Goyo’s Battle

It seems like the Pearl of the Orient has a tough time dealing with her neighbors.

Just a few weeks ago, the authorities gave us a warning about the possibility of danger from a falling debris from a North Korean rocket. As a precaution, the authorities have issued a no-fly and no-fishing zones at the concerned areas. They also warned the people to stay indoors on the possible time of the rocket launch and nnot to touch any suspected debris from the rocket.

Some analysts and critics said that North Korea chose us to be the rocket’s debris’ falling area because we don’t have the capacity to shoot down that rocket if anything goes wrong. And the rocket cannot fly over the air space of Japan and South Korea - the two countries which are not in good terms with North Korea.

And it looks like the bullying (if you may permit) against the Pearl of the Orient is not yet over.

Last April 8, a Philippine Navy surveillance plane caught eight Chinese fishing boats anchored at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which, according to the DFA, is part of the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, a territory of the Philippines. To protect the country’s marine environment and resources and to assert our sovereignty, the Philippine Navy deployed the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), the Philippine Navy’s largest ship, from Palawan to Northern Luzon to conduct maritime patrol over the Shoal.

GOTCHA! Filipino soldiers board a Chinese fishing vessel loaded with giant clam shells, corals and live sharks. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM NOLCOM (via inquirer.net)

The PF-15 confirmed thee presence of eight Chinese vessels and in accordance to the established rules of engagement, dispatched a team to inspect the vessels and collect photos of the evidence of their catch. The team reported large amount of illegally collected corals, giant clams, and live sharks. And to add insult to the injury, the PF-15 reported that two Chinese maritime surveillance ships identified as Zhonggou Haijian 75 and Zhonggou Haijian 84 managed to sail to the mouth of the shoal, placing themselves between PF-15 and the eight Chinese fishing vessels, thus preventing the arrest of the Chinese fishermen.

The Chinese embassy in Manila asserted that the disputed area, including the area nearer to the Philippines, as their territory. In a statement, it also “urged the Philippine side to stop immediately their illegal activities and leave this area”.

Our largest battleship, Gregorio del Pilar, was stopped by two Chinese maritime surveillance ships. As of writing, the Philippine Navy has dispatched a second ship to the Shoal and authorities are trying to resolve this in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.

A view of Chinese surveillance ships in a standoff with a Philippine warship on the Scarborough Shoal after eight Chinese fishing boats were caught poaching in the disputed territory. The photo was presented by Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, flag officer-in-command, during a press briefing Wednesday April 11, 2012, at the Department of Foreign Affairs. PHILIPPINE NAVY HANDOUT (via inquirer.net)

I have already written about BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the dispute at the West Philippine Sea in the past. I have always wished that things would end in a peaceful and diplomatic manner - without compromising our territory and sovereignty. I have always viewed this as a David and Goliath battle. Is our largest battleship enough to patrol and secure our waters? Is he enough to defend our country and her people? It may appear virtually impossible.

I have always wondered why they chose Gregorio del Pilar as the name of this warship. According to my research (AKA google-ing), there were three (3) choices for this former USCGC Hamilton - BRP Lapu-Lapu, BRP Jose Torres Bugalon, and BRP Gregorio del Pilar. The panel ultimately confirmed the name Gregorio del Pilar in honor of the young general.

But who is General Gregorio del Pilar or Goyo? I only remember two things about Goyo based on the Philippine history that was taught to me in school - 1. he’s a young general and 2. he’s the hero of the Battle of Tirad Pass. His name and his heroism was also immortalized by some of these memorials: The Philippine Military Academy, Ford del Pilar, was named after him; the Municipality of Concepcion, IlocosSur was named after him; his life was featured on a 1995 movie tirad Pass: The Last Stand of Gregorio del Pilar with Romnick Sarmienta; and our country’s biggest warship (to date) was named after him. He will be forever remembered as the defender of Tirad Pass, as someone who let General Miong escape from the Americans. A hero. Or was he?

Clipping from Pilipino Reporter Magazine dated June 21, 1996 (via pelikulaatbp.blogspot.com)

As what I have written above, I have a very limited knowledge about the life of General Goyo so I decided to dig deeper. I read a chapter from my book, A Question of Heroes by Nick Joaquin. The chapter is entitled Is the Hero of Tirad a Hatchetman? and it showcases the story of Goyo that most of us don’t know. It shows the young general’s ascend to rank and power, his relationship with General Emilio Aguinaldo, and what really transpired before and during the Battle of Tirad Pass - and how it turned out to be a disastrous failure.

As most of us know from school, the Battle of Tirad Pass was waged to help General Aguinaldo flee. But that was not the whole story. The “delaying action” of Tirad Pass was nonsense for it helped a man, General Aguinaldo, who didn’t know where he was going to. It was a failure. It was a waste. As Nick Joaquin put it, Gregorio del Pilar’s finest hour was, to use a current cliche, an “exercise in futility”.

I find the other details of Goyo’s life amusing, shocking, and annoying (you may have noticed it if you are following me on Twitter). I will not deal more (lest I spoil) with the other details from the chapter - it’s for you to read and discover. And if there is one thing I learned, it changed my view about the General and it helped me appreciate history more. History should be treated as a learning lesson for us. As George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”.

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar, our country’s largest and most powerful warship and the great men behind him may have a characteristic similar to General Goyo - brave, respected, and being look up to as a defender. But he can also be like Goyo, a bait, a warrior who may die in vain against the colossal foes at West Philippine Sea. As Manong Johnny Enrile once said, a single torpedo can sink our warship (although he was referring that time to BRP Rajah Humabon, our Navy’s former flagship).

The warship maybe considered as President Aquino’s greatest contribution to the Philippine Navy. But is the warship be just another ‘concealer’ of the alleged inaction of the President? Will it just be the last beacon of hope for our helplessness? Or will it be just a useless armada against the strong enemy? Will it be a Gregorio del Pilar to Emilio Aguinaldo? President Aquino has been criticized as just being a man of pure words with less or no action. As Rina Jimenez David pointed out, “Our President is all bluster and bluff when discussing reported incursions of Chinese vessels, especially those belonging to the Chinese navy. But after making the necessary noises, he usually steps back, calling for a diplomatic solution and more talks between our foreign affairs department and theirs.” But of course, we don’t want war and we want this to be resolved in the most peaceful and diplomatic way.

The tension at Scarborough Shoal has not yet ceased (as of writing. BRP Gregorio del Pilar has been puled out from the area to replenish its supplies and China deployed another ship on the area.) the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Navy are trying their very best to ease the tension and to resolve the problem.

If we firmly believe that that part of the sea is ours, I think it’s time for the Filipino people should stand their ground and express it in their own little way. It is our natural resources that they abuse. It is something that can be beneficial to the Filipino people. We don’t want to lose another territory (just like what happened in the 1960’s when we lose Sabah to Malaysia).

But how can it happen if, at the height of the tension at our territory, most of our countrymen (especially those with access to Twitter and other forms of social media) are glued to the boob tube, giving nitwitted commentaries about a particular show? How can we learn from the mistakes of the past if we ignore the lessons from our history or not care about history at all? How can we stand united to defend our sovereignty if we are too busy with other stuff?

I have always believed that the trending topics on Twitter of a country reflect its citizens’ priority. Based on what I have always seen, in my opinion, we are creating another Gregorio Del Pilars - people who will die in vain from a divided people.

Elsewhere:

• Philippines, China hit diplomatic, military impasse over Scarborough Shoal standoff. (Interaksyon.com) - See the photos of the (alleged) poached marine species here.
• Philippines should bring Scarborough issue to UN, says Honasan
• China orders Philippine warship to leave disputed waters. (gmanetwork.com)
• Philippines to ‘secure sovereignty’ if challenged by China. (inquirer.net)
• Defending our Sovereignty - A Commentary by Rina Jimenez-David
• David and Goliath on West Philippine Sea (Juan Republic)

Source: juanrepublic

13 April 30 Permalink

Paalam Pilipinas: A Sugarfree Documentary

“Sila lang ang bandang hindi Hari ng Sablay”
- Robert Javier, Musician, Producer, and Sound Engineer

It was January 7 of last year when I first heard the sad news. It came from a tweet from Sugarfree’s frontman, Ebe Dancel. He will leave his band. During that time, it was still unclear if the band is breaking up or its two remaining members, Kaka Quisumbing and Jal Tuguibao, will continue being a Sugarfree minus Ebe.

It was later confirmed in the succeeding days that Ebe Dancel would pursue a solo career and Kaka and Jal would do their own stuff. Sugarfree’s last weeks as a band were spent by doing farewell gigs on different bars and schools.

I was fortunate to watch one of their farewell gigs (which, unfortunately, my first time to watch them live) when they performed at the UPLB Feb Fair last February 17. 2011 (Technically, it was already February 18 when they performed). It was a ‘going back home’ performance for Ebe who was an alumnus of UP Rural High School. Together with hundreds of fans, I jumped to their opening song Kung Ayaw Mo na Sa Akin, I joined the crowd in singing Mariposa, and I screamed when they played the crowd-favorite Hari ng Sablay. It was a beautiful night of celebrating the music of Sugarfree. I went home that night with a smile, thankful for having watched Sugarfree live before they part ways; but with a heavy heart because the gentlemen who made the anthems of my College years, would play together for the last time in a few weeks’ time.

And so the inevitable happened. On March 1, 2011, at the Eastwood Central Plaza, Sugarfree bade goodbye to their fans with the farewell concert, Paalam Pilipinas. I was not able to attend the concert but thanks to Jam 88.3 (who played an important role to stage this one) who aired the concert live, I felt that I was also there, drenched in the ran, singing, and shedding a tear for my heroes. 

During the entire concert, I stayed in my room, headset plugged to my ears, shutting the world. I also have a small piece of paper and a pen, scribbling the title of the songs from their set list. I did not let the other members of the household see me on the verge of tears. I sang. I cried. I smiled. After singing their last song Burnout, I told myself that’s it, we have lost another legend. Maybe because the members are too burned out and they need to rest. We never knew the exact reason of their breakup. It just happened. But at least, unlike others, they formally said goodbye. But as in all ending, there is a new beginning. Life must go on.

On August 1, 2011, five months after the farewell concert, Ebe Dancel released his debut album as a solo artist entitled Dalawang Mukha ng Pag-ibig. And as for the two (2) remaining members, Jal Tuguibao continued his studies while Kaka Quisumbing did his own stuff. I am hoping that the remaining two would resurface on the music scene but that thing is yet to happen.

From time to time, whenever I feel reminiscing the good old days, I still listen to Sugarfree. I have almost forgotten the farewell concert but not their music. I have almost forgotten the pain of my heroes’ breakup. It has been almost a year and Ebe is achieving great heights as a solo artist.

Earlier yesterday, while browsing the news feed of Facebook, I saw a post from AtTheWomb.com. the music hub of pelicola.tv, about the premiere of a documentary about Sugarfree’s farewell concert. And to add to my excitement, the premiere was yesterday (though they didn’t put the exact time). During the past months, I have resorted to the videos on YouTube to watch Paalam Pilipinas. But I told myself, there must be someone who documented the whole event. It must be shown for the benefit of thousands (or millions) of Sugarfree fans out there. I patiently waited (to the point of repeatedly refreshing the website) until they finally put up the videos at around 10:20 in the evening. And it was worth the wait.

Paalam Pilipinas: A Sugarfree Documentary, tells about the final moments of Sugarfree as a band - from the band members’ respective houses, to the soundcheck, to the events backstage before the concert, and up to the emotional final song Burnout. This is a documentary featuring how the band broke up and not why the band broke up.

The documentary is divided into four parts. The first part shows Ebe Dancel and Kaka Quisumbing at the start of the day. Kaka shares his experience on the band’s farewell tour while Ebe shows his preparations for the final show. The second part shows the soundcheck and Jal Tuguibao giving his thoughts on the band’s breakup. The third part shows Jal at his home and what his parents have to say about Sugarfree. It also shows the what was really happening backstage while the crowd was waiting for the concert. The fourth, and probably the most emotional part, shows Quark Henares giving introduction before the start of the concert (and the emotional happenings backstage) and the band’s final performance, Burnout.

I watched the documentary twice last night and the emotions I felt during the first time that I watched it was the same, if not more intense, than the first. It’s as if watching over a beloved on his deathbed. It’s as if seeing the love of your life for the last time. It’s as if losing a member of your family.

What moved me most, as what I have written above, was the last part. Though not the whole concert was shown in the film, it captured the emotional performance of the group. It also showed an emotional Ebe Dancel when he left the stage after the concert. But what broke my heart most (Spoiler alert!) were the lines ‘The band was immediately escorted out of the venue right after the show. They parted ways as soon as they were brought to their separate exit points. There was no after party’. With that, I broke into tears.

I am no film nor movie expert but I can say that the cinematography was good. It captured (almost candidly, which was good, in my opinion) the emotion of the members and the music fans very well. I also have a problem with the audio on some parts but to sum it up, the documentary captured the essential - how Sugarfree said their goodbye to the fans and how the fans were affected - and influenced - by their legacy.

This documentary is a must-watch not only for the die-hard Sugarfree fans but also to those who are affected, in a way, by their songs. Even Ebe Dancel jokingly offered this concert to those who illegally downloaded their songs. It shows us how to properly say thank you and goodbye to the people who supported us and help us be put at the top.

I was lucky to grow up with the songs of Sugarfree. I was lucky to be influenced by their music. Their songs were my anthem of my college years - the period of my life when I was discovering my passion for music. Their songs were simple and honest. They touch the lives of their fans. and in my opinion, that is what a music or a song is all about.

Sugarfree may have gone but their music is what keeps them immortal. Listening to their music will help us bring to the happy memories of being a Hari ng Sablay, having a good time at Mariposa, reminiscing our Prom, singing the lullaby Tulog Na, and telling to someone, Huwag Ka nang Umiyak.

Maraming salamat Direk King Palisoc at sa bumubuo ng AtTheWomb.com sa dokumentaryong ito.

Maraming salamat Ebe Dancel, Jal Tuguibao, Kaka Quisumbing, at Mitch Singson sa musika at alaala.

Maraming salamat Sugarfree.

_________

Paalam Pilipinas: A Sugarfree Documentary - I know that you did not read this lengthy post so here’s the link of the documentary. Enjoy. Reminisce. And spread the word.

Elsewhere:

• Paalam Pilipinas: A Sugarfree Documentary - Blogger and music photographer Niña Sandejas writes about Paalam Pilipinas and her regret of not following the band as much as others did.
• Must Watch: Paalam Pilipinas: A Sugarfree Documentary (FHM.com.ph) - Director King Palisoc, in an interview with Gelo Gonzales, talks in detail about the documentary and the last days of Sugarfree.  
• Paalam Pilipinas: A Sugarfree Docmentary (Teaser) - A sneak peek of the documentary from AtTheWomb.com. Of course. 

Source: atthewomb.com

10 March 83 Permalink

Remembering The Final Set

It has been three years since The Eraserheads gave us their final set. Three years after their record breaking concert. Three years since they formally bid us goodbye. Three years after their last bow. Three years after their last concert, and probably indeed their last.

Perhaps, this is one of my biggest regrets as an Eraserheads fan. I was not able to watch their two (2) post-breakup concerts.

During their first concert at The Fort in August 2008, there were doubts if the concert would push through or not. One of the major sponsors backed out a few days before the concert due to a threat of a criminal case from the Health Department. There were no formal announcement of the selling of tickets. There were no formal promotion on the tri-media - just a press release from one of the major broadsheets. I could have made it to the concert. If only I were not drunk somewhere in Calamba that night.

My first attempt to watch them turned out to be a failure.

But as we all know, the first concert was cut short due to Ely Buendia’s health condition. After that, there were speculations if the concert would still push through for a second installment. And the fans got what they wanted. The band will work on their ‘unfinished business’.

The second concert, The Final Set, happened on March 7, 2009, a day after the Master Rapper died, at the SM Mall of Asia concert Grounds. Compared to the first one, this has a bigger venue, a formal promotion, and more or less a hundred thousand tickets available to accommodate more fans. It is said that this is one of the biggest concerts in our history.

Did I make it to the concert? Obviously no. I was then stuck at the Seminary’s confines, punishing myself by studying for our comprehensive examinations. My College Diploma depends on the result of that exam. Bitter as I was, I just resorted to listening to the songs of the Eraserheads on the radio. (I think it was the now-defunct station NU 107 who played Eraserheads songs the whole day in anticipation of The Final Set.)

It was just a consuelo for those who were not able to attend the concert to watch  The Final Set on GMA-7. The network aired it a few weeks after the concert. And I did not waste that opportunity. I watched it with the whole family. But there is still something lacking, something missing within me. Regrets. I could have watched them live. 

And so it happened. March 7, 2009, Saturday, was an unforgettable event in Philippine music history. The Eraserheads, the music hero and inspiration of a generation, performed and bowed for the last time in front of their fans.

It was also during this date that Ely Buendia set flame to the famous “Sticker Happy piano.” You know, the one with the naked Joey Mead from the cover of their album “Sticker Happy”.

And for those who are asking the whereabouts of the sticker piano, the last time that I checked, it was at 70’s Bistro (46 Anonas Street Project 2 , Quezon City).

Photo courtesy of Sir Chris Linag. For additional information, please read the article by Aldus Santos here.

Thank you Eraserheads for being a part of our childhood. Thank you for being the soundtrack of our growing up. Thank you for the good music. Thank you for being our heroes. Thank you for the memories.

Maraming salamat Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Marcus Adoro, at Buddy Zabala! The Eraserheads will never be erased from our heads. That is influence at its finest.

Source: juanrepublic

7 March 93 Permalink

25 Years Later

Yesterday, January 22, 2012, marked the 25th year of the gruesome Mendiola Massacre, an incident that happened in Mendiola on January 22, 1987 in which Government security forces violently dispersed a farmers’ protest march to Malacañan Palace.

A wounded protester is helped by a peasant activist after the shooting broke out. Ramon Acasio

Pardon me for this late post. Aside from being busy yesterday because of my class, the major broadsheets yesterday did not put the commemoration of the massacre in their front page. Instead, I saw items about the Impeacment Trial, the Roman-Shalai wedding, Chinese New Year, and more impeachment brouhahas.

Or maybe because they are biased for President Noynoy Aquino and they do not want to talk about it. It would be remembered that the incumbent President’s mother, Cory Aquino, was the President during that time. (Well, this is just me with my crazy imagination. I will just leave it there.) Moving on..

Aside from the Maguindanao Massacre, I consider the Mendiola Massacre as an event that should not be forgotten or slip past our consciousness. If we saw slain journalists in Maguindanao, we have helpless peasants and farmers in Mendiola.

Peasants and farmers have a special place in my heart,. I lived with some of them during my formation years in College. And since the advent of my awakening, I have always supported the cause of the poor and the oppressed for justice, freedom, and ownership. You may not see me with a banner or a raised fist in the streets but I believe that there are other ways to support their cause other than protests and rallies.

Landless farmers. Feudalism has long been gone in Europe but it is still practiced in some parts of our country up to this day. The Agrarian Reform programs of the Government appears to be a failure. The problems of the landless farmers still haunt our country and I don’t see a beacon of hope that will signal its end. (Well, the Hacienda Luisita has been granted to the farmers - in a decision and not in reality - but there are still other lands that are yet to be distributed. Hopefully.)

Twenty-five years ago, a massacre happened near Malacañang, a bloody result of the fight of the farmers for land ownership and social justice. And twenty-five years later, justice is still nowhere in sight.

Will it happen on the term of the son of the President during the massacre? Is justice for the landless farmers included in the promised daang matuwid? I don’t know. I think they are still busy hunting the previous administration and her allies.

I want to see a new day where there will be no more landless farmers, no more greedy landowners, and no more social injustice brought by land ownership disputes.

And no more state-sponsored killing spree for these individuals.

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre. Never forget. Never again.

Elsewhere:

• Mendiola Massacre slide show: 24 frames from 25 years ago - One gunshot sparked two parties to start shooting across Mendiola while rallyists ran for cover on January 22, 1987: the military with their firearms, and the photographers with their cameras. Photographers Ramon Acasio and Luis Liwanag captured these photos from the fateful day that saw 13 lives lost and more injured from the group of farmers and their supporters advocating “genuine land reform.”
• Mendiola Massacre: Survivor recounts horror 25 years later - Shot between the eyes and declared brain dead, Bong Manlulu was not expected to come out alive from the Mendiola Massacre on January 22, 1987.
• 25 years after, justice for Mendiola Massacre victims still nowhere in sight
• Lusisita Farmers commemorate 25th year of Mendiola Massacre today

Source: juanrepublic

23 January 60 Permalink

EDSA Dos: A Historical Repression

Today is the eleventh anniversary of the conspiracy that ousted Former President Joseph Estrada from Malacañan Palace and put Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the helm of power in January 2001. We commonly know it by the name of EDSA Dos. And no one seems to give a damn to throw a celebration.

I have been observing the internet (Twitter, Facebook, and news websites) the whole day and no one posted a stuff about the day that changed our Political history. I searched the word “EDSA” on Twitter earlier and I only saw less than 10 tweets (mine included) about EDSA dos (The results are mostly MMDA’s traffic update on EDSA.).

How come nobody commemorated the events that happened eleven years ago at EDSA Shrine? Maybe because we are too busy talking about Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial. Maybe because some of us chose to watch the filming of Bourne Legacy in Manila. Or too excited for Katy Perry’s concert. Or too busy watching the season premiere of American Idol and the finale of My Binondo Girl. 

Or is it because EDSA Dos is considered a nightmare, a dark part of our history that should be forgotten and should never be repeated again? Maybe yes.

Where were you eleven years ago?

I was eleven years old then, a graduating student in Elementary. The last days of the impeachment trial and the mass protest in EDSA Shrine coincided with our third quarterly exams. Prior to that, whenever I go home early from school, I see to it that I watch the impeachment trial. I can still remember how my classmates and I would horse around, imitating the Chief Justice, the Prosecution, and the Defense Panel. The words Objection your honor, overruled, and sustained became a part of our daily conversation.

I remember watching the controversial voting whether to open the second envelope or not with my father. I can still recall how Senators Pimentel and Drilon hugged each other and in tears, how Senator Legarda wept, how Chief Justice Davide removed his judicial robe, how the Prosecution panel resigned and walked out in disgust, and how the aunt of our current President, Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta danced a la dougie in jubilation. Minutes after the controversial decision, the streets are filled with protesters, the car owners are blowing their horns, and the members of the crowd in EDSA Shrine, increased in number.

The next day, I remember my father putting up a printout of JOE’S COHORTS in the windshield of our car as a sign of protest. It is a mnemonic of the Senators who opposed the opening of the second envelope - Jaworski, Oreta, Enrile, Santiago, Coseteng, Osemeña, Honasan, Ople, Revilla, Tatad.

Text messaging is a new technology then (There were no unlimited text and calls promos though) and it also helped to spread the message to gather in EDSA Shrine and force the President to step down from office. As expected, ERAP jokes became rampant to taunt President Estrada. The Senators who opposed the opening of the second envelope were also not spared from taunts and heckling. Some of the famous lines then which I can still remember are Tadtarin si Tatad!, Oreta Dancing Queen!, and  Ninoy Aquino’s photo with the lines ‘My sister is not worth dying for’.

The protest to became festive with artists and bands performing at the stage and with the presence of, uhm, some artistas. (The most memorable personality then was President Estrada’s friend, Nora Aunor, who joined the crown on calling him to resign. But if there is one song which I can associate with the protest, it would be Sam the Sham and the Paraoh’s ‘Wooly Bully’ which the protesters sang as ‘Huling-huli! Si Erap! Huling-huli!

Though I was not present with the protesters during that time, for obvious reasons, I made myself updated by constantly tuning in to news programs on television. And some of the memories were still vivid because when I was in high School, my tambayan is our library and I have repeatedly read this coffee table book:

The President was ousted eleven years ago today and his Vice President succeeded him - with the help of the high-ranking military officials, political and business elites, and the Catholic Church led by Jaime Cardinal Sin. Conspiracy, as they say, to oust the President extra-constitutionally, a de facto coup that led to the  proclamation of Gloria Arroyo.

In the later months and years, Erap would be arrested, EDSA tres would happen, Erap would come out saying he was forced to sign a resignation paper during the height of EDSA Dos, and Gloria Arroyo would become the infamous President that we know today.

Is EDSA Dos a historical success? No. Did it play an important part in history? Maybe, but what we learned more are lessons for the future of our country.

A contemporary Filipino writer who goes by the pen name Bob Ong, wrote something about EDSA Dos in his book Stainless Longganisa. He compared the protest in EDSA to drinking antibiotics to cure a disease.

He wrote that it is wrong to immediately go to the street to call for the resignation of a leader - or to immediately drink antibiotic without first consulting the doctor. Time will come that the bacteria would become immune to antibiotics and it would be more difficult to cure the disease. Just like the cancer of our society, the more we use the usual way of cure, that is, to march in the streets and call for change, time might come that the usual way will no longer work for us. And worse, during the time when we really need change.

Many of the prominent personas involved during the EDSA Dos have already expressed their regret on being a part of that event. And maybe, most of the participants in EDSA and in key cities of the country who helped, in a way, put Gloria Arroyo into power in 2001 did the same.

It is said that we cannot change history, and that there are no ifs in it. But we can always carve the future of our country. May the lessons of the events of yesteryears be a guide on making a better future for our country.

Today is the eleventh anniversary of EDSA Dos. Did it already become a repressed memory? Do you still give a damn about it?

Today is the eleventh anniversary of the EDSA Dos. And no one seems to gives a damn to throw a celebration. And I don’t think the woman who replaced Joseph Estrada, who is now detained at the Presidential Suite of Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center, is celebrating either.

Elsewhere:

• When Last the Military Withrew Support (2006) - Dean Jorge Bocobo’s (and Amando Doronilla’s) commentary and chronology of events of the EDSA Dos. Some of the details here are unknown to me until now. This is a must read.
• The Stupidity of EDSA 2 People Power Gulbles Relived (2008)
• ‘Never Again’, says girl holding Bible at Arroyo oath-taking - Remember the girl who held the Bible during Arroyo’s oath-taking in 2001? (This is a thread of comments. Please refer to the post of ‘dokdok’.)

Source: juanrepublic

20 January 56 Permalink

My Friend’s Last, Dying Hours

It has been exactly a year since a good friend left me. He was my companion during those years when I dreamt and learned to smash the guitar, wreaked the piano, pounded the drums, and screamed on the top of my lungs in the tune of my favorite anthems.

He said his goodbye at around midnight of this date last year. With his demise, the Philippine airwaves was changed forever. And he brought with him my other kabarkadas. No more Rock Ed Radio. No more In The Raw. No more Stairway to Seven. No more forty-minute rockathon.

It was this time last year when NU 107 said his last goodbye.

Most of us who cared stayed with our friend during his last, dying hours. We had the chance to say our last goodbyes before his death at midnight.

One of our friend’s fathers, Chris “Cris Cruise” Hermosisima was the last one to speak to the microphone and utter the now famous last words of our friend.

“So let’s do this for the last time. It’s a minute before 12. NU107 is DWNU FM at 107 dot 5 megahertz in Pasig, once the loudest and proudest member of the KBP. This has been NU107, the Philippines’ one and only Home of NU Rock. This is NU107. We are signing off.”

And after those words, “Ang Huling El Bimbo” by the Eraserheads was played for the last time, signalling the death of an institution, an end of an era.

Outside the station, hundreds of fans were gathered, candles in their hands, mourning the death of a friend. And I am sure that thousand others, including me, were tuned in on radio and the live stream on the internet to send the station off.

So long NU 107! You have played an important part in building the music scene in this country. You have helped the music of the aspiring musicians to be heard. You have served us well.

RIP Home of Nu Rock. Return if Possible. And on the same frequency please.

Because it is still a pain in my ear to hear the hypnotic Win Radio! Win Radio! Win Radio! on the 107.5 MHZ frequency.

Source: juanrepublic

7 November 95 Permalink

Batas Militar: Mga Kuwentong may Kuwenta

“As of the 21st of this month, I signed proclamation number 1081 placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law..”

1972 noon. Iyan ang mga katagang binitawan ni Apo sa pagde-deklara ng Batas Militar. Hindi pa ako buhay noon. Hindi pa magkakilala ang mga magulang ko at hindi pa nila ako ginagawa noon. Tanging mga kuwento lang ng aking mga guro, tatay, at ilang mga miron sa kanto ang “karanasan” ko sa Martial Law.

__________

Una akong namulat sa mga kuwento noong ako ay Grade 3. High School noon ang ate ko. At gumagawa siya ng report para sa kanyang project sa History tungkol sa Martial Law. Kailangan niyang kapanayamin ang mga taong may karanasan sa Martial Law.

Ang natatandaan kong kuwento ay ang karanasan ng aming kapitbahay na isang guro. Buntis daw siya noon at nandito sa may crossing sa may Junction (Los Baños). Sapilitan daw pinadapa ang lahat ng mga sundalo ang lahat ng mga nandoon sa Petron (Jollibee na ngayon) para arestuhin ang mga nagpo-protesta. Pero dahil siya daw ay buntis, pinakawalan daw siya ng mga sundalo.

_________

Medyo “light” naman ang kuwento ng Tatay at ng Lolo ko. Hindi naman daw nila masyadong ramdam ang presensya ng mga sundalo. Ang pinagkaiba lang, ang mga curfew na ipinapatupad noon.

Kung nabuhay siguro ako noong mga panahong iyon, malamang, ilang beses na akong inaresto ng mga PC at ng mga sundalo. Pero punyeta, mambabasag muna ako ng bote ng beer sa ulo ng isa sa kanila bago nila ako maaresto.

__________

Isa pang medyo nakakatuwang kuwento na narinig ko ay tungkol kay Ariel Ureta, isang artista at TV host noong mga panahong iyon.

Medy binaboy (teka, ‘biniro’ na lang, baka magalit sa akin ang mga baboy) daw ni Ureta ang  Bagong Lipunan na inilunsad ni Macoy at Imelda. Iyong “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan”, naging “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan! Bisikleta ang kailangan!”. Kaya hayun, pinag-bisikleta daw si mokong sa Camp Crame hanggang sa lumaylay ang dila.

Alam kong medyo pamilyar ka sa mga linyang iyan dahil isa yan sa mga awitin ng Radioactive Sago Project na ang bokalista ay ang Propeta ng makabagong panahon at idol ng mga kids, si Lourd Ernest Hanopol-De Veyra.

__________

Ilan lamang iyon sa mga natatandaan ko noong bata ako. Hindi ko naman kasi binigyan noon ng importansya dahil may sarili akong project na inaatupag. At sa tingin ko noon, ang martial law ay “usapin lamang ng matatanda.”

Namulat na lang ako sa ibang mga kuwento nang ako ay tumungtong sa High School at sa Kolehiyo. Nakapanood ako ng mga dokumentaryo at nakapakinig ng iba pang morbid na mga kuwento. At nang napanood ko ang pelikulang “Dekada 70” - halaw sa nobela ni Lualhati Bautista.

Pero ang isang hinding-hindi ko makakalimutang kuwento ay kung paanong ang isang kakilala ay naging biktima ng torture noong Batas Militas. Isang bakal (o rod) na hinango sa nagbabagang uling ang pilit umanong ipinasok sa butas ng kanyang ari (o siya, titi na). Halos mamatay na daw siya sa sobrang sakit (Sino ba naman ang hindi?)

__________

Talumpu’t siyam (39) na taon na ang nakakalipas mula nang ideklara ni Macoy ang Martial Law at dalawampu’t limang (25) taon na mula nang ma-laser sword ang diktadurya ni Marcos. Pero ano na nga ba ang nangyari?

Bukod sa nalaman na natin sa wakas ang kinahinatnan ng magkakapatid na Armstrong, ng Camp Big Falcon, at ni Prince Zardos, ano na kaya ang nangyari sa libu-libong pinatay, pinahirapan, ginahasa, at nawala na parang bula noong panahon ng Batas Militar? Naibigay na ba sa kanila ang hustisya?

Ano na ang nagyari sa mga sapatos ni Iron Butterfly? Nasaan na ang mga diumano’y kinamkam na yaman ng kanilang pamilya? Totoo bang ayon kay Imelda ay naghihirap na ang kanilang pamilya ngayon? Totoo bang napatay si Bongbong Marcos sa Inglatera at ang Bongbong na nakikita natin ngayon ay inampon na lamang bilang kapalit niya?

Naging magkarelasyon ba talaga si Muammar Gadaffi at Imelda? Ewan. Pero ang alam ko, kinikilabutan ako sa sex tape ni Macoy at Dovie Beams habang pinapatugtog ang Pamulinawen (Panis ang Careless Whisper!).

May katotohanan ba ang mga lumulutang na conspiracy videos na magkasabuwat si Ninoy at Macoy? Mas mahusay nga bang Pangulo si Macoy kumpara sa lahat nang pinagsamang iba pang mga naging Pangulo ng ating bansa? Exaggerated nga lang ba ang banta ng Komunismo at ng mga rebeldeng Muslim? Si Macoy nga ba ang may pakana ng mga pagsabog sa Plaza Miranda at iba pang bahagi ng Maynila?

Madami pang mga katanungan. Pero iisa lang ang sigurado ako. Umamin si Manong Johnny na peke lang ang assassination attempt sa kanya noon.

At Senador pa din siya ngayon. Meynteyn!

__________

E ano naman ngayon kung nagkaroon ng Martial Law noon? Ano naman ang pakialam natin doon? Tapos na iyon. Move on, let go.

Gago!

May mga bagay sa nakaraan na naghuhulma kung ano ang meron sa kasalukuyan. May mga bagay sa nakaraan na siyang nagbibigay sa atin ng mga aral sa kasalukuyan upang ito ay hindi na maulit muli.

Masuwerte tayong mga namuhay sa kasalukuyang henerasyon. Walang curfew. Walang nagre-renda. Walang diktador. Malaya kang mag-Tumblr. Malaya kang manood ng porn. Malaya kang mag-inom sa mga bar. Malaya kang mag-drive ng lasing hanggang sa mabangga ka sa barikada ng MMDA.

Kalayaan.

Pero isa din yan sa inaabuso ng karamihan.

Kaya nagkakagulo.

Kaya may karahasan.

Ayoko ng mag-sermon. Ang mahalaga ay ating gunitain ang araw na ito at manalangin na sana ay makamit na ng mga biktima ng pang-aabuso sa ilalim ng Batas Militar ay makamit na ang hustisyang ilang dekada ng inaasam.

At sana ay huwag ng maulit muli.

Amen.

1. Ang larawan sa itaas ay nagmula sa GMAnews.tv
2. Para sa iba pang kuwento tungkol sa Batas Militar, maaaring panoorin ninyo ang dokumentaryong “Batas Militar” sa link na ito. At sa mga estudyante, panoorin niyo yan. Para hindi na kayo magtanong ng assignment.

21 September 88 Permalink