Pwede na muling mangarap…

Gusto kong maniwala na pwede na nga. Kung ako lang, baka nga. Kaso bigla kong naalala ang mga simpleng taong sinamahan ko nitong nakaraang dalawang taong mangarap. Paano nga pala kung tanungin ako nina Yoyong, Manang Hilda, Bajekjek at iba pang mga magsasaka ng Sumilao kung totoo ngang pwede na silang mangarap muli? Paano kung tatanungin ako nina Ka Zaldy, Ate Virgie at Tatay Ben at ibba pang mga magsasaka ng Baha at Talibayog sa Calatagan kung may pag-asa na ba ang kanilang mga pangarap na magsaka ng matiwasay at mapayapa at din a manganganib na agawan sila ng lupa ng kumpanya ng mina ni Ramon Ang?

Pwede ko bang isagot ng buong katapatan na pwede na nga? Kaso pag sinagot ko sila na pwede na nga, nakikinita ko na ang susunod na tanong? Di ba hindi naman bumoto si Noynoy pabor sa CARPER? Di ba kahit pinangako ni Pangulong Cory na ipamahagi ang Hda. Luisita sa mga magsaka ay di naman naisakatuparan hanggang sa ngayon?

Para sa akin, hindi na mahalaga ang sagot sa kung bakit nag-abstain ka sa pagboto sa CARPER bill. Palagay ko ganun talaga, may interes ang iyong pamilya sa lupa at labag sa interes ng iyong pamilya ang repormang agraryo. Hindi man ako sasang-ayon sa iyong piniling pasya pero hindi na misteryo kung bakit, at hindi ko man yun tanggap subalit maiintidihan ko.

Nakaukit sa aking alaala ang bakas ng galit, pagkalugmok, kawalan ng pag-asa sa kanilang mga mukha noong hindi naipasa ang CARPER noong Disyembre 2008. Nangahas kasi silang mangarap na maipasa ang extension at pagreporma ng CARP at pinaghirapan nila ang pangarap na yon – naglakad ng malayo, nagpakagutom, iniwan ang kanilang mga pamilya para ilaban ang CARPER. Kaya nga ang laki ng tuwa nila na naipasa rin ang CARPER sa wakas. Yun lang, namatayan kami ng isang kasama, si Ka Rene.

Pagkatapos ng mahirap at mahabang pakikipaglaban naipasa rin ang CARPER at ngayo’y batas na. Sayang hindi ka namin nakasama sa laban na iyon. Pakiramdam siguro nila hindi ka nakinig, hindi mo pinansin ang kanilang mga sakripisyo at hindi ka nakiisa sa kanilang pangarap. Kaya nga hindi ko alam kung pwede kong sasabihing pwede na nga silang mangarap?

Pwede ba silang mangarap na sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Noynoy Aquino ay maipatupad ng maayos ang batas na ipinaglaban nila? Pwede na ba silang mangarap na dahil nagbunga ang kanilang sakripisyo at pagpupunyagi at magkakaroon na sila ng sariling lupa? Pwede ba silang mangarap na matatapos na ang pamamahagi ng lupa sa loob ng limang taong inilalaan ng CARPER?

Ayokong sabihin na sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Noynoy Aquino ay walang pag-asa ang agrarian reform at ang mga magsasakang walang lupa. Naalala ko na sinabi mo sa Club Filipino na aasahan ng mamamayan ang iyong political will sa pagtulak ng pagbabago. Naalala ko din na kasama sa team mo si Butch Abad na naging isang magiting na DAR secretary nung panahon ni Pangulong Cory, yun nga lang sinagasaan sya ng mga panginooong maylupa at limang beses na-bypass sa Committee on Appointments.

Mahalaga para repormang agraryo at sa mga magsasaka na kakampi nila ang namumuno sa Department of Agrarian Reform. Mahalaga na ang namumunosa Dar ay naniniwala sa tunay ng repormang agraryo, mahalaga na ang secretary at ang Pangulo ay mayroong sapat na political will na itulak ang compulsory acquisition sa mga natitirang mga luapin na dapat ipamahagi sa mga Magsasaka. Palagay ko para sa mga Magsasaka, kung tama ang pagkakakilala ko sa kanila, umuubra ang pagbibigay ng tamang ehemplo. Palagay ko, kung sasabihin mo rerepasuhin natin ang lahat ng mga lupaing isinalalim sa Stock Distribution Option (SDO), gaya ng Had. Luisita at ipapamahagi ang mga ito sa pamamagitan compulsory acquisition ay pagkakatiwalaan ka ng mga magsasaka. Naiintindihan nila ang lengwahe ng sakripisyo dahil sanay sila dito.

Kapag tinanong nila ako kung maari silang mangarap sa administrasyon ng ibang mga kumakandidato, tahasan kong sasabihin na malabo. Mahirap kasing maniwala kung ang nakaupo ay kilalang nang-aagaw ng lupa o kaya ay kurakot.

Pero kung ang tanong ay may pag-asa ba ang repormang agraryo at ang kanilang mga pangarap sa administrasyong Aquino, ang sagot ay nasa iyong mga kamay.

The Story of a Boy

Once upon a time there was a boy. His name was Rafael S. Gonzales, or me. I was born in July 17, 1997. Sometimes my parents still tell stories about me when I was a little baby. I started school some time in 2000.

Almost all the grades I got were outstanding except for my penmanship. I was even awarded most obedient, best in CLE, and best in Reading. When I turned kinder 1, my teachers said that I can easily make friends. When I was kinder 2 I was almost an independent learner, but because of my handwriting I wasn’t. When I turned grade one I had problems in Math and Filipino. Then when I turned grade 3 I felt strange because I realized I could draw really good, and was addicted to Naruto, I also got a gold medal in a chess tournament. In grade 4 I learned how to play Basketball. Now I’m in grade 5 I still have problems with Math and Filipino, and my penmanship. My story isn’t finished yet but that is how it ends, for now

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WHOA!!!! My little boy can write! The story I posted above is what Adee wrote for his assignment in his language class. It was originally posted by Mommy Jinkee as comment in my about page. Oh boy, Adee fills my heart with pride.  Adee, keep on writing anak. Love and miss you.

144

137 Sumilao farmers arrived at around 11pm last Saturday. Their arrival brought the total number of Sumilao farmers in Manila to 144. They came down the boat in their disciplines lines chanting, . All dressed in their uniform white shirts and they were a sight to see.

I can’t wait to see them marching around Malakanyang, chanting their hearts out, shouting to their hearts content to the high heavens praying for justice, truth and their own land to till. I cant wait to see them in double file walking the streets around the palace. But I will have to wait a little longer.

The news of their arrival shook their adversaries. The lady in Malakanyang got nervous, the businessman in Ortigas panicked. They made a full turn around, suddenly became interested in the negotiations, too afraid to see the 144 farmers take their first step in the walk around Malakanyang. Maybe we are in the verge of winning. Maybe not. I am sure of one thing though, they wont like it when we begin our charge.

The Sumilao farmers will win. We will make sure we will win. They deserve their land. They deserve justice.

Social Climbing Logo Contest by Reyna Elena

I am not very keen about contests normally but I find the Social Climbing Logo Contest by Reyna Elena an interesting concept to support. It is an initiative that foster bonding among Pinoy bloggers maliban pa sa medyo nakakatuwa ang konsepto ng social climbing. Ang concept pa lang mismo medyo social climbing na. Di talaga ako in sa mga ganito pero in the spirit of Social Climbing, makiki-akyat na din ako. Eto ang boto ko :

1. Chuvaness/Malen Logo 1

2. Pinoy Ambisyoso

3. Kotseng Kuba

4. Chuvaness/Malen Logo 2

5. 100% Batangueno

Ayan sa post na ito social climber na rin ako sa blogosphere. hehehe. Thanks for the fun Reyna Elena.

Tagged: High Five

I was tagged by Ms. Miney, the lady who is really a baby. Pangalawang nya na sa akin ito di ko pa naggagawa yung una pero uunahin ko ito dahil walang kinalaman sa edad.

High five daw ang tawag sa tag na ito at meron syang simpleng instructions:

Rules: Go through your archive and choose five of your favorite posts about your family, friends, yourself, something you love and lastly, one of your choice.

Here are my choices:

1.) Family

While my posts are mostly about things political, I wrote several things that are related to my family. My very first serious post is about my son ADEE.  Medyo malalim na ang pagkabaon nito sa archives ko at medyo mahaba din ang post na ito. Sinulat ko ito noong July 17, 2007 on his 1oth birthday. Babala lang sa mga madaling maiyak, kumuha na kayo ng panyo kung may balak kayong basahin ito. Kahit po si Adee naiyak nung mabasa nya ito 😛

2.) Friend

I have also written a few posts about friends. Lahat naman yun tauspuso kong sinulat at walang nakakalamang. Gusto ko lang i-highlight ang post ko about Miney’s first post sa blog nya kasi ako yung kumulit sa kanya na mag-blog matagal na. Medyo may katagalan din bago sya nagdecide to create a blog. Masaya nga ako kasi ang galing-galing nya na ngayon at madalas ay nasa top posts sa BOTD ang kanyang mga sinusulat. Sexy, funny, friendly, artful are just a few adjectives that may describe what her blog grew to become.

3.) Myself

Dito po ako nahirapan kasi I seldom write about mysel, more often I write about what I believe in, my view about issues , event and realities but seldom about Selvo.  Itong post about Il Postino touches a sentimental chord at di ko alam bakit.

4.) Something I Love

The Sumilao farmers and their struggle has been very much a part of me. Their struggle ain’t over yet and my involvement with them has deepened in the past couple of months. This post is about my first day with them during their 1,700 journey from Bukidnon to Manila. I am still “walking” with them til now.

5.) My Choice

My blog would not have what it is without this post. It established the character of my blog even though it was not intentional. I choose the post about Malu Fernandez – Mahaderang Matapoblre sa mga OFWs not because of the hype it created and the attention that it got but because it was the first post that established the character of my blog as one that is partisan to the ordinary working people, one that is critical and a blog that will make a stand one issues of public interest. As of this posting, it has 96,872 views with 2,386 comments. Every time I open this post my pc hangs for a couple of minutes to load all the comments.

There goes my High Five Miney. Thanks for the tag and in turn I tag Mommy Kengkay, the lady who has 2 babies :P. i hope she has time pa to respond to this tagkahit busy kaka-empake ang Kengkay family.

Send in the Clowns: The Batasan Circus

The brewing clash of the titans at the House of Representative might come to a head tonight as the Arroyo brats (Mikey and Dato) and the congressmen in their grocery bag will push for the ouster of Jose de Venecia as Speaker of the House in favor of their annointed one. Rep. Prospero Nograles. Frankly, I do not care much about what will happen tonight. Its just one of those circus events in the halls of power, a noisy and boring internecine quarrel of the trapos (traditional politicians). It is not even exciting anymore, no more drama, no more fireworks. Just a plain contest of who bought loyalties most and who paid the highest.

Would it matter for the nation whether its JdV or Noggie who sits high up front in the congress session hall? Is there any difference between the two? Nah, the two comes the same mould of traditional politicians who are out there to serve the whims of the powerful and the rich.

 

Would there be a change of legislative priorities if there is change in the House leadership? Nah, that is too much of an outcome to expect out of the clash of the trapos.

This clash in the House is nothing but a show of clowns. Heavy words – like change, moral revolution, moral renewal and others are thrown around as each representative explains (or more aptly, justify) his//her vote. Yet nobody means any of those words.

Halata naman bakit merong ganito at kung sino ang may pakana. Alam naman nating lahat ang puno’t-dulo nito ay ang ZTE expose ni Joey de Venecia.

Alam naman nating wala itong kinalaman sa taumbayan, wala itong kinalaman sa pagbabago, wala itong kinalaman sa katotohanan.

As I write, the voting is being done and it appears that JdV will lose the speakership. I am proud that my representative, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros – Baraquel will leave this DOG FIGHTto the DOGS.

Ramdam mo ba ang pag-asenso?

May katagalan na rin na lumalabas sa TV ang tinatawag na “Asenso Ads”. Ito ay mga testimonies ng mga tao na nagsasabing naramdaman nilang umasenso ang buhay nila. Siguro ito ang pantapat ng gobiyerno sa mga surveys na lumalabas na pakiramdam ng mga mamamayan ay lumala ang buhay nila. Ano ba ang nasa isip ng gobiyerno? Na di naman talaga totoo na di ramdam ng mga tao ang asenso at mas ramdam nila ang paglala ng buhay nila? Sa tingin ba ni Gloria at ng kanyang mga PR people ay di lang narealize ng mga tao na umasenso sila?

Di ba nila narealize na the fact na kinailangan nilang maglabas ng ads na ganito ay ebidensya na na di nga naramdaman ng tao ang asenso. Di masyadong nag-iisip. alam naman nila na pag nakita ang ads na ito ng mga tao sigurodaong di sila maka identify. Mahahalatang propaganda lang ito ng pamahalaan.

Gloria, OO na ramdam mo na ang pag-asenso; sampu ng mga kapamilya mo. wag mo na kami lokohin susme, kung ramdam ng mga tao ang pag-asenso bakit kailangan nyo pang magpa-ads ng ganyan ppara kumbinsihin ang mga tao.

Kayo ramdam nyo ba ang asenso?

Moving with the wind, floating with the tide

Since the beginning of the year, I feel like I was floating around, very much like a driftwood being tossed by the tide. I feel like being suspended in midair, floating with the breeze, falling and rising with every blow. Its like living in a constant state of autopilot, doing the things that I need to do as if I was programmed to do it, no volition just mere going through the motion. No decisions, no directions, just mere automation.

For how long will a let the tide push me, for how long will I let the wind lead me? When will I ever set my feet where I wish to be?

The last few days i have been thinking. I mean really really thinking. I am turning 40 in the next few months and I have been asking myself what do i have to show for the 4 decades I have spent living. Naku midlife crisis na ba ito? Hehehe. I am well past midlife kasi I don’t really think I’d past 60. But seriously, what have I accomplished? I ahve spent my life like a nomad – moving with the tide, shifting to where the currents take me. wala nga akong possession of value maliban nitong laptop na inutang ko pa sa nanay ko. Mahilig kasi ako magtravel light kaya ayan ang lahat ng mga gamit ko kakasya sa 2 backpacks.

I am not saying that I do not have anything to show, that I have not accomplished anything. In fact, i think i have done a lot of things, every where and all the time. But have I made a difference?

In the next few days, I may be called to do something that will really make a difference. Will I take it? Hanggang gaano ang kaya koong itaya sa isang bagay na talagang pinapaniwalaan ko? Sapat na ba ang gamitin ko ang aking mga kaalaman para makatulong sa aking kapwa? Paano kung kahit nagcontribute na ako ng mga kaya kong gawin pero di pa rin sasapat para magkaroon ng katuparan ang aking mga pinaniniwalaan? Hanggang saan ang kaya kong ibigay?

Sa totoo lang, di naman ako madramang tao talaga. Sanay ako sa puro halakhak at tawa. Di naman dahil di ko sineseryoso ang buhay. Diyos ko ano ba tong mga sinasabi ko hehehe. Basta, pag tinawag ako sa mga susunod na araw, sana handa ako. Whew 😀

Justice

 Today’s Inquirer editorial succinctly and aptly summarizes  and describes the situation and the questions that surround the case of the Sumilao farmers. It articulates very clearly what has happened, what is happening and raises the important questions towards the direction the case is going. I am posting this editorial article because it strikes at the very heart of the Sumilao issue.

 
Editorial

Original sin

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:49:00 01/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines — The farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon, are back, and they are calling on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to keep her word. Will she hear them, above the cocktail chatter and the rattle of speeches in Davos, Switzerland? In large part, the answer depends on the country’s Catholic bishops, currently meeting in Manila.

The issue, as Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales has said, is justice. Do the Sumilao farmers have the legal right to the land they claim as their own? The Supreme Court, led at the time by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, had ruled otherwise, but also laid down an essential condition for the landowner to meet: development of the property, according to the landowner’s own grandiose plans, within five years. That condition was not met; in fact, it is possible to argue that the landowner had no intention to meet it, that the plans were merely a legal tactic, to exclude the disputed land from the ambit of agrarian reform. The property has since been sold to San Miguel Foods, a subsidiary of one of the country’s oldest and largest companies.

In a just world, the failure to meet the court-imposed condition should have led to the return of the 144-hectare property in San Vicente to agrarian reform coverage — and thus to the farmers who had tilled the land. That, in brief, was the expectation the President herself raised, when she met with the farmers last month. Her decision to revoke the controversial 1996 conversion order and put the land back under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program offered the farmers real hope, for the first time in a decade.

But the issue is also about development. Or, rather, the moral foundations of development. Do we pursue progress even when it is built or based on a crime?

San Miguel Foods Inc. has apparently offered the farmers an alternative plan, that will protect its investment in San Vicente while at the same time allowing them to own their own land, but in another, adjacent property. We say apparently, because aside from unofficial statements, the most specific form of the offer, according to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, was decidedly vague. “The offer was not clear,” he said. “It was not even a formal offer, since we talked about it only over the phone. We cannot negotiate without any details.”

Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that there is such an offer, and that the offer, considering San Miguel’s impressive track record and traditional commitment to the communities in which it operates, is materially advantageous to the farmers. Let us even assume that it is much more advantageous than any farmer-led development of the Sumilao property we can contemplate. Is that sufficient reason to look the other way, when the law on agrarian reform has been violated?

To ask that question is to realize that the Sumilao case is ultimately about something even more basic than land. It is about our dignity as men and women who are free to choose, a dignity rooted, the bishops may well say now and as “Gaudium et Spes” reminded us then, in the very image of God. If the farmers choose what a materialistic world may consider the lesser portion, what of it? Is their choice necessarily invalid because it nets them less money? Development cannot be sustainable if it is founded on the original sin of injustice.

Unofficial statements suggest that San Miguel will consider a pullout of its investments in Sumilao grossly uneconomical. All the more reason then for it to stop construction of new infrastructure.

As a necessary next step to her revocation order, the President is morally obligated to issue a cease-and-desist order to San Miguel Foods — if, that is, she holds herself morally responsible not only for what she does but also for what she says. On this matter, the bishops, speaking as one, can give her the benefit of their experience: They know what it means to work through the written and spoken word.

Already, much of the goodwill the President’s revocation order generated has dissipated, especially after the farmers learned that Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye failed to keep his dramatic promise to hand-deliver the order to San Miguel Foods. In a case where the system itself is at issue, the country’s poor only have the sincerity of their officials to rely on. Perhaps the bishops can issue a firm pastoral reminder about our duty not only to keep the faith, but to keep our word.

Life’s Passion

Honestly, I find it very difficult to get back to my blogging. Maybe it is because I had written so much since last month and my mind ran dry. Parang pigang-piga na ang utak kong may kaliitan. Maybe its because hirap na rin akong humabol sa mga backlogs sa work kasabay ng pagsusulat ng mga press releases para sa pagpapatuloy na kampanya ng Sumilao. Pag Decemberf and January kasi, nag ooverheat ang aking ulo sa kakasulat ng mga annual reports sa mga projects at pagsusulat ng mga project proposals para sa mga panibagong proyekto. MAYBE, it is because my mind is full of ideas about something I am really PASSIONATE about at present.

Medoy matagal na rin akong hindi nagkarron ng isang bagay na binuhusan ko ng aking passion. Hindi rin lang isa ang nagsabi sa akin na parang di na ako passionate sa mga ginagawa ko at napapansin nila yun. Yes, maaring maging very strong ako sa mga positions ko about different issues at maaring naging masipag ako sa pagtrabaho para sa mga bagay-bagay, pero totoong matagal nang wala akong ginawa na I am really passionate about.

That was true until I got myself involved in the Sumilao campaign – Walk for Land, Walk for Justice. Hindi na ito first time nakasama ko sila. Naging involved din ako sa kanila nung unang nakilala sila noong 1997 nang nag-hunger strike sila para rin sa lupang ito. Noon din ay nagising nila ang natutulog na passionate kong puso.

Noong January 4-5, nagsama-sama kaming mga nasa core group ng mga sumuporta sa Sumilao farmers at nagsharing ng aming mga karanasan at nagplano ng mga susunod na hakbang. Noon ko naranasang tumigil at mag-isip, magreflect sa mga nangyari nitong nakaraang Disyembre at namnamin ang mga damdaming dala ng mga pangyayari. Noon kasing kasagsagan ng kampanya ang hirap huminto para mag emote kasi bawat pangyayari kailangang makaisip ng mabilisan kung ano ang dapat gawin.

I told my companions in this struggle that for me, the experience felt like coming home. I felt that I have been away for a long time and my experiences in shring with the struggle of the Sumilao farmers gave me a feeling of being “home.” I mean home in many ways. I feel at home because I once again worked with the campaign team that I worked with a decade ago – sina Atty. Kaka na idol kong abugada at personal close friend, si JunG na kamukha kong rapist pero sobrang galing sa pag-oorganisa at pagkampanya at ang mga kaibigan kong mga magsasaka ng Sumilao. Nandun pa din ang mga matatanda at tumanda na rin ang mga dating mga bata (narealize kong pati ako tumanda na rin).

At home din ako in the sense na andito na naman ako kumikilos sa issue na naging daan para ako mamulat. Namulat kasi ako nung estudyante pa ako sa problema pang-aagaw ng lupa ng mga mayayamang korporasyon sa mga magsasaka ng Bukidnon. That was the very reason why I chose to work and live the life that I have right now. Walking with and working for the Sumilao farmers revived the sleeping passion inside me.

Wala akong sariling camera kaya di ko nacapture ang mga moments ko with them Eto ang iilang mga larawan ng kampanyang ito na nagpapa-alala sa akin sa mga damdamin na nagpuno sa aking puso sa mga panahong kasama ko sila nung Disyembre.

December 18. Yakapan blues sa College of the Holy Spirit sa labas ng Malakanyang bandang alas 3 ng madaling araw. Kakabalik lang ng mga pumunta sa 2nd dialog with GMA at binalitang irerevoke na ang conversion order. Panalo! pero alam na alam kong mahaba pa ang laban na ‘to at ito ay unang hakbang pa lamang. Pero ang panalo ay panalo pa rin at kailangang magcelebrate kasama ang mga naghirap para sa panalong ito. (Please wag na pansinin ang laki ng tiyan ko okey? Di na yan mahalaga, okey?)

December 21. Tanghali noong umabot kami sa Kilometer 0 sa Luneta. Bawat kilometrong nilakad ng mga magsasaka ay nalalaman nila dahil sa mga markers ng kilometrahe. Dalawang buwan din nilang tinitignan ang mga markers na yan hanggang umabot sila sa pinaka-unang marker – ang Kilometer 0. Lahat ng mga sukat ng kilometrahe sa buong Pilipinas sa marker na ito nagmumula. Naghabulan silang maunang humawak sa marker na yan. The same day we declared the 1,700-km walk over.

December 21. Ako at ang SLIPPAROL. Ang parol na ito ay gawa ng mga napudpod na tsinelas ng mga magsasaka sa kanulang mahabang lakad. Bawat isa sa kanila ay nakapudpod ng 4 na tsinelas. Ang lettering sa parol ay di ink o pintura, ito ay dinikit na mga buhok ng mga magsasaka nung sila ay nagpakalbo sa harap ng main office ng San Miguel Corp. sa Ortigas. Kasama kong humahawak ng parol si Gary ang pinakabatang Sumilao Marcher. Binigay nila ang parol sa Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, ang pinaka-unang institusyon ng simbahan na sumuporta sa kanila at naging daan para masuportahan sila ni Cardinal Rosales.