Our Dream: FARMERS' COCONUT MILLS in the NEW COCONUT-BASED ECONOMY

Our Dream:

FARMERS' COCONUT MILLS

in the

NEW COCONUT-BASED ECONOMY

Based from a writeup by Rey Callope Sabio
With a preface by Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

At first, it is a pleasure for yours truly to repost this writeup made by our fellow writer and advocate Rey Callope Sabio and his idea uplifting the coconut industry by means of new ideas such from growing to prociessing. In an agricultural country such as the Philippines, coconuts is one of the most important produce to be consumed and exported just like Rice and Bananas, however, in spite of exporting the said produce, farmers remained destitute especially those whom worked hard yet indebted and difficultly paying, or worse, being fooled by middlemen whose intention is to buy cheap from the growers and sell dear afterwards.

But this time, this person, along with Rey Sabio offers an alternative that would say empowers the coconut farmers, redevelop communities, as well as contributes in the development of modern yet organically based agriculture in the Philippines today.

Introduction

It may consider it as idealistic to some and uninterested to those whom prefering the usual ways of growing and processing. Yet in spite of these, it is time for the coconut farmers of the Philippines to be emancipated after more than 100 years of enslavement by the old copra coconut industry.

Within the next 10 years or by 2024 the copra coconut industry that is benefited by the few will be gone, replaced by the new fresh coconut processing industry called FRESCO. The more than 300,000 koprahans, mostly drying and small yet crude all milling facilities spread all over the archipelago will have been replaced by some 8,000 Farmers' Coconut Mills. These we call FARCOMs. And through these, a new 'New Coconut-based Economy' is emerging with the growing enlightenment among the 3.5 million coconut farmers.

Actually, we are witnessing a widespread discontent and anger against the long existing exploitative and oppressive ways in the coconut sector. Especially those of middlemen buying cheap if not landlords making growers in debt and difficultly paying it.

But at First, what are these FARCOMs and the New Coconut-based Economy all about?

Copra -- Sick, Poor Old Man

Copra is coconut meat primitively dried for many days by smoking or in open sun. Because of the crude method, it is basically dirty and cheap. It takes so much hard labor to produce copra. The farmers while making copra look like zombies, perspiring, stoic and sad.

This is done for the sole and exclusive purpose of crude coconut oil extraction in an oil mill hundreds of kilometers away from the farm. The main use of crude coconut oil (CNO) is industrial – the production of soaps, detergents, chemicals, explosives and the like.

For years, the farmers have been made to understand that only copra can be produced by them out of the coconut and were disabled by government from doing otherwise. The copra is deliberately priced low and must be sent to coconut oil mills owned by the big industry players who reap all the profits.

In the last fifty years, the processing of coconut water and production of clean coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut flour emerged. However, only the big players were allowed to do this. These three products constitute 75% of the value of the coconut fruit, the coconut oil being only 25%.

CNO is crude, filthy and poisonous oil. Enormous costs need to be incurred to cleanse it if it must be useful -- by RBD process (refine, bleach and deodorize). In this modern time, dirtying a naturally fresh food product only to subsequently clean and clarify it to be of use is unacceptable and defies reason, likely to be a problem especially in regards to health.

The underlying result of adopting this old technology is the continued concentration of economic gains and power in a few people, citing the fact that they exploit farmers and reapinh their profits, to the exclusion and impoverishment of a great number of people: the coconut farmers.

Indeed, the copra system is a sick, poor old man.

Fresca – New and Young

Fresca is granulated coconut meat dried cleanly within a few hours after the fresh nuts are opened. Fresh-looking, Fresca is white, clean and delicious food. It is produced right in a farm site where copra used to be made but now turned into a sanitary enclosed production area. This is called village level processing facility.

A final product itself, Fresca is processed further to produce Fresh Coconut Oil (FCO) and Coconut Milk-Flour (CMF) by using an expeller and pulverizer. FCO is popularly called Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO).

The capacity of a frescahan is the same as an average koprasan: 5,000 nuts per day. It can produce the same volume of copra from 5,000 nuts -- 1,000 kilos of fresca. From this, 600 kilos (60%) is extracted fresh coconut oil and 400 kilos (40%) coconut milk-flour. These two products are worth P 80,000.00, all in a day’s work.

Fresca is not produced by hard labor, but by happy farmers who collectively own the frescahan for their common use.

Fresca vs. Desiccated Coconut

Technically, Fresca and Desiccated Coconut are one and the same. The difference is that fresca is produced at the village level on a small scale by the coconut farmers themselves, while desiccated coconut is produced by the large producers, about ten companies in all.

Small is 5,000 nuts a day, while large is 500,000 nuts a day. Although small compared to large production, 5,000 nuts/day is 1.5 million nuts per year which is large for the coconut farmers.

The term Fresca is significant in language, being the opposite of copra which is the historical cause of the farmers’ poverty and exploitation by interests.

While Copra underlies the farmers’ and communities' poverty, Fresca is the source of their prosperity and genuine development.

What is FRESCO?

FRESCO stands for fresh coconut processing. It is the name used for the new fresh coconut industry which is the opposite of the old copra coconut industry. It is an integrated system that produces all values of the coconut fruit, unlike the old industry which produces only copra, copra oil and copra cake. Fresca is just one of the multiple products of FRESCO processing.

The main products of FRESCO are:
1.) Fresh Coconut Meat (chunks, grated, grains)
2.) Fresca
3.) Fresh Coconut Oil (FCO)
4.) Coconut Milk (whole coconut milk, skim milk)
5.) Coconut Water beverage and concentrate
6.) Coconut Flour (milk-flour and flour).

FRESCO has two models: 1) Village Level Processing and 2) Central Processing.

Within the village level frescahan, other minor but valuable products are also produced: liquid smoke, coconut shell charcoal and coconut ash.



FARCOM: its description and economics

FARCOM stands for Farmers' Coconut Mill. It is the village level processing facility (frescahan) that will replace the koprahan and to produce Fresca.

The 300,000 koprahans spread all over the Philippine archipelago currently process 12 billion nuts every year out of the 15 billion nuts produced annually by the 3.5 million coconut farmers.

Only 8,000 FARCOMS are needed to process the same volume of nuts.

Let’s look at the economic performance of a FARCOM: If it processes 5,000 nuts a day it can generate Php 10 million income per year. (SEE TABLE). If there are 200 participants in a FARCOM, each farmer-member can earn Php 50,000 a year as dividend.

The FARCOM will buy from its members, the 5,000 nuts at Php 10 per nut. Thus the farmers will earn Php 50,000 a day for their fresh nuts.

The capital cost to establish a FARCOM is Php 5 million. Thus, within a year, this capital requirement can be recovered within a year given the expected return of P10 million a year.

One FARCOM can grow organically into 8000 FARCOMs within ten years. Definitely, the copra industry can be gone within ten years if we pursue the FARCOM roadmap today

Coconut Agriculture and Industry in perspective

Coconut agriculture is apart from coconut industry. But both are the basic constituents of the new coconut economy.

Under the New Coconut Economy, the coconut farmers, as well as as their communities will prosper in the New Coconut Industry as well as in the New Coconut Agriculture.

Since the farmers will be concentrating on farm activities, having been freed from copra making, they will have time to tend to their farms to increase total farm yields. Fertilization of the coconut trees will be addressed to increase the current yield of 40 nuts per tree per year to 100 nuts per tree per year. The increase in yield will translate to higher farm incomes.

Farmers shall also practice multi-cropping to further increase their total income and to strengthen soil from possible erosion. Crops like coffee, cacao, corn, cassava and other crops can be planted in between the coconut trees to optimize land usage.

***

Rey Calliope Sabio is a photojournalist and farmers rights activist. And one of his interest is advocating the interests of the coconut farmer sector.

Go! Privatise them till they end bleedingly dried!

"Go! Privatise them till they are bleedingly dried!"

"Go! Privatise them till they are bleedingly dried!"

These are the words this writer think of in regards to the present situation involving mass transport in the Philippines. Given the fact that the government has been lax in solving public problems, transportation woes, and big profiteers willing to take over state-owned and controlled assets, privatisation is what being tackled much by today's bureaucrats wanting to downsize in exchange for sweetheart deals and kickbacks from the private sector.

But for most people whom endure the heat and rain in stations, privatisation mean additional cost of fares since the primary objective of the private sector is to gain profit. Public utilities such as MERALCO, MWSS, and Petron were once supported by the state, only to be bought out (or in case of MERALCO, reverted) by the private sector. And in it means further rising costs of services in regards to power distribution, water, and oil for transport; much more if these same profiteers wanting to take over rail-based mass transport from the state. The latter controlled LRT and PNR, while the MRT is under a joint venture under a "build-operate-transfer" scheme.

However, the state continues to toy with the idea bureaucrats had offered regardless of criticism. people may not understood this, but the State, or the system that controls the state discreetly cripples, mismanaging mass transport in spite of allocating its budget and its tie-ups with private profiteers. Masses, mainly students and workers are still struggling in heated conditions due to near-defected air conditioning if not waiting for at least half an hour with its trains having checked once in a while.
Worse, in spite of bragging, it did not spend money for restoring, improving, rehabilitating. That even the head of state, who obviously representing the compradore-landlord clique has been silent on the matter, but instead, has done is pour money for additional buses, which is wrong since roads are already flooded with cars, trucks, and buses in spite of schemes intended to control the flow of traffic like truck bans and number coding.

And because of these, ranging from traffics and other related issues, trains and improvement of rail-based mass transport are needed more than ever. If the system insist the motives of the compradores means excaberate traffic no matter how they justify it is. One would remember the railroad from Manila International Container Terminal to the main station at Tutuban been neglected decades ago due to buses, and now there are concerned citizens calling for reviving and improving for the sake of degongesting containers left at the terminal once and for all.

This writer find it sympathizing to those whom are clamoring for reviving the said railroad as well as additional trains and improving stations in LRT, MRT, and in PNR. What a shame if the system can't afford to resolve knowing that they have enough cash courtesy of 'foreign investments' and 'remittances' from the Filipino diaspora abroad; much more that it adds fury to the populace citing issues about corruption within the state bureaucracy. The state, sill clings to its initial standing of silence with some paper reforms being peddled off, with the latter that is obviously recommended by those wanting to keep the country weak in exchange for loans and rebranded as development. One of which is the dictates of the United States.
Speaking of the United States (sorry, but even Americans themselves disagree from intervening), with all the modern anemities the Americans had offered since the past, the Philippines, supposedly a communitarian society like those of its neighbours, rather ended chose to be a trying hard rugged individualist like its Star-Sprangled Master. The latter did utilise trains for moving products and people, but sadly it had been mismanaged as the profit-oriented private sector is silently crippling it in favor of cheap cars and trucks. The Philippines also had its 'share' of their idea by letting a massive influx of imported cars, trucks cripple mass transport like Trains and Tramway systems with the latter not been recovered after the war and waited for its 'revival' in the late 70s and in 80s.

And in spite of having mass transport like the Light Rail Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT), and the old but still reliable Philippine National Railways (PNR), the President rather said to the populace that massive traffic jams full of automobiles means moving forward and growing progress. Yes, that compradore folks wanted to gain profits in their selling automobiles rather than invest in maintaining and improving the entire railway network in the archipelago; and although nothing's wrong in having an automobile, sorry to say but Filipinos treat automobiles first as a source of self-pride than a means of transportation. So much for an American legacy to be consumeristic actually, buying for the sake of impressing than making things least easier.

But, since big private profiteers are willing to invest, this writer, along with those whom are concerned say that these companies rather wanted to invest for the sake of having more profits than providing services for the people. As noticed, that the MRT, a joint state-private entity faced major problems such as the lastest incident that resulted to a dozen people injured. But how about the LRT which is still under the hands of the state yet facing problems such as defective ticket dispensers, unused escalators and elevators?
There are indeed major problems in regards to the mass transport system in the Philippines, but the intention to mismanage or neglect these is an indication of the compradore-dominated state to have its fellow compadores take over for the sake of profit with high-priced tickets, or worse, to cripple it further with minsmanagment and negligence in favor of their real intention such as letting pride-obsessed people buy cheap automobiles no matter how increasing the cost of fuel it is. Lately, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) had afford to create its own mass transit such as in UP Diliman and in Taguig, but since it is part of the system, does it mean the system will seriously invest in it (in spite fo its experimental stage) the way it afford to brag about rehabilitation and improvement of existing mass transit systems?

Well, in spite of efforts made by those whom are concerned, and to sum it all, bleeding anyone dry by a negligent state and a compadore hungry for increasing profits while disregarding efficiency and safety. Apologetics of the neoliberal order would wanted the latter to take over as if they are capable courtesy of their so-called 'jobs', that they are willing to endure getting bled dry just to have an expensive ride.

But for many, the more they bled dry, the more they uprise against a system that chose to have its services laissez faire to those who greedily wanting to profit from it. Privatizing public service means giving up its obligation to ensure the welfare of many, while trying to protect the itnerest of the moneyed few (or 'producers' as what Ayn Rand stated). That LRT, MRT, as well as the entire railway network is both a profiteering venture and a hindrance to their interest in the eyes of these compradores.

We will never forget their tyranny

We will never forget their tyranny

"That Napoleon, just that particular Corsican should have been the military dictator whom the French republic, exhausted by its own warfare had rendered necessary, was chance; but that, if a Napoleon had been lacking, anothr would have filled the place as proved by the fact that the man was always found as soon as he became necessary: Caesar, Agustus, Cromwell, etc."


- Freidrich Engels, to W. Borgius, 1884.

These are the words this person had read first from an old writeup prior to making this post.

Both made in commemoration of Martial rule and of last few months surrounding protest against a corrupt regime trying to act as just, it seems easier for those who had experienced how the present order tries to act firm with its varying levels of capacity to preserve no matter how opposing the majority of people taken against them.

As the present Aquino administration discreetly, yet still obviously continues to toy the idea of having more power via charter change and term extension, it seems that these people, as well as the fanatics supporting, are trying to replicate what was made decades ago: of substituting the New Society of the past for today's Righteous Path.

Most People may deny its similarities and insist differences about the two, but there are those whom sought its similarities in spite of changing names and watering down its core ideas. But still, it appears as exploitative no matter what it is just like the mountains whose trees been cut by Enrile during martial rule and uncontrollable mining in the mountains of Mindanao at present.

That both Marcos's New Society and Aquino's Righteous Path is full of rhetorics concerning reform and development. Marcos did spoke against corruption, of agrarian reform, industrial development, and uplifting people from poverty; so is today's Aquino. Both had its share of oligarchs, technocrats, murderers, and decrees that the latter as watered down to make more less Marcosian and much Aquinistic.
Yet in spite of appearing themselves as patriotic, these two leaders, both past and present are stooges of the star-sprangled master. Both of their fanatics clamor much of having a head of state that are capable of resolving problems through a series of paper reforms and sneering everyone through the ears with their rhetorics; that they have their share of left-wing terminologies to appear that their actions as much revolutionary than those from the mountains with their liberated zones.

But for the common people who are victims of centuries-old repression would say that these men are dictators, tyrants, despots whose idea is how to extend their stay at the presidential palace. The former had its children grew old and treated Malacañang as their own abode, while the latter chose to be single in spite of numerous relationships people had sought on television. But again and still, these men had made big numbers aroused, organised, and mobilised in their actions, their grumblings had been getting louder day by day in spite of being called barbaric or ill-mannered by apologetics in every social media site.

Much more that those whom are trigger happy are wanting to create a sea of blood amongst those who struggle and the innocents whom they mistaken for; those who justify would have called it as a prophylaxis to cleanse anything what they think of as threat no matter how innocent they are or not, simply because their impressions came first than their innocence with a variety of statements to justify from. Yesterday's Marcos and today's Aquino had employed a mixture of deception, harassment, and outright plunder to justify their control with the help of their coteries, worse, paraniocally thinking that they're in a state of siege as stated by their actions whether discreet or exposed.

Yet still, can't stop the growing protests as earlier stated. Much more that it becomes a fertile ground for the growth of Revolution as the present system tolerates their own nonsense and betrayed public trust. No matter what the protests and various direct actions been called barbaric or ill-mannered, these barbarians they've called off are countering those civilised thugs and its apologetics such as in the academe and in social media sites last week.
The latter appear 'civilised' such as insisting dialouge to the anger-filled populace, yet these civilised are actually barbaric with all their thievish actions against the people, bleeding them dry actually with rising costs of goods, services, and higher taxes that affected their income and at worse, benefits. And the so-called barbarians whom they afford to heckle are actually civilised, yet with repression, disenfranchisement, and bleeding them dry by vested interest, these people are willing to go beyond the parameter of 'legality' to assert what is just no matter how precious their life is. 

But in spite of all the heckings from the other side, the criticisms pointed against the system would say that it is both a test of democracy being peddled and a committment given that these people offered an alternative to the corrupt order. To use Marcos terms (apologies), "of what is Democracy if it is not for the poor?" 

Yes, the Filipino poor, dispossessed, repressed, and struggling is worth fighting for Democracy, fighting to grab the power that is still firmly handled by those whom making a bastardisation such as those from above. The Filipino nowadays chose to be a Jacobin as what Marcos abhorred, but that Jacobin is full of vigour that they want to cleanse its own backyard out of its filth, of tyrants trying hard to be righteous, no matter how precious their life is.

For now, here's a Video feat. the song "Solidaritatslied" by the German band Commandantes.

Of additional powers, hooligans, and the willingness to vent dissent

Of additional powers, hooligans,

and the willingness to vent dissent

(Or how this person tries to connect those who create their dubious moves

and those who really felt its negative, anger-provoking effects)

It was few days ago when this writer had read an article about the Aquino administration continues its desperate attempt to have additional powers by requesting the legislature.

Using the projected electricity shortage looming next year, the letter attempting to bestow President Aquino additional powers is too broad as according to Senate President Drilon, and likely to have possible adverse impact citing the experience during the Ramos administration as an example.

However to most people, President Aquino’s attempt to insist both Senate and Congress bestow himself additional powers also means additional burden, especially those of Workers and Government Employees, that are still marred by rising costs of goods and services, as well as overtaxed and underpaid, expressed disgust in the issue. They used the electic issue as its basis, much more that there are other related issues such as the infamous Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Pork Barrel, and neoliberal economic policies.

Actually, the administration may afford to have additional powers courtesy of his lackeys in the legislature but does it mean it can ensure the welfare of the people, that Peasants still clamor for Land, and Workers, Government Employees still calling for wage increase and an end to additional taxes. There are more problems to tackle so to speak but the administration rather takes it too easy through a series of half-baked solutions, influence peddling, and crass rhetoric commonly heared and supported by fanatics.

Worse, it aggravates the rising costs of electricity plus corruption via sweetheart deals with big businesses though ‘Public Private Partnerships’. Aquino and his clique had afforded to babble development but do not mean it alleviates clear and present suffering of those who worked hard yet underpaid while facing additional taxes and increasing costs of goods and services especially electricity.

That somehow made it realized by a series of actions directly pointed against them. That lately, protesters from the University of the Philippines stormed the School of Economics wherein Budget Secretary Florencio Abad had attended a forum. Abad, known for justifying the infamous DAP and other neoliberal policies of the administration was nearly cornered by the students clamoring for his resignation as well as ouster of his boss; that made yellow fanatics, neoliberal apologetics to the core afford to call them as hooligans and ill-mannered as such.

Ill-mannered? Hooliganish? Then how about the thugs in uniform, toga, and coat trying to justify rising costs and less wages? It ain't be reformistic as what they babble with buta counterreactionary as it actually shows. One would remember that the Philippines has the highest electric rate in Asia as well as having billions of pesos to pay for the loans got from IMF-WB; while the Govenment think-tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) had afford to state that minimum wage should be relaxed and private companies should have the right to pay below minimum. These issues are quite problematic and anger-provoking, much more that people whom had endured and heard all these bullshit are likely to go beyond the line and start venting vulgar against those whom initiate and justify further with terms like 'development'.

Why on earth the system had allowed its own community to have higher electric rates, of having its bigger chunk of the budget be allocated to debt servicing whilst willing to apply for another loan, and a think-tank insisting the same babble as what foreign overlords wanted to? Stupidity at its finest for the system, its apologists, and the fanatics who afford to call protesters as barbaric, hooliganish, and the like. Hypocritical if they afford to oppose DAP, Pork, rising costs of goods and services, yet they assail those who really vent rage on one of its justifiers.

And since these thugs and goons afford to tackle about solutions, why additional powers? Public-Private Partnerships? Commercialization of state assets? Term extentions and the like? Haven’t they learned from the anomalies that took place during the Ramos and other past administrations? Did the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and other neoliberal trade acts alleviate the consumer? Did that DAP stimulate development with all of the half-baked infrastructure and influence peddling to the people? No! Much more that the people, whether they are Worker, Peasant, Student, Government Employee, and SME persons are greatly affected by the problems caused by palliative measures as well as tired of rhetorics peddled by Aquino and his folk.

Again, the actions made by the present administration acts as a sampling of a coming dictatorship that is ‘carefully tended by his lackeys and justified by his fanatics. The latter afford to call the protesters near and far as hooligans, ill-mannered, or in yesteryears as seditionists and treasonous especially after assailing against an administration man such as Florencio Abad in a state university. These hooligans have the right to rebel against an order that afford to toy with emergency powers and term extensions, much more that they justify inequality, injustice, and a series of artificial crisis courtesy of having laissez faire to the wreckers and profiteers as means to 'steer development'.

And if so, then these hooligans are worthy of praise as they afford to really vent rage on behalf of those who can't yet willing to, than those who obviously taking the side of the repressor with all of their statements pointing against them. Call them ill-mannered as you wish, but in a so-called "democratic" society lies a voice of dissent, and that is include the right to turn down tyrants by means of their actual and virtual ostracons with their names written against them.

Charlene

Charlene

Charlene, 

There are no stars glowing from the sky,

Even from this song bursting from what hearts

Echo the unfolding violence of our time

It had resist the countless calls of change

Into entrails of bitterness and poverty

As evidenced by the shantytowns and the countryside

And men whose minds filled with hunger and hatred

But wombs are still fertile with hope

Yet may come what may

Charlene,

There are no stars glowing from the sky,

That speaking of the devil,

Army men with its civilian-clad intelligence agents

Goons garb in uniforms

High coolish rookie policemen wade through

The rank and file of chanting young demonstrating radicals

Flooding out of communities and universtity halls

Their nightsticks eager to slash soft flesh

And water cannons to burst itchy feelings in one's skin

Plainclothesmen taking pictures of those who aspire and inspired

To be disappeared after as time comes forward

Charlene,

There are no stars glowing from the sky,

Peasants, out in the fields still suffer from onslaught

Of both sudden rain and heat

Of burning furuous summer suns

And of drenching torrential rains

Yet the worst suffering they face

Is the hellish face of landlords denying request

In spite of giving the biggest share of their crops

If not giving the lords few crumbs to hungry stomachs 

That deny the passage of progress

And even a bit of promise is nowhere seen on the horizon

Charlene,

There are no stars glowing from the sky,

That mass transport drivers and workers complain

About rising prices of oil and other products

Cut short the promise of bountiful boundaries

And still low paid costs of living allowances

While their wives nag time and again like fishwives to death

And still the majority of apathetic citizens remain deaf

Trying to escape with their newfound enjoys

From all the clamors of the suffering nation

Charlene, 

There are no stars glowing from the sky,

That call center agents with their overtimes

Feeling stressfull from time to time

The nagging voices of the complainants

Be replied with the foul mouths of the burned outs

Coffees for weekdays and beers for weekends

Necessities and state fees drain monthly allowances

Reason enough for them to commit suicide

Charlene,

There are no stars glowing from the sky,

Whores and prostitutes sell short time bliss

To loveless husbands and forsaken lovers

Also to worldly and warm-blooded teenagers

Over the districts whose notoriety is life

Yet as wild flowers spontaneously bloom 

Diseases come too soon

Yet still red lights reek like wild flowers strewn

Charlene,

There are no stars glowing from the sky,

That the system controlling the society is going down the drain

Self gratifying, profiteering

Anything terrifying

What with graft and corruption, state terrorism intersped

In between to the benefited:

To the moneyed elite

To the powered structure

To the kingmakers, fiefs, and lords

The moneyed few sprinkling crumbs

Trickle down yet the have-nots none

I know you can't understand all these

As you hear the music playing

You kept running from all realities

Despite feeling pain astounding

Yes, there are no stars in the sky

But we seen dogs eat dogs

And the old rapes the young

Even if the night is darkly pregnant

Promising a brilliant array of dotting twinkling stars

Still, there are no stars in the sky

Charlene,

Yes, there are no stars in the sky

But instead a red lantern glowing

Raised by your militant hand.

To Charlene Bernabe,

2014

Of people maligning technology while contented in imports

Of people maligning native-made technology 

while contented in ready-made imports

"What a waste of talent!!!! Design a real vehicle Prof with real materials. Not a vehicle made of bamboo."

These are the words this writer had sought in one of the comments section about a professor who afford to use domestic materials in his so-called creation.

Known as "Bangkarwayan", that creation, rather than invention from a University of the Philippines-Manila Professor Benjamin Mangubat had afford to use both solar and wind power as its source of energy, and yet what is been heavily featured much is the use of bamboo and other native materials as its body.
Technically, the name Bangkarwayan comes from the Filipino word "Bangka" (boat), car, and "Kawayan" (bamboo); and aside from its Its dark brown coat gives an age-old appearance reminiscent of early 20th century experimental vehicles of the west. On land, it can reach 40 kilometres per hour, drawing power from two sets of five 12 volt batteries; while on water, it has rudder, a propeller, empty plastic bottles for floaters, and a separate smaller engine.

According to Mangubat, he wanted his students to think out of the box when it comes to creating things and ideas, and often cites Dr. Jose Rizal as his model of inventiveness and creative thinking his students should ought to emulate. However, he said that most of his students are simply bookish rather than being creative and expressive. "I want to show my students that I can also walk my talk." He added.

However, in spite of his contributions, as well as others trying to instil resilience and creativity, most people rather chose to criticize these people as anti-progress if not wasting time, or worse, crazed in making those creations. The quote stated above showed the narrow mindedness of a "learned person" that as if trying to offer something "better than bamboo."
But since he and others is trying to offer something, or even babbling about science, then how come they can't speak about industrialisation? Mangubat may have succeeded better if the Philippines had been industrialised, and industrialisation involves utilizing things for the greater interest even those of Bamboo.

Remember: there's a designer whom used Bamboo in making a bike, as well as speaker for Iphones.

But actually, they can't say something other than downplaying their contribution. Yes, the Bangkarwayan is also prone to accidents and likely to fail due to its appearance, but Professor Mangubat afford to ride in it, that he tested the speed of the vehicle as it ran by wind and the sun; people whom afford to heckle are just plain contented in petrol-powered vehicles, that they treated their vehicles as primarily a source of pride, a status symbol than a means of transporting themselves.

Much more that they enjoy the imports while doubting the credibility of what is carefully crafted in its own backyard. Massive influx of foreign goods had crippled domestic ones as the government fails to protect no matter they urge people to "buy Filipino" via its own propaganda mill. Cheap advertising tricks had urged many to equate something foreign as absolutely modern not also knowing that some, if mot most parts are also assembled in the processing zones around the country like microchips for computers and cellphones, if not the age old shoes and apparel being sold expensively while its workers low paid and crisis striken.
And yet in spite of having processing zones afford to assemble for their foreign clients and their familiar names, few people like Professor Mangubat had kept the Panday Pira spirit of forging new things out of existing knowledge in pursuit of contributing to its own community. People may still cling to their slander but did they try? Did they also think out of the box to create new things and ideas in par with the modern?

For sure some of them had once tinkered with science and technology, that also some of them they took courses whose emphasis is on science and technology, but out of practicality their jobs are far from its supposed interest; if there is then they less took part in forging and more of spending. They afford to criticize the prevalence of the Filipino Jeepney, and yet they can't speak, even once about industrialising the society and develop the countryside in order to utilize resources and develop what's anew and beyond the familiar.
The Department of Science and Technology had afford to create a mass transit vehicle such as those in UP Diliman and in Taguig; but the present system that overseers the said department, in its issue about its own mass transport such as its Light Rail and Mass Rapid Transits, failed to resolve and hence became a subject of criticisms and heckles, much more that the budget they afford to say about 'for rehabilitation and improvement of stations and buying new trains' is all but a hollow rhetoric as they continue toying with the idea about privatising the entire Mass Transport System.

And since they afford to brag about rehabilitating and buying new trains, did the system afford to support campaigns for industrialisation, especially in realising the nation's need for a bigger and greater heavy industry? People had seen jeepneys that had been assembled in Parañaque, but the engine comes from Japan. Men like Mangubat did afford to create their own engine, but these are embryonic, experimental with the system failed to support them through what's been said earlier.
Simply because it harms their interests such as those of oil companies and compradores benefiting in selling cars. Industrialisation is a rhetoric to be dabbled upon by these people in order to sneer the idealistic through the ears, but half-hearted in realizing its importance in a growing society.

Back to what's been said earlier, these so-called critics had no words to say other than contented in imports and letting foreign investors move freely in its motives. Nothing's wrong in foreign investment on the first place, but has to be tempered with domestic development such as stimulating production and the encouragement of a patriotic, scientific, and mass oriented education in order to cultivate Filipinos creativity, ingenuity, and deeply rooted in its heritage and identity (more than the usual flag waving and cheering for imports). Mangubat wanted his students to cultivate in a way Jose Rizal insist in his written works and actual deeds.

But since they afford to assail, rather than criticise, what did they do? Just contented in imports simply because they are modern? Brand new? That Industrialisation is passe in favor of letting a country be just opened and contented in foreign investments, prioritising profit-oriented tourism and redescribe outsourcing as industry?
For sure most of them are butt-hurt in reading these words, much more that they would insist that the Philippines should be contented in things imported, if not forcing the nation be opened altogether to the world without focusing on its own, no matter how beneficial it is but too lowly as compared to high-end of the west.

"A message from the writer"

"A message from the writer"

 

This is paranoia on the part of politicians because of their unrepentant guilt as public figures.

Scared of being scrutinized by many because of their unpopular actions and self-profit, few of them  who are sick and tired of denials have afford to file a bill that been described as "An Act protecting against personal intrusion by any person with intent to gain or profit" that is, actually trying to invade one's privacy such as those whom are self-expressing in front of their own lenses and accusing them of taking pictures of someone no matter how uninvolve in that scene.  

Actually, as years passed by, from the dawn of printing to the use of modern-day gadgetry, they acknowledge the power of the people having technology in their hands; and they will try to suppress it as much as they can in the name of "order." 

And however good the intent of that bill is, such as those of protecting one's privacy, this writer, as well as others supporting, would like to raise some bones of contentions here, as according to the street photography site Malate:

1.) The bill will curtail press freedom and freedom of expression.

2.) Consent doesn't go with photojournalism in most cases. How does a journalist ask for consent from, say, an angry mob or trigger-happy men?

3.) This will make news photos and videos illegal. Do you stop media outfits from documenting actions of officials and minimize journalists’ access to information and proofs?

4.) The danger here is when hideous organizations/elements or the police itself prevent reporters from taking photos of their actions.

5.) Tourists may get caught up in this law and worse, give another blow to tourism.

6.) How do you ask permission from people in picturesque places? Or do you simply wait till the frame is cleared of every single body?

7.) Does it apply to CCTV cameras? Because it takes videos and pictures of people without their consent.

8.) How about TV cameras? Because they take close-up shots of audiences in a ballgame without their consent as well.

And if this writer nay add in regards to that post, does it include:

 Greasy persons scavenging in the street? 

A drunkard foreigner wandering carrying a bottle of a local gin? 

Or even this kid eating his lunch at Captain's Galley?

Again, the bill could be used as a tool for suppression on behalf of a rotten, repressive system guised as progressive and just. 

And there are no further words to say, except this:

No to House Bill No. 4807!

Uphold people's right to expression!

 

IS SELFIE-ING BECOMING A CRIME?

IS SELFIE-ING BECOMING A CRIME?

(Or all after reading HB 4807  and why is it being likely to be criticized by many)

It's been a week ago when news about a congressman had filed a bill that is likely to be criticized by many regardless of being passed in its second reading.

As House Bill 4807, known as “Anti-Paparazzi bill” and “An Act protecting against personal intrusion by any person with intent to gain or profit therefrom”, was authored by Congressman Rufus Rodriguez 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro. It was approved on second reading in the House of Representative last August 12 and has since gained mainstream attention as the “anti-selfie bill” due to the provisions equating “selfies” and pictures of an unintentional nature to those of “stalking.”

However, HB 4807 hasn’t received many thumbs-up among congressmen, with both majority and minority members disliking its potential to curtail self-expression and press freedom. It may call it as one of the most stupid bills made by congressmen who are filing bills for the sake of passing it, such as "Adobo Bill" of Rene Relampagos, and "Malunggay Bill" of Gina de Venecia. 

Looking at the bill, and why is it being opposed by many

According to HB 4807, the following acts are considered an intrusion into the personal privacy of another, and shall be presumed to have been committed with the intent to gain or profit:

-Capturing by a camera or sound recording instrument of any type of visual image, sound recording or other physical impression of the person

-Trespassing on private property in order to capture any type of visual image, sound recording or other physical impression of any person

-Capturing any type of visual image, sound recording or other physical impression of a person or family activity through the use of a visual or auditory enhancement device even when no physical trespass has occurred, when the visual image, sound recording or other physical impression could not have been captured without a trespass if no enhancement device was used.

Section 4 of the bill says any person whose personal privacy was intruded as defined may in a civil action against the person who committed the intrusion, obtain any appropriate relief, including compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive and declaratory relief.

Any person obtaining relief may be either the person whose visual or auditory impression has been captured or the owner of the private property trespassed to capture the visual image, sound recording or other physical impression of another.

"The fact that no visual image, sound recording or other physical impression of a person was actually sold for gain or profit shall not be available as a defense in any civil action or proceeding for the enforcement of the provisions of this act," the bill explained.

The only exemption from this act is legitimate law enforcement activities.



Still, criticisable no matter what the intention is

But regardless of its justifications made by Rodriguez et al. The said bill means criticism pointed against them, and hence should be scrapped in spite of its so-called intentions that actually more of “serious implications on freedom of expression and press freedom.” 

As According to BAYAN MUNA representative Carlos Zarate, he said that: 

“At first glance, the terms used in these provisions may seem harmless and well meaning. Yet, a deeper look at how they will impact everyday lives is truly worrisome. It affects not only those in the media profession, but everyone,”

And in a society that values press freedom and freedom of expression, why impose a bill that, like "anti-cybercrime law", and "right of reply bill", rather infringes freedoms people enjoyed? Once, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile wanted to regulate blogsites and bloggers, only to face criticism by those whom using blogs as a means of expression and conveying thought; even this writer has the right to assail knowing that the internet has been a "Democracy Wall" that has to be cherished by many, and those whom wanting to impose some 'regulations' are those whom likely to impose that is unjust to those whom are expressing against their wishes.

So is the person's right to narcissise its own and be criticized by many like the writeup being posted few years before. Let the critics criticize, but to call their narcissistic intention crime? Quite ridiculous.

Anyways, the bill is unlikely to pass since it is heavily criticized by many regardless of its intention. Come to think of this, what if the picture was shot unintentionally, then, is that person who shot that picture has to be accused of a crime that meant imprisonment no matter how unintentional the photo was taken?

 And If passed, then taking a “selfie” will not be an innocent and spontaneous gesture. Those who have made a habit of showing off to friends in social media where they are at the moment will then have to think about a law that may get an act of “selfie” a court case or a jail sentence.

And most whom likely to be accused of stalking are those of the youth whom undoubtedly the most who are doing selfies. People whom are likely to be affected by that bill would think of it as stupid regardless of its intentions, much more that as it said earlier, like any other bills being filed for the sake of being filed as lawmakers. 

IN DEFENCE OF PILIPINO AS NATIONAL LANGUAGE

IN DEFENCE OF PILIPINO AS NATIONAL LANGUAGE

by Maria S. Ramos

With introductory preface and conclusion
from Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

This is the substative text of the position paper of the Kapisanan ng mga Propesor sa Pilipino (KAPPIL) on the National language issue, it was delivered by Maria S. Ramos, KAPPIL and UE-PAUW chapter president, suring the national language hearing of the constitutional convention last Nov. 23, 1971 at the Manila Hotel.

Prior to posting this decades-old writeup (originally from DAWN since 1971), this writer, also cooperating with groups like "Tanggol Wika" also made writeups stressing the importance of a Patriotic, Scientific and Popular instruction to the people, specifically those of studying and promoting the language of the masses like Filipino in all levels. Ramos's statement would say that yes, Filipino is like Bahasa Indonesia whose base is Javanese, but they include Bugis, Bangsa Jawa, and others that had enriched the language of Indonesians. So should be Filipino in spite of Tagalog as its base. Regardless of the current criticism pointing against Filipino as medium of instruction, mostly citing the practicality of using English up to the exaggerated alibi of 'Tagalog supremacy', there are words that also comes from other dialects like Visayan with its 'Padayon' and Iloko with 'Agbiag' that also shared meaning as 'Mabuhay'.

Personally, the statement is somehow aligned with the present statements given by professors San Juan, Batnag, Geronimo, et al. in spite of its differences of than the year that was written. But the message is clear that Filipino, or in its original name, Pilipino will always be the lingua franca of the masses, and still continues to be enriched and thriving regardless of the criticism.

But come to think of this, why most progressive countries used their own native tongue instead of English? Or to most English speakers, is their English used in enlighten the people instead of enslaving them? English is a good language of trade, but to forget Filipino as its own tongue comes a lack of consciousness except false pride and full of nonsense.

And here it goes:


We are deeply concerened about the problem of what shall be out National language. It is certainly not english nor spanish. It must be Pilipino. But Pilipino based on Tagalog. If we trace the history of the development of National language in the world, we will find out that majority of their National language by basing it on one of their existing dialects, either because that existing dialect is widely spoken or that dialect is rich in its literature. China chose Mandarin; Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia or Javanese; India, Hindi; Pakistan, Urdu; Spain, Castillan Spanish. No country in the world today has its National language developed by means of the convergence of dialects. The English language isnnot the product of dictated convergence. The English language is developed through a long process of growth forced by historical circumstances. It has its basis the Angles, then by the force of the invasion
And was, by different countries introduced their languages: the Saxons of Germany, the Jutes from Jutland, Norway, and Sweden.
The Romans introduced Latin, the French and Normans through the duke of Normandy William the Conqueror, introduced French and the Spaniards, Spanish. This is the English language today, it grows and develops not by legislation or dictation but through usage by the people.

In our country today, Tagalog was made the basis of our National language not because the Tagalogs desire to be imperialist or dominant but because the wisdom of the Institute of National Language then, after making a thorough study of our principal local dialects like the Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Bicolano, and Tagalog, concluded and recommended that Tagalog should be made the basis because of the following reasons:

1.) Tagalog is easy to teach and to learn.
2.) Tagalog is the riches among local dialects and has the elements of foreign languages like Latin, Greek, Hindu, Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish, and English.
3.) Tagalog is the language of commerce and industry. This is spoken in all commercial cities in the Philippines,
4.) Among all the local dialects, Tagalog has producted the richest literature, Florante at Laura ni Balagtas, poems and novels of exemplary Tagalog writers,
5.) The center of culture, religion, and education is Manila, which speaks Tagalog. We cannot deny this.
6.) Tagalog is flexible, absorbent, and versatile. The present trend of modernisation of language in Asia is towards the use of the native affixes and the foreign rootword; for example- prefix mag + root English word party = Magparty; Magreport, prefix mag + root English word report; magexibhit, magsiyuting, nagholdup - infix = sign, sumain- suffix sinainan, Spanish demonstrasyon, nagdemonstrasyon, rebolusyon, nagrebolusyon.
7.) Tagalog is accepted geographically, traditionally, and historically. Manila, which speaks Tagalog is located at the centre of the. Philippines where all people going to it will certainly learn Tagalog. It was the language of the Kartilya ng Katipunan and the Constitution of the Katipunan government. The Tagalog dialext was the most common dialect used by the Filipinos during the Spanish period. A Tagalog travelling anywhere in the Philippines is understood everywhere. This was attested to by Spanish historian fr. Chirino and Loarca (Encyclopedia of the Philippines by Zoilo Galang).
8.) For 26 years of propagation through the schools, the government and the media, like the newspaper, magazines, radio, and television, Pilipino based on Tagalog has spread extensively throughout the Philippines. The CEAP survey of 1970 revealed that 64% of our people speak and understand Pilipino,

The members of the first Institute of National Language were not all Tagalogs, the Chairman was Jaime C. de Veyra, a Visayan; the other one was Hadji Butu, a Muslim. Only one was a Tagalog, Lope K. Santos. Later the government, because of lack of funds, abolished the board of directors and left only one director. It is not the fault of the director if he was unable to incorporate many other local words to the National language.

If compared to the interests of other countries in the development of their National language, ours is very much behind. Malaysia has a national language building costing around 2 million pesos. The National language celebration lasts for one month. Burma, immediately after its independence, translated almost all of its English books into the native language. In Indonesia, no political leader can run for public office without writing or speaking Bahasa Indonesia.

Today, after almost 36 years that Pilipino based from Tagalog has been taught in all private and public schools, 64% of our people already understand and speak Pilipino. This is so, because of the efforts of the schools, the government, the movies, and the mass media. This is attested by the survey made by the CEAP in 1970.

In the development of a national language based on Tagalog, we will not certainly not abandon our local dialects for they are the expressions of our local culture. They must be spoken at home, but certainly we need a common language to bridge our people- and that language is Pilipino, the basis of our National language in 1937 (Executive Order No. 134) - a language that has passed trial and test fot the last 36 years. It is the language for which our government spent millions and millions of pesos in books and other teaching materials. It is the language for which around 30,000 teachers earn their livelihood and it is the language being majored by thousands of students throughout the Philippines.

As a teacher who has taught the language for the last 25 years, I have found the result of my teaching very encouraging. There are more non-Tagalogs who are more proficient in Pilipino than the Tagalogs themselves.

In the development of Pilipino, we are not going to suppress the other vernaculars or eliminate English. We are for the development and enrichment of Pilipino language by incorporating into it English, Spanish, Ilokano, Bisaya, and other Pilipino dialects by established usage. For language must grow. It must grow by leaps and bounds. It is nurtured and cared. In the course of its growth, there are terms, expressions, or usages that are discarded and there are those that survive the test of time and live to become part of a standard language that has the making of a National language. We must not eliminate English, for English is our link language to the outside world. It is the international language, the language of science and technology.

The proposal to develop a new language for out of all the existing native languages is purely artificial language survives. This is like Esperanto which did not prosper. Before a certain theory is adapted, it must be tested and experimented. Has it been done in other countries? Was it successful? Let us see the other theory; that is, using a dialect as its basis. Was it done? Was it successful? There are questions that we must answer.

We must not loose sight also of the fact that there are enormous amount of money will be wasted if we begin again to adopt another proposal. It is a well-known fact that our country is in dire poverty where millions are hungry. Let us be less emotional and less regionalistic, let us sacrifice for the well being of the people. Let us not work for change when change is not essentially needed anymore.

The teaching of good citizenship, of basic literature and culture is part of Nation-building and this can best be done and achieved thru the medium of a common language. That language is Pilipino- a National language that has pass trial and test for a long period of time, for which we have spent a lot of money, and for which we harvested fruitful and satisfactory rewards. Its use is popular and is understood by the majority of our people. Let us adopt it as our common medium of expression for National unity and identity.

***

It's been centuries past when Tagalog had served as its base for the National language such as Filipino. Year by year it continues to be enriched by local dialects, vulgar and colloquial terms, sociolects, even those of foreign terms adapted to Filipino sounding such as 'Payb Handred' instead of 'Five Hundred'.

However, in spite of trying to maintain and enrich, there are those whom trying to disregard Filipino such as those of schools using their 'mother tounge' instead of studying Filipino in primary levels, if not removing Filipino in tertiary level and be placed in senior high and therefore must be opposed as what San Juan, Batnag, and Geronomo insisted.
On the other hand, this writer also criticize Ramos, regardless of the decade being presented in 1971 for limiting local dialects 'at home' citing the fact that there are communities in Metro Manila that are mostly from the minorities like Moros in Quiapo, Manila or Warays in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City; Movies like Cesar Montano's 'Panaghoy sa Suba' used Cebuano, or Sigfreid Barros Sanchez's 'In bangka ha ut sin duwa sapah' used Tausug as its spoken language. But still, these dialects had enriched Filipino as the language of the mass, forging further in the spirit of National unity and identity.

In the maximum, building a better nation should be innovative yet deeply rooted. True that English is indeed the language of science, trade, laws, anything that is modern; but it should not be a hindrance in insisting an education and culture that is, Patriotic, Scientific, and Mass Oriented.

As according to Renato Constantino, he said:

"The object is not merely to produce men and women who can read and write or who can add and subtract. The primary object is to produce a citizenry that appreciates and is conscious of its nationhood and has national goals for the betterment of the community."
And that includes appreciating, enriching the language just like its own culture.

After all, why on earth those who desire to dissolve Filipino in the tertiary level insist their moves? Removing it is more than just affecting the professors and their benefits, but also in possible dissolving subjects that require using Filipino as its medium. Subjects like Logic, Social Sciences, Philippine History, and  Humanities are likely to be affected by the sudden dissolution of Filipino in the tertiary level; much more that in this current state of Philippine education, geared towards globalization, is actually making the future Filipino generation devoid of national consciousness, likely a slave for an exploitative market of vested interests.

And thus should be opposed.

Anyways, regardless lf the slander, Filipino, or its original name, Pilipino, will always serve as one of foundation for the coming Renaissance in this 21st century.

Thank you and Padayon!

YUSOPH J. MANDO: promoting processed, clean, halal food for the Filipinos

YUSOPH J. MANDO: promoting processed, clean, halal food for the Filipinos

It was last last week when this person had visited a Malaysian restaurant in Quiapo district, Manila. There he had ordered Nasi Goreng, and at the same time thinking about what goes on in the so-called Muslim town. 

To most people, Muslim town in Quiapo is known for the Mosque made during the Marcos regime, if not a significant number of Muslims living there, mostly selling pirated DVDs in the well-known Quiapo Film Institute (sorry for the unofficial term on that area known for stalls selling pirated DVDs.)

Actually, it was a second time around for yours truly to go both in that district as well as the restaurant situated there. Aside from having Nasi Goreng being served, this writer had sought one of the familiar faces talking with a Muslim colleague in another table. Quite reluctant at first to meet him, but since he's friendly and willing to have a conversation, he met that guy, whom happens to be the owner of the restaurant. And his name is Yusoph Mando.

Mando encouraged to eat halal for everybody not just Muslims alone. Citing cleanliness (both spiritual and the way being prepared) as one cause, he expressed not just concern about his fellow brothers in faith about the food they eat, but a need for a strict implementation of Halal (permissible) rules from the ingredient to the utensils being used in cooking and in serving, so is his establishment.

Born and raised in Basilan, Mando had set sail for Manila in search of greener pastures aside from pursuing his studies, and there he had got opportunities from selling water to selling cars and even providing internet services in his hometown. The results of his perseverance, hard work turned into an investment by setting up his own Pamanganan restaurant.

Exterior of Pamanganan restaurant

Making Halal truly acceptable

Pamanganan, according to Mando, is more than just a restaurant but service to his fellowmen. His concern about the dietary habits of muslims, and even Christians around Quiapo district in Manila brought an idea about a restaurant whose foods being served are strictly adhere to requirements concerning Halal from the market to the kitchen. And also with his expertise in cooking he did offered a variety of international cuisine with Malaysian as its main showcase with its Nasi Goreng and Teh Arik, although most people had loved his version of Spicy Korean noodles called Mami Lala, and his halal pizza. These foods stated had undergone requirements for being permissible for consumption especially for a Muslim.

Mando, in strictly adhering to the needs of Muslims (and even Christians), particularly in their dietary habits even said that he himself refrained from buying goat or sheep in a place together with pigs, nor fish simply dipped in its own blood trying to make itself fresh by the vendor; and he even stated that some, if not most food manufacturing companies whose foods bearing with halal seal often failed to justify its legality especially when the manufacturer also did things inimical for the requirements used in Islam, especially those of cleanliness and procedure in manufacturing processed food.

That somehow made Mando's Pamanganan also manufacture its own Soy Sauce, vinegar, and even fruit juices, making himself the first Muslim entrepreneur to manufacture halal-certified condiments. The chicken being served at the restaurant also came from his compound wherein chickens are to be slaughtered in accordance to islamic law in order to make itself permissible for consumption.

Pamanganan restaurant

So far, his Pamanganan restaurant is accepted by both Muslims and Christians alike. And Mando was even appraised for his interfaith dialouge and peace advocacy for Mindanao especially war torn Basilan; trying to break the perception about Muslims as warmongers and misogynists, that somehow made government and rebel alike, priest or imam had appreciated his moves not just in his entrepreneurship but his call for unity and peace that is, based on social justice and mutual respect.

Yusoph Mando having a speech with fellow Moros

Promoting understanding through language

and dialouge

Other than engaging in his Halal food business, Mando did promote Yakan culture through his Yakan-English-Tagalog dictionary. And like any other dictionaries that include other Filipino dialects, Mando wanted to enrich the Filipino language by including Yakan words in his book, citing the fact that most Filipinos are unfamiliar with Yakan, both as an ethnicity and a language being spoken in the island of Basilan.

Mando, along with fellow Muslims and Christians
in an Interfaith Peace Forum

It seemed to be interesting though to some Filipinos with a taste for adventure by understanding the culture of other ethnicities in its own homeland. Quiapo's Muslim town, actually, is full of ethnicities that also composed the BangsaMoro homeland. Maranao, Tausug, Sama, Higaonon, as well as Yakan and other Moro people living together side by side knowing that outside their respective homelands comes a greater challenge in which Yusoph Mando is one of them.

And by promoting the said language via his magum opus, it cultivates an accurate understanding of the said language, culture, and to dispel exaggerate interpretations such as his ethnicity as well as others whom also contribute in his work. 

And speaking of challenge, it includes breaking the Moro stereotype as a mere kris-wielding warrior running berserk if not a pirated DVD vendor facing tremendous risk. Yes, most of them admire those who afford to raise the Kris and the Barung to protect themselves and their communities, but they also wanted peace and cooperation with people of other faiths and ethnicities, Much more of uplifting themselves like any other Filipino. True to see about these people as vendors of pirated DVDs, but in spite of regulations if not massive confiscations of what they sell, still most of them afford to sell knowing that it is their means of survival.

But Mando, a merchant by trade, is one of the few that afford to make a change in his adopted community. He afford to have an air conditioned, clean, and orderly restaurant as compared to those that failed to show sanitation in spite of tiles in its floors. For it is part of Muslim culture to be sanitary in its own surroundings, much more that it promotes food that is clean and godly to people irrespective of faiths. 

Thus the message is clear in this writer's words as summarised:

"Peace and Love, Paz y Amor, السلام والمحبة"

***

After a series of talks, this writer bid thanks to Mr. Yusoph Mando and his Pamanganan restaurant in accomodating a Christian as well as savor the food being served such as Nasi Goreng, and a free vegetarian pizza Mr. Mando had ordered. 

For further information, like his FB page "Yusoph Mando" and his restaurant "Pamanganan".

Pamanganan Restaurant is located at G/F Saimah II Hotel, 310-D Elizondo St., Muslim town, Quiapo district, Manila.