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16Jan/120

Few points on Impeachment of CJ Corona (Coronavela)

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(1) The impeachment is not a fight between Arroyo, Corona and Aquino. While the mainstream media tries to project as such, the impeachment is a fight for accountability and justice of the people against Arroyo, Corona and Aquino. Kumbaga sa teleserye, lahat sila kontra-bida.

(2) It is a fight for accountability and justice of the people against Corona because of his very partial and anti-people decisions not just as the CJ but as one of the justices in the SC. His voting record reflects his bias to Arroyo and against the people. Our quest for justice and accountability against Arroyo is good as zero with Corona on the SC.

(3) Of course, this impeachment is also about Arroyo. CJ Corona, as a midnight appointee of Arroyo, protects the former president and prevents her from being prosecuted. If we have solely followed the ruling of the SC, Arroyo will be outside of the Phils by now and not in our custody. To impeach Corona is to make sure that Arroyo will be made accountable to her crimes against the people
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(4) To be pro-impeachment is not to be pro-Aquino. Our goal is to make the court independent, free from being pro-Arroyo or pro-Aquino. We want the SC to be only pro-people. The last thing that we need is an SC dominated by appointees by Aquino. This is why we should be vigilant as Aquino might take this opportunity to manipulate the court. Remember, what is also at stake here is the redistribution of the largest family-owned hacienda in Southeast Asia—the Hacienda Luisita owned by the Cojuangco-Aquino. For sure, political interest will take part in this process.

(5) Impeachment of CJ Corona is not a security that Arroyo will be made accountable and that the court will be independent from Aquino or Arroyo. Our unending task is to make sure that the SC will serve the interests of the people. This is why our involvement is crucial, not to be pro-Corona or pro-Aquino, but as citizens of the nation exercising our right to make erring public officials accountable and make our institutions serve not the interest of the elites but of the people.

*Aquino cannot be trusted on his seriousness to make Arroyo accountable. It took him 500 days to file a case against Arroyo and the case that he filed is relatively weak compared to other known crimes by Arroyo. What will surely count on this process of making Arroyo accountable is our involvement, the people’s involvement.

**Join the citizen's movement to monitor the impeachment process, make Corona, Arroyo and Aquino accountable and uphold an independent judiciary. This is the #i-monitor movement.

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25Aug/111

Firetrucks, Batuta at Bato: Argumentum Ad Baculum*

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Firetruck, batuta, bato---pandarahas ang iniharap ng Kongreso ng mapayapang ini-rehistro ng nagkakaisang hanay ng mga kabataan, health workers, guro, kababaihan, migrante, maralitang taga-lungsod at iba pang mamamayan ang pagkondena at pagtutol sa maka-dayuhan at anti-mamamayan na pambansang badyet para sa 2012.

Bitin na Badyet Para sa Edukasyon at Kalusugan

Ang Batasan at Ang Pagtutol sa Budget Cut

Kagaya ng sa nakaraang taon at sa panunungkulan ng mga nakalipas na pangulo, kakaltasan ang badyet ng edukasyon, kalusugan at iba pang serbisyong sosyal sa panukalang pambasang badyet ni Aquino para sa taong 2012.

Kinaharap man ng mga State Universities and Colleges ang makasaysayang pagkaltas noong nakaraang taon, kakaharap pa rin ito sa pagkaltas sa badyet ngayong taon. Kulang man sa classrooms, textbooks, teachers at CRs, walang signipikaEnteng pagtaas sa badyet sa edukasyon para sa susunod na taon. Sa halip ay kaltas pa nga ang aabutin. Titindi lang ang krisis sa edukasyon dahil sa papalala pang pagtaas ng tuition fee at iba pang bayarin sa mga pamantasan, pagtaas ng drop-out rate sa high school at pagdami ng mga hindi nakakatapos ng kolehiyo.

Pagkilos ng Mamamayan Laban sa Health at Education Budget Cut

Kung bitin ang kabataan, bitin din ang mamamayan sa badyet na ilalaan ni Aquino para sa serbisyong pang-kalusugan. Humigit kumulang P44B lamang ang ilalaan sa pangkabuuan para sa pangangailangang medikal ng lahat ng Pilipino. Malayong-malayo ito sa P440B na rekomendasyon ng WHO bilang minimum na alokasyon na badyet para sa kalusugan. Kahit pa sa P90B na hiling ng mga health workers na badyet, hindi parin ito umobra. Halos limampung ospital ang makakadanas ng napakalaking pagkaltas sa badyet. Pero hindi na bago sa atin ang pagkaltas na ito. Sasalubong sa atin sa susunod na taon ang papalalang dami ng bilang ng mga pasyente na hindi nakakakita ng doktor o nars sa kanilang buong buhay o yung mga kahit kailanman ay hindi nakapasok ng mga ospital o kahit health center man lamang. Kulang na kulang na nga sa mga pasilidad, bitin na bitin na nga sa sahod ang mga kawani, kaltas pa sa badyet ang aabutin.

Malinaw ang dahilan kung bakit nagprotesta sa Kongreso. May kaltas na naman sa badyet para sa serbisyo at hindi na naman prayoridad ng gobyerno ang edukasyon at kalusugan ng mga Pilipino. Malinaw na kaya nagtungo ang mamamayan sa Batasan ay dahil si Aquino at ang kanyang pamahalaan ay muling ibinabasura ang mga karapatan ng mga mamamayan.

Sobra na Badyet Para sa Pork Barrel at Militar

At talaga  namang kagaya ng dati ang pambansang badyet para sa taong 2012, business as usual at walang pagbabago.

Habang bitin ang mamamayan para sa badyet sa mga serbisyong kinakailangan, umaapaw ang pondo para sa mga ahensyang wala namang pakinabang ang mga mamamayan. Kagaya sa nakaraang taon, tumaas na naman ang badyet para sa militar at depensa na kung hindi naman pangunahing lumalabag sa karapatang pantao ay palagiang nasasangkot sa korapsyon at iba pang anomalya. Hindi pa nakuntento noong nakaraang taon, itinaas pang muli ang pork barrel ng mga kongresista't senador na siyang nagiging batis para sa korapsyon. Ganun din sa intelligence fund ng pangulo at badyet para sa pambayad sa utang sa mga dayuhang bangko at gobyerno na halos kakain sa napakalaking bahagi ng pambansang badyet.

Pahayag ng Pakikiisa ng UP Student Regent

WengWang na Prayoridad ni Aquino

Sa badyet pa lang, malinaw na kung ano ang prayoridad ng pamahalaang Aquino. Walang matuwid na daan, walang tuwid na paggastos at walang tuwid na pamamahala. Nadagdagan na naman ang badyet para sa mga bulsa ng tao sa pamahalaan pero higit pang nabawasan ang badyet para sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan.

Matapang na Talumpati ng Former UP Student Regent Laban sa Dispersal

Lehitimo ang mga panawagan. Malinaw ang rason ng protesta. Mapayapa ang pagtungo sa Kongreso. Sana humarap ang mga dapat sana'y kinatawan ng mamamayan sa Kongreso. Tama lamang na harapin ng mga kinatawan ng mamamayan ang mga mamamayang may lehitimong panawagan at iginigiit ang kanilang mga karapatan. Dapat ay bukas ang kanilang mga tanggapan kung may mga hinaing at panawagan ang kanilang mga kinakatawan.

Pasismo ng Estado

Pero imbes na mga kinatawan ang humarap, ang iniharap sa atin ay mga firetrucks. Sa halip na usapan at pakikinig sa mga panawagan, hinarangan tayo ng mga kapulisan. Ang inaasahan natin ay batuhan ng argumento laban sa argumento pero ang ibinigay sa atin ay mga bato mula sa mga basag na paso. Hinarap ng mamamayan ang mga kinatawan upang magpayahag ng pagtutol. Ang iniharap sa atin ay dahas at pasismo habang pipi, bulag at bingi sa ating mga panawagan.

Hindi nakakapagtaka na may mga kabataang sumasapi sa hukbo ng bayan at pinipiling lumaban sa pamahalaan ng patas sa dahas sa dahas.

Kapag ipinanawagan mo ang mas mataas na badyet sa edukasyon, ang isasagot sa iyo ay tubig mula sa firetrucks. Sobra na lang sigurong makapagtaka ang mga mamamayang paulit-ulit na nasusunugan dahil sa kawalan ng mga firetrucks. Buti pala dito sa Kongreso, marami sila hindi lang para sa apoy kung hindi para sa tao.

Kapag iginiit na dapat dagdagan ang badyet ng mga ospital at pagamutan, papaluin ka ng paulit-ulit ng mga batuta ng mga ka-pulisan. Mapa-bata o matanda, hindi ka mapag-iiba sa mata ng mga pulis. Buti pa sa atin, matatapang ang mga pulis, sana ganun din noong Manila Hostage Crisis.

Kapag ginusto mo ng badyet para sa pahabay at iba pang batayang serbisyo, babatuhin ka lamang ng gobyerno. Mabuti pa ang mga kongresista at iba pang opisyales ng gobyerno, inuulan ng pera. Samantalang ang kanyang mga mamamayan ay inuulan ng bato.

Dahas ang isinagot ng estado ni Aquino. Walang maisagot sa ating mga katanungan, walang maihain sa ating mga panawagan. Para sa mga hindi tumututol, ang isasagot ay pananakot at pandadahas. Gusto ng pamahalaang tumahimik tayo.

 

 

Wala na. Kitang-kita na talo na talaga sa usaping ito ang gobyerno. Wala ng humaharap sa kanila at dahas na ang sumasalubong sa ating mga protesta. Hindi na nila alam ang isasagot nila at nababagabag na sila sa galit ng mamamayan. Talo na dahil nailantad na na walang maipakitang makatwirang rason ang pamahalaan sa pagkaltas sa badyet sa social services. Talo na dahil kinailangan nya ng mandahas upang sya ay paniwalaan.

Sa pamamagitan ng firetruck, bato at batuta, ipipilit sa atin ng pamahalaan na sila ay paniwalaan. Pero sa pamamagitan ng ating masusing pag-aaral, pagmumulat sa iba at nagkakaisang protesta, malabong magtagumpay ang pamahalaan.

UP Manila Strike Against Budget Cuts

Sa mga ganitong laban, mas malakas na armas ang paninindigan kaysa sa kung ano pa man. At sa usapin ng paninindigan, hindi bitin dito ang mamamayan. ###

*Argumentum Ad Baculum- Argument from stick (Latin); Fallacious argument

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Komprehensibong pagsusuri ng Anakbayan sa panukalang pambansang badyet ni Aquino para sa taong 2012. Basahin, suriin at ipaalam sa iba.

Natipon na mga larawan, pahayag at iba pang bahagi ng protesta laban sa budget cut sa Batasan mula sa Arkibong Bayan.

Selective, over-sensationalized and misreported coverage ng protesta sa Batasan ng GMA Channel 7.

Popularity: 4% [?]

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22Sep/105

On Facebook (online) Activism

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I’ve been asked by a first year UP Manila student probably an Arts student regarding my views on online activism. Apparently, she recognizes that I’m an online activist. However, she was not able to give me a definition of what online activism is or how she recognizes that a person is an online activist. Still, I gave her my insights regarding the topic.

I maintain a mainstream blog (www.clevearguelles.com) which contains all possible topics under the sun. Largely, my blog is an unorganized collection of my insights regarding different topics especially that concerns Philippine politics. I also use my blog as a personal journal. Aside from my blog, I also use social networking sites to cross-post my blog posts and insights on different issues. I use Plurk, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo Meme and Tumblr to maximize my reach. If this counts as an online activism, I’m not that sure.

From placards to keyboards

I believe that you can’t be an online activist without being an activist outside the virtual world. It lies on the assumption that the online world acts as an extension of the real world therefore, campaigns should be extended to the online world as well. The availability of new mediums to reach students regarding student sector’s campaigns should be maximized. Its effectiveness in reaching the students led me to use these mediums to share my campaigns and to mobilize them for these different campaigns.

This actually proves the contemporary theory that online activists became online activists out of necessity. Activists should maximize available mediums to reach the most number of people.

However, we should always consider the dangers of online activism. While online activism is a very useful form of activism that maximizes available mediums, it can only be regarded as an extension of traditional activism. It cannot be considered as a whole new form of activism.

Online activists tend to believe that their line of work is just limited in the virtual world.  We must not commit the mistake of thinking that the virtual world is the “world” where campaigns should be brought. It only acts as an alternate world (extension) of the real world where campaigns should be really voiced out. Also, we must not always think that the Internet is a place where we can reach everyone or the majority of the people. Especially in the Philippines, the majority of the population does not have access to Internet. It actually defeats the purpose of the activism—that of reaching the most number of people regarding campaigns and to mobilize the most number of people out of these campaigns. Primarily, if our aim is to mobilize the greatest number of people, campaigns should be spearheaded outside the virtual world (but simultaneously extended to the online world). Lastly, online activism tends to encourage “clicktivism.” We are inclined to believe, because of online activism, that joining causes on Facebook or by re-tweeting campaigns on Twitter would automatically translate to social change. In reality, this is not true. Social change could be achieved through collective show of force, action, and dedication outside the walls of the internet. Our greatest aim remains to be that of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the most number of people for our cause.

From closed fist to mouse activism

But online activists are most welcome.

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Clicking like on Facebook on a status opposing the 1.39 B Peso Budget Cut to UP would not really help stop the passage of it in Congress. Joining this Friday's (September 24) nation-wide walkout of students against budget will do. Don't commit clicktivism. Be heard (not just in the virtual world).

Popularity: 5% [?]

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23Jan/1025

Arroyo or Estrada?

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President Gloria Arroyo

Former President Joseph Estrada

Hindi man katanggap-tanggap sa atin ang naging pahayag ng COMELEC na payagang tumakbo muli sa pagka-pangulo si Estrada kahit labag ito sa Saligang Batas ng ating bansa, mas kinikilala ko parin siya bilang isang Pangulo kaysa sa naka-upo ngayon. Mas tanggap ko na ang pagtakbo niya muli kaysa sa pagtakbo ng isa sa Kongreso. Kahit ano mang sabihin ng iba na intellectually superior si Arroyo kaysa kay Estrada, wala pa ring patunay ito. Hindi naman napaganda ng current administration ang ekonomiya kahit mas matalino ang pangulo. Mas mataas pa nga ang GDP growth noong panahon ni Estrada kaysa kay Arroyo. Yun lang, talo na siya. Hindi rin natin dapat kalimutan that Estrada willfully faced his accusers. Binitiwan niya ang pagka-pangulo. Hindi naglabas si Estrada ng CPR o Calibrated PreEmptive Response para lang kontrolin ang mga mamamayang nagagalit sa kanya. Wala ring Oplan Bantay Laya na haharang sa mga babatikos sa kanya. Hinarap niya ang mga accussations sa kanya. Hindi siya nag I’m sorry pero patuloy paring hinawakan ang pagka-pangulo. Walang nangyaring pag-sesensor sa mga nagsasalita laban sa kanya, radyo man o TV. Corruption at plunder ang pinakamalaking pagkakamali ni Estrada. Pero ang pangulo ngayon,  siya na mismo ang pagkakamali. Si Estrada, ibinoto at inihalal ng mga tao, naluklok siyang alam nating naging tunay ang eleksyon hindi katulad ng pumalit sa kanya na walang mandate at nadaan lamang sa Hello Garci ang pagkahalal. If I were to choose between the two, Estrada is the man.

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I’ve just read a 150 peso autobiography of Senator Chiz Escudero. It’s entitled Say ni Chiz. It’s quite revealing and entertaining. The whole book is written in conversational Taglish. I tried to copy his style by doing a Taglish post here. Anyway, you’d really love how he told his life in the book. It is also accompanied by simple drawings known as comics. It also revealed the personal side of him. Give it a try!

Popularity: 7% [?]

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16Jan/104

Hindi Ako Magnanakaw

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I have just seen the "Hindi Ako Magnanakaw" advertisement of Noynoy Aquino in the TV. Few words. It's a clear proof of how hollow his candidacy is. The lack of substance and competence.

The Mother and the Son

If you haven't watch the advertisement yet, here's a link of his video on Youtube: Hindi Ako Magnanakaw. Or if you're too lazy to watch, you can just read the content of his speech/Ad.

Minamahal kong kababayan,

Tadhana ang nagbuklod sa atin dahil naghihingalo na ang ating bayan, Nais kong pumasok sa isang kasunduan sa inyo. Lalaban tayo para sa wastong edukasyon ng bawat batang Pilipino. Lalaban tayo para sa abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan. Lalabanan natin ang kahirapan. Lalabanan natin ang mga kawatan. Lalabanan natin ang sino mang wawasak sa kalikasan. Lalabanan natin ang sino mang manggugulo sa ating kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Ang laban natin ay laban ng bayan.

Sa ngalan ng aking mga magulang at sa gabay ng diyos, gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya na pagsilbihan ang mahal nating Inang Bayan. Bilang tunay na sagot sa kahirapan at tunay na daan sa kaunlaran, ang inyong lingkod Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino the Third, isang mamamayang Pilipino, nangangako sa Diyos at sa Bayan — Hindi ako mag-nanakaw.

His advertisement maybe Oscars worthy when it comes to acting and delivery (first time that he was able to decently deliver a speech) but it is as I've said hollow and does not provide an insight to what his platform really is. But I think the team or the person who did this Ad for Noynoy deserves a commendation. Making Noynoy appears to be normal (while speaking) is a serious feat for anyone plus the fact that you can be affected by the Ad (like how Maalaala Mo Kaya does it). I can't believe that a politician in the Philippines did really produced an advertisement that does not include any dancers, singers, celebrities (with torches) or any dramatic scenes with the poor and other people. It's as if the director borrowed the idea from the phenomenal simple music video of Beyonce's Single Ladies.

But how about his promises? I've heard some people that Noynoy is the only candidate that is against corruption, Arroyo and any other problems of the current government. But how true it is, really? Telling people that you will fight corruption does not tell anything. Everyone says so, even Arroyo or Estrada. It's a promise. A hollow promise. Noynoy does not have any monopoly of being the anti-Arroyo or the anti-corruption thing. Every politician in the Philippines claims that they are anti-corruption. But no one practices it.

Anyone can say, "Hindi Ako Magnanakaw."

What? Do you expect to be distinguished from other presidentiables because you said this line? Do you expect Villar or Teodoro to not answer the same thing? For God's sake. What are you trying to do?

Lalaban tayo para sa wastong edukasyon ng bawat batang Pilipino?

Lalaban tayo para sa abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan

Lalabanan natin ang kahirapan

Lalabanan natin ang mga kawatan

Lalabanan natin ang sino mang wawasak sa kalikasan

Lalabanan natin ang sino mang manggugulo sa ating kapayapaan at katahimikan

How exactly will you do these things? We need the hows. All presidentiables claim that they will be doing these same things that you've said. The difference lies in how will you be able to do it. And what do you exactly mean by"Laban?" Here's an interview with NoynoyAquino conducted by UtakngTilapia:

It's either he will answer our how questions with Laban or like how my mom did it. Put on your thinking cap voters. This is not the president that we need.

Popularity: 6% [?]

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3Jan/1016

Project 365: A Year in A Life

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Rent on Carlos Romulo Auditorium this February

525, 600 minutes,

525, 000 moments so dear.

525, 600 minutes, how do you measure - measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In number- how do you measure a year in the life?

-Seasons of Love, from Rent

I have a serious Rent hangover since the day I've seen it. I love the song Seasons of Love because of its lyrics. It's dramatic but at the same time rejoicing. Right? I'm mentioning the song because of Project 365. Yes, I'm on Project 365. I've figured that this is a good way to measure a year in the life. Corny? I actually got the idea from Bryan ( Kuya Bryan, LOL ). But I know that Project 365 was not his idea, i think the project has been going around for already six or seven years.

Project 365, FTW!

It actually made me excited because I will be doing a dare-yourself-for-the-whole-year thing. It is a test of commitment and constancy. Sort of. I initially thought that it will be about taking pictures of yourself everyday for a year. But it was kinda off because, i think, no one is that interested and that weird to actually like to see your face for everyday for a year. Right? So instead of that, I will be taking one picture a day of things (can be people) that made my day interesting or memorable for a year. Sounds cool, right? I will post it here in my blog ( weekly or daily or randomly) and will try to put some meaningful captions to make it more interesting.

A Year of Pictures

This will be fun. I'd love to see the pictures after a year. It's like an album of what happened the whole year. It's a scrapbook. A journal. A diary. I hope it will really be able to measure my year. I'd love to see how my look changes and how things/people around me changes too. Cool, right?

I will be providing links of some of the helpful tips I've found on the internet on how to this project. Here they are:

Project 365: How to Take a Photo a Day and See Your Life in a Whole New Way

> Tips for Shooting One Photo a Day for 365 Days

Project 365: Take a photo a day for a year

Project 365

Project 365 Ideas

I'm not a photographer or anything that has something to do with pictures. I don't have an awesome slash expensive digital camera. I just want to try this because I want to see how things change. I really think that this will be fun.I now have four pictures in my camera. I will post it soon. You can try it too next year! 2010 is the year of my P-365!

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Anyone interested in watching an on-stage Filipino rendition of Rent this February? Please? Please?

Popularity: 17% [?]

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