A MONGREL CULTURE?

A MONGREL CULTURE?

Last sunday, I was watching a noontime show both 2 and in 7. And as I continue watching, I notice that these two channels seemingly bannering their mongrelness in culture-of having 2's ASAP influencing people with their ghetto-like black-inspired Fil-Am culture (courtesy of Billy Crawford) while the other channel's SOP tried every viewer to get Korean, Chinese, Japanese or whatsoever.

And it seems that these two channels, as they continue competing for viewers are also trying to do their best in enslaving the viewer's mindset with the wishes of the elite class while bannering it as for the masses-of making them conditioned thinking of it as common, part of our society. But then, what kind of culture they advocate? A mongrel culture?

Well...
In a semi-feudal, semi-colonial society, its a fact that the ruling class, accepting the wishes of the imperialists, advocates much of a foreign culture-whether it is American, European, Japanese, Korean, and even Chinese. They tried much to lessen native influences to a museum type, a cultural zoo in which every viewer-especially a foreigner, stereotypically sees and thinks of it as that, worse as all Filipinos became desensitized, reificated and thinking of it anything as common, a part of our society, not noticing that they, or rather say we are being decieved by their wishes-of joining the "flow" not noticing that we are getting drowned.

And again, According to Lu Xun's Diary of a madman, he said:
"In ancient times, as I recollect, people often ate human beings, but I am rather hazy about it. I tried to look this up but my history book has no chronology, and scrawled all over each page are the words 'virtue' and 'morality.' Since I could not sleep anyway, I read hard half the night, until I began to see words between the lines, the whole book being filled with the two words--'Eat People.'"

And somehow, that what Lu Xun said also shows how the imperialists advocated this kind of thing, including cultural affairs towards its subjects. Of advocating a mongrel culture in a cloak called "contemporary culture", of stressing every people to get in with the "trend" to the point of forgetting the problems of the society-that the imperialists, through the rotten system in itself engaged in a cannibalistic orgy and end up becoming cannibals themselves! But people, especially who remained apathetic at all times didn't know much they, or rahter say our value for ourselves, our culture as we value "democracy" and "independence"!

And since I spoke of independence, I even think that despite independence, the rotten system, instead of encouraging individuals to unite and revive native culture and making it modernised and mass based, it end up being franchised by their cohorts, of using mass media to create instant culture that carries apathy to the people rather than making culture closer and aligned to social realities, all despite their dashes of patriotism like those of Francis Magalona, or even the Black Eyed Peas and of Jabbawockeez-just because of having a Filipino in it. But then, despite making closer to the people, it remains much aligned to the culture wherein different from the real culture of the masses, or in an insulting phrase (sorry for that) of encouraging a monger culture-of making Filipinos act like Blacks than to act as Filipinos!

Well...
If you love your country, why not redeem your culture and modernise it to be more accomodating rather than succumb to the wishes of the ruling class? Of having things foreign really serve to the people and to enrich the culture without the rotten system being controlled into it? Somehow most Filipinos are tired of "acting nigger while loving a white" or "acting Korean but loving a Jap or a Chink," Juans and Marias, you are first and foremost a Tao and a Pilipino, and you have a culture to preserve-starting with cleaning, modernising your room with Sweat and blood!

HOUNDED BY MILITARY FOR YEARS, EX-BAYAN LEADER TAKES REFUGE IN NPA

HOUNDED BY MILITARY FOR YEARS, EX-BAYAN LEADER TAKES REFUGE IN NPA
By ALVIN LUQUE

In the past three years, several speculations about my absence from the progressive movement in urban centers in Mindanao have come out. The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), through its propaganda spin doctors, has consistently vilified me through black propaganda, saying even, at one time, that I was already dead.

These speculations must end, and it must be pointed out that the US-Arroyo regime will stop at nothing until and unless it has snuffed-out the life of every dissenter in the nation. Therefore, I must tell the truth: there is no way out of the brutality and impunity under this government except to fight against it.

Alvin Luque reads a script of the play staged during the 41st celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Caraga region. The play depicted problems of the Philippine society and the history of the Communist movement. (Photo by Jose Hernani / davaotoday.com)

As I have said in 2007, I would not surrender myself to the whims and desires of the reactionary government, which resorts to silencing activists through political assassinations. I would have wanted, finally, to have my day in court, but I feared that, once arrested, I was vulnerable to all sorts of attack, especially from the AFP which considered me an ‘enemy of the state.’ Therefore, I have chosen not to submit myself to the processes of the law under the present reactionary government in the interest primarily of self-preservation, and to be effective still in contributing to the people’s struggle for national liberation and democracy.

Under the US-Arroyo regime, more than a thousand of its critics and dissenters have been victimized by extra-judicial killings, including journalists, media workers, lawyers and the religious. Justice indeed has a bleak prospect under the current regime. I cannot sit idly by, stand watch, and simply bear one gruesome murder after another, and still pretend the situation is fine. Just action must be taken. Therefore, it is incumbent upon me to do everything in my power not just to live but also to go on living fighting for the people whom this regime incessantly exploit and oppress.

Yes, I have chosen to seek refuge under the revolutionary movement, particularly with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front. This is the most logical choice on my part because these are the very organizations that can guarantee not only my protection from political killings but also, above all, freedom of the people from the oppressive grip of a reactionary fascist state. I am still breathing and fighting precisely because of this choice.

I have taken the opportunity to reveal before the media with regard my present state and involvement to say to the public that we do not have to be hapless and helpless under this exploitative social system. There is, in fact, hope. And our hope, as a people, lie with the national democratic revolution. To side with the revolution is to side with freedom, justice, and life. Let no lie peddled by the Arroyo government or the AFP distort this.

This has been my personal choice. This does not in any way prove that the organizations I was involved with in the legal arena and the revolutionary forces that I have sought refuge in are one and the same.
I also plead innocent to the criminal charges leveled against me before a court in Davao City. I did not commit any of those acts. I would have wanted to face trial and articulate my side of the case, but that, like I said, was impossible given the state of impunity under this regime.

I have no regrets with the choice I have made because I still have my life (thanks to the NPA as my sanctuary) and I will use this life to make my mark, together with other revolutionaries, in liberating the people from a rotten society. And should I die in the course of this fight, it is one death I know that is well worth bearing.


The author, the former secretary-general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, finally got to talk about his choice to become a guerrilla to reporters covering the 41st celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Dec. 26.

article from websites Bulatlat.com and Davaodaily.com, and made last January 17, 2010

We oppose foreign interference in the affairs of the DPRK

We oppose foreign interference in the affairs of the DPRK.

January 27, Juche 99 (2010)

Recently a story has been circulated in the media regarding a plan by the south Korean intelligence service to invade and conquer the DPRK should a "leadership crisis" (which will never happen because the Korean people are firmly devoted to the cause of national independence as embodied in the Juche and in the Songun ideas) occur. Even after overcoming numerous setbacks and cementing the single-hearted unity of the people and army of Korea with the leader, the imperialists still maintain their wild ambitions for aggression and war.

The Songun Politics Study Group (USA). strongly condemns this action by the ROK puppet regime and its US imperialist puppet masters who are provoking a crisis between north and south as part of their long term plan to bring the entire world under their globalist sway. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a free and sovereign country safe-guarding its independence and working for the peaceful re-unification of Korea. The US and south Korean so called "democratic" governments have shown again their true nature and must stop their interference in the DPRK's internal affairs at once. The Songun idea followers in the US salute the military preparedness and principled stand of the DPRK and the dynamic anti-war and anti-imperialist struggle of the south Korean people. We send our support and best wishes to Leader Kim Jong Il and the valiant, brave and courageous Korean people in their time of struggle.

Jason-Adam Tonis and John Paul Cupp,
Songun Politics Study Group (USA)
and the US Solidarity Committee to Support the AINDF and the South Korean People's Struggle

Continue the storm and must not break loose!

Continue the storm, we must not break loose!

We are happy to celebrate this one of a kind moment in the history of the youth and student movement in the Philippines. This event, in the eyes of every people may ought to call it as violent, and yet they also seen it as a day that shows how every people rose up and trying to topple a regime, or rather say the system whose rottenness drives the nation continuously into poverty and serfdom.

At first, that event seemed not to be discussed in history books or just simply a fragment in the middle days of the republic. Called by both activist and media as the "First Quarter Storm," this series of protest mass actions, which began on January 25, 1970 and continued up to March of 1970 became an inspiration to the progressive leaning Filipino and even to the oppressed peoples of the world through succeeding events year by year.

In that historical event, it all started as a peaceful demonstration, wherein ten thousand youth-student activists, along with workers and peasants, peacefully assembled in front of the old congress in Manila to express their grievances against the rotten system through the government itself, and the causes in which against them were the anti-people, anti-democratic policies being hurled and the excessive spending of public money to reelect the fascist dictator Ferdinand Marcos as the president during that time.

However,
that peaceful demonstration became radicalized as the policemen brutally attacked them with truncheon and gunfire upon the signal of Marcos himself after delivering his "state of the nation address". The demonstrators fought back for several hours with bare fists, wooden handles of placards, stones to Molotov cocktails and pillbox bombs that caused casualties amongst the riot police. And every activist, whether radical or moderate were suffered from the bruises, wounds, shouts and beatings coming from the armed thugs.

That kind of demonstration made by the students, especially coming from then mass organizations Patriotic Youth (Kabataang Makabayan), Society of Democratic Youth (Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan), and others tried much in resisting the wrath laid by the armed thugs unleashed by the Marcos regime.
And according to Philippine revolution.net:
"...They conducted build up rallies in communities, schools and factories and then launched people's marches from different points of Metro Manila in order to converge on the focal points of reactionary power."
And somehow, these mass organizations, alongside trade unions and peasant organizations tried much in uniting and it includes facing the consequences of being beaten, captured, or even killed by the fascist armed thugs whether that activist was radical or moderate.

But the most remarkable event during the First Quarter Storm was on January 30, 1970, when students assembled at Mendiola, other students then followed and converged at the presidential palace with that same purpose of hearing their grievances; but since the policemen, in the name of control and of order had themselves resort to force; and yet the youth-student movement kept on resisting stubbornly-responding the fascist menace by making bonfires with their torches, of throwing stones at the lamp-posts, of Molotov cocktails newly filled from the gasoline stations near Mendiola as well as Pillbox bombs, while of the demonstrators, like Romulo Jallores and Percival Gregorio seized a firetruck and rammed it through the gates of the palace.

These actions, despite the loss of life, property and even liberty somehow showed a sheer force of the people against the rotten system, and since it also became an inspiration for further demonstrations from the Martial Law to the post-Marcos regimes in the Philippines, the First Quarter Storm also created a new batch of revolutionaries coming from prominent institutions, factories and farms willing to "go to the people" through taking up the gun and fight till the death as well as martyrs who offered themselves ad majorem dei patria.

Anyway,
There are more storms to come for the rotten system prevails in beloved Philippines, there will also be more bloodshed to spill in every road to the dirt ridden paths and victories the Filipino militant made, the First Quarter Storm, serving as an example, must also served as a greater part of Filipino history other than February 25 or its succeeding events-for modern struggles started in these pictures you have seen in this blog.

For in fact, what we face today is the worst crisis of the world capitalist system since the 1930s. And all of these are due to the US-instigated policies of "neo-liberal" globalization as well as imperialist aggression and terrorism. The broad masses of the people, both the Philippines and other nations suffer conditions of exploitation and oppression far worse than four decades ago. And these intolerable conditions thus drive the people and and through the revolutionary forces to fight more resolutely, militantly, and even sporadically all for their national and democratic rights and interests like this remarkable event made in the streets of Recto, Legarda and Mendiola to the Palace gates of Malacanang.

And as for the final words, we must continuously pay tribute to this one of a kind event, as well as to continue its profound struggle, or in other words: we must continue the storm and must not break loose!

Dare to struggle, dare to win!

SERVE THE PEOPLE!

OF EATING COW'S TESTICLES AND OTHER APHRODISIACS

OF EATING COW'S TESTICLES AND OTHER APHRODISIACS

It all started at Tagaytay when a different scene started, since I, along with my uncle and some of my relatives went to a public market famous for its newly slaughtered beef being sold to the people around it.

And since that market was all about beef being hung, chopped and placed in tables in front of the public, I got curious in these mouth watering flesh laid outside, looking at every chopped beef carcass, organs, and even eyes until I saw something different-Cow's testicles:

These cow's testicles, known by the butchers as "Gising-Gising," is an ingridient, along with some herbs and spices in a chinese delicacy known as "soup number 5," and according to them, it gives potency to a weak man, especially in lovemaking; and somehow this example also shows how every Filipino male likes this strange delicacy being served at Chinese restaurants.

And like this srange "Gising-Gising," there are other strange aphrodisiacs being served to the public, whether it is in tea, soup, or whatsoever that increases sexual desire to a male (and to lesser extent, female) persons in taking it. And somehow some tend to say that these ingredients also gain their reputation from the age-old principles of sympathetic magic, oysters for example, is being called as aphrodisiacs due to their shape. The same factor als explains the trade in the phallic-looking horn of the rhinoceros, and other animal-based aphrodisiacs gain their reputation from the apparent virility or aggressiveness of the animal source, such as tiger or even bull penis.

However, some age-old aphrodisiacs are known not just sexual, but also for medicinal purposes. Panax Ginseng for example, promotes the increase of resistance to stress while Ginkgo biloba improves blood circulation. And there are also aphrodisiacs also became common ingredients, Lettuce, once considered an aphrodisiac in Ancient Egypt and said to be eaten by the sexually potent God of Chaos, Seth, end as ingredient in salads; Chololate, that although there are no proofs, became a part of valentine's day gifts to the ladies, and even Tomatoes, that during its introduction to the old world, was also called pomme d'amour-French for "love apple."

But despite all of these ingridients known for its sexual potency, they have no substantiated claims that any particular food increases sexual prowess, desire or performance, and instead it serves as dietary suppliments that stimulates the mind, organs, and even blood vessels including those of the sexual organs that gives pleasure. And before taking much, just consult to a doctor to prevent such problems involving these foods of pleasure.

THE "SANCTITY" OF "MARRIAGE" (in a materialistic viewpoint)

THE "SANCTITY" OF "MARRIAGE"

(in a realistic-materialistic viewpoint)

People marry for many reasons, most often including one or more of the following: legal, social, emotional, economical, spiritual, and religious. And these might include arranged marriages, family obligations, the legal establishment of a nuclear family unit, the legal protection of children and the last but not the least, a public declaration of love.

However,
despite these reasons behind marriage, this social union simply emphasized much into the domination of males over females in setting off ideas and actions instead of a collective approach, of having husbands working while their wives at home, or in case of these couples working-end up fighting out of an obligation, like paying off debts; these shows how marriage, once an idea driven by "love", became more of a materialistic mean-due to its profound objective of setting up a family.

Well...
According to Engels' Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State:
"...We meet this new form of the family in all its severity among the Greeks. While the position of the goddesses in their mythology, as Marx points out, brings before us an earlier period when the position of women was freer and more respected, in the heroic age we find the woman already being humiliated by the domination of the man and by competition from girl slaves."

This shows how women, especially in the age of heroes (including today) end up dominated by the machismo-motivated men, of becoming slaves at home and even at work despite seeing, thinking of them as a respected being, a goddess to be praised out of their beauty and of whatsoever coming from them. And worse? Using sugar coated ideas of love, marriage, family, to weaken woman's idea and submit to their will.

Anyway,
All of these ideas that affects marriage are true, and it remains prevalent despite the rise of feminism and of gender equality. And I, being a male writer who knows much regarding them really sympathized much in their plight, that these girls who called for gender equality also includes an end for the male domination within the marriage scene and make marriage, a social union of husband and wife within the family a collective partnership; somehow it also includes the decision on paying debts, of rearing children, of taking care of the home and anything around the sun to make marriage and familyhood work.


Marriage, being a sacred contract being set upon, is not just a mere public declaration of love, but a new obligation to be undertaken; and both husband and wife ought to act comradely and collectively in averting problems-to-be within the relationship and in the family-all in a means to make the children happy. And for sure we don't want a good marriage end up a tragic one out of submission and conflict don't we?

HOMAGE TO MENDIOLA

HOMAGE TO MENDIOLA

What a sacred land is the place called Mendiola.

An assembly place for the working class during demonstrations and a bustling place for cars and of passers-by, that sacred land seemed to became a part of every Filipino, especially to those who study and work nearby its asphalted road.

However,

Despite the sacredness to every Manileno (or not), Mendiola became as if like Berlin during the pre-wall days of the Cold war, of being barbed wired and heavily guarded by the police and for some time the military, that sacred land of the working class seemed to be as if desecrated, desecrated just because of security reasons like being nearness to the despot's lair named Malacanang and other offices surrounding it, and yet the lumpen scum often roamed around, looking for a prey to devour! How sad that sacred Mendiola is! The place where protest, blood and music rolled into one as what every activist and progressive expected.

And as we read history books regarding its place, we often think much of red flags and "makibakas" in every path; of "katarungans" and "ipaglabans" in every way, like the First Quarter Storm to the succeeding modern-day events, in which sweat, blood, and breath coming from the workers, along with the students and other progressives seemingly trying to fertilize the aasphalted soil and its surrounding areas, giving its sacredness somewhat a new life before thrusting their bodies against the scoundrels of the race and despots of the people.

But not all events in the sacred Mendiola are more of blood and soil, but also of laughter and time. Of seeing students from every university walking to cars bustling, anything around seemed to be as if like New York's Time Square, of London's Picadilly or even Moskva's Red Square. And yet we saw barbed wire, of containers, of policemen to the lumpen scum and intelligence agents distracting its sacredness and grandeur? Well... due to the fastness of time and of the heat around, people crossing around didn't notice about anything to the point of becoming apathetic-especially regarding the ones standing by as well as the barbed wire and other obstacles in Mendiola!

But despite all of these,

Mendiola will always remain sacred to the masses, a secular pilgrimage, especially during the radical demonstrations of the day to the throw of the molotov at night-scaring off the monkeys and of the devils trying to block its path.

HOMAGE TO THE CAMPESINOS

HOMAGE TO THE CAMPESINOS

Last January 17, farmers all over the archipelago joined hand in hand in marching towards Manila. And all of them, despite the soreness of their feet, hunger as well as thirst around their bodies made their own best in order to speak of their grievances against the present government. The main cause: a call for a genuine land reform.

These peasants, first and foremost, are not like others who are tardy and contented but instead of a fighting and an active one, fighting with a centuries-old noble cause to have a land to till in order to feed their families, but the government, who impliments faux-agrarian reform programs, seemingly gave little or no result to counter the perennial problem given, worst is the options within that said program the government being made, like Land Conversion and Stock Distribution Options.

These options seemed to be pleasing, of turning farmers into stockholders by giving them stocks, of seeing their land be developed, these kind of ideas the government wanted is seemingly a part of a plan wherein to counter the age old farmer's want of having a good fertile soil till, and instead given them stocks that contradicts much to their less earning work; and also shows how the landlords wanted to continue their age-old feudalistic practise with a pinch of capitalist development, especially in producing cash crops in their haciendas.

I wonder that through the years these industrious farmers had little or no earning despite their work; increase in pesticides and fertilizers, of seeing their produce as low quality, these people tried much to do their best and yet they end up as serfs or full of debts to be paid? What's the use of every document being implimented before the CARP and its successor CARPER? Do you remember how Marcos, in his own handwriting issued his decree "emancipating the tenant from the landlord" as what he stated? Or Macapagal in his Agrarian Reform code? These documents seemingly pleasing to the eyes, and yet they failed to curb the landlord problem, only to give additional problems regarding that centuries-old question.

Perhaps,

These perennial problems, of continuous serfdom and loss of land to till, of militarization and of civil oppression, made every campesino to rise up from the land and march from every archipelago, uniting in Manila to speak off their grievances against the Department of Agrarian Reform, whose program is full of holes to fill upon, then marching on to Mendiola like those from the past demonstrations, shouting and speaking aloud their grievances against a ruler whose idea focused much on the oppressor than those who are being oppressed for years in the name of economic development. I hope there would never be bloody friday for this! AMEN

JOINT STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF NORTH KOREA'S NDC STATEMENT

JOINT STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF NORTH KOREA'S NDC STATEMENT
FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF SONGUN POLITICS U.K.

Today the Association of Songun Politics UK and the Juche Idea Study Group of England issued a joint statement in support of the statement issued by the spokesman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea on January in connection with the ill boding and repulsive anti DPRK moves of the south Korean puppet regime.

It is completely intolerable that the south Korean puppets should plan to try and take over the DPRK in the event of an "emergency". "Collapse " of the DPRK and " revolt" cannot happen in the DPRK and are simply fantasies from the rubbish bin of the imaigination of the disaesed south Korean puppets.Indeed it is the south Korean regime that faces the possiblity of collapse due to external debts or a popular revolt owing to the internal social contradictions of south Korean and the rotting and decaying anti popular system. The DPRK's socialist system is chosen by the Korean peoiple themselves.It is the most advantageous socialist that provides welfare and everything for the Korean people. It is the inviolable right of the Korean people to maintain their socialist system under all circumstances. No one should be allowed to challenge this.

We support the measures announced by the NDC spokesman to protect the sovereignity of the DPRK and maintain the security of the socialist system and the revolutionary headquarters. We support the call for the dissolution of the so called "Unification Ministry" and the "NIS".The NIS is the enemy of the south Korean people as it represses them as well the enemy of all Korean people north,south and overseas as it the centre of plot breeding.It is the enemy of the progressive peoples of the world.

If the south Korean puppets know what is good for them they will shut up and withdraw their nonsenical plan at once.

We support the call for a sacred retaliatory war to destroy the strongholds of the hated south Korean puppet regime.

We call on Juche idea and Songun idea followers and world progressive to expose and smash the evil plots of the south Korean fascist puppets against the glorious dignified DPRK,land of Juche and bastion of socialism.Let us turn out in the struggle against the south Korean puppet regime and cast it on the rubbish heap for good.

By Dermot Hudson

ASSPUK.
JISGE.

London, January 17th

ANGER AT US BUILDS AT PORT-AU-PRINCE AIRPORT (AFP)

ANGER AT US BUILDS AT PORT-AU-PRINCE AIRPORT

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AFP) - Anger built Saturday at Haiti's US-controlled main airport, where aid flights were still being turned away and poor coordination continued to hamper the relief effort four days on.

"Let's take over the runway," shouted one voice. "We need to send a message to (US President Barack) Obama," cried another.

Control remained in the hands of US forces, who face criticism for the continued disarray at the overwhelmed airfield.

Dozens of French citizens and dual Haitian-French nationals crowded the airport Saturday seeking to be evacuated after Tuesday's massive 7.0 earthquake, which leveled much of the capital Port-au-Prince.

But at the last minute, a plane due to take them to the French island of Guadeloupe was prevented from landing, leaving them to sleep on the tarmac, waiting for a way out.

"They're repatriating the Americans and not anyone else," said Charles Misteder, 50. "The American monopoly has to end. They are dominating us and not allowing us to return home."

The crowd accused American forces, who were handed control of the airport by Haitian authorities, of monopolizing the airfield's single runway to evacuate their own citizens.

The US embassy denied it was putting the evacuation of the approximately 40,000 to 45,000 American citizens in the country first.

Others waiting for a way out were taken aback by the chaotic scenes confronted them when they arrived at the Toussaint L'Ouverture airport.

"I haven't been able to tell my family that I'm alive. The coordination is a joke," said Wilfried Brevil, a 33-year-old housekeeper.

"I was at the Christopher Hotel," said Daniele Saada, referring to the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, MINUSTAH.

"I was extremely shaken up. I was pulled out, the others weren't," added Saada, 65, a MINUSTAH employee.

"I decided to return to France. I have nothing and now I am stuck," she said, caught between fury at the chaos and sheer exhaustion.

The disorder even appeared to cause diplomatic ripples, with French Secretary of State for Cooperation Alain Joyandet telling reporters he had lodged a complaint with the United States over its handling of the Port-au-Prince airport.

"I have made an official protest to the Americans through the US embassy," he said at the Haitian airport after a French plane carrying a field hospital was turned away.

A spokesman for the French foreign ministry later denied France had registered protest, saying "Franco-US coordination in emergency aid for Haiti is being handled in the best way possible given the serious difficulties."

The US ambassador to Haiti defended American efforts at the small airport, which was up-and-running 24 hours after the massive quake, even though the air traffic control tower was damaged.

"We're working in coordination with the United Nations and the Haitians," said Ambassador Kenneth Merten, though he acknowledged some difficulties.

"Clearly it's necessary to prioritize the planes. It's clear that there's a problem."

Despite the chaos, a group of French citizens was eventually able to take off on Saturday, and the French plane carrying a field hospital landed safely around noon.

Still, with aid continuing to flood into the quake-stricken country, concern remains about the lack of coordination at the airport, and across devastated Port-au-Prince.

"The Haitians haven't been notified about the arrival of planes. And when they do land, there's no one to take charge and a large amount of goods are arriving without coordination," said Haitian government official Michel Chancy.

On Port-au-Prince's streets, the consequences of the coordination breakdown are clear, as traumatized and starving quake survivors approached passing foreigner and begged them for food.

THE EARTHQUAKE WAS AS IF A WORK OF PAPA DOC

THE EARTHQUAKE WAS AS IF A WORK OF PAPA DOC

Last Tuesday, at 16.53 local time, an earthquake of 7 on the Richter scale ravaged Haiti. That earthquake shook all over the entire island, especially the capital Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas. Some buildings took a heavy toll from the shantytowns to the presidential palace whose proof was its damaged domes.

However,
That damaged island is the same island once ruled by a tyrannical dictator named Francois Duvalier. Known as "Papa Doc" by the rest of his supporters, the once doctor of public health and a trying hard Baron Samedi tried much to infuse his rule with voodoo and of iron hand, especially from the use of his paramilitary Tonton Macoutes against the people. He was also once ought to create a prayer using the our father as its basis:

"Our Doc
who art in the National Palace for life,
hallowed be Thy name
by present and future generations.
Thy will be done at Port-au-Prince
and in the provinces.

Give us this day our new Haiti
and never forgive the trespasses
of the antipatriots
who spit every day on our country;
let them succumb to temptations,
and under the weight of their venom,
deliver them not from any evil ..."

And even stating about Haiti's heroes as the embodiment of Duvalier, as if Papa Doc was god himself or whatsoever, especially based on the catechism being taught in Haiti's schools during his rule:

Question: Who are Dessalines, Toussaint, Christophe, Petion and Estime?
Answer:Dessalines, Toussaint, Christophe, Petion, and Estime are five distinct Chiefs of State who are substantiated in and form only one and the same President in the person of Francois Duvalier.


And since Since Papa Doc is dead, followed by rulers who tend to forget the legacy of that dreaded dictator, the island remains as it is-of voodoo, poverty and a trying-hard democracy. Also ridden by natural calamities, Haiti struggles to recover-only to suffer again by an earthquake, this time more fatal than ever, that even led to subsequent events whether it is economic or social, then what's next? A resurgence of conflicts around Haiti consists of coup plotters and of Tonton Macoutes wannabes?

Well...

To me that earthquake reminds of something, more as-if of a legendary response from Papa Doc, as Baron Samedi and one of the loas in voodoo mythology, and for sure his response was simply fatal- that pointed against the system which was and is rotten, of being ridden by everything, that all must respond simply by not being dictated by the poicies of the United States nor any other country except Haitians themselves, for Papa Doc, also a trying-hard embodiment, a sublimation of all the heroes may have test every black who will and must be the helper of its own homeland. (Using Papa Doc as an example shows that he tried much to stress his magical side, and I used him for perhaps he wanted Haiti for himself to be on that way, a concoction of his own concept of mythology, of western government practises and nativist way of life.)

And who must help resurge Haiti?

Is it the Americans? No,

The Europeans? Not also,

The Cubans and other Caribbean nations? Can be but...

How about the Haitians themselves? Who, being former slaves united in fighting against the White man? Yes. And every Haitian must have the power to built its own as what Touissant L'Overture, Jean Jacques Dessalines, and even the tyrranical Papa Doc Duvalier wanted. That earthquake is not his work, but rather a means to resurge the island nation-only to unite all Haitians, whether he or she is a full blooded black or a mulatto to rebuild, with or without the support of the nations-especially of the imperialists and even the domestic oppressors, and to act like Baron Samedi and the rest of the Loas in both rebuilding and defending the country against those who oppress-not just by invokng prayers like "Our Doc" or whatsoever in the catechism but of massive popular action, for that is what the founing fathers wanted: a popular action for its own beloved home and for its own self.

HELP ME... FOR SALE

HELP ME... FOR SALE

While watching TV, reading the paper or listening to the radio, we're quite "brainwashed", "hypnotized" or "charmed" by the graphics or voices that targets our weaknesses as men and womyn (instead of women) and wanting us to contribute in their foundation.

But as time goes by, it seems that the media turned the vow of charity into a means to provide support, to gain ratings and popularity-that seemed contradicts the essence. How come a rich clique do so in giving a parcel to a hungry kid and yet they are rich? Anyway, like politics, it becomes a part of life-of seeing people suffering from Kwashiorkor be given a handout and yet they are still poor and their communities remained not improved and self reliant in order to provide a media masterpiece-of selling emotions to the people.

In addition to that,

It also reminds of the Manny Villar jingle I heard long ago. And for sure that theme that makes us suffered due to "last song syndrome" also features selling emotions from the song being sung to the kids from Tondo singing, with an objective to vote for Villar this coming May 10! Well... this example for sure is also a part of what we expect-a stereotypical scene of people selling anything, including emotions, hope, grace, salvation, anything which is not tangible!

SELLING HOLIDAYS?

SELLING HOLIDAYS?

Last Christmas, I was quite thinking that every channel seemed trying much to exploit the occasion from having an all star cast to their bogus charities that targeted the poor and of the so-called hopeless.

However,

On the other side, their intention to commercialize Christmas and other occasions seemed to be an act of bastardising anything. Last last year what I saw was more of a materialist perspective, of spending money, of gift-wrapped boxes, and after Ondoy and Pepeng it seems that they were turning on to god and speaking off their prayers, blessings alongside their stereotypical sharing of gifts and anything else. And I was quite questioning about it-for they seemed turning themselves to god just after the storm instead of their common christmas event of wine, gift and song. Same as Valentines day that emphasises much of those who have a relationship as a means to show "love", or rather say advocates erotic love what Cupid wanted!

And as what I expected,

Media seemed turned anything during the holidays into a marketplace, of selling anything for the sake of accumulating profits and popularity from it and thus negating the essence of the season, whether it is Christmas, Holy Week, Summer, etc. As long as it is a holiday, a special day that targets viewers-children and teenagers for example.

Well...

Like the comic "Ato Makabayan", made last December 17, 1971, these are the words he said:

"...Rapes...Murderers...Robberies...Holdups...Oligarchs...Marcos... Jesus commercialized...SC's Decision on the writ...Christmas Commercialized...PARA ANO PA BA ANG PASKO?!!!"

MY FATHER GONE "CRAZY" AFTER DEBATING ME

MY FATHER GONE "CRAZY" AFTER DEBATING ME

It was 08, January 2010, friday night when that event started, as I, writing something, was being scolded by my father out of a debate, that debate must be intended as an intellectual, gentlemanly talk, but my father turned it into a personal one-just because he hates the left-inclined, and one of them is I.

While writing, my drunkard father spoke something, speaking about the late New People's Army rebel being killed by the military during a battle, it was featured in the Inquirer at that time, and he even spoke of what the article being said that she was doing god's work, of serving the people and even 'faith without action is dead'.

And for sure, as what I expected, he would oppose it and even condemn the left for this kind of incident, and even spoke of anything christian just to counter what the christian left spoke regarding to the martyr; and upon hearing what my father said, I accepted some of his points, but then I told him that the bible has different interpretations and ideas, same as different lines to be said. Especially the words "I came here not to bring peace but a sword" in which different from Christ's healing of a Roman soldier's ear after being wounded by Peter, his desciple. And even spoke of Christ sacrificing himself, of opposing violence, etc.

Fine! But then how come Christ spoke of "to bring a sword?" Of calling for change? Of calling for action alongside faith? How come Christ even attacked the moneymakers and vendors in the temple? For me, Christianity is not a mere faith based institution, but rather more of a mass movement whose objective is faith-based salvation through action, by all means necessary in order to save the people from structural sin.

And yet my father still opposed to it. There he started to say things hysterically and in paranoia against the left, of turning it too personal although I tried much to remind him not to turn anything personally while my mother wanted our discussion to be to stop to prevent from becoming a fight-just because my father was drunk and speaking things too hysterical, contradicting, and trying to put me down.

And as we continue debating, there he spoke too much, too hysterical and event too personal; he even brag to me that he's speaking it too personal and starting to show being a father just to argue, well... I still resist what he's saying despite having a point just because he, a right winger who is even against the reformists, was acting too hysterical, a paranoid especially against the leftists-like me! Even bragging his "democracy" just to counter my "communism."

Since I kept on hearing too much of his words that I even wanted to speak but stopping me off, I started to speak this:

"YOU ARE CRAZY!"

And my father, being onion skinned to be a lawyer, reacted badly and started to speak me badly, really badly for what I have said to him. I spoke it to him for he's speaking too hysterical, too personal that contradicts the way lawyers speak and think, and even trying much to pull me down by showing his actions as a disciplinarian? Of speaking of personal ones in the middle of an intellectual-intended discussion? Perhaps respect for different ideas is not part of his, but rather more of dominating it.

Secondly,

I was quite in doubt what kind of democracy was he saying? Especially to a die-hard right-winger whose side supported the Marcos dictatorship? To me, he, my father, like those of the right-wingers tend to defend "democracy" which in fact a "constitutional authoritarian" type of government, and somehow being a "consitutional authoritarian" tends to show much of an extreme "disciplinarian", of focusing much in controlling through an ideological state apparatus, dictating policies in a pain of opposition while bragging "democracy" to others.

But then,

Despite all of these, the main cause to speak me too much was his drunkeness. So what's the use of arguing if he wanted a fistfight? Bah! That's a desparate action to a once lawyer-to-be with a transcript full of low grades arguing against his son whose grades are worth better than his!

On comfort food, makeshift meal and drink

On comfort food, makeshift meal and drink

It was early in the morning when I was preparing myself for breakfast, and the what I am preparing was mostly instant ones-of sausages in can, of instant pancit canton noodles, and even frying an egg to complete the meal plus a hot chocolate for drink.

And as I started eating that instant breakfast fare, it seems that anything around from the ones inside the can to the plastic foil is in an instant-creating a series of makeshift meals in which trying to replace slow ones despite having lack of some basic nutritional content according to the recommended dietary allowance just because it was mass made, fortified with supplimentary ones and being prepared in an instant.

Same as in comfort food, in the sidewalks of Recto lies an array of comfort foods, or in laymen's term street foods that makes students and even the stowaways enjoying it-from a fishball worth 50 cents to a chickenball woth a peso somehow gives a mouthful appetite to them, and with a plastic glass of coconut water worth ten or a dirty ice cream coming from a sorbetero woth five to quench their thirst after day's work or a long walk. Somehow these comfort foods, like those from the can and in the plastic foil gives cheap but simple pleasure, and a means to enjoy oneself.
How about drinks?From Coconut water, sago't gulaman to the soda and ice-cold coffee lies the array of drinks that seemed enjoying to the people as a non-alcoholic alternative. Like beer or hard drinks, especially brandy, these softdrinks somehow is also a means to bind friendship and solidarity to other men aside from quenching one's thirst. And even a cheap means to complete the meal alongside the Nawasa juice (water).

Anyway,

Despite all of these, better not to forget a well balanced diet. These comfort, makeshift, and instant meals are not consumed in a daily basis although it is cheaper to buy with. These kind of foods and drinks we see in the streets are no match from the Ulam and kanin freshly cooked in our bahays courtesy of our loving nanays to give us a healthy meal and a means of love for us.

KATLEAH: A GOOD INSPIRATION FOR (ART)WORK

KATLEAH: A GOOD INSPIRATION FOR (ART)WORK

It was all started when I was looking for a good inspiration for some artworks to be drawn, looking until I sought a girl whose looks seemed good, more of a proletarian kind-a lively face, of a pleasing but strong willed personality, and a good built that seemingly reminds of a female Kolkhoz farmer working for hours tilling the soil; and thus that girl became a good basis for "revolutionary artworks" featuring women.

But then,
That girl, whose name is Katleah, perhaps unknowingly didn't think it badly regarding this kind of thing being done, or being made through a series of drawings and perhaps even some stories whose female protagonist and its image can be based on her, well... for me she knew that I am drawing and even recognizing my talent, although on the other side it can be considered as annoying-especially in getting "drawn" and end up in a piece of paper featuring a girl wearing a gimsterka, pants, boots, a budenovka as her headgear and carrying an AK47 or some sort-for based on what I have seen for her, more of "that", a Kolkhoz woman, a proletarian, a revolutionary-anything, left, radical especially for that girl.

And in addition to that,
I am deeply influenced by the left through a series of books (like the communist manifesto, the French revolution, Les Miserables) and other writeups since childhood, somehow drawing or writing stories anything based on Katleah or even other ones also expresses more of personifying the struggle, like Berglend back then whom I drawn her as a female knight or Charmel as a beautiful empress with a humble heart, Katleah somehow to me is the struggle as a woman, a maiden whose prowess in the protest-battlefield is her outmost devotion to the people, including the acceptance of death..

Anyway,

Katleah is struggle, like Lorena she is the woman who gives anything to the people.