When will we ever hear the storm again?

When will we ever hear the storm again? 

 When will we ever hear the storm again? 

If not see the sea of flame? 

Of glowing red coming from the east? 

Enough to end this ages old pain? 

When will we hear the raging noise

Against the tyrants and its horde 

When will we ever hear the storm again? 

Or shall we set? If not now, when? 

 When will we ever see the flowers bloom? 

If not the trees bear sweet tasting fruit? 

Or feeling the cool ocean breeze? 

Enough to end this struggling heat? 

When will we hear the clarion call 

Enough to respond thy country's call 

When will we ever see the flowers bloom 

Or shall we see? If not now, when? 

 When will we ever see a homeland free? 

From a continuing past of tyranny? 

Of enjoying thy cherished liberties?

 What forefathers desired to be? 

When will we hear the call to arms? 

For all have enough of the order's harm?

 When will we ever see a homeland free? 

Or shall we act? If not now, when?

"The folk has the right for the fire to stir"

"The folk has the right for the fire to stir"

They cry for reform only to be hijacked by reaction

"Freedom" is their call when in fact it is subjugation

For the poor remained poor what more exploited by the "rich"

Worse to see the country treated as a sonofabitch

Such nonsense I see find that "change" impossible

Especially after seeing the same order trying to be infallible

The law and government form may be changed but the people still there

Same old bullshit making the folk in despair

Not surprised if those who support claim there are wonders

Despite rephrased terms enough to remember

But the spirit of those laws nothing but cheap messages

Enough to massage the egoes who misunderstood such passages

If not trying to appease the international banksters

Still acting professionally as any other gangsters

Promising one country and exploiting another

Using terms enough for a nation to suffer

Or claiming they're destroying the bad "oligarchs"

Through "reforms" enough both to bite and bark

Quite doubtful for such works faileth to resolve

Just expanding the pie for new and old exploiters involved

Again not surprised with their actions

Brought by those whose fact they're counterreactions

They would claim they've change the order yet failed to see underneath

The roots that meant to be removed in every beat

So long as the same old people prevail

Those "new laws and form of government" are rephrased tales

And if these same bullshits still occur

No wonder why the folk has the right for a fire to stir

"As Easter begins"

"As Easter begins"

As Easter begins 

The red sun shines brightly 

Over hills and the blue sea 

The morning star shines evenly 

The breeze brings good news 

Of songs calling for redemption 

Flowers of all kinds blooming 

This sets for a revolution 

The message inspires to advance 

Turning every tool into a weapon 

Taking the cross and follow 

The way towards liberation 

Expect hardship, pain death 

But the message continues to inspire 

The folk having enough of the system's wrath 

Taking arms and be fighters to aspire 

Expect the order and its attack dogs 

Belitting the clarion call of struggle 

Trying to downplay the message 

And unleashes its tremeandous terror 

But this doesn't stop the rising 

As the folk and land resurrecting 

The message of resurrection 

In action comes insurrection 

In every hand a weapon 

In every call an action 

Willing to break the continuing past 

Of destitution and corruption 

All rushed to the capital 

Singing songs of determination 

Trying to resist the hordes of reaction 

Like his ressurection the glory is the revolution 

As easter begins 

The red sun shines brightly 

The message is loud and clear 

To revolt is justified and necessary 

Just like the risen Lord 

Who called the folk to revolt 

Take the arm destroy the order 

Who brought the world suffer

Regardless of “actions”, crisis and oppression breeds resistance

 Regardless of “actions”, crisis and oppression breeds resistance

by Kat Ulrike

At first, this note extends greetings this Easter Sunday, for like the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, this note expresses that despite numerous challenges and hindrances, that the nation's struggle for independence and democracy is greater with full of hopes amid continuing socioeconomic crisis, oppression against the folk, and threats to national sovereignty. 

Easter is the occasion when people wished for a lasting peace as to honour its fallen dead. When remembering those who died, or imprisoned because of a belief, heir contributions, sacrifices, are driven by the desire to fulfill hopes, of making the future generation shall have peace in their homes and communities. 

On this, this note remember all of those who have given their lives in the cause of national and social liberation. This note salutes the courage and fortitude of those who have died in this phase of a historic struggle, and thus remember them with honour and pride. 

This note reaffirm the belief that the current government continues to downplay the people's desire for peace based on justice, the denial of a nation's right to self-determination, and the maintenance of social and economic inequality as the root causes of conflict.  

 By refusing to continue the stalled negotiations, the current administration seems to be stubborn in pursuing an offensive that involves bombing of communities, harassing and arresting peace negotiators, to that of involuntary disappearances. These actions, whose basis is “to end decades-old insurgency”, intensifies popular resistance as the current administration continues to be in connivance with entrenched local and foreign interests in exploiting the country and its people. With the support of imperialists, attempts to undermine people’s struggles to the extent of seeking to criminalise dissent has shown remain the order fixated with the objective of “destroying subversion” rather than developing the peace process. 

But regardless of their messages justifying their operations, its actions made clear that the responsibility for the ongoing conflict rests firmly on the shoulders of the ruling class through its government. The rejection of the people’s desire for lasting peace in favour of the order’s deafening silence shows that the ruling class wanted a condition that rather intensifies exploitation to maintain and consolidate further interests. Of course that deafening silence is redescribed as the “absence of war”, but, is that absence of conflict is based on justice? Of answering the cry of the poor and the oppressed? That “peace” of the order benefits the exploiters as they talked it through threat and coercion. 

This note requires no lengthy speech. However, the order does not present the necessity for a just and durable peace to a group of like-minded despots and tyrants. That "peace" they've wanted is a fiction, as the vast majority of peasants, workers, and other toiling people continue to face land grabbing, economic dispossession, poor wages, unemployment, and other kinds of terrible social injustice, making the fight even more just and necessary. And contrary to their statements trying to "win the peace", the present US-Marcos regime has aggravated the situation of the people by serving the interests of foreign capitalists, as that of local economic and political despots to the detriment of the Filipino people’s welfare and rights. "Programs" meant to appease the folk doesn't resolve the problem, but instead to placate the interest-seekers. 

To cut this thought short, the desire for peace means to address the people's desire for justice. The prisons or graves may be filled with those whose reasons as just, but an ever prevailing crisis which trying to be hidden cannot remain hidden at all as it breeds resistance- for regardless of the reprisals from state elements this doesn't stop the people from ever concerning hard issues the order fails to address, downplays, or outright denies; what more the willingness to resist in order for the nation to exist. 

"Christ is Risen! Let the world Rejoice!"

"Christ is Risen! Let the world Rejoice!"

Warm Greetings.

At first, this note resounds the following message: that Christ has risen; let us also rise; let us maintain His triumph over death and partake in His joy.

This message reminds the reader that with his resurrection, those who witnessed comes an expression of amazement, of a renewed faith as the tomb of Jesus Christ, once sealed with a great stone been rolled out, what more encountering a resurrected being, face to face, and touching the pieced hands, feet and side. 

And in his resurrection means hope, as Jesus Christ is risen, that shows he alone has the power to remove the obstacles that block path to life. He faced death yes, as he was crucified, sacrificing his life to absolve the world from sin and misery and was buried- only to rise again on the third day. 

In this note would ask why should the world not fill hearts with hope and joy as Christ rose from the dead? A victory of Life over Death? He is the Christ! He is the Emmanuel that says "God is with Us" and therefore he lives among the people yearning for salvation. His love showeth the redemptive goodness of God that the world needs in this present time. Through his resurrection, the world can now experience life beneath death, glory in the midst of suffering, strength from weakness, and victory despite the agony of defeat. 

Folk! As the world face various obstacles, of "stones" that blocked the path, looking back at Christ and sharing God's gladness  means keeping the promise that "He is with Us" and by His resurrection means giving people life that's eternal. Only the risen Lord who granted each and everyone the forgiveness of sins, for without this, such "stones" that blocked that path cannot be removed. 

In all honesty, this note would state that everyone is still struggling as humanity attempts to combat evil. Yet, that same humanity has experienced pain during the fight, which affected the body, mind, and soul, and thus humanity looked back at Christ, whose suffering and death on the cross have caused people to easily empathize with those who suffer. Of course, some will dismiss the pain and suffering being endured, but as humans who bear that pain and suffering require love and care to rise up and fight back in order to progress forward. For sure, everyone was looking for recent news about the pain of Palestinians, those whose families had been killed by missiles and whose homes had been destroyed; the pain of those who had lost their jobs or were struggling with meager incomes; and the frustration of those who were unable to support their families due to economic deprivation. 

And yet this note talks about resurrection? Again, Christ's resurrection from the dead represents hope. And hope for humanity takes numerous shapes. Of course, such realities are quite "mentally paralyzing," hopeless conditions that cannot be rejected, no matter who merely shrugs or blames the victim for the consequences. But, again, why does this note mention resurrection? Christ descended into hell and rose again, bringing with him everyone who had died, suffered, and was hopeless- and in His rising again shows He the paschal victim brought an immense hope and the immeasurable love of God the world yeans, the insurmountable hope that peace will come, and the miseries, abuses, deprivations, sufferings will end and go away. 

To cut this thought short, as the world celebrates this occasion, again let the folk remember that infinite love of God that overcomes humanity's limit and weakness. This gift means having a renewed will to fight be it against the self or against the world, especially in this time of catastrophe and crisis. 

"When resistance becomes necessary"

"When resistance becomes necessary"

Sometimes I wonder 

Why resistance becomes necessary 

Despite the numerous wonders 

Brought by today’s modernity 

For behind the grandeur 

Age old injustices occur 

Making resistance possible 

Even in this contemporary 

Of course these may downplayed 

Calling such actions as passe 

That seeing mass actions, red banners swayed 

Be deemed noise, disorder as one say 

Fine! Yet how come mum in the injustices 

Brought by the order and its oppressive practises 

Will the oppressed remain silent 

In this goddamn tragic play? 

That by seeing contentment 

Brought a generation full of indifferent 

Choosing to live in isolation 

Justified by redescribing as freedom 

Yet chains remain shackled on them 

Whether invisible or in shimmering silver 

Still, shackled in a cycle of alienation 

Of fear and countless desperation 

And the order continuously exploit them 

As in the past felt being goddamned 

In a society where humanity’s physically alive 

Yet souls barren and minds deprived 

Is this freedom what today’s systems sought 

The liberty that’s sold and brought? 

Is this the promising future presented as something 

When in fact an inglorious past that’s continuing? 

 It is not surprising that despite their criticisms 

They find no alternatives to this activism 

The culture of contentment brought by that modernity 

Made one critic find it as “overdressed monkeys” 

The silence and injustice must be provoked 

By the multitude of noises invoked 

As thoughts, words transform into flames 

A reply to a systemic underserved reactions 

 Again, sometimes I wonder 

Why resistance becomes necessary 

Despite numerous wonders 

Brought by today’s modernity 

But the People doesn’t content 

By this continuing depravity 

Thus resistance is still possible 

Even in this contemporary

“When words shouldn’t remain empty”

“When words shouldn’t remain empty and meaningless”

This note first expresses solidarity to the struggling folk in this season of Lent. 

 As the folk commemorate the passion and glory of the saviour Jesus Christ, this solemn occasion means a time to reflect, to renew, and to take wholeheartedly the love and sacrifice what God made to every heart and mind especially in a time of crisis. 

 However, despite such messages especially from the current order, words like "forgiveness", "love", "solidarity", among others, is not being taken seriously as injustices and oppression still occur. And it is not surprising that from these messages are rephrased statements from the past whose thought is far from its actual action such as driven by self-interest. 

Right is His Holiness Pope Francis in his "Fratelli Tutti" that certain words are being bent and shaped as tools to dominate, and as meaningless tags to justify actions- that mostly contrary to the spirit of the message. Especially in the presence and pressure of recent events, those words stated above, being babbled by those from the order would be enough to say trying to rally people- especially those having enough of oppression or injustice, of systemic corruption to that of rising costs of living, that those from the order would appeal to everyone's faith, or conscience despite such inconvenient truths that same order failed to address what more doing so just to maim growing dissent. 

For sure there are christians who ought to downplay this message, that Christianity should focus on spiritual redemption than social reform, that "There is no such thing as society" as what Thatcher said, but Christ's message, action, what more his sacrifice is itself paved way to social reform. As according to Daniel Lyons SJ, that "Christ came to found a religion; He taught no formal social science. But the religious principles He laid down revolutionized social science; in fact, they brought it into being. Fully one-half of Christ's recorded sayings are social in character, that is, they deal with man's relations with his fellow-man, which is the very definition of sociology. When Christ reduced His commandments to two, the first dealt with the love of God, the other with the love of one's fellow man: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". Of the Ten the first three deal with man's duties towards God, while the other seven are concerned with man's social duties." 

 Words like "Love," "Solidarity," and other concepts should be understood by Christians as calls to action as well as thought. A spiritual rejuvenation achieved by introspection and prayer needs to be complemented by deeds, such as providing for the impoverished, healing the ill, or standing out for social justice and the truth. Call it radical or revolutionary, but the objective of the faithful is the life to come, just like Christ, through whom God's love is made evident. 

 Jesus Christ fulfilled his obligation. Nevertheless, He spent His time demonstrating unending compassion for the populace, especially for the uncontrollable masses. 

And by following Christ, it is the duty to serve the people all for the kingdom come.