The "Diwata" as an example of a Panday Pira legacy

The "Diwata" as an example of a Panday Pira legacy

The launch of the satellite Diwata is itself a Panday Pira spirit rising.

Like the craftsman-cannoneer's dream of a self-reliant homeland, the launch of the Diwata satellite represents the Filipino's revisit towards science, technology, industry, and even a semblance self-reliance. 

Compared to Aguila I and II which was bought by Filipino-owned or controlled telecommunications companies than made by Filipinos, the launch of the first Filipino made, or perhaps, assembled, satellite meant more than a pride, but also a memory enough to be remembered in history books the way some people remember Panday Pira made his cannons, or how the Moros made their well known Lantaka, showing how the pre-Hispanic Filipinos also dealt with scientific wonders including the use of gunpowder, enough to counter the outsider's slander.

But sadly, in the end, like having some putting interest on Antonio Luna, people care less about Diwata, Aguila, or even Panday Pira and his Lantaka. 

For they are preoccupied with famous artists in showbusiness, if not the tasteless debates that end a target of memes and various bullshits. 

"A Desire for Change" or "Reaffirming Repression"?

"A Desire for Change" or "Reaffirming Repression"?

Notes on the 2015 elections,
the desire for change,
and a prevailing policy that reaffirms repression

source: psst.ph

At first, this person is ought to say that today's 2015 elections is all but different personages but same intentions being representatives of the same old social order. With different phrases to justify uniqueness in their liberal-populist oriented programs, with some half-hearted desire for some semblance of "social change", it is obvious that being stooges of the present system likely to fail such intentions presented to the people knowing that the latter have heard over their intentions, that mostly benefited the privileged few than those of the many. 

Be it those from Binay, Poe, Duterte, Santiago, or Roxas, these personages somehow tried to appease the people through the idea of reform, restructure, with justice or fairness as its basis. However, people are preocupied with controversies surrounding these people instead of what their programs insisted, in a way Binay has been barraged with criticism over corruption charges, Poe with her questionable citizenship, Duterte with his street Machiavellianism, Santiago with her illness, and Roxas for trying to continue Aquino's legacy that is, "Neo-Arroyo".

But again, such controversies that had been greatly emphasised in those election-related sprees diverts these people and their political parties from addressing the present social issue enough to be called as "the Philippine crisis." Of course, these presidentiables afforded to say promises like "Agrarian Reform", "Industrialisation", "Decent Living Wage", "Tax Reduction", "Job Security", to those of "Defending National Patrimony"; but given that they are representing the interests of the few, of repressive, despotic landlords, and corrupt compradores, "blessed" by the domineering foreign powers like the United States, Japan, or "red" China, then of what are those promises if are meant to be negated if not broken?
Anyways, Through the electoral process, the system tries to make matters appear "democratic" given the choice of candidate and the rhetoric being babbled about. And it somehow trying to conceal the class character of the ruling state, and creates the illusion that those running and leading the reactionary government are "chosen by the people." Whilst encouraging people to vote for those truly clamouring for genuine reforms and new politics, people should also expose and oppose the tendencies of those whose intention is to support interests behind the veneer of "reform" if not "development."

Labour Export Policy: An example of a Neoliberal-inclined economic policy
that involves cheap labour intended for work abroad.
Worse, the policy has been tainted by corruption, harassment,
and other repressive matters involving Filipino labour.

For an example of an actually-existing issue politicos failed to address a problem, one of the main problems that has confronted the Philippines and other underdeveloped or developing countries is the reckless adoption of the neoliberal economic model as part of their respective economic policies. In pursuit of less government intervention and openness to direct foreign investments, and adapting Government Owned or Controlled Corporations transferred to the private sector, particularly those of local oligarchs and foreign individuals and companies alike, if not having policies that emphasise deregulation and commercialisation of assets.
And perhaps contrary to their so-called promises, these "presidentiables", as well as their fellow candidates in the legislature, are already competing for attention from big interests and presenting themselves as fervent advocates of neoliberal policies. Among their proffered programs is the continuation and expansion of the "Public-Private Partnership" program intensely desired by big domestic and foreign capitalists for its guaranteed profits. To add some populist flavour further, Conditional Cash Transfer program would been retained and tolerated rather than abolished as such.

And despite being redescribed these policies as "Reforms" and "Restructuring" by the system (and perhaps being babbled by these so-called "presidentiables"), Such a process has been one of the culprits behind the huge concentration of wealth by the privileged few, widespread poverty, and even the destruction of national economies and even communities itself. Today, as in the Past centuries, the Philippines, as well as other developing or underdeveloped countries, popularly known collectively as the "third world", can also be described as "proletarian nations", or "servile states", given its backward modes of production and policies favouring foreign companies as well as those of oligarchs, aggravating decades-old problems be it those of Land, Wage, Employment, and other matters affecting the lives of the commoner. Such policies insisted by international finance capital tends to appear developmentalist a la Marcos, with some "policies" trying to appear populistic in case of Conditional Cash Transfer program and some infrastructures supported by foreign loans. 

Regardless of its justifications, it rather showed how politically and economically, the debt-strapped, mendicant, stagnant country has been enslaved to the globalist power centers, with its citizens are being constrained to work under almost, if not entirely servile conditions be it as low-paid farmworkers at Hacienda Luisita, a factory worker at the economic zones and complexes of Bataan or Laguna, to those of call centre agents in Makati, alongside the mass ranks of the unemployed and semiemployed contractuals threatened by possible layoffs. The system, in order to appear as "benevolent" as any other paternalistic figure, would create "piecemeal reforms" ranging from a faux-"land reform" to an additional "living wage", and some rhetorics involving tax-reduction or exemption. Contrary to the actually-existing imposed policies of depressed wages, union-busting, and the encouragement of various forms of labor flexibility. Bounded with these also are policies favouring the landgrabbing for the establishment and expansion of commercial plantations, as well as destructive mining operations done by compradore-owned if not transnational mining companies.

But amidst developments bragged by the system through its mouthpieces in Radio, Television, and Social Media, obviously, with only 15% of the population wallows in 50% of the national income, the majority of the Filipinos will not be freed from the quagmire of abject poverty as well as disenfranchisement and injustice. And laws whose intention is for "imposing social justice" are rather meant to be circumvented. After all, why there are still farmers protesting for land and workers for a decent living wage? Politicos failed to address such matters seriously, except those who had been judged throughout by the system for being against the system itself.

Anyways, regardless of changing political personages, as long as the national leadership serves as a mere puppet of its imperialist masters, the Philippines will rather continue to be an agricultural appendage of powerful and industrialized countries, particularly those of the United States that for decades it continues to cling in its blood-tainted "manifest destiny".

Sorry for those words, but when was the time people question about its country's own policy as well as the system and its leaders' reluctance to admit such failures?

"The Banquet"

"The Banquet"

All is but dark at first

Till the moon in its glow came

In a once somewhat sacred place

Of oak trees wherein once faeries came

If not Toadstools where Elves once sat

I feel the sensation

As I enter the garden's gates

Whose field is full of red roses

And white lilies

With the moon and stars as lights

Enough to light your garden path

A table has been prepared for you

Followed by a lovely candelabrum

Whose newly-lit light sheds upon us

And as I wait to see you

Between left and right

You approach from the same way as I

In your beauteous garment

And its surroundings as if casts a chant, and says:

"Come oh Bride! Come oh Bride!"

"My moonlight maiden, my joy and delight!"

With songs enough to fill the day

Followed by various food and wine.

For your presence shows the love been fulfilled

Just like stories from the past been told

And with your kiss comes a warmth amidst cold

And a part of hope that soon be realised.

"For a New Hope rooted in Struggle, Respect, and Recognition"

"For a New Hope rooted in Struggle, Respect, and Recognition"

A message in commemoration of the International Women's Day

by Katleah Ulrike

At first, that occasion is an event better than your typical "Valentine's Day" or any other day limited to a mere couple, if not "Mother's Day" for the family, for it shows not just love and respect, but recognising the role of the Woman as a partner, a friend, a fellow contributor in building history.

For that event is all about how Women had held half the sky for generations, who afforded to turn a house into a home, and put a heart into one's mind especially in building a better society. At first, Let us recall the glorious history of that event as a result of the struggles of working class women against exploitation and oppression, that made Socialist and Communist female personages like Clara Zetkin and Alexandra Kollontai, of the women's movement for equal rights and universal suffrage, and how these women, that alongside their male counterparts, comrades in struggle, who perpetuated the memory of the Paris Commune and who spearheaded on March 8, 1917 the overthrow of Czarist rule in Russia and the rise of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries that institutionalized the celebration of the International Women's Day.

In recalling those events, of building a society of equality and justice, women obtained social and gender liberation, including the right of suffrage and other rights equal to those of men, contrary to its western counterparts whose struggles for emancipation been asserted with some of which been realised particualarly those of suffrage and various rights once limited to those of men. The west has eventually recognised "International Women's Day" only in 1977 when the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 8 as the "UN Day for Women's Rights and World Peace".

Such numerous events had somehow recognised the role of women as part of the struggle. From its militant roots somehow showed how these women adhere to justice, to have equal footing with men and hence be given respect and the right to forge a society amidst actually-existing injustices, disenfranchisements, exploitation. As repressive conditions such as low wages, mass layoffs, high rate of unemployment, gross inequality and widespread poverty prevailed even in the developed countries. The conditions are far worse in the underdeveloped countries such as those of working women are still locked up in sweat shops and burned to death just like the women factory workers in the early years of the 20th century in New York City or London during the 19th Century.

To cite some horrific examples of exploitation, at least 112 workers were killed in the Tazreen factory fire in Bangladesh in 2013; and 72 workers perished in the Kentex factory fire in the Philippines in 2015.

It may sound strange to say such realities, but these realities be the reason why women has to struggle beyond just recognition. Amidst recognition of numerous contributions in every nation's histories, women’s emancipation is never possible under present day's order of exploitation and injustice. Women must continue to expose and oppose the ruling order for feeding them lies about the goodness and permanence of capitalism to the extent of justifying commodification as "emancipation" particularly those of culture and the arts.  

Well, amidst the tide of crisis, women continues to held half of the sky to paraphrase Mao Zedong. be it at home, school, workplace, women has trying to make anything better: for their children, husbands, friends, colleagues, people whom sought how they spend their lives like men, striving for a good future.

Anyways, let's respect, appreciate, and love these women with all for their numerous contributions in life, for their struggle against the tide of exploitation and injustice, and the willingness to create a world full of possible changes.

"Notes from the trenches"

"Notes from the trenches"

"I hear your voice, and the sound of your sword"

I hear your voice

And the sound of your sword

As it plunged the body of your enemy

And heard your striking word

I hear their suffering cries

As the battle rages on

Further as the rotten order tremble

As their blood has gushing strong

I hear your voice

And the sound of the cogwheels of the machinery

Trying to create progress

Breaking the order of the reactionary

I feel the tremendous heat 

Coming from the steel foundry

If not the warmth of the cloth

Coming from the textile factory

I hear your voice

And the chant of the majority

As I see them in the streets

Clamoring for justice and liberty

I feel the hatred that has rising

As they confront the order trembling

Willing to fight as they are shouting

Willing to be beaten as the cops kept truncheons banging

I hear your voice

And the fire of the rifle

Creating a sound of freedom

On the countryside where enemies tremble

I feel the people rising

As their eyes entirely opening

The offensive has been coming

And the system has been running, retreating

To hell with the system

Make the enemies tremble

To hell with the system

The call of the risen people

To hell with the system

Fan further the flames of the struggle

To hell with the system

To hell with the system

To hell with the system

To hell with the system

"From the gleam of the steel church"

There are more memories

As I enter the Gothic edifice

As if summoned by the honest spirits

Like those of its stained glasses

Despite rust remained sturdy

Enough to say a bulwark against infamy

Coming from those social manges

That drives everyone into insanity 

Quite magical as I see

Especially at early night

As if drawing powers all from the moonshine

And keeping the holy fires 

As I hear prayers to the martyrs

If not age old incantations

Incense and candles burning

Whose fumes trying to cover delusions

The victims seek revenge against the leeches

The betrayed be against the order of thugs and parasites

That for years been trying to create an actually-existing hell

Such as near and surrounding the old steel church

And at its worst swarm with condemned souls

Social manges trying to fool everyone

With all the illusions and pseudo-happiness

That in the end with real tears, fears, and sadness

Yet to hear the priestly sermons

Coming from the centuries-old wooden pulpit

Quite inspiring as the clergyman extort the faithful

To bring an end to a so-called mess

And I translate emotions into words

Messages full of fire and brimstone

Setting fire to a damned world

Whose order is as rotten to its core

Flames of eternal yearnings

Enough to burn once suffering hearts

And the water as if like tears

Enough to quench thirst called despair

The sermons whose messages like fire and brimstone

Creating an expression of revenge

From the gleam of the old steel church

Trying to counter the modern rottenness and its stench

"Manila"

Third world country by the moonlight

The destitute yearning for a good life

As they see tangible illusions

Such as good vibes from the other side

Yet reality is all full of screams 

If not deafening silence

Coming from the urban enclaves

If not from the graves

Such unpleasant memories

Trying to be hidden by the authorities

In a way screams of protests

Trying to be blocked by various sound systems 

The system can't withstand the pressure

Despite statements and tangible "facts"

Yet failed to please everyone

Especially those victims unsung

In a way modern edifices

Trying to cover the stench of the dumpsites

If not tourist attractions

Trying to hide centuries old countryside repressions

I feel worrisome if not in despair

Enough to create words such as this poem

As I see the reality such as hell

Trying to be redescribed as heaven by a foolish few

"College"

Rains bring me memories

As I revisit the old university

Same old bullshit as I see

Yet college life seemed quite remembering

The joys, the suffering, the pain, the pleasure

Coming from friends, books, and the pressure

And even remember when I was watching

In one's mystic eyes coming from a beauty worth lovable

Those damned times as I recall

Like any other memories from childhood

From the four cornered rooms full of books

To the major thoroughfares full of various noises

Of parties whose drinking sprees with flowing wine

If not protests whose chants, confrontations, fighting against time

Hearts almost lost from issues, emotions gushing

Yet painful despite moving on as recalling and feeling

Such lessons has been continue to relearn

Knowing that most of the time it is forgotten

Yet those times be like becoming sadomasochists

Having pleasure and pain in recalling

And in translating those thoughts into words

As if tastes like wine from the darkest grapes of sin

Strange those days, damned college days

Enough to set the world on fire than to say "come what may"

Karen Mae, you lighted up my way

Until we see the world as if a funeral pyre whose flames stay.

"Of Hopelessness and Commitment"

"Of Hopelessness and Commitment"

Notes after watching the play GAPOK

from Sining Kadamay

At first, this person is ought to say that the play, although it is short, shows the lives of those who are continue to resist amidst hopelessness as urban poor dwellers, especially amidst the threat in their communities, under siege by greedy developers as well as the failure to address problems surrounding the plight of these masses, particularly their right for shelter, livelihood, and perhaps a decent voice as any other members of a community especially in the developed enclaves of the metro.

Through Sining Kadamay's first presentation in 2016, entitled GAPOK, features a family whose sons having warring views: the elder tries to defend their home from being demolished by greedy developers while the other, driven by hunger, is willing to evacuate and demolish their homes in exchange for a promise for a relocation site as well as a regular job in a construction company. These two brother's warring views involves a mother, whose leadership in a community group supported her eldest son's struggle for shelter and livelihood while trying to insist her younger son not to engage in demolishing but instead to fight and defend their home and their community, knowing that their relocation site is as underdeveloped if not prone to disaster, or having a job yet unlikely to be called "permanent" or any other sugar-coated promise as sly developers would say; worse, having a husband, father of the two and one of the leaders of the urban poor group, has trying to fight for his life in the hospital due to a serious illness.

Apologies if the video seemed to be blurry

Such problems would say that it is like any other story involving the Filipino poor, or as what Frantz Fanon described as "the wretched of the earth." Regardless of being stereotypically depicted as dirty, smelly, easy to used beings, of living in dwellings out of rusty roofs and plywood, with tarpaulins trying to keep away from heat and rain, of seeing drunkards if not fishwives, and flies over someone else's shit scattered in the streets, These people are struggling for their lives, rights, particularly those of shelter, food, jobs, livelihood, and others necessary for their well-being. They do work hard as any other citizen would do, yet these are driven by survival rather than to uplift their status in life, obviously marred by crisis as evidenced by rising costs of goods and services. 

However, these people are also easy to enticed by certain interests, whose tangible illusions being offered to them be enough to do something that can hinder other's right such as those of shelter and livelihood, "all for practicality's sake" as what they think of such as those of getting a job, money, and even a relocation site to start their lives from scratch; yet does not mean these illusions, although tangible, possibly get out from their sordid exisetence and uplift their lives as any other citizen has to achieve. Worse, can be short term that made some returned to their old communities and rebuild their lives on that same place as possible.

And these two warring ideas of the common urban poor dweller has been manifested in a form of brothers whose views be simply expressed into two different views: to defend their community or to demolish it, to fight for their lives regardless of hunger or to get away with it for the sake of petty comforts as any other poor being promised by a sly and self-serving rich; an allegory of what is commonly seen in a sordid community whose struggle also includes situations between life or death. 

Anyways, this writer, like all others who had watched, would say that through Sining Kadamay's presentation, it tends to apply Bertolt Brecht's idea of a community theatre whose ideas be enough to break away the fourth wall, if not going beyond the usual structure of the air-conditioned theatre whose plays has made everyone used to see, watch and enjoy with; just to emphasise truth through facts as being depicted in that presentation, that also somehow obviously being shown in districts affected by that two-faced development. Be it at Sitio San Roque, or even at Kasiyahan wherein that play has also been shown.

"The clarion of People's War"

"The clarion of People's War"

Your pleasant voice is calling me 

Coming from the darkness breaking the silence

It opens the gates through which I will leave

From the comforts of which I used to

The call of the past calls me to fight

The cries of the future calls me to respond

The way paintings and pictures

Realities and promises abound

Of fields and forests everyone once adored

Has been given to greedy hordes

Their words like "prosperity" has fooled everyone

While their thugs brought one by one in cold blood

Their cries is calling me, and I won't calm down

Until I feel the smell of their blood

And the Cringing reality

The moon whispers about thy darkness

The stars are leading me towards the survivors

Once weak yet bound together gathered strength

Carrying their weapons cursing on the wretched order

Through theirs I see an unseen power

Praised by the unshackled people

Putting death on their enemies and freedom for the victims

With the latter spit in the once-proud foes now heads lay low

Let them choke with their lies once babbled in TV and radios

Social media sites trying to justify their terror

Let the woods grow up on their corpses

Let their blood fertilise freedom:

For their land, 

for their welfare, 

for their lives, 

for their revolutionary traditions,

passed from generation to generation

It is the real people's power

Unlike what the system babbles

True it may be the pictures

Of major street actions years ago

The clamours of the present may have taken the streets

But the clamours to assert the future has taken the fields and forests

A justice for the land

For it is worth called 'ours'

The way rivers have been flowing

Together with our blood for ages

The trees to the grasses

Has grown from the fields of our killed comrades

So are the rice and the communities built

From the backs of our people

Stay with us my friend!

Says the avenging people

Let the blood express, boil up with our hatred

Against the system, against those who put hell on us

Let every step on our land turn for their damnation

As they retreat from their operation, from their station

A revenge for the martyred comrades, to those of innocents

And to a land cherished now infested by worms

Whose mission is repression called "parasitism"

Let the struggle intensify us

For this war is sacred: PEOPLES WAR!