Boxer-Advocates

According to a news account of Marv Dumon at Examiner.com, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao reportedly voiced his opposition against the construction of Kamanga Power Plant (KPP),- a 200-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Sarangani Province, his home province. Pacman tied-up with civil and religious groups there to prevent the proposed large-scale project being pushed by the Conal Holdings Corporation (CHC). CHC is a joint venture with Thailand company Egko and Mindanao-based Alsons Consolidated Resources. That is Manny Pacquiao, the politician (or celebrity advocate), for you. As we all know, after his fight against Miguel Cotto this coming November 14,- win or lose, the Filipino boxing icon would be very busy preparing for 2010 local elections. Can Manny be a successful boxer and at the same time a productive legislator? Of course, the answer lies in people of Sarangani. Including performance and credibility of his political rival. Is his anti-KPP stance just for (political) show? I can’t tell you. You be the judge.

The most prominent professional boxer turned politician is Alexis Argüello from Nicaragua who allegedly committed suicide only last July 1, 2009. As a boxer, he was a three-time world champion. After his retirement from boxing, Argüello became active in Nicaraguan politics and in November 2008, he became mayor of Managua, the nation's capital city. Argüello is ranked 20th on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Alexis Argüello was accused of “dagdag-bawas” (vote-rigging).

On being a celebrity advocate, I am thinking of a boxer other than Pacquiao. How about the unbeaten and WBA International Super Flyweight champion Drian Francisco,- pride of Sablayan, would stand against the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP) and other foreign and large-scale mining projects in Occidental Mindoro? Though I am just toying this idea in mind, I think there is nothing wrong if Francisco show up in rallies and other mass actions protesting these projects (of course subject to his availability) and insist that the companies should comply for the mining moratoria in the province. People close to him who are prominent personalities or anti-mining advocates in Sablayan, should let realize that mining is likely to damage his town’s important food production capacity, its eco-tourism potential,- among others. May his townspeople make him aware of the issue and together we would “sing” Kenneth E. Bouldings “A Ballad of Ecological Awareness” with these words : “There are benefits, of course, which maybe countable, but which/Have tendency to fall into the pocket of the rich./While the cost are apt to fall onto the shoulders of the poor./So cost-benefit analysis to neatly always sure/To justify the building of a solid concrete fact./While the Ecological Truth is left behind in the abstract..” Words as powerful as Argüello’s left hook that floored Mexican Ruben Olivares in Los Angeles during their prime.

Advocating for or against a certain socio-political issue and agenda like the MNP does not make a celebrity (in this case a boxer) a politician. This is not a case of mixing sports with politics. This is different from what Manny Pacquiao did and still want to do : to climb the political ring and directly participate in the battle. And the coal mining plant as one of his political campaign agenda. Manny is also politician, remember.

That is only if Drian Francisco is willing. That is only if such action is permitted and would not hinder ,- in one way or another, his boxing career. That is only if Jong has other things in mind other than fighting WBA champ Nobuo Nashiro or any other opponents. That is only if Drian Francisco loves his province and Mother Nature just like how much he loves boxing.

And in times like these,- we need dedicated advocates, not nihilarians …

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(DZVT File photo: Lloyd Francisco, Drian "Jong" Francisco, me and Daisy, the round (bellied) girl...)

Roads and Ruts

To travel by land in mainland Occidental Mindoro today is more hellish than Hades. The Patrick Section in Sablayan,- just completed in 2005, is now in full mess. See it your self and watch this video I stumbled upon the other day. The situation was brought about by series of typhoons, notably Jolina and Ondoy, that hit the country recently.

But overall, almost all of the roads in the province need special attention for they are narrow, rough and dusty during dry season, while during rainy season they are submerged in flood waters and mud due to erosion rendering them impassable. Like what we are experiencing in some of its sections as I write this. But there is an on-going road construction project elsewhere.

The ambitious road construction program in Occidental Mindoro started in 1981. It is a component of the Philippine Government's Rural Roads Improvement Program, supported by a $62 million loan approved by the World Bank (WB) to Marcos government. That year the construction of national road began connecting the 170.6 kilometer-road from San Jose to Mamburao. In the early 80’s, said project was marred by problems in many aspects like severe mismanagement, inadequate planning, corruption and over-bureaucratization. The road construction program was part of the Mindoro Integrated Rural Development Program or MIRDP. The project is not completed due to different reasons,- both natural and man-made, rolled into one.

In January 7, 1999, the Loan Agreement No PH-P188 was signed and paved the way for the Mindoro West Coast Road Improvement Project. The total loan amount was 9,621 Million Yen from the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) and the executing agency is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The project was “completed” in December 2005. The infrastructure includes construction of Busuanga Bridge, the road junction to Rizal, some road pavements in Sablayan, San Jose and Mamburao sections,- among others. Including the now devastated Patrick Pass. Sadly, all we got is a “chop-chop” project while we,- the taxpayers, deserve more than that.

In its brighter side, there are on-going road construction projects (of the national highway) in municipalities of Rizal and Calintaan being implemented by DPWH. This was made possible by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through the initiative of our representative in Congress. But I am not so sure if the master plan is religiously and rigorously followed. Also, if the full amount allotted to the project truly served its purpose. I do not have the authority and capacity to monitor it.

Any land development projects like putting up of roads and bridges in landslide and flood- prone areas like the Patrick Section, need more than civil engineering. Citing the recent catastrophic flooding in Metro-Manila, Francis delos Reyes III, associate professor of Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University has this to say : “The lessons are clear. We cannot continue to alter land use patterns without expecting changes in other things, such as water flows. We need to educate civil engineers and local governments on storm water issues, basic hydrology and water resource engineering.” For sure, the haphazard infrastructure development in Occidental Mindoro is not just an engineering problem. It is also a problem of governance and basic social services. It is on how we wisely spend our public fund for the common good. Surely, we cannot win against water with sediments but we can win against greedy politicians and contractors. That is if we form ourselves into watchdogs minding such well-funded government projects.

Because what we deserve is a reliable and stable road against disasters generated by the rivers, which reduce travel time and vehicle maintenance cost and ensure the safety of the road users and commuters. Complete and fully cemented road and bridges that would not take more than 5 hours from Magsaysay to Abra de Ilog. (And don't wake me up. For God's sake, I'm dreaming!)

What we need then is a committed citizens’ arm to monitor,- based on guidelines provided by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), government infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges; monitor performance of elected local officials and government instrumentalities. A group of non-partisan women and men that would organize communities and help in citizenship building; a social advocacy group aimed to popularize the issue through mass media and help form public opinion, etc., and resort to legal actions if necessary. We need the support of generous organizations of Mindorenyos world-wide to finance this cause. We need a new breed of idealistic and dedicated human beings not completely identified with any of the two reigning political Goliaths.

Figuratively speaking, we deserve new roads and new ruts. For the old road just led us to phenakism…

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(DZVT File: Taken at Patrick Section in Sablayan; 12 October 2009)

Only the Best

Finally, after his diaconal ordination last July 15 that can be revisited here, Rev. Reymond B. Mulingbayan is now a full-blown man of the cloth. Fr. Ymon was ordained yesterday, 12th day of October 2009, in Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro this Year for Priests.

His ordination reminds me of this story. An old priest said to a new batch of seminarians : “Prepare to sacrifice and be a true servant of God and the people.” If a seminarian do not adhere to this personal promise to God, they are just wasting their teachers’ time including their own. Also, the seminary is even wasting its resources on them. Even God will only be wasting His time on them!

Many of us consider that the biggest problem of our local Church is the so-called “priests’ shortage”. While the problem is admittedly true and in need of concrete solutions,-like strengthening our programs and campaigns geared towards producing more vocations, etc.., I am not personally too concerned with their numbers or such (vital?) statistics. What concerns me most is how to produce quality priests, even at this early stage of one’s formation because our Basic Ecclesial Communities or BECs, the people of God deserves nothing but the best! Indeed, a priest (or even a seminarian) must be literally and figuratively attached to our community. It is unlikely,- I suppose, for a priest to be detached,- physically and spiritually; to the community, specifically to the BEC or to what we call in Occidental Mindoro as Pamayanang Kristiyano or the PAKRIS. Definitely it’s a sin but I am not academically competent to discuss its nature.

All I know is that in his homily for the opening of Year for Priests, Pope Benedict XVI said that the faithful should “pray that the Lord inflame the heart of each and every priest … because the greatest suffering in the Church is the sin of its priests.”

Of course, I give a damn to the scandals being involved by priests in other dioceses inside and outside of the Philippines, but I firmly believe deep inside my heart and from my experience (or viewpoint), priests are generally men who are trying their very best to serve the Lord and the community entrusted to them. Doing everything they can for their vocation for this noble and divine purpose and asking forgiveness for their sins and for others. Just like the recently ordained Fr. Reymond Mulingbayan, who entrusted his vocation to the embrace of the Father. There will be no ordination to be held in our diocese until 2013.

True, a number of priests went out of their ministry due to various reasons and remained Christians, but we pin our high hopes on our seminarians inside and outside of the province. Let us all support them in any which way we can.

The sex scandals that zoomed out of the local and foreign media some years ago, - especially the pedophilia issue, were evil acts committed by only a tiny pack of sick, perverted, coward, and twisted "wolves" who just happened to be men of the cloth victimizing innocent children and youngsters. Priests that are disgrace to their ordination and to God. The Church hierarchy should be alarmed and make necessary action on this matter, pastorally and administratively.

Luckily, we do not have such reported case here in our Vicariate. All we have is someone who never learned his lessons and reportedly gunning again for a top political post in the province.

God, save us from snollygosters...

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(Photo : SSC File ; Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Mamburao)

Best Kept Secrets

One of the prominent news agencies in the land has this opening line for a sports story last Friday: “It’s now Drian Francisco’s turn to prove that he is indeed Philippine boxing’s best kept secret.” I,- being a church worker, know something considered as Catholic church's “best kept secret”. But we will talk about it later.

Drian Francisco, the 26-year old boxer from Occidental Mindoro, the main event underdog defeated the former two-time world champion Roberto Vasquez of Panama and won the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) international super flyweight crown last Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, Philippines.

Francisco turned skeptics into fanatics when he scored a sensational 10th round technical knockout (TKO) victory over his opponent from Panama. My province mate Francisco connected with his left against Vasquez during their 12 round title fight. The “Gintong Kamao” (Golden Fist) twice sent Vasquez down on the ring with the second knockdown, late in the 10th round, forcing the Panamanian’s corner to throw in the white flag,- err.. the towel. With this very convincing win, Drian had the big chance to challenge reigning champion Noubo Nashiro of Japan for his WBA super flyweight title in the first quarter of 2010. Nashiro successfully won over Fidel Hugo Cazares last September 30 at Osaka, Japan via split decision to defend his title.

Prior to the fight, Elmer Anuran of the Saved by the Bell promotion and Francisco’s manager, said in an interview, “He is the modified version of Luisito Espinosa and is Philippine boxing’s best kept secret. Vasquez came overweight and the plan is to try to make him work in the early rounds and go for the kill in the late rounds." It was Francisco's 14th win by way of knockout earning him his 18th career victory in 19 fights. A draw against compatriot Nino Suelo on Oct. 16, 2007 was the only dark spot in his almost clean record.

Now, regarding the “best kept secret” of the Catholic church…

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) has been called "our best kept secret," even before Drian Francisco is still a toddler in Sablayan while in the arms of his father, Diomedes “Joe” Francisco who is a former boxer himself. Indeed the CST has been our "our buried treasure," and "an essential part of Catholic faith." To borrow the words of the U.S. Catholic bishops: "Far too many Catholics are not familiar with the basic content of Catholic Social Teaching. More fundamentally, many Catholics do not adequately understand that the social teaching of the Church is an essential part of Catholic faith. This poses a serious challenge for all Catholics, since it weakens our capacity to be a Church that is true to the demands of the Gospel. We need to do more to share the social mission and message of our Church."

To reiterate, the CST has been referred to as the Catholic Church's "best kept secret". It is Church teaching that is rarely preached about, rarely written about and rarely spoken about in Church circles. Consequently, it rarely informs decision making and action - at least explicitly. Now is a good time to reclaim this tradition and to allow it to become a benchmark for the living out of faith in today's world. To my Catholic readers, let us be shovels,- or instruments, in unearthing this hidden and secret treasure known as CST.

Like how Drian "Jong" Francisco shoved his way to the crown last Saturday…

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(Photo by Jeff Venancio of GMA News)

Lifestyle/Climate Change

Francis of Assisi is honored by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of animals and ecology. His Feast Day falls every 4th of October and that is today, folks while Typhoon Pepeng (codenamed Parma) is still in the Philippine area of responsibility specifically its northern tip provinces.

No mortal have ever fully understood the mysterious relationship between the world and the person seized by God's love than St. Francis. He considered animals as his friends. He is a man who considered the sun and the moon as members of his family. Francis dared to explore and discover the depths of the mystery of creation and taught us that everything was created for the glory of God. Everything should render God this glory. That’s Francis for you, the man who first practice absolute poverty.

Speaking of mining and climate change, here’s Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) coordinator Jaybee Garganera : “Mining, as a human activity of extracting naturally organic mineral resources for energy and industrial use to fuel the global economy has led to the disturbance of our climate system. The mining and metals industry is responsible for approximately 21% of the global greenhouse gases (GHGs) according to the World Resource Institute (WRI) and it is variously estimated that mining and mineral processing accounts for 10% to 20% of world energy consumption”.

In a mass action held last September 16, 2009 against the international confab on mining at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel, the ATM,- a national coalition of more than 80 organizations composed of mining affected-communities and CSO coalitions,- fenced the venue flaunting the message, “Large-Scale Mining Fuels Climate Disasters”.

It is an internationally-accepted view that the solutions to climate change are in the hands (and pockets) of those who wield wealth and power. The political and business giants of every country. Also, according to this view,- what the highly industrialized countries must do is to develop clean technologies and assist third-world or developing countries to pass the path towards clean industrialization, instead of using technologies that pollute our environment. The re-cycle of minerals such as nickel and developing of renewable source of energy and not fossil fuel extraction. The call for measures such as the promotion of increased use of renewable energy and energy-efficient processes in the industrial sector that would lead to green innovation must be sustained.

But let us not forget the solutions coming from the community leaders, like farmers and indigenous peoples around the globe who are united to defend their land against oil exploration. Not unlike the Service Contract 53 of the Department of Energy and the Pitkin Petroleum Ltd. here in Occidental Mindoro. Our solution to climate change also rests in the hands of the people in our poor communities and even in the urban centers. To all of us,- regardless of our social status, the ones with whom the hope of God’s kingdom rest.

We all need to make dramatic changes to our lifestyles. In addition, we often keep our hands akimbo amidst environmentally-destructive projects in our province like the Mindoro Nickel Project of the Intex Resources Inc. These lifestyle (and attitude) changes are important. Though the national government and the local government units (LGUs) cannot prevent destructive typhoons like Ondoy because it is an inevitable natural occurence, the government can prevent destructive foreign mining projects such as that of Intex Resources from destructing the environment and our people's lives.

Remember, Francis of Assisi and his companions,- including St. Clare, who underwent such lifestyle changes sought to imitate Christ in the way that they lived and in doing so, to commune with Him.

Because he changed his former lifestyle or direction like Typhoon Pepeng ...

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(Photo Credit : St. Francis' picture from wikipedia)

The Warnings of Jolina and Ondoy

Greenpeace is again calling the attention of the industrialized nations to mobilize their resources in order to help the most vulnerable countries,- like the Philippines, in dealing with the impacts of catastrophic climate change. The statement was released after Typhoon Ondoy (international code name Ketsana) submerged up to 80% of Metro-Manila and covered areas that never experienced flooding before, stranding people on rooftops and bringing death and misery to rich and poor alike. According to Amalie Obusan, Green Peace Climate and Energy Campaigner, “It is ironic that this disaster should happen in between two big important climate meetings, the G20 summit in Pittsburgh and the UNFCCC intercessional meeting in Bangkok. While world leaders are pussyfooting on their commitments, countries like ours are left to experience the ravages of climate change.”

Incidentally, last September 5, 2009, I was invited as a resource speaker by the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) students at the Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) Main Campus here in San Jose. Around 200 college students under Mesdames Luisa M. Pechardo, Leticia R. Valdez and Maricris M. Usita. I told my audience : “Mining contains a key threat to climate change. In fact, reduction of mining is essential to climate change mitigation”. My topic was, “Oil Exploration and Nickel Mining in Occidental Mindoro.” Climate experts say that unless decisive solutions are immediately put on the table, the worst is yet to come. The UN Summit on Climate Change will be held this December in Copenhagen.

Likewise, the Colegio De San Sebastian (CDSS) College Department initiated a symposium on mining with Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez of the Mangyan Mission of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan as their guest speaker. The activity was held at Sablayan Convention Center last September 24, 2009. This was initiated by Fr. Gerardo F. Causapin and Ms. Rosavilla Dalumpides, Director and Dean of Academic Affairs, respectively. Around 700 college students attended the affair.

Windel Bolinget of the Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance (CPA) addressed the Eighth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and recommended “a moratorium on large-scale mining and extractive industries in indigenous territories until mechanisms addressing outstanding issues are set, especially on compensation and rehabilitation of devastated communities and the urgent concern on climate change.” Indeed, corporate and large-scale mining worsens climate change so we are calling for the moratorium on mining and extractive industries in the whole island of Mindoro.

Before Typhoon Ondoy, during Typhoon Jolina’s onslaught, Occidental Mindoro experienced heavy floods, landslides, soil erosion and scouring which rendered its national highways impassable for several weeks and caused huge and serious damage to crops, livestock and property. Undoubtedly, the Mindoro Nickel Project and all the mining applications in the island would make the effects of global warming even more disastrous.

Obusan has this to add: “It is unfair that people in the Philippines should be the ones paying a greater price for the damage that developed countries have wrought on the environment.”

Just like the damage brought to us then by Jolina, and now Ondoy...

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(Photo : Courtesy of www.marshal.com )

Legacy of a Historian

Tonight, the San Jose Centennial Commission headed by Mayor Romulo M. Festin will be having the public launching of the centennial celebration of San Jose with the theme, “Our home. Our heart. Our Pride.” .Want to read the history of the town where I was born? Click here and enjoy our history.

This was written by our local historian Rudy A. Candelario, a Divine Word College of San Jose alumnus and presently working as a senior researcher at the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Kuya Rudy is also a lay minister. Candelario’s contribution and legacy to our rich historical past requires recognition. He even wrote a book entitled “History of Occidental Mindoro” on the occasion of Philippine Centennial celebration last 1998. And I would be very proud if all of his works will be published in a not so distant future.

To trace back the author’s journey in this particular journalistic endeavor, he practically went in every single barangay (village) of San Jose (and the whole province for that matter) for almost twenty (20) years sitting with the elders of certain community for a story telling session that catapulted into a real experience of sharing. He also utilized usual data-gathering approaches such as researches, community-discussion session and the likes.

Like any other historical writing, his piece is in no way complete. For history happens every minute and since events unfold everywhere in our town everyday and every minute, Candelario’s legacy, his historical compilation is still an unfinished business.

We stated above that this particular work of Candelario (“History of San Jose”) involves traditional methods such as the informal story-telling which is a more personal and his approach is very friendly especially to the poor rural dwellers or community members. They are usually senior citizens that have rich experiences to impart, say... in the so-called “Japanese Time” for example.

Other methods used by the author include academic and formal data-gathering techniques such as researches (He even went to National Library and the National Archive in Manila for some data) in both local and national levels.

His present function and capacity in our local Church was of great help in gathering of historical facts,- both narrative and documentary, for data banking. Prior to his writing.- was already done by the priests assigned in every mission area of the province. The author lumped together, I presume,- on a case-to-case basis, every method and approaches in the book in making “History of San Jose” a success. He is also the former Station Manager of DZVT, a local radio station.

San Jose-based students (HS, College and Post Graduate) of History subjects and other related sciences are somehow being helped by this historical reading as reference material for their academic quest. On the other hand, taking the risk of being branded as too trivial, this became a major source of vital information regarding San Jose, my beloved hometown.

Mr. Candelario’s piece, being said that it is in no way a finish product, we as educators and professionals are being challenged to continue this task. To be a historian is to learn as we go along. The key phrase is something like this: “Be methodical in your work and your record keeping. Always think of context, of local color.”

But who will write about the events unfolding each day in San Jose? The scandalous nastiness of our Public Market and Solid Waste Management, the people’s struggle against Intex Resources and Pitkin Petroleum, the Small Town Lottery (STL) and other concerns. In addition, our local historians are not getting any younger.

Calling the enthusiastic and idealistic youth of Pandurucan to write something about your town. Immerse with them. Keep a journal when you intermingle with people. Study things around us as they unfold. Stand up and be counted even beyond May 10, 2010, the San Jose Centennial Celebration.

Spend a lot of time joining the people in their every struggle for self-determination and rights. Get rid of those who ride with historical celebrations for their personal, political and economic gains. Remember, writing history is not exclusively for the influential elites and intellectuals, including political publicists and propagandists. History may also be written by the masses, the common tao like you and me as long as we want to share something, to communicate and connect with people and eventually fight for social transformation. Nobody can know everything but try to expand our knowledge and extend our understanding even if we are not members of our local historical group. Just write something about the past,- people, places and events, you remember most.

Just like what Rudy A. Candelario have taught us and that made him our most credible local historian, ever…

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(Photo : SSC File; Mr. Rudy A. Candelario)

Of True Ants and Truants

I am having a wonderful time that early morning watching ants unfamiliar to me in a tree at the back of the Pastoral Center when me and Bishop Warlito I. Cajandig of Oriental Mindoro had a little chat. I was in Calapan last September 16 to 17 to attend the Mindoro LGU-CSO Conference on Mining Moratorium together with my boss and a bosom-buddy and co-worker. We are part of the more or less twenty participants coming from different Local Government Units (LGUs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) of Occidental Mindoro upon invitation of Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan. Though the gathering was held at the Provincial Capitol Square in Calapan City, we were billeted at the Bishop’s House in Brgy. Salong. The activity carried this theme : “Isang Mindoro, Isang Panindigan : Tutol Kami sa Minahan!” (One Mindoro, One Stand : We are Against Mining!)

The good bishop told me that he is very happy with the initial result of the conference where unity and solidarity against mining between two provinces of Mindoro was officially conveyed and forged. “It’s a welcome development and I would be more willing to attend the proposed continuation of this endeavor in your province”, he told me. We talked about their almost ten years of struggle against mining. Its ups and downs and the whole roller-coaster ride of said campaign aimed at environmental protection and integrity of creation. And I won’t forget what he told me that Thursday morning : “I just hope and pray that this struggle is a result of our faith”.

No doubt that the event is is succesful in a way. The Occidental Mindoro provincial officials headed by Gov. Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato and Vice-Governor Mario Gene J. Mendiola came. Seven out of eleven of our Provincial Board members twice crossed the sea for the occasion. Gov. Sato delivered her speech,- in her familiar delivery style, proposing for a march and rally in Manila to ventilate united Mindoreños sentiment against Intex Resources and the holding of same conference in her province. But she did not mention nor utter a word about mining moratorium. They are just verbal fireworks in my own opinion. Colorful and beautiful but the heat and light are not lasting thus lack vital elements. Nevertheless, she received a warm round of applause from all of the participants because,- perhaps, of her oratorical genius or perceived sincerity. Or both.

But the sad thing is, all of them went out on the first day of the conference missing very important things like the discussions on the legality of mining moratoria especially the open forum and the island-wide planning. Except for Board Member Marian Haydee “Sugar” G. Villaroza, Environment Committee chair. During the workshop, Villaroza is like a little girl tied in an ant hill for she absorbed and answered every query and question (and even ire) of the Occidental LGU-CSO group. And for such patience and wit, I admired her.

According to the young legislator, they are crafting the moratorium step-by-step. They are about to conduct committee hearing in every municipality to avoid technicalities and other legal hassles before the body could pass and approve one. She did not mention when. This is despite of the fact that earlier in the program, Atty. Grace Villanueva of the Legal Resource Center and Atty. Girlie De Guzman of PANLIPI,- two of the Manila-based support groups who participated the affair, discussed various of laws and jurisprudence as bases for the legality of the mining moratorium passed by some LGUs in the land. Despite of the fact that nine out of eleven municipalities of Occidental Mindoro already passed a resolution and ordinance against large-scale mining. Despite of the fact that the 25-year mining moratorium ordinance of Oriental Mindoro in January 2002 came out without any resolution coming from the municipal level. According to the speakers, the provincial board should initially pass the moratorium and let the mining companies question or challenge it in court or other venue. Despite of the fact that Mayor Eric Constantino of Abra De Ilog and Vice-Mayor Eduardo Gadiano of Sablayan, Msgr. Ruben S. Villanueva, Vicar General of Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose,- the priests and the nuns and the rest of the Occidental participants are expecting that the delegation would assure us of the immediate passing of said legislation. LGUs have to make the first move of passing such ordinance according to the two lady lawyers. But sadly, the elected officials of my province who came to Calapan in full force went out,- one by one, like ants towards the queen,- err.. the door to go out of the hall.

On the positive end, Governors Sato and Panaligan led the signing of a Petition Paper against the Mindoro Nickel Project of the Intex Resources together with more or less eighty participants. But that document is not sufficient in my view.

In his talk during the opening of the conference last Wednesday, Bishop Cajandig told us, “We had one thing in common. We are believers. And this belief must lead us somewhere.” I believe that the initial path that would lead us to that “somewhere” is the Occidental Mindoro mining moratorium.

I believe that the service-giving ants are the true ants and they are not truants…
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(Photo credit : rwsphoto.blogspot.com)

Marco Polo Move

I was once a gymnasium barker and a play-by-play announcer at the old and roofless San Jose Municipal Gymnasium for the San Jose Summer Basketball League (SJSBL) games in the late 80’s to early 90’s. I replaced Mr. Apolinar “Ka Popoy” Valverde when the old man rested his voice in 1990. My contemporaries are Rommel Sandiego of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Carlos “Lot” Bagatsolon, municipal employee of Magsaysay. I was jobless then.

The work became easy for me for I am also a play-by-play league announcer when I was still a teenager in Bubog. In addition, I am a big fan of Joe Cantada. I love to imitate his voice while I am at the panel. Not his looks,- only his voice, for I do not wear moustache and neatly-pomaded hair in my wholelife. (I imitated Smokin’ Joe’s voice but to no avail.) Incidentally, the legendary Vintage Enterprises and Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) sportscaster calls a traveling violation a “Marco Polo Move”. In basketball, traveling is a violation of the rules that occurs when a player holding the ball illegally moves one or both of his feet. Most commonly, a player travels by illegally moving his pivot foot or taking too many steps without dribbling the ball. Such violation is also called “caught on step” or “illegal travel” in basketball parlance.

According to reports, since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency she had already 81 foreign trips, which included 111 visits and meetings in 40 countries, cities and territories. On the average, PGMA visited about 4 countries a year. Latest data from the Commission on Audit (COA) showed that the Office of the President incurred P 1.45 billion in foreign travel expenses from 2002 to 2007. Her office spent P241 million yearly for such travels which is equivalent to P 20 million monthly or P666,000 daily.

And here’s the latest : President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to have her state visit again after she went to Libya a week ago. The President is scheduled to leave again next week for London and Saudi Arabia (her New York trip was officially cancelled today) this coming Sept. 17 to 26. Meanwhile, the President defended her foreign visits amid persistent allegations of extravagant spending, saying the benefits far outweigh the cost as she wants to ensure the stability of the economy through her state visit. The very same words I've heard from a different lady Marco Polo.

And in many of the President’s travel abroad, Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa,- our representative to Congress, is included in GMA’s entourage. And if official foreign trip is a measure of good governance,- then GMA and our representative can be considered as very accomplished public servants. But that is not the case and according to Sen. Francis Escudero, ”Governance is (also) all about allocating scarce resources…”

Let us go back to basketball, the game invented by James Naismith. Somebody asked me this during my SJSBL days: “How do officials determine if a traveling violation occurs when a player goes to the floor and recovers a loose ball?”. Under FIBA rules diving or falling to floor is legal. However if a player then slides, he/she commits a traveling violation. If a player falls, without sliding, he/she can pass, shoot, dribble, if he/she has a dribble, before attempting to stand. But if the player rolls over, slides or stands with the ball he/she is guilty of traveling violation.

Is there such thing as “illegal travel” in politics? The idiot in me is just asking…

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(Photo from Kareem Abdul Jabbar's official website. As seen in the picture, Jabbar is in town together with other NBA legends for the NBA Asian Challenge 2009 and will be facing PBA legends tonight headed by Benjie Paras, once played in SJSBL)

Another Chasing Game

We have been chasing them again in their series of consultations with different barangay (village) officials in respective areas where they would conduct the so-called 2D Seismic Survey. I am pertaining to the people of Department of Energy (DOE) and the Pitkin Petroleum PLC. Pitkin Petroleum is an exploration firm producing on a small-scale basis in Louisiana, USA but with assets in offshore Vietnam and Peru. The company’s drilling activities in an exploration bloc in Vietnam, where it has a 40 percent stake, are scheduled to commence by the end of 2009. Here in Occidental Mindoro, a total of 645,000 has. from Sablayan, Calintaan, Rizal, Magsaysay and San Jose is placed under Service Contract No. 53.

They were in Central last week and from Friday intil yesterday they came for the same meeting in Camburay, La Curva and San Isidro (formerly Canwaling). The objective of the meeting is to talk with the identified owners of the land or lot where the survey will be conducted. The Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) once again registered their objection to the project citing different moral, social, practical and environmental reasons. They were all supported by their respective parish priests and the nuns assigned in the area. In August 4, 2009, His Excellency Bishop Antonio P. Palang, SVD,DD of Occidental Mindoro issued a Statement renewing the stand of the local Church against Petroleum Service Contract No. 53. We are challenged by our bishop to do necessary legal and non-violent actions and adhere to the Social Teachings of the Church to oppose the project. The Provincial Government is in favor of said DOE project. In their Resolution No. 56, S. 2008 is emphasized that while they are up against large scale mining activities in Sablayan, they exclude the exploration of natural gas and oil in said objection.

We were not allowed to participate in their meeting and we did not gate-crash either. We just had a little program inside each chapel ended by praying of the Holy Rosary. All of the barangays mentioned have already issued individual Resolutions favoring the project but the people were not generally consulted. We will not only sit down in prayers. As a next course of action, we intend to talk to the shot-hole "holders” or go right down to the fields (or areas of the survey) if needed, aside from lobbying, sustaining our community-based formation activities and pressure politics.

I would like to connect this issue on the global problem of climate change. All of the countries in the world depends on energy, but cannot continue on the current path of unsustainable growth and pollution. Climate change is not an insurmountable problem but we have to beat the clock and so the whole world needs to move towards sustainable development and accelerate clean technology. This technology must be prioritized by the government, specifically its energy department. Because exploration and extraction or exploiting natural resources in the Philippines, particularly when it involves foreign companies, can often be sensitive and as well destructive,- socially, culturally, economically and politically.

We in the Church including Mangyan leaders and other local pro-environment POs, NGOs and LGUs are not against development and progress but development and progress must be gained in a responsible manner and must ensure the sustainability of resources and the future of our children. Oil Exploration and agriculture cannot go together. There is a Filipino saying, “Kailanman ang langis at tubig at hindi mo mapag-hahalo.” (You cannot mix water with oil). Water and land are the two basic necessities in agriculture, and oil and petroleum exploration must be taken out of the map!

Consequently then, we are opposing any destructive form of development and progress where investment and employment come only in short-term basis. We opposed to development that disregards and neglects the long-term negative impact of such development on both the environment and humanity.

As long as this project is not presented to the majority of the people of community and you continue to divide our us Mindorenyos,- we will be forever chasing you even in your nightmares. Your local cohorts, included!

We will forever be united in shouting : “Pitikin ang Pitkin!”…

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(Photo : SSC File. Taken inside the Camburay Chapel)

A Nameless Group

We had a hard time naming our newly-formed coalition. Suggestions vary from wise to “otherwise”, so the group came into the decision of just finalizing the matter on our upcoming consultative meeting in the next few weeks or so. I had suggestion in mind but I did not bring it up for I will surely get the ire of my fellow participants : "Hypocrites of Occidental Mindoro, Unlimited, or HOMU".

I was in Abra de Ilog the other day,- along with more or less 100 participants from the Local Government Units (LGUs), NGOs, POs and church leaders from MAPSSA (Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Sta. Cruz, and Sablayan) municipalities, to attend the Anti-Mining Forum called by Mayor Eric A. Constantino, as main its convener, and Vice Mayor Floro A. Castillo and the rest of SB members. The event was held at Villa Salustiana Resort in Brgy. Tibag. To refresh our memory, Abra de Ilog issued Ordinance No. 106-2008 declaring a 25-year moratorium on large scale mining activities in the municipality. Fr. Edwin "Edu" Gariguez and Jeff Rafa from Alyansa Tigil Mina or ALAMIN in Oriental Mindoro, Atty. Ron Gutierrez of Upholding Life and Nature (ULAN) and Msgr. Ruben Villanueva of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose, serve as speakers while Mayor Constantino himself and Fr. Richard Castillo, Parish Priest of Holy Cross parish acted as facilitators. Mayor Godofredo Mintu and Vice Mayor Eduardo C. Gadiano are also invited but they sent separate representatives instead.

Why HOMU (Japanese-sounding, isn’t it?)? Or why “hypocrites”? It is simply because our kind,- pro-environment and anti-mining advocates, are considered as such by miners including their supporters and vanguards, coming from both government and private entities. They say : “The computer that you are using when blogging against mining came from minerals. Even environmental protection itself can never be possible without mining. You, hypocrite!”

In p. 6 of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines’ Open Letter to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) regarding the CBCP Statement of Concern on Mining Act of 1995, it is stated : “The ultimate question, perhaps is : Could we live without mining? Whatever cannot be grown has to be mined. The materials that we need to build buses and jeepneys, telephones, calculators, eyeglasses, concrete churches, stained glass windows, bridges, ships and airplanes, televisions, printing press, tooth paste, plates and bottles, watches, toys, etc. all come from mining…”

But have we forgotten than here in our country, the mineral needs are NOT met by mining operations? According to “Miner’s Lie” (1998) a publication by the Legal Rights and Natural Resource Center authored by Andre Gerard G. Ballesteros, “It is clear that the products of mining industry in the Philippines, contrary to industry’s assertion, are not responsive to the needs for minerals, particularly metals. In a sense, what the mining industry addresses in not the need for metals but the need for revenue.” Yes, all in the name of revenue or profit regardless of environmental, energy as well as social cost such as landlessness and poverty, especially among rural communities.

Instead of massive extraction, we need to conserve, recycle and re-use. The properties of metal provide a unique advantage for its re-use. Unlike other recycled materials, such as plastic and paper, metals are eminently and repeatedly recyclable without degradation of their properties. Metal from secondary sources is just as good as metal from primary sources. Bishop Emeritus Julio X. Labayen once said : “After reaping their big profits they leave us with ecological system that they stripped of the capacity to support and sustain the lives of our people.”

This coming September 16-17, 2009, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro in partnership with ALAMIN will be having a LGU-CSO Conference on Mining Moratorium in Calapan City. This is to discuss on how to effectively implement the mining moratorium through application of legal strategies or options in order to put a stop continuing activities of Intex Resources in the whole island. Social acceptability requirements are also expected to tackle. Top provincial leaders are also invited to join. Our still nameless group have decided,- as priority activity, to push our Occidental Mindoro political leaders to enact and implement and support parallel mining moratorium issued by our sister province some years back. So expect my next blog will be on LGU and mining. By the way in Abra last Tuesday, I was handpicked as one of the conveners of the still-to-be- named group.

If fighting for environment, for the Mangyans, for sustainability, for honesty and transparency and against (what JPII dubbed as), “development without a human face” is hypocrisy, I would be proud to shout from the top of my lungs that, “Hey world, I am a hypocrite!”

Care to join us? …

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(Photo : SSC File. The majestic Calawagan River in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro)

Family Affair

A long-gone blogger already posted a blog entry on this topic more than two years ago entitled “Political Dynasties in Occidental Mindoro : The Old and Budding Ones”. Click here and try to read him once more. But I would not wish to repeat his accounts that are still true up to now. However, there are latest developments in Didaskalos’ report like the present status of the mayors of Mamburao and Magsaysay, for they have won their cases of election protests in 2007 and legally have taken their respective municipal seats. Right at my very nose, there is an ex-officio councilor who is son of the mayor. Didaskalos was the owner of “Advocatus Socialis” and I am writing this “sequel” hoping that this would do justice to his piece and his memory.

On the occasion of her birthday last Wednesday,- in a radio interview, certain lady Mayor unveiled her plan to slide down as Vice-Mayor for she is now serving out her last term in office. She also added that her youngest son will run for councilor and her eldest will again look forward for another term as Provincial Board Member next year. Also in said interview she reportedly quipped : “It seems that politics is contagious!”

In another town, a wife (who is now serving as Barangay Captain) of an incumbent Mayor (and a former Vice-Governor) is believed to be running for the post occupied by her husband who is expected to just finish his term and retire from politics. The couple has a son now on his second term as a councilor of same town.

Occidental Mindoro has a long history of political dynasty like what Didaskalos pointed out in his write-up when he was still alive. But how could we say that political dynasty is good or bad for us if Congress is still unable to craft and pass implementing law that would also define political dynasty? But I will stick to this straight definition I have learned from the billiard players in Mabuhay Recreation along Gen. Dunckel Street : “A dynasty is a succession of people belonging to the same family, who, through various means and forms maintain power, influence or authority over the course of generations.”

Certainly, the 1987 Constitution has a provision (Art. 2, Section 26) that says that the State shall prohibit political dynasties but until such legislative action is made, this provision will forever be useless. Have you ever dare to inquire this issue to our past and present representatives to Congress? Or explain to them that the reason,- according to the supreme law of the land, for ending political dynasties is to assure that there would be “equal access to opportunities for public service.” Obviously, they would not pick a rock and slam their own heads that would lead to their "untimely" political demise.

Despite of this sad reality, we must do anything we can to support advocacies and personalities (including local politicians) that are against political dynasty and for equal access to opportunities for public service. Until such time that no political family is exercising monopoly of leadership in Occidental Mindoro,specially if they have all the political and economic power to do so.

Until Didaskalos resurrects from his ashes…

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(Photo Credit : SSC File. Taken in Abra de Ilog where the present Mayor is the husband of the former Mayor)

Trying a Quickie

I am in a hurry to post this entry for we are going to Brgy. Central in about fifteen minutes or so. We have a consultation with the residents of Sitio Putol (now known as Sitio Kasoy) on the 2D Seismic Survey to be conducted by Pitkin Petroleum Ltd. in line with Service Contract No. 53 of the Department of Energy or DOE. The residents whose farm lands are previously identified as part of the activity will have a meeting on Friday. Their village officials have already issued a Resolution favoring the project despite the opposition of the residents and the Parish Pastoral Council or PPC headed by their Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Giovanni “Jojo” M. Gatdula. The residents believe that the project will pose danger to the environment specifically to their water sources. What they are pushing is the use of renewable source of energy specifically biofuel. The 2D Seismic Survey is expected to commence next year while San Jose is commemorating its 100th Founding Anniversary. The present San Jose officials favor Service Contract No. 53, we were told.

Quickly, I just would like to say this with all humility: “Let us keep the flame of our centennial spirit alive even beyond 2010!” What I expect is the creation of a local historical group that would analyze issues as vital importance to our situation and to the future by means of initiating municipal-wide dialogues among different sectors to critically re-examine our historical past, the present socio-economic priorities of our townspeople. We need something that would stir up discussions and lead to ways of empowering the communities and organizations for renewed politics and governance. Remember, our centennial celebration will coincide with the 2010 local elections. We need a “total history” and a celebration that would emphasize structures over development, culture and society over politics, collective behavior and attitudes of every citizen (especially the basic sector), over ideas of individuals and few academicians.

I am not a historian nor from the academe. I just love reading history books while drinking gin during my college days at OMNC. I am a "renewed" Church-worker now. By the way, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through its Pastoral Statement last July 12, 2009, have committed us, Church personnel, to the “… indispensible task of raising social awareness and forming social consciousness through political education.” This is our main focus in 2010. I am just a lowly activist or social advocate and I have never been a publicist or PR man of a politician in my whole life, much more involved in any partisan political campaign in the past. Therefore, I am speaking from my limited view point and background.

I told you I'm in a hurry but this won't take long. Without the intention of exaggerating the issue, I would like to cite this historical fact: On March 16, 1942, Japanese troops invaded San Jose Sugar Hacienda, yes,.. that was in Barangay Central, and imprisoned the entire San Jose municipal government. According to an account of Volker Schult in page 104 of his book "Mindoro : A Social History", the Japanese organized festivities and celebrations, specially on Tenno Hirohito’s birthday that year. A big party with meals for all inhabitants, complete with boxing and other competitions, dancing and other performances were organized. Those celebrations were intended to seek and improve cooperation of the ‘sacadas’ and the rural folks to the Japanese-sponsored new municipal (puppet)leadership. The author concluded by emphasizing : “Yet, these celebrations became a futile attempt to cover the brutal reality of war.”

Similarly, if the San Jose Centennial Celebration is seen as just a one-year affair and totally no hairline connection to poverty and other social problems of the majority of the Pandurucan people, we would only be attempting to cover brutal reality of the 21st Century San Jose, brought about by the absence of care for the environment and lack of political will, to name a few.

We will be going to Central not for any historical find or researches but to rock the boat,- if necessary, and make a historic action by siding with the people in opposing DOE Service Contract No. 53 in Occidental Mindoro.

My companions are already honking me. I'm coming,- I mean, I got to go…

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(Photo of the Philippine Sugar Mill in Brgy. Central, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, from Flickr posted by Ronet Santos. Original photo courtesy of Rodolfo M. Acebes and Rudy A. Candelario)

Public Relations in a Celebration?

As early as June of this year, the San Jose Centennial Commission is created and Mayor Romulo “Muloy” M. Festin of said municipality in Occidental Mindoro is the Chairman of the Board of Directors (BOD). Various activities were laid up until its culmination on May 15, 2010. The Commission is expected to conduct activities such as slogan and logo making contests and the much anticipated theatrical presentations, etc.

This event and celebration is important and the organizers deserves a tap on their shoulders for this selfless effort. Even psychiatrists remind us that the loss of sense of time is a symptom of personal deterioration. Cut a man off from his memories or his vision and he sinks to a depressed state. And same is true in a society, community or municipality.

Man is a “historical” being. We must recall the past not only by recording it, or by making a cultural presentation (or related activities) out of it, but by anticipating the future not only by preparing for it but by conjuring up and creating it. We are taught that history is not to be viewed as a jail to escape or as an antique to be preserved but as a dimension of reality that enlarges and illuminates the present. In a sucess-and money-oriented society such as ours, we need celebrations that are less trivial but more inspirational and posed current challenges.

Any celebration or commemoration that is only sugar-coated, superficial and has no sustainability is doomed to fail before it is started because in this kind of program or project, what is usually being sought is not public conscientization but public relations. Usually, our public and civil anniversaries and celebrations (including Fiestas or other religious celebrations) doesn’t provide an inspiration to change any social problem, concern or predicament that we are in. It does not give inspiration to fight injustice and other structural and social “sins”. It even made as a temporary social anesthesia being capitalized by the ruling few, including local politicians. It is only designed and intended to astonish and catch the public eye. No more no less.

Most of the celebrations of this sort in the past lack real verve or feeling. Yes we are enjoying because the plays, the dances, the musicals, the slogans, the markers, are all there. But under the surface of the Dionysiac carousing we feel something is missing. When we wake up the next morning, we often wonder why we bothered. And we just laced our celebration with fancy icings but vague with meaning and essence for it failed to move us to act or collectively push us to give our own life and limb for the sake of our beloved town, like what Fermin Baretto did many years ago facing foreign invaders.

To celebrate the centenary is to inspire us to act on the most pressing problem of our town. What a shame to celebrate our 100 years of being an established municipality if they did not even lift a finger to our biggest and dirtiest public mess called San Jose Public Market. Not to mention the immorality of the Small Town Lottery (STL), our mega chaotic drainage and garbage management systems, to mention a few.

But hopefully, the upcoming San Jose Centennial would bring not only gay moments but a transforming celebration as well…

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(Photo by SanJoseOccidentalMindoro.com)

The Trial of Willard

A known figure in our place was implicated in the recent killing of one of the leutenants of his political rival and this was aired through our radio interview with the victim’s widow. Our interviewee merely focused on her supplemental affidavit as evidence for the filing of a criminal case against said influential patron in the Department of Justice or DOJ. Details of her accusations were not discussed. Days after the show, a long-lost friend told me what we have done is “trial by publicity”. Though I am not a lawyer I told him : “I don’t think so!”. And he called me name in Tagalog synonymous with male private body part. Before, I had a high respect for this friend of mine (let us just call him Willard). But now, with his concept of “trial by publicity”, and his recent affiliations, he’s nothing but a laboratory rat to me!

It is difficult to strike a balance between protecting the right to a fee trial and safeguarding the right of free expression. True, the former necessarily entails some curtailment of the information that may be aired (or disseminated) about a party prior to trial. If there is no such limits, the result would be the practical nullification of the protective effect of specific legal rules including the exclusionary rules of evidence. But on the other hand, there are vital social interests served by the right to information. The public has the right to know about legitimate public interest in matters of general concerns.

For Willard, any news that would put his boss in bad light is “trial by publicity”. But I understand Willard, my little nice mouse. His knowing and meaning of “trial by publicity” is constrained by something called channel capacity. Channel capacity is the information-handling ability of any given means of communication. Have you ever wondered what it feels to be a laboratory rat?

Suppose I am a rat named Vhu. And you know that we, rats,- have no cone cells. Cone cells in humans are the cells responsible for the color vision. And as we all know, I, Vhu, of rodent specie and the rest of my race do not have cone cells. This physical limitations deprive us of what to you is a whole dimension of visual sensation. So I, Vhu,- the rat, think that everything I see is all grey. I know this is true. I am mislead? If so, by whom? What can I do about it? There are no answer to these questions and that is why I pity my friend, Willard. His limited finite brain is not capable of telling him about color; and so he cannot know it and cannot even argue with the existence of colors. Be it red, white or blue. The very notion of color is meaningless to him. How much more with his notion and definition of “trial by publicity”?

But my beloved friend,Willard, is not a rat. He is a human being ...
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(Photo credit: img.quamut.com)

Tale of Two Tables

While President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was delivering her (hopefully!) last State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 27, 2009, I,- together with participants from other parts of the country were at the St. Michael Retreat House in Antipolo City for a Hapag-Asa Partner’s Meeting. Hapag-Asa(literally “Table of Hope”) is an integrated nutrition program initiated by the Pondo ng Pinoy Community Foundation and established by Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales of the Archdiocese of Manila along with 13 other bishops in July 2005 together with Assisi Development Foundation and Feed the Children Philippines. The program aims to feed at least 120,000 poor and hungry children nationwide once a day to improve their overall nutritional status. Its program components are : Supplemental Feeding, Education Classes and Livelihood and Skills. The Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose is a partner of Hapag-Asa in Occidental Mindoro.

While the President was rendering her SONA at the Batasan Complex, complete with figures and percentages boasting the country’s economic growth under her administration, Ms. Florinda Lacanlalay of the Hapag-Asa Secretariat is informing us that malnutrition has been one of the major problems affecting Filipino children. Statistically, according to the 6th National Nutrition Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 3 out of 10 Filipino children are suffering from under weight and under height. The Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan or MIMAROPA Region has the highest prevalence of malnutrition in the whole island among 0 to 5 years old with 34.2%, followed by Cagayan Valley with 34.1% and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), 34%.

One of the participants, Msgr. Reggie Hizon, Social Action Director of Diocese of Balanga, said by way of a reflection: “Feeding is a new way of being a Church. It is a homily”. Twenty seven (27) out of every 100 or 29.9% of pre-school aged children, 0 to 5 years old, are underweight. 25.6% of children, 6 to 10 years of age, are underweight. These children are suffering from Protein Energy Malnutrition and/or micronutrient deficiencies such as Vitamin A Deficiency Disorder (VADD), Iron Deficiency Anemia (ADA) and other related disorders brought by the emptiness of our every table. According to World Health Organization (WHO), “Malnutrition prevalence rate of 5% is considered a public health significance”.

After her SONA, President Arroyo and her entourage, including our representative to the Philippine Congress had their US trip and that controversial dinner happened. New York Post news article posted that the group of just more or less 20 people, paid $20,000 in a world-acclaimed restaurant. The amount is equivalent to almost one million in Philippine currency or P955,400. That lavish dinner at Le Cirque, that famous French restaurant in Manhattan, is one heck of a scandal even it was not a taxpayers money, if we are to believe Press Secretary Cerge Remonde. According to Remonde, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez paid the bill. Even if the expensive dinner was paid by somebody else, it is still scandalous in face of situation of full-blown malnutrition among our children which was discussed to us at Antipolo while President Arroyo was delivering her SONA...

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("Hapag ng Pag-Asa" painting by Joey Velasco)

So Long, My President

Corazon “Cory” Aquino became our inspiration in our struggle for freedom, justice and democracy in Occidental Mindoro National College (OMNC). I was a college student then when our own version of “People Power” forced its former administrator, Mr. Bernabe B. Macaraig, to vacate his San Jose National High School (SJNHS) post which he occupied in the early 70’s. SJNHS later became OMNC. Through series of mass actions initiated by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers in Occidental Mindoro or ACTOM and my group,- the League of Filipino Students-Occidental Mindoro Chapter (LFS), with support from other cause oriented groups and institutions in the province, we were able to bring substantial changes to our alma mater. Mrs. Virginia Sicat, my instructor in Filipino, became OIC (or Officer-in-Charge) president of the college from 1986-1987. That was August 1986 and months after Cory took her oath as the first woman president of the republic.

Outside of the campus, after the manipulated presidential snap elections of February 7, 1986, the Aquino administration immediately installed in the provinces OICs to substitute Marcos supporters who are still in office. In Occidental Mindoro, Pedro “Peter” O. Medalla, Jr. was appointed OIC-Governor. Unlike in Oriental Mindoro, where high tension situation ensued between OIC-Governor Benjamin “Chippy” Espiritu and the incumbent Hicoblino Catly, the transition between Madalla and Arsenio Villaroza became peaceful. Villaroza was a political ally of Marcos and served as governor from 1960 to 1986.

The initial years of the Aquino presidency, both insurgency-related and politically-motivated acts of violence in our province have increased. In February 1987, Batasang Pambansa Representative Pedro Mendiola, Sr. was assassinated by an unknown gunman. High profile cases of human rights violations have escalated especially in San Jose and Sablayan where militant farmer leaders were executed. The Aquino government’s banner program, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) have polarized social groups in Occidental Mindoro costing many lives and limbs. Significant cases happened during massive military deployment at the Aquafil Estate in Brgy. Bubog, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro where many of the farmer members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas or KMP were detained and arrested. Law enforcers and security officers of the property were not spared and even targeted by Communist hit squads. Some of the farmer-leaders even joined the New Peoples Army (NPA) after being hunted by the police and soldiers.

According to her critics, especially from the militant side, Cory did nothing on the fundamental social problems. Said problems were not solved and the United States just maintained her hegemony in the Philippines. Cory was considered by leftist groups, including LFS, as another “American Puppet” president. While Marcos loyalists tagged her as “Communist lackey”.

Incidentally just last Tuesday, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), conveyed its condolences to bereaved family of Cory. In a statement, the NDFP said that despite being unable to reach a final peace agreement with the government and the failure of the land reform program, the Aquino term was laudable for the release of all political prisoners and the improvement of the human rights situation in the country. The Communist-led group also considered the 1987 Constitution as a one of the legacies of Cory’s term.

Yet in my mind, her speech before the joint session of the United States Congress in Washington, DC in September 18, 1986 entitled “Restoring Democracy By the Ways of Democracy”, made me feel her fearless longing for democracy and at the same time her plea for American assistance. She told her audience, “Yet to all Americans, as the leader of the proud and free people, I address this question : has there been a greater test of national commitment to the ideals you hold dear than that my people have gone through? You have spent many lives and much treasure to bring freedom to many lands that were reluctant to receive it. And here you have a people who won it by themselves and need only the help to preserve it”. And that speech made me proud that I am a Filipino.

And Cory Aquino will forever and always be remembered for uniting Filipinos for their fight for freedom and justice. In a Time Magazine article written by Shiela Coronel in its November 13, 2006 issue (p. 35) it is written : “She (Cory Aquino) is also blamed for resurrecting a political system dominated by the elite clans, causing disappointed supporters to say that she could not transcend the interest of her class..” This is exactly the same situation we are experiencing in Occidental Mindoro today. The clannish political system still exists. And that was not solely Cory’s fault. It’s my fault as a voter and as a citizen. It is our fault.

Somewhere in the same article it is also emphasized, “To Filipinos, who are devoutly Catholic, she was both Mater Dolorosa and Joan of Arc”. And to the courageous woman whom Benedict XVI hailed as a “woman of deep and unwavering faith” : So long, my president…

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(Photo by Reuters)

Analysis of a Dogfight

I can’t help but understand the situation of the partisan radio propagandists in my place. There is a Filipino saying, “Ang pinakamahirap na gisingin ay ang mga taong nagtutulog-tulugan” (There is no people harder to wake up than the one who pretends to be sleeping). Yes, partisan broadcast journalists in our province, human as they are, have strong tendency to believe only what they wish to believe. That old situation add flame to the recent media dogfight in Occidental Mindoro.

When radio listeners are prejudiced either against the broadcaster of a politician or against the issue or concern which he/she advocates – and in many cases the listeners are prejudiced against both, because the propagandist and his/her cause, the announcer and his/her patrons or bosses’ cannot be dissociated – the media man faces a great difficulty in terms of credibility and so on. Under such circumstances, the majority of the listeners,- the non-aligned and independent audience, will generally consider the views and opinions of the man and woman behind the microphone with skepticism. This kind of listener will not give credit to the evidence adduced and will scoff at the politicians, officials or authorities mentioned. The listener may be even so apathetic and indifferent as to refuse to listen to opposing arguments; or if she/he listens out of fairness, he/she has always a tendency to discredit what he hears. Especially or even the so-called developmental (less controversial, less intriguing) news. Even shifting from news and public affairs to entertainment program would not help because as long as they are working with their political patron, the broadcasters are already and completely identified with the bad side or “notoriety” of a certain politician. Remember, our listeners are not dumb!

Not only the “one-sided” (read: political propagandists or employees of a media outlet owned or influenced by a politician) media men are affected by emotions but including their listeners. Very often, the listeners are convinced of the truth of an assertion, position or conclusion, of a wisdom of an act of judgment, or of the expediency of a course of action. But majority of the listeners may refuse to embrace the truth or follow suggestions laid by the announcer over the radio. No matter how good and helpful they may be.

In war,- as we all know, a dogfight is an aerial combat between fighter planes and pilots and the first world-acclaimed “dogfighter” was a German pilot named Manfred von Richthofen known as the “Red Baron” during World War I. Speaking of Germans, exactly 75 years ago today,- in August 3, 1934, after von Hindenburg died,- Adolf Hitler become the supreme leader of Germany by assuming both the powers of President and Chancellor (with the title of Führer). And the world’s most dreaded dictator was born...

Let us go back to the topic at hand. Being a community radio practitioner, it is very essential how we live our lives inside and outside of our workplaces. How we honestly interact and relate with people outside of the radio booth , especially the masses, those living in far-flung communities, including your political rivals or “enemies”, in a personal and face-to-face encounters with them. We must always keep this in mind, a vital community organizing principle in the Philippines : “Hindi gaanong mahalaga sa masa kung ano ang iyong sinasabi’t ipinaliliwanag, kundi kung papaano mo sila pinakikisamahan” (For the common people, what count most is not what you are saying but how you are treating them). No matter how politically correct, smart, useful, informative and appealing you and your message may be. They are all recycle bin-bound.

For it is only this thorough knowledge of the nature of man, the psyche of the people in the countryside,- their habits of mind, peculiar interests, likes and dislikes (in their socio-economic-cultural and political life) their idiosyncracies, their prejudices,- that the media man of a politician can adjust himself or herself –his/her language, his/her message and his/her actions – to those whom he desires to influence. Including of course his/her (or his/her boss' or patron’s)rivals or “enemies”.

Finally, this is a good time for a careful review and analysis of their role (as community media practitioners) in society and identify things that would unite them. We, media practitioners in the province, like all of our politicians and the Mindorenyos in general,- here and abroad, love Occidental Mindoro. And certainly we are united in serving our listeners’ dreams and aspirations regardless of their political colors. They, the people, our listeners are the true subjects and not just objects of our every endeavor as responsible citizens and human beings. Their welfare and development are ideally our utmost concern. This must be the only constant and unchanging thing that should move us . Unlike your political affiliation, the station and the politicians or personalities you are working with (for) which are not permanent. Let us remember, what unifies us is much greater than things that divide us.

In the present media dogfight, the people is appealing for a ceasefire! …

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(Photo credit : cbsnews.com)

Swordsmen in My Memory

I am a certified movie addict and martial art was the blockbuster movie genre when I was young. Martial Law just been declared and I was only ten then. Golden Gate Theatre, just along Gen. Dunckel St. (now C. Liboro or was it Felix Y. Manalo Avenue?), is only a stone throw away from my grandparents’ house. I cannot help but smile everytime I remember that when I was six, while I can go to movies alone, I cannot go to school unaccompanied. And that’s why, even years have passed,- for me, seeing a movie is heaven while doing my school assignment is hell. Those were the days when our demigods onscreen were Chinese and Japanese swordsmen and nobody else.

In case it skipped your memory, Golden Gate Theatre is located at the present site of Novo General Merchandize here in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. That particular spot in Pandurucan (my town’s erstwhile or native name), near the corner of Bonifacio and Dunckel Streets was once its recreation center. It is adjacent to Public Market, near our town’s two famous restaurants (Cora’s and Halina), surrounded by bowling lanes, grocery stores, beer houses, billiard centers,- name it, it’s all there. Places where I became street smart at an early age. And yes as a kid, Golden Gate Theatre introduced me to a wonderful world of foreign and Tagalog movies. Its darkness made me sense the outside world, outside of my home town. It was there where I encountered my childhood screen idols such as Zatoichi (or “Ichi”), the blind swordsman and Fan Gang, the one-armed swordsman. All I have to do is to save fifty centavos from my daily school allowance. Saturdays and Sunday are my “movie days”.

Ichi is a quiet, blind masseur and a roving gambler who, when innocent lives are at stake, becomes the ruthless swordsman who can cut down a dozen goons -- yakuza and samurai alike – as fast as a lightning. The character is played by Shintaro Katsu. I found out just recently from the net that Katsu is a well-known figure in Japan for he starred in all of the 26 “Zatoichi” film series from 1962 to late 80’s (second to total of 27 James Bond film series). I have seen around four of “Zatoichi” films. All from old and dusty white screen of Golden Gate Theatre.

I can still remember my blind swordsman’s good-wit, perceptive understanding of human nature, keen sense of hearing, the fast draw of his cane sword and the way he sing and play music. Things that captured well by my youthful fantasy. Specially when he is protecting the innocent and fighting injustice. Full of excitement, I am glued to the theatre’s chair every time Ichi,- surrounded by blade wielding thugs, initiates darkness or go into the dark and deliver his famous tagline, "Kurayami nara kocchi no mon da" or “Darkness is my ally” (from what I read in its English subtitle below). It’s a prelude to a gory but action-packed scene.

My other favorite is a Chinese actor named (Jimmy) Wang Yu, specially as Fan Gang in the “One-Armed Swordsman” fame. The story is about hard work and vengeance. After his right arm was cut off by the evil men, Fan Gang was trained by an old man and finally mastered the one-armed style of swordplay from a half burn kung fu manual and became even stronger than before. After finally killing all his opponents, instead of teaching kung fu, he decided to become a farmer. The end. Incidentally, Wang Yu was once the top paying martial art actor in Hong Kong before Bruce Lee came into the picture. Wang appeared in 70 films of his more than 20 years in show business.

In a film entitled “Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman” Shintaro Katsu and Wang Yu made a one-heck of a movie. A memorable flick which was actually a crossover film not only between two actors but between two countries, China and Japan. Only now did I realize how the men behind the camera ingeniously use the language barrier between the two main characters to set them up for duel to death while keeping both characters’ motives honorable. The swordplay is excellent but with a bit of the violence and a lot of blood. The film ended without giving a hint who between the blind swordsman and the one-armed swordsman won the duel. And I found my self groping in the dark even after I get out of the cinema that day. Anyway, those swordsmen of my childhood were men of character,- full of interest, enthusiasm and concern toward other people. Their characters maybe violent but they never have been indifferent. Violence is indeed bad but indifference is even worse. And that stayed in my mind until today.

Second to our home and aside from school, we learn our lessons even from most unexpected places of entertainment like movie houses…

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(Photo credit : Amazon.com)

Of Dogfights and Aphorisms

There is an on-going word war between two groups of media people in Occidental Mindoro. Media propagandists affiliated with two rival political titans in our locality. They both have a daily radio program aired from Monday to Friday in two separate FM stations owned, managed or operated by their respective bosses or patrons. The dogfight,- I mean the aerial “combat”, (not the fight of dogs, you silly!) is getting worse everyday. Now employing low blows and “argumentum ad hominem”, majority of the people are already sick and tired of them, except of course their avid political supporters, “clients” , bias and partisan listeners. An “ad hominem” argument in a debate, is a logical fallacy that involves a personal attack.

They are media personalities working as PR men or propagandists of the two rival political groups here in San Jose. They are pawns but also victims of bad, massive and excessive politicking in my beloved home province. May I reiterate that politics,- here in our province and the country as a whole, has degenerated into an arena where the interests of the few elite are pitied against us, weak and poor.

Nobody asked me but I am into reading blogs on aphorism lately. Aphorism is a short pithy instructive saying or a tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion considered as a brief statement of a principle. I have read works of world-acclaimed aphorists of yesteryears and even today, and I’ve highlighted some of them.

Okay, allow me to share some stories of the said “media peoples’ war”,- the worsening "air pollutant" in my province, to be followed by (from what I think) a related aphorism. Here they are:

“The hosts of the rival morning programs over two stations in San Jose are trying to win the public opinion by hauling accusations and counter-accusations at each other. Perhaps, for this race over the air, they are the best horses in the political stable.”

• “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you are still a rat.” – Lilly Tomlin

“I overheard one commentator who said that certain onerous and one sided contract is a “blessing in disguise.” And this comment was immediately seconded by his interviewee who is supposed to initiate the contract’s revocation. And there is also this PR man who keeps on calling the mayor’s critics ”inggitero” (envious of others) rather than discussing the problem as it is.”

• “In politics, stupidity is not a handicap” – Napoleon

“A losing candidate in the last local election is planning to run and again defying a law he is obliged to obey and some things must radically be done. No signs so far from his end leading to such action. He made no specific change on this matter and his political affiliation.”

• “Insanity : Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” – Albert Einstein

“These propagandists cannot air opinions against their patrons. They just express thoughts and re-echo their words. In return, the broadcasters are hailed as intelligent journalists and media practitioners by their taskmasters and “owners”.

• “Parrots mimic their owners. The owners consider that a sign of intelligence” – Martin Rubin

“I do not know why these young, talented and dynamic people allowed their whole person prostituted by bad, massive and excessive politicking. What a waste!”

• “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” - Ronald Reagan

Well, that’s all folks and let me tell you that this post is my simple reaction on what is happening to us,- fellow journalists of our community. And in parting here’s an aphorism from Kenya West, “Life is 5% what happens and 95% how you react” ...