Poem Wild Winds (Poem for Bonifacio Day in the US) The wrath of fall Came unannounced On the last day of November, Venting its anger on the cities And its people all around, Uprooting giant trees, Toppling giant poles Shutting the largest global airport And the proud cities without power or light. Just stating : I am mighty And you are powerless. Against me You have none…. Yes, I am still a power That you can harness and can’t control I am mighty and you are weak I am nature, You are nothing. How can you fight wild winds? apg December 01, 2011

Poem

Wild Winds
(Poem for Bonifacio Day in the US)

The wrath of fall
Came unannounced
On the last day of November,
Venting its anger on the cities
And its  people all around,
Uprooting giant trees,
Toppling giant poles
Shutting the largest global airport
And the proud cities
without power or light.

Just stating : I am mighty
And you are powerless.
Against me
You have none….
Yes, I am still a power
That you can harness and can’t control
I am mighty and you are weak
I am nature,
You are nothing.

How can you fight wild winds?

apg

December 01, 2011

Undas, 2011

Tula

Undas, 2011

Mag-iipon ako ng bala at armas
Habang naghahasa ng itak
Ang mga magsasaka at itinataga
Ang kanilang mga gulok sa pagtatalas
Ng buhong tinutulisan
Upang panglitson ng mga baboy
Na sumisira sa kanilang pananim,
Magiipon ako ng bala at armas
Para sa darating na pagtutuos

Ipinagbawal ng mga Kastila
Ang anumang patalim at gulok
Dahil sa madalas na pag-aalsa
Laban sa kanila sa lahat ng dako,
Kahit na ginamit nila ang krus at espada
Maging ang pusil sa pagsupil
Sa mga erehe at ang lahing palaban,
Maging ang diktador ay naglabas
Ng batas laban sa pagdadala ng gulok
Maging sa bukid sa takot sa pag-aalsa,
Naghahasa pa rin ng gulok ang mga tao.

Maraming nagsasabi
sa kawalang pag-asa
dahil makabago na raw
ang panahon,
Na walang laban ang itak
o anumang sandata
Laban sa mga bomba ng NATO at Kano
Dahil may mga Jet at Drones
Sila at mga mata sa kalawakan,
Ngunit hindi sila makakakita
Sa dilim at sa dami ng taong
Nangangalit ang puso na
Handang lumaban sa kanila

Napatay man nila si Lumumba,
Sinunog man ng mga Kolonyalistang
Belhiko ang bangkay nito ,
Matapos tadtarin ng pino
Tulad ng mga matadero
sa pagawa ng kanilang pulutan
mula sa mga lamang loob
ng kanilang mga kinatay
sa Vitas, Tundo;
Patayin man ng mga rasistang Puti
Ng CIA at FBI- si Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr,
at ibintang ito sa kapwa Itim,
Ng Elitistang si Aguinaldo
Si Supremo Andres Bonifacio, Heneral Antonio Luna
At sipain si Mabini sa kabinete nito;
Kinatay man ng alipures ng NATO  si Kadaffi
Sa harap ng maraming tao
sa harap ng kamera,
Tulad ng pagbigti ng mga Italyanong Pasista
kay Omar Mukhtar ng Libya.

Maghari-harian man ang mga Imperyalista
sa kapalaluan ng Wall Street , ng mga banko
at korporasyong multi-nasyunal
Sa mundo kasama ang mga Papa sa Batikano,
Basbasan man nila ng insenso
katulad ng pagwiwisik nila
ng kanilang mga tamod
sa kanilang mga kerida sa kumbento,
sa mga napatay na pasistang sundalo
Sa Al Barka, Basilan
At suubin ito ng mababangong bulaklak,
Magpapatuloy ang paghahasa
Ng mga itak at pagtutulis ng mga palaso,
Magiipon pa rin ako ng bala,
At maghahanda ng armas
Para sa pagtutuos,
Gaano man ito katagal
At kahaba.

Dahil pagdating sa dulo,
Pag nalagot ang pisi,
Handang handa ako.


Oktubre 31, 2011

Ka Roger and the Philippine Revolution

A Tribute

Ka Roger and the Philippine Revolution

By Jacinto Luna

We received a tragic news thru Facebook. Rogelio Rosal aka Ka Roger, the face of the revolutionary movement in the Philippines was dead.

He died four months ago by heart attack. He died after a lingering illness, he has survived here strokes from 1997. And he died in the field of struggle last June 2011. The news about his death was deferred and was announced only this October after his next of kin and family was informed. His wife died several years ahead in a gun battle with government troopers.

Rogelio Rosal was an ordinary Filipino working student. He was peasant /student.They were so poor that he had  to work in order to save so he can enroll and study as a student in a college in Batangas.

At the same time he was working, he has to save and stop going to school from time to time. A typical travails of a working student in every Third world country like the Philippines.

He was first a sympathizer to student activism and later an active participant in the First Quarter Storm (FQS). He became a member of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in Batangas, and later when he was arrested and imprisoned during martial law.

With nine others, he escaped from the PC Camp in Laguna  and took arms. He joined the NPA and the armed struggle, The rest is history.

When had good times at exchanging stories during our visits to his camp, we joked that he is our idol. He replied with the usual peasant modesty;

“ Actually, you are my idols. During the FQS, when I was a working student, I listen to your speeches and learned much from you. That is why I became a student activist myself.”

He was one of the pioneer in the revolutionary movement in Southern Tagalog. He was thrust into the limelight in the 1986-1987 peace talks when he became the spokesperson of the NPA Melito Glor Command. He was a true organization man because he do not like to be a Spokesperson of the movement in Southern Tagalog during the ceasefire but because he has to obey orders, he has to comply.

If there is a thing Ka.Roger regret is that :“Napasubo na ako, Sabi ko na nga ba, nalantad lang tayong lahat dahil sa pagpasok sa ceasefire na iyon noong 1986-1987.”

The AFP gained 25% of intelligence during the peace talks and many leaders of the movement were exposed like Ka Roger.  He later became the official spokesperson of the revolutionary movement in the 1993.

A testament to his wit, popularity  with the masses and personification of the movement, he bested all counter-revolutionaries and military spokesmen. He was well respected by the media and was known for his cool and respect.

He was a lover of Philippine culture and music. He plays the harmonica and composed some revolutionary songs himself like “Ang Awit ng Kaingero” adapted from the song “Come Back to Sorento.”

We will spent all night singing kundimans and revolutionary songs. That was the Ka Roger I know.

He was jolly and loves to crack jokes. But when it comes to political discussion he was a serious as political commentator , But it is in character to translate heavy political rhetoric into the masses language. What we call the laymen’s language.

Ka Roger is dead and for sure the ruling class psychopath will spin a web of intrigues and mystery about this simple man.  But he will forever live in the hearts of the people and his country and will be in death larger than life.

Like Che Guevarra, Patrice Lumumba and other revolutionaries he will live in struggle and in the final victory of the nation.

Isang Tunay na Kasama!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@

They Fear Them Even in Death

Article

They Fear Them Even in Death 

By Arturo P.Garcia

The ruling class always makes a mockery of those who rebel, fight or resists their rule. They crucify them, burn them at the stake, cut their heads or display them at different public places. Others even burn their cadavers or refused burial to them.

Some threw them to the seas or keep them in freezers. Some even says, " They beg not to be killed." Like in the case of Libyan President Muamar Kadaffi who was killed last October 20, 2011.

Some of them, Hannibal Barca, William Wallace, Gabriela Silang, Ines Carinugan, Supremo Andres Bonifacio, Dr. Jose Rizal, General Antonio Luna, Nicolas Ceasescu, Captain Thomas Sankara, President Patrice Lumumba, Che Guevarra, Salvador Allende to name a few.

Bigger than Life

In the Philippines, Gabriel Silang, an Itneg warrior from Abra was hanged when she led the Ilocos revolt against the Spaniards. She took over her assassinated husband, Diego Silang. She was captured in a battle and after a show trial was made an example to all. Her body was left hanging for days in the Vigan plaza.

And so was Babaylan Ines Carinugan , an Itawes priestess who defied and led the rebellion in Cagayan against the Spanish colonizers in the 1660’s.

Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the Katipunan  and General Antonio Luna, the commander of Filipino Republic forces was assassinated by Emilio Aguinaldo’s men and were buried in undisclosed place. Their remains were never found.

So was Dr. Rizal who was buried in an unmarked grave. after his execution in December 30, 1896.Luckily, Rizal’s family were wise to order a watch on all freshly dug grave after his execution so they found his remains.

William “The Braveheart” Wallace of Scotland was no so lucky. He was executed by disembowelment and his body parts hanged in all public places in London, England. His head was kept in th famed Tower of London.

Captain Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso and President Patrice Lulumba of Belgian Congo was so hated by their enemies especially the French and Belgian imperialist. They dismembered,burned their bodies and scattered it to unknown places.

In Africa, they have s superstitious beliefs that the dead will arise from their deaths if they will not be burned and scattered. They fear them even in death so they made sure they cannot come back to haunt them and be marytrs.

They fear them Even in Death

Ernesto “Che” Guevarra was killed by the Bolivian army and CIA advisers in Bolivia in October 9, 1967. They buried his body in his body in unmarked in Valle Grande. On July 13,1997, the Cuban government and some progressive elements in Bolivia was able to identify his remains.

They know that it was Che’s body because they were missing two hands. According to stories Che’s hands were cut by the CIA operatives and is kept at the CIA Headquarters in Washington DC as a trophy of war.

His body was brought back to Cuba in October 17, 1997 and was reburied in Santa Clara. Now, his gravet is a shrine that tourist and revolutionaries all over the world visits.

Salvador Allende who was deposed by the Chilean army thru US prodding was killed during the attack at the Presidential Palace in Santiago in September 11, 1973.  He was buried in an unmarked grave. The Chilean authorities let his remains be buried to Cuba. He was reburied again in Chile in 2002 after the Chilean dictatorship has gone.

But until today there are two versions on his death. The military says he committed suicide. While the progressives said he was executed by the military.

And lastly, Hannibal Barca, the scourge of Rome, one of the greatest military tactician in the world, was pursued by Rome all his life. The Romans hated him so much that they pursued him to the ends of the earth.

He remarked before he died when he was found by the Roman troops in exile in Thrace:  “Why don’t you just let a man die in peace?”

But as revolutionaries, we believe, people who are fighter and have principles that die on their feet or fighting, firing to the last bullet or wounded, will never beg. That we sincerely believe!

*******

1911, the Movie-A Tribute to the Heroes of China’s Democratic Revolution

Updated Movie Review
October 12, 2011  

1911, the Movie-A Tribute to the Heroes of China’s Democratic Revolution

By Arturo P. Garcia

What a way and  time to remember, the centenary of China’s 1911 Revolution that overthrew one of the world’s longest empire- China's Qing Dynasty than to watch it in a movie.

This is a patriotic movie from Jackie Chan,who played the historical figure of the "eight fingered" General  Huang Xing.He was just  like the greatest Filipino General Antonio Luna. Like Luna, Huang has no formal military schooling. They both learned military tactics from friends in Japan and in Luna's case in Europe.  But unlike Luna, Huang led the uprisings. Luna disdained the  Katipunan but later joined the army of the 1st Republic and fought both the Spanish and American colonialist.

I tip my hat to actor Jackie Chan for his acting and portrayal of a Chinese revolutionary patriot in pursuit of change. He acted as historical figure , the Chinese revolutionary patriot and General  Huang Xing and did his part well. This was his first serious film and he did justice to his historical role.

Of all places, we watched it in the Chinese Grumman theater, the first time I watch a movie in that place. I use to frequent the area but only during anti war or immigration rights demonstrations.

The 1911 Revolution Against the Qing Dynasty

For me, it is a good history lesson about China and  the story of the Tongmenghui ( Unity League) , a revolutionary organization just like the Katipunan led by Dr. Sun Yat Sen  ( Sun Wen in the film) and Huang Xing.  In 1904 Sun Yat-sen came about with the goal to establish a Republic, and to distribute land equally among the people.

I realized i still have a lot to learn about the history of China for i only knew its history about its revolution form 1927 to 1949 and the later events after it. It is a humbling experience for me.

One of Sun's major legacy was the creation of his political philosophy of the Three Principles of the People, This  included the principle of nationalism (minzu), of democracy (minquan), and of welfare (minsheng,).

He led raising funds for the revolution and on August 20, 1905 Sun joined forces with revolutionary Chinese students studying in Tokyo, Japan to form the unified group Tongmenghui ( or United League) which sponsored uprisings in China.

By 1906 the number of Tongmenghui members reached 963 people. In 1907 there were a total of four uprisings that failed.

From Failures to Success

The movie concentrated on the failed April 27, 1911 revolutionary General Huang Xing led a second Guangzhou ( also known as Canton. Filipinos has its local noodles called the Pancit Canton ) uprising known as the Yellow Flower Mound Revolt . The revolt failed and ended in disaster; the bodies of only 87 revolutionaries were ever found. The revolutionaries are remembered as the martyrs of the 1911 revolution.

The movie also depicted the October 10, 1911 a military uprising in Wuchang, in Hubei province led again by  General Huang Xing  At the time Sun had no direct involvement as he was still in exile. Huang was in charge of the revolution that ended over 2000 years of imperial rule in China.

The movie also showed the triumphant return of Sun after he learned of the success of the revolution from the United States. After this event October 10 became known as the commemoration of the “Double Ten”

Historical Inaccuracies and Inconsistencies

The movie conducted liberalism when it primariy shows that Sun was in San Francisco fund raising. and the movie watchers might think that the rebels were in the United States. While the truth, the base of their operations was in Singapore.

Another scene was that Sun learned of the Wuchang Uprising in San Francisco in a library when he read the news about the October 10 uprising in China,, while the true story was he was in Colorado at the time. They romanticize it that as if he was in San Francisco. 

Another  historical inaccuracy, the movie did not speak of the partnership between Filipino revolutionaries and the Chinese counterparts led by Sun and Huang Xing. They did not underscore that in the 1911 uprising in Guangzhou, they used the arms bought by the Katipunan from Japan and were smuggled to China.

Sun borrowed the Katipunan arms stocked piled in Japan thru his friend Filipino revolutionary Mariano Ponce. the arms were paid by the Katipunan and was not able to reach the Philippines during the 1896 Revolution. The arms was smuggled into China thru the port of Canton. Mao Zedong knows this fact that he made a point to repay the debt of gratitude to the Filipino people and help the later revolution in the Philippines.

Another inconsistency in the movie was the role of the Empress Dowager. Joan Chen was to beautiful and young to portray an aging Empress. But she did all right in her hysterics.  But what they really underscore was the betrayal of the militarist

The film really made a good  portrayal of the Qing General Yuan Shi Kai who was double dealer and who later proclaimed himself as China’s Emperor replacing the Qing Dynasty and who became a puppet of British and Japanese Imperialist.

For me who has shallow tear ducts, I have to fight back tears and drink a lot of water in order not to cry while watching the movie. It is really moving watching the sacrifices of the Chinese revolutionaries. They sacrificed  all for systemic change and their ardent desire and selflessness is really exemplary.

Although the ending was tragic. For the reactionaries and the militarist won in the end,  it showed the determination of people who desired change not to stop working for a meaningful change just like what Sun and Huang during their numerous  exile and return to struggle over and over again despite the many failures.

It’s better version of Amigo, a film about the US imperialist war in the Philippines. Maybe because the Chinese government was involved and the whole Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)  acted as extras in a historical film of epic proportion. A great way to celebrate the bourgeois national democratic revolution of 1911.

A lot bloodier though for China really has a bloody history from the building of the Great Wall to its unification of a nation and an empire and the revolutions from which the new modern China was born.

It is really worth watching.

***********

Bagong Lider-Mandirigmang Malaweg sa Makabagong Panahon- Ka Baylon (Jose Asco)

Pagpupugay


Bagong Lider-Mandirigmang Malaweg sa Makabagong Panahon- Ka Baylon (Jose Asco)


Ni Jacinto Luna


Buong giting na nagpupugay ang sambayang Pilipino sa kagitingan ni Ka. Jose ‘Ka Baylon” Asco .


Isang magiting na mandirigmang Malaweg sa bagong panahon. Ipinagpatuloy niya ang magiting na tradisyon ng pakikipaglaban ng mga rebolusyonaryong lider na lumaban sa mga Kolonyalistang Kastila  tulad ni Magalat ( 1595), Magtannga ng Itawes at Ines Carinugan ng Silangang Kaitawisan. Nasawi si ka Baylon habang lumalaban sa pusod ng Kaitawisan sa Piat, Cagayan. Siya at ang at apat pang mga mandirigma ng NPA ay nagbuwis ng buhay sa labanan sa kapatagan ng Itawes  sa Sityo Talinganay, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Piat, Cagayan noong Mayo 12, 2011.


Ang Malaweg ay isang maliit na tribong minorya na nakabase sa Zinandungan Valley sa pagitan ng Kalinga at Cagayan. Tinawag silang Malaweg ( ibig sabihin sa Kastila ay Masamang Tubig--Mal at Ueg ( Ilog ) sa salitang Itawes).


May sariling kabihasnan ngunit iba sa tribong Itawes na nasa Kabundukang Silangan at Kanlurang kapatagan ng Cagayan. Ang mga Malaweg sa kapatagan ng Cagayan ang pinakahuling nagapi ng mga Kastila. Ngunit ang mga nasa bundok lalo na sa Zinandungan Valley ay nanatiling malaya. Napailalim lamang sila sa panahon ng pananakop ng mga Amerikano.


Si Ka. Baylon Isa siyang magsasakang ulila na sa mga magulang na nakatira noon sa Barangay Bato, Rizal, Cagayan. Ang lugar na ito ay nasa bukana ng Zinandungang Valley sa may kapatagan ng Itawes. Kalaunan, naging foreman siya ng Redwood Logging Company, isang trabahong nagdala sa kanya sa liblib ng mga kagubatan palapit sa mga mandirigma ng New People’s Army na nagpamulat at nagpakilos sa kanya sa rebolusyon. Noong 1979, sumampa siya sa NPA.


Pundador ng NPA


Nakasama siya sa mga unang buong SYP na kumilos sa Kanlurang Cagayan sa may  Zinandungan Valley at Santo Nino. Isa siya sa mga nagpundar ng kilusang magsasaka sa lugar na ito hanggang sa lumaganap ang kilusan sa buong lambak ng Cagayan at sa Kalinga-Apayao.


Elementarya lamang ang kanyang natapos, ngunit naaral niya ang kalagayan ng lipunan at ibinahagi ito sa masang magsasakang sinamahan niya sa paglaban hanggang sa huling hininga.


Pinakamagandang biro niya na di malimutan ng lahat at nagkakatawanan kapag ikinukuwento niya na ;” Ang kaklase kong si Mayor Raul Dela Cruz,( isang malaking panginoong may-lupa sa Rizal, Cagayan na kabilang sa Pamilyang Villaflor at Sequi  sa lalawigan ng Cagayan)  sa elementarya ay nangogopya lang sa akin lalo na aritmeteka.” Patunay na kahit mahirap, magaling si Ka. Baylon kahit hindi siya nakapagtapos, Patunay ang mga mahahalagang  tungkulin ginampanan niya sa kilusan mula 1979-2011.


Nang buuin ang Unang Platung Partisano sa Cagayan at Apayao  sa Southwest Front (SWF) noong 1985, isa siya sa nahirang na mamuno sa Sangay ng Partido na mamahala sa pakikibakang masa at pakikidigmang partisano sa panahong ng SCO.


Nanatili siyang matibay na timon at angkla sa pagpupundar ng Partido at sa pagsusulong ng rebolusyon sa Cagayan Valley at rehiyon ng Ilocos bago, sa panahon ng SCO at sa pagsusulong sa Kilusang ng Pagwawasto. Ginampanan niya ang lahat ng tungkuling iniatang sa kanya sa abot ng kanyang makakaya, tungkuling pang-organisasyon, pampulitika o pangmilitar man ang mga ito. Kabilang sa mga pusisyong hinawakan niya ay ang pagiging isa sa namumuno sa Roger Baccud Front noong 1986, South Party Committe-Cagayan noong 1988.


Haligi ng Pagtutuwid


Gumanap siya sa Apayao Party Committee noong 1993, Northwest Cagayan Party Committee noong 1995, at sa panahon ng kamatayan ay bilang kagawad ng Komiteng Larangan sa Danilo Ben Front-West Cagayan. Kahit maari nang magpahinga dahil sa edad at kalagayang pangkalusugan, pinili niyang gumampan ng gawain sa larangang gerilya. Gumabay at nagsanay siya sa mga bagong kadre at kasapi ng Partido, naging mahusay na kumander ng platung gerilya


Binigo ni Ka Baylon ang maraming pagsubok sa kanyang katatagan, hindi lang ang mga panloob na mga kontradiksyon sa isip o sakit sa katawan. Nanatili siyang matibay kahit dekada na siyang pinasusuko ng kaaway, sa pamamagitan ng suhol man o karahasan.


Tinawanan niya ang mga alok sa kanya ng pagsurender, napoot siya sa pagdidiin sa kanyang mga anak at kapamilya upang sumuko siya, kabilang ang pagpaslang ng militar sa kanyang bagong-panganak na asawang si Maria ‘Ka Rema’ Gubat noong 2001. Sa mahigit 33 taong pagsisilbi niya sa mamamayan, hindi siya nanlamig sa paglaban ni isang saglit. Magiting na tradisyon ng tribong Malaweg.


Magiting siyang naging inspirasyon hindi lang sa mga kapwa namumuno at pinamumunuan, kundi pati sa masang anakpawis sa buong rehiyon.
Nakasaludo ang mga kadre at kasapi ng Partido Komunista, mga komander at mandirigma ng NPA, at buong rebolusyonaryong puersa sa Cagayan Valley sa naging buhay at kamatayan ni Kasamang Jose Asco.


Buhay at kamatayan itong di mamamantsahan anumang putik ang ibato ng reaksyunaryong rehimen sa rebolusyonaryong kilusan, isang kasaysayan na magsisilbing bantayog na kailanma’y nakatirik at di magigiba sa dibdib ng uring api, gaya ng kanyang prinsipyo na ating pagliliyabin hanggang sa pananagumpay ng rebolusyon.


Mabuhay ang ala-ala ni Ka Jose Asco at lahat ng rebolusyonaryong martir!


Mabuhay si Ka. Baylon!


*******

BOOK REVIEW

“ THE PHILIPPINE WAR 1899-1902: A PRO IMPERIALIST BOOK IN THE POST MODERNIST TIME
By Arturo P. Garcia

Author Brian McAllister Linn in his book, “The Philippine War, 1899-1902 “ (427 pages) explains how he draws his conclusions on how the United States won this war or how the Filipinos lost this.

But his questions remained, and this focused to the so-called myth of on how the United States won the war: “ by civilizing Filipinos with a Krag remains resilient.” That is why he took pains to dispute this fact.

As an American author, he calls for a “ reevaluation of military operations” (maybe calling a good war) during the Philippine War. He calls it “ long overdue”. He calls for “ a study of the war, stripping it of ideological blinders so it can offer great insight into complexities of localized guerilla war and indigenous resistance to foreign control.”

Yet like all the academics, in his bibliography he calls historical writing as often summarized as” explaining what happened and why. But he says, in the case of the Philippine –American conflict the “what happened was subordinated to the “ why”

That is a tacit admission he used Imperialist or American works, army records and used Filipinos sources or the participants sources that he called as” limited”.

He was really convinced that’s the “Filipino side awaits a scholar. “ For him, the works of Filipino scholars as a rich source of the war history of the Filipino American War is never enough.

He admitted that he used mostly American books and war records and used the Filipino sources as secondary or not at all. He just mentioned them as perfunctorily as a scholar does but never gave the Filipino side merit for their heroic struggle.

Using the successful American Revolution as an example, he chided the Filipino side for “not having a Natahnael Greene who can combine partisan with regular to achieve campaign or strategic goal.”

He said that “the revolutionaries fought a holding action, the best they can hoe for was their opponents would tire.” He called it “ a short sighted policy.

As usual, blaming the individual leadership, he heaped all the blame to General Emilio Aguinaldo. Praising the Imperialist, he said” What gave the Americans military forces was not their numbers but their effectiveness. Part of these had to do with weapons.”

He never admitted that the Philippines was the first American Vietnam. The only difference is that America lost the Vietnam War (1954-1975) as they lost the Korean War (1950-1954) so they cherish their victory over the Filipinos as a precious one.

The writer was so cruel and very vicious to the greatest Filipino general- Antonio Luna. His few pages that mentioned the gallant defense and offensives of the Army of the Republic led by Luna was riddled with innuendoes from all his enemies.

He never mentioned that Luna gave the Americans a hard time and broke the boast of the Americans that they can beat the Filipinos within “one week” It took them sixteen years to subjugate the Philippines and the myth that they destroyed the Filipino resistance within four years is the myth that Linn is trying to perpetuate up to know.

But what can we expect on the jaundiced eyes of pro-Imperialist authors like Linn.

He readily brushed aside that the Filipinos lost more than a million people fighting for their own Republic, which he conveniently called another myth.

He might be right because one lasting legacy that the Americans left us is that there is no study of Filipino military history even its prime military school-the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), has no nationalist orientation much more the study of the Philippine military history

They are just good in just changing names like the naming the PMA Camp Henry Allen to Fort Gregorio Del Pilar as they did to Camp Murphy to Camp Aguinaldo and Fort McKinley to Fort Bonifacio.

Thus, it is incumbent for Filipinos and Filipino Americans to study their own history and rewrite it in the own perceptions. Until then, authors like Linn will run amuck and brand themselves as authorities on the history of Filipinos.

They will continue to treat us as “lost souls” as the Spanish conquistadores wrote the history of the Philippines filled with heretic, bandits and witches as they Christianized and turned Filipinos as civilized people.

******

Mga Anak ng kabayo, Apo ng Galunggong (Pasintabi kay Ka Roger)

ula

Mga Anak ng kabayo, Apo ng Galunggong
(Pasintabi kay Ka Roger)

Mga anak ng kabayo ,
malakas sumipa kapag nagagalit,
Mas mapalad pa sa tao
Dahil asendero’y nagmamalasakit,
Sa kabayong gamit sa Polo.
Laro ng mga hari’t prinsipe-
may sariling bahay,tagapag-alaga,
May tagapulot at damong ari,
Samantalang ang mga anak
Ng kabayong tao
Lagi na sa pighati,
Pagkain ay galunggong
O kaya ay asin at siling
Pantighaw sa gutom lagi;

Ngayon, mga apo ng galunggong,
Wala nang makain;
Dahil ang galunggong
Lumayo sa malalim ng dagat
At lumipat na sa Hilaga--
Dahil sa El Nino at El Ninang
Nagpatuyo sa pugad
Ng maaskad na isdang
Pagkain ng mahirap,
Kaya ang mga apo ng galunggong,
Nagmahal na at mahirap bilhin,
Ng aping mahirap
Wala nang makain.

Mahirap talagang maging apo ng kabayo
Lalo ang apo ng galunggong;
nangibang bansa na at lumayo
Sa Silangang Pasipiko,
Nagtago sa dagat
ng Rusya at ng mga Hapon
naninindim dahil sa lamig,
malayo na sa init
ng matinding hilahil.

Agosto 07, 2011

***********

Walking Among the Living

Poem

Walking Among the Living

When the lights went out,
Jupiter brightens its moons;
Embraced me with its cold air,
I felt the weakness in me
And air was sucked by the wind
Like a passing breeze that passed,
There was air but no sun,
There is the moon
But there were no stars,
Yet the mind cannot command,
It is nice to be alive,
But dead in a moment,
I dread the cold.
But long for it
In the heat of the night,
I loved to talk
To the  lost souls,
to our elders,
Old friends who I never saw
Again and comrades
In their magnificent
Deadly arms,
Yes, it is fun to wake up
In the bright light
Of the morning and greet
The warm sun
For the coming
Of the new dawn.

August 02, 2011

The Film “ Amigo”- Not so Historically Friendly for Filipinos

Movie Review

The Film “ Amigo”- Not so Historically Friendly for Filipinos

By Arturo P. Garcia

A columnist Emil Guillermo noted  in Philippine News last week “  ..people don’t learn much from history, maybe they’ll learn more after seeing Sayles “Amigo.”

But some commentaries and observations were made during our after movie discussions  last Saturday with the youth organization in LA --the KmB does not necessarily conform with his views. And I agree with much of the Filipino-American  youth ( movie goers ) animated and truthful observations.

1. Racist overtones dominates the film. Although they tried to present the Filipino perspective, much is concentrated on how Americans fell about the Filipinos during that time.

Yes, we understood that this is a period film. We know and understand that the pervading system that time is racist. But to see and feel that all through out the movie and see the obvious, its really revolting.  Racist words like “Dagos”, “Gugus”, “Bandits” and complaining about the clap abounds.

Even the use of an historical inaccurate Spanish priest who knows how to speak English ( American English at that!) who spew anti-Filipino epithets was an over-stretch of the director/writer’s artistic license.

One KmB member remarked “ Yes we know they are racists. But please, give us break!’

2. Focus on the contradictions among the people.  We understand the director’s penchant for balance. But in the process, Sayles focused on the contradictions among the people. For example, the contradictions between the Republican guerilla forces and the civil authorities dealing with the Americans.

It unnecessarily showed that Filipino guerrillas were merciless even their own people and especially among the Chinese coolies. Even to the point, the the guerilla leader did not do anything even the same Filipino guerilla leader ordered the brother to play “amigo”  to the Americans.

In the process the real message that the Filipinos never lend a hand to the American forces that they were forced to hire Chinese and Japanese collies for their war efforts was  subsumed. What was highlighted was the Filipino animosity to the Chinese.  Which is not historically accurate!

This was also the criticism of some movie critics in the Philippines. But Sayles defended his movie by citing American military records. My ass!

3.Poor Transition. A budding Fil-Am writer/ filmmaker noted that Sayles erred in providing transitions to the story. I personally saw the problem. It was enough for him to say in early narration and credits “ that American fought a war with Spain, so the Americans came half-way around the world to be in the Philippines.” Period!

He did not even take pains to explain in his contrast using General MacArthur's General Order 100 and the Aguinaldo’s proclamation ordering Filipinos to wage guerillla warfare in 1899 from regular warfare and what was stressed was that the two orders have no difference. That the two orders were just punishing anyone who will give aid and comfort to the enemy.

Again, many things , proper things that could have made the transition in the movie clear and have explained the events in proper perspective could have set the record straight. Just several lines through the actors could have said:  “ We have beaten the Filipinos last year and have chased Aguinaldo to kingdom come , so today 1900’s—they are now fighting us through another kind of warfare.” Or even better explained the two disparate orders more thoroughly

One KmB member remarked;’  “ Sayles put our people in a bad light. It showed us as always angry and even against our people. Threatening them with death!’

4. Good points. But generally speaking, we appreciate Sayles efforts . For it was the first film , a mainstream film about the Filipino-American War which is a taboo subject here in America.

We will welcome more improvements in the future films and we hope that more films will follow Sayles efforts.

At least it is sympathetic to Filipinos and most of all anti war and resonates the current war in Afghanistan, Iraq and the now current American war in Libya.

As Emil Guillermo said: “the subtitles are also interesting ( even if some are not so accurate) because you can hear characters translate or mistranslate it in English.”

Another KmB member said “ Well, it is a film about us Filipinos, I loved to see our people in the movies.”
Another remarked that “ it is good start for a discussion. To go deeper into the study of our own history and our past and our heroic legacy as a people”

We acknowledged Sayles anti-war sentiments. The only problem is it is a mixed message. That everybody losses in the war. There is no  appreciation of the people’s role. The message is left for the people to ponder which sides they favor. An intellectual predicament at that!

The real message if he is progressive , is that  in a people’s war or a war for liberation against a foreign aggressors, this war is just and the people will eventually win in the end.

‘It was left in a cryptic message that was said in the movies by Bembo Roco, a peasant guerilla that the KmB noted and appreciates. In  answering the young soldiers comment “ We have no chance of winning this war” , the revolutionary character said:

“ We barely made it out in Cavite in 1896, but we almost won and trapped the Spaniards in Intramuros.( in reference to the walled city of Manila) . Its up for you  the youth to step up and win this. This your chance.”


*****

ON THE TENTH YEAR OF INTERNATIONAL ANSWER COALITION

Memories

ON THE TENTH YEAR OF INTERNATIONAL ANSWER COALITION

We in the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) greet the  ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) a militant happy tenth anniversary on its founding!  MABUHAY!

On September 14, 2001, just three days after the September 11 attacks, the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) came into existence and announced a planned mass demonstration against war and racism for September 29, 2001, in Washington, D.C.

We vividly still  remember until today that the attacks against ANSWER were swift and furious. Right-wing organizations condemned us as “traitors” and many liberal organizations said that it was “wrong” and “untimely” to have a demonstration against the Bush administration.

The people of the United States were still in a state of shock and grief on September 14, 2001. Behind the scenes, the Bush administration was rapidly putting into place a plan for military invasion and domestic repression using the terrible events of September 11 as a pretext. Bush's announced "war on terror" was the rationale that the administration hoped would be enough to silence any opposition. In the days after September 11, Bush's approval ratings were at 90 percent.

While the then September 29 Coaltiion that envisioned to build to hold the nationwide rally against capitalist globalization folded up and more than 100 organizations withdrew their support, on those  in a difficult moment, on September 29, 2011 ANSWER led and showed that a mass opposition to Bush was possible.

The First anti-war demonstration after Sept. 11 attacks, 09/29/2011

The ANSWER Coalition organized a demonstration of 25,000 people on Sept. 29, 2001, just 18 days after the Sept. 11 attacks, to show mass opposition to Bush's policy of war abroad and racism at home.

The September 29, 2001, demonstration in Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. was a watershed event. People of conscience came together—under very difficult circumstances—to make clear that they would not support the government’s efforts to launch a global war drive abroad and eviscerate civil liberties at home. Under the heavy pressure of a national propaganda campaign intended to silence dissent, many were told, even by friends and allies, that they should not speak out – yet they came. Some of the students organizing busses were falsely told by their schools that attending the demonstration would be dangerous and unsafe—but they too came anyway.

We did not know how many people would come, but knew that it was imperative that those who were willing, organize against the looming imperial war drive and domestic repression. As the demonstration grew, we watched the Plaza fill as people joined to take a stand together. 25,000 people came despite the intense pressure. The chants rang out from the heart of Washington, D.C., “We will not be silent!” and “We want justice, we want peace, U.S. out of the Middle East.” C-Span carried the demonstration and the message went out throughout the country that resistance and organization was possible.

In Los Angeles, the AJLPP forces with the AFFIRM and JFAV with our militant  allies formed the Peoples Coalition Against the War (PCAW) and still holding the banner of the Sept 29 anti globalization movement that carried the torch of Seattle mass action in 1999, marched and  rallied in Broadway, downtown LA in support of the rally in Washington DC. The  PCAW and the majority of forces with the AJLPP  later disbanded in 2002 and later joined ANSWER-LA.

Including the Issue of Palestine in the U.S. Peace Movement

Seven months later, on April 20, 2002, the ANSWER Coalition organized the largest demonstration in U.S. history in support of the Palestinian people. 100,000 people marched under the slogan, “Free Palestine, No War on Iraq” just three weeks after the Israeli re-invasion of the West Bank.

That demonstration was also a major controversy within the peace movement. ANSWER, which at its core included partnership between non-Arab and Arab-American organizers, refused to accept the marginalization of the Palestinian struggle. Treating the Palestinian struggle as a taboo was a shameful legacy of the traditional peace organizations in the U.S.

Many groups who say they are anti -war who are really racist said we should not emphasize the issue of Palestine, claiming it would “alienate” people. That demonstration marked a turning point. The struggle of the Palestinian people was raised as a vital part of the movement for justice and peace in the Middle East. Support for the Palestinian people is now widespread among many U.S. groups because of this hard-fought battle in the anti-war movement and others that followed from 2002 to 2005.

Today there are few in the peace movement who would suggest that Palestinian self-determination can properly be delinked from organizing for a just peace in the Middle East.

A New Anti-War Movement

As the Bush administration made its plans for war against Iraq, the ANSWER Coalition announced plans for a mass demonstration on October 26, 2002, in Washington, D.C.

To the surprise of the administration and the media, 200,000 people answered that call and a new massive anti-war movement was born.  On January 18, 2003, a half million people marched again in Washington, D.C. On February 15, 2003, millions took to the streets in thousands of cities in nearly every country.

In March 2003, in spite of a storm, more than 100,000 people march in Los Angeles in the heavy downpour and defied the weather.

In the months and years that followed, hundreds of thousands more came together as the ANSWER Coalition became the motor for mass actions against the war in Iraq as well as mass actions in support of the Palestinian people, against the war in Afghanistan, and the bombing of Libya, the threats against Iran, and in support of the people of Cuba and Venezuela to develop free from U.S. sanctions, threats and subversion.

ANSWER Coalition’s Unique Political and Organizational Perspective

Half a million people marched on Jan. 18, 2003, in opposition to the looming war on Iraq—the largest anti-war demonstration in Washington, D.C., since the Vietnam era.

A cornerstone of ANSWER’s approach is to provide in-depth political analysis from an anti-imperialist framework. We have also stressed the primacy of action, of mobilizing and organizing people. The ANSWER Coalition has been characterized by a dynamic organizing style, a sustained level of activity throughout the country, and the inclusion of hundreds of volunteers who have worked selflessly to build this grassroots movement.

We  in the AJLPP together with ANSWER sincerely believe that the people themselves are the decisive factor to bring about change. We have been distinctive in our orientation towards the Republicans and Democratic parties. We believe that both parties were responsible for the war drive and the attacks against civil rights and civil liberties at home.

The high tide of the Immigrant Rights Movement, 2006

The ANSWER Coalition from its inception was distinctive because it was completely multi-racial and multinational. It made the connection between the anti-war movement and the struggles against racism and for social and economic justice. We have fought free speech battles around the country to open the streets and parkland to all those who wish to speak out.

ANSWER has played a leading role in the fight against racist and religious profiling. It led millions of people in the immigrant right upsurge against anti- immigrant laws with  more than 2 million march in Los Angeles and other parts of the country in March 2006. ANSWER again led in the defense of the immigrants against police brutality and against the assaults on May Day rally in Los Angeles.

When others are intimidated, ANSWER chose to fight back and step up against intimidation and against the racist minutemen everywhere especially in California. ANSWER was also a leader in defense of the Muslim and Arab American communities inside the United States, and in support of civil rights and civil liberties that are under attack.

AJLPP with ANSWER  have taken to the streets to defend workers rights, defeat anti-immigrant bigotry, and to advance the struggle for social and economic justice.  There were others who criticized raising issues besides “peace” but we felt that no U.S. movement could be relevant, inclusive or effective without doing so.

A New Era of Organizing Among Active Duty Troops and Veterans

In recent years March Forward!, an affiliate of the ANSWER Coalition, has brought together anti-war veterans and active-duty service members to fight for their rights and oppose U.S. imperialist wars of aggression. March Forward! organizers have worked to defend conscientious objectors and demand justice for the families of military members whose lives have been destroyed by war.

These current and former military personnel have taken the risk of speaking out and organizing a powerful movement in opposition to the generals and the Pentagon.

A Decade of Consistent Organizing Creates a New Generation of Leaders and Activists

Numerous organizations have come and gone in the last decade. The ANSWER Coalition is still here. In fact, the Coalition has vibrant chapters all over the country active in education, outreach and mobilizing.

A whole generation of young activists who came into political life during the past decade have become trained, skilled organizers through their experience with the ANSWER Coalition.

We will continue with ANSWER to build  a generation of young leaders working not only in the anti-war movement but in critical progressive social movements throughout the United States until a true systemic change occurs in our lifetime!

MABUHAY ANG ANSWER COALITION!

MANGAHAS MAKIBAKA, KAMTIN ANG TAGUMPAY! (DARE TO STRUGGLE, DARE TO WIN!)

Fil-Ams and Allies Marks 39th Year of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines in the US

News

Fil-Ams  and Allies Marks 39th Year of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines in the US

Los Angeles – The Filipino Americans led by the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP)  in the United States will hold commemorative events to mark the 39th  year of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines all over the United States.

--In New York, on Sept. 24, the Damayan Migrant Workers Association will hold a speak out  at the  Kalusugan Coalition Office at 39-04 63 St btwn Roosevelt & 39 Aves Woodside, Queens, NY. After the speak out, the group will hold a vigil along  Roosevelt Ave. to dramatize their protest against martial law.

--In Los Angeles, the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) with ANSWER-LA and Bantay Pilipinas will hold a commemorative rites on September 30, 2011. It will be held at the ANSWER office on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 PM

The venue is located at 137 Virgil Avenue, # 201, Los Angeles, CA 900014.  Los Angeles was the bastion of the anti-martial law forces in the United States. IT is also the home of the largest Filipino community outside of the Philippines.

Beyond Forgetting

The United States became a battleground of the pro-martial law forces of the US-Marcos Dictatorship and the forces of democracy led by the progressive Filipino-American community from September 23, 1972 until the downfall of the dictatorship in February 26, 1986.

Despite being divided, the Filipino-American community and their American and other minority nationalities contributed greatly to the downfall of the dictatorship.

Different groups like the Katipunan ng mga Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP), Anti Martial Law Coalition, Friends of the Filipino People, Movement for the Restoration of Civil Liberties in the Philippines.Gabriela Network,  and the Alliance for Philippine Concerns (APC)  sprung and carried on the anti-martial law struggle in the United States from 1972-86.

After the downfall of the US Marcos Regime in 1986, other newer  Fil-Am organizations stepped up like Pesante, Nagliliyab, Kilusan ng Progressibong Kabataan (KPK),CPI, Alyansa ng Komunidad (AK) and later the Alliance-Philippines  (AJLPP) and its allied organizations. Some are still active today carrying on the torch of the struggle here in the United States:

Martial law, 39 years later, 2011

On September 23, 1972, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in the Philippines. The Proclamation was signed in September 21, 1972  and arrest were made first before the formal announcement and the general crackdown began.

It was  a fascist scheme to deal a decisive and fatal blow to the growing revolutionary  movement that was fighting US foreign domination . It was supported by the United States.  The situation then was  widespread poverty  and sicontent created by the Philippine government's subservience to the interests of US imperialism at the height of the Vietnam War.

Tens of thousands of Filipinos were killed, tortured and disappeared during this time. Marcos also created the Philippine Labor Export Program (LEP) to "solve" the massive unemployment and poverty in the homeland and to profit from the  forced migration of Filipinos.

To this day, the LEP has become the lifeline of the Philippine economy and has distorted the lives of more than 12 million Filipinos around the world, including domestic workers. At present there are more than 5 million Filipinos in the United States.

 For more information please contact the Alliance-Philippines at (213)241-0906 and Bantay –LA  at (818) 749 0273  or email at magsasakapil@hotmail.com.

 *************

Sa Mga Di Kilalang Bayani

Alay

Sa Mga Di Kilalang Bayani

Kayong mga nalibing
Sa mga gubat at parang
Na walang pananda man lamang.
Kayo na hindi na mababalikan
At inilbing na walang kabaong himlayan,
Kayo na ang pananda ay punong kahoy,
Munting batis o ilog na madaling tandaan,

Kayo na ang mga bangkay
Ay sama-samang inilibing
Ng mga kaaway ---
Matapos ibilad sa araw
Para ipanakot sa mga nagdadaan
Sa harap ng munisipyo:

Kayo na hinubaran, ginahasa,
Ginulpi bago ipaanod sa karayan,
Kayo na ang mga bangkay
Ay hinukay para kunwa'y bigyang parangal
Ng mga balakyot na militar
Ngunit ang layon ay makuha ang pabuya
Sa iyong kamatayan;

Kayong mga magigiting na bayani
Na di nalibing sa huling hantungan,
Nalimutan na ang mga pangalan
At nagbuwis ng buhay
Sa gitna ng pakikibaka ng bayan.

Kayo na walang pangalang masa
Na dinukot sa gitna ng gabi;
Kayo na pinahirapan sa mga lihim na silid
Saka dinispatsa na parang yagit
At nawalang parang bula sa ere,
Mga bayaning di kilala,
Daang libong masa
Na namgmartsa sa gitna ng daan,
Sa harap ng mga gusaling bayan,
sa EDSA, sa Malacanang,
sa lahat ng dako ng kapuluan.

Kayo na hanggang ngayon ay pinaghahanap
Ng inyong mga kaanak
Mula pa sa panahon ni Marcos, ilampung libong
Nawala na lamang at sukat,
Kayo na tinatangisan ng mga ina at amang
Nawalan ng anak
Habang ngising aso ang mga heneral at aipures nilang
pumaslang at ayaw umamin sa kanilang
Katampalasanang ginawa.

Kayo na wala man lamang bantayog
Sa ngalan ninyo inialay,
Habang ang mga naghaharing uri
Ay nagtayo ng kani-kanilang monumento
Sa lahat ng dako ng kapuluan,

Kayo ay nabubuhay sa ala-ala ng sambayanan;
Ang mga bulaklak na ligaw sa gubat,
Ang mga orkidyas sa mga baging
Ng mga matatataas na puno ang sa iyo ay alay
Hinding hindi kayo malilimot
At laging nagbabagang apoy
sa bawat buga ng sandatang lumalaban,
Kayo ay nasa bawat sigaw ng sambayan,
Kayo ay nasa bawat sandatang
maagaw sa kaaway,
kayo ay nasa bawat sentimo
na alay ng bayan sa pakikibaka
sa ibayong dagat sa lupang sinilangan.

Para sa inyo mga di kilalang bayani
Ni hindi alam ang pangalan,
galing sa uring anak-pawis at inang bayan,
Ang dakilang pakikibaka at magiting na tagumpay
Sa inyo namin--iniaalay!

ApG

Agosto 31, 2011

September 16, 1991, the day the Filipinos Threw out the US Bases in the Philippines

Memories

September 16, 1991, the day the Filipinos Threw out the US Bases in the Philippines

Arturo P. Garcia

TWO things that stands out and I will remember twenty years ago on September 16, 1991--the day the Senate voted to close down US bases on Philippine soil: first, it rained heavily and the vote in the Philippine Senate six years after the dictatorship was overthrown changed the country's destiny and  second ,there was a crowd of 100,000 was at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

I vividly remember that night when I walked from the gate into our house in the subdivision, I was so amazed that all the homes at my area were glued on the television. It was not a Miss Universe Contest or what  not or the elections but all Filipinos were glued to the Philippine Senate.

Unlike during the days of the dictator, the Filipinos who were fed up with the Couple Marcos or their spokespersons are savoring the fact that they can watch freely on television the decisive voting on the Philippine Senate about the fate of the US Bases.

More than a year ago, debates were passion high. Even the President Cory Aquino marched against the Senate to pressure the senators to vote for the retention of the US bases with Mayor Gordon of Olongapo. But she just alienated more senators in voting for the US.

As I arrived home, I was amazed when Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the only two senators in the opposition voted against extending a treaty allowing the US to maintain military bases in the Philippines, called the decision struck a blow for national sovereignty. "We collectively echoed the sentiment of the Filipino people to unshackle themselves," he said..

Fellow senator from the opposition  Senator Joseph Ejercito Estrada called the vote "our finest hour,". Estrada quoted from the sublime paralytic Apolinario Mabini and he read the Tagalog text of the hero’s manifesto  in Tagalog written during the Filipino-American War of 1899.

Bicol senator Victor Ziga , son of the feisty nationalist lady  Senator Tecla San Andres Ziga said it was "one of my proudest moments" because the Senate had been able to resist "fancy rhetoric and cheap propaganda.

Senator Agapito Aquino, brother-in-law to then President Corazon Aquino, also spoke against the treaty. He still remembered how the Americans treated his brother shabbily while he was in exile in the United States.

Another activist Senator Wigberto Tanada said the treaty had to be junked because "national freedom cannot be postponed and the dignity and honor of the Filipino people cannot continue to be trampled."

Then he made “mano to the “Grand Old Man of the Opposition", a staunch nationalist and Senator Lorenzo Tanada who was in a wheel chair watched in the sidelines at the Senate Gallery . Quoting his father on what the Philippines was expected to do when the Americans left, said, "the plan is that we will stand on our own."

Nationalist Senator then Senate President Jovito Salonga cast the last vote that sealed the nail to the coffin. it was payback time for Salonga who  was jailed by Marcos during martial law and  has to spent time in exile in the United States.  And all hell break loose in the chambers when he finally banged the gavel.

I can feel the tears of joy streaming from my cheeks. As an activist who were at anti-US bases protest since 1967, I felt a terrible joy in my gut. I remembered my lolo  who were forced to evacuate to Manila during the Filipino-American  War and my dad who were staunch nationalist. They who instilled in me the deep patriotic fervor that runs in me. I quietly said: “ this night is for you.”

I can hear the rejoicing all around the subdivision in the clapping and loud cheers all around. I was not alone in celebration. The whole nation was rejoicing!

The magnificent 12 comprised then senators Agapito Aquino, Sotero Laurel II ( son of another nationalist senator and president Jose P. Laurel Sr of Batangas), Ernesto Maceda Jr., Orlando Mercado, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., cvil rights lawyer Rene Saguisag, Jovito Salonga, Wigberto Tanada, and Victor Ziga, now Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, former President Joseph Estrada, and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona III  were part of the Magnificent 12

Twenty years later, that despite the 1991 decision to close down the US bases,American soldiers are back and have stayed since the VFA was signed in 1998. Enrile and Estrada were just posturing for posterity and are real showmen opportunist at that time. They were just playing for the camera and again became pro-US later.

Today, in 2011 , US soldiers are back in Mindanao under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and through military training exercises involving "as many as 6,000" soldiers.  And now,  they are planning to change the charter and legalize their stay and have permanent bases in the Philippines.

Yes,  I am here in the United States, I  still remember that day when the Filipinos stood up and threw away the US bases  and say –“the struggle for independence and sovereignty must go on!”

************

“Huwag Kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”

Tula

“Huwag Kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”

“Huwag kang Mag-Iwan ng Kalat”;
mahigpit na bilin ng lahat ng tirano
At lider na nagdiyus-diyosan,
Daang taon na ang lumipas
Ngunit palagi
Kahit man pilit pagtakpan
Ang mga nakasulat na kasaysayang
Sinulat ng mga ulupong at bayaring
Manunulat upang pabannguhin
Ang mga sukab na nagpatayo
Ng mga sariling rebulto,
Nagpangalan sa mga kalsada,
Mga gusali at paaralan
Sa kani-kanilang bayan.

Palagi na ang kalat na ibinaon
Ay sumingaw at umamoy
Pagkaraan ng maraming taong
Nalibing sa balag na pagkalimot
Dahil may mga taong nakasaksi,
Nakaalam at nagsiyasat
Para mahanap ang katototohan.
Kahit ilang taong nanahimik
ang mga saksi at nakaalam
Dahil sa takot at pagkahiya
Sa pangamba na mas maraming
Mawala sa kanya at sa pamilya

Hindi ba nag ipapatay ni Aguinaldo
Si Bonifacio tinakpang pilit
Ito ng mga taksil at palamarang
Nagkanulo sa Supremo?
Pinalalabas pa nilang nagbalak
Ng masama ang Supremo
Kayat kailangang patayin?
At diumano hindi uamabot
Ang pagpapatawad
Nang mabunying Presidente?

Hindi ba’t nang paslangin si Heneral Luna
Mabilis na inilibing ang bayani
At walang nakasaksi kundi ang mga kawal
Na duwag lumabans a mga dayuhan
Ngunit mabilis pumatay ng kababayan?
At ang ginawang dahilan ay marami
Daw kagalit ang Heneral para
Pawalang sala ang Presidente?


Nang pasalangin ang Senador sa Maynila
Hindi ba’t pinaslang din kaagad
ang diumanong salarin?
Nagsagawa pa
nang mahabang imbestigasyon
Ang komisyong ikinakunsumi
Ng mga mamamayan
Dahil pinawalang sala ang mga may sala.
Kayat hanggang ngayon ang mga kaanak
Ng naging Presidentita
maging ang kanyang unico hijong Pangulo
Ay di pa makahanap ng hustisya
mahigit 25 taong na ang nakakaraan?

Ngunit laganap pa rin
ang mga kalat na naiwan
Ay talamak at alam ng madla
Dahil ang mga utak
ay opisyal pa rin ng gobyerno.
Nasa Kongreso at nagmamagaling,
ang mataray na byuda at mga anak nito,
Laman ng pahayagan at media,
Nakakapagsalita ng malaya
Tulad ng panahon nila noon
Na mahusay ang batas militar
Para sa Pilipinas;
At patuloy na nagpapasasa
Sa karangyaan at luho
Kasama ng mga naging biktima
Ng maluklok sa kapangyarihan
Ay nalimutan nang magawad
Ng hustisya dahil pareho silang
Naghaharing uri?

"Huwag magiwan ng kalat"
Ngunit ang kalat
Ay likas
dahil ang bawat pagpaslang
Ay tigib ng pagkalat ng dugo,
Nang timasik ng laman
Ng utak o ng katawang
Tinagos  ng bala o taga ng tabak,
Laging mag-iiwan ng bakas,
Kahit ito ay tumagas sa lupa
O ibaon sa malalim na libingan,

Kahit sunugin ang bangkay
At walang iwang labi
Tulad ng ginawa ng mga Belgian
kay Patrice Lumumba ng Congo,
Andres Bonifacio ng Pilipinas.,
Kay Hannibal ng Roma,
Kay Che Guevarra sa Bolivia,
Kay Kapitan Tomas Sankara
ng Burkina Paso
Sa takot nilang
bumalik ang kaluluwa ng namatay,
Hindi ba’t winasak nilang Cartagena,
Sinabuyan ng asin ang Masada,
Sinunog ang syudad ng Vienna
At Changsu sa Tsina,
binomba ng tubigpara alisin
ang dugo sa Plaza ng masaker sa San Salvador,
Sa Mexico at Kwangju,
Upang maalis ang bakas
ng dumaloy na dugo at laman
mga lumaban sa kanila
Tulad ng mga Kastilang
Nagwasak sa mga libingan ng mga antio
Upang itayo ang mga simbahan
Na may edad ng kung ilang daan taon
Katulad ng pagsawak ng mga Amerikano
Sa libingan ng mga Indyan?

Dahil kahit magsinungaling
Itatala ito sa kasaysayan
At hahalukayin,
Kahit wisakan ng mamahaling pabango,
Isuob sa mausok na isensyo,
Magtayo man ng mga bagong monumento.
Magtayo ng mga bagong syudad
Mula sa guho ng pagwasak,
Isulat ng mga manunulat
Tulad nila Agoncillo, Quijano De Manila,
At sinumang hijo de putang nabayarang
Iskribyente lokal man o dayo,
Lalabas din at lalabas kung
Ano ang totoo.
Hindi mailigpit
Ang kalat dahil kahit ang basag
Na salamin -- mabubuo rin
At mula rito ang kislap
Ng katotohanan ay mananaig
Kahit anong sabi at ingat
Bilinin ang mga salaring
huwag magkalat
At gawing malinis
Ang krimen,
Walang bahong hindi sisingaw,
Walang apoy na hindi uusok
At walang lihim na di mabubunyag.


apg
Setyembre 22, 2011

Growing Up Pains

Discordant Notes


Growing Up Pains

This one episode of a Tagalog telenovela I can relate to.

When somebody throws you out of the house where you lived as a housemate, that’s classic drama.

To start the story, when my aunt left for the United States, she left her room to me. I was then in high school. My aunt knows to well that as a student vying for honor roll I must have a very good surroundings to be competitive.

She very well know that I cannot study very well in our ancestral home. It was because we just occupy one room and it was only for sleeping. I have no place to study in that big house. At least in the house of my grandfather, I occupy a room and it served also serves a study room and a sleeping quarters.

But my good days were short lived.

Right besides my room was the room occupied by my aunt. She lives with her husband and they have two small children by then. At first this was not a problem until they had their third child.

All of the sudden, I found my things outside and without telling me, my aunt and her husband occupied my room and their former room. As a good grandson, I just took it in stride.

It was not a problem to me. My grandfather who sensed my repulsion. Gave me his old table where he used to work and put up some light for me to work on my studies. He worked at the big dining table nearby.

But it was not the end. Later I found out that my things was transferred outside the balcony where the hanging garden was directly facing the stairs. My uncle used the table and instead gave me a small table. My grandfather just kept quiet  and again put up the lighting for me to study outside.

I have no problem from it but what cannot take are the snide remarks from my uncle who does not work but lived from the graces of my grandfather and aunt who worked in the United States, in short he has no shame for we called him “PNB or “palamunin ng byenan.”

As usual because my school was nearby, I usually come home for lunch. For every second day, to change clothes for our physical education classes or the military training we are forced to undergo for our afternoon classes.

And everyday of my life, he will harangued me with his snide remarks and profanities especially when he is drunk. I surmised that is the reason why he was not admitted to the NBI. And he cannot find work. And one day when almost came into blows.

He made a remark that I was like a pig. “ You slurp your soup like a pig .” He said.

I answered back; “It is you who is like a pig, living off from my grandfathers earnings.” I retorted. And then he challenged me into a fight.

In my anger, even I don’t even know any self defense tactic way back then, I stood up and was ready for any blow. To think during the good times, he taught me how to fight because he was then was applying for the NBI.  And then my aunt and my lola stood between us.

I left without a word and promised not to go back to the house. But my lola went to talk to me in the other house and begged me to go back. She made me promise her to eat lunch at the house everyday.

And because I loved my lola, I made that promise to her.  I just told her, “I cannot sleep over there anymore because I hate to see that guy”

That arrangement changed and I stayed more in the other house every since. I was in college and I did not need a good study place anymore because I had the air conditioned library in school to use.

Besides I am not vying for any honor anymore. I don’t need to study hard.

Those are just one of my bitter memories that I just told in story just right now. After more than 40 years.

And as I looked back while I watched the telenovelas, those were just growing up pains.

*****

Sa Mga Di Kilalang Bayani

Alay

Sa Mga Di Kilalang Bayani

Kayong mga nalibing
Sa mga gubat at parang
Na walang pananda man lamang.
Kayo na hindi na mababalikan
At inilbing na walang kabaong himlayan,
Kayo na ang pananda ay punong kahoy,
Munting batis o ilog na madaling tandaan,

Kayo na ang mga bangkay
Ay sama-samang inilibing
Ng mga kaaway ---
Matapos ibilad sa araw
Para ipanakot sa mga nagdadaan
Sa harap ng munisipyo:

Kayo na hinubaran, ginahasa,
Ginulpi bago ipaanod sa karayan,
Kayo na ang mga bangkay
Ay hinukay para kunwa'y bigyang parangal
Ng mga balakyot na militar
Ngunit ang layon ay makuha ang pabuya
Sa iyong kamatayan;

Kayong mga magigiting na bayani
Na di nalibing sa huling hantungan,
Nalimutan na ang mga pangalan
At nagbuwis ng buhay
Sa gitna ng pakikibaka ng bayan.

Kayo na walang pangalang masa
Na dinukot sa gitna ng gabi;
Kayo na pinahirapan sa mga lihim na silid
Saka dinispatsa na parang yagit
At nawalang parang bula sa ere,
Mga bayaning di kilala,
Daang libong masa
Na namgmartsa sa gitna ng daan,
Sa harap ng mga gusaling bayan,
sa EDSA, sa Malacanang,
sa lahat ng dako ng kapuluan.

Kayo na hanggang ngayon ay pinaghahanap
Ng inyong mga kaanak
Mula pa sa panahon ni Marcos, ilampung libong
Nawala na lamang at sukat,
Kayo na tinatangisan ng mga ina at amang
Nawalan ng anak
Habang ngising aso ang mga heneral at aipures nilang
pumaslang at ayaw umamin sa kanilang
Katampalasanang ginawa.

Kayo na wala man lamang bantayog
Sa ngalan ninyo inialay,
Habang ang mga naghaharing uri
Ay nagtayo ng kani-kanilang monumento
Sa lahat ng dako ng kapuluan,

Kayo ay nabubuhay sa ala-ala ng sambayanan;
Ang mga bulaklak na ligaw sa gubat,
Ang mga orkidyas sa mga baging
Ng mga matatataas na puno ang sa iyo ay alay
Hinding hindi kayo malilimot
At laging nagbabagang apoy
sa bawat buga ng sandatang lumalaban,
Kayo ay nasa bawat sigaw ng sambayan,
Kayo ay nasa bawat sandatang
maagaw sa kaaway,
kayo ay nasa bawat sentimo
na alay ng bayan sa pakikibaka
sa ibayong dagat sa lupang sinilangan.

Para sa inyo mga di kilalang bayani
Ni hindi alam ang pangalan,
galing sa uring anak-pawis at inang bayan,
Ang dakilang pakikibaka at magiting na tagumpay
Sa inyo namin--iniaalay!

ApG

Agosto 31, 2011

Mga Anak ng kabayo, Apo ng Galunggong (Pasintabi kay Ka Roger)

Tula

Mga Anak ng kabayo, Apo ng Galunggong
(Pasintabi kay Ka Roger)

Mga anak ng kabayo ,
malakas sumipa kapag nagagalit,
Mas mapalad pa sa tao
Dahil asendero’y nagmamalasakit,
Sa kabayong gamit sa Polo.
Laro ng mga hari’t prinsipe-
may sariling bahay,tagapag-alaga,
May tagapulot at damong ari,
Samantalang ang mga anak
Ng kabayong tao
Lagi na sa pighati,
Pagkain ay galunggong
O kaya ay asin at siling
Pantighaw sa gutom lagi;

Ngayon, mga apo ng galunggong,
Wala nang makain;
Dahil ang galunggong
Lumayo sa malalim ng dagat
At lumipat na sa Hilaga--
Dahil sa El Nino at El Ninang
Nagpatuyo sa pugad
Ng maaskad na isdang
Pagkain ng mahirap,
Kaya ang mga apo ng galunggong,
Nagmahal na at mahirap bilhin,
Ng aping mahirap
Wala nang makain.

Mahirap talagang maging apo ng kabayo
Lalo ang apo ng galunggong;
Na nangibang bansa na at lumayo
Sa Silangang Pasipiko,
Nagtago sa dagat
ng Rusya at ng mga Hapon
naninindim dahil sa lamig,
malayo na sa init
ng matinding hilahil.

Agosto 07, 2011

***********

Pilipit na Leeg, Pilipit na Isip

Tula

Pilipit na Leeg, Pilipit na Isip

Masarap sana ang pilipit
Kung ito ay yaong minatamis,
Ngunit kapag pilipit ang leeg,
Pilipit din ang isip
Hindi matamis kundi
Mas mapakla pa sa
Sukang mapait at panis,

Kaya nagulat ako
Nang mabalitaang
Ooperahan ang dating Pangulo
Sa pagkapilipit ng leeg,
May naipit daw na ugat
Kaya mapanganib na operahan
Ang ugat sa leeg.
Nanawagang manalangin
Sa buong bayan

Ngunit sa kalagayan ng pilipit na leeg,
ng  bayang lugmok s kahirapan,
pagkadusta't pagkainis
Lalo pang nagkakapilipit,
Namimilipit sa kaiisip
Kung paano makaaahon sa kahirapan,
Ang pilipit na buhay
At hilahod na kalagayang
Lalong nagkakapilipit;

Kaya sa  bayan, huwag nang manalangin
At umasa sa daang matwid,
Dahil lalo lamang tayo magkakapilipit,
Yaong nagigipit
Sa talim daw ay kumakapit,
Kaya nalalapit ang mga araw
Ng mga taong pilipit,
na siyang gigilit sa pilipit na leeg!

Hulyo 28, 2011

Ipagtatayo Ba Ako Ng Bantayog?

TULA

Ipagtatayo Ba Ako Ng Bantayog?

Bumulong ang matandang Heneral
Sa Pangulo noong Hunyo 12, 1962
Sa Luneta noong ideklara ang pagpapalit
ng araw ng kalayaan
dahil naiingit ito
sa malaking bantayog
Ng dakilang bayani ng mga Amerikano;
At idinikit nito ang bibig sa tainga
Ng Pangulong nagpapanggap na makabayan:
“Ipagtatayo mo ba ako ng bantayog
Katabi ng Dr.Jose Rizal dito sa Luneta?
Nagpatay-mali ang dating mahirap
Na Kapampangan at wari’y kinilabutan;
Kahit paano alam niya ang kasaysayan,

Sino ba ang unang nandaya  sa eleksyon
Sa Tejeros at tinaghal na pangulo?
Sino ba ang nagpapatay sa Supremo
At kunwa’y binawi ang utos nito
Na paslangin ang magkapatid na Bonifacio?
Sino ba ang sumuko sa mga Kastila?
Para magpatapon sa Hongkong
At magpaloko sa mga Amerikano
Na nagkunwang kakampi ng mga Pilipino?
Sino ba ang nakinig sa mga Ilustrado
Nakipagkompromiso sa mga Amerikano
Habang nakikipagdigmaan sa mga sundalo nito?
Sino ba ang halos mamatay sa selos
Sa kahusayan ng sariling Heneral
At nagutos na paslangin ito sa Cabanatuan
Sa gitna ng digmaan,
Sino ang nakinig sa mayayamang duwag
at mapaghangad ng kapayapaan
at sumisante sa mga anti-imperyalistang
tulad ni Mabini at Ricarte?
Sino ba ang tumakbo ng tumakbo
At sa bawat hinto ay nagpapasayaw,
Nagpapakarera ng kabayo,
Nagpipiging at nangangarap
Na magwawagi sa labanan mula sa malayo?
Sino ang sumumpa ng katapatan
Sa Amerika at tumanggap ng pensyon mula dito?
Sino ang tumakbong president kahit ilang ulit natalo?
Sino ang kumampi sa mga Hapon
At nanawagang sumuko ang mga sundalo sa Bataan?
Sino ang yumaman at nagtayo ng sariling monument
Dahil siya diumano ang Unang Presidente,
Kundi ang El Presidente na tinatawag
Ni Quijano De Manila at ng mga sipsip
Na historyador na “Mi Presidente?

Hindi lang nangilabot si Cong Dadong,
Hindi niya pinansin ito bagamat nagpugay
Sa kapwa niya presidenteng ulyanin
Na’t nangagarap ng gising?

At marami ngang bantayog niya ang naitayo,
mula sa siya mamatay
" natanda sa katandaan
at naghirap dahil sa dami ng kasalanan"
ang nanguuyam na tinuran
ng ordinaryong mamamayan;
Pangunahin sa Kawit, Cavite
sa aharap ng kanyang bahay..
At sa Kampo na nasa kanyang pangalan,
sa gitna ng Quezon City
Punong himpilan ng mga Pasistang
sundalong nagmana sa kanya,

Ngunit hinding hindi siya ipagtatayo
Ng bantayog ng masang Pilipino
Na dumudura sa kanyang kaimbihan—
galit sa kanyang mga pagpaslang,
suklam sa kanyang kagaguhan,
gulat sa kanyang katangahan,
Ang diumano “George Washington
Ng Pilipinas” ang sabi ng ilang nababaliw
Na manunulat na kasaysayan.

Alam ng masa kung sino ang tunay na bayani,
Hindi ang isang tampalasang
Mapagkunwari at kabilanin
Katulad ng Heneral.

Hulyo 31, 2011

***********

Reply to a Journalist on the "Missouri List"

July 28, 2011

Dear Rich,

Q:. How did they ( The Filipino World War II Veterans)  get excluded? Was the list put together sloppily? Or were some vets reluctant to put their name on the list for some reason? Or they got left off just because of the chaos of the moment?

Answer :  --  Seventy years ago, on July 26, 1941, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt formed the United States Armed Forces in the Far East or the USAFFE.

Roosevelt issued this Military Order, calling into service and placing under the command of “the armed forces of the United States for the period of the existing emergency… all organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.”

By this order, the 120,000 armed forces of the Commonweath of the Philippines including its unarmed reserves were merged and placed under the command of the United States who has less than 40,000 troops in the Philippines. Thus the Philippines became the largest US garrison outside of the mainland.

So there are two records. One is with the US army, all US personel in the Philippines and that includes the old Philippine Scouts of Filipinos serving under the US Army. Their names are in the Missouri list.

The second list is with the Philippine Government. It is the Army of the Commonwealth of the Philippines that includes the Phil. Army. Navy,Constabulary and Air Force. That exist from 1935-1946. This record is with the Philippine government which the Archives also list but refuses to use.

The USAFFE existed for only 11 months. For the first six months were focused on the training and preparations and the next five months for intense fighting.

When the war broke out in December 7, 1941. The USAFFE was placed into alert and war footing. The USAFFE divisions resisted the Japanese invasion until they were forced to retreat to Bataan in January 1942.

The Battle for Bataan lasted from the last week of January to April 1942. When Bataan fell to the Japanese, it was just a matter of time that the fort of Corregidor will fall on  May 6, 1942. With the fall of Corregidor, USAFFE as a unit ceased to exists.

But the Filipinos and some American officers and men refused to surrender and keep the fight for resistance for the next three years. They became the core of the liberating forces that helped the US Army to liberate the Philippines three years later in 1944. In its place the new army of the commonwealth was formed. It existed from 1945 to 1946. USAFFE  just became a part of history.

Until 1947, the US listed all guerilla units, personel ( they are called recognized guerillas) who served under the USAFFE leaders or independent Filipino leaders. It was led by the US Army. This list is in the archives but was burned together with 17 million records from 1926 to 1962. But the Philippine government listed people who served in the guerilla forces  until 1948.

This is the crux of the problem. The DVA refuses to use these list or the reconstructed list because they say there are too many fake guerillas during the war. Actually more than 425,000 were listed but the US recognized only 250,000 including those in the Commonwealth army.

According to General Delfin Lorenzana of the Philippine Embassy, those 425,00 records are in Missouri but the US DVA refused to use it. ( Lorenzana was referring to the US Army records that they gathered after the war until 1947 when they left the Philippines.)

So Philippine Scouts ( old and new- News scouts enlisted after the war and served under the US Army on garrison duties in occupied areas ) are safe. They have records. But most Filipino who served as guerillas have the problem because even if they are listed, the Missouri list wont provide and give its list.

So we can say, the chaos of war and expediency of the DVA  is the culprit.

That is a yes but then no—because we know for sure that there is the list but the DVA won't honor the Philippine list in the PVAO and The AFP GHQ. They just use the US Army list from 1935-45 or the list they reconstructed in 1947 before they left the Philippines.

I hope this helps,and answer some of your questions.

For justice, equity and racial equality,

Al P. Garcia
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)

.

On the Question of the Spratlys

July 29, 2011

Dear Editor,

Lately there has been some “patriotic rallies’ by some Filipino American political groups closely identified with the election of the President Aquino III in the United States in front of the Chinese consulates in the United States and even in the Philippines.

They timed it with the DFA secretary Albert Del Roseario’s visit to the People’s Republic of China on the diplomatic row over the controversial Spratly islands. It only amounts to political propaganda and posturings.

After the visit, President Aquino III on his  second annual State of the Nation Address to the Philippine Congress last July 25 referred to the islands ; “ We will defend what is ours to defend.” It was timed with the new navy acquisition of a  1968 Hamilton class frigate, that will patrol the area. And as a propaganda to raise the ante- the Philippines named the contested area as “The West Philippine Seas.”

Spratlys Question

All nations who are all interested parties to the Spratlys based their claims on history. China which is the oldest says Nansha, as it calls it- says its in South China seas.

The Philippines says the Kalayaan Group and the Mischief Reef belongs to it having the islands annexed in 1971 through a presidential decree issued by Marcos at the same time they put up a military outpost in the area.

But for the Alliance, the Philippines has the strongest legal claim for the two areas being situated within 200 nautical miles under the United Nation Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS). But legal niceties are for the long term and will last for decades or even centuries.

It maybe too be naïve to believe that the Philippines will win ownership of the islands by simply invoking the UNCLOS. All national interests are won by depending it by force and the sacrifices of the parties concern.

History of the Conflict

In the first place, it was a Filipino merchant mariner named Admiral Tomas Cloma who planted the Philippine flag in the 45 island/reef chains and from then on the Philippine government to the chiding of the United States who garrisoned the area.

We must accept the reality that the Philippines cannot afford the mighty China in a shooting war. The Philippine Navy has only seven old World War II vintage ships and has no air force to fight any invading nations in that area.

Vietnam tried to bully its way after the border war with China erupted in 1979 in the island chains. But again it was clobbered by China in the sea dispute and a naval war so Vietnam has to lick it wounds after being defeated by China in the naval battles over Changsa. In the 1980’s.

Vietnam tried a different tact by using the United States as a cover against China. They gave the US 7th fleet visiting and docking rights at its former Russian Naval base in Cam Rahn Bay in the 1900’s just to threaten China. But China’s answer was to build a “blue sea” fleet that can defend its sea lanes threaten by the US 7th Fleet.

But for the Philippines, its only hold in the Pag-asa Islands are slwly being eroded until was prodded by the US. Maybe during the early 50’s and 60’s, the Philippines has one of the strongest navy and air force. But today we have sunk as Asia’s old man who cannot even defend its immigrants against our neighbors like Indonesia and Malaysia who deports our people at their own whims and will.

Learn from the lessons of history

The Alliance-Philippines believe that it will good for the country not to engage the services or the United States or take its assurance that it will defend its own interests by abiding to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), the basis of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

We must also fell prey to the jingoism of old anti communist and  anti China people in the United States who held anti-Chinese rallies in major cities, They are just provoking more tensions between our people and people of China.

These “ summer patriots and sunshine soldiers” will be the first to run if there will be tensions between China and the Philippines because they are safe in the United States. And as it looks, they cannot even muster enough people to sustain rallies in these places.

We must remember our history. The United States occupied the Philippines just to abandon it to the Japanese in World War II. They let the Japanese occupy the Philippines for almost three years from 1941-1945 at a gargantuan cost to our lives and properties.

People should remember during the Philippine-Malaysian crisis in 1968, the United States sided with the British who controls Malaysia and let British jets to refuel in Clark Air Base while on their way to beef up Malaysian forces in North Borneo to defend Malaysia. This caused wild protests in Manila in 1968-1969 and raise anti –American protests.

We might also remember during the height of the MNLF insurgency, Malaysian North Borneo helped the MNLF and gave its forces sanctuary. While the US even refused to provide the Philippines  military aid and Marcos has to buy armalite rifles from Singapore. Marcos has to threaten to close the US bases for him to be offered US military aid against the MNLF in 1973-1975.

Now they are talk of leasing military equipments such as ships and planes to the Philippines at the tune of $ 450 million for AFP modernization. But the so called AFP modernization has been going on for time immemorial and yet the AFP is not modern or advance in technology even in the terms of arms and equipments.

How can we expect to defend and even safeguard our territory much more of our sovereignty and pride?

“Shall we weep like a woman when we cannot defend what is ours like men? “

Truly yours,


Arturo P. Garcia

Alliance-Philippines

JFAV Letter To the Editor on USAFFE Day

July 26, 2011 Dear Editor, We wrote to you to stress the significance of the USAFFE Day, July 26, 1941 Seventy years ago, today  on July 26, 1941, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt formed the United States Armed Forces in the Far East or the USAFFE. This the main reason why the Filipinos must be considered as American soldiers and as American World War II veterans. To some sentimental guys they call this day “USAFFE Day. To the more conscious it is called “Conscription Day” On this day Filipinos were mandated to serve the United States as American nationals. Roosevelt issued this Military Order, calling into service and placing under the command of “the armed forces of the United States for the period of the existing emergency… all organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.” By this order, the 120,000 armed forces of the Commonweath of the Philippines including its unarmed reserves were merged and placed under the command of the United States who has less than 40,000 troops in the Philippines. Thus the Philippines became the largest US garrison outside of the mainland. And yet until today, 66 years after, the Filipinos who served under the USAFFE are not treated and not recognized as American war veterans. And that includes their survivors, meaning the widows and legal heirs. Rationale The action was a general mobilization in an anticipation of a war against the Axis power.  Three years before, on September 3, 1939 Germany attacked Poland and the Second World War erupted in Europe. Unknown to Filipinos, who responded to the compulsory mobilization, they were bound by the Military Laws of the U.S. that provide among others that in case of desertion or “attempt to desert the service of the United States, if the offense” is committed in time of war, they will “suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.” Other violations of Articles of War whose punitive punishment calls for death in time of war during that time were advising or aiding another deserter, misbehaving before an enemy, relieving, corresponding with or aiding the enemy, spying and committing murder or rape. But because the U.S. was going to face a well-trained, well-armed and more numerous Japanese Army that would attack Pearl Harbor four months later, Roosevelt conscripted an ill-trained and under-armed Commonwealth and later during the 3 –year Japanese occupation, other militia (guerrilla) forces that could face death in the hands of the U.S. military if they violated some Articles of War or their Japanese enemies. The War Years (December 1941-September 1945) The USAFFE existed for only 11 months. For the first six months were focused on the training and preparations and the next five months for intense fighting. When the war broke out in December 7, 1941. The USAFFE was placed into alert and war footing. The USAFFE divisions resisted the Japanese invasion until they were forced to retreat to Bataan in January 1942. The Battle for Bataan lasted from the last week of January to April 1942. When Bataan fell to the Japanese, it was just a matter of time that the fort of Corregidor will fall on  May 6, 1942. With the fall of Corregidor, USAFFE as a unit ceased to exists. But the Filipinos and some American officers and men refused to surrender and keep the fight for resistance for the next three years. They became the core of the liberating forces that helped the US Army to liberate the Philippines three years later in 1944. In its placer the new army of the commonwealth was formed. USAFFE  just became a part of history. Significance of the USAFFE. The USAFFE fought a holding action against the Japanese. Its battle at Bataan and Corregidor as well as the other pats of the Philippines, delayed the Japanese timetable for the occupation of the Philippines and the whole of Asia. For the US, it taught the country the need for preparedness in time of peace. Never again that American will be surprised with a large scale invasion from a foreign army. For the Philippines, it taught the country a lesson in self-reliance. That the defense of the Philippines cannot be placed and must not be trusted to another foreign power. This is a lesson that still echoes today. A lesson that must be well remembered. For justice, equity and racial equality, Arturo P. Garcia JFAV National Coordinator

Our Team

Story

Our Team

They say the happiest days are in high school. I can attest to that.

When we formed our volleyball team in our section in our Physical Education class, we never thought that we will be the champion in the freshmen class. Though we did not beat any of  the upper classes from the 2nd year to the seniors, we gave them a run for the title.

But volleyball is only the second  love of Filipinos. Our first love was basketball. And from volleyball we raise the ante to basketball.

To tell you the truth, I am a poor basketball player. That is why I played only as a filler when everybody “ graduates.” And nobody is there to play. I dribbled poorly so I stood as a filler guard. My team will laugh If I can get some of those jump shots and long shots that I can do occasionally.

I have my team’s first five. They are Rey, the spitfire alias Florencio; Jesse, the center alias Mumar; Tuloc, the long shot artist; E or Eulogio, the All Star player; Pacifico, our serious man and guard and Dabay, the short punky guard or sa Tagalog --ang Taong bato.

Rey is a short guy like me.  He was our captain ball of our volleyball team. But he is very good and fast. He is very good shooting, from the long distance, jump shot or as a lay-up artist. He loves to imitates the likes of Bernardo or Florencio and later Jaworski of UE. Pero pag-minalas walang shot kahit isa.

Jesse is an all around player. He can shoot, drive or make impossible lay ups. He is tall at around 5’7 or 5’8. He was never a part of our volleyball team, but he joined out team. He never joined the high school team although he was good. He honed his skills in the half court and our games at the full courts. He later became a player in college and got a scholarship for that.

Tuloc, as he was called in Ilokano was a long shot artist. He can also shot at any distance and drives occasionally when he is
not heavily guarded or if assisted by Rey or Jesse. Siya ang pagsinwerte, nakakaiskor ng mahigit bente! Sabi nga namin- "walang aling"

E, is a born player. He is all around. He can shot, drive and guard anybody. He and Tuloc are our tallest player. But he is lanky and thin and that is why our opponents  always misjudged him.

At first they will make fun of him but later will take him seriously when he does the damage with his shooting or guarding. He is a neighbor of mine and a school mate. He joined our team when we starting at the half court near Rey's neighborhood.

Pacifico, is our tallest guard. He was also in our volleyball team. He is the front line stopper because he was tall. He occasionally shoots and makes the shot when needed. He has a poor eyesight and wear glasses but does not impede him to play his best. But he was a good guard and our adversaries gives him respect because he is good at what he does. And he plays clean and not prone to shoving and dirty games.

Dabay is our destroyer. He is small and bulky and like a bulldozer, everybody gives way when he drives. But he is a guard and he does his chores like Pacifico. That is why we call him ang taong bato. Tumatalsik ang nababanga niya at kahit sinong dumikit sa kanya.

Well, because I cannot play, they made me their coach. Maybe because I am loud and shout orders. So in short, they call me “coach”. Like the way they call me as the volleyball coach of our freshman class in high school.

So during summer time we play and go around the whole district to compete. They learned to respect us as a team and gave us resounding applause.

Only once we almost went into a fight. And as usual, It was me again who got angry because they cheated us. But nothing happened because the old folks – who happened to know me came to our rescue when the whole neighborhood almost lyched us and asked for forgiveness because they know they cheated us of the time so they can win.

I respected the neighborhood because they showed us their sense of fairness and hospitality.

For three years., we played for friendship and camaraderie and for fun.

That is our neighborhood team! My team.

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