Hurricane Sendong Death Toll Approaches 1,500

Authorities have intensified the search for bodies as the death toll from flash floods that devastated entire communities in Mindanao, Southern Philippines still continues to rise. Today, the estimate has gone up to 1500 deaths.

Sendong Ravages Cities of CDO and Iligan

According to the latest tally done by the Office of Civil Defence, Cagayan de Oro City has 891 confirmed deaths and Iligan City has 451 confirmed deaths. The rest of those who’ve perished are from several other provinces. Most of the bodies are still unidentified.

Civil defense head Benito Ramos promised to the relatives and friends of those whom are missing that “the search will continue as long as we are recovering bodies.”

Bodies have been found floating in the sea as far as 100 kilometers from the two cities that, on December 16, have been hit by a month’s worth of rainfall in just 12 hours.

Navy sailors have recovered 13 bodies—one of which was a headless girl who appeared to have been hit and trapped by logs that were caught by the floods.

As 60,000 homeless were spending a woeful Christmas in crammed schools and gymnasiums, the United Nations initiated an appeal for $28M to assist the displaced population of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. According to the civil defence, around 2,000 people from Surigao City were evacuated where a child was reported missing in the floods.

Experts say that the enormous death toll was partly caused by deforestation and soil erosion. In light of this, President Benigno Aquino III, who had already banned logging ten months earlier, has ordered a thorough investigation into the reason of the high number of deaths.

Meanwhile, Communist Guerrillas (CPP-NPA) in the south threatened to punish multinational companies for their environmental destruction.

Jorge Madlos, the spokesman of the Rebels said that they sought funds from huge pineapple and banana plantations and other companies, to send to the victims.

Ka Oris, CPP-NPA Spokesperson

Companies that were threatened aren’t so enthusiastic with the rebels’ Robin Hood act, according to Madlos. “That’ll be a factor when we decide which ones to punish first”, Madlos added.

Besides deforestation and soil erosion, another factor in the enormous death count was illegal settlements directly along Cagayan River. Thousands of people lived in shanties on the banks directly along the water’s path.

Dec. 17, 2011: Typhoon Sendong

December can be considered as the most festive month for everyone. People would become very busy wrapping gifts, decorating wreath in their doors and some christmas lights outside their houses and of course get ready for the "simbang gabi sessions". But just right by the time the "simbang gabi" session would start, a tragic and horrifying experience shook the whole Philippines and the whole world. Located at the southern part of the Philippines lies Iligan City, the place were I am currently living, was swooped by a heavy flashflood of Typhoon Sendong.

At around 1:00 am of Saturday, when everyone were gently sleeping in their bed a sudden flash of heavy water poured down onto the houses of the people living in Brgy. Hinaplanon, Bayug Island, Mandulog, and Digkilaan. In just a matter of minutes, the water level rose from knee level  reaching up to the roof of the houses. Not even the Mandulog bridge withstood the strong gush of water.

Around 5:30am of Friday, the heavy flood still dominated.

Like the flood, the news were flashing rapidly too. The number of victims keep on rising, missing persons where everywhere. Children and old-aged were counted as most victims. I am still depressed on what happened. We were very blessed that we were protected from the danger brought by typhoon Sendong, knowing that Brgy. Hinaplanon is just the second baranggay to where I am residing. Still, I was in shock after hearing the flash news in the morning... I was thinking about those people I knew which were living in the area of the flash flood. In the afternoon, we came to see the area affected by the flood. To me, it is still unbelievable, because such incident could only happen once in a blue moon in Iligan City. 

After the flashflood, dead bodies were recovered.

The next day people where placing tents on the highways. I felt like my heart's being crushed seeing children asking for alms on the dark streets. Most of those children who survived after the calamity are still in trauma. Whenever they hear a sound of heavy rain, they just cry and panic.

Statistics As Of Dec. 20, 2011.

Today, the number of deaths accounted more than 1000. Hard to imagine, in just one day, such many lives were suddenly taken. I ought to think that it would become a happy year for everyone. Just a week before Christmas, who would have thought typhoon Sendong would turn the laughters and joys into mourning and sadness.


For people who have good hearts and wanted to donate, feel free to contact the number indicated at the picture below. You can donate any items, in cash or in kind.

There Is A Story Behind Every Oppression

It's already December. Time runs fast that I couldn't even remember how my life rolled.

When I was thinking what happened during the past Decembers, I suddenly remembered one special person. I was very thankful I was one of the chosen few who stood with her the time she dared to struggle to fight against fascism and oppression. She might be one of the faceless people who lived in this hard time, but she was one gallant heroine in the heart of the struggling masses, in the eyes of her comrades who fought with her, and to me.

I might not able to share her life to all the people in this planet but I am hoping that her life will touch the hearts of some people who tend to visit my blog.

------------------------oOo------------------------

IN MEMORY OF KEMBERLY JUL LUNA:

ISKOLAR NG BAYAN, FREEDOM FIGHTER

“Umaalis ang mga anak upang habulin ang kanilang mga pangarap, at malao’t madali, maraming magulang ang tumutunton sa duguang bakas ng kanilang mga anak…upang sunduin ang kanilang bangkay at iuwi ang pinakadakilang katibayan ng kanilang pagkatao.” – Lualhati Bautista

We, from the League of Filipino Students (LFS) and the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights (STAND) in MSU-IIT, express our utmost grief and sorrow over the death of our beloved comrade Kemberly Jul Luna.

Kemberly, or “Kimay,” as she was known to her friends and comrades, was an AB English student in MSU-IIT. Known for her beauty and intellect, Kimay gained a lot of friends inside the school and out and has shown a lot of talent. She was a high school valedictorian and has participated in a lot of academic and cultural events. She was, for a time, a member of MSU-IIT’s Kalimulan, a cultural dance group.

She was also an active member of the Catholic Center Campus Ministry, where she became a leader of the Educational Committee. There, amidst the daily masses, boarding house meetings and other activities, she concluded that faith without action is dead. She always sought for ways to show that her Christian faith will not be confined to empty words and prayers, but will be brought out to the real world and be coupled by relevant action based on concrete conditions. She believed that faith should not be a lifeless dogma. She believed that just like Jesus, one must bring faith to serving the people— without thought of oneself. And just like Jesus, to die in service of the poor and oppressed.

She joined LFS early in 2008 and had been an active participant in the League’s many activities, including the National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission (NIHM) of October 2008 in the face of humanitarian crises plaguing the war-stricken Moroland. She was part of the local secretariat and headed the area preparation committee in Poona Piagapo, one of the target municipalities for the Mission. Daring as always, Kimay did not hesitate entering the war-torn village of Tagoranao to uncover the effects of indiscriminate aerial bombing and militarization in the area. She also convinced one of the victims to make a testimony openly on the events in the affected areas in Lanao.

She actively joined the “No to All-Out War” campaign and various other campaigns, including the campaign against US intervention in the country and militarization of peasant and Moro communities.

At the opening of the first semester, she was chosen as the ad hoc chairperson of STAND-IIT. From then on she brought the cry of the youth and student sector in classroom and group discussions and out to the streets in rallies where she acted as STAND-IIT’s official spokesperson.

Kemberly was a very good example to her comrades and to the people around her. She showed youthful fervor and gave her heart to everything she did inside the organization. She was once a quite heavy drinker and a late riser as an ordinary student, but when she joined the League, she showed exemplary effort to remould and do away with her old habits. She shelled herself off of all the petty-bourgeois individualism.

At the opening of the second semester, we found out that she did not enroll. Later, she asked for her resignation as STAND-IIT chairperson, saying that she would stop school and do full-time peasant organizing work with KASAMA-Bukidnon, a province-wide peasant organization. She stood firm with her decision, saying she would like to do more in service of the poor, and that she could only do that in the countryside, where the majority of the poorest people live. On January 2009, after a short Christmas visit to her family in Surigao, Kemberly went off to Bukidnon to start her community work. She promised however that she would maintain correspondence with us.

On August 2009, we received a letter from her saying that she left KASAMA-Bukidnon but did not say where she went to and that she is happy where she was at that time, and that she has learned to love the peasant masses more with each day she lives with them. Kimay also happily shared to us her experiences in the peasant communities, from helping the peasants harvest corn to teaching them to read and write and do a little arithmetic, since literacy in the area is extremely low. She was also known to the people in the community as a health worker, often called as “Ma’am Nurse.”

Kimay is a true “iskolar ng bayan,” who did not waste the people’s tax money spent for her education only for personal ambitions, but used her time, talent and intellect in service of the of the people. She traded her comfortable life of night parties and hangovers for the cold, harsh and mosquito-ridden mountains of Bukidnon because she knew that she is in the right path.

At mid-December last year, we learned that Kemberly was missing through a report from Karapatan-Bukidnon Chapter, a human rights organization. A number of LFS and STAND-IIT members went to Bukidnon to join the search. We searched for her in the camp of the 403rd Inf Bde, 4th ID, PA but the officials of the brigade prevented us from entering the camp and denied that Kemberly is in their hands. During the middle of the search however, we learned that Kemberly died in an encounter with elements of the Philippine Army in Sitio Bulacao, Brgy. Concepcion, Valencia City. She was a member of the New People’s Army (NPA).

We found Kimay’s corpse lying with a few others in the middle of the forest of Bulacao, unattended by the state forces who were bound by agreement to respect the casualties of war, combatant or not.

But Kimay died an honorable death. She died because she fought for what she believes in until the very last minute of her life. She chose the path of armed struggle, firmly believing that there is no greater form of struggle to advance the interests of the toiling masses.

The state and the military have been fictionalizing the New People’s Army’s image as a pack of delinquents, of tramps who lack a better future, but Kemberly was a good example of the many bright and talented youth who have opted to join the people’s army in the the advancement of the people’s war.

We salute Kimay for her determination. She was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice— all for the interest of the people without thinking of herself. She has proven that this rotten social system breeds unrest and many of the younger generation long for a better society that is based on social justice. This system pushes many of our youth to take up arms to achieve the national democratic goal. We believe that her death poses a challenge to all of us— that unless we make steps to address the root problems of our society, more and more young people will follow Kemberly’s footsteps in the days to come.

We also salute her parents, who were in deep pain, but calmly accepted her fate. They respected her decision to choose the path less traveled.

The League of Filipino Students and STAND-IIT vow to pursue the national democratic struggle, not just because this is precious to Kemberly, but because we believe in its relevance in answering today’s basic social problems. We stand firm, as Kimay did, that a true people’s scholar should not confine himself/herself inside the four walls of the classroom and study empty theories on the chalkboard. A true scholar uses his/her talents and intellect to serve the studentry, as well as the broad masses of the people. She never let her schooling interfere with her education.

Long live the memory of Kemberly Jul Luna! Long live the national democratic struggle!

------------------------oOo------------------------

PARA KAY KIMAY

Higit sa lahat iyong napatunayan,

Kung pano mabuhay ng tama.

Kinalimutan ang sarili para sa isang dalisay na tungkulin,

Ang pagsilbihan ang bayang inalipusta.

Hindi inalintana ang pagod at pighati.

Pagkat nahanap ang kanlungan sa piling ng masang api

Dugo ang naging puhunan,

Para isulong ang inaasam na kalayaan.

Ang ala-ala mo’y maisasapuso.

Higit kanino man, sa masang pinagsilbihan.

Tanging mithi mo’y hindi mapag-iiwanan.

Ito’y magpapatuloy hanggang sa katapusan.

Pra sa isang matalik na kaibigan,

Kapatid,

Mabuting anak ng bayan,

Bayani.

Kem…

Larawan ng isang matapang at mapangahas na rebolusyonaryo,

Maraming maraming salamat…

Isang mapulang pamamaalam,

Kasama.

It's almost two years since you left, but your presence is still in my heart. You will never be left forgetten Kem.

Word Of The Lourd

Aside from being on TV5, did you know that this Tee Ice "Bawal mag share" commercial guy is also an activist, author and the male lead vocal of the great spoken word-jazz-funk-punk-avant chacha band Radio Active Sago project. Not long ago, I bought one of his book entitled "This is a Crazy Planets", but sad to say I unintentionally left it to a friend's house. But, I'm pretty sure I can have it back. How I wish they (friends) could hand over the book a little too soon.

His band, the Radio Active Sago Project, is famous for their work on "Tanginamo Andaming Nagugutom sa Mundo Fashionista Ka Pa Rin."

It makes me think of the Gusto ko ng Baboy Sydrome years. It was music, the rhapsody, the bass, the all. Gahd.

Isn't it a little obvious? Francis De Veyra is the man. One of a kind blatant freakazoid.



Give him a break. Go Lourd!

Epluribusunum (One out of many)

Amidst the tumult of the PTB's
You stood out
Along with trials, hardships and sacrifices
You didn't fall out
You'll soon exhume the theories you've learned
Putting it all into practice
You see the society, microscopic and telescopic view
So clear, so bright
This is your higher step for the oppressed
Push hard not for 'own', but 'theirs'
History will deem your works
none can give something in return,
but you'll be loved by the masses
and this is your insignia
it is our duty to serve the people
enjoy your jaunt into their lives
comrades! you are winsome inspirations
for the people and all revolutionaries
adieu for greater purpose
adieu... epluribusunum

Home

A travel, a long hour of journey
Across several unceasing municipalities
Road trip of vitality
Sparkling vision of a hometown
Towards the doorsteps
Filled with the origin;
the bourgeois living.
Home.

Away from the city streets
Gone through the mildest bridge
of honorable hard struggle for freedom
Into the woods where giants arise
The mountains where fog kisses your cheeks
Gathered with comrades and the basic masses
Celebrating the Party's meaningful day,
Nonetheless...
Home.

Sukol

Ginatos ka tuig
Nag-antos ug dinaug-daog
Kagutom, pagpanlupig
Pagpangilad ug kagubot
Di na magpalingla
Kay kita nahikmata na
Ang katawhang andam mubarog
Mubarog ug makigbisiog
Ug ang paglingkawas sa nasud
karong taknaa magsugod!

Pakighiusa

Mamahulay ko
Kuyog sa dinaug-daog
ug pinahimuslan...

Aron masinati ko
Ug sa akong unod
magpabilin,
ang pagsupak
ug pakigbisog.

Uban ako kanila
ug sa pagtulog ko
kami nakig-gubat.

Wala

Ang kalisud
sa kahimtang
masuklian ra
ug kaharuhay
kung kitang tanan
kabalo na
nga musukol
ug mubarog.

Dali Kauban

Dali kauban, magkuyog ta
Atong tan-awon ang kahimtang nila;
Mga tawong nawad-an na ug paglaom
Sa gagmayng relief goods na lamang gipasalig ang kaugmaon

Dali kauban, magkuyog ta
Tan-awon ta ang mga mag-uuma
Nga ang mao-mao nilang sinaligang umahan,
Gibomba ug napugos nalang nga biyaan

Dali kauban, magkuyog ta
Sa Munai, Tangcal, ug Poona Piagapo
Ang lugar nga gikahilunaan sa mga lumulupyo,
Ang mga gipansunugan ug balay
Ug sila nga ang pangpangabuhian gipampatay

Dali kauban, magkuyog ta
Atong pamatud-an kung tinood ba ang ingon sa gobyerno -
“Basta adunay mga Moro, buhi ang terorismo!”
Atong timbangon kung kini husto ba,
Dili ba kaha gobyerno ang tinuod nga terorista?

Dali kauban, magkuyog ta
Atong pawinawon ang walay unod nga mga storya
Sa mga naghari nga walay nabuhat nga mga lakang
Para kalinaw ug hustisya maiasdang
Ang ilang tubag sa mga rebelde –
“All-Out war ra ang solusyon niini!”

Dali kauban, magkuyog ta
Aron masaksihan sa imong mga mata
Ang mga kasakit ug pag-antos nila
Mga masang tawhanong katungod giyatakan
Mga labing dinaug-daug ug pinahimuslan

Dali kauban, magkuyog ta
Makigbisog ug maghiusa alang kanila!


>The US-Arroyo government spent 1B pesos in the current All-Out war campaign against the MILF rebels. Asking for another 2.6B of budget for military offensives in Mindanao. This was reported Nov. 19,2008 by TV-Patrol World. I don't wish for Mindanao to become the next Iraq or Afghanistan, how bout you?

SINING NG KABATAAN

Ang himig ng aming musika,
Panaghoy ng magsasaka
Silang pangunahing pwersa,
Binhi n gating paglaya

Ang bawat tulang aming likha,
Lakas ng uring manggagawa
Silang hukbong mapagpalaya,
Panday n gating pag-asa

Ang bawat indak n gaming paa,
Handog naming para sa masa
Ang galaw ng aming mga kamay,
Sa kanila naming inaalay

Ang kuskos ng gitara
at guhit ng pintura-
Aming obra maestra,
Alang-alang sa masa

Ang sining ng kabataan,
ay para sa kinabukasan
Ang sining ng kabataan,
ay kultura ng mamamayan
Ang sining ng kabataan,
kalayaan ng ating bayan!

Mantigue

Dugo at pawis aming ipinanday
Lambat ng buhay, sa alon sumasabay
Ipaglaban ang islang sa amiý bumubuhay
Kapalit man nitoý aming kamatayan

Chorus:
Mantigue (8x)

Hampas ng mga bula sa mukha
Ng mapuputing Kristal
Ipagtatanggol sa mang-aapi
Hinding-hindi aatras



> the original composition of this one is a poem. it's all about a place called mantigue island in camiguin. people who live there were bribed by the local government to leave their sanctuary, but they refused. the local government made their decision even harder, there were 2 options to choose from, 10,000 pesos for leaving the island or imprisonment as penalty for declining the present mayor. those people who insisted not to leave were imprisoned then filed with cases such as trespassing and squatting. but the previous local mayor recognized their existence and stated that they really were residents of the island. mantigue island was planned to be made into a resort area for foreigners. and so with that, they need to get rid of the people who were living there for almost 15 years... the poem, blended with melodies, it turned into a song.. haha :)

Aktibismo

Ang pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan,
Mabuti pa rin ba sa mata ng mamamayan?

Kung oo, hayaan nating ipagpatuloy ang gawain
ng mga sinungaling, ganid at sakim

Kung hindi! aba kung ako sayo'y mag-iisip-isip na ako!
Matagal na pala akong niloloko ng gobyerno!

Tao, wag kang maging bulag sa matagal mo nang nakikita!

Wag kang maging bingi sa lahat ng nailahad na mga balita!

Wag mo hayaang ika'y maging duwag upang hindi na makapagsalita!

Kahit ang pagkilos ma'y masama sa tingin ng madla,
Nararapat lamang na ito'y panghawakan pagkat ito'y tama.

Kauban

Susama sa usa ka nagdilaab nga kalayo ang gibati sa kasingkasing ni Roman. Dili mawagtang sa iyang alimpatakan ang mga panghitabo niining naiging mga adlaw. Tulo ka adlaw gumikan karon, gipadad-an siya ug suwat-pagpanghulga inubanan sa tulo ka bala sa 45 nga pusil sulod sa usa ka sobre. Dili na ni bag-o kaniya, nakasayud na siya aning panghitabua - nadawat ni Marco panahon bag-o siya naabduct. Imbis nga mahadlok, mas nihupot si Roman sa iyang gipakigbisugan. Wala siya'y makita nga sayop sa dalang iyang gisubay.

Hapit upat ka bulan na ang milabay sukad nakita ang dunot nga lawas ni Marco sa lasang gikan sa pagkawala niini. Masubay nga gitorture usa - agi sa mga paso sa sigarilyo ug bun-og sa kalawasan sa biktima - bag-o gisilutan ug kamatayon ang batan-ong si Marco.

Si Marco, usa ka maayong anak-sa-buhat: nailhang madasigong aktibista ng LFS; kritiko sa inutil ug dautang gobyerno; ug hingpit nga maayong kauban kang Roman ug sa iyang mga higala. Ug tungod sa kahalang sa mga ginabuhiang istorya kada magbatbat sa rally, wa masalbar si Marco gikan sa pagkapasista sa rehimeng Arroyo. Isa ra si Marco sa hapit libong biktima sa extra-judicial killings sa Pinas - obra maestra sa estado diin bisan usa niini wala pa matagaig hustisya.

---------------o---------------

Unang nag-ila si Roman ug Marco sa signature campaign batok sa komersyalisasyon sa edukasyon, usa ka lakang sa LFS nga gilunsad gawas sa gate sa unibersidad. Naintriga ug naingganyo si Roman sa mga binuhat ni Marco, butang nga nagtukmod sa duha aron magsuod ug ayo.

Hisgutanang katilingban ug sulbad sa sakit niini, si Marco ang naglahad ug nagpalawig sa tanang kahibalo ni Roman -kaniya siya nagkat-on. Dato ang Pilipinas apan nagkalisud ang mayorya sa katawhang Pilipino; wala matarong ug apud-apud ang aduna sa nasud; ug ang sakit, gigamit kini sa adunahan arun pahimuslan iyang isig katawo. Ang kalisud sa kalibutan mas napasimple tungod kay matngon kining ginatuki ug ginatun-an sa LFS - kun diin so Marco usa ka aktibong membro ug nagalihok.

Sa natad sa simpleng panginabuhi, nakita ni Roman kang Marco ang usa ka ehemplo sa yanong masa. Wala nagdamgo si Marco para sa iyang kaugalingong kahalipay (ang madato sulod sa usa ka semipyudal-semikolonyal nga katilingban). Ang bugtong pangandoy niya, ang mahatag ang dugay nang gihikawan nga demokratikong katungod sa masa, katungod nga dili makapangyatak sa katungod sa uban. Ug kung muabot kini nga higayon, mamahimong patas ang tanang tawo.

Gihalad ni Marco ang iyang kaugalingon diha para alagaran ang masa sa bisan unsang pamaagi: paggahin ug oras ug panahon, sakripisyo ... kamatayon. "Pakigbisugan ang interes sa masa nga wala naghunahuna sa kaugalingon ug wala naghulat ug ikabaylo", mga istoryang mitatak gumikan kang Marco - ang impluwensiya nga gibilin kang Roman isip usa ka kauban ug katimbang.

Si Marco pud ang mitabang kang Roman aron mahikmata kini - kuhaon ang lapok sa nawong - og mulihok para bag-uhon ang dugay nang dunot nga sistema. Nauna man si Marcong naglihok, dungan man sab silang nilambo ni Roman sa pag-atubang sa matag kontradiksyon: ang pagpanglingla sa estado sa katawhan; pagpakaylap ug sayop na panghunahuna sa burgesya; pagpabiling buta-bungol sa katawhan; buktot nga ideya sa kaestudyantihan taliwala sa grabeng kalisud; ug ang panagbangi sa hut-ong.

Si Marco ... inspirasyon ni Roman sa pag-asdang sa interes sa halapad nga masa.

---------------o---------------

"Ang sakripisyo ni Marco, dili muungot ug dili masayang!", sulod-gawas nga hunahuna sa utok sa estudyanteng si Roman. Kapin tuig napud siyang nahimong maayong mass leader ug human rights worker. Nagplastar ug usa ka stool sa gawas sa ilang purtahan, tama ra nga makita niya ang kalangiton ug ang palibut sa gawas sa balay.

Lalom na ang takna sa kagabhion ug hayag pa kaayo ang bulan. Gumikan sa pagkahanap, nagsumikad ug nagpatin-aw sa ngitngit nga langit. Sa pagmuni-muni sa gawas sa balay niabot na usab sa kahimatngon ni Roman nga pakusgon pag-ayo ang wala nahumang pakigbisug ni Marco - ang batan-ong way laing gihandum kundili iasdang ang interes sa mga gipahimuslan ug kabus.

Apan wala niuyon ang kanindot sa gabii kang Roman. Nahanaw ang kahilom sa nisunod nga mga panghitabo. Tulo ka buto ang nialingawngaw gawas sa ilang balay.

Si Roman - sama ni Marco, nakigbisog usab para sa gipangdaugdaug - hilom nga nagsandig sa bangkong iyang gikahilunaan, wala nay malay ... nagtulo ang dugo.

Rally Boys

Ako si Jepjep, sampung taong gulang, palaboy, at ulila sa ina. Ni minsan di ko natikman ang mabuhay ng inaalagaan ng isang ina. Bata pa lang daw ako nung magpatiwakal ang aking nanay. Ang kwento ng chismosa kong tyahen sakin, yung nanay ko di na raw nakatiis sa grabeng hirap ng buhay - kakaramput na pagkain, lubog sa utang, kahit pambili ng singkong asin mahirap mahanap. Panahon daw kasi nun nung nawalan ng trabaho ang tatay. Natapos na daw kasi yung kontrata niya sa pinapasukan niyang kumpanya. Medyo matagal din siyang hindi nakakita ng trabaho. Kaya ayun, si nanay...

Si tatay naman mabait, yun nga lang, pag umuuwi siyang lasing parating nagagalit at nanggugulpi. Kaya nga andito ako sa kalye ngayon, tatambay-tambay kasama si Boy. Takot ako, baka kasi galit na naman si tatay pag-uwi niya mamaya. Wala na kasing maisasaing eh, wala nang bigas (naubos kaninang umaga).

"Oy Jepjep, tignan mo yun oh" sabi ni Boy sabay kuhit sa likod ko. Napalingon naman ako agad. Unang nasilayan ko - mga taong nagtipon-tipon at isang malaking piktyur ng demonyo. Kahit malayo, litaw parin ang mukha ng nasa piktyur.

"Ano yan?" tanong ko kay Boy sabay kamut sa batok. "Si Gloria yan tange! Siya daw presidente ng Pilipinas, lika lapit tayo!" sagot niya habang kumaripas ang takbo papunta sa mga taong nagbubuhat nung dambuhalang larawan ng demonyo. Ayokong magpaiwan kaya sumunod ako kay Boy. Nasa malapit na kami nung malaking piktyur ng demonyo nang nakuha ang atensyon ko ng malalakas na mga sigaw...

"Gloria, Tuta!", paulit-ulit na sigaw ng mga taong nagtitipon (hula ko mga estudyante sila base sa anyo nila). May dala-dala silang parisukat na kartong papel na may mga titik at guhit. Matagal nakong hindi nagsasanay magbasa eh, hanggang grade 1 lang kasi natapos ko at matagal ko nang nakalimutan ang turo ni teacher. Minabuti kong ipabasa kay Boy kung anong nakasulat sa parisukat na kartong papel. Ang sabi niya, 'Ust JMA!'. Basta parang ganon, si Boy kasi nakaabot pa ng grade 3 kaya mas bihasa siyang magbasa at sumulat kesa sa akin.

Hindi nagtagal me biglang lumapit na mama, mapayat at matangkad, at medyo maiksi ang buhok. Nagpakilala siyang siya si kuya Bel. Tinanong niya kung gusto ba naming sumama ni Boy sa kanilang rali, magmamartsa daw sila. Wala naman kaming pinagkakaabalahan ni Boy ngayon at ayaw ko pang umuwi kaya okey lang na sumama kami (mukhang enjoy naman sumama eh). Binigyan kami nung kartong papel ni kuya Bel matapos akong nagpakita ng positibong pagsang-ayon sa tanong niya. Medyo malaki yung parisukat na kartong papel, kinailangan kong abutin ang bawat dulo nito. Hawak-hawak ko yung parisukat na kartong papel habang labas ngipin ang ngiti ko kay Boy (nasisiyahan ako sa ginagawa namin parang naglalaro lang kami). Nagsimula na kaming maglakad. Nagmartsa kami mula sa tapat ng isang eskwelahan at medyo malayo ang nilakad namin - pinawisan nga ako.

Habang naglalakad, panay sigaw ng mga taong kasama namin. "Gloria, ibagsak!" sa kana't kaliwa. Nasa harap ko ang malaking piktyur ng demonyo. Di ko maiwasang mapatingala at tignang mabuti ang piktyur (kasi parang nakita ko na yung mukha na yun dati). Ang ingay namin kasi pati mga tao sa gilid nung kalsada napapalingon din samin. Marami sa kanila bumabati, at nakikisabay, marami ding nagmamasid lang. Nung naglalakad kami, napatanong bigla si kuya Bel kung anong mga pangalan namin. Tingin ko hindi naman siya mukhang masamang tao kaya't minabuti kong sumagot para sa amin ni Boy.

Dumating na nga kami sa lugar kung san kami hihinto at pipila ng nakahanay - dala-dala yung mga kartong papel, flags at yung malaking piktyur. Wala akong masyadong matandaang nakasulat dun sa mga flags maliban dun sa pula na may mga malalaking titik na LF at S. Nagpaalam sandali si kuya Bel, tapos bigla niyang hinawakan yung parang microphone (kasi lumalakas yung tunog kapag nagsalita ka habang itinatapat mu yung bibig mo dun), at naglakad papuntang gitna - tamang tama para siya'y makita.

Nagsalita na si kuya Bel, nawala yung maamo niyang mukha at para siyang galit, parang si tatay. Medyo mahaba yung ulat niya pero nakikinig naman ako. Bukam bibig ni kuya si Gloria - tingin ko yun ang kinakausap niya. Nalaman ko na siya pala ang dahilan ba't kami andito, nakalinya at nagsasalaysay ng mga hinanaing namin. Nasabi niya na maraming naghihirap ngayon subalit wala man lang ginagawa si Gloria. Tama si kuya Bel, marami na ngang naghihirap at tingin ko kasama kami ni Boy dun. Kasi minsan, isang beses lang akong kumain eh minsan ganun din si Boy. Wala naman kasi akong pambili ng bigas, mahal pa naman ang kilo ngayon.

Nakita ko panay turo ni kuya sa amin ni Boy. Sinasabi niya na si gobyerno ay walang inatupag kundi nagpakasasa sa pagpapayaman. Wala daw siyang plano na tulungan ang mga dukha, dugtong ni kuya Bel. Magulo pero medyo nauunawaan ko si kuya. Anong malay ko ba't nabanggit niya si gobyerno, di ko naman siya kilala. Pero tantya ko, si gobyerno si Gloria - yung demonyong mukha sa malaking larawan.

Habang nagsasalita si kuya Bel, nagmamasid ako sa palibot. May isa mula sa hanay namin, nag-aabot ng mga papel sa mga dumadaan. Yung isa namang mama, nakaitim ang damit tapos me sombrero at sheyds biglang nilapitan si kuya Bel at nagpiktyur gamit ang cellphone niya - di namin siya kasama.

Natapos nang magsalita si kuya, sinubaybayan ko kung san ang tungo niya. Papunta sa lalaking me hawak ng maykropon. Sa likod nung lalaki meron ding lalaking me karga-kargang kamera (alam kong kamera yun, nakakita nako ng ganun minsan nung nakikinood ako ng Wowowee sa kapitbahay). Nagpalitan sila ng salita at nagkamustahan pagkatapos.

Matapos makipagkwentuhan ni kuya Bel sa mama, isa-isa kaming inabutan ng sirang kamatis. Pumagitna yung humahawak ng malaking litrato ng demonyo. Nang magbigay ng senyales ang kasama namin, naglipana ang mga kamatis sa kaliwa't kanan at likuran ko. Lahat dumapo sa malaking mukha ni Gloria, isa-isang nawawasak. Hindi naman kami nagpahuli ni Boy, inilapag ko ang kartong papel na hawak ko at binato ko yung ilong niya - sa may nunal. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam, nabitin nga ako't naubos ang mga kamatis.

Nagsimula na kaming mag-empake pauwi nung balikan kami ni kuya Bel. Humingi siya ng sori at naiwan niya kami ni Boy kanina. Habang nagbabalot ng mga dala-dalang gamit, panay salita ni kuya Bel sa min (wla na yung galit niyang mukha). Nagkwento siya samin, sabi niya dapat nag-aaral daw kami ngayon at hindi na raw namin problema kung san huhugot ng panggasto dun - problema na daw ni gobyerno, ni Gloria. Sana nga makapagtapos ako ng pag-aaral, pangarap kong maging abogado (ipagtatanggol ko ang mga inaapi). Pero di nako umaasa, kasi tingin ko hanggang pangarap nalang yun eh. Sabi ni kuya Bel sira daw kasi yung sistema ng lipunan, tinatakda ng US at ni gobyerno kaya't maraming naghihirap at nagugutom. Medyo hindi ko siya maintindihan pero parang nakuha ko na kung anong ibig niyang sabihin - ang sistema ang nagpapahirap sa amin.

Natapos na kaming magbalot, niyaya kami ni kuya Bel na sumabay na sa kanila pauwi, kakain raw muna ng hapunan. Gutom narin ako at tinanong ko si Boy kung ano say niya (panay tango niya ibig sabihin oo). Nagngitian kaming dalawa ni Boy, natutuwa kami dahil meron na kaming bagong natutuna't nakilala, me libreng pagkain pa! Sana sa susunod na rali makasama kami uli - tulad nang ganito. Gusto ko pa kasing matuto. Balang araw, magiging kagaya din ako ni kuya Bel - di man siya abogado, ipinagtatanggol niya naman kaming mahihirap!

Balang araw...

Victor

The east is where the sun rises,
When that time comes,
The sun would be red!
Ablaze, with scorching heat
That would burn the maggots alive:
For the strength of the weak,
The scorching sun!
Will turn the oppressors down.
That very time will come,
when the lark's flock will sing.
A song of liberty
A song of sacrifice;
A tribute to the people's
never failing struggle.
For each price entails sacrifices,
And each sacrifice entails freedom!

Poison and Antidote

The government, the maggots' lair.
vowed to serve the public
for once, never did!
words contaminated with venom
a hazardous toxin
fed upon the hungry and the dying
you guilty vultures,
with all your fallacious promises
outwardly spoken to them:
the struggling and exploited.
here they are,
asking for your debts
but what did you do?
coerce them,
kill them with your fangs!
it'll soon be over.
the wrath of the people
will punish you to death!
ten thousand years,
maybe too long
but still our rank
will remain and never fade!
our class struggle will stand
all be stronger, shout:
"Long live the suffering people!
Long live the revolution!"

Agit!

Fierce crowd, i cooly defy a thousand pointing fingers

Head bowed, like a willing ox ...


I SERVE THE PEOPLE!

What is a student?

A student doesn't limit himself inside the four walls of the classroom.

A student must be aware of what is happening to his environment.
A student must understand that he is an important factor for change. He is always open to new set of ideas.
A student must have an active participation in the society. It's his historic role to contribute for the development of the society.
A student's wisdom is obtained in learning from the masses. He must blend with them.
A student needs to liberate himself together with the masses. Thus he must practice what he learned to form new theories.
A student upholds a nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented education. He always think that education is a right and not as a privilege.
A student stands for what is right and just. He is not afraid to voice out and act for it.
A student is willing to serve his people.
A true student believes in all of these.

A true student is an LFS activist!

LFS, LKM STAGE PROTEST OVER "DAY OF TERROR"

Iligan City - "END ALL HOSTILITIES!", "SPARE THE CIVILIANS!", "PEACE NOT WAR!"

These were some of the appeals that the League of Filipino Students – MSU-IIT Chapter demanded on the day of the worst flare-up of fighting between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government's armed forces since the postponement of the signing of the MOA on Ancestral Domain two weeks ago.

"We call on the MILF and the AFP to end all hostilities and to get back to the negotiating table," said Fervil Von Tripoli, Chairperson of the LFS-IIT. Tripoli also added that "peace cannot be achieved through bloodshed and intensified hostilities." The latest count of the number of casualties when MILF insurgents raided the towns of Kolambugan and Kauswagan was 41, and ten more are held hostages.

"We strongly believe that the real reason why Arroyo and her minions has been pushing for the creation of a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, which she touts as the solution to the peace problem in Mindanao, is to generate substantial grounds for the Government to endorse Charter-Change so they can eliminate the provision on the term limit of the presidency," Urbano further stressed out.

The group also announced their further plans vis-à-vis the GRP-MILF peace negotiations and Arroyo's Cha-Cha, which includes a protest action on August 21, the National Day of Protest on Charter-Change.