Minamahal kong mga kababayan,

Ikinalulungkot ko na hindi ko kayo makakasama ngayon, ngunit kahit na mahina ang aking katawan, matatag pa rin ang aking paninindigan na tutulan ang katiwalian.

Over the years, I have learned to endure pain and sadness — first, when Ninoy was separated from us by the hand of a dictator; then, when he was taken from us by the hand of an assassin; and now that I have placed myself at the hands of a merciful God.

But perhaps there is nothing that causes me greater pain than to see our people betrayed again and again by those they have elected to lead and serve them. To those of us who had fought long and hard to restore our democracy, the pain deepens at the thought that all our gains have so quickly been eroded.

Nang mapalayas natin ang diktador, hindi ba’t ipinangako nating hindi na tayo papayag na mawala muli ang ating kalayaan? Subalit, narito muli tayo, sa gitna ng walang-hiyang pang-aabuso ng mga makapangyarihang nagnanais na sirain ang mga pinakapayak sa ating mga batas.

Hindi ito ang pamumunong nararapat para sa atin. Hindi ito ang lipunang nais kong ipamana sa mga susunod na henerasyon, kaya sa ngalan nila at ng aking sarili bilang mga mamamayang Pilipino, tumututol ako sa nais ng mga tiwaling miyembro ng kamara na palitan ang ating Saligang-Batas sa pamamagitan ng isang Constituent Assembly. At nananawagan ako sa inyo at sa lahat ng mga Pilipino na magpahayag ng ating pagprotesta rito.

Nasa inyo po ang tunay na kapangyarihan sa ating demokrasya. Huwag n’yo pong payagang manumbalik ang mga pamamaraan ng mga diktador. Tutulan po natin ang Con-Ass! At ipagdasal po natin ang ating Inang Bayan.

Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino! Maraming salamat po.

Related posts:

1. Vice President Noli De Castro’s Statement on President Cory’s Death
2. Con-Ass: Huwag Buhayin ang Patay
3. Bayan Statement on the Death of Former President Corazon C. Aquino

May natatandaan akong pelikula ni Jestoni Alarcon at Charito Solis na ipinalabas sa takilya noong 1989. Grade 3 ako noon. Ang pamagat: Huwag Mong Buhayin ang Bangkay. Sa sobrang pagmamahal ng ina sa kanyang namatay na anak, lumapit siya sa itim na kapangyarihan upang buhayin ang bangkay. Ang nangyari: nabuhay nga ang anak pero isa na siyang zombie. Zombie na naghahasik ng lagim sa kanyang paligid.

Eto ang ginawa natin sa con-ass. Binuhay natin ang patay. Mag-ingat tayo sa bangkay na ating binuhay; tiyak itong magdadala ng kamalasan sa ating bansa.

Bakit ko sinabing tila parang zombie ang con-ass? Ilang beses kasing pinatay at binuhay ang con-ass. Una, binawi ni Rep. Luis Villafuerte, principal sponsor ng con-ass, ang kanyang lagda sa con-ass. Sa kabila nito, sinulong pa rin ng mga PALAKA (Partido Lakas-Kampi) ang con-ass sa committee level. Pinagbotohan sa committee kung ihahapag na ba sa plenary ang con-ass kahit wala pang sapat na debate. Nagwalk-out ang minority; itinuloy ang botohan; pero natalo pa rin ang mga pro con-ass. Ito ang pangalawang kamatayan ng con-ass.

Pero pagkatapos ng isang lingo binuhay ulit nila ang con-ass. Nag-imbita kami ng mga respetadong iskolar tulad ni Fr. Joaquin Bernas upang magbigay ng liwanag kung ano ba ang tamang paraan para baguhin ang Konstitusyon. Mahigit tatlong oras kaming nakinig sa mga iskolar; lahat sila nagsasabing kailangang bumoto nang hiwalay ang dalawang kamara. Ibig sabihin hindi pwedeng lumipad ang Cha-cha o con-ass nang walang partisipasyon ng Senado. Ilan sa mga miyembro ng Kongreso ay nagsalita sa committee hearing. Ang sabi nila estudyante raw sila ni Fr. Bernas; sila raw ay nag-aral noon sa Ateneo. Ilang minuto (uulitin ko, ilang minuto) pag-alis ni Fr. Bernas, nagbotohan ulit. Inaprub ang con-ass. Binuhay ulit ang con-ass. Parang hindi sila nakinig kina Fr. Bernas.

Hindi rito nagtatapos ang kuwento. Namatay ulit ang con-ass. Ibinalik ng Committee on Rules ang HR 1109 sa mother committee. Ang implikasyon nito ay hindi na malalagay sa adyenda ng plenary ang con-ass. Akala namin ito na ang katapusan ng buhay ng con-ass kasi malapit nang magtapos ang session ng Kongreso. Aba, bigla kaming nagulat dahil noong Hunyo 2, nagkaroon ng caucus ang majority at nagdesisyon sila na isusulong na nila ang pagboto sa con-ass sa plenary level. Ang bangkay ay muling binuhay.

Hapon ng Hunyo 2. Biglang dami ng mga pumasok sa Kongreso. Yung iba unang beses kong nakita sa loob ng Kamara. Tapos ang pagkain sa lounge ay sapat-sapat hanggang hatinggabi. Mukhang nakahanda silang magpuyatan para ipasa ang con-ass.

Natatawa kami sa minority habang nakikinig kami sa sponsorship speeches. Iba-iba kasi ang sinasabi ng mga sponsor. Bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang bersiyon kung ano ang balak nilang gawin sa con-ass. Kahit sila hindi nagkakaisa sa interpretasyon kung ano ang tamang paraan upang matuloy ang Cha-cha.

Napanood natin kung ano ang nangyari noong gabi ng Hunyo 2. Nanalo ang mga pro-con-ass. Pero hindi natin nakita ang kanilang mga mukha dahil ang ipinasa ng Kongreso ay simpleng House Resolution lamang; ibig sabihin hindi kailangang tumayo ang bawat miyembro ng Kongreso upang ipaliwanag ang kanilang boto.

Ngayon, buhay ulit ang con-ass. Papatayin ito sa Senado. Bubuhayin kaya ito ng Supreme Court? Kung pagbabatayan ang opinyon ng publiko, mayorya ng ating mamamayan ay tutol sa con-ass at Cha-cha. Kailangan nating wakasan, tuldukan na ang buhay ng con-ass. Paano?

Dapat daanin natin sa sindak ang mga miyembro ng Kongreso. Huwag nating payagang umabot pa sa Korte ang labanan. Ngayon pa lamang ay iparinig natin ang ating boses, ang ating matinding pagtutol sa con-ass. Ipakita natin sa Malakanyang ang ating malakas na oposisyon sa con-ass.

Nauuso ngayon ang virtual activism. Isa ako sa mga nagsusulong nito. Sige gamitin natin ang texting, blog, Facebook, Twitter at Plurk para ikampanya ang pagbabasura ng con-ass. Paramihin ang bilang ng mga pumipirma sa ating mga online petition. Pero kilalanin natin ang limitasyon ng mga ito. Una, hindi lahat ng masa ay maabot nito. Pangalawa, hindi lahat ng pulitiko ay mahilig bumisita sa cyberspace. Yung marami hindi nagbabasa ng mga blog. Yung iba hindi talaga mahilig magbasa.

Hindi uubra na magpatali tayo sa mga cute na aksiyon; kailangang dambuhala, kailangang dumadagundong, kailangang rumaragasang mga pagkilos ang gawin natin para masindak ang mga miyembro ng Kongreso. Kailangan nilang maramdaman ang ating presensiya. Magplano ng mga lokal na pagkilos. Pumunta sa opisina ng mga mambabatas. Kausapin sila.

Nagawa na natin ito noon. Noong 1997 may balak ding Cha-cha ang administrasyong Ramos. Sophomore ako noon sa kolehiyo. Malawak din ang pagtutol ng mamamayan sa Cha-cha. Ano ang ginawa natin? Nagrali tayo sa Luneta. Pinuno natin ang Luneta. Ipinarinig natin hanggang Malakanyang, hanggang Batasan, ang ating galit. Kailan tayo pupunta ng Luneta?

May mga hamon tayong kakaharapin. Una, seryosong balakid ang swine flu. Paano tayo magkakapit-bisig eh simpleng paghahawak lang ng kamay sa simbahan ay mukhang ingat na ingat tayong gawin. Paano tayo magpapalakas sa mga kampus kung palaging suspended ang mga klase?

Pangalawa, huwag nating maliitin ang pwedeng gawin ni Pangulong Arroyo. Kahit marami sa atin ay galit sa kanya, huwag nating kalimutang nagawa niyang manalo noong halalang 2004. Hindi siya mapatalsik sa Malakanyang sa kabila ng mga Hello Garci scandal, fertilizer scam, extrajudicial killing, at marami pang mga kaso.

Ito ay mga balakid pero hindi ibig sabihin imposible tayong magwagi. May hangganan din ang pasensiya ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya pa natin ilunsad ang mas malaki, mas malawak, mas epektibong porma ng People Power sa hinaharap. Sabi nga sa Koreanovelang Boys Over Flowers, (we should keep on) Fighting!

Para sa mga nagdadalawang isip, eto ang ilang mga katanungan:

-Gusto ninyo bang tawaging Prime Minister si Gng. Arroyo sa June 30, 2010?

-Gusto ninyo bang maging Prime Minister for life si Gng. Arroyo? Tandaan natin, bata pa siya.

-Payag ba kayong alisin ang term limits para sa mga miyembro ng Kongreso?

-Hahayaan ba nating magmay-ari ang mga banyaga ng mga lupain at korporasyon sa ating bansa? Eh samantalang sa ibang bansa, kahit sa Estados Unidos at Europa, nagiging uso ulit ngayon ang konsepto ng economic nationalization.

May planong martsa ang mga pwersang anti con-ass sa June 30. Dadaan ito sa harap ng inyong kampus sa hapon. Sana sumama tayo sa pagkilos na ito. Isuot ang facemask, magdala ng alcohol, bitbit ang mga placard at streamer, sabay-sabay nating labanan ang con-ass ni Gloria.

Related posts:

1. Stop Gloria’s Con-Ass, Oppose Cha-cha!
2. President Cory Aquino’s Statement on Con-Ass
3. Stop Con-Ass. No to Cha-Cha.

We are today’s generation of Filipino youth, young, vibrant and spirited, transcending professions, cultures and boundaries, and to whom the hopes and aspirations for the nation’s future is bequeathed.

Together, we vehemently oppose all attempts by the ruling Arroyo clique and its cronies in Congress to tamper with the Constitution and perpetuate itself in power. We denounce in the strongest possible terms the blatant abuse of power and treachery that have come to characterize this regime.

The shameless display of arrogance and callousness of the Arroyo government sends for all patriotic and freedom-loving young Filipinos to dissent. The signs of times are rallying us to lives of involvement and action.

The youth have always played a pivotal role in ushering in significant changes and junctures in history. We have always been at the forefront of uprisings and revolutions every time the social, political and economic conditions in society become too intolerable for Filipinos to endure.

Today, we have a moral and sacred duty to perform. We cannot remain silent or with our arms crossed. We cannot remain indifferent while our own future as a people and a nation are being compromised for selfish political ambitions. The stakes are too high for us to take a pass.

The Filipino youth are awake and are answering the urgent call of our time. Once again, we reaffirm the youth’s historic role as catalyst of change and renew our resolve to put an end to the tyranny of the Arroyo regime.

We express our solidarity with various church groups, the business sector, people’s organizations and concerned Filipino citizens who have similarly expressed opposition against any attempts of the Arroyo administration to extend her term.

We believe that national leaders should be accountable to the people and that government officials should portray the highest standards of morality and integrity to be able to propel the nation towards genuine progress, justice and peace.

We oppose the convening of a constituent assembly and Arroyo’s charter change on the following grounds:

• Any attempt at charter change by the Arroyo administration would only serve to extend President Arroyo’s regime. With her term expiration nearing, she and her allies in Congress, led by her son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, are left to resort to whatever “legal” means are possible to make sure she stays in power after 2010. Arroyo is desperate because she will inevitably have to answer to all the cases filed against her once she is removed from position;
• Charter change can be used by Arroyo to perpetuate herself in power through Martial Law. No different to what Ferdinand Marcos did, charter change can be used by Arroyo to remove the 60-day limit covering the President’s declaration of martial rule and to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus thus allowing the State to arrest anybody without a warrant. Alternately, the power of Congress to revoke the President’s declaration of martial law or the power of the Supreme Court to review the bases of a declaration of martial law can be removed;
• Charter Change will worsen the economic and social crises plaguing the country. All past attempts of charter change have pushed to amend economic provisions barring 100 percent foreign ownership of lands, social institutions, and basic services, industries and infrastructures in the country. This recent attempt through HR 1109 is no different as it explicitly aims to allow foreign interests and entities to dominate the country under the guise of ‘international competitiveness.’ Such a revision will only give way to further foreign exploitation and plunder of our natural resources, indigenous knowledge systems, and domestic human resources;
• Charter change will aggravate the colonial, corrupt and commercial characteristics of Philippine culture, education and mass media; and
• Charter change can allow further foreign intervention and exploitation by allowing one-sided treaties detrimental to national development and progress.

We call on all democracy-loving youth and citizens to stop efforts to change the Constitution before the 2010 elections. The government’s desperate efforts to continuously cling to power have sown deep social discontent and division among the people.

We strongly believe in the sovereign right that rests on the people to change a morally bankrupt and corrupt regime with a conscientious leadership that can genuinely unite the nation and can bring forth meaningful social change.

Sign up now!

Related posts:

1. Stop Gloria’s Con-Ass, Oppose Cha-cha!
2. Con-Ass: Huwag Buhayin ang Patay
3. President Cory Aquino’s Statement on Con-Ass

June 19 is also the founding anniversary of Kabataan Party, currently the only party-list representing the youth sector in the House of Representatives, with advocacies and campaigns inside and outside the halls of Batasan.

On Friday, there will be a whole-day festival of activities to showcase youth unity for change, starting off with “Morning Jog vs. ConAss” at 6 in the morning from Baywalk towards the Manila City Hall where first time voters will collectively register to be able to vote in the 2010 national elections. After the run, a youth mobilization will be held from 10 AM to 12 PM at Luneta, from where participants will embark on a march-parade around schools along Taft and Intramuros.

Participants will then converge in front of the Commission on Elections by 2 PM for a closing program to call for clean and honest elections in 2010. A youth concert will also be held at 6:00 in the afternoon in Quezon City.

See you all there! (Bikoy.net)

Related posts:

1. Things We Can Do on February 28 Youth Action Day
2. Vote for the Youth!
3. A Call to the Filipino Youth to Stand Up for Truth

Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change, a movement of reform-minded individuals and groups advocating for meaningful change, is unequivocally opposed to the charter change (Cha-cha) being pushed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The dirty hands of Malacañang are all over HR 1109: it is undoubtedly an evil scheme to prolong further the illegitimate rule of Arroyo and her cohorts.

We denounce the self-serving representatives who have dishonorably allowed themselves to be used by Arroyo instead of serving the people. The treacherous and unpatriotic manner by which they ratified the move for a constituent assembly is deplorable, more so at the expense of taxpayers’ money and dignity. The use of pork barrel to facilitate the railroading of HR 1109 betrays all claims by Malacañang that the move for a con-ass is an “independent initiative” of a co-equal branch of government.

Allowing Arroyo and her cohorts to get away with Cha-cha is consent for the perpetuation of a regime guilty of graft and corruption, political repression, and further impoverishment of millions of Filipinos through its ant-people policies. The people will no longer allow any scheme that will further prolong this despised regime, whose unpopularity and disapproval among the Filipino rivals if not exceeds that of the Marcos dictatorship.

There is no doubt that the most urgent change that we need is a change in regime. The Arroyo administration has been in power too long, and has continued to enrich itself through wanton plunder of public coffers while impoverishing millions of Filipinos. We call on all fellow Filipinos who still believe in a decent, accountable and democratic government to join us in rejecting Cha-cha and all efforts to perpetuate the Arroyo regime. Filipinos would not be passive to the maneuvering of Pres. Arroyo and her clique and will persist in fighting for genuine social change.

Pagbabago! joins many tens of thousands who will take to the streets today to call “Stop Arroyo’s con-ass! Oppose Cha-cha! End Arroyo’s regime!”

Related posts:

1. Stop Con-Ass. No to Cha-Cha.
2. Con-Ass: Huwag Buhayin ang Patay
3. President Cory Aquino’s Statement on Con-Ass

I remember that my mother used to tell me before that the songs “Got to Believe in Magic” and “King and Queen of Hearts” are the template songs that high schoolers dance in their promenades or graduation balls. I have to support her statement, for these songs were played during my own formal dance, which was not too long ago. I did dance to its tune, and I have to admit, these songs still carry the meaning even though it was released a long time ago.

But this article is not really about promenades, or one’s first kiss or first love. Recently some of my friends back from the Philippines were in uproar about the issue of Charter Change. I can still remember how Cha-cha was an issue I think during Ramos’ term -– I was about to enter high school that time. Who would have thought that a decade after, some people will revive Cha-cha’s beat and invite everyone to dance with them?

Sadly I think the steps are out of fashion. People in the government should try something new. Something better. Something that will not make them –- and us -– look stupid.

I believe that the Philippines deserves a lot better than the traditional politicians that are currently enjoying their seats in their offices. Whether the Filipino people put them there, or these trapos put themselves there, I have no idea. The Filipinos can complain all they want, too. One could propose to start the change within ourselves, or try to re-do the system altogether. But at the end of the day, if it’s only a small group of people who will mobilize themselves; if it’s a huge number of people who are in public office and are having a grand time corrupting the system; if there’s a considerable number of people who will not even try to understand what this whole “dance craze” is all about and how it will affect the people and the country, then pardon this pun but ako mismo ang magsasabi, nothing good’s going to materialize, and the country will end up in shambles (if it isn’t already).

I try to avoid talking about politics. I guess it is one area that makes me feel frustrated because I can totally see the problem, but for some reason the solutions are hard to find, or even harder to implement. But I cannot stand the idea that my Inang Bayan is being abused by its citizens. I can spend an entire day pointing out what is wrong and suggest what needs to be done, but I will spare everyone that agony. Nevertheless, this is not the time to worry about other people’s sexual preferences and hold a Senate hearing about it. This is the time that we should again feel concern toward the Philippines. I know a lot of people stopped caring because they deemed their efforts to be futile, due to a number of factors. I know a lot of people think that another (EDSA) revolution will not work. I know a lot of people don’t even know what is going on, and I know a lot of people will only care now and will stop doing so if they get immediate rewards for their actions. Some want to do something but they cannot even do it. It is a sad reality that we have here, and I know, because I used to not care for years.

I know that there is nothing much for me to do, but here I am typing this away. I am sick of people in authority playing games, making fool of the Filipino people. I am tired of having my kababayan react strongly when foreigners point out what is wrong with us and our country, and yet we just let it pass when fellow Filipinos are the ones trying to show us what the country’s ailments are. We are not high schoolers anymore, and we cannot always “believe in magic.” One thing is for sure though, and I have said this before to friends: “Kapag pinasayaw ka ng Cha-cha, dapat ang sabihin mo, ‘I’ll never gonna dance again.’” Dance to the right beat folks, and make sure you’re doing the right steps.

Related posts:

1. Stop Gloria’s Con-Ass, Oppose Cha-cha!
2. Stop Con-Ass. No to Cha-Cha.

Malamang, nabasa na nila sa mga balita na hindi pabor ang taumbayan sa constituent assembly bilang pamamaraan ng pagbabago ng konstitusyon, kung sakali mang makumbinsi ang mga tao na kailangan ngang mag-chacha.

Nasa ibang planeta sila kung di pa nila nalalamang naniniwala ang mga Pilipino na ang Charter change ngayon ay may layuning palawigin ang dapat ay matagal nang natapos na termino ni Gloria Arroyo.

Kinatawan sila ng mga mamamayan, kaya naman sa ideal na mundo, dapat ay sinasalamin ng kanilang mga kilos ang pulso ng bayan.

Ngunit kanina, ipinasa ng House of Representatives ang House Resolution 1109 na naglalayong gawing constituent assembly ang Kongreso. Wika nga ni Kabataan Party Rep. Mong Palatino, mas masahol pa ito sa Hayden Kho scandal.

Nakakahiya kung tutuusin.

Pero ano mga ba ang hiya? Wala ito sa bokabularyo nila.

(Unang nalathala sa ederic@cyberspace)

Related posts:

1. Stop Gloria’s Con-Ass, Oppose Cha-cha!
2. Con-Ass: Huwag Buhayin ang Patay
3. President Cory Aquino’s Statement on Con-Ass