan, mga gurong sinusuong ang panganib sa mga lugar na laganap ang militarisasyon, at mga gurong tanging pinatay ay ang kamangmangan ng bayan. O kayong mga nasa uniporme na may rekord ng pagpatay at panggugulo? Sino sa atin ang pulbura kung mag-isip?
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PWC, CHED open National Indigenous Peoples Month celeb
The Philippine Women’s College (PWC) in cooperation with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples XI (NCIP) officially opened this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Month (NIPM) on Wednesday at RSM Event Center.
Groups urge candidates to address ‘consumer electoral agenda’
On the second day of filing of certificates of candidacy of 2019 election aspirants, activists belonging to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Metro Manila (Bayan), Gabriela Metro Manila and Kilusang Mayo Uno Metro Manila trooped to the Commission on Elections in Manila to enjoin those gunning for high seats in government in forwarding solutions to stop the rising prices of basic commodities and utilities.
The groups pointed out that as the election fever rises amid rising prices of basic commodities, election aspirants must express opposition over the government’s excessive taxes, massive rice importation, deregulation of the oil industry, monopoly of rice supply among other issues directly impacting poor Filipinos.
They also challenge politicians to bare their pro-consumer, pro-poor, and pro-people platforms as their response to the rising cost of living in the country. According to them, “the upcoming elections must be a platform of concrete actions that should lessen prices of basic commodities and social services.”
“Office-seekers in the upcoming polls must veer away from the schemes of the present administration in mass importation and passing on additional taxes and burden to the loaded shoulders of our working people. Loads of taxes and imports causes nothing beneficial to us but widespread hunger and deepening poverty,” said Gabriela Metro Manila Spokersperson Ina Fadrequela.
She added, “High prices of rice, oil, water charges, and social pension contributions brought about by excise taxes, VAT, and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law further drains the already low wages of Filipino workers. Worse, it is already killing families who have no work or no sources of livelihood.”
On the recent 2018 Social Weather Station survey conducted from June 27-30, 2018, around 9.4% or an estimated 2.2 million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months. Out of this survery, hunger rate has been up by 7 points in Metro Manila with an estimate of 412,000 families. Self-rated poverty also rose to 52%.
As part of their challenge to 2018 national and local candidates, the groups bare their 8-point Consumer’s Electoral Agenda” which includes: (1) Junking the TRAIN Law; (2) Halting Buid-Build-Build projects; (3) Price control; (4) Halting importation and monopoly of rice, oil and other basic commodities; (5) Implementing a significant wage increase; (6) Decent jobs and employment; (7) Free land distribution for farmers for abundant local production; (8) National industrialization.
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Militant solon blames DOLE for ‘bloody dispersal’ against striking Sumifru workers in ComVal
A militant lawmaker hit out the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11 for the violent dispersal of workers of Japanese-owned banana firm Sumitomo Fruit Corp. (Sumifru) who went on strike in Compostela Valley Province.