By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

I had been asked by some of our fellow journalists about the substance of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Benigno Aquino III. Particularly, they had been asking about the moves that the administration had adopted in relation with press freedom. Honestly, I had been giving answers based on the position of our organization – the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), and that I can clearly say that he failed to address issues related on press freedom and on justice for extrajudiciously killed journalists .

First, I am not satisfied with his handling or supporting justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, that happened two years ago. While some of the perpetrators were charged and in jail like the Ampatuans, there are others who are still at large. Also, the trial is still taking a turtle pace, so to speak. The defense counsels had been able to maneuver and slow down the trial. And I hope the case would not take decades to resolve.

Secondly, the president had been mouthing “tuwid na daan (the right path).” And he and his administration seem to advertise that his administration is morally upright in running the government for the people. There is a big difference though from a mere principle, which is usually mouthed, and the actual running of the government. And I observed that PNoy failed in the actual administration, despite his slogan – “tuwid na daan.”

PNoy has been raising transparency and accountability as part of his program of governance. Like the “tuwid na daan” however, it remained a mere lip service. One of the issues that journalists, particulary NUJP, has been raising is the passage of the Freedom of Information bill into a law. Such measure would supposedly helped realize the constitutional provision on press freedom and the right of the public to know. It will in fact be a transparency as it would serve as a policy that would ensure the observance of standards on press freedom and information to the public. He has been raising issues against the media, and it would be good if we could have a Freedom of Information Act which would serve as standard for any act of information on public interests. But since there is no Act at all, he can always blame media for his failure of governance. There is a ready scapegoat for him. Not only once but for many times.

It could also be good if we could have a Freedom of Information Act which would serve as standard for the accountability. It could have enumerated accountability of journalists particularly in their work to provide information to the public. And the presence of this Act could at least be used to point out the do’s and the don’ts in relation with public information, including the sanction as well.

We had been raising too the passage of a law that would repeal or decriminalize libel from our criminal justice system. The presence of libel in our criminal system served as a barrier for the realization of the constitutional provision on press freedom and the right of the public to know. Even without libel, we have the concept of damages under the civil code. Hence if a journalist cannot runaway from his action that caused damage to a person who was the subject in his or her news.

I could finally say that PNoy failed to push for a legislative agenda that would ensure and realize the constitutional provisions on press freedom and the right of the public to know. If he is serious with the tuwid na daan, he could have certified the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and the repeal of the libel law. In PNoy’s certifying the FOI Bill as urgent, and supporting its passage, then we can blame Congress if the measure will not pass. But since we realized he had not done enough, Pnoy failed the Press Freedom issue. # nordis.net

By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO
www.nordis.net

The other City in the Cordillera is Tabuk, in the province of Kalinga. Except for what is in today in architectural design and building materials Tabuk City looks like La Trinidad in the 70’s. No wonder Gov. Fongwan likes visiting the place. I visited Tabuk City a few days ago and one thing I found unbelievably surprising and worth praising (Something Gov Fongwan or Baguio’s mayor does not have), is a province and a city free from Jueteng!

On the road to Tabuk, I thought I should look around feel and see if Jueteng was making itself felt in this city and maybe in the province too, after all this was the main town of the province. At the crossing where the carabao statue is, was where we disembarked the bus from Baguio, it was also where the tricycles waited for their passengers or vice versa, a typical bus stop with the turo-turo, loading area and waiting passengers. While deciding where to go first, I looked around for a cobrador. I did not see any but maybe the bookies here do not look like those in Baguio so I noted that I should ask. Then Art, whom I traveled with, and I set off for breakfast.

In Baguio or La Trinidad, if anyone wanted to place a bet on the underworld lottery, one looks for the street-corner bookie better known as the cobrador. Jueteng is an illegal numbers game but it also is the most popular poor-man’s lottery in the country.

The House conducted an inquiry about a decade ago which exposed deals deemed illegal and caused the impeachment of then President Joseph Estrada or Erap. The hearing opened up and detailed to the public a gamut of its nationwide operations and insights to the recipients of its super profits.

Exposed also in that hearing and stated as a matter of fact was that jueteng can not exist (in any town) without the involvement of local executives and their counterparts in the hierarchy of the police and/or the military. Some politicians however have a penchant of swearing, things like “uray bumtak ti boksit ko”, that there is no jueteng in their jurisdiction.

Still the betting public knows where to find their lucky cobrador if jueteng does thrive in their towns.

So while we were in Tabuk commuting in trikes and dropping by offices finishing the business we came for, I also asked around about jueteng in Kalinga.

I held suspect the first answer I got and was surprised on the second for lo and behold, the guy swore in Iloco that “there is no jueteng here, the governor removed it from here, you can ask anyone,” he said.

Then over lunch with some friends, I checked again. They laughed at me as my unbelieving surprise was exposed. One of them explained to me how it was true and that it was all to the good credit of Kalinga’s governor.

We were also shared some anecdotes like some officials regret they no longer have special sources to buy trophies for the barangay or school competitions when they come knocking at their doors to solicit.

And how the nearest town of a neighboring province hits the jackpot by getting jueteng bets across the boundary.

Knowing that my impression of the governor was tainted by a case of infringing on press freedom last year, these friends patiently gave clarity to issues to allow me some objectivity. Still the political will to really clean one’s jurisdiction of jueteng during one’s term and keep it clear of it for the longest time is by all counts commendable.

Except for that bad temper, it would be to Gov Fongwan’s advantage if some of that anti-jueteng rubs off on him, … I mean, on our province. # nordis.net

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.” — Cesar Chavez

In the neighborhood, a house owner was deep in conversation with a veteran “kabitero”. The Kabitero was criticizing a newly installed stonewall that collapsed during the recent rain. According to him, those who built the stonewall did not do their job well and that they were just after their pay. He said that they did not establish the foundation properly, they just put the stones back one on top the other.

He said that there was no change in the integrity and structural strength of the stone wall. “Isu met lang nga isu” (its still just same the old thing) he called it.

The kabitero explained to the owner of the house that the stone wall should undergo a complete change. He said that he will dig deeper to stabilize the foundation to hold in place the whole base of the stone wall. He also said that to strengthen the stone wall, he will put concrete posts and cross beams. The owner understood what the kabitero advised so he agreed that the stone wall will not just be repaired but will undergo a complete overhaul.

The 2010 presidential elections, the Filipinos were fooled by the words “daang matuwid” (straight path or whatever). The yellow president said that he will eradicate corruption which he said is the cause of the Filipino’s suffering from poverty.

He and his yellow brigade claimed they shall implement changes in the government for the better.

What Aquino did, he simply changed the people in government positions whom he did not like. He even brought back officials of the past who had records of corruption and other indiscretions or were involved in intrigues and other scandals.

There were no reforms, there were restorations of the old and the system remained untouched.

Like, the house owner said to the kabitero that the people who installed the stone wall after its collapse blamed the destruction to the recent rains and the to the people who constructed the first stone wall.

But instead of doing the right thing so that the stone wall will not again collapse, they simply put the stones back one on top the other.

The yellow president seemed to have done the same, instead of seeking the basis of why the people are suffering to come up with the proper solutions, he just blamed the former dwarf in the palace.

The kabitero was right, change the foundation. Put strong braces and posts to make the wall stronger against coming typhoons and rains.

The house owner was perceptive enough to take the advise and cause fundamental changes while building the stone wall.

If the Filipinos do what the house owner did, to cause fundamental change, there is no harm in that. # nordis.net

By REV. LUNA DINGAYAN
www.nordis.net

“Now, God’s home is with the people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.” — Revelations 21:3-4

Second of four parts
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Fourth, apocalyptic writings also expose or unmask the destructive powers. Apocalyptic writers are not contented with the world as it is and with the normal perception of the world. They view history from the underside and challenge the normal common sense. They use symbolic language.

For instance, John’s presentation of the Roman emperor as beast helps us to see the evils in the Roman Empire more clearly. Through clear and eloquent symbolization, John snatches the masks off the lofty claims of Rome and shows its murderous aspect. That’s why the Book of Revelation is called as such partly because it reveals the real nature and characteristics of the Roman Empire and of the Emperor.

Fifth, apocalyptic writings also call for withdrawal of support to the powers-that-be as a form of resistance, and call for endurance on the part of the believers. Apocalyptic writings are often misunderstood as apolitical, because they simply want us to wait until the evil ends, until God brings in a new and better world.

Of course, the Book of Revelation is not a call for a revolutionary action, but rather for passive resistance. John calls on the believers not to collaborate with the powers-that-be. That’s why he is strictly against eating food sacrificed to idols(Rev.2:14,20), because this would mean collaborating with the powers-that-be.

John calls for separation from the Roman world and its culture. He is against any form of assimilation. By refusing to collaborate, by contradicting and resisting, Christian believers disagree that the world belongs to those who claim to rule over it.

This form of passive resistance is not apolitical at all, especially in the context of John’s time. As a matter of fact, the Book of Revelation, I would say, is perhaps the most political book in the Holy Scriptures. It should not really surprise us to hear from Justin Martyr, the great apologist of the Christian church that in his time the reading and dissemination of Jewish apocalyptic literature was considered a crime.

Revelation 14:12 says, “This calls for endurance of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” Enduring resistance is a testimony to the rule of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This endurance, of course, puts Christian life into the role of an outsider, and will heighten the danger to the physical existence of Christians.

Finally, apocalyptic writings are also against compromising with the powers that be. Perhaps, no other Biblical writing can point out better the danger of compromising than the apocalyptic writings. Anyone who compromises and conforms and accommodates himself with the situation supports the status quo. Compromising may include being attracted to wealth, worshipping the emperor, conforming to the dominant view of history, accommodating the world as it is, and leaving the world and its destiny to the powers-that-be.

Compromising is being lukewarm. John’s critique of those people could not be more drastic. In Revelation 3:16, it says, “…because you are lukewarm –neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Apocalyptic hope as such is not one that ignores or turns its back to the world. It does not opt to be out of this world. Apocalyptic hope has been born out of the sufferings in this world, and it holds itself responsible to declare to the world the true state of reality, the true course of history, and to work in the world, in so far as it is possible, to hasten the coming of God’s kingdom from beyond. # nordis.net

Continued next week

By SNAP MABANTA

Habang binabaybay ko ang kahabaan ng Commowealth kasama ng libo-libong nagmartsa ng araw na iyon sa ikatlong taong paglalahad ni Noynoy (ni hindi ko kayang tawagin siyang pangulo sa oras na yaon) ng kanyang State of the Nation Address o SONA, sumagi sa isip kong ayaw ko ng mag-rally…SANA. Minsan nakakapagod, nakakatamad sapagkat di ko alam kong ilang oras na naman ang ilalagi ko sa ilalim ng init ng araw, titiisin ang gutom at uhaw. Subalit habang tinitingnan ko ang mukha ng bawat isang nandoon, lalo na ang mga sektor ng mga maralitang taga-lungsod at manggagawa, ibayong lakas ang aking naramdaman. Kaya noon ko naisip higit kailanman, hindi pwedeng hindi ako kasama sa kanilang pagkilos. Ng mga sandaling iyon, naramdaman ko sa aking sarili hanggat may nagugutom, hanggat mayroong walang bahay na masisilungan, hanggat mayroong walang trabahong nakabubuhay, di ko iindahin ang pagod, init, uhaw at gutom sa kalye. “ang buhay ng Kristiyano ay nasa lansangan, nasa lansangan, nasa lansangan. Ang buhay ng Kristiyano ay nasa lansangan, lumalaban”. Umalingawngaw ang awitin na itinuro sa amin. Oo, tama. Ang tunay na buhay ng Kristiyano ay nasa lansangan, kasama ang mga tao ng Diyos na pinagkaitan ng isang lipunang mapang-api at sistemang may kinikilingan.

Eto na. Nakarating na kami sa converging point sa Ever Gotesco Mall. Libu-libong pulis din ang sumalubong sa amin para siguruhing hanggan doon lang kami sa itinakda nilang lugar. May kantahan, tula, pananalita at iba pang pagtatanghal na nagpataas pa ng kaalaman ng mga tao at nagpatunay pa ng kawastuhan ng aming ginagawa. At sa bandang huli ng programa, iginiit ng mga tao ang karapatang magpahayag ng kanilang nararamdaman malapit sa Batasan kung saan palapit na ang oras ng pagsasalita ni Noynoy. Buong tapang, kapit-bisig ang lahat at nagsimulang maglakad at gumitgit upang lumapit sa Batasan. Subalit di pa kami nakakaalis sa lugar ay hinarang na kami ng mga pulis. At mga sumunod na pangyayari ay nagpakita kung anong estado meron ang Pilipinas. Bawat isang maabot ng batuta ay hinahampas, binubugbog. Lahat, walang sinasanto. Bata, matanda, lalaki o babae, lumalaban man o nakikiusap ng tigilan ang pananakit, lahat nakatikim ng latay mula sa kamay ng mga pulis na idineploy ng pamahalaan ni Noynoy upang panatilihin umano ang kaayusan ng araw ng kanyangg pagsasalita. Patalikod na ako noon, nasa “island” sa gitna mismo ng kalsada at habang pilit inaalalayan ng isang kasamahan din mula sa KKKP nang maramdaman ko ang bilang pagtama ng isang bagay sa bandang likuran ng aking ulo – isang may kalakihang bato. “Ate, tinamaan ako sa ulo!”. Nakayanan ko pang isigaw bago ako inalalayang tumakbo at magkubli sa kabilang kalsada palayo sa noo’y nagliliparang mga bato at batuta. Pagkatapos pa ng ilang hanapan at kumustahan sa iba pang mga kasama, narinig ko na ang pagpapahayag ng nasa entablado na tama na muna ang ginawa namin at tinatapos na ang aming pagkilos sa araw na iyon.

Galit ako sa mga pulis, oo. Subalit mas ramdam ko ang higit pang galit sa mga kasamahan ko noong una. Sa aking isip, gusto kong isigaw, bakit? Bakit kailangang itigil naming ang pagkilos dahil lamang sa pandadahas at pananakot ng mga pulis? Bakit kailangang tumigil kami sa pagpipilit na makalapit ng Batasan dahil lamang sa ilan sa amin ay nasaktan? Sa mga sandaling iyon naisip ko mas higit kaming pagtatawanan ng mga pulis at iisiping nagtagumpay sila sa pananakot kung kami ay aatras. Wala akong ibang gustong gawin noong oras na iyon kung hindi pumulot din ng bato at ipukol din kahit sa isang pulis lamang. Suklam, at di lang galit ang namamayani sa akin noong oras na iyon habang nakikita ko pa ang mga tao, higit ang mga babae at matanda na duguan at puno ng latay gawa ng palo ng mga pulis. Naisip ko noon, bakit ganun ang tingin nila sa mga tao? Walang ipinag-iba sa mga hayop, ok lang kahit saan tamaan ng batuta at bato.

Ngayon, higit kailanman man, sabihin mo Noynoy, eto ba? Sila ba ang mga sinabi mong Boss mo? Ganito mo ba sila itrato? Sila na walang ibang nais noong araw na iyon kundi ang iparating sayo ang kanilang tunay na kalagayan? Na hindi paborable sa kanila ang mga polisiya at programa na ginagawa ng iyong pamahalaan? Kung iisipin, napakasimple ng kanilang hinihingi, pagkain, bahay at trabaho para sa isang disenteng pamumuhay. Mga bagay na din na dapat hinihingi sapagkat ito ay marapat na ibinibigay na ng pamahalaan sa kanila. Subalit ano ang ginawa mo? Sa bawat buka ng bibig, binubusalan mo; sa bawat pagmulat ng kanilang mga mata sa katotohan, pinipiringan mo; sa bawat hakbang ng kanilang mga paa, pinipilayan mo; at higit sa lahat, sa bawat paggiit nila para sa isang BUHAY, ipinagkakait mo. Ngayon mo sabihing sila ang boss mo.

Habang pauwi na kami naisip kong tama ang mga kasamahan ko. Tatapusin naming sa ngayong ang pagkilos sa araw na iyon, subalit di iyon nangangahulugan ng pag-atras. Aatras kami hindi dahil sa takot subalit dahil kailangan muna naming pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga kasama naming nasaktan. Alam naming, sa aming ginawa nakapagbigay kami ng mensahe sa pamahalaan; kaya nila kaming saktan, kayang punuin ng latay ang aming katawan. Pero sa ginawa nila, mas magngangalit ang dibdib ng taumbayan, mas magpupumiglas. Kailanman di matatakot, di mapipiringan ang mata, mabubusalan ang bibig at di mapipilayan ng paa. Patuloy naming ipaglalaban ang isang buhay na nararapat para sa amin. # nordis.net