Blame game

While a grieving dismissed police officer staged an 11-hour hostage drama on August 23 which concluded in the death of eight Hong Kong Chinese tourists including the hostage taker himself, Filipinos were held captive by their TV sets by the media’s blow-by-blow coverage of the crisis.

After the stand-off, which some described as similar to an action movie, blame immediately started firing out. Some fingers pointed to the police’s incompetent plans, some to the government’s slow action, but it seems that more fingers are directed to the media.

Questions of professional ethics were raised. A lot proposes that the authority should have acted with an iron fist to limit media coverage. A media blackout could have minimized the harm, some said. Some covering media persons even claim that if the police have ordered them out of the scene, they would have obeyed at once.

‘Future journalists’ views
Sentiments about the alleged faults of the media seem to ripple in sync through the academe, but perspectives on how to resolve the short-comings of the media seems to diffuse.

In one of the educational deiscussion of the University if the Philippines Journalism Club (UP JC), a student organization where I and most of journalism and mass media students belong, put a light on the ethical issues of the incident. Some members started to narrate observations of the coverage from different TV and radio stations. We more or less come up with the same conclusion: it was the similar style of reporting after all – milking the situation more than its worth and the evident cut-throat competition for ‘exclusives’ and ratings. More than that, media have crossed the line from its duty to report in aid of shaping public opinion to mere sensationalizing the event. And all heads seem to nod.

For the most of our discussion, some could not help but just laugh on the colossal shortcomings of the police’s actions (ie. trying to break the bus’ window with a sledge and just ending up dropping it inside). Also, because it was a real-time coverage, reporters and anchors have their share of spoof-able and could-have-been-edited-out moments. All these were aired by local and international media. Unfortunately, it transformed from information to entertainment.

But no one was laughing when asked, “Who’s going to correct the media of its flaws?”

Who’s regulating?
In unison the org members seems to agree – that the practiced guidelines and rules for journalists when covering a hostage-taking crisis must be of highest consideration.

But arguments clashes when theory and actual practice seems to skew. Organization members utter uncontainable frustrations from the repeated attitude of the majority of media outfits towards these life and death situations most of the times. Ideally, things should end well if all media practitioners were devotees of the proper internal restraint and control guided by these ethical rules. But in reality, when the situation is at one’s face and most are squabbling for ‘exclusives’ and drunk under the influence of ‘getting a scoop’, all rules and codes vaporize.

Additional dissatisfaction is addressed by one of my co-member about the ‘lagging move’ and ‘indecisive steps’ on the side of the national government in ‘dealing’ with the media. And the same idea was supported by another one of my org mate with a tone which implies that the authorities have the power to put a limitation to the coverage when the media seems lacking.

My questions were outright, “How about press freedom?”

False parallelism
Coming from a historical context, it is a nightmare for me just to imagine giving the police, the government or any of the powers that be the control to mute and turn off the flow of information.

Thus, propositions that government control the media seems to show the frustration to the flaws of the majority of media on crisis reporting. In addition, a swift reprimand due to the lost of lives is an automatic demand from everybody.

But to think that the media could be like the police, that after a major blunder, who will possibly be demoted, suspended, dismissed or sanctioned with disciplinary actions by his commander or by the government is a fallacy and very dangerous. The present administration, following the chain of command must be answerable to evident disarray in the police.

The media will not walk away untainted, however. The power to inform, the ability to sway public opinion and to move people them to action are powers mightier than any gun. Just like our college’s statement, “media should use the time to reflect” and “free itself from the ignorance of ethical practice because they will end up doing a disservice to the victims and the public.”

_____________

First published at UPIU.com

Link: http://www.upiu.com/articles/blame-game--2

Tips from the first time rallyists

N.B. - This article was first published on Sept. 28 at UPIU.com

http://www.upiu.com/articles/tips-from-the-first-time-rallyists

It was Joan and Brian’s “baptism by the streets”. And more than the ideals of activism and personal advocacies, they also learned some useful tips to prepare them for the streets on their next rally.

On September 24, students from different colleges and universities in the Philippines staged a nationwidewalkout in participation to the National Youth Protest Day Against Budget Cut on Education. The street of Manila, the country’s capital, was flooded with thousands of youth and students all in red. Amidst the honking of cars jammed in traffic, and spectators, the waving flags, eye-catcher banners and synchronized shouts of rallyists dominated the busy afternoon streets.

Protesters denounce the current administration’s state abandonment of the education sector, specifically to state universities and colleges. Both coming from the state-run University of the Philippines which received one of the biggest budget cut of 1.39 billion pesos, Joan and Brian were more than prepared to walkout from their Friday classes.

At first, Brian was unsure of joining the protest. He was hesitant to skip three of his classes, but realizing that a lot of other students are willing to walkout, he felt compelled to commit a sacrifice.

“Thinking about it, my participation was just a speck, my small contribution to the fight” , Brian said.

Joan’s expectation was a mix of excitement and fear. Being open to adventures and new experiences, the idea of joining a long queue of students excites her. On the other hand, her notions of a violently dispersed demonstration and clash with the police gave her pinches of worry.

“It was funny I was imagining myself bleeding on the head at the end of the day,” she jokingly admitted.

Having the first hand experience of long walks, with runs and jogs in betweens, of frying heat from the sun and of smog and pollution from the metro, Joan and Brian gave some tips to prepare themselves for the next rally:

1. Bring an extra shirt. Kilometric walks and unforgiving heat will surely drench anyone in sweat after a protest rally. It is better to bring some clothes to change after.

“We were fortunate the fire trucks did not water the protesters down. We would be going home soaking wet, if ever,” Brian added, realizing the importance of bringing a clean, dry shirt.

2. A good, absorbent face towel will also do a great help.

3. Liters and liters of drinking water is important: to keep you hydrated after sweating profusely, to help your throat after chanting on the top of your lungs, and to give some to those who forget to bring their own.

Bringing not even a drop of water, both first timers settled to refresh themselves with ice candies sold by street vendors.

4. Wear a good pair of walking shoes.

5. If available, protect your skin and put some lotion with sunblock. An umbrella, baseball cap or colored shades could also ease the heat.

6. Perfume, cologne and/ or baby powder could also help you refresh afterwards.

It would be a bit embarrassing to be shunned by co-commuters in a jam-packed bus or train on the ride home because we stink, Joan said.

7. But most of all, one should prepare one’s self.

Both agreed that one should be ready against the sun, to drip from wet and to be dripped on with sweat. There would be no room to be choosy and finicky along the streets. What people came for is to bring their redresses and cries to the public, and they came there expecting no special treatments or comfort.

“What you will go to is not a party,” Brian said. Joan nods in return.

---

Brian Galon, 19, and Joan Sebastian, 18, are first year students both taking BA Filipino at the College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City.

Caught in the nursing boom and bust

N.B. - Article initially published in UPIU.com on Sept.20

http://www.upiu.com/articles/caught-in-the-nursing-boom-and-bust

“Maybe we were promising to professionally do a job we might not actually fulfill.”

This seems to be the sentiments of Jona and Yna, two of the thousands who took their Oath of Professional as nurses on September 20, 2010 at theSMX Convention Center, Pasay City. Together with some 8,000 others all in white, the start of their life as professional nurses also marks a rather blurry beginning in pursuing the career they have chosen.

After completing their four-year degree in nursing last March at the College of Nursing from Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) in Valenzuela, Jona Guimbangunan and Yna Reyes were just two of the 37, 679 other passers who are now in the limbo of uncertainty. Both took the professional licensure exam last July this year, and were able to get pass out of the 91, 008 who took it. And now, they are an automatic addition to the ballooning unemployed, and underemployed, nurses.

Both felt really happy that they have finally took the oath. Reyes on the other hand felt different.

“Thinking about other students, knowing all of us paid (for the high expenses of our education) yet not everybody passed, I was just thankful that I was able take that step forward”, Reyes said half-heartedly.

“But I felt more uplifted after passing the qualifying exam at our school and after graduation. That was when I felt more relieved”, Guimbangunan added.

According to them, OLFU holds an exam on their last semester before graduating where only those who pass are allowed to take the biannual licensure exam. About 4,000 graduated from the 2010 batch where both belong but only 2,500 fresh graduates were able to take the licensure exam. Out of this, OLFU garnered a passing rate of 47 percent for first time takers.

Certain needs

The Professional Regulatory Commission says that the country is producing nurses far greater than its actual need. Report shows that before the July exam, about 187,000 nurses are currently unemployed yet only 7,000 nursing positions are available in both public and private hospitals.

However, it is the opposite that Reyes believes.

“Sometimes patient would complain, when they came to the hospital they were sick but because of the long wait they would eventually feel better”, she said after experiencing actual work in an extremely undermanned hospital as student nurse.

Guimbangunan agrees. “Hospitals usually take advantage of student nurses, making them do regular nurse work to compensate the hospital’s shortcomings”, she said.

Ironically, PRC admits in a report that the nurse to patient ratio in reality is 1:50, a widened margin from the ideal 1:5 ratio.

“During thypoons when classes are suspended and student nurses are not on duty, I doubt if regular hospital nurses could handle the job with the volume of patients”, Reyes recalls.

Uncertain opportunity

Realizing the country’s medical need for nurses and health workers, both do not put the opportunity of working in a local hospital number one on their priority list.

“My classmate in college was able to work as a nurse in Dubai after passing the licensure exam even without any work experience. Jona and I are eyeing for the same opportunity”, Reyes considering the Middle East as the new green pasture for nurses replacing US and Europe.

With the long lines of surplus nurses, local hospitals usually offer lower salary compared abroad.

Dr. Gene Nisperos of Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) said in an interview that volunteer nurses, who actually pay just to gain clinical experience (that will give them a more edgy resumé), are also used by hospitals rather than giving tenure to regular employed nurses that the hospital has.

Similarly, Guimbangunan thinks that being a nurse in the Philippines is rather gambling to a surely loosing game. In addition, the tight competition has brought many requirements such as trainings, seminars, and a master’s degree – that is, shelling out more money.

“Our tuition for semester averages to more or less 35, 000 pesos. We want to give back to what our parents have outsourced to provide our schooling”, she said.

Reports estimate that a four year nursing tuition fee alone costs around 400, 000 pesos, exclusive of books, medical tools and instruments, and personal expenses. This sum may go higher depending on the school.

“Prices of commodities are high nowadays. The current meager salary of local nurses will never make ends meet”, Reyes reasoned out.

Hopes and regrets

The nursing boom seems to bust now.

Guimbangunan recalls that OLFU has about 80 class sections (each section comprised of 40-50 nursing students) during their time in 2006. Now, it has declined to less than 20.

Several nursing schools that have sprouted during the nursing hype in 2006 have been shut close due to low or zero passing rate in the past licensure exams. The Philippine Nurses Association thinks that new nurses lack skills and competency to be sent abroad. Mostly, now that other countries have also started exporting their health service manpower.

Now that the call center industry, which hires even high school and vocational-course graduate and offers relatively more generous salary, takes the local spotlight while nursing is dimmed off, Reyes and Guimbangunan can not help but somehow regret being caught in the middle of a sinking industry.

Reyes recalls a parent saying to her daughter during the oath taking ceremony, “We could have opted to save money and not study in college if we knew that call centers would come.” And Reyes and Guimbangunan seems to consider the alternative if the search for a nursing position becomes too elusive.

HEAD believes that providing nurses with career options within the government health care system, making it a viable career for them, could make working overseas a choice rather than a necessity to local nurses due to poor compensation.

“We believe that our local nurses have the competency. We have been through overpopulated hospitals with poor or lacking equipments yet we can still deliver good service”, Reyes reasoned out.

Asked what can make nurses fulfill their professional duty for their people and their contry above else, both laments, “Considering the money we used to finish school, it is still the salary, a just compensation, that can make nurses stay and work here.”

Pantabangan

Kumpara sa ‘bitukang manok’ ng Baguio City, mas mababait ang liku-likong daan na tumutunton sa Pantabangan Dam. Hindi maiiwasang ikumpara ang dalawa dahil magkatulad na nakakaengganyo sa mga mata ang kapal ng luntiang makikita kahit saan ka bumaling. Habang may pumapayong sa kalsada na nagtataasang puno sa gilid ng bundok, mayroon namang takot sa nakangangang bangin sa magkabila.

Maaraw pero malamig ang hangin, tanda ng tumataas na altityud ng lugar. Parang sa pelikula, halinhinang sumusilip ang sinag ng araw sa mga pagitan ng malalapad na dahon ng mga puno sa magkabilang gilid ng daan at nag-aabot sa itaas at nagiging lilim.

Mula sa terminal ng provincial bus (Five Star, Baliwag o ES) sa Cubao, higit sa apat na oras ang biyahe na dadaan sa North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) papunta sa Cabanatuan City na sentro ng Nueva Ecija. Mas mabilis naman ito kung sa kabubukas na Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) dadaan ang nasakyang bus dahil maiiwasan ang mabigat na traffic sa national high-way ng mga bayan ng Bulacan. Pagbaba sa provincial terminal ng Cabanatuan City, maaari nang sumakay ng dyip papuntang bayan ng Rizal para marating ang Pantabangan Dam. Kulang dalawang oras naman ang paglalakbay sa rutang Rizal-Llanera-Pantabangan. Mababawasan naman ng kulang-kulang dalawang oras ang kabuuang tagal ng byahe kung may sarili kang sasakyan mula at pwede pang mag-stop over sa mga lugar sa Bulacan at Pampanga na madadaanan.

Nakakangawit ang pag-upo sa coaster bus sa biyahe namin nang magpunta sa Pantabangan kaya ang payo ko, magbaon ng isang sakong kwento, i-Pod o gitara para sa kantahan o isang nobela para patayin ang pagkabagot. Pero kung likas kang nature lover ka at natutuwa na nang sobra sa pag-sa-sight-seeing, tiyak maiiyak ka sa ligaya sa lakad na ito. Hindi mahirap ang signal sa cellular phone kaya pwede din na magtext o makipagtawagan, pamatay bagot din, sa kahit saang parte ng byahe.

Baliktanaw

Binubuo ng 14 na baranggay ang bayan ng Pantabangan, isang 4^th class municipality na mayroon lamang kulang 24,000 mamamayan. Halos border na ang baya na ito ng Nueva Ecija mula sa mga katabing lalawigan na Nueva Vizcaya sa bandang itaas at ng Aurora sa kanan. May 17 bundok, bahagi ng bulubundukin ng Sierra Madre, ang nakapalibot dito kaya hindi nakapagtatakang malamig ang lugar.

Pinagmamalaki ng pamahalaan ang pagkakatayo ng Pantabangan Dam sa lugar. Noong 1974 ay natapos ang dam na inaasahang magdadagdag na suplay ng tubig sa buong Luzon. Natapos ito sa panahon ng Pangulong Marcos sa pamamagitan ng National Irrigation Administration. Plano sa dam na maging daan din sa pagkontrol sa pagbaha sa rehiyon at maging malaking tulong sa pagbibigay patubig sa malawak na palayan at tanimang agrikultural sa buong Gitnang Luzon.

Parang Amorsolo paintings ang babaybayin mong lugar sa pag-akyat sa mismong dam. Mga kalabaw na naliligo sa sapa, mga palayan at mga babaeng naglalakad sa gilid ng kalsada at may sunong-sunong na mga bayong at basket sa kanilang ulo. Yaon lang, laktaw-laktaw ang sementadong kalsada at marami pa rin ang bako-bakong daan. Maalikabok at matagtag ang daan dahil sa bato; mga bagay kung kailan masasabi mong probinsya nga talaga ang napuntahan mo.

Kilala din ang Pantabangan sa mga isda na nahuhuli sa tubig-tabang. Paghinto namin na maliit na palengke, na binubuo lang ng dalawang sari-sari store, matutuwa ka sa malalaking isda na itinitinda. Sinlaki ng isang buong bandehado ang isang mukhang tilapia na pumapalag-palag pa; ttiyak mo na sariwa.

Bihira pa rin ang tindahan at may kamahalan ng kaunti ang mga karaniwang paninda tulad ng softdrinks at kukutin. Kwento ng isang tindera doon, sa Bongabon, isang bayan na may mas malaking populasyon kaysa Pantabangan sa ibaba ng Rizal, pa sila nakakapamili. Bihira din ang pampasaherong dyip at iba pang sasakyan na dumadaan. Marami pang naikwento ang mga tagaroon tungkol sa mga turistang taga-ibang bansa na dumadayo din sa kanilang lugar para sa bisitahin ang dam. Matatas ang tagalog nila bagamat bihasa din sila sa ilokano. Mainit tumanggap ang mga tao doon, sariwa at nakakapanibago para sa mga palaging abalang tao ng Maynila.

Tubig sa gitna ng bundok

Para makarating sa mismong dam, kung saan nandoon ang isang resort na pupuntahan namin, kailangan mong lumampas sa isang checkpoint. Nakabakod pala ang buong bisinidad at hindi malayang maglabas-masok ang sinoman. Pagpasok sa dam ay isang mahabang tulay ang dadaanan mo at mula doon ay malalagutan ka na ng hininga.

Sa kanan kasi nito ay tanaw mo ang lawa na nabuo dahil sa dam. Lokal na bersyon ng pamosong Loch Ness Lake sa Scotland. Parang postcard, parang painting ang asul na tubig na napapalibutan ng mga bundok na inaabot naman ng mga daliri ng ulap. Sa kaliwa ng tulay, tila may patak ng dugo ang berdeng-berdeng bundok dahil sa mga Caballero – mga puno na pulang-pula ang dahon kung namumukadkad. Hindi nakapagtatakang dayuhin ang dam. Malaking halaga ang 34 milyong US dollar na utang mula sa World Bank noong 1969 para ipinatayo at pagkagastusang pagandahin ito ng National Irrigation Authority (NIA).

May malaking layo naman ang ganda ng tanawin sa resort na aming dinatnan. Sa kasalukuyan, ang pamahalaang Pantabangan na lamang ang nagmimintena sa nag-iisang resort na tumatanggap sa mga turista. Inalisan na ito ng kontrol, kasama ng pagpondo, ng NIA. Katulad sa ibang lake resorts, pwede ang mag-jetski, mamingwit at mamangka sa lawa – hindi nga lang mura ang renta.

Ang ganda ng dam ay hindi naman maitatangging nakakalimutan din tuwing magpapakawala ito ng tubig kapag umaabot sa kritikal na lebel dulot ng malalakas at tuloy-tuloy na buhos-ulan. At sa laki ng pinapawalang tubig ng dam, halos lumulubog ang mga siyudad at bayan ng Nueva Ecija. Sa ganito ay walang labang nasisira ang malalawak na bukirin, taliwas sa inaasahang pagtulong, gaya na lamang ng nangyari noong 2009 sa panahon ng Bagyong Pepeng.

Paalam

Ayon sa ulat ni Susan Tamondong ng University of Oxford sa kaniyang pag-aaral na “Pantabangan: A social impact study of displaced community”, umabot sa pinakamababa ang pagiging produktibo ng mga palayan sa Pantabangan mula ng maitayo ang dam.

Walang maayos ang suplay ng tubig at pasumpong-sumpong ang kuryente sa mismong bayan ng Pantabangan, ayon sa kaniyang pag-aaral. Malawakan na din ang pag-alis ng tao sa lugar ayon sa kanya, kita sa layo-layong bahay na makikita habang nasa byahe sa kawalan ng trabaho sa lugar. Tanging ang mga matatandang populasyon na lamang daw ang natira doon habang ang karamihan ay nasa ibang bansa na para maghanapbuhay. Ang lahat ng ito, kapalit ng 13,000 libong tao at pitong kanayunan na napaalis sa lugar nang maitayo ito noong 1974.

Tahimik ang naging pagdalaw ko sa Pantabangan dam. At ngayon iniisip ko na tila hindi rin pala ganoon kapayapa ang lahat para sa isang magandang bayan.

The Party Balloons

The Party Balloons

(Interpretative feature on why more and more party lists clamor for a congressional seat on the upcoming 2010 elections)

ATS, ALON, ATONG PAGLAUM, BIGKIS, BUTIL, COFA, FIRM 24-K, IVAP, ORAGON, PACYAW – these are neither foreign words nor regional dialects. These are the names of some the party-list groups running for a congressional seat come the national elections in 2010. And we have 150 more in the line.

My aunt has been complaining about the long list of choices for the party-list post, and she was surprised that she could only vote for one. When asked which party-list she voted for last election, she said she can no longer remember. “Honestly, I do not know what these [groups] are for,” she said in admittance.

Suddenly, the congressional run has been a moist land for party-lists to sprout like mushrooms. And just like mushrooms, more likely, lots of people do not really knowwhat to call them. And in this danger, and be reminded that some mushrooms are also poisons.

What party-list?

According to a Pulse Asia survey conducted on January 2010, “nearly seven out of ten” Filipinos are unaware of the party-list system. Since 2004, where Pulse Asia started the same survey, this election period has been the lowest awareness mark they got.

In 2007, there were six out of ten Filipinos who knew about the party-lists with a concentration in Metro Manila. And I bet my aunt is one of those seven rather than the other six.

The 1987 Constitution, Article 6, Section 5, states that 20 percent of the congressional seats are for ‘sectoral representatives’ or the party-lists. By ‘sector’, we mean the ‘marginalized and underprivileged’ members of the society such as the ‘labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth…except the religious sector.’

From its inception, these sectoral representatives were selected. Until the 1998 elections, where the enabling law was passed, party-lists were voted on a national scale.

Two percent

This has been the magic word – or number – for party-list hopefuls. As mandated by RA 7941, two percent of the votes guarantee a party-list one seat in congress. This two percent, as the minimum requirement, is called the threshold.

“The two percent threshold, actually a little too high, is necessary to avoid fragmentation of the lower house. If a lower threshold is given, anybody could make a party-list and run for a seat,” said Philippine Government and Politics Professor Crisline Torres of UP Diliman. Similarly, too many parties mean more room for disagreeing which will make it hard for our law makers to pass laws, she added.

However, in April 2009, Justice Antonio Carpio of the Supreme Court implemented a new way of seat distribution for party-list representatives, dubbed as the “Carpio formula”. Opting to maximize all the 20 percent of the entire congressional seat allotted for party-lists, even the parties that did not meet the threshold were entitled to one seat in congress.

“He, in a skewed sense, abolishes the concept of threshold which we do not want to happen,” Torres said. As a result, parties such as Bantay Party-list, a party for security guards, whose representative General Jovito Palparan, controversial for his human rights cases in his execution of Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2 under the Arroyo administration, and the balut vendors’ party – Kasangga Party-list – represented by no other than but the the sister of the First Gentleman, Ma. Lourdes Arroyo.

No wonder, even the cockfighters (sabungeros) are aiming for a seat in congress as the Alyansa ng mga Sabungero Party-list filed candidacy in Comelec for the 2010 elections, according to a news. “I was thinking, if I choose to run for congress and ask all my students since I started teaching to vote for me, I could be Representative Torres in no time.”

Repress(entation)

The problematic calculations and distribution of seats governing party-lists is just one of the problems its system faces. With the declining awareness of the party-lists system and over 150 party-lists in line, questions of genuine representation have been raised.

Pseudo-party-lists have been tagged ‘bogus party-lists’ and that some of the party-lists were not really for sector’s but for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s representation, a multi-sectoral poll watchdog Kontra Daya claims.

Among the ‘Malacañang backed’ parties that Kontra Daya exposed were Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA), Adhikain ng mga Dakilang Anak ng Maharlika (ADAM), Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano (AGBIAG), Babae para sa Kaunalara (BABAE KA), League of Youth for Peace and Development (LYPAD), and Kalahi Advocates for Overseas Filipinos (KALAHI).

Similarly, presidential son Mikey Arroyo runs as the representative of the Ang Galing party-list, a party that deems to represent security guards. More administration bets fill the line-up for this ‘party’ in the party-lists as Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes admits that he will be the front man of the transport sector party, 1-Utak, among others.

After the decision of GMA to run for congress, rumors of her intentions to stay in power by converting the congress into a parliament where she would take over and be voted as prime minister. By holding such position, she would be immune from all the allegations and cases filed against her. There is a possibility for this scenario since the majority of the lower house representatives have been filled by pro-administration allies and if luck is on their side, the real party will just be starting.

Party clowns

With Mikey representing the security guard’s, Malou Arroyo for the balut vendors and Reyes for the drivers – are party-lists still representing the oppressed minorities of the society?

Same questions have been raised such that tha Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released Resolution 8807 saying that a nominee must be “one who belongs to the marginalized and underrepresented sector/s, the sectoral party, organization, political party or coalition he seeks to represent; and able to contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole.”

But still. COMELEC seems to come clean. Disqualification protests and petitions for party-lists undermining Resolution 8807 cannot come from the commission itself. This action is left by the commission on the hands of the citizens with a five-day expiration date after March 26. Since then, those clowning over and acting ‘marginalized’ will have to leave without the happy face.

Trip to Jerusalem

Whether for the representation of the marginalized or not, of selfish or selfless intentions, a party-list representative are no different from district representatives. Both are entitled of “pork barrel” or the multimillion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) given to congressmen each year to fund government projects in their districts.

As Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said in a newspaper interview, “There is a big attraction for the pork barrel. That would mean that the P75- to P100-million pork barrel will be at the disposal of very few people."

And just like a real party, bags of “gifts” have been making rounds around its attendees similar to that exposed by Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio in October 2007 – another ‘perk’ someone in a seat could enjoy. It is not surprising then that the coming elections will be a Trip to Jerusalem – too many players, too little seats.

Sources:

Chua, R. (2010, March 26) Comelec: Party-list nominees must 'belong' to sectors they represent. ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrived from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/25/10/comelec-party-list-nominees-should-belong-sectors-they-represent

Flores, M. (2010, February 23) The party-list system: why we must care. The POC.net. Retrived from http://www.thepoc.net/voters-education/4245-the-party-list-system-why-we-must-care.html

Merueñas, M. (2010, September 18) Will it fly? Cockfighters’ party-list bid ruffles feathers. GMA News.tv. Retrived from http://www.gmanews.tv/story/172497/will-it-fly-cockfighters-party-list-bid-ruffles-feathers

Valmero, A. (2010, March 24) 38 party-list groups funded by Malacañang, says Kabataan party-list. Inquirer.net. Retrived from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100324-260654/38-party-list-groups-funded-by-Malacaang-says-Kabataan-party-list

Villacorta, C. (2009, April 28) Small Means Marginalized? Cenpeg. Retrived from http://www.cenpeg.org/IA%202009/IA/IA_06_s2009.html

________. (2010)Pulse Asia's January 2010 Pre-election Survey for Party-List Group Preference. Pulse Asia. Retrived from http://www.pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?ID=705

Edsa 1: Anong rebolusyon?

“Naglasing ako noon. Uminom ako ng isang long neck na alak, sobrang lungkot ko sa mga pangyayari.”

Ito ang unang sagot ni Ma’am Lani nang hingan ko siya ng reaksyon kung maari ko siyang makapanayam tungkol sa karanasan niya sa unang “People Power” sa EDSA. Tumatawa siya ng sumagot, at tila pareho kaming nagulat sa ipinagtapat niyang hindi makkalimutang karanasan.

Nakataas ang dalawang paa sa kanyang silya, at parang batang magkwekwento ng mga masasayang ala-ala si Ginang Melania Abad, Ma’am Lani sa karamihan, kilalang progresibong propesor ng Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikang Pilipinas sa Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura.

“Dalawampu’t dalawang taong gulang ako noong 1986 at full time na akong organisador ng KAMALAYAN sa mga urban poor communities,” sabi niya. Ganoon daw talaga ang ‘uso’ noon kahit sa unibersidad, bihira ang mga kumikilos na aktibista sa paaralan dahil mas mahigpit doon sa panahon ng Martial Law.

Mula sa eskwelahan ay nag-AWOL (absence without leave) si Ma’am Lani ng pitong taon. Sa mga mahihirap na komunidad ay full-time silang nakipamuhay, nagturo at nag-organisa tungkol sa kalagayan sa kabila ng delikadong banta ng diktaturya. “Nakakapagpakilos kami ng malalaking rally kasama ang mga karaniwang tao. At hindi iyon basta rally na katulad ngayon. Napakahirap. Dapat maayos. Dapat ligtas. Walang hihiwalay…kilala mo dapat ang mga kasama mo, ” pagkukumpara niya sa mga mobilisasyon ngayon.

Mula 1980 ay naging tulak na nang pag-oorganisa ni Ma’amLani ang paglaban sa pagsasamantala ng iilang may kapangyarihan at malalaking yaman, crony ng administrasyong Marcos, at ng kontrol umano ng Estados Unidos sa pamamagitan ng mga kasunduan, batas sa ekonomiya at mga base militar sa bansa.

Bagamat laban sila sa pagmamalabis sa kapangyarihan ni Marcos kasama ang maraming bilang ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao, hindi naman inaasahan na magmumula sa mga tao sa may-kayang estado ang mamumuno ng “pagbabagong” hindi tumutumbok sa mismong ipinaglalaban nina Ma’am Lani. “Malakas ang simpatya ng tao kay Ninoy noon. Napakabilis para sa amin ng mga pangyayari – eleksyon, kudeta…”

Mula Sabado, Pebrero 22 ng 1986 hanggang sa pagkapal ng tao sa lansangan, nanonood lang kami ng TV sa mga pangyayari, pag-amin ni Ma’am Lani. “Nakita namin kung paanong ang mga malalaking tao, tagapagmay-ari ng malalaking industriya at komersyo noon ay nanguna ng pagkilos para makabawi [kay Marcos].”

Sa mga kasapi ng samahan para pambansang demokratiko na kinabibilangan ni Ma’am Lani, nagsimula na ang paghihiwalay ng mga prinsipyo at ideyolohiya sa panahong ito. Hindi makalimutan ni Ma’am Lani kung paanong ang mga dating kaibigan at kasama niya ay makikita at maririnig na niyang kumakanta sa ibang tugtugin. Ayon kay ma’am Lani, “Sina Nani [Braganza] (ngayon ay alkalde ng Alaminos, Pangasinan) at Chito Gascon (kasalukuyang Director General ng Partido Liberal) ang ilan sa mga kasa-kasama naming kumikilos sa sektor ng kabataan, at nagkahiwa-hiwalay kami.”

Kinailangan din na makipagkaisa sa iba pang organisasyon, hiwalay man sa mga paniniwala at prinsipyo, at ang “anti-facism, anti-dictatorship” ang pinakanaging pagkakaisang sigaw.

“Ikalawa o ikatlong araw na kami pumunta ng EDSA. Sa totoo lang ay hindi naming alam ang gagawin. Nakikiramdam kami sa pangyayari at sa panawagan ng mga tao,” sabi ni Ma’am Lani. Kulay dilaw umano ang EDSA noon at silang kulay pula ay pinaiikutan lamang nila. Panay-panay ang kantyawan. Sinasabihan na silang umuwi, hindi umano ito ang panahon ng kanilang isinusulong. Noo’y nalungkot talaga si Ma’am Lani at hindi napigilang uminom ng alak.

Pagpapalit ng tao, at hindi pag-iiba ng sistema at politika – ganito niya nakita ang sinasabing ‘EDSA revolt’. “Parang party, may piknik sa EDSA nang mga panahong iyon. Nandoon ang buong pamilya, malakas ang stereo, maingay ang mga tugtog,” pag-alala niya. “At talagang nilantakan ng mga looters ang Malacañang; ninakawan at kinuha ang mga gamit sa loob.”

Matapos ang lahat ang ‘piknik’ sa lansangan, pinilit nang administrasyon ni Cory Aquino na bigyang puwang ang “democratic space” sa iba’t ibang kampo ng pulitika. Kasabay nito, marami na sa mga kasama noon ni Ma’am Lani ang nakatanggap at agad na naluklok sa pwesto sa pamahalaan. Kung hindi man nag-‘lie-low’, tuluyan na ngang iniwan ang kinikilusang organisasyon.

“Kinikilala natin ang lakas ng mga tao at kakayahang kumilos ng sama-sama para mapatalsik si Marcos. Pero mabuting makita natin ang konteksto na muli nabawi ang mga malalaking kompanya sa mga dati ding kamay at nagtuloy-tuloy ang mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao at kahirapan.”

Ganoon pa man, bagamat nakitang isang kahinaan ng kasaysayan sa kabila ng pagsikat ng Pilipinas sa buong mundo, ito ay isang magandang parte na pagkukuhaan ng aral – at sa ganito natatandaan ni Ma’am Lani ang EDSA 1.

Lipat-buhay: Dumagat sa Maynila

“Kung bumaha, mapupuno ng tubig itong ibaba. Kaya ninyo bang lumangoy-langoy na lang. Mga taga-patag naman ang priniprotektahan namin [dahil kami,] kaya naming umakyat ng bundok.”

Ganito binuksan, sa isang mainit na hapon, ni Chieftain Ador, ang aming usapan tungkol sa kaniyang mga karanasan sa kabundukan at sa lunsod. Kasama na dito, ang paglapit niya sa problemang hinaharap nila dahil sa pagattayo ng Laiban Dam. Sa mabagal na boses (na aakalain mong boses ng isang lasing) at balikat na bagsak na dahil siguro sa pagod, nagsalaysay ang Chieftain ng tribong Dumagat mula sa Bulubundukin ng Sierra Madre sa bandang Rizal. Tanging isang makulay na mahabang kwintas na gawa sa maliliit na butil na parang bigas ang pangkatutubong palamuti ni Chieftain sa katawan. Maliban doon, maluwag na puting t-shirt ng KATRIBU Partylist, short pants, itim at kupas na baseball cap at mapupudpod na mumurahing gomang tsinelas, baka sabihin mong karaniwang namamalimos o taong kalye lang siya. Lalo pa at sinunog na lupa ang kulay balat ng wala pa sigurong lilimang talampakang katutubo.

“Napaka-init dito sa Maynila. Ngayon ko lang naranasang pagpawisan ang buo kong katawan,” kwento-paumanhin ni Chief Ador. “Doon sa amin ay hindi ko naranasan ang ganito,” dagdag niya sa tono ng boses na hindi mawaring tumutula o kumakanta.

Ilang buwan na mula ng bumaba dito sa kalunsuran ang ilan sa mga Dumagat sa pangunguna ni Chieftain Ador. Kwento niya, tumakas lamang sila mula sa kanilang lugar at ang ilan at hinahanap na din ng mga sundalo. Nang magsimula daw kasi ang kanilang pagtutol sa pagtatayo ng Laiban Dam, binantayan na sila ng mga military sa lugar upang iwasan umano ang pagkalat ng usapin.

“Kapag kami ay bumababa mula sa gubat ay agad kaming iniimbestigahan ng mga military, sinasabi ay mga NPA (New People’s Army) daw kami. Ang sabi ko ay “Ser, nasa gubat po ang pangangailangan namin. Saan naman po kami kukuha ng makakain?” Sasagot umano ang sundalo, “Ano naman ang makukuha ninyo diyan? Kung gusto ninyo ng pagkain ay doon kayo bumili sa kabayanan!”

Ubog, paynot, aypanan. Marami pang binanggit na mga uri ng pagkaing bunga si Chieftain at nagamit niya ang lahat ng kanyang daliri sa pagbibilang, lahat ay hindi pamilyar sa akin at ngayon ko pa lang narinig. Ang mga ito ay pawang makukuha sa gubat at patunay na kahit hindi sila magtanim, basta naroon ang gubat, ay hindi sila magugutom.

Panahon pa ni Ferdinand Marcos nang simulan ang proyekto ng Laiban Dam. Nang maalis siya sa president ay naitigil din ang paggawa ng sinasabing pinakamalaking daw sa buong Pilipinas. Sasakupin dapat nito ang halos 300 libong hektarya sa kabundukan – ang pamayanan ng mga Dumagat mula pa noong sinauang panahon.

Ayon sa Kalikasan (Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment), ang 23 libong pamilyang maapektuhan ng proyekto, mula sa orihinal na pamayanan ay pagkakasyahin sa apat na libong hektaryang relokasyon.

Kaya’t sa paghanap ng tulong para sa kanilang problema, nagpasya ngang bumaba ang sina Chieftain. At dahil wala sa kanilang nakasanayang pamayanan, hindi naging madali para sa mga Dumagat ang mga unang panahon ng pamumuhay-lunsod.

Isang pagkakataon, habang kasama ang kaniyang mga katribo habang naglalakad sa kabayanan ng Tanay ay nakarating sila sa isang restaurant. Tinawag daw sila ng may-ari at inimbita silang kumain. Isang malaking bandehadong kanin ang inihapag sa kanila, pati na ang mga ulam. Pagkatapos kumain ay nagulat siya nang singilin sila nito ng bayad, natatawang pag-alala ni Chieftain.

“Ay, hindi naman niya sinabing iyon pala ay babayaran naming. Kung sinabi niyang iyon pala ay may bayad, hindi sana kami kumain,” ika ni Chieftain. Sa ganitong dahilan ay ipinapulis sila ng may-ari. Muli ay inulit ni Chieftain ang kaniyang dahilan. Buti at naintindihan ng pulis, ipinaliwanag niyang ganoon daw talaga ang mga katutubo: huwag aalukin agad-agad sapagkat kahit ang mga ito ay gutom, hind sila manghihingi ng pagkain malibang sila ay imbitahin. Sa awa naman ni Chieftain ay binayaran niya ang may-ari ng kainan. Tatlong daang piso ito lahat. Nang makaabot sa alkalde ang usapin. Pinalitan din naman nito ng doble nang ginastos ng mga Dumagat.

“Nang kami ay mababa dito sa lunsod, ika ko ay ganoon pala – ang tubig, ang apoy, ang bigas ay bibilhin mo. Doon sa amin ay wala kaming binabayaran na kahit ano. Katuad nitong tubig,” sabay turo sa kanilang isang bote ng mineral water, “binibili pala ito. Paano kung si-singkwenta lamamng ang pera namin?” nakatingin tagos sa mga kausap, inalala ni Chieftain kung paanog doon sa bundok ay sa bukal sila umiinom – malinis at walang kemikal. Umaga, tanghali, gabi, hindi na bibili ng yelo dahil talaga naman daw malamig.

Alangan din ang mga Dumagat sa pagkaing hindi nila nakasanayan sa bundok. Kwento ni Chieftain, “Hindi ko makuhang kumain ng karne baboy dito sapagkat doon sa amin, mga nahuling baboy damo ang aming kinakain. Kaunting asin, at suka, at vetsin ay napakasarap na. Dito ay kung ano-ano pang rekado at luto ang mayroon…ina-adobo pa.” Maging ang pagkain ng manok, na “labuyo” kung tawagin sa kanila, ay kaiba din. Tanging mga labuyo na hindi pa nahawakan ni minsan ang kanilang niluluto at kinakain sapagkat kung hindi ay malansa na ito para sa kanila.

“Nang madaan din kami sa Ilog Pasig at may nakita akong naliligong bata. Tinawag ko siya. Ang sabi ko, “Hoy! Hindi mo ba nakikitang parang tinta na ang tubig diyan? Huwag kang maligo diyan!” sabi niya. “Doon sa amin ay napakalinaw ng ilog. Mula taas hanggang ibaba ay makikita mo. At kung maligo kami doon ay one to sawa.”

“Doon sa tinutuluyan namin, salo-salo kami sa iisang timba. Tig-iisang tabo lamang ang buhos para lang maginhawahan,” ika niya habang umaarte na kunwa ay may hawak na isang tabong tubig na ibinubuhos sa ulo.

“Kung bakit ba sa isang iglap ay papaalisin kami ng gobyerno?” Sa pagitan ng masyang kwentuhan ay nasabi ni Chieftain. Wala pa ang mga espanyol ay nakatira na ang mga Dumagat sa mga mga bundok ng Rizal, Laguna, Quezon at Bulacan. “Bibigyan naman daw kami ng tatlong milyong piso bawat isa, at bahay na diyes-dose (10 metro X 12 metro). Ganoon dina ng pangako sa mga katribo naming Dumagat nang itayo ang Angat Dam. Ngayon ay palaboy-laboy na lamang sila sa kalsada. Dadagdag na lang din kami sa pulubi sa lunsod.”

“Isa na ang napatay sa amin. Iyong ama ni Marvin,” pagtukoy nito sa isang binatilyong Dumagat na nakaupo sa may hindi kalayuan, “nabaril ng militar sa Antipolo dahil sa laban naming ito. Aba, patayin na lamang din nila muna ako bago kami mapaalis.” At sa ganito, mabagal at madiin na pagsasalita kasabay ng malumanay na pagkumpas-kumpas ng kanang kamay, dineklara ni Chieftain Ador ang laban mula bundok patungo sa lunsod nilang mga Dumagat.

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Si Chieftain Ador ay pinuno ng Makabayang Samahan ng mga Dumagat(MASKADA), organisasyon ng mga Dumagat at Remontados sa bulubundukin ng Rizal. Kasapi ang MASKADA ng Bigkis at Lakas ng Katutubo sa Timog Katagalugan (BALATIK) at KATRIBU Partylist.