PAMAHUG
THE MILITARY HARASSMENT OF THE MEDICAL
MISSION IN MAAYON, CAPIZ
KARLO MIKHAIL MONGAYA
Maayon, Capiz
Iloilo City
Standing before the detachment’s com-
mander and his subordinates were four
young students.
The four were one of fifteen volun-
teers from different schools in Iloilo City
who were in Brgy. Bongbongan, Maayon,
Capiz to prepare the place for a medical
mission that would provide free health,
dental, and relief services to the commu-
nity.
This medical mission is spearheaded
by Health and Education for the Less
Privileged in Panay (HELP-Panay), Panay
Alliance-Karapatan, and local farmers’
organization Kahublagan sang Mangun-
guma sa Capiz (Kamaca).
On the other hand, the soldiers are
part of a Reengineered Special Operations
Team (RSOT) under the 47th Infantry Di-
vision encamping in the barangay hall as
part of the Army’s counterinsurgency pro-
gram.
The volunteers arrived in Bongbongan
on the 17th of October and were sum-
moned by the military that very evening
to supposedly check on their permits. Four
representatives from the group went to the
detachment the next morning.
To the students’ dismay, they were
lectured by the military men about how
people’s organizations like Karapatan
and Kamaca are communist fronts, all the
while insinuating that the students were
linked to armed rebel groups.
As this went on, rifle-bearing soldiers
belonging to the detachment were walking
around them.
Until the arrival of the medical mis-
sion’s main team, the students would be
repeatedly called and questioned by the
soldiers, with their movements in the
barangay monitored.
Threats and harassment
On October 19, the main team of around
60 volunteers from medical practitioners,
students and members of non-government
organizations arrived in Bongbongan after
a three-hour ride from Iloilo City.
But as the volunteers were unload-
ing the supplies and setting up the venue,
Capt. Rey Balibagoso, civil-military op-
erations officer of the 47th IBPA, arrived
at Bongbongan with a platoon of heavily-
armed soldiers.
The soldiers and other plain-clothed
colleagues surrounded the premises of
the day-care center and took photos of the
medical mission volunteers and the benefi-
ciaries.
“We received reports that army sol-
diers warned local members of Kamaca
not to participate in the medical mission,”
said Reylan Vergara, Panay Alliance-Kar-
apatan Secretary General.
“Soldiers also spread misinforma-
tion that the medical mission was illegal,
thus instilling a climate of fear among the
residents, especially Kamaca members
present in the medical mis-
sion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Balibagoso
asked the medical mission
team to allow his men to do
haircuts a distance from the
day-care center where medical
consultations were being held.
Later that day, the medical
mission team was greatly sur-
prised to see a streamer
saying the 47th IBPA
“joins the medical mission
of Help-Panay and Karapatan” hanging
near the house of the punong barangay.
However, Capt. Balibagoso was no longer
around to be asked for explanation.
In statements to the print and broadcast
media, Balibagoso claimed that the medi-
cal mission was all along a joint under-
taking of the 47th IBPA, Help-Panay and
Karapatan.
“He [Balibagoso] requested the mis-
sion participants to allow his soldiers to
offer haircuts and massage to residents
a distance from the day-care center, to
which the former consented. But the medi-
cal mission was not a joint undertaking of
the army and Karapatan,” Vergara clari-
fied.
The mission was still successful despite
threats and harassment by the soldiers de-
ployed in Bongbongan. “Around a hun-
dred residents availed of medical checkup
and dental services and medicines,” said
Mary Adrivene Dalida of HELP-Panay.
Military presence
Despite a new regime’s coming to
power on the promises of reforms, the
same culture of impunity and military
mindset that does not distinguish between
armed combatants and legal people’s or-
ganizations still persists.
Just like under the Arroyo regime, the
militarization of impoverished rural com-
munities in Panay like those in Bongbon-
gan, Maayon, Capiz continue under the
Aquino regime, said Vergara.
From 2001 to 2009, 55,388 cases of
the military’s use of schools, medical, re-
CONTINUE TO P. 4
 2 NEWS
Bagong UP President
at Student Regent
KARLO MIKHAIL MONGAYA
Binoto si dating Alumni Regent
Afredo Pascual bilang bagong UP
president ng Board of Regents (BOR)
sa isang espesyal na pulong sa UP
Diliman noong Disyembre 3, 2010.
Tinalo ni Pascual ang sampung
ibang nominado, kabilang na sina UP
Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao at UP
Los Banos Chancellor Luis Rey Ve-
lasco na umani ng mga batikos dahil
diumano sa kanilang mga kontra-es-
tudyanteng patakaran.
Ang iba pang mga nominado ay
sina Consolacion Alaras, Patrick Alain
Azanza, Leonor Briones, Esperanza
Cabral, Benjamin Diokno, Ma. Serena
Diokno, Raul Pangalangan, Alfredo
Pascual, at Virginia Teodosio.
Uupo si Pascual bilang ika-20 na
presidente ng unibersidad sa Pebrero
2011, pagkatapos sa panungkulan ni
Anakbayan-Iloilo Chair
arrested and detained
LAVILYN HYSTHEA MALTE
Anakbayan Iloilo Chairperson
James Joyce Saguino was arrested
while protesting against the Iloilo
City Coal-Fired Power Plant (CFPP)
during the regular session of the City
Council on October 6, 2010.
Student protesters were unfurling
placards against the coal plant during
the council meeting when Col.
Dionisio Duco, a retired police and
the present sergeant-at-arms of the
Sangguniang Panlungsod, warned
them to keep their protest-materials
out of sight.
As they were about to leave to join
the ongoing mass action outside the
council hall, Saguino chanted “Coal-
fired power plant salot! Talagang
salot! Kasalot-salutan!”
Cando, new KASAMA sa UP national
chairperson
LAVILYN HYSTHEA MALTE
UPV University Student Council
chair Angeli Louise Cando was elected
national chair of the Katipunan ng mga
Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas (KASAMA sa UP) during
its 30th National Congress held at Baler,
Aurora on October 24-28, 2010.
KASAMA sa UP, the UP sys-
temwide alliance of student councils,
Erratum: Pagbutlak would like to correct the typo in the caption of the basketball photo in the 4th page of our June-September 2010
issue. We wrongly spelled the name of Fiel Mamon to Fiel Manon. We humbly apologize for this error.
UP President Emerlinda Roman.
Naging tampok sa panungkulan ni
Pascual bilang Alumni Regent ang kan-
yang pakikiisa sa mga isyu ng estudyante
at ibang sektor ng unibersidad katulad
sa pagtanggal ni dating Student Regent
(SR) Charisse Banez at ang directorship
sa Philippine General Hospital.
Bagong SR
May bagong SR na umupo sa pu-
long dahil sa pagpapa-alis ni dating
SR Cori Co sa kanyang pusisyon.
Naging permanently dismissed
ang kalagayan ng academic perform-
ance ni SR Co noong unang semestre.
Ayon sa BOR, dahil hindi na es-
tudyante si Co hindi na siya pwedeng
magsilbi bilang student regent.
Ito ang naging rason ng BOR para
ma-endorso ang ikalawang nominado
para sa SR na si Jaqueline Eroles bi-
lang bagong kinatawan ng mga estud-
Duco took action immediately and
arrested Saguino on charges of violating
Article 144 (Disturbance to Proceedings)
of the Revised Penal Code.
Saguino, together with Lean
Redino Porquia, Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan-Panay (BAYAN-PANAY)
Regional Spokesperson, negotiated
with Duco but this did not stop the
police from bringing Saguino to the
Iloilo City Police Station 1, Gen.
Luna. Street, Iloilo City.
Saguino was then detained for
almost six hours inside the precinct,
from 4:30 pm until 10:15 pm, and was
only released after paying a bail bond.
The CFPP in Iloilo City is a 164
megawatt (MW) power plant located
at Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City,
and is touted by its proponents as the
answer to Panay’s power shortages.
holds its annual congress during the
semestral break every October.
The congress is held to plan the al-
liance’s activities for the year, consoli-
date its members, and give workshops
on leadership and student council man-
agement, as well as discussions of the
education and national situation.
“The highlight of this year’s na-
tional congress is the laying down of
unities and concrete actions for the
campaign against the education budget
decreases, in particular the P1.39 UP
budget cut,” said Cando.
yante sa BOR.
Nakasaad sa Codified Rules for
Student Regent Selection (CRSRS)
na kapag bakante ang pusisyon ng SR,
ang ikalawa o ikatlong nominado ang
papalit bilang SR.
Hinamon ng bagong SR si Pascual
na makiisa sa pagkilos ng mga estudy-
ante para sa mas malaking badyet ng
gobyerno para sa unibersidad.
Hinamon din ni Eroles si Pascual
na panindigan ang isyu ng “demo-
cratic access” sa unibersidad, ang
demokratikong partisipasyon ng es-
tudyante sa patakaran ng administra-
syon, at ang pagsama ng unibersidad
sa mga mahahalagang pambansa at
pandaigdigang isyu.
“Hindi inaasa sa iisang tao ang
pagbabago sa UP. Tayo pa rin ang mag-
tatakda upang mapabuti ang kalagayan
ng unibersidad,” ayon kay SR Eroles sa
isang ulat ng Philippine Collegian. ■
Residents of Ingore, La Paz have
complained of foul fumes emitted by
the plant during its operations.
According to urban poor
association Kadamay, “at least eight
children from the barangay, aged
eight months to 14 years old, were
hospitalized after inhaling fumes from
the plant and exhibiting symptoms of
sickness such as headaches, dizziness
and nausea.”
The CFPP has been criticized by
environmentalist groups as one of
the dirtiest-known power generation
technologies.
In this, the environmental youth
advocate group OIKOS Ecological
Movement spearheaded the formation
of the Iloilo Students’ Alliance for the
Environment (I-SAVE) to oppose the
CFPP. ■
The congress opened with a basic
mass integration in a heavily milita-
rized indigenous peoples’ community
in Aurora.
The imposition of new fees sys-
tem-wide and the intensified military
presence in the Baguio, Los Baños,
Tacloban, Miagao and Mindanao cam-
puses were reported by the student
council delegates during the plenary.
The congress concluded on the last
day with the election of the KASAMA
sa UP NEC for the year 2010-2011. ■
PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
SPEAKING BEFORE THE CROWD
is Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan
(SAMASA) mass organization chairperson
Raiza Khey Llorico.
PAGBUTLAK
Pagbutlak lumahok sa
pagtipon ng EU
LAVILYN HYSTHEA MALTE
Noong Setyembre 23, 2010, in-
ilunsad ng European Union (EU) ang
kauna-unahang “Seminar-Workshop
for Campus Journalists” na nagla-
layong bigyan ng kamalayan ang
mga delegado hinggil sa magandang
relasyon ng EU at Republika ng Pili-
pinas.
Nabigyan rin ng karagdagang
kaalaman ang mga estudyanteng
lumahok tungkul sa responsableng
pamamahayag. Kinatawan ng Pagbut-
lak sa nasabing pagtitipon ang sekre-
taryo nitong si Lavilyn Hysthea Malte.
Iginanap ang dalawang araw na
aktibidad sa University Hotel ng Un-
ibersidad ng Pilipinas sa Diliman. Ni-
New OSA director takes over
INGRID MOSURA
Prof. Vicente “Vinnie” Tan took
over the Office of Student Affairs last
November 16, 2010 after Prof. Geral-
dine Garcia went on leave.
“I accepted the challenge of this
new job in the name of service. While
I can, I will. I see this also as an op-
portunity to bring Culture and the Arts
closer to the studentry,” said Prof. Tan.
He hits two birds in one stone as
he is also the current Chairman of the
Culture and the Arts. and build much opportunities or job
“Most immediate plan for me now
is to study and learn the operations
in the office. I wish to synergize all
efforts of people working in and for
OSA so we can have a more produc-
tive, dynamic and meaningful univer-
sity life,” he added.
lahukan ang aktibidad na ito ng mga
delegado mula sa publikasyong pang-
kampus ng iba’t-ibang eskwelahan sa
Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao.
Kabilang sa mga tinalakay ay
ang mga nailunsad at mga planong
proyekto na maari pang makatulong sa
pagpapa-unlad ng mga mamamayan sa
Pilipinas, lalo na sa pagtugon sa mga
usaping pang-krisis sa isla ng Mind-
anao.
Nagbigay rin ng mga lektyur tung-
kul sa pamamahayag sa print and web
at radio and television reporting.
Naging panauhing pandangal ng na-
sabing seminar-workshop ang mismong
EU Ambassador to the Philippines, si
Alistair MacDonald. ■
Prof. Tan also promised to help in the
problems of the students, especially stu-
dent leaders and their respective organiza-
tions or positions in the student body.
“I wish to really get connected with
many, if not all students both organ-
ized and non-organized ones. I propose
more training programs and workshops
for our student leaders in the areas of
financial management, event manage-
ment, including hosting, networking
and proposal making.”
Moreover, he hopes to “create
placement” for the graduating stu-
dents of UPV.
Aside from being head of two of-
fices, Prof. Tan also teaches Manage-
ment, Aquatic Science and Communi-
cation subjects both in Miag ao and the
city campus. ■
 PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
Sa Iloilo, 800 nagwalkout
Libu-libong estudyante
nagwelga kontra badyet cut
KARLO MIKHAIL MONGAYA
M
ula Nobyembre 22
hanggang Disyembre 1,
libu-libong mag-aaral
ang naglunsad ng mga
welga, walkout, martsa at iba pang
uri ng mga malawakang kilos protesta
upang labanan ang lumalaking kaltas
sa badyet sa mga State Universities
and Colleges (SUCs).
Dito sa Iloilo, may higit walong
daang estudyante, guro, at kawani
ang lumahok sa kilos protesta noong
Disyembre 1 upang ipanawagan ang
dagdag na alokasyon sa SUCs sa
okasyon ng budget hearings sa Senado.
Sobra 8,000 naman ang lumahok
sa protesta sa harap ng Senado gal-
ing sa iba’t ibang mga unibersidad ng
Kamaynilaan.
Simula Nobyembre 22, binarika-
dahan ng 5,000 estudyante mula sa
Polytechnic University of the Philip-
pines (PUP) ang kanilang pamantasan.
Sa UP Manila ay nagkaroon din ng
pagsara ng kampus noong Nobyembre
25 dahil sa protesta ng sobra 2,000 es-
tudyante habang naglunsad rin ng kilos-
protesta sa UP Diliman na umaabot sa
4,000 estudyante.
Noong Nobyembre 26 ay um-
abot ang bilang ng mga estudyanteng
nagwalk-out sa kanilang mga klase
ng 5,000 at sabay-sabay na nagmartsa
patungo sa opisina ng Department of
Budget and Management (DBM).
Matagumpay
Nag-ani ng tagumpay ang sunud-
sunod na mga kilos protesta. Sa pu-
long ng Senado, dinagdagan ang
panukalang 2011 national budget ng
P146 milyon para sa alokasyon ng
mga SUCs.
Ayon kay Rep. Mong Palatino ng
Kabataan Partylist, “we have demon-
strated that the strength of the youth
and people’s solidarity can make things
UP SCs unite against SUCs budget cut
LAVILYN HYSTHEA MALTE
Twenty-four student councils from all
over the UP system present in the General
Assembly of Student Councils (GASC)
held in Baler, Aurora on October 29-30
united against the State Universities and
Colleges (SUCs) budget cut.
According to Zaira Nichole Racadio of
the CAS Student Council, the GASC unani-
mously endorsed a Manifesto of Unity call-
ing for heightened protest actions opposing
the budget cut for the SUCs.
The UP budget will decrease from
P6.92 billion this year to P5.53 billion
for the year 2011. Meanwhile, the budget
for SUCs will decrease by P400 million
happen. The P146 million increase in
the MOOE of SUCs is a product of our
collective action.”
Pupunta ang halagang ito sa Main-
tenance and Other Operating Expens-
es (MOOEs) ng SUCs na kinaltasan
ng P1.1 bilyon sa orihinal na panukala.
Noong Nobyembre 8, inaprubahan
ng Kongreso ang 2011 badyet na wa-
lang mga amyenda. Kasama na dito ang
paglaan ng P23.4 bilyon para sa lahat
ng 112 SUCs na mas mababa ng P400
milyon kung ikumpara sa P23.8 bilyong
badyet ng SUCs sa kasalukuyang taon.
Binawasan din dito ang students
financial assistance para sa mga schol-
arship ng 43 porsyento.
Kulang pa rin
Ngunit ayon naman kay Angeli
Louise Cando, pambansang tagapan-
gulo ng Katipunan ng mga Sanggu-
niang Mag-aaral sa UP, bagamat isang
tagumpay na nakamit sa sama-samang
pagkilos ay kulang pa rin ang P146
milyong halaga para tugunan ang
kakulangan ng badyet ng SUCs.
“Kung susumahin ay madagdagan
lamang ng tig-P1.3 milyon ang MOOE
ng mga SUCs. Wala pa ring badyet
para sa Capital Outlay,” ani Cando.
Ang MOOE ang ginagamit na
para sa mga araw-araw na gastusin
sa pagpatakbo ng unibersidad katulad
na lamang ng kuryente. Ang Capital
Outlay naman ay para sa pambili ng
bagong kagamitan at konstruksyon ng
bagong pasilidad.
Kasinungalingan
Tinuligsa naman ni Raiza Khaye
Llorico, tagapangulo ng Sandigan
para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan
(SAMASA), ang mga kasinungalin-
gan ng administrasyong Aquino tung-
kol sa badyet cut.
“Mismo si Presidente Aquino ang
nagpahayag sa publiko sa plano niyang
pagkaltas sa badyet sa SUCs. Nag-iba
lang yung tono ng kanta niya nung nag-
from P23.8 billion this year to P23.4 bil-
lion for the year 2011.
“President Benigno Aquino III ex-
posed his government’s outright abroga-
tion of its responsibility in providing its
citizens with quality and accessible edu-
cation,” reads the manifesto.
Racadio and UPV-USC Chairperson
Angeli Louise Cando represented the
student councils of UPV Miagao in the
gathering.
The GASC is organized by the Of-
fice of the Student Regent (OSR) twice
every year in October to discuss amend-
ments for the Codified Rules for Student
Regent Selection (CRSRS), and in April
for the selection of the SR.
simula ang mga malawakang pagkilos
nating mga mag-aaral,” ani Llorico.
Ayon kay Llorico, malinaw na ito
ay komersyalisasyon ng edukasyon at
lubos-lubusang pagtalikod ng gubyer-
no sa responsibilidad nitong pondohan
ang SUCs
“Itinutulak ng rehimeng Aquino
ang mga SUCs na umasa sa sarili sa
pamamagitan ng tuition and other fee
increases at pagpapaupa ng mga idle
assets nito,” aniya.
Maling Prayoridad
“Kung ating susumahin ang panu-
kalang badyet para sa taong 2011 ay
malinaw nating makikita na iba ang
prayoridad ng gobyerno,” sabi ni Jor-
dana Mari Jaco, Kabataan Partylist
Panay Regional Deputy Coordinator
at Anakbayan UPV chairperson.
“Mas inuuna pa ng administra-
syong Aquino ang pag-increase ng
pork barrel ng P13.9 bilyon at binigy-
CRSRS Amendments
Proposed significant changes in the
CRSRS included the amendment for one
council one vote, the minimum academic
requirement for the Student Regent, and
the removal of KASAMA sa UP in the
CRSRS.
“These amendments were not ap-
proved by the body in the plenary delib-
erations because of their undemocratic
aims,” said Racadio.
“The one council one vote, for ex-
ample, is biased to large campuses with
many college SCs like UP Diliman and
UP Los Baños which marginalizes the
students from equally important but
THE LONG MARCH from the UP Iloilo City
campus to the Capitol. PAGBUTLAK
an pa nang P2 bilyon pork barrel funds
si Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” aniya.
Kabilang rin sa panukalang badyet
ang paglaan ng P29 bilyong dole outs
sa ilalim ng Conditional Cash Trans-
fer program, P10 bilyong increase sa
military budget, at increase ng P80.9
bilyong para sa debt servicing.
Mga pagkilos sa Iloilo
Ang kilos protesta sa Iloilo ay
pinangunahan ng Kabataan Partylist-
Panay at Iloilo Youth Student Alliance
at dinaluhan ng mga iskolar ng bayan
galing sa UP Visayas, West Visayas
State University (WVSU), at West
Visayas College of Science and Tech-
nology (WVCST).
May 400 katao ang nagtipon sa
may oblation ng UPV Iloilo City cam-
pus bago nagmartsa ang sobra 200
katao patungong provincial Capitol
upang salubungin ang halos 300 na ka-
lahok galing sa WVSU at WVCST. ■
smaller regional units like UP Visayas,”
she added.
Under the present CRSRS, the USCs
of UP Diliman, Manila, Baguio, Los
Baños, Visayas and Mindanao are given
two votes while the SCs of the UP Exten-
sion Program in Pampanga, UP Cebu Col-
lege, UPV Tacloban College, and UP Palo
School of Health Science Palo, Leyte are
provided one vote each.
All main amendments were not
passed. However, one technical revision
changing the mandate of the CRSRS
from the Executive Order Number 204-A
to the Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP
Charter of 2008 Section 12(g) was unani-
mously approved by the body. ■
NEWS 3
NEWSBRIEFS
Ampatuan Massacre
aniv prayer vigil
CARM NOVILLA
Campus journalists, media students,
and student leaders from UP Visayas
Miagao commemorated the 1st year an-
niversary of the Ampatuan Massacre in
a prayer vigil last Nov. 23 evening at the
dormitory area.
Led by the College Editors Guild of
the Philippines-Panay and Pagbutlak,
the participants demanded justice for all
the victims of the massacre.
“Kung makikita mo ang mga larawan
ng mga biktima at makita mo ang iyong
mga kakilala, ano ba ang iyong marara-
mdaman? Ang bigat sa dibdib,” said Za-
ira Nichole Racadio, CAS-SC councilor,
SAMASA-PA chair, and General Santos
City resident who personally knew some
of the victims. ■
UPV joins IT Week 2010
ELLI ANTHONY PIAMONTE
The Iloilo Federation for Information
Technology (IFIT) along with its organiz-
ers and sponsors celebrated the 5th IT
Week with the theme, “Enhancing Iloilo’s
Connection to the World through World-
class ICT Manpower.”
This yearly events brings together the
key shareholders in the information and
communication technology (ICT) sector
in Iloilo. It showcases Iloilo’s human re-
source capabilities in information technol-
ogy and increases awareness of investors
on Iloilo’s attractiveness as an IT hub.
BS CS students Gierick Fermindoza
won 1st place in the IT Quiz, while Eero
Nico Primaleon and Eric John Tionko
won 2nd place in Digital Arts and Call
Center Handling respectively.
The winners received a cash prize
and for the latter, a guaranteed contract
from SPi Global. The event took place in
Amigo Plaza Mall on November 15-19,
with eight colleges and universities par-
ticipating in four IT competitions. ■
Pabarock Sais
showcase local talents
CARM NOVILLA
UP Hamili Brotherhood and Hamilia
Sisterhood held last November 26 the
sixth Pabarock concert at the Miagao
Cultural Center.
Pabarock Sais 6 was participated by
two city-based bands and three Miagao-
based groups, including our very own
UPV Sonata. ■
Mathematicians on ramp
LAVILYN HYSTHEA MALTE
It was a “bacon brought home” for
the 12 UPV BS Applied Mathematics
students who participated in the 1st Math
Teachers Association of the Philippines
(MTAP) Tertiary level Regional Math
Count 2010 last November 27 at Colegio
de San Agustin Bacolod.
Competing against 14 teams from dif-
ferent schools and universities in Visayas,
the University of Cebu won the 1st place.
Meanwhile, 2nd and 3rd place re-
spectively were UPV’s team 2 composed
of Gezzah Bolanos, Rey Joseph Espiritu,
Jose Abad Lazaro, Jr., and Phylla Lynne
June Magallanes with coach Prof. Filame
Joy Catinan and team 3 composed of Vic-
toria Marcella Albacete, Claire Padrones,
Menchie Bautista, and John Justine Me-
sias with Mr. Mark Alvin Bayag as coach.
Not to be outdone were Victoria Mar-
cella Albacete who got 2nd place and Allen
Bibal as 3rd place in the individual finals.
Looking at the results, UPV students
performed well to be qualified in the Na-
tional Level on February 2011 in Manila. ■
 4 NEWS
Sa ika-6 anibersaryo ng Hacienda Luisita Masaker
Mga estudyante nanindigan
para sa mga magsasaka
ROSANA INAUDITO
Sa ika-anim na taon mula ng mangyari ang kalunus-lunos na Haci-
enda Luisita masaker na naging mitsa ng buhay ng pitong kaawa-
awang magsasaka ay nag-ani ito ng iba’t-ibang pagkondena at kilos-
protesta mula sa iba’t-ibang sektor na nananawagan ng hustisya
para sa mga biktima at tunay na repormang pang-agraryo.
Nobyembre 18, 2010 – bitbit ang
mga sulo at plakard ay nagmartsa ang
sobra kalahati isandaang mga estudy-
ante sa paligid ng mga dormitoryo dito
sa unibersidad tangan ang hamon sa
mga iskolar ng bayan na manindigan
sa mga isyu na nangyayari sa lipunan.
Pinangunahan ng Anakbayan at
Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sam-
bayanan (SAMASA) ang nasabing
pagkilos.
“Ang pag-aaral ay hindi lamang
nililimitahan ng apat na sulok ng silid-
aralan. Kailangan nating lumabas sa
lipunan at pag-aralan ang mga isyu na
tuwiran man o hindi ay nakakaapekto
sa ating mga estudyante,” pahayag na-
man ni Raiza Khey Llorico, Chairper-
son ng SAMASA.
Isang pagbalik tanaw
Kung matatandaan natin, nagwel-
ga ang mga magsasaka sa Hacienda
Luisita upang iparating sa pamunuan
ng Hacienda Luisita Inc. at sa goby-
erno ng administrasyong Arroyo ang
kanilang panawagan na ipamahagi na
sa mga magsasaka ang lupaing sakop
ng Hacienda Luisita na pinamamaha-
INSTILLING A CLIMATE OF FEAR: Army
men flocks to the scene, warning residents against
joining the medical mission. KARAPATAN
CARHRIHL
The Comprehensive Agree-
ment on Respect for Human Rights
and International Humanitarian Law
(CARHRIHL) is a historic document
that answers the Filipino people’s
long-standing aspiration for the re-
spect of human rights.
The CARHRIHL was signed by
the negotiating panels of the Govern-
ment of the Republic of the Philip-
pines (GRP) and the National Demo-
cratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)
on March 16, 1998.
Contained in the CARHRIHL is
the entire scope of human rights. The
laan ng pamilya Cojuangco.
Subalit sa halip na dinggin ang ka-
nilang panawagan ay bala ang sinagot
sa kanila. Pito ang agad na napaslang
habang marami pa ang nasugatan.
Matagal na ang problema ng mga
magsasaka sa Hacienda Luisita. Ngunit
lumala ito ng ipatupad ng administra-
syong Corazon Aquino ang Batas Re-
publika Blg. 6657 o ang Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Ayon sa Kilusang Magbubukid
sa Pilipinas (KMP), ito ang naging
sanhi upang magkalakas-loob ang
mga malalaking panginoong maylupa
na mang-agaw ng lupa mula sa mga
maliit na magsasaka at patuloy na isa-
walang-bahala ang karapatan ng mga
magsasaka.
Stock Distribution Option
Taong 2003 nang maghain ang
mga magsasaka ng Hacienda luisita
ng petisyon sa Deparment of Agrar-
ian Reform (DAR) ng petisyon upang
ibasura ang Stock Distribution Agree-
ment (SDO) na nauna nang naipatu-
pad noong 1992.
Sa ilalim ng SDO ay mabibigyan
Pamahug FROM P.1
ligious and other public spaces
as command posts, barracks,
detachments, and supply depots
were documented in Karapatan’s
“2009 Report on the Human
Rights Situation in the Philip-
pines.”
According to Balibagoso,
the military are stationed as de-
tachments in civilian centers in
document also contains provisions
of international humanitarian law on
war.
The CARHRIHL is one of the
substantial agendas for peace ne-
gotiations between the GRP and
NDFP set during the Hague Joint
Declaration signed by both sides
on September 1, 1992.
Its signing is an admission on
the part of the GRP of the issue of
the widespread violation of human
rights. It also confirms the equal
standing of both the NDFP and the
GRP. ■
lamang ng dibiendo o kita mula sa
dami ng hawak nilang stocks ang mga
magsasaka sa halip na ipamahagi sa
kanila ang lupa. Ang dami ng kanilang
stocks ay nakabatay rin sa dami ng
“man-days” o dami ng araw ng pag-
tatrabaho ng isang magsasaka sa loob
ng isang taon.
Dahil sa lumiit ang “man-days”
lumiit rin ang benepisyo na natatang-
gap ng mga magsasaka kung kaya nag-
simula ang kanilang welga noong 2004
kung kailan nangyari ang masaker.
Dulot ng pakikibaka ng mga mag-
sasaka ay pinawalang bisa ng DAR
at ng Presidential Agrarian Reform
Council (PARC) ang SDO noong
2005. Nangangahulugan ito na kailan-
gan nang tuwirang ipamahagi sa mga
magsasaka ang mga lupa na napaila-
lim sa CARP.
Subalit hindi pumayag ang pa-
munuan ng HLI na ibigay ng ganun-
ganon na lang ang lupa kung kaya
kinuwestyon nila ang desisyong ito sa
Korte Suprema noong Pebrero 2006 at
nakakuha sila ng Temporary Restrain-
ing Order laban sa PARC.
Compromise Agreement
Ngunit noong Agosto 3-6, 2010
ilang araw bago ang oral arguments
sa Korte Suprema para pag-usapan
at desisyunan na ang usapin hinggil
sa SDO ay naghain ng “compromise
agreement” ang pamunuan ng HLI para
Bongbongan and neighboring
barangays to help the govern-
ment’s infrastructure projects.
This may violate interna-
tional accords on human rights
of which the government is a
signatory, including the Com-
prehensive Agreement on Re-
spect for Human Rights and In-
ternational Humanitarian Laws
(CARHRIHL), added Vergara.
“Civilian populations shall
have the right to be protected
against the risks and dangers
posed by the presence of military
camps in urban centers and other
populated areas,” provides Part
IV Article 12 of CARHRIHL.
Intensified militarization
The AFP have been intensify-
ing counterinsurgency operations
in several regions, with focus on
Bicol, Cordillera, Eastern Visa-
yas, Ilocos, Negros, and almost
all of Mindanao, resulting in the
disruption of people’s livelihood
PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
SULO AT PLAKARD ang
tanging sandata ng mga iskolar ng
bayan na magiting na nanindigan
para sa mga magsasaka ng Haci-
enda Luisita.
STEPHANIE SUARIEZ
diumano ay lutasin na ang sigalot sa
pagitan ng magsasaka at ng HLI. dito
ay pinapipili nila ang mga magsasaka
kung ano ang gusto nila- lupa o stocks.
Ayon kay Atty. Jobert Pahilga,
Executive Director ng Sentro para sa
Tunay na Repormang Agraryo at legal
council ng Alyansa ng mga Mang-
gagawang Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita
(AMBALA) ay huwad raw ang “com-
promise Agreement.”
Unang-una, hindi mga tunay na
lider at kinatawan ng mga magsasaka
ang pumirma sa kasunduan. Kabi-
lang na rito sina Noel Mallari para
sa AMBALA at Edilfonso Pingol
para sa United Luisita Workers Un-
ion (ULWU) na sinasabing walang
otoridad mula sa mga magsasaka at
manggagawang-bukid upang sila ay
i-representa at makipagkasundo sa pa-
and the rising number of human
rights abuses.
Only this November 15, lead-
ing Philippine botanist Leonard
Co and his two assistants were
shot and killed by Philippine
Army forces while gathering
seedlings of endangered trees
in Kananga, Leyte on the mere
suspicion that they were armed
rebels.
Meanwhile, combined mili-
tary and police elements raided
the Karapatan office in Daet,
Camarines Norte, Bicol on the
morning of November 22. The
military, through 19th IDPA
spokesperson Col. Leoncio Ciru-
nay, claimed that armed rebels
were hiding in the office.
Illegally arrested and de-
tained in this raid were 60-year
old Kilusang Magbubukid sa
Pilipinas-Camarines Norte Chair
Esmeraldo “Tatay Smith” Bar-
don, Alliance of Concerned
Teachers Partylist Coordinator
Denver Bacolod, Kabataan Par-
tylist member Mherlo Bermas,
and 58-year old ex-political de-
munuan ng HLI.
Dagdag pa niya ay nakadisenyo
raw ito para mapwersa ang mga mag-
sasaka na piliin ang SDO gamit ang
mapanlinlang na “financial assist-
ance” at pangakong trabaho.
Ang panawagan ng mga magsasaka
at manggagawang bukid ay ang libreng
maipapamahagi sa mga magsasaka ang
lupa at maiiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng
monopolyo sa lupa ng mga panginoong
maylupa at mga malalaking agro-kor-
porasyong lokal at dayuhan.
“Ang laban ng mga magsasaka
ay laban rin ng mga Iskolar ng Bay-
an. Dito natin maipapakita na huwad
ang pangako ni P-Noy na sundin
matuwid na daan,” ani Jordana Mari
Jaco, Chairperson ng Anakbayan UPV
Chapter sa ginanap na lokal na pagki-
los noong Nobyembre 18. ■
tainee Elpidio Deluna.
This intensified militarization
of the countryside falls within
the framework of the Aquino re-
gime’s extension of the previous
regime’s counterinsurgency plan
Operation Bantay Laya (OBL),
said Vergara.
The OBL has been con-
demned by human rights ad-
vocates, including the United
Nations Special Rapporteur for
Human Rights Philip Alston, as
the masterplan behind the kill-
ings and disappearances of more
than 1,200 activists under the Ar-
royo presidency.
Moreover, despite its freeing
of 400 confirmed military rebels
last October, the Aquino regime
has yet to free the Morong 43.
Human Rights Watch and the
Amnesty International, among
other human rights groups, have
criticized the Aquino regime for
failing to act decisively on the
human rights issue with already
22 cases of extrajudicial killings
since June 30 as documented by
Karapatan. ■
 PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010 INTERVIEW 5

THETHEORY OFEVERYTHING
Dr. Rommel Espinosa on his role as the Dean of the Arts and Sciences and some
other things, such as Harry Potter, computational physics and poetry
the most challenging yet fulfilling the generator for the CAS, the re-
BEMJO TOREMA part of being a dean. construction of the Student Council

A
nook beside the CAS building, and
couple of minutes be- Being from the field of physics, the newly-built study nooks for all
fore 2:30 in afternoon, how has it helped you with your CAS students, something similar to
Dr. Rommel A. Espinosa deanship? How can you relate the Chancellor’s Park near the cen-
enters the Office of the physics with being a Dean? tral admin building.
Dean at the basement of the Tomas Physics is the queen of empirical
Fonacier Building, more commonly sciences; thus, it permeates all fields What future directions do you
known as the College of Arts and of human endeavor and natural phe- foresee for the CAS?
Sciences building. He’s just come nomenon. It is able to integrate all My dream is for all divisions to
back from a short trip at the New these fields into one. Just like phys- become institutes offering graduate
Administration Building to get a ics, being the dean of a college, es- programs, along with a bigger focus
cheque, and he’s a little late for our 2 pecially of one called the Arts and on research. Despite this larger fo-
p.m. interview schedule. After apol- Sciences, it has helped me under- cus on research, however, we should
ogizing for the delay, he explains stand how I can bring together all still continue molding undergradu-
how there’s this admin policy about these fields which are vastly differ- ates towards excellence in their re-
having to personally get whatever it ent from one another so that we may spective fields.
is that you need in whatever admin be able to work towards a higher Another one of my plans for the
office concerned. “But I don’t mind goal. Physics has also helped me as CAS, which has been started last
it, really. At least I get to have a bit a dean appreciate these other fields semester and may be concretized
of exercise,” he adds cheerfully. more, because without them physics this semester, is to convene a group
Before Dr. Espinosa hands back cannot stand. of AS faculty to come up with a re-
the questionnaire I gave some days search project that is college-wide, feedback from other colleges. But cifically middle distance running. I
ago, he remembers that he hasn’t What role does the CAS play something that requires expertise this event has also led me, along used to do ten kilometers a day, but
filled up the “Basic Information” within the University? What sets from all divisions and departments with the other members of the CAS right now my job requires me to
part yet. He grabs a pen, Just like physics, it apart from the other in the college. We have decided faculty, to become more vigilant, be sedentary most of the time. The
and proceeds to write. being the dean of colleges within UPV? on a project that focuses on Panay. more prepared about something like most I can do is some brisk walk-
Under “Birthdate”, he a college, es- No matter what col- Through this project, we can enable this. It could happen to the CAS too. ing, but one day maybe I’ll take up
writes “September 13, pecially of one lege or school you’re the University to become an author- But this at least serves as a reminder running again. I’m also very fond
1962”, and after brush- called the Arts and from, whether it’s CFOS, ity about Panay, and all its different to fully evaluate our college’s situ- of reading Tom Clancy; I collect
ing up on my rusty arith- helpedSciences, it has
me under- or CM, or SoTech, you aspects – its natural resources, soci- ation and consult those who are his Jack Ryan novels. Believe it or
metic, I figure out that stand how I can still spend your first two ety, culture, geography, arts – every- part of it before reaching a decision not, I’m also into the Harry Potter
he’s 48 years old. From bring together all years in the College of thing there is to know about it! We that might affect the integrity of UP series. My daughter and I watched
the rest of it, I find out these fields which Arts and Sciences, be- can integrate all the fields of study Visayas. the movie recently, and we had fun
that he’s originally from are vastly different cause it’s the CAS that in the CAS – the social sciences, the critiquing the differences between
Oton, Iloilo, and that he from one another
so that we may takes the lead role in biological sciences, chemistry, the On a lighter note… the book and the film versions.
was a college instruc- be able to work implementing UPV’s physical sciences and mathematics,
tor in the University of towards a higher General Education (GE) the humanities – to produce some- When you were a kid, what did Anything you can say to the stu-
San Agustin’s College of goal. program. In a way, you thing that can be of use to the soci- you want to be? Did it ever cross dents of the College of Arts and
Technology before he en- could say that we nurture ety. your mind to be a dean one day? Sciences?
tered UPV to teach physics. them in their first years in this uni- I liked toys, and I loved to take Strive to be the best that you can
He finishes writing, and after a versity, and as well as in the General What are your views of the next them apart to see what they looked be not only for your own self-satis-
itsy-bitsy awkward pause, we start Education aspect of their studies. UP President? What issues do you like, and try to put them back to- faction, but for others who depend
with the interview proper. think he/she should address? gether. I asked my parents what the on your abilities to make their lives
What is your assessment of your The next UP President should perfect career was for someone like better. Just like our symbol, the Ob-
Most students know that a dean first two years in the office? define more concretely what role that, and they said Mechanical Engi- lation, it is noblest to offer oneself
heads a college. But what most of I would have to say that the first UP should have as the national neering. So that was what I took up up to a cause larger than yourself.
them don’t know is, what exactly year was definitely a learning expe- university, based on the new char- in college. I never dreamed of being I check my plastic digital watch,
does a dean do? rience, and it was a bit of a strug- ter. What kind of direction should a dean, but then there was a time and it blinks back 3:21, which
Aside from doing the admin- gle. By my second year, however, UP pursue? Research, teaching, or when I realized how many prob- meant the interview lasted for al-
istrative and clerical work, which I’d developed enough patience and service to the people? Of course, we lems our society has, and that I had most an hour. I thank Dr. Espinosa
basically consists of paperwork and tolerance for different viewpoints cannot be all three at once. We have to stop complaining and start doing for his time and patience, and we
making sure that the plans of the and personalities of all the people to have a role to focus on, but at the something. So I thought, I should talk a bit about Busay, Pagbutlak’s
higher offices for the college are that comprise this college. My term same time, without ignoring the rest. become part of the solution, not the annual literary folio. He’s read the
carried out, the dean is an academic will be ending in July next year, and This is also the same kind of direct- problem. And then this opportunity publication, he says, and he’s look-
leader of a college. He decides what so my main goal now is to be able ing that is expected from a dean. for administration came along, and I ing forward to reading more of what
academic direction it is going to pur- to finish everything that I’ve start- felt that it was one of the best ways the students have to say. “I’m par-
sue. At the same time, based on my ed, such as the FM transmitter; its What are the implications of the to be part of the solution. ticularly fond of the poetry; I want
experience, a dean is a peacemaker budget was approved only recently. UP Cebu autonomy on the CAS? to know what the young people are
among the members of the college, There are still a number of unimple- I am under the impression that What other hobbies and interests getting angsty about these days,” he
whether it’s faculty versus faculty, mented plans, but I’ll be working the UP Cebu autonomy move was do you have? jokes. “Besides, my expertise may
or student versus faculty, or faculty hard to get them done before my something done without proper con- I’m a big fan of Manny Pac- lie in computational physics, but my
versus staff. It’s also the dean’s job term ends. But I’m also glad to say sultation of the other constituents quiao and Charice! I used to be into sister’s a poet, and she’s developed a
to nurture and discipline the stu- that there have been quite a number of the university. It was a decision running when I was younger – spe- love of poetry in me.” ■
dents of his college. This, I feel, is of projects initiated already, such as made at the highest level, without
 6 FEATURES
BLOODY
MONDAY
When the Philippine Media Trembled
EUNICE GUADALOPE
Where were you on November 23, 2009 and August 23, 2010? Two dates that,
by itself, may be forgettable, but these 48 hours made us see the faltering steps of
our democracy as symbolized by the blood on our society’s watchdog, the media,
as it flows from the dusty highway of Maguindanao and the glass-splintered interior
of a tourist bus in Manila. Both dates just fell on our ordinary much-dreaded school
day until we knew what happened. The Maguindanao Massacre and the Quirino Hostage
incident took place on Monday, a bloody one.
By pursuing and broadcasting the truth,
it is the media that keeps our democracy up
and running. Knowing what really happens
empowers every citizen to participate in matters
concerning the state. The government of the
people, by the people, and for the people then
becomes a daily reality as long as every Filipino
is informed by the media. Having such an effect,
this profession with its vast coverage can mold
the opinions of every viewer or reader like clay.
Such strength, however, of our media
practitioners is seen by some as a threat.
By voicing out the truth, they serve as the
mirrors of our society, but not everyone likes
their reflection. For the sake of hiding the
sins committed against the people, it must be
shattered.
Ampatuan massacre
A peaceful convoy of Buluan Vice Mayor
Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu was on its way
to file the certificate for his candidacy in the
gubernatorial post when a group of armed men
stopped them. It became a gruesome death scene
with 57 lives that were lost, 43 of which were
journalists that were supposed to immunize the
procession.
It was “the deadliest single attack on the
press ever documented,” according to the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The
death knell for our democracy, championed by
the media, was heard that Monday. The whole
country wore black as we, Filipinos, realized
that the voice we hear on the radio, the writer
who wields the pen of truth, and other media
practitioners who are keeping democracy in
order are also fragile human beings who can be
easily snuffed out despite of the powerful role
that they have.
A year later, the Philippines is still haunted
by the faces of the fallen men and women in
Maguindanao. The media profession was still
reeling from the massacre, having some of their
members sacrificed, though not deliberately, for
their freedom to wield their power to inspire the
people. This strength of the media, coupled with its
advocacy for the truth, can also be a kind of mirror
PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
that is a threat to the ones it is supposed to serve, us.
proclaiming the truth and serving the public,
but that’s not all. The problem is, the entirety
Mendoza hostage crisis of the media profession is not anchored alone
On another Monday, former Senior on solid media values and ethics. Money makes
Inspector Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist the world go round, as they say, and the fourth
bus with 21 Hong Kong nationals and four estate of the society is not immune. It must be The victim and the enemy
Filipinos. A real-life hostage drama unfolded said that the moral obligation of the media often The exploited and exploited. The victim
in national television and radio stations as the clashes with the reality that its content must also and the enemy. This is how the Philippine Press
bus made its final stop in the historical Quirino be geared for profit. Institute perceives the media, especially when
Grandstand where our 15th President vowed to The media profession is not an independent there is an unstable ethical foundation among its
serve the country. Eight people never made it enterprise that can do whatever it pleases practitioners. Stuck between a rock and a hard
out of the trip alive. without having to pat its wallet once in a while. place, between imperiling their own lives or
The whole Philippines held their breath as TV, radio, and newspapers are also owned by that of others, the media must do the precarious
they watched the live media coverage on major media corporations. The whims of the market balancing act on the tightrope of life through
TV networks. Something along these lines must determine how the cameras keep rolling, the their TV and radio broadcasts and newspaper
have ran through the minds of the news and presses running, and the media practitioners full publications. Their influencing power became
current affairs executives in the radio and TV in their pockets. a threat for others and they were killed. That
stations: Simply put, the most same strength also became a menace for us.
Forget the specific media Such strength, number of viewers attract Keeping the mirror that reflects the truth from
guidelines for covering crises however, of our more advertisers and will being erased and from cutting anyone is an art
situations. Get the good angles,
preferably an extreme close-
media practitioners bring more money. However,
those media consumers are
still being perfected.
However, the deaths of the journalists in
up of those SWAT teams and is seen by some as not unlimited in number the dusty town of Ampatuan and the senseless
policemen forcing their way a threat. By voicing and they can only patronize killing of the hostages triggered by a live TV
inside the bus. It can be used
against them. The viewers out the truth, they asupply few shows. Thus, limited
of viewers versus
coverage were not for naught. From their graves,
gems of wisdom can be gleaned that cannot be
must get a 360 degrees view serve as the mirrors simultaneous demand for understood fully in just textbooks.
of this hostage situation. Also, of our society, but them begets competition. It Although painful, real-life experiences are
take a good shot of Mendoza’s also means pressure for the vital to the development of a well-balanced
brother being caught by not everyone likes reporters to get stories that Philippine media. Sometimes, mere words are
the police. Pre-empting the their reflection. For will lure in more viewers not enough to guide something as freedom-
expensive commercials is
only worth it if our ratings
the sake of hiding thanThe their competitors.
competitive money-
loving as the media. It took 43 fallen heroes in
Maguindanao for the government or the whole
hit the roof. Who knows, this the sins committed making side of the media country to take notice of the precious truth-
extensive coverage may win us against the people, it industry is not just evident in seeking few being killed for their service to
an award! For good measure,
get a radio interview with the
must be shattered. the number of commercials
aired or the product plugging
the public. It took 8 lives for our TV and radio
reporters, journalists, and the media higher-
mentally-unstable hostage-taker. in popular shows. News content is being ups to revise their guidelines for covering
conditioned for the sake of higher audience emergency situations. Unfortunately.
Commercializing media ratings at the expense of quality programming. May November 23, 2009 and August 23,
Before getting your pitchforks and starting Even at the cost of a human life. 2010, those bloody Mondays, never happen
a rally against the media, please be cautioned On that fateful August day, it’s not the own again. ■
and put away the “I blame media” banners. For blood of the media practitioners that covered
one, media networks have already disciplined them, but it was from the innocent hostages. Reference
their reporters and revised their guidelines for This time, the mirror itself which was supposed Pierre Bourdieu, “Television,” European
covering emergency situations. to safeguard the people harmed them. Review 9, no. 3 (2001): 245 – 256.
The media were doing their job in
 PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
T
he force of the acute crisis
weighing upon the nation led
to a storm of massive protests
that henceforth became known
as the First Quarter Storm (FQS) of 1970.
This historical episode of social un-
rest is the starting point of the film Sigwa,
as directed by Joel Lamangan and written
by Bonifacio Ilagan.
The story begins with the main
character, Dolly (Dawn Zulueta, Megan
Young), returning to the Philippines to
look for her daughter who was left in the
country during the years of the Marcos
dictatorship.
She first came to the Philippines in
the ‘70s as a Filipino-American who at
first only wrote about the struggles of the
workers, peasants and other sectors of so-
ciety for national liberation and genuine
democracy but later on became actively
engaged in it.
Past revisited
Through flashbacks of her personal
saga, the viewers are presented the hu-
man side of those who took up the chal-
lenge of confronting imperialism (which
means the subjugation of our people by
foreign powers), feudalism (characterized
by landlord exploitation of the peasantry),
and bureaucrat capitalism (or the use of
government position for private profit).
Helping Dolly link the past to the
present is Rading (Jaime Pebanco, Jay
Aquitania), an old comrade she becomes
reunited with while searching for her
daughter.
Rading narrates the many changes
and continuities of the old generation of
activists. Many have become inactive for
different reasons while some have even
made a 180-degree turn to become the
very defenders of the status quo.
Azon (Gina Alajar, Lovi Poe), who
was gang raped by military agents, has
grown sickly from the trauma and is now
resting in a secluded country house. Ol-
iver (Tirso Cruz III, Marvin Agustin), who
was arrested in the ‘70s, is now presiden-
tial spokesperson.
But others, like Rading, have retained
measures of involvement in the move-
ment while some, like Cita (Zsa Zsa Pa-
dilla, Pauleen Luna), have deepened their
commitment for social change by
taking up the highest form
of struggle.
Also mentioned in the film are FQS
veterans Judy Taguiwalo who is now the
UP Faculty Regent, Carol Araullo who is
presently chair of the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (Bayan), and Satur Ocampo,
who became a congressman under the
progressive partylist Bayan Muna.
No dinner party
The intensification of Marcos’ fas-
cist repression compelled Dolly and her
group of friends to join the underground
revolutionary movement and take up arms
against the regime.
They have come to the conclusion
that armed resistance is the primary form
of struggle since the ruling classes would
not give up their power and hold on a re-
pressive system.
The revolutionaries would have to
start organizing in the rural areas where
the forces of the state are weakest and
gradually surround the cities from the
countryside wave upon wave.
However, they would also discover
that waging a revolution is no dinner par-
ty. Members of their group of friends who
were captured by the military were raped
and tortured. 1
Eddie (Allen Dizon), the father of
Dolly’s daughter, kills himself in the pres-
ence of Dolly and their comrades in a
guerrilla camp after he was uncovered as
a military agent.
Dolly herself would leave her baby
daughter with Azon when their safehouse
was raided by the military. These trau-
matic episodes would lead her to leave the
country.
Oliver, who is also Cita’s ex-lover,
would reveal the whereabouts of his com-
rades to his military captors during inter-
rogation.
Confrontation
These characters would find them-
selves together again in the film’s high-
point after 40 years of separation. During
the wake of a dead professor who was im-
portant in their development as activists,
Dolly and Rading would join the confron-
tation between Cita and Oliver.
In this heated exchange, the con-
tinuing relevance of revolutionary armed
struggle is debated, with Oliver insisting
that its time has passed.
Cita, who took up arms again after
escaping her military captors despite all
the hardships and sacrifices, expresses her
deepened commitment for revolutionary
change.
The collapse of the former Soviet Un-
ion and China’s following of the capitalist
road after the death of Mao does not at all
diminish Philippine social realities of in-
justice and the validity of the struggle for
revolutionary transformation, countered
Rading.
Cita finally shames Oliver by point-
ing out that those who are separated from
the concrete conditions and do not engage
in social practice end up slurping all sorts
of wrong ideas.
The scene ends with Oliver getting
booed by other activists as he leaves the
wake.
Dialectical form
This climactic confrontation epito-
mizes how the entire film is structured
“as a constant play of opposite modalities
clashing against one another.” 2
Conflicting images are often set
against each other in succeeding scenes.
Upon Dolly’s arrival, for example, the
view of the calm Manila bay is contrasted
to flashbacks of a raging militant youth
demonstration that was violently dis-
persed by the police.
The film’s dialectical form is also ex-
pressed in the exposition of protagonists’
conflicting viewpoints. But this method of
opposing elements is present not only in
the form but also extends and intertwines
with the content.
Dolly’s reminiscence of her past and
outlook in the film is often nostalgic, for
example, while Cita’s own flashbacks are
narrated by a more practical point of view.
Even as Dolly’s character searches for a
lost past, Cita has a rich experience from
this very past that Dolly left behind.
The flashbacks of Dolly’s courtship
by Eddie in the usual bourgeois
way is contrasted, for in-
stance, with Cita’s second
marriage which was offi-
ciated by the revolutionary
movement and held within a
guerrilla front to the celebra-
tory sound of gunfire.
Meanwhile, Cita’s remain-
ing true to her original calling
and becoming a leader of the
New People’s Army is opposed
to Oliver’s betrayal and eventual
Sigwa
PEOPLE’S WAR: Zsa
Zsa Padilla plays the role of a
guerrilla leader in Sigwa.
DENNIS EVANGELISTA
serving of the reactionary government.
Sigwa thus involves what film critic
Marylin Fabe as “a constant juxtaposition
or clash of opposites (a thesis and an an-
tithesis), the goal being the creation of a
new synthesis or higher consciousness in
the mind of the viewer.” 3
But the social issues and histori-
cal events tend to act as background to a
family saga – Dolly’s search for her lost
daughter – instead of becoming the film’s
highlight.
On the one hand, this is a convincing
way of introducing and endearing these
issues and events to more mainstream au-
diences.
On the other hand, one problem is
what acclaimed novelist Lualhati Bautista
would describe as “a very striking similar-
ity between Sigwa and Desaparesidos…
[in] the very concept of a mother searching
for the daughter she has lost, which is the
basic, unifying element of the movie.” 4
Bautista first wrote Desparesidos as
a teleplay aired on Channel 7 in 1997.
Bautista wrote a full-length novel based
on the teleplay. The novel was published
in 2007.
Filming the struggle
Sigwa comes after a long line of films
that directly tackle social injustices, state
repression, the legal democratic move-
ment, and the armed struggle in the coun-
tryside.
Mike De Leon’s Sister Stella L (1984)
shows the awakening of a nun to greater
social realities by helping striking work-
ers in their picket lines.
Lino Brocka’s Orapronobis (1988),
which was also censored by the govern-
Filming the national
democratic struggle
REVIEW 7
ment, mirrors the realities of grave human
rights violations under the regime of the
late Corazon Aquino.
Chito Roño’s Dekada ’70 (2002),
based on a novel by Lualhati Bautista of
the same title, tells the story of a mother
and her family’s personal struggles and
political resistance under the dictatorship.
And Dukot (2009), also directed by
Lamangan and written by Ilagan, chroni-
cles the plight of desaparecidos or those
abducted by state forces under the Arroyo
regime. This comes as no surprise as La-
mangan and Ilagan are both veterans of
the FQS.
The continuing relevance of the so-
cial realities shown in Sigwa as well as
this year’s commemoration of the 40th
anniversary of the FQS makes the film’s
screening timely.
Through the interaction of the char-
acters’ experiences during the FQS, the
ensuing period of repression and fiercer
resistance during martial law, and the con-
tinuing struggle in the present, the viewers
are presented an overview of the narrative
of the national democratic struggle. ■
Notes
1. Under the Marcos dictatorship, more
than 70,000 were imprisoned for their
political convictions according to old ar-
chives of the original Task Force Detain-
ees. Most were tortured.
2. Marilyn Fabe, Closely Watched Films:
An Introduction to the Art of Narrative
Film Technique (Berkley: University of
California Press, 2004), 194.
3. Ibid.
4. Lualhati Bautista, “Sigwa vis-à-vis
Desparesidos,” Philippine Daily Inquirer,
30 July 2010.
KARLO
MIKHAIL
MONGAYA
 8 FEATURES
The (not so) fast and furious
What You Don’t Know, Should Know, and Want to Know About
UPV’s Internet Connection
BEMJO TOREMA
O
n breaks in between classes, Com-
munication and Media Studies sen-
ior Stephanie Suarez connects to the
University’s WiFi connection via
PuTTy. Before opening her profile on the popu-
lar social networking site Facebook, she adds an
“s” after “http”, because it’s eleven in the morn-
ing and social networking and video streaming
sites are blocked during office hours. Through
the handy “https” trick, however, students, fac-
ulty and staff alike are still able to access these
blocked sites.
Open access to WiFi in the University of the
Philippines Visayas Miagao campus started in
the First Semester of A.Y. 2008-2009. However,
by August 2008, the administration decided to
require users to log in before they could access
the service. To be able to do this, students first
had to request for their own username and pass-
word from the University’s Data and Information
Systems Program (DISP) department (for those
who don’t know where it’s located -- Old Admin,
right corridor on the first floor, straight ahead.)
By November 2009, however, a memoran-
dum from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for
Planning and Development (OVCPD) was is-
sued, with the subject “Blocking of Web Stream-
ing Sites (WSS) and Social Networking Sites
(SNS)”. From then on, no one accessing the
University’s WiFi connection could answer the
archetypal Facebook question “What’s on your
mind?” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding lunch
breaks.
That is, until some ComSci buddies had their
Eureka moment in the form of “https.”
Don’t block the netway
According to the administration, there were
two reasons behind the blocking of certain sites
during office hours. First was to ensure better ef-
Mah Heart, It Hurtz!+
H a yyyyz z z z . . . . n a k a k a-
loka itech...mah head is going
merry-go-round. Well3x your
ever byootipul manenay mooh-
ni is vack vack vack ecklavuh
from mah vekeyshun grande
ala tour around the world. And
I thot wiz chika evah will infil-
trate mah ever byootipul unibersidad por da creme
de la creme delicioso...but mah ever bigger ears
make sagap of this chika ever that made me head-
bangerz alert!
Chika#1: Mi Corazon...my heart...ouch! it
hurts! My brainyness utech made sabog as in ex-
plode to the major major max when mah crystal
clear as in byootipul eyes (wink, wink) saw them.
Yeah it was confeyrmd! Uh Huh? Mah delicioso,
papalicious, hotness ex-in-mah-dreams, “again”
ficiency in the workplace by eliminating online
distractions in the form of Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, etc. (i.e. Manong Guard is now friends
with Manong Coop. Manong Guard, Manong
Coop and four other friends started playing Mall
World. ManongGuard: @ManongCoop hey let’s
start trending #JustinBieber)
Second, it was because the Vice Chancellor
for Planning and Development, Dr. Alice G. Fer-
rer, felt alarmed by the decreasing speed of the
University’s Internet connection. After discuss-
ing the matter with the DISP, they agreed on im-
plementing the office-hours blocking policy.
According to Mr. Wilfredo Palete Jr., Infor-
mation Technology Officer 1 of the DISP, their
statistics showed that Internet speed improved
after the implementation. But as “https” slowly
reared its Facebook-friendly head, connections
began to lag again.
Need for speed
It wasn’t long before the DISP found a
more effective way of blocking that even “ht-
tps” couldn’t get through. They gave it a trial run
(much to everyone’s dismay), but decided not to
continue it, since the University had plans of up-
grading the Internet speed anyway.
Previously, the entire campus made do with
a 1.5-Megabytes per second (Mbps) connection
from Globe Telecommunications. Obviously, it
wasn’t enough. Even with the office-hours block-
ing implemented, complaints kept coming in
about the Internet speed, so the admin decided to
bite the bullet, and upgraded from Globe’s mea-
sly 1.5Mbps to the 6Mbps connection offered by
the Advanced Science and Technology Institute
(ASTI) of the Department of Science and Tech-
nology (DOST). The Php80,000.00 monthly
charge for the Miagao campus alone is a bit on
the pricey side compared to Globe’s, which was
Php57,499.00 for the entire UPV system, but it
does have its perks. It gives the University ac-
cess to the research materials and databases of
was caught by an outgoing exit door. Last year
mah perfect-shaped love-heart goes punit-punit
coz’ mah deliciousness, papalicious dribbler of mah
life got shoot in one outgoing exit door instead of
mah ever perfect round ballz ring. The exit door
according to mah ever loyal DPA (as in Dagang Pal-
aging Aligaga) is feeelingggg reyna ng kagandahan.
In fernezzz bagay sya reyna ng wizclaznavera.
HAHAHA(evil laugh).
Chika#2: Witwhew! Oh sooo sexy papa koh!
Chheee! Don’t you make agaw-agaw nga of mah pre-
cious ballzfriend, you matandang gurang na funoh
ng kuhlohboat ahng feces... mah tearz iz fooling..
Uhuhuhu! mah fafalicious who iz zaying bye eckla-
vush to mah byootiful booody is vack again, tearz
in his eyes coz the gradwitt train made pababa of
him becoz this chukchakchenez forpeyzoor...made
him bagsak presyo after not making agree with his
PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
other countries and universities abroad. The rest
of the UP systems also have the ASTI-DOST
as their Internet service provider, except for UP
Mindanao, but even they have plans of switching
sometime this year.
“There’s no denying that the speed has im-
proved,” says Mr. Palete Jr. But when asked
whether anyone’s commented on the improve-
ment – “Not really,” he says. “When something
goes wrong, everyone always has something to
say about it. But not when things get better.”
Connections are available, but…
So far, despite the upgrade, students still have
some not-so-nice things to say about the Internet
speed. One of the most common complaints is
not being able to access the dorm’s WiFi connec-
tion during “peak” hours – usually 7-9 p.m. on
weeknights.
Our constant Facebooker Stephanie Suarez
says, “I admit there has been an improvement in
the speed, but there’s still a lot of inconsistency.
It’s frustrating when you can’t connect right ex-
actly when you need it, and sometimes the con-
nection just gives up on you while you’re in the
middle of doing something.” time it’s still in the trial stage.
But there’s more good news, which concerns
Current status something a lot of students may have also been
As of now, the UPV Miagao campus current- wondering about. Can the DISP really see who’s
ly has 650 registered WiFi users, according to the accessing what website anytime?
DISP. Of course, this isn’t counting all the other “No,” says Mr. Palete Jr. “We can only see
people who borrow their pals’ usernames and what sites are being accessed, but not by whom.
passwords (that’s what friends are for, right?). You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
Bad news for the leechers, though. The DISP has Nah, not really. ■
plans to come up with a program that can detect
whether a username is being used simultaneously NOTE: Parts of the information included in the first
by different people, and their plan of action in- part of this article were previously gathered and in-
cludes blocking those free-for-all usernames. cluded in the author’s investigative report on the ad-
On the brighter side, the DISP has also been ministration’s blocking of web streaming and social
trying to work out a dedicated 2Mbps DSL con- networking sites for CMS 132 (Writing Views).
nection for the dorms alone, separate from the
6Mbps connection. Mr. Palete Jr. hopes it can
improve the dorm connections, but for the mean-
inveytashun to have deyneer dyeyt...this matan-
dang gurang na funoh ng kuhlohboat ahng feces is
soo majilig magpick pocket on mah deliciousness
fafalicious...kawawa naman ang aking pinakamama-
may kasamang masamang virus...masisira ang iyong
council system pag my deadly virus. Nyahaha...
Well...i can’t breathe anymore as in nasuffo-
hal...he’s back not becoz he wants to be with me cate aketch after hearing the BUD-breath Cut-
all the time square but becoz...he is falling down ting chizmax...Oxygen please mah dear blow in mah
of the london bridge and now is vack to make com- mouth...hah hah hah...thank you im still alive i will
plete his mission on Physical Experimentation. make revenge to you who make agaw of mah ballz
toyz! But i will invade first the Chancing Parck and
Chika#3: Chrush pa naman sana kita but you make buga uzok in the air to drive lecheng lamok
broke mah heart off...Why did you make away of that bites my byootipul skin. Tip lng mga kachur-
mah friendsterz... “kuya you make buy na of mah vah, when angel de la guardia make visit of you just
password please, i will give you discount. Please smile sweetly and pout your kissable lips wet with
buy me nah...i dont have bills to make pay of BEERi sweet juice and surely he will go away as in
this if i cant sell one”...oh mah gosh! Anu itetch? nothig happened. Vavush SMPs ( Samahan ng mga
When pa ever naging REQUIRED ang ball-on-tear Malalanding Pokpok) i will meet my fafa dear in the
to smuggle passwords and pay for it if he cant Love Nature Parx...i will add with him and multiply
sell all of it? Uhhuhu...what is happening in mah and multiply...asa sila, kala nila mawawala na ang
fafaconcious’samok-infected uteck? inyong ever byootipul manenay moohni...remember
Oh my! Is that what we call yuman raytz? i took pixshur pixshur with papalicious oble...lol
Yeah, fafa rensan is right you can not just down- Vavush na talaga aketch..mwuahugz...yellabye. ^-^
load yuman raytz and copy paste it. Kasi minzan
 PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
BATAS MILITAR
Ang dilubyo’t pakikibaka
S
ino nga ba ang hindi nakakaalala sa
14-taong dilubyong dulot ng Batas-
Militar sa ilalim ng diktadurang
Marcos? At sino nga ba ang hindi
naantig sa makasaysayang pagpapatalsik sa
isang diktador?
Ngunit ano nga ba ang mga salik ng
pagpataw ng batas-militar? Paano nga ba
lumaban ang mga mamamayang Pilipino na
naging bunsod ng pagbagsak ng rehimeng
Marcos sa kabila ng pagsuporta ng Estados
Unidos sa matagal na panahon?
Pandaigdigan at domestikong krisis
Ang matagalan at kronikong krisis ng
sistemang malakolonyal at malapyudal ang
nagbunsod ng mga kalagayan na nagdulot sa
paglitaw ng diktadurang US-Marcos.
Patuloy ang kontrol ng mga monopoly-
ong dayuhan sa bansa. Dinagdagan pa ito ng
pagiging palaasa ng ekonomiya sa produksy-
on ng hilaw na materyales na pang-eksport.
Kasabay naman ng lumalaking surplus sa
paggawa at papataas na depisit sa kalakalan
ay ang kawalan ng pambansang industriya-
lisasyon at tunay na repormang agraryo na
sasalo sa lumulubog na ekonomiya ng bansa.
Bunga nito, tumindi ang matagal nang la-
banan ng mga pamulitikang paksyon ng mga
nagsasamantalang uri.
Sa hanay naman ng mga manggagawa at
magsasaka, lalong tumaas ang antas ng mga
walang hanapbuhay at kahirapan na siyang
naging dahilan ng pagdami ng mga anti-
imperyalista at anti-pyudal na mga organ-
isasyong masa at paglitaw ng sandatahang
rebolusyon.
Dagdag rin dito ang hidwaan sa pag-
mamay-ari ng lupa sa Mindanao na nagbun-
ga ng pagkatatag ng Mindanao Independence
Movement at armadong Moro National Lib-
eration Front.
Sinabayan rin ng panloob na krisis ang
paulit-ulit na resesyon ng pandaigdig na sis-
temang kapitalista, napipintong pagkatalo ng
US sa digmaan sa Biyetnam, at ang paparam-
ing bilang ng mga sosyalistang bansa.
Pasistang dahas ng Batas Militar
Sagot ng rehimeng Marcos sa lumalalang
krisis, hidwaan sa pagitan ng mga naghahari-
ng uri, at muling paglaban ng mga anakpawis
ang pasistang dahas upang mapanatili ang sa-
rili sa poder.
Noong Agosto 21, 1971, binomba ang
isang kampanyang elektoral ng Partido Lib-
eral na naging dahilan ng pagsuspende ng
kautusang “habeas corpus” na magbibigay
ng kapangyarihang pangkagipitan sa punong
kumander.
Kaya noong Setyembre 22, 1972, kasun-
od ng ilang huwad na pambobomba at pang-
aambus ay idineklara ni Marcos ang Batas
Militar sa pamamagitan ng Proklamasyon
Blg. 1081.
Agad siyang nang-aresto ng mga kalaban
at kritiko nya sa pulitika, mga lider at aktibis-
ta ng mga legal na progresibong organisasy-
on, pinasarhan lahat ng midya liban doon sa
mga ginamit nya upang itaguyod ang batas
military, at hinawakan ang pinakamataas na
posisyong ehekutibo, lehislatibo, at hudisyal.
Ginamit ni Marcos ang Armed Forces of
the Philippines upang makapanatili siya sa
kapangyarihan, marahas na pagsugpo niya
sa mga kritiko niya sa pulitika, at pasistang
pagsugpo niya sa hanay ng kilusang masa at
rebolusyanaryong kilusang pinamumunuan
ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP).
Ang pinakamahalagang suporta sa pa-
sistang rehimeng Marcos ay nagmula sa Es-
tados Unidos, na nagbigay ng garantiya ng
patuloy na daloy ng mga dayuhang pautang
mula sa mga ahensyang multilateral at bang-
kong komersyal.
Rebolusyonaryong paglaban
Sa loob ng 14 taon ng Batas Militar,
malaki ang ginampanang papel ng mga pro-
gresibong organisasyong masa at armadong
pakikibaka ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan
(BHB) at Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas.
Ang mga legal na organisasyong masa sa
kalunsuran ay pinuyok ng mga mararahas na
atake ng pasistang rehimen. Sa pagngangalit
ng Sigwa ng Unang Kwarto ng 1970, ma-
raming legal na organisasyon ang ginawang
illegal; maraming aktibista ang inaresto, na-
detine, at pinaslang.
Lantaran ang pasismo kung kaya maram-
ing aktibista at simpatisador ang nagtungo sa
kanayunan upang yakapin ang armadong pa-
kikibaka. Lalong lumawak ang PKP at BHB
na naglulunsad ng armadong pakikibaka
upang yanigin ang pasistang rehimeng US-
Marcos.
Sa kalunsuran, maraming lider at aktibis-
ta ang sumali sa mga lihim na organisasyon
sa ilalim ng National Democratic Front na
pinamumunuan din ng PKP. Ang mga lihim
na kilusang ito ang namuno sa mga demon-
strasyon, pag-oorganisa, at pagpapalawak
ng rebolusyonaryong pwersa sa kalunsuran
na isa rin sa mga salik na nagpabagsak kay
Marcos.
Samantala, karamihan sa mga miyembro
at lider ng Partido Liberal ang nagsipanig
kay Marcos dahil sa armadong pananakot,
panganib na mawalan ng lupa, at panunuhol.
Ang iba namang organisasyong di-pro-
gresibong ay nagbigay papuri sa despotikong
paghahari ni Marcos. Ang simbahang Kato-
liko ay nagpahayag ng suporta sa rehimen at
pinangalandakang mas mainam na ito kaysa
sa Komunismo.
Nagpatuloy ang walang humpay na
paglabag sa karapatang pantao, paglaki ng
utang panlabas ng bansa, at tuluyang pagka-
tali ng Pilipinas sa mga makaisang panig na
mga kasunduang inilako ng imperyalistang
JONATHAN GONZALES
Ang pag-aalsang
militar, ang
pag-aalsa ng
mamamayan, ang
pagmamaniobra
ng US, at ang
lumalakas na
rebolusyonaryong
armadong
pakikibaka ang
mga naging salik
sa pagbagsak
ng rehimeng US-
Marcos.
US. Samantala, patuloy ang paglawak ng
kilusang masa at armadong kilusang pina-
mumunuan ng PKP.
Pagbagsak ng diktadura
Noong Agosto 21, 1983, pinaslang si Be-
nigno Aquino at mas lumawak ang saklaw ng
kilusang protesta laban sa diktadura. Ito na
siguro ang pinakamalaking kamaliang puli-
tikal ni Marcos.
Dahil sa lumalalang krisis at mas lumalak-
ing rebolusyonaryong pwersa, sinuportahan
ng US ang pagpapatalsik kay Marcos.
Nangamba ang US na kung mananatili pa
sa kapangyarihan si Marcos, mananalo ang
rebolusyonaryong pakikibaka’t susulong ito
sa sosyalismo. Minaobra ng US ang military
at gumawa ito ng paksyong Marcos-Ver at
Enrile-Ramos.
Ang pag-aalsang militar, ang pag-aalsa
ng mamamayan, ang pagmamaniobra ng US,
at ang lumalakas na rebolusyonaryong ar-
madong pakikibaka ang mga naging salik sa
pagbagsak ng rehimeng US-Marcos.
Mahigit 90 porsyento ng mga
mamamayang nakapaligid noon sa Malakan-
yang ay nagmula sa mga kasaping organ-
isasyon ng BAYAN, lalo na ng Kilusang
Mayo Uno (KMU), League of Filipino Stu-
dents (LFS), Kabataan para sa Demokrasya
at Nasyonalismo (KADENA), at iba pa.
May mga pag-aalsa ring naganap sa mga
kabisera ng probinsiya, mga syudad, at mga
bayan sa labas ng Metro Manila. Katunayan,
sa lunsod mg Angeles ay hinarangan ng mga
mamamayan ang mga tangke ni Heneral Pal-
afox na nagmula sa Camp Aquino sa Tarlac.
May mga pag-aalsa ring naganap sa Bisaya
at Mindanao.
Noong Pebrero 25, 1986, alas 9:00 ng
gabi, nilisan ni Marcos at kanyang mga ala-
lay ang Malakanyang sa tulong ng amo ni-
yang imperyalista hanggang makalabas ito
ng bansa.
FEATURES 9
IBAGSAK ANG DIKTADURANG
US-MARCOS! Ito ang natira sa busto
ni Ferdinand Marcos ng pinasabugan ng
mga rebeldeng NPA noong 2002.
AP PHOTOS
Tuloy ang laban ng sambayanan
Sa pagbagsak ni Marcos ay siya namang
pag-akyat ni Corazon Aquino. Tulad ng
ibang presidenteng nauna sa kanya, ang re-
himeng Aquino ay sumibol dahil sa pagma-
maniobra ng US.
Kaya kahit wala na si Marcos, patuloy pa
ring nakatali ang Pilipinas sa US. Nagpapat-
uloy pa rin ang malapyudal at malakolonyal
na sistema ng bansa hanggang sa kasaluku-
yan.
Sa isang panig, patuloy pa rin ang pagla-
bag sa karapatang pantao, pagiging palaasa
ng ekonomya sa pag-eksport ng hilaw na
materyales, pagkatali sa World Bank at In-
ternational Monetary Fund, at kawalan ng
tunay na repormang agraryo at pambansang
industriya.
Ngunit sa gitna ng lumalalang krisis ng
lipunan, patuloy pa rin ang mga ligal at arma-
dong pakikibaka sa kalunsuran at kanayunan.
Sa katunayan, nasa katayuan ang sam-
bayanang Pilipino ngayon upang higitan
pa ang mga naging tagumpay nito laban sa
diktadurang US-Marcos at isulong ang pam-
bansang demokratikong pakikibaka hang-
gang sa tagumpay. ■
References
Amado Guerrero, Lipunan at Rebolusyong
Pilipino, Ikaapat na Edisyon (Manila:
Aklatang Bayan, 2005).
Ferdinand Marcos, The Democratic Revo-
lution in the Philippines (NJ: Prentice-
Hall International, 1974).
Jose Ma. Sison and Rainer Werning,
Rebolusyong Pilipino: Tanaw Mula sa
Loob (Manila: Lagda Publishing, 1994).
Renato Constantino and Letizia Constantino,
Ang Bagong Lumipas II: 1940-1965,
Salin ni Ariel Dim. Borlongan (Quezon
City: Foundation for Nationalist Studies,
1997).
 10 FEATURES
ASWANG SA LAWIGAN
ELLI ANTHONY PIAMONTE AT
ERIC ABALAJON
A
ng paniniwala sa mga as-
wang ay isang katangian
na ng kulturang Pilipino.
Sa paglipas ng panahon,
nag paiba-iba na rin ang imahe ng as-
wang.
Karaniwang ideya ng mga taga
lungsod sa aswang ay manananggal.
Isang babaing lumilipad at putol ang
katawan. Kaya nga yun ang tawag sa
kanila. Kadalasan nilang binibiktima
ang mga buntis at ang mga maliliit
na bata. Kinakain daw nila ang atay
at iba pang lamang loob ng tao. Ang
imaheng ito ay malamang produkto na
ng mga komiks, pelikula, at iba pang
uri ng media.
Pero sa bayan, iba ang ideya ng as-
wang. Ang mga taong binabansagang
aswang ay mga tao din. Minsan isang
buong pamilya o kahit isang kumyu-
nidad. Ang mga aswang ay mga taong
mailap at hindi nakikihalubilo o sim-
pleng mga taong “kakaiba”.
Ang Kwento sa Lawigan
Sigawan, takbuhan, gulat, takot at
samu’t saring emosyon ang pumukaw
sa malayo’t tahimik na Barangay ng
Lawigan, San Joaquin noong Setyem-
bre 22. Ang Lawigan ang pinakadu-
long bahagi ng San Joaquin at mahig-
it-kumulang 45 minutong biyahe sa
jeep mula UPV Miagao.
Dalawang buwan na ang nakali-
pas noong gabing yaon nang mang-
yari ang isang misteryo na bumalot ng
takot at pangamba sa nasabing lugar.
Kumalat ang iba’t-ibang kuwento at
ispekulasyon hanggang umabot ito sa
pansin ng nasyonal media. Sinadya rin
ng Pagbutlak ang naturang lugar para
alamin ang tunay na pangyayari.
Ayon kay Mel, hindi niya tunay
na pangalan, nagsimula ang lahat sa
isang preparasyon para sa kaarawan
ng isang mag-pipitong gulang na
batang lalaki dakong alas singko ng
hapon habang hinahanda ang kakatay-
ing baboy. Pero bago nito, may mga
usap-usaping kumakalat na sa bayan
ukol sa isang pamilya ng kulto na
unang nakita na dumaong sa barangay
ng Igburi ng nasabing bayan na nang-
hahabol ng mga bata at kinukuha ang
kanilang mga vital organs.
Dakong alas-siyete ng gabi, ka-
bilugan ng buwan at pinauwi ni Mel
sa kanilang bahay mga 50 metro ang
layo mula sa bahay ng kanyang ina
ang dalawang anak: isang 2nd year
hayskul at isang bata na puro babae.
Makalipas ang ilang sandali at
umuwi rin siya. Sa dalampasigan
PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
natanaw niya na may anim na lalak- at walang nangyaring masama. likong taga-patag sa mga babaylanes
ing humihila sa sahid (beach seine Isang malaking palaisipan kung sa bundok. Sila ay naging mamatay-
net) at isang guro pa ang isa. Maya- bakit wala man lang nawala sa mga tao at mangkukulam.
maya narinig niyang may nagsabi na, bata, ang buntis ay hindi naman gi- Kaya kung saan dati pinakapromi-
“Amo ra nga mga taho, kulang lang nalaw kung aswang o kulto nga ang nente ang mga babaylanes, sa Bicol
ra ang pangamuyo sa Ginuo”. mga iyon, walang ninakaw na gamit o at Visayas region, dito rin ngayon
Liningon niya ito at nagulat na ari-arian. Ano ba talaga ang nangyari? ang may pinakamaraming kwento ng
may dalawa pang nadagdag na Mahirap isalaysay ngunit mas mabut- mga aswang. Marinig pa lang ang
nakaputing damit. Wala pang ing iwan na lamang ito dahil mga pangalang Capiz at Siquijor, as-
limang metro ang kanyang maging sila kinalimutan wang na agad ang pumapasok sa isip
nalakad at biglang umahon na na ito. ng mga tao. Pero kung tatanongin ang
ang sahid. Nagtaka siya mga taga Hilagang Luzon at Mind-
dahil wala raw tao sa Aswang anao, hindi sila naniniwala sa aswang.
bandang yaon dahil Ayon kay Raul
doon lahat sa Tacas at Petierra, isang so- Asperger’s Syndrome
abala sa inihaw na baboy. ciologolist, hindi Tantya naman ni Mike Tan, isang
Naglaro pa sila sa mga daw naniniwala medical anthropoligist at kolumni-
bata sa paligid at doon na ang mga Ilokano sa sta, ang taong tinatawag na aswang
nagsimula ang walang aswang. Pinaniniwa- ay may Asperger’s Syndrome. Ito
katapusang sigawan ng laan ni Petierra na ang ay isang kalagayan kung saan nahi-
mga tao. Natakot raw ang bansag na “asawang” ay hirapan ang tao makihalubilo sa iba,
mga bata dahil sa anyo ng karaniwang binibigay sa at kadalasan nahihirapan din mag
mukha ng mga ito. Kung mga babaeng masyadong salita. Minsan marami rin silang mga
titingnan parang normal na “malakas” kumpara sa kun- manirismo at hindi ka kayang titigan
tao rin sila subalit kakaiba bensyon ng isang lipunan. sa mata. Kung may Asperger’s ka at
ang kanilang itsura. “Daw Walang aswang sa taga lungsod ka malamang tatawagin
mga taga-Planet Namek. Ilocos dahil sa kondisyon ka lang “loner” o “nerd”. Pero kung
Daw si Piccolo (Dragon ng kanilang lugar. Parat- sa bayan, kung saan mabilis kumalat
Balls)”, paglalarawan ing dinadaanan ng bagyo ang tsismis, malaki ang posibilidad na
niya. Mahaba ang tenga, at mahirap ang buhay. tawagin ang isang taong aswang.
malalaki at pula ang mga Isang “malakas” at “mati- Sa unang tingin ang aswang ay
mata, nakaputing sotana tulad ng sa bay” na babae ay isang mabuting isang bagay na paranormal at hindi
pari, translucent ang katawan, malaki bagay. Pero sa ibang parte ng Pilipi- kaya ipaliwanag ng agham, pero kung
pos ng kabilugan ng buwan ay sa
ang bunganga, walang ilong at hindi nas kung saan mas nakasanayan ang susuriin ng mabuti, ang aswang ay
kabaranggay naman ito magpapakita
rin nakikita ang pang-ibabang bahagi Maria Clarang Filipina, kung sino ang gawa ng tao para makamit ang iba’t
at nangyari nga ito.
ng katawan na para bang nakalutang babaeng gustong makipagsabayan sa iba layunin ng tao. Ginagamit ang as-
Wala na ang paring nakatalaga
lamang sa ere. mga lalaki ay malamang tatawaging wang na panakot sa mga bata na wag
sa kanilang parokya ng panahong
Bumalik ulit sa bahay ng lola asawang. maglaro sa labas pag gabi na. Minsan
iyon kaya hindi naming ito nakapa-
ang dalawang anak ni Mel at siya’y na rin na gamit bilang psychological
nayam. Ayon kay Mel, ang sabi ng
naiwan sa bahay nito. Pitong Politics of Gender tactic laban sa mga rebelde noong
pari ay dagdagan lamang daw nila ang
nilalang ang nakita ng kanyang anak Ayon kay Herminia Meñez, isang panahon ni Pangulo Ramon Magsay-
paniniwala sa Diyos at magsimba tu-
na nakasilong sa malaking bato at pula eksperto sa folklore, ang konsepto ng say. Sinasabihan ang mga tao na wag
wing Linggo dahil kukonti na lamang
ang mata na parang sa pusa sa malayo aswang bilang isang resulta ng “poli- suportahan ang mga rebelde dahil
raw ang nagsisimba. Pero sabi naman
at siya’y natulala. Sa huli, sumigaw tics of gender”. Noong pre-kolonyal nakihalubilo na ang mga aswang sa
ni Mel, na sobrahan na nga raw sila.
siya, “Nanay may ginaguyod nga bata na Pilipinas magkasing pantay lang o kanila sa bundok. Nagamit na rin ito
Tuwing Linggo ay nagsisimba naman
daw si Tisoy (ang magbuburtdey).” minsan mas mataas pa nga ang antas bilang isang politikal na instrumento
silang lahat.
Nagkagulo-gulo na at hinabol ng mga ng mga babae kesa sa mga lalaki. Ka- ng mga Kastila para mas mabilis ma-
Sa magkabilang dulo nangyari
tao ang pitong yaon at tinangkang hu- dalasan babae ang tumatayong baylan, sakop ang mga ninuno natin. Sa per-
ang pagpapakita. Idiniin ni Mel at
lihin ngunit nawala ang mga ito. ang ispiritual na pinuno ng kumyu- sonal na antas ang aswang ay isang
ng kanyang mga kaanak na totoo ang
Buong magdamag silang gis- nidad. Sila din ang manggagamot at bansag sa mga taong hindi natin ga-
kanilang nakita. May mga kwento pa
ing sakaling bumalik pa ang mga ito. paltera. nong kakilala, isang produkto ng ating
siyang sinabi ngunit ayaw niya nang
Sumama ang panahon, dumilim ang Nang dumating ang mga Kastila, ugaling mapaghusga. ■
i-detalye pa. Sabi niya sa maniwala
langit at sa dagat may isang sakayan nagulat sila sa nadatnan nilang ka-
raw kami o hindi, may mga ebidensya
na nakita si Mel. Ilang minuto pa at layaan ng mga babae sa lipunang Pili- References
siya at hanggang ngayon nananatiling
naging dalawa na ito na para bang pino. Agad nilang sinimulan ang kam- Herminia Meñez, “The Viscera-
lihim ito kung saan at kung sino pa
hinati ngunit buo pa rin. Sabay ng panya para maging mas dominante Sucker and the Politics of Gen
ang nakakaalam.
pagguhit ng kidlat sa madilim na ka- ang mga lalaki, tulad ng sa Europa. der,” Explorations in Philippine
Balik sa normal ang kanilang bu-
langitan ay nawala ang mga ito nang Ang kanilang pangunahing instrumen- Folklore (Quezon City: Ateneo de
hay wala nang magdamagang ilaw na
walang kaingay-ingay man lang mula to ay Katolisismo. Nagsimula sila ng Manila Press, 1996), 86-94.
nakabukas para magmatyag, hindi na
sa motor nito. mga malawakang konbersyon. Ipinag- Mike Tan, “Aswang, Aswang!,” Sun-
siksikan sa bahay ng kanyang ina da-
Dahil sa nangyari, pinagkaisahan tangol naman ng mga babaylanes ang day Inquirer Magazine, Philip-
hil sa takot ng mga tao sa paligid, wala
si Mel at ang kanyang kamag-anak ng kanilang katutubong rehiliyon. Nag- pine Daily Inquirer, 26 October
nang tanod at pulis, wala na ang takot
mga kabarangay at binansagang nag- silikas ang mga babaylanes sa bun- 2008.
at pangamba sa kanilang mga mukha.
papasikat lamang at mga abnormal dok. Inakusahan sila ng mga mala sa
Kung babalik pa ang mga ito, sana
daw. Lumabas na sila pa ang masama demonyong gawain. Tumagal, lalong
raw ay makipag-ugnayan na lamang
at hindi iyon matanggap ni Mel. Na- lumala ang pananaw ng mga Kato-
sila dahil hindi naman sila nakasakit
sambit niya na tatlong araw pagkata-
 PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010
Rediscovering Antique
ELLI ANTHONY PIAMONTE
W
arm weather, busy streets, by-
standers along the sidewalks,
children in the playground, and
vendors roaming with a bunch of
human traffic across the busy capital town of San
Jose de Buenavista, Antique. It’s a Saturday like
every other as I waited patiently along the street,
looking forward to the trip.
On the morning of September 25, my two
Pagbutlak co-staffers, Irish Julienne Merza and
R-vee Taladro, and Pagbutlak adviser Prof. To-
masito Talledo interviewed popular Kinaray-
a singer-politician Dante Beriong. Kinaray-a
popular music is one of the blooming areas that
emerged from the bosom of Antiqueño culture in
recent years (See related article).
Associate Editor Rosana Inaudito arrived
from Miagao just in time for lunch in the local
branch of Mang Inasal. After eating, we strolled
around the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park. Lo-
cated here is the statue of Evelio Javier sculpted
by Napoleon Abueva, and figures of other gov-
ernment officials which served as the plaza’s
landmarks.
Evelio B. Javier is Antique’s provincial
hero, and is remembered every 11th of February
through a holiday in Panay in honor of his mar-
Tatak Antiqueño: Dante Beriong
IRISH JULIENNE MERZA
S
a murang edad ay binigyang-pansin ni
Dante Beriong and sumisibol na pag-
ibig sa musika. Sa paglipas ng panahon
ay mas tumindi ang kagustuhan niyang
ipakita ang kanyang kakayahan sa pagsulat ng
mga kanta.
Gamit ang gitara at talentong hindi matata-
waran, unti-unting nakabuo ng mga awitin si
Beriong na ngayon’y itinuturing niyang obra
maestra. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang awitin si Beriong
na ngayo’y itinuturing niyang obra maestro. Ilan
sa mga ito ay ang “kadarag-an ang Pamilya, Ka-
darag-an kang Banwa,” “Hamtic, Matahum kag
Maragtasun nga Banwa,” “Antique, Antiqueño,”
“Mauli gid ako sa Antique” at marami pang iba.
Maging ang “Hala Bira! Iloilo!” na theme song
ng Dinagyang Festival sa Iloilo City ay siya din
ang sumulat.
Hindi basta-bastang mga awitin ang mga
ito. Bawat salita ay pagpapatunay ng kanyang
matinding pag-ibig sa baying sinilangan at nila-
khan. Sa bawat saliw ng musika ay nailalarawan
niya ang payak ngunit masayang pamumuhay sa
bayan ng Antique. Ang kanyang tinig na walang
anumang bahid ng pag-aalinlangan ay naghuhu-
miyaw na labis ang kanyang kagalakan na siya’y
isang Antiqueño.
Sa ngayon, simple lang ang pangarap ni Be-
riong. Pangarap niyang tangkilikin, hindi lamang
We welcome inquiries, constructive criticisms, opinions, and con-
tributions. Visit our office at The Nook, College Union Building, UP
Visayas, Miagao or email us at pagbutlakcas@gmail.com
tyrdom. He was among the youngest Governors
of the country before he was gunned down by
political rivals in the midst of martial law.
By 2 o’clock, we boarded a tricycle for
the studio of popular Kinaray-a musician Noel
Alamis of Probinsyana Gwapa fame (See relat-
ed article). After the interview with Alamis, we
moved on to our next destination.
Although it was still in San Jose, the driver
didn’t seem to know the location of the particu-
lar house we planned to visit. I had to get down
from the tricycle to ask around from the locals. It
turned out that it was just around the corner. And
indeed, we found ourselves in front of the house
of the late Edsel Moscoso within a minute.
Moscoso, a world-renowned artist who fin-
ished his Fine Arts degree in UP Diliman and
spent most of his life in the various cities of Eu-
rope, has a beautiful house. Built atop the rocks
of Madrangca Beach, the house faces the open
sea, giving it a majestic view of Antique’s pic-
turesque sunset. His house is a fusion of many
elements from ancient styles to modern ones.
The architectural features include Thai-
inspired roofs made of sole timber at each end,
with extensive wood carvings and French win-
dows made of Capiz shells that open up either to
the sea breeze of the beach or the patio.
A broad living room adorned with art collec-
tions such paintings, sculptures, Chinese porce-
ng kanyang mga kababayan, ngunit maging ng
mga kapwa Pilipino ang kanyang mga awitin.
Pangarap niyang wasakin ang diskriminasyon sa
pagitan ng mga lokal at banyagang kompositor.
Pangarap niyang gisingin ang mga natatanging
talent ng kabataang Pilipino na nahihimlay sa
takot at pangamba. Higit
sa lahat, pangarap niyang
pukawin ang damdaming
makabayan ng bawat An-
tiqueñong makakarinig ng
kanyang mga kanta.
Kung tutuusin, ang
lahat ay nagsimula sa in-
spirasyon, na pinagyabong
ng imahinasyon at isi-
nakatuparan ng isang daki-
lang ambisyon. Ayon kay
Beriong, ang kanyang mga
komposisyon ay hindi pan-
gkomersyalismo, bagkus
ito’y pangnasyonalismo.
Hindi matutumbasan ng
kasikatan at mga parangal
ang abot-taingang ngiti at
palakpakan ng kanyang
mga kababayan. Lumipas
man ang mga taon at makaliumtan man ang kan-
yang mga nagawa, habang-buhay niyang ipag-
mamalaki na siya’y tatak Antiqueño. ■
FEATURES 11
lain vases of varying sizes, masks and the like
sit side by side with a modern kitchen furnished
with the latest amenities. We would have not
wanted to leave the house because of its beautiful
architecture, scenery and the precious artworks.
The hot Saturday afternoon was awarded
with a bowl of strawberry ice cream. It reminded
me of the whole tour as it was as sweet as the ice
cream. I felt like a tourist traveling in a differ-
ent place. I never expected that there would be a
house sitting on the beach rocks by the silent sea
which is truly world-class. I can’t help but smile,
for even I was a stranger to my own land.
Antique might be more renowned for its long
and winding roads, the criss-crossing sea and
mountains and rustic life yet it is also a perfect
place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
I used to disassociate myself from Antique as
much as possible, but now I take pride in it.
Nick Joaquin once called Moscoso’s de-
pictions of Antiqueño provincial life as “man- DIVINITIES are represented in Mos-
scapes.” And indeed, here in Antique, a thriving coso’s paintings by local provincial folk
local culture blends with the environment in a PBASE.com
place where the mountains meet the sea. ■
Ang Musika ni Noel Alamis
ROSANA INAUDITO
“
Ang probinsyana gwapa manaya-naya...
Ang probinsyana gwapa mapinalanggaon
pa...” Marahil ay pamilyar kayo sa mga
linyang ito na hango sa kantang “Probin-
syana Gwapa” na pinasikat ni Noel Alamis, isa
sa mga tagapagtaguyoud ng Original Karay-a
Music o OKM.
Nagsimula si Noel Alamis sa pagsusulat ng Pagbutlak staffers and adviser Prof. To-
mas Talledo pose with Noel Alamis (2nd to
mga tagalog na kanta noong siya ay nasa high-
right) and his band.
school pa lang. Mga taong 2005, kasabay ng pag-
PAGBUTLAK
kabuo ng kanyang banda, ang Noel Alamis Band
ay nagsimula na rin siyang Sa kanyang pagsusulat ng kanta ay nagsi-
magsulat ng mga kanta sa simula raw muna siya sa isang tula at saka na la-
kanyang katutubong leng- lapatan ng musika. Dahil sa hindi siya marunong
gwahe, ang Kinaray-a. magbasa ng mga nota ay ang tunog lng daw ang
Sa mga pamilyar na pinapakinggan at pinagtutugma-tugma niya.
sa kanyang kanta, mapa- Sa kwento ni Alamis nahikayat raw siya
pansin na karaniwan nang na magsulat ng kanta sa kanyang hangarin na
ay tungkol sa pag-ibig. mapabuti ang kanyang kalagayan sa buhay. Bata
Gaya na lamang ng “Prob- pa raw siya nang maulila at lumaki sa kumbento.
insyana Gwapa” na sinulat Napansin raw ng pari ang kanyang talento sa
niya mga taong 2007. Ang pagkanta kung kaya hinikayat siya na sumali
musika nito ay binatay sa sa mga patimpalak sa pagkanta. Naisip niya na
isang Christian Song, pero maari niyang gamitin ang kanyang talento sa
ang mensahe nito kung pagkanta gaya ng ilan ng mga sumikat na mang-
ating himay-himayin ay aawit subalit nung malaman niya na medyo ma-
tungkol sa isang lihim na hirap abutin ang pangarap niya na kumita bilang
pag-ibig na hanggang sa isang mang-aawit sapagkat kailangan mong
huli ay hindi naipahayag magbayad sa isang kompositor para isulat ka
kabaliktaran sa masaya at ng kanta at sa kung anu-ano pang mga prepara-
nakakaaliw na melodiya at syon bago mo maisa-ere ang iyong kanta medyo
DANTE BERIONG ritmo nito. pinanghinaan siya ng loob. Pero lahat nga raw ng
PAGBUTLAK Ayon kay Alamis nais la- problema ay may solusyon. Naisip niya na bakit
mang daw niya na mabigyan hindi niya subukang magsulat ng kanta. at doon
ng orihinalidad ang kanyang mga komposo. na nagsimula ang kanyang pagkomposo.
“Gusto ko takun bi ya bisan masubo ang kanta Sa kasalukuyan, ang binatang ito ay nagha-
pero dapat masadya. Nami bi kung masadya kay handa sa paglalabas ng kanyang album na nasa
malimtan mo gid ang imo problema,” aniya. Ka- ilalim Viva Records. Ito ang panlima na niyang
raniwan nang genre ng kanyang mga komposo ay album. Ang apat na naunang naipalabas na ay
disco at slow love songs. siya mismo ang nagprodyus. ■
 12 FEATURES PAGBUTLAK | OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2010

Nagpapatuloy na
paglabag sa
karapatang pantao

S
a araw-araw palagi na lang nat- mamamayan na mag-alsa laban sa dikta-
ing naririnig ang mga kaso ng duryang Marcos.
paglabag ng karapatang-pantao.
Laman ng mga pahayagan at lagi Huwad na pangako ni Corazon Aquino
nang topiko sa mga balita sa telebisyon Sa pagpalit naman ni Pang. Corazon
at radio. Kabilang na rito ang mga kaso Cojuangco-Aquino umasa ang karamihan
ng pamamaslang sa mga mamamahayag na mareresolba na ang mga paglabag sa
at sa mga kilalang kritiko ng gobyerno karapatang pantao subalit hanggang il-
at karaniwan nang dawit dito ang ilang usyon lang pala ito dahil siya mismo ay
opisyal ng gobyerno at ang militar. naging instrumento din ng mapanupil na
Marami ang dumanas ng pisikal at gawain.
sikolohikal na pang-aabuso gaya ng Higit 1,000 ang mga kritikong pi-
tortyur mula sa kamay ng militar. Meron naslang at 800 naman ang dinukot sa ka-
ding mga kaso ng sapilitang pagkawala bila ng pangako ng pagbabago na dala ng
na hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay hindi pa unang popular na pag-aalsa sa EDSA na
nareresolba. nagpatalsik sa diktadurang Marcos.
Kasabay ng pagsulputan ng mga isy- Di pa umabot ng isang taon sa poder
ung ito ang paglawak at paglakas ng mga si Cory Aquino ng naganap ang Mendiola Sa panungkulan rin mga simpleng mamamayan.
kilusan at paglaban upang mabigyang Massacre kung saan pinaslang ng mga ni Arroyo naganap ang Sa kasulukuyan ay um-
hustisya ang mga biktima ng karahasan military ang mga magsasakang nagmart- Hacienda Luisita Mas- abot na ng 22 ang kaso ng
ng estado. sa patungong Malakanyang upang igiit sacre na kumitil sa buhay pulitikal na pamamaslang. Sa
Nakasaad sa Universal Declaration ang tunay na repormang agraryo. ng pitong kaawa-awang magsasaka at katunayan, ito ay masuklam pa sa record
of Human Rights na bawat isa ay may Sa panunungkulan rin ni Cory Aquino nagdulot ng kapinsalaan sa iba pa habang ni Arroyo kung saan 18 ang pinaslang sa
karapatan na mabuhay, mamili at mapro- ipinatupad ang huwad na Comprehen- sila ay nagsasagawa ng piket para sa pan- loob ng unang 100 araw ng panungkulan
teksyunan ang kanyang seguridad bilang sive Agrarian Reform Program upang awagang ipamahagi na ang lupa na dapat ni Arroyo.
tao. Pero kung ating susuriin sa mga na- hindi mapaimahagi ang mga malawak na ay pagmamay-ari ng mga mamamayan. Binawasan rin ang badyet para sa edu-
kalipas na mga taon, makikita natin na lupain ng mga panginoong maylupa katu- Nandyan rin ang Ampatuan Massacre kasyon at dinagdagan pa ang badyet para
malinaw na marami sa ating mga Pilipino lad na lamang ng Hacienda Luisita. kung saan pinaslang ng mga kaalyado ni sa militar at pambayad sa utang panlabas.
ang pinagkaitan ng mga pangunahing ka- Sa kanyang pamumuno rin nagsimula Arroyo ang 58 katao, kasali na ang 34
rapatang ito. ang mas malawak na pag- na media, at nagbansag sa bansa bilang Wala pa ring tunay na pagbabago
Sa ganitong kaltas ng badyet para sa edu- pinakampanganib na lugar para sa mga Kung ating susumahin, mula sa pana-
Ang diktadurang Marcos kasyon at mga serbisyong mamahayag sa buong daigdig. hon ng diktaduryang Marcos hanggang sa
Sa pagdeklara ni Pangu- kaayusang panlipunan upang tugunan Patuloy pa rin ang malawakang lib- kasalukuyang administrayon ng unti-unti
long Marcos ng Batas Militar tila batas na ang mga imposisyon ng mga eralisasyon, pribitasisasyon, at deregu- nang nahuhubarang puppet na Aquino 2
nagsimulang umusbong ang lasyon kung saan binibitawan na ng go- ay makikita natin na hindi pinahahalaga-
mainit na usapin sa karapa-
ang kawalan dayuhangyon.
bangko at institus-
byerno ang kanyang responsibilidad na han ng pamahalaan ang karapatan ng ba-
tang-pantao dito sa Pilipinas. ng hustisya, magbigay ng edukasyon at serbisyong wat mamamayan.
panlipunan sa kanyang mga mamamayan.
Matatandaang sa panahon ng nagiging Rehimeng Ramos, Estrada, Sa halip ay ito pa ang naging pangu-
nahing instrumento sa panunupil. Marami
Batas Militar ay nagkaroon Arroyo
ng iba’t-ibang anyo ng mga tungkulin natin Tila walang katapusan Ang matuwid na daan ni Noynoy na ang dumanas ng hirap at nag-alay ng
paglabag sa karapatang-pan- ang paglaban. ang mahabang listahan ng Sa panahon ng kampanya sa eleksyon dugo para lang maipaglaban ang dapat
tao. paglabag ng mga karapatang 2010 naging sensasyon ang “matuwid na sana ay malayang naisasapraktika ng
Nariyan na ang panun- pantao sa ilalim ng sunod- daan” ng ikalawang rehimeng Aquino. Da- bawat mamamayan na karapatan subalit
upil sa mga taong kilalang kritiko ng sunod na administrasyon ni Fidel Ramos hil sa desperado na ang mga mamamayan bingi ang pamahalaan sa isyu.
diktaduryang Marcos. Sobra 3,000 ang at Joseph Estrada. Ngunit sa panahon na mabigyang lunas ang ngayo’y malala Nakaugat ang mga karumaldumal
pinaslang at umabot ng 70,000 ang ibini- ng rehimeng Arroyo ang masasabing nang krisis ng sosyedad ay binili rin nila na mga paglabag na karapatang pantao
langgo dahil sa pagkontra sa gobyerno. pinakamalala pagdating sa usaping ito. ang pabango ni P-noy. sa sunod-sunod na mga rehimen sa na-
Sinupil ang malayang pamama- Ang Oplan Bantay Laya 1 at 2 (OBL Subalit sa unang sampung araw pa nga ghaharing sistema sa bansa na pabor sa
hayag. Ultimo ang mga pampaaralang 1 & 2) ay naging instrumento sa pagsupil lang ni P-noy ay nagkaroon na ng limang mga dayuhan, panginoong maylupa, at
publikasyon ay pinasara din para lang ng karapatang-pantao ng mga Pilipino at kaso ng pulitikal na pamamaslang. Ang mayayaman.
mapasiguro na walang kritiko ng goby- nagdulot ng di humigit kumulang 1,200 nakakapanlumo pa ay ang pagpahaba pa Sa ganitong kaayusang tila batas na
erno na makapagpalabas ng mga impor- pulitikal na pamamaslang sa siyam na sa implementasyon ng OBL na napatu- ang kawalan ng hustisya, nagiging tung-
masyon na makakaimpluwensya sa mga taon sa ilalim ng rehimeng Arroyo. nayan nang instrumento para sikilin ang kulin natin ang paglaban. ■

PAGBUTLAK | Official student publication of the UP Visayas - College of Arts and Sciences
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