www.nordis.net

More than a week ago, the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board-Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera (RTWPB-DOLE-CAR) granted workers in the region an P8.00 raise in the daily minimum wage to now make it P280/day for the non-agricultural workers in Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, and Tuba (BLIST), and P262 for agricultural workers.

The minimum wage for non-agricultural workers in the rest of the region will be P263, and P246 for workers in the agriculture sector.

RTWPB-DOLE-CAR wage order number 15 also retains the provisions of wage order no. 14 granting a P22 to P37 Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

The order however, was met with dismay by various organized labor groups especially the unions who consistently call for a substantial legislated wage hike.

As early as August of 1999, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) campaigned for a P125 wage increase-across the board-nationwide. In 2001, the late Bayan Muna Representative Crispin Beltran proposed for the legislation of a P125 wage increase. On September 2003, Beltran, then representative of the Anakpawis Party List, with other partylist house representatives Bayan Muna and Gabriela Party List filed House Bill 1063 while Zamboanga del Norte 2nd district representative Rosseler Barinaga filed HB 345 for the same wage amount. And again on September 2008, now Anakpawis representative Rafael Mariano filed HB 375 for the same legislation of a P125 wage increase.

It shows that the call for a legislated P125 wage increase was denied by two administrations in the past 11 years, both claimed the local economy can not support a P125 wage increase. The present Aquino administration also claims that approving it will result to the closure of business establishments.

On the contrary, researches made by the Ibon Foundation revealed the P125 increase is but 12% of their profits and therefore employers then and now can afford or give the increase.

Also, the 2009 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) of the National Statistics Office showed that the accumulated profit of all establishments in the country amounted to P1,629.5 Billion and a total number of employees of 3.94 million.

Based on these figures the P125 wage increase if granted would cost the employers some P49,427 per employee per year or a total of P194.9 billion. The employers would still have P1,434.6 billion net in profit.

Based on the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) the actual daily cost of living here in the region is P570. Ibon Foundation computations however show that a family of five requires at least P941 per day in the Cordillera, and P993 for the National Capital Region to support a decent living. Apparently P280 per day in wages is a far cry from decent.

Especially for the National Capital Region, where P426 minimum wage according to Ibon Foundation is just 43% of the decent and necessary P993 a day wage as of 2011. Even with the recent P30 increase it is still not enough.

The benefits of a legislated wage hike is clear, not only for the workers and their families but very much also for the country’s economy as well. This “large” legislated wage hike would increase the buying power of nearly four million households and it will greatly stimulate the economy. Making mince meat out of the workers’ just and legitimate wages can only stir and add resentment to the existing and imposed conditions of poverty. # nordis.net

By MARY LOU MARIGZA
www.nordis.net

That was one drama we missed last Tuesday when the CJ went to the impeachment trial in the Senate. We were on the road but fortunately had the radio to listen to but of course it pales in comparison to watching it on television. Of course the telenovela is never more beautiful than on television. It is like you are watching basketball on radio. Not half the fun, especially if the commentators do not provide enough background.

So we tried to watch as many replays as we could. But one thing stood out – naglevel up na ang wheelchair. Sobrang level up na ang mga wheelchair sa Pilipinas! It used to be that wheelchairs were for those who are really infirm and could not walk due to paralysis. Pero ngayon ang wheelchair ang palusot ng mga big time plunderers. At hindi lang wheelchairs, pati ospital na ngayon. Pag ayaw humarap sa korte, nagdadahilan itong mga krim#@&! na sila ay may sakit. Bakit kung maliliit na isda, kulong agad. Sila, ospital na may aircon (ayan, ha wala daw aircon sa bahay!) 24 oras ang bantay, may press con pa. Kulang na lang talaga neck brace. Pati nga neck brace ay level up na din.

Maaawa pa ako sa talagang maysakit. Doon sa mga ipinapasok sa mga pampublikong ospital dahil wala silang pera at todo kayod maghanap ng ipambabayad dahil wala na ngang subsidyo ang pangkalusugang kagalingan. Doon sa mga kailangan pang magbenta ng mga ari-arian para lang maipagamot ang mga kapamilyang maysakit. Sa mga ipinapasok ang mga kamag-anak sa mga huling sandali na ng kanilang buhay para lang mapahaba pa ito. At lalo na doon sa mga maysakit ng mga sakit gaya ng TB na madali na sanang gamutin may pera ka lang.

Maaawa pa ako sa mga nanay na kailangang manganak sa ospital pero dalawa sila sa isang kama, ang mga gamit nasa ilalim ng kama. Maaawa pa ako sa mga nagkakasakit ng dengue pero sa koridor na lang ng ospital nakaswero dahil wala nang espasyo sa ospital. Maaawa pa ako doon sa mga natutulog na sa labas ng emergency room na nagbabakasakali na merong mababakanteng kama para sa kanilang maysakit.

Tapos ipapribatisa pa daw ngayon ang mga pampublikong ospital. Ang saklap naman ng buhay ni Juan at Juana de la Cruz, lagi na lang lugi, lagi na lang talunan. Sa halip na dagdagan ang mga district at provincial hospitals para madecongest ang mga regional hospital, binabawasan pa ang badyet para sa DOH. Samantala ang mga nangungurakot ng kaban ng bayan, garapalang nag-iinarte at maluwag ang trato sa kanila ng mga hukuman.

Ang kalbaryo ni Juan at Juana de la Cruz ay lalong nadadagdagan ng mala-telenovelang drama/komedya ng ating proseso ng hustisya. Hindi lamang sa kaso ni GMA, Corona, Gen Garcia ito makikita. Mahigit isang taon na ang pagmasaker sa mga inosenteng taga-midya at nagkataong napadaan lang sa tambang ng mga Amptuan sa Maguindanao. Napakabagal ng usad ng kaso sa ganoong kagrabe na krimen.

Whatever the verdict will be, the Filipino people would have gained valuable lessons in the processes of our justice system.

JESSICA SANCHEZ. Once more, a Filipino proved to the world we can really sing and sing with gusto even at a young age. We wish Jessica success in her singing career even as she lost to a WGWG (White guy with guitar). We hope she joins the musical theater circuit since the London cast of Miss Saigon seems to be our last batch of singers on world musical stage. Her duet with Jennifer Holliday reminds me of the wish granted to Susan Boyle who also got to duet with her idol, Elaine Page. Again, congratulations to Jessica Sanchez. Unsolicited word of advice: Please learn some OPM and Pilipino classics to warm our hearts. # nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

“The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.— Dale Carnegie

This month, the local chapter of a militant and progressive national alliance of transport groups in the country here in the city of Baguio won some favorable decisions and actions from the regional trial court and the city council. This militant national alliance has been known for their progressive analysis of issues particularly affecting the lives of the drivers and small transport operators in relation to the rest of the Filipino people.

They do not simply call a transport strike whenever there is a hike in the prices of crude oil and petroleum products. Or simply demand an outright raise in the public’s transport fare. As an organization, they recognize that they are a member of the larger population burdened by the undeterred rising prices of basic necessities.

Consciously they do not believe and know why they should not simply pass the burden of the oil price hike to their passengers; and instead they scientifically seek for a solution to the common advantage of both transport worker and the commuting public. That is, how to stop greedy oil companies from overpricing petroleum products.

Also, there are government directives also that affect the transport sector and the costs of operating this utility. For the local group, their first victory this year was getting the regional court here in Baguio to review and hear their side on an oppressive (LTO-DOTC) department order in relation to fines on drivers’ or operators’ misdemeanors . The Court declared it 2008-39 unconstitutional and therefore null and void.

The local chapter filed the complaint and informed the national organization of jeepney drivers and operators. Nationwide both transportation workers and small operators waited anxiously for the decision as the local officers and members here tirelessly followed-up the case, so that when they won the judgment, the whole militant alliance was proud of their “collective effort”.

Though they are part of the winning side, one local leader of a separate national federation of jeepney drivers and operators who was interviewed, simply did not have any comment even just to say, “Thanks, I have supported them.”

The second victory of this transport organization is with the City council who heeded their petition to make revisions on the provisions of the city ordinance number 61 series of 2008 on implementing the clean air act. The petitioners raised provisions seen as anti-driver and small operators. Again, the group made follow-ups on their petition and waited for months. Their patience paid off.

For the workers, it is very important for them to have a union with leaders well oriented on their common issues, and dedicated to stand by their members, and lead the struggle with them for the recognition and respect for their rights and welfare as citizens and as workers in their line of industry. As opposed to psuedo leaders or officers who would rather collaborate with management or the employers instead of being one with the members and truly represent their hope for dignity in the labor sector.

In the transport sector, the small drivers and operators need an association, organization or federation that can truly represent them and truly speak out what they mean. And leaders who share their visions and aspirations, who understand the hardships of being a driver working all day just to earn that small amount to buy food, one who has the guts to fight for what rightfully is for them, the members benefit, and not just collecting membership fees and monthly dues. Not just somebody who likes the spotlight and being pointed out as the president. # nordis.net

By REV. LUNA DINGAYAN
www.nordis.net

“Then the Lord said, ‘I have seen the afflictions of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt’. But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain.’ ” — Exodus 3:7-12

Second of six parts
Click here to read the first part

Prophets as Channels of Communication

Moreover, prophets also function as channels of communication from God to human beings, and from human beings to God. Typically their oracles begin with the phrase, “Thus, says the Lord…” As God’s agents, the prophets bring to the people messages from God – either about everyday matters, such as the location of lost animals (cf. I Sam. 10:2), or about matters of the state and even the whole future of a nation (cf. Amos 1-2).

As people’s ’representative, the prophets have a duty to intercede to God. Their intercessions might be for domestic concerns, like Elijah praying for a dead boy who returned to life (I Kings 17:17-24) or for deliverance from national emergencies (Isa. 37:21-35). Prophets are originally called “those who see” or “seers”.

Prophets as Charismatic

Furthermore, prophets can also be differentiated from the priests. Israelite priesthood is hereditary (meaning, handed down from one generation to another in a family) and hierarchical (meaning, controlled by the priests), whereas prophecy is charismatic (meaning free, not controlled). Well, prophets, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel were also priests, but there is no indication that Amos and Micah were priests.

However, it is hard to separate the priestly from the prophetic functions of Samuel, for instance (cf. I Sam.9:11-26). Throughout his life, he is called “the seer”, and he heads a band of ecstatic prophets. Yet, some of its main duties are to bless the sacrifice on the “high place” and to preside at the sacrificial meal.

Prophets as True or False

Prophets are supposed to have been called by God in a dramatic way (e.g. Isa. 6; Jer. 1; Ez. 1-3). To be a prophet in the Old Testament times is also a profession. Prophets also worked in the sanctuary or as the King’s advisers (e.g. Nathan, 2 Sam. 7; 12). Hence, they could be cult-prophets or professional prophets. For instance, while Amos and Hosea claimed to be not cult-prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah may be regarded as cult-prophets.

In the Canaanite culture, prophecy was already an old institution; but in Israel it emerged only during the time of the monarchy and in the first 50 years after the Exile (850-480 BCE). The professional cultic prophets would be expected to speak nice words to comfort the people. For instance, they would speak words against foreign nations and predict their destruction (cf. Isa. 13-23; Jer. 46-51).

The professional cultic prophets would usually oppose the prophets of Yahweh, and they would also claim that their messages came from God. Hence, there is a need to distinguish the true the false.

Some of the signs of true prophecy would include, first of all, the fact that the word spoken by the prophet has come true (I Kings 22; Dt.18:22). Not only that, the word spoken by the prophet must be spoken according to God’s voice and commandments (Dt. 13:1-3), and the prophet himself champions the rights of the poor and oppressed (Amos 7).

On the other hand, some of the signs of false prophecy would also include the fact that the prophet himself prophesy for money (Micah 3:8). Not only that, the prophet’s word is irrelevant (Jer. 8:10-18), or the prophet has become a “Yes” man of the king (I Kings 22).

The distinction between false and true prophecy in the days of the classical prophets is not always clear. Mere possession of ecstatic prophetic spirit not a sure criterion; prophets might be touched by the spirit and still prophesy falsehood, and most of the classical prophets give no signs of having been ecstatic.

The fulfillment of prophecy, even if it has been always evident to the prophet’s contemporaries, is not an infallible sign, as Deut. 13:2 ff. would show. Moreover, true prophecy apparently often went unfulfilled, discouraging even the prophet himself (cf. Jer. 20:7ff.).

The prophets’ authority lies in their testimonies. These testimonies constitute their own credentials, both for themselves and for those to whom they have been sent (cf. 2 Sam. 12:1 ff.; I Kgs. 21:17-24).

FULFILLING OUR PROPHETIC TASK

Now, having said those things about the nature of Biblical prophecy, let us now look into our prophetic task. I have chosen the story of the call of Moses in the Book of Exodus as our point of reflections this afternoon, for it provides us some significant insights into what it means to do our prophetic task in these critical times.

The story is found in Exodus 3:7-12: “Then the LORD said, ‘I have seen the afflictions of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt’. But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain’”.

This is the story about Moses’ call at Mt. Horeb, the so-called mountain of God. Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, when God appeared to him through a “burning bush”. And there he heard the voice of God calling him to do a prophetic task among his fellow Israelites who were slaves in Egypt.

It is very significant to note that God revealed to Moses his prophetic task in a very ordinary situation, while “keeping the flock”, and in an ordinary happening, “a burning bush”. But then these ordinary things in life would truly become extraordinary in the eyes of faith, if and when they would serve as vehicles of God’s self- revelation.

The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen the affliction of my people… I have heard their cry… And I have come down to deliver them… to bring them to… a land flowing with milk and honey… Come, and I will send you… I will be with you…” (Ex. 3:7-12)

These words of the LORD to Moses picture to us not only the nature of God as one who calls the prophets, but also the process by which the prophets fulfill their prophetic task in the world.

We are reminded once again that the church indeed is God’s voice of prophecy in the world. And like Moses, the church is called upon to do her prophetic task in the midst of a suffering people. Therefore, the church should also manifest in its life and witness the very nature of this God who is continuously calling prophets even in our own time.

Let us therefore look into the nature of this God in the light of our text, even as we seek to discover what it means to fulfill our prophetic task. # nordis.net

Click here to read the third part