JOSE MARIA SISON IS A GOTHIC POETRY WRITER TO ME

JOSE MARIA SISON IS A GOTHIC POETRY WRITER TO ME
By Lualhati Madlangawa-Guerrero

"Terrorist", "Subversive", "Anti-family", "Anti-god". These are the words spoken against a man whose leadership in the National Democratic struggle was and is known for. But to me, he is a poetry writer and a good socio-political analyst-especially when it comes to literature as well as in political science. That man is better known as Prof. JOSE MARIA SISON.

Studied back then in Ateneo and Letran, finished college in UP for literature, "JOMA" as his colleauges called him, was famous for writing poetry as well as in discussing about politics, especially during the days he taught English literature and founding the Kabataang Makabayan in 1964. And this man I think really practise his works well as a literature professor-since some of the works he may have read was and is well connected with the realities happened not just in the Philippines, but also in the rest of the world, wherein rebellion is both good and evil.

And through his poetry perhaps, his deepest thought and experiences throughout his life turned into well versed words, and upon reading it shows how his life, from his professor days, protest days, to prison and eventually exile were being turned into poems of, like a Rizalian or a Bonifacio type, or even of Mao's, mostly of life, sorrow, struggle, and redemption. And I think that, in every poem he hath written shows his love of country, of people, of a need for change, of calling for struggle, and some may show his persona-even love and humor perhaps.

Last time, I was listening to one of his poems turned into music; and thinking that the melodies being played into his poetry are kind of gothic, gothic minus the total gloom, gothic with a bit of deathly appearance, ambient somehow as it shows-just like the people's chorale version of his poem turned song "The Guerrilla is like a poet."

The Guerilla is Like a Poet -

The melody somehow reminds of Evanescence, Within Temptation, and any other goth bands playing like that, however people may unexpect that the person who created that poem being played in a gloomy-like tune is a political prisoner accused of being subversive and being character assassinated by some groups against him, from the rightists in the congress to the rightists in the youtube and other internet sites! And as for the poem, also shows the gothic-ness within it as one part says:
"the inner silence, the outer innocence..."

Other poems-turned-songs are even consider it as near-gothic upon listening especially to its tune, "The bladed poem" perhaps, "Poems and rest" and even "Rose for a waking woman" carried a sense wherein like a gothic poet, living in dark but then trying to express emotion inside. Joma for me is a goth-like writer, goth minus the stereotypical appearance like in the subculture, but in some of his poems? or even in the songs out of his work like the ones being said? Somehow shows that even in a bit, he may be. So why not goth or folk metal bands create a label consists of Jose Maria Sison's poems turned songs?

The Bladed Poem - JOMA

Poems and Rest - Musikang Bayan

rose for a waking woman - joma

OF CHOOSING "COMRADES" AND "CLASSMATES""

OF CHOOSING COMRADES OVER CLASSMATES
by Lualhati Madlangawa-Guerrero

Yesterday, I was called up by my friend through the phone to say that tomorrow I will go to their party in a restaurant in Avenida Rizal in Manila, and I was quite thinking that party, wherein my classmates since highschool were involved, may again turn into a fiasco to me since most of these people may do something against me, well... these ex-classmates of mine are mostly my enemies, who tried much in letting me in and doing something against me at the same time.

However,
At the same time, my activist friend called me through the telephone, and I immediately talked to her, only to say to me that I need to go to their hangout for a meeting, well... I said to her that my schedule seemed to be too messy out of such requests being compelled to me, but then I politely spoke to her that I will try to go there.

The nest day,
As I prepared myself to meet their pleas, the telephone rung again, and instead, my classmate still wanted me to go to the party. I agreed and even said that I am prepared to go there. But on the other hand, I even think that party might end again as a fiasco and instead I will use that event to go instead where my comrades stayed. And thus, after a brief talk, I immediately went out and with a tranvia ride to avenida, I landed in Sta. Cruz where my friends were waiting.

Well...
I was quite happy at first since I met again my so-called "old friends" or rather say my "enemies" since highschool. And with some talks, some of my friends recall such memories that seemed nice to remember while I spoke through; but one of my classmate seemed trying to ruin through saying something against me, and I kept on ignoring then reprimanding that person for saying such things! Others simply laugh at me while I am trying to keep on ignoring them. These people somehow are again, trying to underestimate me-trying to backstab me while we're walking to go to the restaurant wherein we or rather say they supposed to eat.

But lucky that my closest activist friend sought me and wanted me to go to the meeting, there I simply said to her at first that I am with my friends, and I need to be with them, but since that these people may do a fiasco out of me, I changed my mind and instead I joined with my comrade.
But how about my "Classmates?"
My classmates were surprised as I met my comrade in the sidewalk, and they even tried much in going to me with them, but then I changed my mind and said that I am going with her since it was important to me at that time, as well as my decision to go with my comrade for the meeting! There my classmates didn't talk at all, and instead they walked away while the two of us simply left them and went wherein my comrades waiting for me.

Well...
That event seemed to me unusual, since a "guardian angel" came forth to rescue me from those people who again make a ruin out of me! I'm kinda sick and tired of them anyway, especially from their attempts and insults although some events came from them may have bring joy, but still my life with them end up with so many scars in my mind that cannot be healed and stayed dormant forever; unlike those who from the struggle who really understands and even knows what is right and what is wrong in their actions based on what being taught to them, or rather to say to us.

And thus,
In this writeup, I simply narrated that event since all of them, although they are my "friends" or rather say "people involved in my life" in general, are still different. One is my comrade, who really helps me while at the same time being with me in the struggle, the other one is just my former classmate, who, along with the others, are trying much in bonding with me while most of them tried much in ruining me again! Both of them may contributed much in my life, from the days in school to the days in R&R (Rest and Recreation), it makes kinda sensible to me, but others tend to destroy friendship and even plotting to assassinate (not physically) a person's character whom they called as a friend! I simply recalled most of the time wherein they insulted me, offended me, and even underestimated me despite having good works to them, but then time changes and I don't like to repeat that again-especially to a person who used to carry a book, reading or a sketchpad and a pencil drawing. Worst is that a person who know how to draw is a person who faced insults most of the time.

So to whom I will choose? The one who constructs or the the other who destroys? The one who rectifies errors or the one who insults after creating an error? The one who sometimes supports in the spirit of camaraderie or the other who simply think of it as if a chance? Perhaps history will decide who is more of a part of me and not.

ON THE CONTINUOUS GROWTH OF BASIO MACUNATS

ON THE CONTINUOUS GROWTH OF BASIO MACUNATS

While I was walking towards my last class, I was thinking about the situation prevailing today, for most of the youth I usually see are becoming too "contented" than of an "idealist" regarding the society.

What makes me say that these people are contented was because these people are contenting much in two idea-actions prevailing amongst themselves: of studies and of vices. These two are somewhat as if an addictive substance that may end up beneficial or corrupt, worse is that they may not care much about the outcome around the society-just because they focused much on themselves.

But these youth are trying hard to say that they are the nation's hope, but how come they are the nation's hope if they are just contenting with themselves than of joining with the people? Somehow they tried much in studying and enjoying, and may think that activism or other mass work may affect their usual actions-and even criticizing that they are "subversive", "unrealistic", "tardy", but how come they are just because they don't go to school most of the time? Of not contenting just like them? Of not not enjoying like theirs? Or of being insecure because of their ideas?

Well...
A over-contented, apolitical, asocietal youth is not the youth of Rizal, Bonifacio, Evangelista, Luna, or any other patriot, but of Fray Miguel Lucio y Bustamante. And these people, just like Bustamante's Tandang Basio Macunat, thinks that man must be contented than of doing something for a positive change; since Fray Bustamante, through Tandang Basio said that better for a Filipino to stay in his farm and tend his carabao than of studying in Manila or he may end up addicted in vices around him. If I put Bustamante in a modern day context, I may say that a student must content in the four corners of the room and studying for a long long time, and even enjoying much in the computer shop, billard hall, or company of skimpy clothed women than of joining in a rally for "it may cause harm to them." Bah! Is this what we call tomorrow's hope? Of becoming Basio Macunat than of Bonifacio? Of speaking like Fray Bustamante than of Jose Rizal?

Jose Rizal, through his work El Filibusterismo, sought how Huli end up committed suicide just because of her ceaseless prayer and working with Hermana Penchang for she thinks that it may change their lives, only to end up being raped by a priest; while on real side of Philippine History, Lorena Barros, with her idealism and of realities around, joined in the struggle for national democracy and of women's emancipation despite her background; for sure we may say that we may choose Lorena over Huli, but the ones contenting and at the same time choosing Lorena are acting like Huli than Lorena! How contradicting!

For sure people may criticize for saying that more and more Basio Macunats will come around the world, for they don't think of an outcome wherein these people are simply thinking too little in a guise of enough-of contenting in short activities of life: of being contented in the four corners of home, school, computer shop, school again, workplace. More and more Basio Macunats will come if they are not opened to reality, more and more Basio Macunats will rise if they not reivive their consciouness, and more and more Basio Macunats will dominate if they content all of their lives.

"DEFECTION OF HUMANITY FROM 'HUMANITY': THE 'DEED' OF THE PEOPLE's WAR"

"DEFECTION OF HUMANITY FROM 'HUMANITY':
THE 'DEED' OF THE PEOPLE's WAR"

(This writeup may consider unsuitable to those whom likely to oppose before reading it, otherwise, you need to think before you do.)

Before I wrote this, I looked at the current situation man used to see. I always used to see that man is always the actor and audience of every scene. but most of the audience, upon looking it, offer a little or nothing-for they always look at their own interests, or rather say "they don't like to get involve".

Well...
These people are also used to judge without carrying action for it, most of their criticism are rather subjective rather than objective, or I should say destructive than constructive. These people are ought to act noting too-since they prefer not to get involve and minding their own business as they always do, leaving anything aside worth nothing for them.

But what they called nothing may likely to overcome them. As more and more disenfranchised people may overcome these "Know nothing" people in this society. Like promoting direct mass action, civil disobedience, or even physical violence against social and political enemies as a way of inspiring the masses and catalyzing the people's revolution both legal or illegal.

Most of these incidents, illegal incidents rather, are promoted by urban partisan groups in setting fourth a revolution amongst the masses in the urban populace; while on the rural populace, peasant revolts appeared, mostly armed. Upon looking through, these incidents are risen from the basic problems appeared in every country, like discrimination, maltreatment, and of course, disenfranchisement of peoples in the realms of politics, economy, culture and lastly military affairs. For at first, the world is separated into two: The oppressor and the oppressed.

According to Carlo Pisacane, an Italian revolutionary, he stated that:
"ideas spring from deeds and not the other way around... The use of the bayonet in Milan has produced a more effective propaganda than a thousand books."
Somehow his words spoke of utilizing armed struggle as propaganda, whose actions are directly against the enemy and at the same time calls every people, particularly the oppressed to join the struggle. The idea of a mass action acting as propaganda may likely for people to encourage through-mostly the oppressed masses in rising up and eventually insurrect,to a stage where a massive battle has been set. The use of action speaks louder than words spoke or books written and read.
Same as what Johann Most said that he advocated publicizing violent acts of retaliation against counter-revolutionaries because:
"we preach not only action in and for itself, but also action as propaganda."

I used to think that these kinds of action increases the will of every people to rise up and fight-especially that the problem, the basic problem remains intact. And so was what Mao Zedong said that, concerning the people's war:
"China's masses are the greatest conceivable weapon for fighting against Japanese imperialism and domestic reactionaries. Basic strategic points for war against the Kuomintang are also enumerated."
And on revolutionary heroism that:
"The same limitless creative energy of the masses is also visible in the army, in their fighting style and indomitable will."
Upon looking through, these kind of acts made by the revolutionaries also act as a propaganda in setting fourth the said plan for liberation. An act to encourage the oppressed to join through-from the streets to the field, from the buildings to the forests, from the stone to the grenade and lastly: from the plackard to the rifle.

Once, I think of these ideas may catalyze the idea of liberating humanity from the stereotypical humanity we used to-humanity today is a mere facelift, a mere piece of paper written, or at worst-humanity for humanity's sake, a bogus kind of concept-idea which is too contrary to the ideas of the people. Real humanity vested on total action, total deed, since more and more are in need of an immediate action based on what they seen and judged rather than being seen, judged and nothing at all. Or rather say that through these acts and deeds made by the revolution and its people whom used to serve, more and more will rise rise up from its slumber and join in its ranks to continue the massive struggle set through.

RAISING THE BLACK LANTERN OF STRUGGLE WITH ITS SHINING RED RAYS OF FREEDOM!

RAISING THE BLACK LANTERN OF STRUGGLE
WITH ITS SHINING RED RAYS OF FREEDOM!

The nation, or rather say the world today is more like a ghetto, a squatter like community of peoples likely to live under great duress and pleasure around it. The worst part is the instability of the state and its trying hard plans of every leader or every legislature in setting up every plans to stabilize-only to survive this unending mess set for years.

The demoralization of every people may likely to arise more than ever as this problem continues to remain intact, as reforms may likely to call it as a mere facelift, a front for a contrasting activities or movements created. People are like trees, and if fire erupts in one of them, may likely to start a massive fire. And so are the people-if a problem erupts, and so are the people, it may likely to have burden out of it.

This calls for a radical change-this calls for raising the black lantern of struggle and have it lit with its shining red rays of freedom! As the political, social, economic, and even cultural turmoil continues to interfere every people and every nation around the world will make it worse than ever before, likely to swell, to aggravate the suffering of every people out of the system which was and is remain intact.

I even pointed out that the rotten system-the core of the instability must be destroyed by the force of the working masses all over the world, from the pen of the writer to the gun of a militant fighter. Total transformation lies not just in a broad based and focused social reform or reforming one's self with discipline, but a drastic militant struggle supported by the action of masses in disbanding the old system-to free from inefficiency, corruption and instability of every nation-state all over the world, set by the force of militant masses against the common enemy.

Mass Media, Propaganda, and the Society

Mass Media, Propaganda, and the Society

Today, Mass media is more like a tool used to propagate the bourgeois kind of society prevailing. Since most of it pertains to the extravagant lifestyle which is contrast to the realities we encounter. Marred by the intervention and manipulation by the bourgeoisie and the imperialists, liquidations of some journalists and other media practitioners, and censorship of every work of art, still, every people still wanted to seek the truth, aside from those kind of truths prevailing today. Thanks to the use of alternative media in disseminating the truths and information given to them, in spite of anomalies and problems set though in pursuit of destroying it Many people find ways on seeking truth from facts in pursuit of what is going on and what is the truth behind the facts, the myths set fourth in the society today.

First and foremost, Mass media, a part of human society, is a contributor of human affairs, especially in giving ideas and events to every people. It is serve as a propaganda tool in disseminating the pros and cons of every individual or every group in pursuit of their beliefs they must defend or offend, as part of our daily lives in giving entertainment and in educating every citizen in this kind of struggling world we belong. However, we must state that It is not true that broadcasting, or rather say mass media in general can exist as a separate entity what outside, or rather say the current age that it portrays. it is more than any form of public life it has the duty to reflect and give expression in every human life, to our time and it requires to hear the needs, and demands of our time. Especially from the toiling masses whom used to get to know about the issue or having some time to get inspired at the stories being seen, played or heard.

In fact, our line in Mass Media, as part of Literature and art, must be according to the ideas of every people, both its creator and the audience, whether it is real or from its imagination, in giving life through the art of writing to the use of radio and in television. We must also respond to the aspirations of the people, primarily the masses since they are the majority of the viewers and readers of our works to be read or viewn. It must also shown the ideas, real ideas what the writer has made as well as the ideas what the people wanted to say, rather than the ideas vested by a clique of others, especially the subjectivist bourgeois thought as what mainstream media used to do. From visual art to the realms of music and in the internet.

Upon doing this, this idea of mass media as a part of society shows that every people needs a voice to propagate, guided by new ideas in spreading words which can be recorded and left into history. Especially in giving the people a chance to hear, to see, to read every word which is to entertain, to educate, to propagate new ideas since the people had the demand, the need for it. As what Mao Zedong said to us that: "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let the hundred schools of thought contend." And so through these words given, we must speak out against problems in the society. And using media as a weapon, we will surely encourage every people to arouse, organize and mobilize against the threat we are trying to destroy-all in the name of the masses, guided by the will of the progressive people as a main collective force and a vanguard of democracy. Defending it against all subversive acts of hostile elements at home and abroad.

In my own perspective about media, the strength of media, from print to television lies in creating the right mix of entertainment, enjoyment, education, instruction, and politics. Every plan, experiment are made by every writer or practitioner to be disseminated to every people Since the need for a new idea, a new culture, a new stage has been set through by the will of the people. Made and guided by free men and new ideas according to the needs and wants of the entire masses. We must know that we intellectuals, along with farmers and workers must be considered as the Architects and Engineers of the human soul, whether he or she is a writer, a broadcaster, a journalist, a preacher, even a farmer and a lowly messenger may do for the sake of the people whether it carries the purpose of being productive or defensive rather than destructive the goals and aspirations of the people since we wanted to have these people be imbued with an new idea according to their will. We must consider that our production of ideas is more important than the production of materials needed for creating a strong nation, and therefore we must be proud of it.

MARCH OF THE VOLUNTEERS

MARCH OF THE VOLUNTEERS
(based on the national anthem of the People's Republic of China)

Arise! You who refuse to be enslaved!
Let's stand up and bond like walls out of our great flesh and blood
Facing with a world now in a greatest peril
United with a struggle and a common cry:
Arise! Arise! Arise!
All of us with one heart
Braving the enemy's fire, March on!
Braving the enemy's fire, March on!
March on! March on! On!

March on! People of different nations!
With our struggle as guide, vanguard leading in a long march,
Millions now one, united with one goal
Creating, building, protecting with our struggle:
March on! March on! March on!
We will for generations
Rise high the great red banner*, march on!
Rise high the great red banner, march on!
March on! March on! On!

*or "Rise high Mao Zedong's Banner"

This English version being made was an indirect translation of the Chinese national anthem made by Tien Han and Nie Er during the Sino-Japanese war. However, it was became famous at first for being a song in a film made since 1935, wherein people sung it while marching and carrying guns.

But during the foundation of the Chinese People's Republic, people unanimously accepted the hymn as its provisional national anthem. According to Chou Enlai, especially in the third part:
"We still have imperialist enemies in front of us. The more we progress in development, the more the imperialists will hate us, seek to undermine us, attack us. Can you say that we won't be in peril?"
In these words, Mao Zedong agreed upon to what Chou said, since some writers found contradicting regarding the third part of the song.

However,
After the cultural revolution (wherein the hymn was banned and instead "Dong Fang Hong" was being played as a semi-national anthem status), the March of the Volunteers was restored by the National People's Congress in 1978 (the era of Hua Guofeng), but with different lyrics; however, these new lyrics were never very popular and caused a great deal of confusion. For example, the last sentence of the lyrics read "inherit the thinking of Chairman Mao".

And due to the confusion regarding the lyrics, the original version was restored in 1982, followed by declaring it as the official national anthem last 2004.

In fact,
I consider that hymn a "Chinese Marseillaise", and I even think that the 1978 version would be re-adapted as the second stanza of the hymn, not because it shows how the party continues to lead the Chinese people in its long march to victory, but of continuing Mao's legacy through his thought and even contribution in Chinese history. Just like the first part wherein it shows how the Chinese stood to fight, the second shows how the Chinese continue its struggle.