The Prisoner

Short Story

June 02, 2012

The Prisoner

This is a story that he will tell his children and grand-children.

For Andy, he never knew that he will come face to face with people in high positions when he joined the revolution and have a chance to have a heart to heart talk with them during the perilous times during martial law.

It was its 13^th year in the movement when he was captured by the enemy. He joined the People’s Army even before martial law was declared and saw how it was built from the scratch.

He was a student activist then when he joined the rebel movement (the enemy called them that). He went straight to Isabela and his first assignment was to be a political officer. A job he enjoyed doing for as long as he 

remembered.

He was captured because of one small mistake. It was those small mistakes that have the greater repercussions in the movement. And that mistake is that he trusted his wife.

His wife has ideological problems for which he blames himself. He did not love her but because they both committed a breach of discipline, he married her for the sake of the movement. This despite the protestations of his friends and comrades.

“Why marry when there is no love. Just accept the disciplinary action and it will go away. Marry her just for the sake of the movement, I will tell you, you will regret it.” His best friend and comrade in the movement told him.

It turned out that his wife betrayed her for a handsome and large amount of money to the military. And that is why he cannot forgive her. He was set-up.

 “Don’t ever talk to me or visit me again.” He told her. “I don’t want to talk to you ever again.” He told her.

One afternoon, while still in jail at Camp Crame, an army officer, a mestizo from the south and a close aide of the defense minister called on him. “Dress up some people wanted to talk to you.”

They travelled out of Manila and they met in a hill, overlooking the grand lake outside of Manila. He savored the sights and the moment of freedom under guard.

To his surprise, he was introduced to the Defense Minister and a political officer of the US Embassy. The minister was trim and proper. But his thick Ibanag accent was very prominent. The both speak and converse in Ilocano even in front of the embassy official.

They questioned him about the movement. How he got involved and his understanding of revolutionary principles. It was quite an interrogation. The difference is he is not obliged to answer anything. There was no pressure unlike the other interrogation that he was subjected to torture. And the people he talked to were polite, courteous and respectful.

They talked about the works of Jose Ma.Sison mostly the “Specific Characteristics of the People’s War in the Philippines.”

The minister remarked; “You will lose in the long run because even if you say that the advantage of people’s war is the characteristics of the Philippines as an archipelago, there will come a time that will be to your disadvantage. Especially if you are near the end game” He looked at the lawyer. Former customs commissioner and justice secretary with a keen eye. He was emotionless. Very poker faced.

“He really studied the matter. He knows his subject.” He said to himself.

After the long discussions, after her rejected all the overtures for him to join the other side, it was time to go back to his cell. But to his surprise, he was taken to have a sumptuous dinner at Barrio Fiesta in EDSA.

Now it’s the time for the colonel to talk to him.

“Can you guarantee my safety If I let you go back to your comrades and I go with you? “The colonel asked him.

“Why” he asked.

" You can stay with them but as long as you let me go and I talked with them, it’s your call. Besides they don’t know me. Just introduced me as a low ranking officer.” His captor stressed while they were eating alone.

“What is your guarantee that I will let you out alive.” He joked.

“That will mean the death of all the people you know and love.” The officer answered sternly.” My close friends officer will see to it that I don’t come back alive, then every will suffer the consequences of your betrayal”

“Wow”, he smiled and proceed eating and attacking the food he missed eating while in detention. He was in jail for more than two years.

“And how sure are you that they will let you go. I am just a simple warrior of the people.” He asked.

“Aw, don’t give me that crap. We know and you know, and I know that you are a member of the Politburo and the Central Committee. You are the Regional head and the place where we will go is the place where you best friend is the head of the area. We know he cannot say no to you. You are best of friend.” 

The officer smiled. That was the first time he saw the colonel smiled naturally.

“Besides, we know that he just married. Maybe you do not know who he married but that is not interesting.”

“What will you talk about?”  He tried to fathom what the real intent of the officer is. He was deep in it, might as well try to find options for escape.

“You know we have formed an officer’s movement against Marcos. We have been training against his men especially “Kulot” (that’s how they refer to General Fabian Ver who is bald). We are exploring areas of cooperation. They might be interested.I know and we know your friend follow the news."

"We know that he ordered a brand new transistor radio, A Sony brand. He really follows the news." the colonel is now drinking his beer.

“Well you know my friend. He is hard to talk with.”

“That is why we will try to bring you along. You can bring some sense to his thick mind. And we know he cannot refuse you.” The colonel smiled again.

He remembered his friend. He is a hard-liner. Even in prison he heard about his exploits. His friend and comrade was so ruthless against their enemies. How he ordered the burning of town halls and logging companies in the provinces. Well, maybe his marriage will mellow him up. 

Now it’s his time to smile after savoring the rich thickness of the grounded mane( peanuts) in his kare-kare. The officer looked at him inquisitively.

“ I will be waiting for your call” he said to the officer. “I agree he said.”

The officer’s call did not come until he was freed due to the ESDA People’s uprising. He still chuckled at that moment when he said yes to the officer’s offer.

Until today he still wonder what will my friend say. He knows, and the officers know that his friend was a wild card. Maybe the officer had a change of heart.  They can expect the unexpected from him.

They don’t know what tomorrow may bring.

***********

 

 

“American Idol” ng mga Puti

Sanaysay
Mayo 25, 2012

“American Idol” ng mga Puti

Ni Arturo P. Garcia

Magsasabi ako ng totoo. Itinuturing ko ang American Idol bilang isang bersyon ng “Hunger Games.”

Hindi ako nanonood ng American Idol, una dahil ito ay isang palabas ng rasistang istasyon ng media na Fox- na tinig din ng mga Republikanong anti-migrante at laban sa mga mamamayang may kulay at hindi puti.

Nagpapasalamat nga ako at nasa eroplano ako at di napanood ang resulta. Nalaman ko lang ito pagdating ko sa LAX at lumabas ang lahat ng mura sa lahat ng wikang alam ko sa galit.

Siyang tunay na hindi pa handa ang Amerika sa isang Asyano, babae at isang Pilipina.

Malalim talaga ang ugat ng rasismo at nagtagumpay nagwagayway ang bandilang Confederate ng Georgia. Sino ang magsasabing tapos na ang gyera sibil sa Amerika matapos ang 150 taon ng di umano’y tagumpay ng Unyon?

Kayat inaasahan ko nang hindi mananalo si Jessica, kahit na puno ng pag-asa ang mga kapwa Pilipino. Hindi ko sila sinasala sa kanilang pag-asa. Dahil alam ko namang matututo din ang mga Pilipino sa kanilang madugong karanasan sa rasismo ng Amerika.

Sa halip napuyat pa nga ako sa pagboto kasama sa isang “voting session”sa Virginia kasama ang mga Pilipino sa Maryland at Virginia. Kasama akong pumalakpak sa magandang pagpapakita at pagkanta ni Jessica. Napatunayan ko ang kasabihang lagging sinasabi ng aking ama: “The singer not the song.”

Maraming nagsasabi na na sour grapes daw ang reaksyon natin. Natural lang yon lalo na at alam at napatunayan mong rasista pa rin ang Amerika. Dapat nga hindi American Idol ang show na ito. Dapat palitan na nila itong “White American Idol.”

Pero hindi si Jessica ang nawalan kundi ang Fox at American idol ng ipakait nila ang karangalang ito. Ito ay dahil siya ay Pilipina at Asyano.Nabubuwist lang ako sa sweet lemon reaction ng marami lalo ng mga nasa gobyerno ng Pilipinas at mga artistang maka-Amerikano. Panalo parin daw si Jessica, kahit natalo.

Ang talo ay talo. Kahit ano sabihin mo talo pa rin. “Bagoong and Talong. Kamatis at bagoong” sabi nga ng mga bata! Panumbat sa mga talunan.

Kitang kita nakayuko si Philips dahil alam niya sa puso niya na bagamat siya ang American Idol, si Jessica ang idolo ng masa at madla.

Diyan naman ako bilib sa mga tunay na Amerikano, sila ay tunay at tapat( honest) at hindi pretentious. Di tulad nating Pilipino na nagmana sa mga among Kastila, inaapi na nakangiti pa rin at nagpapasalamat pa sa singhal, bugbog at alipusta ng among asendero.

Sabi nga ng isang Pilipinang tagahanga ni Jessica; “Suportado naming si Jessica, dahil pagtumindig siya at umawit, dala niya ang bansang Pilipinas. Hindi siya nagiisa. Tangan niya ang bandila ng Pilipinas.”

Sa mga mapaklang lemonadang lalo na ang mga sipsip pa rin sa Amerika, dina kayo nadala. Sinabi na nga ng Amerika na hindi siya makikialam sa laban ng Tsina at Pilipinas, asa pa kayong susuporta ang mga puti sa atin. Mga hanggal! Mga isip-tuta talaga!

Tapos pupurihin pa ninyo si Jessica, bilang tunay na American Idol, talo na nga, pwe!

Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa palabang diwa at makabayang damdamin ng lahat ng Pilipino sa Amerika maging sa ating inang bayang Pilipinas. Saludo ako sa inyong lahat.

Hindi man tayo tanggap ng rasistang Amerika, patuloy tayong makikibaka para makamtan ang tunay na pagkakapantay-pantay.

Tulad ng iba pang mamamayang may kulay ( people of color), alam natin mahaba pa ang ating lalakbayin.

Ang pagkatalo ni Jessica ay isang patunay na marami pang hadlang sa ating layunin.

Ngunit inspirado pa rin tayo ng batong pananda ni Martin Luther King Jr:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Mangahas Makibaka, Kamtin ang Tagumpay!

White American Idol

May 24, 2012

White American Idol

The confederate flag flies proudly when Philip Philips won the American Idol.

On the other hand, the star and stripes of the Union that stood for equality lay in the dust.

The flag that many people of color learned to love, a symbol of equality was struck down when the racist Fox did not accept an Asian American as a winner and did all it can to make another “White Guy With Guitar” win as the American Idol at the expense of talented  Asian female Jessica Sanchez.

It was an affront to all women of color. A slap in the face of all people who had talent and all Asian Americans most especially to the Filipinos in America.

We cannot help to explain the political implications of this “Idol” win. First, it is contentious and dashed the hope of so many people. It is just the feeling of “hoping against hope” that the Filipino American community banded together to make Jessica Sanchez and just to see their hopes dashed.

Second, the symptoms and signs were there. While Jessica was given  the  short straw, Philips were given a standing ovation by the Idol judges. She was given a song, yet  she interpreted it to the best of ability. Philips stuck to the American country songs, as if setting himself up for the kill.

And last, Other analyst explained that the usual Midwest votes made Philips win. The Filipino-American community and other people of color votes does not matter, we have to accept the fact, that we are still a minority in this country and we cannot win. This is  a fact of life we must painfully accept.

Jessica’s fate is the same as the fate of our community. Just like the equity bill that we are pushing for more than 20 years in the US Congress. All we get are accolades but no benefits or recognition for our World War II veterans and their survivors.

Even Japanese   American senator says “Filipinos are only good for the lump sum”.

Well, the American Idol says, Jessica is only good as a runner up. That is their verdict and we heard it loud and clear.

We now tell the, they must change the show into :White American idol” and not let any people of color join the contest. For them,  only white people are good singers anyways.

And don’t get me wrong. Don’t say we are just sour graping. First, there are no grapes in the Philippines and we love sour  food. We use vinegar as sour seasoning for adobo and other foods we served. We are use to sour things.

But what we cannot accept is  injustice and  uneven  play or a set-up like what American Idol did.

That’s what America did when they left the Philippines under three years of Japanese rule during the  Second World War. From 1942-1945.

50 years earlier they came to the Philippines they said they came to save the Philippines just to occupy it fought a war of pacification called the “Philippine Insurrection” from 1899-1916 and made it their first colony together with Cuba and Puerto Rico and all Spanish possessions like Guam and the Marianas.

That is what America is saying, that they will come to the aid of the Philippines  as stated in the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) against China if ever a shooting war erupts. But I doubt if they will keep their promise.

The (White) American Idol showed us the folly of believing  that America is “the land of equality” . We learned if the hard way after the result of the AI.

But Filipinos are made of hard stuff. A different kind of stuff. We will continue to struggle on and win. To hope against hope.

 If last night of 2012, America is not ready for an Asian American Idol, maybe there will come a time, when that idea has it time, it will come!

***********