Utang na loob naman

Tama na ang lokohan.

On my way to work I noticed yellow posters (with red and black colored font) along EDSA (south bound from Muñoz/Roosevelt Ave). Content of the posters vary (not really the exact content):

"Presyo ng Kuryente Ibagsak, Hindi ang Presidente."
"Trabaho hindi Gulo"

Then something about tuition fee. If I remember it correctly, a similar campaign back in 2005 was launched.

A certain (group?) "Kasangga" is spearheading the irritating campaign (actually there's still a copy below "Kasangga" but the font used is too small and the poster is too far for me to clearly read it). But I guess it's the party-list. Mga timawa. No, it's not helping the administration. It's actually making more number of people angry (me included). Seeing banners/posters like that agitates the people. Tangina. Sino'ng niloloko niyo.

*******

I've yet to feel the urge to go to the streets as I still feel there are other ways to show disgust to that person in the position. But it's fine to see people airing their disgust out loud in rallies.

Lalo na ngayon na may mga ganitong kalechehan. Nyeta. Kaninang umaga raw hinaharang pa ang mga pampasehorong bus para alamin kung sino ang pupunta sa rally. Nyeta ulit. Eh ano ngayon ang gagawin ninyo? I-dedetain niyo? Utang na loob.

And that there are certain actions that we should consider to get things going (more than simply showing disgust). How about a "Pester Power"?

Political Pondering

I was browsing through my old piece supporting the call for GMA's ouster due to the Garci Controversy (that was 3 years ago). I was an 'active kid'; one of those who have joined the demonstrations (yes, more than one). I was one of those who believed that it doesn't matter who's going to replace the president but what is essential is to end her regime. But that kind fight may not seem to be prudent now.

Yes, we're fighting the same old shit, same old 'evil'. But the situation is different now. Thus, the game we play should also be different.

It's not simply about getting her out of the office. It's of utmost importance to consider the consequences of whatever action we take. If the question before was "Who is the alternative", I guess now it's better to answer, “What is the best alternative action."

Quoting a friend in politics, the copy from Aliens vs. Predator, "Whoever wins, we lose" is very much applicable with the current scenario. And that's something we shouldn't allow to happen. We have to work on "something" that wouldn't allow victory of the camps representing the aliens and predator – an act that will allow for people's victory.

The two suggestions (almost similar) coming from two other friends in politics (from different "political inclinations") that I've previously posted, seem to be among the prudent suggestions I’ve encountered.

Both suggestions recognize:

1) The atrocity of the government (of GMA and her cohorts)
2) The need for legal/constitutional action
3) That it’s not good to have a Noli Presidency prior 2010
4) The need to do something about the current turmoil

[To be continued]

What to do?

In relation with this post , here's another interesting take on what we can do with the current political turmoil.

From Darwin Mariano:

My idea basically is this: all of us turn up the heat, not just on GMA, Neri and the Cabinet, but also on our congressmen so that they’re compelled to impeach GMA later this year when the ban expires. Yes, I know they’re crooks too. But if we do it well enough and they realize that their re-elections are at stake, the optimist in me thinks it can work.

When GMA is impeached, we can ask the Senate to make sure the trial lasts for a few years to prevent Noli for assuming the Presidency (and have the benefit of running for the Presidency as an incumbent in 2010). They can convict her maybe shortly before the campaign period starts in February 2010.

This way we not only expel the Malacañang mafia, we also prevent a Noli presidency. The best part is, if we stick to the Constitutional processes, I do not think our economic growth would be adversely affected. And our people will not have to suffer as much from having been again betrayed by its leaders.

What do you think?

We don't have to hurry. We need to fine-tune our battle plan. What is essential is we know that we need to do something as we're recognizing that there's effing wrong happening in the country. And that we're trying to answer the question "What to do?".

After that, we need to know HOW do we get things working?

Of heroism and alternative

We don't have to position someone as a hero to raise that person's credibility, I think. We have to support Lozada not because he is a hero but he's someone who holds a part of the truth in a controversy. Supporting him shouldn't be parallel to considering him as a hero. Wala lang.

Anyway, here's an interesting alternative to the current situation. I'm just scribbling down a friend's opinion. Hope I got everything right.

We can wait for GMA to finish her term. But now, file a case against those who are implicated (FG, Abalos, etc.). Then, after GMA finishes her term, file a case against her (no more presidential immunity). Why? Because right now we cannot afford repeating the history. If GMA resigns or if she's ousted from position, Noli will take place. Again, same scenario when ERAP was ousted. Like GMA, Noli will probably run for the presidential elections in 2010. The issue of utilizing the position for his political machinery might arise. If he wins in 2010 (because of his being the incumbent), there is still a possibility of calling for his ouster or resignation, too. It's just a cycle.

Ah, it could've been better if he has a manuscript of his explanation. Sabog ang thoughts na sinulat ko. Anyway, that's basically the idea.

Rejoinder

Maybe one of the reasons why I’m not convinced of a “political action” (calling for the resignation of GMA through People Power) is the fact that I already god tired of the incessant revelations of atrocious activities of the government that have never been resolved. Admittedly, there’s a certain level of people power (calls for resignation in particular) fatigue in me. Not to mention, I find it as not prudent move, at least for now.

Going back to my professor’s response to my inquiry, he mentioned “No one can say what form the new people power will take, but people power happens everyday.”

I guess one form of political action that we can probably venture in is to demand for a legal action on the issue. Another is to educate the people about the situation (forums in schools and communities) and its implications. We can still have mass actions but the theme of the action is not demand for the president to step down but the demand to have a clear-cut resolution on the issue.

“The conduct of mass actions is certainly uncertain”

But in any kind of risk, I guess laying-out plans whatever cause the conduct of mass action brings is necessary.

“We must use all the forces at our disposal”

But it is more essential to answer: What’s the message? What direction or goal that we are aiming at?

“If by some luck, less physical people like the good Senator Salonga and his group are able to hail the criminals to jail through their legal actions, well, that would be most welcome.”

Taking options one step at a time might be wiser. Or maybe there could be “mass actions” that are congruent with the idea that we are calling for resolution on the issue not necessarily asking GMA to step down (it will come, I think). People should show support to these people filing the case.

“She never will STEP DOWN/RESIGN”

So this means that calling for her resignation is useless, right? Again, political action through legal action apparently is the most apt manner.

“After the smoke clears, then we debate on how to (re)build a better nation.”

This scares me. I think better battle plan should consist of alternative designs for rehabilitation.

Act. Now... How?

Some minutes before I left the office, I had received successive emails from 2401Taft mailing list -- from a call for support of Lozada, a mass action for social change, GMA resign now, Lozada’s Thoughts in a Letter, to a professor’s appeal to students to act (people power).

My professor's appeal caught my attention. He would normally use Lord of the Rings in discussing politics and power. Here’s his appeal:

To our dear Students,
The time to act is here... we need to take the road now... Do not worry too much that the way forward seems quite hazy. No one can say what will happen... these lines from the Lord of the Rings seem apt to cite now:

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

Together, let us all move forward. To Mordor if need be, where the Orc-Queen resides and keeps the Rings of Power. There is a time to act. That time is here. Let us all bear the one true Ring. People power.

The usual ‘usisera’ or the trying-to-be-thinking person that I am pushed me to ask him some questions (aside from the love to broadening my understanding of issues through intellectuals' perspectives). Reasons: (1) I don’t think that People Power or a Call for Resignation is apt, and (2) I got particularly fixated with the idea he presented that there is no need too worry much of the future that is uncertain. So I write:

I think a lot of people (including myself) worry much of what's going to happen next. There are no clear alternatives and the ambiguity of the 'future' can scare anyone. While the situation definitely tells us about the atrocity of this government (is it enough to move into something that is uncertain?). I'm thinking if is it really the only way (People Power/Call for GMA's resignation) to resolve the issue.

I'd like to hear (este read) your thoughts.

Ah, I should have also asked if it is the best way. Anyhow, his response (highlighted in blue are points that caught my interest):

Allow me some further literary exploration...

The Pulido complaint did one good thing, it closed the option for impeachment (at least for a year). And with most members of the House of Representathieves being the nasty things that they are -- that they can eat even their own kind -- see what happened to JDV-- (like orcs), nothing, most probably, will happen in another impeachment attempt.

No one can say what form the new people power will take, but people power happens everyday. It's just that this time, we will have to direct it against the black gates of Mordor-Malacañang. The elves (kuno) are entangled in their endless councils in the senate, and they have been infiltrated by Saruman-types-- Miriam, Enrile, Arroyo (unfortunately!)-- and the Trolls and Southrons (military and the police) are fully under the will of the Rings of Power.

Like reading a novel, the conduct of mass actions are certainly uncertain. What sustains us is nothing but Hope and Faith. Yes, my dear students. I have Faith -- in people and the power that they can wield with direct action.

Surety is never given in a war. This is war, have no doubt about it. For the government has been using all its forces to make war against its own people.

Now, we must use all the forces at our disposal. From candles, to posters, to rosaries, to writs of habeas corpus or amparo, to WARM BODIES as needed. If by some luck, less physical people like the good Senator Salonga and his group are able to hail the criminals to jail through their legal actions, well, that would be most welcome.

But the conditions dictate a united front (like the elves, with the dwarves, the ents, the halflings, the Rohirrim, and all that can be mustered). One target... One Ring... since, from all indications, she never will STEP DOWN/RESIGN. Those are the conditions of war.

After the smoke clears, then we debate on how to (re)build a better nation.

What else are we to do? Wait for the Valerosos to pick us all up at the Tarmac and bring us to the Marshes? Shiver at the thought. The wraiths cry out.

For Frodo,
Louie M.

Why is it that I'm still not convinced? My response next post.

Sabi na kasi eh

Sabi na kasi eh. Ngayon kaya may pagsisising nararamdaman ang karamihan sa mga bumoto kay Trillanes?

Ang sarap pag-aralan kung ano’ng tumatakbo sa isip ni Trillanes. Marami kang mabubuong spekulasyon sa kung ano nga ba ang tunay na layunin ng taong ito.

• Talaga bang ganun kaganda ang layunin ng taong ito para sa Pilipinas?
• Eh bakit kailangan niyang mag-result sa ganung klaseng pamamaraan, again para mapansin?
• Pinangarap kaya niyang maging artista, kaya gusto niya ng ganung aksyon?
• O sadyang stupid lang siya?

Sawa na ang mga Pilipino sa ganitong pa-eklat. Sawa na tayo sa mga pa-effect at pa-drama para maisiwalat sa tao ang kanyang saloobin. Tang-ina naman, pangalawa na ito Antonio Trillanes. P

Naiintindihan naman nating may diprensya ang gobyernong ito. At nakakasura na rin naman talaga ang mga kahayukan at kawalanghiyaan ng karamihan sa mga nasa pwesto. Naniniwala naman akong lehitimo ang mga puna ni Trillanes sa gobyerno (kung saan ay kabilang na nga pala siya, btw). Ang mali lang ay ang mga wala sa hulog na pamamaraan tulad ng coup d’état sa hotel. Dumagdag lang kayo sa problema imbes na nakatulong.

Marami na ngang tao ang nagiging apathetic sa mga isyu tulad nito, lalo pa tuloy nawawalan ng gana ang mga taong noon ay wala ng pakialam. Dapat nga himukin natin ang mga tao na makibahagi (hindi sa ganyang pamamaraan). Give the people alternative ways to do their share. Politics isn’t the only way to make this country better. Putsa naman, kung puro tungkol sa politika ang kakaririn natin, ewan ko na lang talaga kung ano pa mangyayari sa atin.

Isa pa, ganun ba talaga katagal para hintayin ang 2010? Wala rin naman ganung kainam na alternatibong mapagpipilian (in fact kahit iyong sa 2010, nakakakaba pa rin naman)o kaya’y nakahain sa atin. Sablay din. Kaya nga’t mas mainam na pag-aralang mabuti ang magiging hakbangin sa darating na taon. Hindi iyong ganitong padalos-dalos.

Kung parati na lang ganito, pare-pareho lang tayong talo (siguro nga mas panalo pa rin si GMA niyan). Mas nakakainis iyon ‘di ba?

WTF

Curfew!

I was never given a curfew at home. Now, I'm forced to go home early (even if I still have to work on a lot of things here at the office).

Dear Philippine Government, I don't see the point of imposing a curfew. Not to mention that it's simply a bad timing,too.

• Manila is a call center city.
  
• Today is the distribution of 13th month pay.
• It's the start of a long weekend
  
  

More than anything, as humans we should have FREEDOM.

Trillanes, look what you've done!

9:40 PM: I'm still at the office. I'm used to going home late. But today is different. I've to prepare for: possibility of long walk due to lack of PUVs and a spiel if I won't be able to beat the curfew. Haha!

Living and Hoping

When hope ends, it means death. I'd like to believe that this should be something figurative. But a girl from Davao, took hopelessness and death literally. To read this kind news first thing in the morning creates a different kind of despair and anger. Read full story here.

People too busy about politicking (bribery, calls for resignation, etc.) might want to rethink of things they should be more busy about (e.g. how do we provide sustainable free education?). Her case may be "isolated" (as one unnamed official said) but the point is, a lot of Filipinos are suffering from extreme poverty. It's just isolated because it was published in national newspapers. We don't know how many people have ended their lives because of poverty and hopelessness.

The Verdict

Sometime in November 2000, was the first time I joined a mobilization. DLSU joined the mobilization calling for the resignation of the then president Estrada. I was very much eager to join the rally for the simple reason that the allegations against the former president were atrocious – he has lost the moral ascendancy to lead and he has liabilities to the country. Some of my classmates actually joined the rally to be excused from class.

Everything that happened is still vivid in my memory. The former SC President (Jolina) leading the chant: “Bayan, bayan, bayan ko. Ano’ng nangyayari sa’yo? Erap mag-resign na.” ; the traffic we’ve created along Taft Avenue; and the magnitude and diversity of people.

I was 17 then. Now, I’m 24. And only now that the verdict against the former President has been made. But I’m happy that finally, justice has been served.

Several Implications (Good & Bad):

• Apparently, the justice system in the country is not that ailing. Justice can still be served.
• Precedent. Well, we can also convict another ex-President.
• Such decision gives us a “respectable” position in the international scene. We may be one of the most corrupt country in the world but we've proven that the people can work together in order to make the corrupt liable.
• I’m not sure as to what next steps Erap’s camp is planning. But honestly, there’s still a bit fear in me. It’s not impossible for this camp to go wild. I just hope they won’t. It wouldn’t help Erap anyway.

Up Close: Demolition

I chanced upon a demolition of houses along a street in Quiapo (near Balikbayan Handicrafts) today. According to the residents, they were advised to vacate the place in 6 days (Advisory was released in Aug.31). However, they requested for an extension. Most of them still don't have a new place to stay (some don't even know where they'll be headed after the demolition). Since the land where the houses were located is a private ownership (some say it's owned by Sen. Madrigal), the government doesn't have a relocation area for the displaced families. It's quite weird that the government couldn't intervene in the relocation of these families but they can help in the management of the demolition (presence of SWAT/Police).

Shallow Brotherhood

What's the measure of brotherhood and friendship? Can loyalty be gauged through infliction of physical pain?

That's definitely a too shallow measurement of the extent that a person can sacrifice vis-a-vis the level of his/her loyalty. I have never understood the rationale behind the initiation rights of fraternities.

It's hard to blame others who are constrained to join fraternities. Law students are usually enticed to join this 'brotherhood' for the simple reason that they need some sense of security. The best way for them to get reviewers, notes, or anything that can help in their acads is through their membership to a 'brotherhood' or 'sisterhood'.

[to be continued]

Legalizing Prostitution (Part I - Q & A with a Former Pimp)

I met a former pimp the other day. He's a field interviewer for the project I'm handling. Out of our conversation, i found out that for more than 8 years, he was a pimp. It was the first time that I've personally met a pimp. Hence, got very interested to know more about his former work. I was very interested to acquire helpful information from him . Frankly, I haven't really made up a stand as regards the legalization of prostitution. But with my interview/conversation with that former pimp, I've realized a lot of things.

Q: Didn't you feel guilty when you were pimping those girls/ladies?
A:Hindi. Wla ka namang ma-feel na guilt kasi gusto naman nila iyong ginagawa nila.
Q: Ibig mong sabihin talagang kusang loob nila iyong pagiging prostitute at masaya sila sa ginagawa nila?
A: Oo naman. Gusto talaga nila iyon. Hindi sila napipilitan at hindi miserable ang tingin nila sa sarili nila. Kailangan nilang kumita at iyon ang paraang madali at ginusto nilang pasukan
Q: Eh paano niyo pa sila ni-rerecruit? Alam nila talagang ganun ang magiging trabaho nila o may mga pangako muna na tlaiwas naman sa pagiging prostitute?
A: Pumupunta kami sa mga "skwala" (sward term for Squatters') sa probinsya doon kami nagrerecruit. Pinapaliwanag namin sa kanila kung anong magiging trabaho nila at kung ano an gagawin nila. Magtatrabaho sila sa Beer House. I-tetable nila ang mga kliyente o parokyano. tapos lalabas sila kasama mga customers. At, makikipag-sex.
Q: So talagang pwersahan at walang lihimnan?
A: Wala talaga. Alam na alam nila ang pinapasukan nila. Pinapapairma namin sila ng kontrata. Kahit nga mga magulang nila alam eh. Iniiwanan kasi namimn sila ng pera pag-umaalis na iyong mga anak nila.
Q: Ibig mong sabihin may mga menor de edad?
A: Oo meron talga. Pinakabata siguro iyong 15 or 16.
Q: Malamang may mga nagkakasakin din sa mga babaeng nagtatrabaho sa'yo, yung mga sexually-transmitted?
A: Oo siyemmpre. Tulo iyon mga ganun.
Q: Pero okay lang talaga sa kanila iyong ganung buay?
A: Ok lang talaga sa kanila. Iyon-iyon gparaan nila para kumita. hindi talaga sila pinipilit sa trabahong iyon.
Q: Kamusta naman iyong mga dating nagtrabaho sa'yo? Alam mo kung ano na ang buhay nila? Prostitute pa rin ba sila?
A: Marami sa kanila ganun pa rin ang trabaho. Mahirap nang makaalis sa ganung klaseng trabaho.

Note: Reflection on this conversation will be posted soon - Legalizing Prostitution Part II.