"When a faith-driven journey in Holy Land fuels the desire for freedom"

"When a faith-driven journey in Holy Land 

fuels the desire for freedom"

(Notes after a Pilgrimage in the Holy Land, 

where a pilgrim sought political graffitis 

other than churches bearing holy relics)

It was supposed to be a pilgrimage, but as time goes by it turned to be more than just visiting churches.

For as yours truly, like all other pilgrims visited Egypt, Palestine and its occupied counterpart (commonly known as Israel), as well as Jordan, it seems that the faith-driven journey was also a time to see what goes behind the news: such as seeing higher walls, encountering strict border security, of news involving external and internal threats, and of course, clinging to their faith especially in the holy city of Jerusalem. With these somehow made this writer did felt faith and the desire for justice entwined, especially after seeing crosses in the churches and revolutionary graffitis in walls.

But come to think of this: like many Christians, that pilgrimage to the Holy Land is considered to be a means of understanding the origin of one's faith. To read about it in the Bible is one thing, being discussed by a once pilgrim is another, but to travel and see everything with one’s own eyes is another experience altogether. And that for two weeks, through Egypt, Israel, and Jordan; and despite encountering almost mishaps with immigration officials, of seeing a handsome tour guide by old women, and almost scuffles with other pilgrims from foreign countries, it was a journey unlike any other that one had ever gone through till considered as a true spiritual awakening that changes one's lives.

Yet for yours truly whom looking more on the place's actuality, Holy Land, like the Bible, is replete with conflict among God’s chosen people. Even the Quran by the muslims is also replete with conflict too. And as the pilgrims looking for relics to venerate if not buying rosaries and other mementoes, is it a mere chance that whenever this person see those grafittis in the wall particularly those of a martyr died during the Intifada near the Milk Grotto? Or the works by Banksy in the border wall separating the Arab and the Jewish zones in Palestine? These perhaps made this person find more interesting aside from the religious sites and meeting with both Catholic, Orthodox, even Jewish teenagers after their purim; if not recalling how his friend talked about a Palestinian Arab priest expressed his anger towards the Zionist occupier, prefering to call his homeland Palestine than the much familiar Israel.

***

Like any other town this person encountered, seeing grafittis in Palestine seems to be part of their experession. Mostly politically-driven, their artworks speaks about their identity, their desire for self determination, or even their beliefs since some of which been expressing their left wing stances such as red stars.

Quite nice would say be it in Jericho or in Bethlehem, for their wall artworks did capture an attention for this person the way his colleagues in the pilgrimage amaze at the ancient structures be it the Milk grotto or the Church of the Nativity. At one time as the bus rolled o'er this person sought a grafitti of the DFLP on the corner, from there he sought how militancy in Palestine continues to prevail as these groups, with all its colours and symbols remain prominent as their desire for self-determination if not for liberating their homeland from Zionist occupation such as a painting of a warrior whose profile been covered by a Keffiyeh.
And yet mainstream media still depict them negatively as possible. For regardless of their stances, mainstream media tends to undermine their cause what more that they repeat time and again  but for these Palestinians those colours, symbols, are part of their lifelong struggle no matter how controversial it could be.

However, as time goes by, the purpose of painting on the wall has been compromised especially when commercialism takes place. This person, in seeing Banksy's wallworks in the border wall did create an impression that there are artists whom expressed their political view through their talent; while on the other hand, commercialism has reduced its political meaning to an aesthetic, in a way Leila Khaled has been known for her picture wearing a keffiyeh or Che Guevara with his profile.
But how about their beliefs? For sure a rabid anticommunist would cry 'terrorism' because of these people, favouring Netanyahu or the late Ronald Regan perhaps regardless of their soiled hands 'at least they are not like the terrorists' as what they think of.

***

Yet all despite the tranquil setting over Arab-dominated Bethlehem and Nazareth, or even the Jew's own Tel Aviv-Yafo and Haifa, what more of the still disputed Jerusalem with all its holiest sites, the peace presented by the Zionists be more like based on fear the way they provoked an air strike towards Gaza.

"Tel Aviv is on Red Alert" those people did say as authorities used the rocket strike from Hamas as a precondition for an all out military action, what more that they promised to continue its live fire policy against what it calls “violent riots”, while news reports been showed their bias against Palestinians so badly that radical orthodox Jews demand for more settlements on West Bank or military strikes towards Gaza. Quite lamenting isn't it? For the more these "claiming to be God's people" been acting like oppressors, seems that they forgot that they themselves are once oppressed, that they themselves been enclosed in their ghettoes, and now with the land claiming to be as theirs then how about create an atmosphere of goodwill amongst neighbours? On the first place, their Israel is also their Palestine.

Ironically, that air strike coincedes with the electoral campaigns be it from Netanyahu's Likud or the opposition, with the former gone under pressure from his political opponents to hit back hard against militants, even as he has been counselled by military advisers of the futility of a fresh conflict against them.

***

But despite all the news the tranquility of the place resonates if not seeing his fellow pilgrims doesn't even mind the reports at all with one of them rather catch her favorite telenovela streaming online while another did complain to yours truly about the food thinking how strongly smelled the Falafel was (despite earlier stating that she's looking for an authentic Arab food); And with this kind of "peace", somehow resonates a statement from the late Yasser Arafat, who longed for freedom in Palestine and at the same time yearning for peace, bearing an olive branch and a freedom-fighter's gun in the UN General Assembly many years ago. "Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand." He said. "I repeat: do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."

And as this person observed, through acquainting some Arabs and Jews, would say that as time goes by, both of the two expressed the desire to survive as a nation or rather say a community, with Jews whose past generations struggled amidst antisemitism, so are the Arabs who are being evicted from their homes by a movement whom promised to develop the promised land. Ironically, that same Zionist movement has also created a ethnic heirarchy with European Jews on top while other Jews such as from the Arab countries, even from Ethiopia have long been subjected to systemic discrimation and violence. In sort: even a fellow Jew be end disciminated like the Arab! 

Strange but true due to some articles read critically pointing about life in the promised land, if not the statements from the tour guide who's a Palestinian himself. Meanwhile, the pilgrimage been increasingly becoming a sightseeing event save for having a mass and some visit in holy sites, especially when his fellow pilgrims would raise their cameraphones taking shot of themselves in every church or a familiar site, if not buying stuff for their friends in a store suggested by the tour guide. Even this person did spend some dollars for Rosaries, Holy Oils, Dates, to those of Tallit and Keffiyeh; other than that, taking random pictures featuring how life in "holy land" is from the churches to the Kibbutzim, marred by its own brand of orderism.

But behind this kind of experience, this writer hopes that peace based on justice be prevail, especially when the Arab and the Jew unite in a common struggle all against oppression in their shared homeland that is, Palestine. With this observations would say that rather than accept the inevitability of occupation, dispossession, and various forms of injustice, the need for solidarity amongst Jews and Arabs and its desire for social liberation should be heed; on the first place, they've been coexisting for centuries without Herzl. Otherwise, it is worth questioning if these Zionists as trying to be as Jewish as the Jews themselves, if not as Canaanite as the Canaanites centuries past, trying to assume as representing the 'chosen people' while oppressing the other.

By the Way, there is a small prose-poem this person made whilst at Jerusalem.

"As we traversed the trails of the old town it is obvious that solemnity should be emphasised. 

But some fellow pilgrims end raising their phones taking pictures two and fro, some even feature their faces as prayers spoken through.

And as we walk I saw a sticker featuring a call to struggle,

Quite interesting despite the word written in Hebrew I did understand for there's a cartoon featuring people protesting;

With the hammer and sickle, Che Guevara, and antifa emblem showing.

From this perhaps what I see in Via Dolorosa, other than what goes there as truly amazing."

That's all for now. 

GROW GROW GROW: For an Improved and Sustainable Agricultural policy

GROW GROW GROW: 

For an Improved and Sustainable National Agricultural policy

By Kat Ulrike

Without food there can be no life. Without adequate and wholesome food there can be no health. Good Government must ensure sufficient wholesome food for the health of the people. This is an overcrowded island, with only two-thirds of an acre of farmland per person. World population is expanding far more rapidly than the means of feeding it. It is simple common sense to make the fullest possible use of all our agricultural resources.

- Oswald Mosley

This statement has resonated this person's views especially in regards to the state of Agriculture in the Philippines. Driven by the recent fiascoes affecting the country's important economic foundation, it seems that the country has to get serious in its promise, for otherwise this agricultural escapade is nothing but a cheap gimmick.

Sorry for the frankness given the recent situations, be it rice shortage, rice infestation, vegetables left rotting due to overproduction, what more of policies which turned out to be frustrated versions of the past, agriculture in the Philippines, being a cheap gimmick for politicos, compradores, and landlords alike, would parrot messages of self-sufficiency, growth, development alongside those of ensuring one's health, nutrition, even affordability as most Filipinos desired as such. With this, somehow made the neoliberal-inclined Villegas sound right that the mantra of "agriculture agriculture agriculture" should resonate; if not that stating that agricultural development as to be prioritised being the foundation of a sustainable, inclusive growth.

However, to most orderists who sustained its political survival through populist escapades, this venture into agricultural growth, being a cheap gimmick, as actually meant to snare farmers from the assertions of genuine rural development, if not an attempt for landlords to maintain their power at the expense of the peasantry-such as in the case of Hacienda Luisita in the past, or in Lapanday at present.
Besides that, this cheap gimmick hath also made agricultural growth rather deteriorating, that the quality of soil depleting due to excessive use of chemical-based substances, and promoted by charlatans assuming to be supportive of agricultural development just to fill their pockets. 

True isn't it? Yet this plain fact that agricultural growth as been treated as a cheap gimmick has been criminally ignored by most politicians and technocrats. Despite the facts to the contrary, these people, given their landlord/compradore backgrounds, carries an orientation, which still think and behave as if the country could assure its progress by depending on the service sector while relying on the export of raw/semirefined manufactures (including food) and services whilst importing food and finished products. Economists (including Villegas himself) are still telling people that the country must "Import or Die", "Depending on outside investment", and "opening the country to the world" as envisioned by borderless beings like Friedman or Mises. 

But with competition increasing in world markets and with the industries of other countries growing more efficient, the country's very own existence is itself threatened as the country ought to depend on its existing policies in agriculture what more of the economy in general. For sure everyone would say that the country cannot rely more on importing food further, or rather say depend on the policies that according to theirs may "suffice the issues related to the food the country needs".

Imagine, the Duterte administration was at first bragging to its subjects that self-sufficiency in foodstuffs is possible; particularly on rice as Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol once exhorted last 2016 to top officials of his department in ensure vigorous implementation of programs to achieve rice self-sufficiency in the Philippines.
“We should hit rice self-sufficient within the next two years… It’s a must not a choice,” as what he said; he even claiming that the administration is results-oriented. and even promised that he provide all DA regional offices with the necessary inputs and assistance, including irrigation facilities and seed requirements, for them to achieve self-sufficiency in their respective regions. Furthermore, that secretary even told each and everyone within that department that "Any director that can’t do that will be asked to resign," thinking that there are directors or officials who are deemed incompetent and thus hinders his agenda being presented.

However, years after, that "self-sufficiency" statement turned out to be a foolish one as the secretary himself is not anymore set on making the country rice self-sufficient following the passage of the Rice Import Liberalization Act, which allows the unimpeded entry of imported rice. Economic managers are expecting the act will help ease the country’s inflation rate, bring down the cost of rice and generate revenues from import duties; while Piñol, the man who once bragged  that the country aimed for a 100-percent rice self-sufficiency rate end describing it as “foolish,” since a supply glut in the market would further bring down farm-gate prices to the detriment of the local farming industry.

Strange isn't it? That if the government truly adheres to self-sufficiency in foodstuffs then why on earth to make way for unhampered imports? What would be next? Making arable land be forced to sell cheap to so-called developers whose goal is to convert into non-agricultural assets like commercial complexes and making people really depend on imports? The government whom once afforded to brag that they're aiming for self-sufficiency,  For sure as time goes by the country dare no longer risk the food of its people depending on world trade, and as peasants demand development, and the people demand a country's renaissance, then the full expansion of the country's agriculture must now come first in its economy.

Remember, as according to IBON foundation, that no more than 5% of the national budget has been given to agriculture over the last two decades. The Duterte administration does not correct this and, for instance, the Php49.8 billion 2019 Department of Agriculture (DA) budget it submitted to Congress in July is just 1.3% of the national budget and even Php862 million less that its cash-based equivalent of Php50.7 billion this year. The hyped Php10 billion (US$190 million at current exchange rates) rice development fund of the Rice Tariffication Bill is too little and too late (if not a cheap gimmick), and this compares unfavorably to rice industry support given by other rice producers including some countries the Philippines imports rice from — Vietnam (US$400 million), United States (US$619 million annually), Thailand (US$2.2-4.4 billion), India (US$12 billion), Japan (US$16 billion), and China (US$12-37 billion).

Since Piñol or even Duterte himself may be right that self sufficiency on foodstuffs is impossible and therefore depend on imports abroad, but to think that with these same people hath once afforded to take pride that agriculture as been undergone improvements and promised farmers better income, and at the same time seeing existing policies that benefited landlords and compradores alike, what kind of agricultural policy is the Philippines experienced?

Admittingly speaking, in seeing news reports about vegetables left to rot, of ricefields being forced to gave up to so-called 'developers', of landlords still in connivance with authorities against striking farmworkers in plantations, of unhampered rice imports that crippled the domestic rice producers, these and more hath justified a serious need to revisit the country's agriculture program, and if they really adhere to the idea of self-sufficiency, then why not adopt for a new one that's closer to the aspirations of the farmers? For sure people find politicians who babble patriotism yet aloof in having a sound patriotic economic policy as hypocrites since they all stayed in their ivory towers despite assuming to be "closer to the people" with paper "reforms" and "measures."

The countryside remain as it was as those who trying to control their fiefdoms been trying 'their best' to circumvent provisions on agrarian reform, if not lawmakers trying to dilute provisions for their self-interests as Landlords and Comrpadores, and this did happen at plantations whose farmers and farmworkers, now in disgust, been resorted. Pardon for some recalls, but in a time when people  would therefore concentrate on home food production, using imports only as supplements and in no ease allowing any undercutting by imported food. The state, knowing that they desired to revive agriculture must establish the confidence needed to enable the farmer to plan his crops for years ahead by guaranteeing the home market to the home producer, by assuring steady prices according to quality, by providing attractive wages and living conditions to farm workers and their communities, and by harnessing the sciences to bring back sustainability to the soil and to really support the modernisation efforts in reviving agriculture. Only when this becomes the settled policy of the country can agriculture be expected to expand to full productivity.

• Land utilisation and conservation
  When it comes to Land utilization, the priority lies in insuring food, water, and even forestry. If people truly wanted to assert self-sufficiency in food production and in extension to support the needs for industrialisation, then why not revert idle arable lands to agricultural purposes? Speeden efforts in agrarian reform and rural development? Conserving non-agricultural assets particularly those of mineral-rich mountains and promote responsible usage?
  Such developments must therefore be confined as far as possible to areas of low natural fertility. Exploitative mining practises and land conversion practises must stop immediately. It is criminal to destroy farmland in order to export each and every mineral or convert into something less productive especially in a country whose industrial policy is less or no "industrial" at all, let alone commercial as compradores benefited from exporting.

• Insuring Soil fertility and health for better crops, livestock, and people
  In making better crops, the need to address soil fertility and health is much needed, especially in agricultural areas whose soil quality been depleted due to overfarming and the usage of artificial inputs. As today's science increasingly promotes the need for organic farming or least, a stop-gap solution between conventional and organic means, the drivel lies in reviving the soil in order to bring not just better crops but also to ensure those who consume- for soil fertility and health does really affect not just crops, but also livestock and the people themselves.
  And to think that with the farmers seriously tended it, these are are because land is considered a priceless national asset and therefore be conserved, developed if the country truly adheres to self-sufficiency and to meet the demands of the people.
  With this kind of care one would say that the soil is worthy to be called an insurance against hunger and privation, and farmers ought to seriously take care of it: that land mustn't be exploited for quick profits (as done by middlemen in pushing farmers to 'farm' in order to pay their debts than to uplift as farmers) but rather well fanned for the future as well as the present.

• Maximising science and technology for Agricultural growth,
  introducing Agricultural Machinery stations to mechanise agriculture
  and promoting industry in the countryside
  In relation to no.2, Scientific research in agricultural production should be given importance if the government seriously adheres to its development if not the need to cut down imports.  This is more true now in the age of biotech where plants and animals can be transformed into factories of complex chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental products. (E.g., Rice can be infused with Vitamin A through biotech. Plants can be turned into biofactories producing peptides for medicine.) In this, the Philippines has a competitive advantage, having one of the most diversified flora and fauna in the world, and thus by harnessing it will help in promote further agricultural growth and stability.
  But reality goes like despite having existing entities whose desire is to "support agriculture" be it by rice/plant research to those of farm mechanisation, these and the likes are rather limited be it because of lack of government support for research, development, and extension of its services particularly those of promotion and training.
  Another is the introduction of Agricultural Machinery Station as a major supporter in Agricultural modernisation effort. As the name implies, the station is a rural agency alongside the granary and the irrigation that supplied farmers with agricultural machinery. Despite its primary purpose, the station serves as a venue for organising farmers into tractor and machinery brigades as the station is more than just having tractors and various forms of modern equipment or even a facility for their pre and post harvest needs, but also a venue in educating the peasant and to help in organising especially in pursuit of rural development and industrialising the countryside. From there the peasant hath to be given the knowledge, expertise that in turn will share to its fellow in reclaiming the soil and prosper for the future generations in whom to benefit.
  Sounds idealistic it may be but the peasant did really demand not just having its right to till the land. It is the same peasant that like the worker, in recognising that in order to progress, the country must industrialise, but the question is: to whom it really benefits that industrialisation? What is the proper way for a country to become an industrialised nation? The trouble with many leaders is that they did promote but their actual actions seemed contrary to their initial statements, one would even insist that foreign direct investments alone will keep the country afloat and moneyed foreigners be given the right to create enterprises and even own properties; if a concerned may ask, are they really promoting development that is for the masses the way they extort people to be self reliant? Of what is studying the sciences if that is not to promote national and social interest?

• Requisition of surpluses by the state/introducing "tax in kind"
  Surpluses of foodstuffs are meant to be requisitioned by the state with proper compensation to the farmers. Recent reports about oversupply of foodstuffs resulted to Farmers letting produce left to rot or thrown into waterways hath been a problem as it aggravates the issue on hunger and the need for accessibility of foodstuffs and other needs especially in the cities.
  The state, assuming itself as ensurer of the people, is ought to resolve a possible problem by directly acquiring agricultural surpluses; if not introducing a necessary incentive to increase agricultural production by means of introducing procurement of limited portion of their produce. From this, farmers may know in advance how much produce they would have to surrender to the state, with the latter offering incentives particularly agricultural aid to support their needs; while their produce as to be distributed in the cities with affordable prices/or, for export.

• Prices, Wages, and decent working/living conditions 
  Prices must be fixed through an agreement between Government and Producers. Consumer subsidies must be abolished by: reducing distribution costs, and by raising wages (particularly the minimum wage), pensions and allowances throughout every industry and so ensuring that every household has sufficient income for a good adequate diet and other basic needs. Wages in agriculture will be comparable with those in other industries. But it is even more important that the farmers as well as their families should have decent housing and living conditions, the need for education as part of self-improvement, adequate transport facilities for those in remote areas and the opportunity to gain independence if so desired.

"More than a celebration: For Woman and Man, hand in hand in an endless struggle"

"More than a celebration: For Woman and Man, hand in hand in an endless struggle"

(A message for the International Working Women's Day")

At first, this post congratulates to all women for their struggles, sacrifices, and victories, all in asserting, upholding, and defending the rights of women, and its promotion of her role in resisting against oppression, plunder, and war; and in striving to bring about a better world.

For true to its original intent, this International Working Women's Day is more than just a commemoration of womanhood, but rather a commemoration of an assertion, in a way like Clara Zetkin, Alexandra Kollontai, and others whose message hath inspired the working woman not to recognise their womanhood, but also its role on society that's beyond the home. From there that occasion celebrates its right to sufferage, to obtain rights, and its sworn oath to combat attempts to destroy its successes.

At present, this oath continues to resonate. For despite modernity, women, like their male counterparts, young and old, suffer in common the most intolerable forms of exploitation and oppression. Conditions of low wages, mass layoffs, high rate of unemployment, gross inequality, and widespread poverty has been an ever continuing issue brought about by unjust and repressive policies that hinders the development of man and of women in the society. 

Sounds militant isn't it? For that oppression continues to resonate, and as for women, at its worst for discrimination, what more of violence that pitted them further. Liberals and Conservatives alike been bannering that message of ending these words this post stated, for knowing that it attempted to coopt the women’s movement and therefore redirect it towards their view of "bourgeois feminism", "liberalism", "neoliberalism" and all sorts bourgeois subjectivist currents that's  against the working people, all in favor of a shallow view that's benefiting the monopoly bourgeoisie, imperialism, and all sorts of reaction.

***

Anyway, regardless of their assertions to depict women as such, be it distorting the essence of their struggles or negating it, that women are more than just being respected, but also to join them in a quest that from every home, school, workplace, that from every rural or urban enclave, there is a duty to bound and that is to lose the chains that bound in each and everyone.

For the fact that the occasion's beginnings are in itself militant, these people who held half the sky wanted more than just recognition or respect for their womanhood and its contributions in the society, but they also demand what everyone desired: peace, land, bread, social justice, respect for rights, and others which made this occasion more than just a celebration of womanhood.

And from this somehow made it distinguishable from how others take the occasion as recognition for chrissakes showcasing being a woman and how they deal in this world. That fhey focus on beauty, but not on her valour; that they focus on her charm, not on her courage; otherwise, they would praise the actions of the past, but they will limit in her appearance. 

Well then, to cut this note short, may this post greet a liberating international working women's day to the reader.

And hope that the reader will join hand in hand with the people in making a world where opportunities happen both man and woman. 

IN MEMORIAM: GUILLAUME FAYE

IN MEMORIAM: GUILLAUME FAYE

Guillaume Faye
1949-2019

Despite certain political differences, this page sends heartfelt condolences to the family and to the friends of Guillaume Faye.

For it is with great sadness that this page, like those of his colleagues, have learned of the passing of this known personality. With his contributions to political and cultural thought, one would say that despite his earthly passing, his name will remain unforgotten, that his presence be "youthful" in those who remember especially in his statements, whose quality, vision, breadth and vividness provoked thought to his followers and acquaintances. His work, be it "Archaeofuturism", "Why We Fight", and others, has educated some of the best of today’s youths, who may well come to live the catastrophes that he foresaw and attempted to warn against.

And because of that it made somehow somehow this page, or rather say the writer behind this page did acknowledge him positively for a reference, despite reading through a different perspective. Faye did criticised the left and the right spectrum, of social justice warriors and traditionalists, Liberals and Conservative, of reaction and counterreaction, even the fencesitters couldn't escape from his criticism as well; the way he advocated a synthesis of past and present ideals, if not justifying a need for modern platforms and ancient values, all for a promising future. 

But as for this person who read his works and at sometime used for a reference, would say that there are notes that can be agreed whilst some are disagreeable. True that the neocolonial martyr myth in developed countries should come to an end, that every country should share equal responsibility; but to attain this the key lies in people's awakening followed by a will to struggle- for sure they hath enough of seeing a country being a martyr to interest, not just neocolonialism alone but also its domestic stooges. 

Anyway, to cut this note short, here is a quote from Faye, via his book "Why we fight":

“We fight for a vision of the world that is both traditional and Faustian, that allies enrootment and disinstallation, the citizen’s freedom and imperial service to the community-as-a-people, passionate creativity and critical reason, an unshakeable loyalty and an adventurous curiosity.” 

That's all for now, again, may he be remembered.