At kapag ganitong ramdam na natin ang tag-init, walang pinakaaasam tayo kundi ang makapunta sa iba’t ibang paliguan sa bansa na talagang makakapagpa-relax sa atin.

Isang katangian ng Pilipinas ang kayamanan sa mga lugar na mapagbabakasyunan, o mapupuntahan para malibang at makapagpahinga pansamantala. Vacation getaway, ‘ika nga ng ilan. Bukod kase sa magagandang tourist spots sa bansa, maraming beaches at private excursion places na pwedeng puntahan ng magkakapamilya, magkakabarkada, magkakapatid at kahit pa magkakapuso.

Meron kaming napuntahan ng asawa ko noong summer 2008. Sa Laiya, Batangas, sa karagatang kung tawagin ay La Luz. Mahaba-haba rin ang tinahak namin mula sa Metro Manila. Pero sulit ang byahe. Napakalinaw ng tubig. May tutuluyan ding mga bahay. Ideal sa pamilya o barkada getaway.

Sa Batangas pa rin, first time ko sa Punta Fuego. Malaki ang resort na ito. Pati mga bahay na pinauupahan, parang vacation houses lang. Kumpleto. ang dagat dito, bagay na bagay sa banana boating at jetski. First time kong nakapag jetski rito. Pwede ring mag beach volleyball, snorkling at kung gustong magswimming, meron silang infinity pool na nakakarelax kapag nagbabad ka roon.

Bandang norte naman, sa Bataan, nag-enjoy ako sa company outing namin noong nakaraang taon. First time kong nag-kayaking sa Montemar Beach Club. Okay ding maligo sa beach at may boat riding din na inaalok doon papasyal sa karatig-isla. Marami pang ibang amenities dito kaya swak na swak ding puntahan ito ng pamilya.

Sa katimugang bahagi ng bansa, pinalad ako at ang asawa kong makarating sa isla ng Samal. Bukod sa karaniwang tanawin ng dagat, pakiramdam mo kapag narito ka sa isla ay nasa ibang mundo ka. Malayo sa magulong siyudad at ang araw-araw ay tila paraisong ayaw mo nang lisanin. Kakailanganin mo pang sumakay ng passenger motor boat nang halos lagpas trenta minuto para makarating sa isla mula sa mainland ng Davao. Sa Pearl Farm kami napadpad at hindi lang liguan ang mai-enjoy mo rito kundi ang mga sariwang prutas na talagang kagigiliwan mong kainin araw-araw, kahit oras-oras pa.

Para naman sa simpleng pampawi ng init, okay na ring dumayo sa bahay ng kamag-anak o kaibigan na may in-house swimming pool. Ang lahat ng ito, kahit paano, ay makapagpapalimot sa mainit na panahong nagpapatagaktak ng pawis natin.

Marami-rami pa akong nasa “bucket list” pagdating sa bakasyunan/liguan/resort na gustong marating dito sa Pilipinas. Tunay nga, isang biyaya sa bansa natin ang magkaroon ng maraming likas na pasyalan na maituturing nating paraiso.

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Joe as everyone calls him, died at 5:25am of complications from lung cancer this morning at the UERM Hospital. He was 72 years old.

The NUJP salutes Joe who has always worked with a big heart for the cause of community newspapers as he was one of their own. Joe was the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Bulacan-based Mabuhay news weekly. He has also worked for various news organizations including SunStar Pampanga. He was also the executive director of the Philippine Press Institute up to his death.

The NUJP will forever remember Joe as a staunch press freedom advocate. He not only served as the chairman of the Board og Trustees of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists or FFFJ but he was also its anti-impunity project coordinator.

As it is, Joe was particularly outspoken against violations versus press freedom. The NUJP has always counted on his presence in major gatherings and activities on press freedom issues. Despite his failing health lately, Joe never hesitated to speak against the enemies of press freedom in the country.

He was also indefatigable in the campaign against the killings of journalists, never failing to attend to the court hearings of the cases against the killers and their masterminds.

Joe was also a founding member of the November 23 Movement which was formed after the Ampatuan Massacre on November 23, 2009.

His death leaves a gnawing void in the community of press freedom lovers that have been fighting against the culture of impunity in the killings of journalists in the Philippines since 1986.

The NUJP offers its prayers to Joe and his family. We enjoin his friends, colleagues, NUJP members and all press freedom lovers to pay our last respects to Joe at his wake in Arlington Chapel in Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.

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“It is President Aquino’s bad policies which caused his ratings to drop, not the media or lack of publicity. President Aquino’s failure to address the basic needs of the people is correlative to his satisfaction rating. Amidst price hikes, low wages, joblessness, dwindling funds to social services and so on, an increase in rating is far from what the Palace should expect,” Palatino said.

In the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, the satisfaction rating of Aquino dropped by 13 points from +64 in November 2010 to +51 in March 2011. SWS underscored Aquino’s controversial Porsche purchase as one among the major factor for the dip in public satisfaction.

“To appease the public, President Aquino and his clique of communication experts would repeatedly justify the Porsche purchase by saying that he used his own money for it. That makes it even worse and much more distasteful. Marami ang walang trabaho at hindi alam kung saan huhugitin ang kanilang panggastos tapos ‘eto ang ating Presidente magsasabi na ok lang na bumili siya ng mamahaling sports car bilang meron naman siyang pera,” Palatino said.

“Does it not occur to the President that he further insults the people, especially the poor, every time he’d remind us that he used his money for the Porsche? One, the reminder only highlights that his privileged status is far from the common people. Two, instead of being politically incisive, he passes off the jarring inequality between the rich and the poor as a natural and acceptable fact of life,” he added.

Palatino furthered that the President’s insensitivity extends beyond the Porsche purchase. He cited as one among many instances Aquino’s recent pronouncement of a P500-M oil subsidy in light of the incessant oil price hikes.

“The P500-M oil subsidy is a band-aid solution that obviously sides with the interest of the oil cartel, not with the long-term welfare of the people. Instead of pushing for the nationalization of the oil industry and regulating the greed of oil companies, President Aquino came up with this rather incompetent measure to supposedly cushion the impact of the oil price hikes. The subsidy won’t solve anything, not to mention that the amount is loose change compared to the billions of daily profit of ‘the big three’,” Palatino said.

Palatino also sniped at spokesperson Valte’s remark that the the dip in rating signals for the Palace the need to be more aggressive in boasting the accomplishments of the Aquino government through the media.

“It is not an issue of being more aggressive in boasting. Valte’s trapo line of thinking misses the point and very much resembles the logic of the Arroyo goverment. President Aquino should focus on properly and substantially addressing the urgent needs of the people,” Palatino said.

“Running a country is not show business. It is ultimately the social policies effectuated by President Aquino which will matter. But based on what’s happening now, it appears that the change he promised means harsher living conditions for the people. There can be no change as long as President Aquino implements the same old policies of the Arroyo government. He should not be surprised when, in the near future, he’ll end up to be more unpopular than the president he replaced,” Palatino said.

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Apat na taon na ang nakalilipas simula nang ako ay nakatapos ng kolehiyo sa Centro Escolar University. Naalala ko tuloy ang aking isinulat na artikulo tungkol sa aking buhay-estudyante na Ang Butong Itinanim sa Puso ng Isang Hamak na Mag-aaral (link). Ito ay sabay na nailathala sa Mabuhay newspaper sa Bulacan, at sa Tinig.com noong Marso 2007, taon ng aking graduation. Muli ko itong binalikan, binasa, at saka nagmuni-muni. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa mga feedback ng ating mga ka-Tinig na nakabasa nito. Nakatataba ng puso ang kanilang mga komento. Batid kong sa pamamagitan ng artikulong iyon, kahit paano’y nakapagdulot ako ng inspirasyon sa ating mga mambabasa. Iyon naman talaga ang ating layunin bilang isa ring manunulat.

“Hindi pa rito nagtatapos ang lahat. Sa buhay na ito dapat kong isipin na nagsisimula pa lamang ako. Marahil ay napagtagumpayan ko ang unang hakbang ngunit alam kong dapat kong paghandaan ang pagharap sa mas malaking mundo,” ang sabi ko sa huling bahagi ng artikulong iyon.

Hindi ako nagkamali. Totoo nga. Pagkatapos ng ating graduation, hindi pa nga rito natatapos ang lahat. Mas malaki ang mundong naghihintay sa atin. At hindi biro ang pagpasok sa mundong iyon.

Nais kong ibahagi na kaysarap sa pakiramdam kung lahat ng pinaghirapan mo noong ikaw ay isang estudyante ay nakikita mo na ang mga magagandang bagay na ibinubunga nito ngayon.

“Mabuti na lamang at nagtiyaga akong mag-aral noon!” sambit ko sa aking sarili. Totoo nga. Ang edukasyon sa buhay ng tao, para sa akin, ay kasing halaga na ng hangin, tubig, at pagkain. It must be a necessity for every person. At karapatan din ng bawat tao, anumang lahi at katayuan sa buhay.

Pagkatapos ng apat na taon simula noong 2007, kamusta na nga ba ako?

“Ano ang naghihintay sa akin sa mga darating pang bukas pagkatapos nito? Natuklasan ko na ang buhay ng tao ay isang walang katapusang pangarap. Walang katiyakan kung maabot ito o mababasag lamang,” ang tila isang pag-aalinlangan ko sa isinulat kong iyon.

Ngunit idinugtong ko naman na “…isa lamang ang sigurado, sa taong may determinasyon, sipag at tiyaga, tamang pananaw sa buhay, malinis na pag-uugali, at takot sa Diyos, ang kanyang mga pangarap ay magiging isang ganap na katotohanan. Ito ang mga mabisang sangkap upang ang butong itinanim sa puso ay magbunga nang masagana,” na siyang nagpatibay sa aking kalooban.

After graduation, nakapag-apply kaagad ako sa ABS-CBN. Bitbit ang paniniwala sa aking sarili na kayang makipagsabayan sa mga beterano na sa industriyang ito. Natupad kaagad ang pangarap na makapagtrabaho muna sa isang kumpanyang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa akin upang maipamalas ang kaya nating gawin sa larangan ng TV Production. At katulad ng maraming mga nagtatrabaho sa isang media company, nagsimula muna ako na isang baguhan bilang isang Production Assistant. Naging bahagi ako ng mga programa katulad ng 1 vs. 100, Wheel of Fortune, Kapamilya Deal or No Deal, Pinoy Bingo Night, Wowowee, Pilipinas Win na Win, at hanggang sa ako ay naging Segment Producer na sa Philippine version ng The Price is Right. Sa pamamagitan nito, mas lalo kong nakita ang mga katangiang dapat ngang taglayin sa pagharap sa mas malaking mundo.

Aba! Kaysarap pala sa pakiramdam na kumikita ka na ng sarili mong pera at dahil dito ay nakatutulong na ako sa aking pamilya. Naihahanda ko pa ang aking kinabukasan.

Ngunit para sa akin, higit pa sa ating kinikita ang kasiyahang aking nararamdaman ngayon. Dapat kong isipin na isa ako sa mga mapapalad na taong nagagawa kung ano ang minamahal niyang gawin sa buhay. At ito marahil ang mas mahalaga. “Bumabangon kang mayroong dahilan,” ika ng isang TV commercial.

Y oh Y! All about YOU and YOUTH (A live talk show at Hagonoy, Bulacan directed by Herwin Cabasal)

Bukod sa aking trabaho sa ABS-CBN, nahirang din ako bilang Head of Media Productions Unit ng Hagonoy Young Leaders Program, isang kilalang youth organization sa isang bayan sa lalawigan ng Bulacan. Sa pamamagitan nito nakapaglilingkod tayo sa ating mga kababayan doon sa larangan pa rin ng entertainment productions, photography, at filmmaking.

Film student at APFI

Kasabay ng aking pakikipagsapalaran habang ginagawa ang mga bagay na aking minamahal, naisipan kong dagdagan pa ang aking mga nalalaman. Kaya naman noong 2010 ay pumasok ako bilang isa na namang estudyante sa Asia Pacific Film Institute. Layunin ng pag-aaral na ito na lalong mahubog ang ating kakayahan sa paggawa ng mga pelikula bilang direktor. At sa pamamagitan ng pelikula ay mas lalo pa tayong makapagdulot ng mabuting pananaw para sa ating mga manonood.

A short film by Herwin Cabasal Official Selection (Short Film Category) 7th Art Film Festival

Napag-isip-isip ko tuloy na ang buhay nga ay isang walang katapusang pag-aaral. Habang may pagkakataon, sulitin ito upang mas lalong mapagyabong ang ating sariling edukasyon. Hindi lamang ito sa literal na pagpasok muli sa mga eskwelahan, kahit ang sariling buhay ay maituturing na isa nang malawak na paaralan. Ang mga pagsubok na ating napagdadaanan ay siyang mga gurong nagtuturo sa atin kung paano maging matatag sa ating paglalakbay.

Katulad pa rin ng dati, hindi ko pa rin nalilimot ang mga taong patuloy na naniniwala at tumutulong sa akin. Lahat sila ay nasa aking puso magpakailanman.

Sa loob ng apat na taong iyon pagkatapos ng aking graduation noon, unti-unti kong napatutunayan na “Katulad ng isang butong itinanim sa bakuran, kapag inalagaan nang husto ito’y tutubo, yayabong, at sa paglipas ng panahon — pagkatapos maging matatag laban sa mga bagyo’t unos — ay mamumunga rin nang matamis at masarap. Ito ang aking pangarap. Katulad ng buto ay itinanim ko sa aking puso. Inalagaan nang husto. Pinatatag sa gitna ng mga pagsubok at kahirapan hanggang sa yumabong nang yumabong at namunga ng napakatamis na tagumpay.”

Ang binhing iyon ay nakatanim pa rin sa aking puso. Hanggang sa ngayon ito ay aking inaalagaan. Kahit paano ito ay unti-unti nang yumayabong. Ngunit alam ko, marami pang taon ang magdadaan sa aking buhay upang ang binhing iyon, balang-araw, ay maging isa nang ganap na puno upang maghandog ng masasarap na bunga… mga bunga ng pangarap para sa ating pamilya at para sa sariling bayan. Samahan ninyo ako sa paglalakbay na ito, at sasamahan ko rin kayo bilang aking mga kaibigan.

Para sa lahat ng magsisipagtapos ngayong Marso 2011, Congratulations!

Nawa, sa iyong pagtatapos, baunin mo ang mga karanasang magsisilbing gabay mo sa pag-apak sa mundong iyong pinapangarap.

Ikaw, anong binhi ang inaalagaan mo sa iyong puso?

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Noong high school pa ako, kahit masaya kami na matatapos na ang school year, may kaunting lungkot din naman na humahalo sa damdamin namin. Kase, pansamantalang maghihiwa-hiwalay ang magkakaibigan — ang iba ay umuuwi ng probinsya para magbakasyon, ang iba ay magiging abala sa tahanan nila para tumulong sa kani-kanilang pamilya at ang iba naman, naghahanap ng summer job. Pero ang iba, nagkikita-kita pa rin naman kahit bakasyon.

Kung sa karaniwang new year ay nagbabalik-tanaw tayo sa mga pangyayari sa buhay natin sa loob ng isang buong taon, ang Marso marahil ang pinakamagandang pagkakataon naman para sa mga estudyante para magbalik-tanaw sa isang buong school year nila.

Nariyan sa alaala ng mag-aaral ang four periodical tests na talaga namang pinaghahandaan ng lahat. Nariyan din ang mga alaala ng graded recitation, surprise tests, group projects, at syempre ang nakakapagod na Citizens Army Training (CAT).

Kung mayroong mga mahihirap pero nakakaaliw namang karanasan, mayroon ding masasaya. Sino ang makakalimot sa Intramurals? Labanan ng mga year level sa larangan ng sports. Foundation Day ng paaralan na may fair at minsan may rides pa sa loob mismo ng compound ng school. At literary-musical (LITMUS) contest naman sa mga mahilig sa sining. Nariyan din ang educational field trips, at junior-senior prom o graduation ball.

Ang buhay-estudyante ay minsan lang daraan sa buhay ng isang tao. Sa panahong mabigyan tayo ng pagkakataong makapag-aral, huwag sana nating sayangin. Marami man tayong matututunan sa labas ng silid-aralan, iba pa rin ang kaalamang una nating nalaman sa loob ng paaralan. At ang diploma, hindi lang ito kapirasong papel na maaaring maluma ng panahon. Simbolo ito ng ilang taon nating pagsusunog ng kilay at higit sa lahat, ang pagkatuto ng kaalaman na sa atin ay hindi na mababawi ninuman.

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According to Palatino, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is “antithetical to what an ideal lawyer should be. Instead of swinging the hand of justice to help in the solving of various corruption cases, she chose to side with the wrong and protect powerful government officials.”

Palatino added that “emulating Merceditas Gutierrez is tantamount to unclothing oneself of righteousness.”

The Congress plenary is set to vote next week on Gutierrez’s impeachment case.

Palatino, one of the endorsers of the impeachment case, said “that the law should always be for the greater good. Unfortunately for Merci, the law functions to preserve corruption and social injustices in the country.”

“Our new lawyers, more than being law practioners, should strive to be agents of social change. The laws that rule our land are not something that necessarily benefit the majority, especially the poor. There are many laws that do not adhere to the fundamental idea that the law should first and foremost embrace the people’s welfare,” Palatino said.

Palatino also lamented that “our country is filled to the brim of bright lawyers, but not all are righteous lawyers. I call on our new lawyers to remain faithful to the path of social justice and equality. Shun the temptation of corruption. Stand against injustice. Qui tacet consentire (Who is silent gives consent).”

Palatino likewise urged the new layers to be active in the quest for truth and justice, especially in light of the impeachment cases filed against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

“Now, more than ever, our country is in need of energized and principled lawyers to amplify our fight against social ills. The impeachment case against Ombudsman Gutierrez signifies the spark of our intensified battle against corruption and all that makes our country stuck in poverty and abjection. I beckon our new lawyers to contribute their skills and talents to this cause,” he said.

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Sa isang tropikal na bansa tulad ng Pilipinas, hindi na bago ang mainit na panahon. At tuwing tag-init, iba’t iba ang gimik ng mga Pinoy.

“Sa malamig kayo dyan!” Ito ang pinakamabilis na pamatid-uhaw sa mainit na panahon. Sago’t gulaman na ang pantamis ay arnibal. Ahh… ang sarap! May mga sariwang prutas din na panalo kapag ginawang juice: buko at melon ang dalawa sa paborito kong prutas na ginagawang juice. Samahan mo ito ng malamig na yelo at swak na swak na pamatid-uhaw o panulak mo sa iyong pananghalian. Kung gusto mo naman ng mas malamig pa dyan, pwede kang gumawa ng fruit shake: buko shake na may halong pandan, melon shake, o kaya ay mangga shake. Pwede rin ang banana shake. Ilabas lang ang blender, lagyan ng pinirasong mga prutas na nabanggit, haluan ng gatas at asukal at syempre, yelo! Yummy!

Sa mga mahilig namang kumain lang ng sariwang prutas, ok na ok ang hiniwang pakwan na pinalamig nang husto bago ihain. Ok din gawin yan sa melon at manggang hinog. At napag-uusapan ang mga prutas at pampalamig, sinong Pilipino ang hindi nakakaalam at umaayaw sa napakasarap na halo-halo? Gaya ng iminumungkahi ng pangalan nito, halo-halo ang sangkap na sinamahan ng makremang gatas, asukal at yelo. Paborito kong sangkap sa halo-halo ang nata de coco, langka, pinipig at saging na saba. Meron din itong gulaman, sago, at kaong. Ang iba ay hinahaluan pa ito ng beans at leche flan.

Naging uso rin ngayon sa mga malls ang dating sikat na “street food” kung ituring, ang scramble. May pilang pagkahaba-haba, lahat gustong matikman ang tila-ice shake na hinaluan ng powdered milk, candy sprinkle, marshmallow, chocolate bits at kung anu-ano pa. Buhay na buhay pa rin naman ang nilutong sago na inihahalo rin sa yelo at flavorings na ayon sa panimpla mo. Lahat ng iyan, pamatid-uhaw sa mainit na panahon!

Ewan ko sa inyo pero ako, parang bigla akong naglaway sa isinulat ko. Para tuloy gusto kong lumabas ngayon at maghanap ng halo-halo sa mga tabing-kalye.

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I rise to speak about the 25th anniversary of the 1986 People Power and its impact on young people.

Madame Speaker, dear colleagues, mga kababayan.

EDSA or Highway 54 is a very important and famous road in the Philippines. It connects the north and south expressways. The three biggest shopping malls in the world are located here. The police and military headquarters are stationed here. Financial centers are established in Makati-EDSA and Ortigas-EDSA. But most importantly, it was the site of People Power in 1986.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of People Power. Madame Speaker, I was only a kindergarten student in 1986 but the impact of that event was felt and understood by my generation. We may be too young to remember the details of the Edsa Revolt but the stories of heroism, courage, and the militancy of the Filipinos in 1986 were taught to us by our parents and teachers. Before Egypt 2011, there was Philippines 1986. Before Tahrir Square, there was Edsa.

Before I proceed, let me use this opportunity to pay tribute to the millions of Filipinos who valiantly fought for democracy during the dark days of Martial Law. Their sacrifice and arduous struggle led to the restoration of many rights and democratic institutions after 1986.

Our generation grew up while the Philippines was undergoing a transition after 1986. The nation-building process proved to be a daunting task. We were told to contribute to social change by learning from the brave students and youth leaders who participated in Edsa 1986. In many ways, our actions in 2000-2001, which led to Edsa Dos, were our unique attempt to repeat the victorious revolt of the people in 1986. It was our response to the challenge posed by our elders and by the historical circumstances to display our sense of social responsibility.

Today our young people who were born after 1990 have little or almost no direct knowledge of the symbolic importance of 1986. Like us, they learned about Edsa in books but at least our formative years were shaped by the political events prior and after Edsa 1986. There is a need, therefore, Madame Speaker, to refresh our memory about Edsa 1986. It is our duty to share the stories of Edsa to the new generation.

So what does Edsa mean? What is its relevance to Philippine politics today? What should the young learn about Edsa?

I urge the youth, especially the Edsa Babies, to join the celebration by making a pledge to serve the people. This is the core lesson of People Power — a radical weapon of the oppressed against the oppressors. I hope the People Power veterans would always remember that subversive meaning of the Edsa Revolution; and I hope they would share that important legacy of Edsa to the young generation.

While it is commendable that Malacanang has taken the initiative to celebrate the anniversary of People Power, it should not prevent us from using the memory of this historic event to assert our just demands to Malacanang. In light of the various assaults to the people’s democratic rights – price hikes, dwindling budget to social services, dire poverty, and so on – the need to reactivate the hopeful legacy of People Power is now more pertinent than ever.

With all due respect to the President, he may be the son of President Cory who is an Edsa icon, but this doesn’t exempt him from being a target of People Power politics. We, definitely, have the legacy of People Power to use against President Noynoy’s anti-poor policies like fare hikes, dole-out programs, and the lack of substantial reforms in governance.

People Power versus LRT/MRT fare hikes. People Power versus the demolition of the San Roque community in North Triangle. People Power versus corruption in the bureaucracy.

The name Edsa enjoins us to not forget the past. Edsa is the acronym for the name Epifanio de los Santos, a historian and one of the chroniclers of the 1896 Philippine Revolution. Remembering Edsa as a protest landmark is easy since it only refers to the immediate past. The bigger task lies in using the memory of radical Edsa to challenge the oppressive present.

EDSA, the people’s highway, is quickly evolving into an anti-people thoroughfare. The state, afraid of the People Power past of EDSA, now prevents the people from walking, crossing, and marching on EDSA. The street which witnessed two fantastic uprisings in 1986 and 2001 is now a death zone for innocent jaywalkers (bawal tumawid, nakamamatay), and political protesters.

I am quite worried that the Malacanang-sanctioned list of activities to celebrate People Power strips the event of its rebellious potential. It is sad that the memory of People Power is being used to prettify the image of the President. The official People Power anniversary has been reduced into a partisan activity of the President’s party.

Edsa’s legacy is far too important for our nation to be reduced to mere pageantry. Its promise of emancipation is very important for the masses who genuinely yearn for substantial freedom, justice and peace. We should not allow the meaning of Edsa to be monopolized by politicians and bureaucrats in power.

Edsa’s promises of change remain unfulfilled. Twenty-five years after Edsa, we continue to seek for more democratic reforms, human rights protection, economic progress, and political empowerment.

Thus I make this appeal to my fellow youth: Let a hundred unofficial People Power activities bloom. Let a thousand People Power debates contend. Bombard Edsa with our demands for genuine change, freedom, and pro-people governance.

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It is deplorable that this president, who promised a regime of good governance and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, has shown that he is not above attempting to enlist the services of others to carry out his wish of making media toe his line.

After inducting the officers of the Advertising Board of the Philippines (AdBoard) in Malacañang recently, Mr. Aquino complained to the advertisers that “truth seems to be a forgotten concept by some of our media practitioners” and asked their help “by encouraging media to police its own ranks.”

This is, of course, not the first time Mr. Aquino has acted with petulance in reaction to what he perceives as media’s obsession with portraying the negative, his latest examples being the reportage on his armored Lexus and the corruption scandal hounding the military.

We really do not care what Mr. Aquino thinks of the Philippine media. Like anyone else, he is entitled to his opinion. What we do take exception to is the highest official of the land unabashedly drawing on his authority to suggest, not so subtly, that advertisers place their ads only in networks and newspapers that “uphold truth and fairness” as he sees them.

This was seconded by his factotum, Palace spokesman and former journalist Ricky Carandang, who told reporters that what all Mr. Aquino wants advertisers to do “is put their money into media that is responsible.”

This is just a notch below what former president Joseph Estrada did during his term, when he actually pulled out government ads and convinced his friends in business to do the same from media outfits that had caught his ire.

Last we looked, we were supposed to be a democracy as this government and other governments before it have professed, never mind that this claim is belied by the murders of 143 journalists since 1986, and of hundreds of dissenters, in a society where the free flow of opinion and expression are supposed to be guaranteed.

It is a credit to the AdBoard, through its chairman Andre Kahn, who unequivocally said they “do not use the advertising as a tool” and, in an apparent allusion to what Estrada and, perhaps some other president as well, did, added: “There have been some administration(s) that tried to do that but we in the advertising business, we do not accept that as a valid way to try and get cooperation.”

Pray tell, Mr. Aquino, what is fairness, what is the truth? Would it be fair or truthful if media stopped reporting on the corruption in the military, or in government in general, while the people continue to starve for the good governance you promised, as well as literally starve for physical sustenance, even as the nation’s coffers continued to be plundered? Is it unfair, would it be untruthful, to report on your acquisition of luxury vehicles, even if it was your own money you
spent or these were given by generous benefactors, when you promised to set an example of modesty?

May we again remind you, Mr. President, and you as well, our former colleague, Mr. Carandang, that the media DO NOT create the bad news, they merely report on it, not out of spite or any perverted desire to sow chaos, but because the it is the people’s right to know.

Mr. President, you promised our people transparency. The media simply hold you to that promise, on their behalf, whether you choose to keep it or not. Just as we will continue to hold you accountable for every media killing that remains unsolved during your promised rule of good governance and justice.

Nestor Burgos Jr., NUJP chair
Rowena Paraan, NUJP secretary-general

Related posts:

1. Bad Policies, Not Media, to Blame for Drop in Aquino’s Rating– Youth Solon
2. Media Not the Enemy
3. Kidnapping of ABS-CBN Journalists Highlights Need for Media Safety

Ang peace talks ay mahalagang bahagi ng prosesong pangkapayapaan sa ating bansa. Ito ang paraan kung saan ang magkabilang panig ay naghahanap ng mga tanggap na pamantayan kung saan sila makakagawa ng pinal at makabuluhang kasunduang na magwawakas ng armadong labanan at magdudulot ng makatarungan at pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa ating bansa.

Sa nakalipas na mahigit na apat na dekada at maging sa kasalukuyan, ang gobyerno (GPh) at ang CNN (CPP-NPA-NDF) ay patuloy ang kanilang armadong tunggalian na nagreresulta sa maraming nawalang buhay at kabuhayan, nagdulot ng takot, sapilitang paglikas ng mga taong nakatira sa apektadong komunidad at iba pang mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao.

Para kanino ang peace talks?

Ayon sa dalawang panig, ang Gobyerno (GPh) at NDFP, ang kanilang kinatawan sa peace talks ay ang mamamayan at interes ng mamamayan.

Ang namamagitan sa kanilang usapan ay ang kanilang pinagkaisahang itinalagang Royal Norwegian Government.

Ngunit ang peace talks ay hindi lamang para sa dawalang panig. Higit kailanman, isang karapatan at responsibilidad ng mamamayan na makilahok at suportahan ito.

Dahil sa ito ay isang karapatan at responsibilidad ng mamamayan, hinihikayat ang bawat indibidwal, sector, organisasyon at komunidad na igiit sa dalawang panig ang maglikha ng mga benyu, dayalogo at konsultasyon kung saan naipapaabot sa mamamayan ang mga napag-uusapan at upang maipaabot din ng mamamayan ang kanyang mga sentimyento, pagtingin at mungkahi.

Bakit mahalaga ang peace talks?

Ang pagbubukas muli ng peace talks ay isang pagpapakita ng sinseridad ng dalawang panig upang talakayin pa ang iba pang mga mahahalagang usapin na pinagkasunduan nilang talakayin. Ito ay ang reporma sa panlipunan at ekonomiya, reporma sa pulika at saligang batas at pagtigil ng digmaan sa pagitan ng dalawang panig.

Mahalaga ang peace talks dahil dito muling ipinapahayag ng dalawang panig ang kanilang pananagutan na ipatupad ang mga mahahalagang napagkasunduan. Sa pagitan ng GPh at NDFP, ito ay ang Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) at ang Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). Ang CARHRIHL ang kauna-unahang substantibong kasunduan na pinirmahan ng dalawang panig noong March 16, 1998. Ito rin ay nagbubukas ng posibilidad na magkaroon ng mga mas epektibong mekanismo sa pag-iimbestiga ng mga reklamo ukol sa CARHRIHL.

Mahalaga ang peace ialks dahil ito rin ay nagbubukas para sa isang kasunduang tigil putukan (ceasefire) sa dalawang panig kahit sa panahon lamang ng may pormal na usapang pangkapayapaan.

Ano ang ating panawagan para sa peace talks?

Paano makikilahok sa peace talks?

Lahat tayo ay kailangang makialam at makilahok sa peace talks. Ito ay isang karapatan at responsibilidad ng bawat tao dahil ang ating kinabukasan ang nakataya rito. Ang digmaan sa pagitan ng dalawang partido ay mahigit na 40 taon nang nagaganap at 24 na taon na ang peace talks.

Ngayon, higit kailanman, tayo ay dapat manindigan para sa kapayapaan.

Ang kampanyang ito para sa manindigan sa peace talks ay bukas para sa lahat ng indibidwal, organisasyon, sektor at komunidad.

Aming hinihikayat ang bawat isa na maglunsad ng mga aktibidad sa inyong mga lugar kaugnay nito o sumama sa mga aktibidad na bubuuin ng Manindigan sa Peace Talks.

Related posts:

1. Manindigan sa Peace Talks Unity Manifesto