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)
.
30.7.11
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
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
27.7.11
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.
****************
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.
****************
23.7.11
Harry Potter’s Final Battle- The Battle for Hogwarts.
Discordant Notes
Harry Potter’s Final Battle- The Battle for Hogwarts.
Every story has to end. And in films, the end is always worth watching because it is the end of the story.
So when the final battle in Harry Potter happened at the Battle of Hogwarts, everything has to be settled.
It gives me a weird feeling that the Battle of Hogwarts was like the Battle of Stalingrad or the Battle of Manila. And HP looked like a battle scarred veteran of that fight. With the background of all the rubbles and ruins after a heavy bombardment.
But for me the ending of the story settled many things. And of the lessons of the story is that we have to sacrifice a part of our self or our self in order to achieve our ends.
In HP, Dumbledore made clear to Harry Potter that he was both a part and the other life of Valdemort,( an unintended horcrux) so he must die. But when he died, he had to live to end the story. And that was a contradiction.
Yes, everybody of us must die. Or in simple meaning our dreams must die in order for us to live and our lives must go on.
I dream of being a lawyer or a military man but I have to kill those dreams because were poor and I choose another path in the interest of the people. I would be so foolish and ignoble to count how many things I have sacrificed for our cause.
It does not mean anything for some people but I know for those who really know me they will understand.
I just smiled when some people ask me; “Are you a fan of Harry Potter?” and they are surprised when I say no.
But Harry Potter knows how people and so many of his friends sacrificed for him. That is why to many who are just watching and have not gone through the experiences of having seen your friends die for you knows what Harry Potter feels that is why he elected to face Valdemort knowing he is about to die.
Yes, its really an ugly sight to view the bodies of people you have been, your friends and your loves one who fought for you. It is never a good view to watch to see mangled bodies of heroes and martyrs for a cause. Much more of people who you will never see again.
Yes, sometimes everyday we must die and kill our dreams so we dream for greater dreams and live for the creation of greater lives.
It was fun to watch HP is 3D but even if not it is still an apple for the eye and the lessons learned will linger on in the simplest message. The good will always triumph in the end.
And that’s with or without magic.
********
Harry Potter’s Final Battle- The Battle for Hogwarts.
Every story has to end. And in films, the end is always worth watching because it is the end of the story.
So when the final battle in Harry Potter happened at the Battle of Hogwarts, everything has to be settled.
It gives me a weird feeling that the Battle of Hogwarts was like the Battle of Stalingrad or the Battle of Manila. And HP looked like a battle scarred veteran of that fight. With the background of all the rubbles and ruins after a heavy bombardment.
But for me the ending of the story settled many things. And of the lessons of the story is that we have to sacrifice a part of our self or our self in order to achieve our ends.
In HP, Dumbledore made clear to Harry Potter that he was both a part and the other life of Valdemort,( an unintended horcrux) so he must die. But when he died, he had to live to end the story. And that was a contradiction.
Yes, everybody of us must die. Or in simple meaning our dreams must die in order for us to live and our lives must go on.
I dream of being a lawyer or a military man but I have to kill those dreams because were poor and I choose another path in the interest of the people. I would be so foolish and ignoble to count how many things I have sacrificed for our cause.
It does not mean anything for some people but I know for those who really know me they will understand.
I just smiled when some people ask me; “Are you a fan of Harry Potter?” and they are surprised when I say no.
But Harry Potter knows how people and so many of his friends sacrificed for him. That is why to many who are just watching and have not gone through the experiences of having seen your friends die for you knows what Harry Potter feels that is why he elected to face Valdemort knowing he is about to die.
Yes, its really an ugly sight to view the bodies of people you have been, your friends and your loves one who fought for you. It is never a good view to watch to see mangled bodies of heroes and martyrs for a cause. Much more of people who you will never see again.
Yes, sometimes everyday we must die and kill our dreams so we dream for greater dreams and live for the creation of greater lives.
It was fun to watch HP is 3D but even if not it is still an apple for the eye and the lessons learned will linger on in the simplest message. The good will always triumph in the end.
And that’s with or without magic.
********
22.7.11
Tag-Init ng 1983
Tula
Tag-Init ng 1983
Sa ibabaw ng burol
Mapapagmasdan ang kabilang ibayo
Ang matatayog na bundok
Ng Cordillera at kapatagan
Sa pagitang nahahati
Ng malawak na ilog Cagayan,
Isang lambak na berde
Sa panahon ng taniman
At malawak na kulay balat
Pagkatapos ng anihan
Kung may pinangarap na tirahan
Ay yaong itaas ng burol
Sa gilid ng kabundukan
Abot tanaw ang kabilang ilog
Ng Baggao
Maging ang dulong patag ng Alcala
Nakaharap sa kapatagan
Ng malawak na kalsada
Nguint dito pala magaganap
Ang malalaking labanan,
Babasagin ng mga putok
Ang katahimikan.
Mamayani ang ugong
Ng isang dosenang helicopter,
Mga higanteng tutubing
Magbababa ng mga tropang
Sanadatahn para sindakin
Ang masa tungo sa pagsuko
At kawalang pag-asa:
Nguit mabibigo sila,
Kung gaano sila biglang dumating
Ganano kabilis din sila umatras
Ng salubungin ng umaatikabong putok
Isang araw sa pabungad ng tag-araw,
Tunay bigo ang atake ng Oplan Tag-araw
Ng Task Force Alpha:
Mabilis man nilang nasakop
Ang Alcala-Baggao complex
Wala na ang mga gerilya ng bayan
Ligtas na silang nakatakas
At ikinubli ng mga mamamayan.
Naagaw man nila ang burol na iyon,
Lupa lamang na pansamatala
Ang kanilang nasakop,
Hindi hindi ang isip at puso ng sambayanan
Na patuloy na pinagaalab
At lundo’t duyan
Ng rebolusyon
J. Luna
Hunyo 26, 2011
20.7.11
WALKOUT - A Critical Review
Film Review
WALKOUT - A Critical Review
By Arturo P. Garcia
March 31, 2006
Some people have recently called the HBO film, Walkout, as “providing much inspiration to the student walkouts” across America in recent days. The movie is about the story of Paula Crisostomo, daughter of Filipino janitor Panfilo Crisostomo and a Mexican mother, who was one of those who led the walkout of over 10,000 high school students in East Los Angeles in 1968. Her story was highlighted in a telemovie, entitled Walkout produced among others by Latino-American actor Edward James Olmos for HBO and launched this March 18, 2006.
This film is a remarkable breakthrough of sorts one which celebrates the struggle of the Chicano minority for self-determination in racist, capitalist America“ something that a progressive can both appreciate and agree with. But there are also things that one must also be critical about.
Although the film is a historical feature that tells the story of the Chicano people’s struggle against racism and discrimination and is undoubtedly a breakthrough against white supremacy, it is also a telling lesson in the chauvinism of some Chicano activists towards Filipinos in America. This is a case of a majority minority that unconsciously or consciously discriminates against another albeit smaller national minority in advocating for its own self-determination in the United States.
Don’t get us wrong. Filipinos have gone a long way in building solidarity with the Mexican people. Filipinos have had a long history of cooperation with the Mexican people even with their own struggle for national determination and liberation.
Tracing our history, Filipinos of Mexican origin led the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 that resulted in the martyrdom of the three Filipino Priests, Frs. Gomez, Burgos and Zamora (Gomburza)- an event which had a powerful effect on the Filipino people and later became an inspiration for Dr. Jose Rizal to write a novel about Spanish clerico-fascism and colonial theocracy.
The early decades of the last century in the United States tell many stories not only of how white capitalist bosses pitted Filipinos and Mexicans against each other, but also of how both groups united and organized eventually to prevail over corporate growers up and down the West Coast, but especially in the valleys of California.
What is perhaps a fitting example of solidarity is the internationalism of Philip Vera Cruz who graciously gave way to the much younger Cesar Chavez to become the president of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) in the mid-1960’s to preserve the union’s internal unity and unify Filipino and Mexican workers against capitalist exploitation and oppression in the fields.
And yet, woefully, Philip Vera Cruz is often relegated to the background and forgotten by the UFW in its official history and all the glories are bestowed on Cesar Chavez as if he were some kind of demigod and savior of farm workers. Simply not true. From the point of view of the manongs and veterans of the 1965 Grape Boycott that started it all, Cesar was a terrible ingrate. What the UFW does not want brought to light until this day is how Chavez stabbed Filipinos in the back when in 1978 he went to the Philippines to shake hands with Philippine dictator Marcos and shamelessly brought along yellow trade unionists like Luis Taruc and Jerry Montemayor back to Delano. It was this incident that broke the camel’s back and made Philip Vera Cruz bitterly resign as Executive Vice President of the UFW. This is but an example of big-minority chauvinism of some in the Chicano movement in their zeal to promote Chicanismo “ or Chicano power at the expense of Filipinos.
If we go back to the film “ Filipinos have a point in resenting the fact that the role of the Filipino father Panfilo Crisostomo was given to a Mexican actor. Could the film makers really not have found any Filipino actor to play such a role more suitably?
Thus, even in the film, the Filipino character was again diminished and was again relegated to the background. He was featured cussing a Filipino expletive word which was not even correctly pronounced.
In one scene, Panfilo was quoted: If you get into the ring, you will be hurt. And do you know why Americans are afraid to fight Latino boxers? Because they don’t quit. This is to tell her daughter why she should continue to fight for what she thinks is right.
This is simply a case of stereotyping and attributing to Latinos what is also applicable to Filipinos. That fighting quality may be true for Latino boxers. But it is even more apt for Filipino boxers today when we have the likes of Manny Pacquiao.
And it was also true even back in the sixties when Flash Elorde was world champ in the junior lightweight division. Paula Crisostomo’s quality of never giving up was in her blood as a Filipina. Like Gabriela Silang, Filipinas never give up and fight to the last breath for what they believe is right.
One part of the film which was almost fleeting was Panfilo’s rejoinder to her daughter: You are not Chicana. you are a Chilifina”
Overall, notwithstanding our criticism of the portrayal of the Filipino father, the film is still a breakthrough of sorts and offers a way to correct the horrible deficiencies of the mainstream Hollywood studios of portraying the usual racist and chauvinist stereotypes of minorities as criminals, syndicated crime warlords, berserk, exotic and other images that they want to portray.
As with the film Crash which portrays Asians as human smugglers and Arabs as angry, unreasonable would-be killers, progressives should stand up and criticize films or aspects of them which appear to talk about racism but in effect are still racist or white supremacist in essence.
Genuine self-determination starts with respect for each others culture and learning from each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Not demeaning and disparaging each others culture and imposing one’s own over the other. Or else we will always be like the enemy we are out to overthrow and change is not coming from ourselves.
We should always remember to change the society, change must also come from within ourselves.
WALKOUT - A Critical Review
By Arturo P. Garcia
March 31, 2006
Some people have recently called the HBO film, Walkout, as “providing much inspiration to the student walkouts” across America in recent days. The movie is about the story of Paula Crisostomo, daughter of Filipino janitor Panfilo Crisostomo and a Mexican mother, who was one of those who led the walkout of over 10,000 high school students in East Los Angeles in 1968. Her story was highlighted in a telemovie, entitled Walkout produced among others by Latino-American actor Edward James Olmos for HBO and launched this March 18, 2006.
This film is a remarkable breakthrough of sorts one which celebrates the struggle of the Chicano minority for self-determination in racist, capitalist America“ something that a progressive can both appreciate and agree with. But there are also things that one must also be critical about.
Although the film is a historical feature that tells the story of the Chicano people’s struggle against racism and discrimination and is undoubtedly a breakthrough against white supremacy, it is also a telling lesson in the chauvinism of some Chicano activists towards Filipinos in America. This is a case of a majority minority that unconsciously or consciously discriminates against another albeit smaller national minority in advocating for its own self-determination in the United States.
Don’t get us wrong. Filipinos have gone a long way in building solidarity with the Mexican people. Filipinos have had a long history of cooperation with the Mexican people even with their own struggle for national determination and liberation.
Tracing our history, Filipinos of Mexican origin led the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 that resulted in the martyrdom of the three Filipino Priests, Frs. Gomez, Burgos and Zamora (Gomburza)- an event which had a powerful effect on the Filipino people and later became an inspiration for Dr. Jose Rizal to write a novel about Spanish clerico-fascism and colonial theocracy.
The early decades of the last century in the United States tell many stories not only of how white capitalist bosses pitted Filipinos and Mexicans against each other, but also of how both groups united and organized eventually to prevail over corporate growers up and down the West Coast, but especially in the valleys of California.
What is perhaps a fitting example of solidarity is the internationalism of Philip Vera Cruz who graciously gave way to the much younger Cesar Chavez to become the president of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) in the mid-1960’s to preserve the union’s internal unity and unify Filipino and Mexican workers against capitalist exploitation and oppression in the fields.
And yet, woefully, Philip Vera Cruz is often relegated to the background and forgotten by the UFW in its official history and all the glories are bestowed on Cesar Chavez as if he were some kind of demigod and savior of farm workers. Simply not true. From the point of view of the manongs and veterans of the 1965 Grape Boycott that started it all, Cesar was a terrible ingrate. What the UFW does not want brought to light until this day is how Chavez stabbed Filipinos in the back when in 1978 he went to the Philippines to shake hands with Philippine dictator Marcos and shamelessly brought along yellow trade unionists like Luis Taruc and Jerry Montemayor back to Delano. It was this incident that broke the camel’s back and made Philip Vera Cruz bitterly resign as Executive Vice President of the UFW. This is but an example of big-minority chauvinism of some in the Chicano movement in their zeal to promote Chicanismo “ or Chicano power at the expense of Filipinos.
If we go back to the film “ Filipinos have a point in resenting the fact that the role of the Filipino father Panfilo Crisostomo was given to a Mexican actor. Could the film makers really not have found any Filipino actor to play such a role more suitably?
Thus, even in the film, the Filipino character was again diminished and was again relegated to the background. He was featured cussing a Filipino expletive word which was not even correctly pronounced.
In one scene, Panfilo was quoted: If you get into the ring, you will be hurt. And do you know why Americans are afraid to fight Latino boxers? Because they don’t quit. This is to tell her daughter why she should continue to fight for what she thinks is right.
This is simply a case of stereotyping and attributing to Latinos what is also applicable to Filipinos. That fighting quality may be true for Latino boxers. But it is even more apt for Filipino boxers today when we have the likes of Manny Pacquiao.
And it was also true even back in the sixties when Flash Elorde was world champ in the junior lightweight division. Paula Crisostomo’s quality of never giving up was in her blood as a Filipina. Like Gabriela Silang, Filipinas never give up and fight to the last breath for what they believe is right.
One part of the film which was almost fleeting was Panfilo’s rejoinder to her daughter: You are not Chicana. you are a Chilifina”
Overall, notwithstanding our criticism of the portrayal of the Filipino father, the film is still a breakthrough of sorts and offers a way to correct the horrible deficiencies of the mainstream Hollywood studios of portraying the usual racist and chauvinist stereotypes of minorities as criminals, syndicated crime warlords, berserk, exotic and other images that they want to portray.
As with the film Crash which portrays Asians as human smugglers and Arabs as angry, unreasonable would-be killers, progressives should stand up and criticize films or aspects of them which appear to talk about racism but in effect are still racist or white supremacist in essence.
Genuine self-determination starts with respect for each others culture and learning from each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Not demeaning and disparaging each others culture and imposing one’s own over the other. Or else we will always be like the enemy we are out to overthrow and change is not coming from ourselves.
We should always remember to change the society, change must also come from within ourselves.
16.7.11
Reflections on the July 12-14, at the JFAV lobby at US Congress
Discordant Notes
Reflections on the July 12-14, at the JFAV lobby at US Congress
After the July 12-14 lobby at the lower house, JFAV is happy to report that we have 45 confirmed co-sponsors at the press time. We are confident to get 60 co-sponsors by next week.
This a big increase from the 21 co-sponsors we got last April days of lobby. We added 24 and have another 20 or more coming as they were committed by the staff directors and veterans affairs person from the 34 congresspersons we visited last July 12-15, 2011 in Washington DC.
The 17 person JFAV delegation were bolstered by a 11- person group from Damayan and Ugnayan from New York. The Damayan workers were tired from a six-day conference and lobby but still went to lobby for the veterans. Their exuberance and enthusiasm fired up the California delegation also dead tired from delayed flights and non-sleep.
They were elated when newly elected Rep.Collene Hanabusa from Hawaii personally visited the lobby in their temporary headquarters provided by Rep. Speier.
Rep. Hanabusa personally congratulated the group for its efforts to seek justice and pledged her support." We are aware of the 18 year struggle and are ashamed that the benefits was just inserted into the Stimulus law that are supposed to be given to you." Hanabusa stressed.
Persistent and Proactive lobby pays off
As our JFAV coordinator Ago Pedalizo said; " more than 95% of staff members and house reps have no question on the justness and necessity of HR 210. During our lobby. they all know this is urgent for our veterans are dying by the days.
The only problem is the money or the off-set. But that burden is on them not on the veterans or for us to figure out. "
What they call the “ off-set” is the where the fund will be coming come. The staff members said they are afraid that other sources will be tapped to be given to the veterans. A example they give is that “they don’t want to remove funding from food stamps to given to veterans and widows.”
But that should not be the case. The US Congress has a history of giving budget to the veterans like what they did after World War II, the Vietnam War and the ongoing wars. But they all excluded the Filipino veterans in all cases.
But in the end after all the questions, it is a fact that burden is on them ( US Congress) not on the veterans or for us to figure out. So in the end, when the figures lies, the lies that there is no budget and its a crisis does not figure."
We would like to extend again our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who came, drove us, fed us and acted as while we were on the tri-state of Maryland. Virginia and DC. Without them it will be a more another painful and back-breaking job to be done.
So we call on everybody to prepare for the next lobby on September 2011. Wait for further announcements.
For Justice and Equity, Ever forward!
*************
Reflections on the July 12-14, at the JFAV lobby at US Congress
After the July 12-14 lobby at the lower house, JFAV is happy to report that we have 45 confirmed co-sponsors at the press time. We are confident to get 60 co-sponsors by next week.
This a big increase from the 21 co-sponsors we got last April days of lobby. We added 24 and have another 20 or more coming as they were committed by the staff directors and veterans affairs person from the 34 congresspersons we visited last July 12-15, 2011 in Washington DC.
The 17 person JFAV delegation were bolstered by a 11- person group from Damayan and Ugnayan from New York. The Damayan workers were tired from a six-day conference and lobby but still went to lobby for the veterans. Their exuberance and enthusiasm fired up the California delegation also dead tired from delayed flights and non-sleep.
They were elated when newly elected Rep.Collene Hanabusa from Hawaii personally visited the lobby in their temporary headquarters provided by Rep. Speier.
Rep. Hanabusa personally congratulated the group for its efforts to seek justice and pledged her support." We are aware of the 18 year struggle and are ashamed that the benefits was just inserted into the Stimulus law that are supposed to be given to you." Hanabusa stressed.
Persistent and Proactive lobby pays off
As our JFAV coordinator Ago Pedalizo said; " more than 95% of staff members and house reps have no question on the justness and necessity of HR 210. During our lobby. they all know this is urgent for our veterans are dying by the days.
The only problem is the money or the off-set. But that burden is on them not on the veterans or for us to figure out. "
What they call the “ off-set” is the where the fund will be coming come. The staff members said they are afraid that other sources will be tapped to be given to the veterans. A example they give is that “they don’t want to remove funding from food stamps to given to veterans and widows.”
But that should not be the case. The US Congress has a history of giving budget to the veterans like what they did after World War II, the Vietnam War and the ongoing wars. But they all excluded the Filipino veterans in all cases.
But in the end after all the questions, it is a fact that burden is on them ( US Congress) not on the veterans or for us to figure out. So in the end, when the figures lies, the lies that there is no budget and its a crisis does not figure."
We would like to extend again our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who came, drove us, fed us and acted as while we were on the tri-state of Maryland. Virginia and DC. Without them it will be a more another painful and back-breaking job to be done.
So we call on everybody to prepare for the next lobby on September 2011. Wait for further announcements.
For Justice and Equity, Ever forward!
*************
The Tomb of the Unknown Heroes in the Philippines
Discordant Notes
The Tomb of the Unknown Heroes in the Philippines
Arturo P. Garcia
One question that almost surprised me but I was able to answer during our lobby in the US Congress is one from the staff members from the representative from Riverside. She asked me why I became active in the struggle for the Filipino Veterans. But before that she asked me if I was a veteran.
I almost smiled because my age shows. Some people always ask me, especially college students if I was veteran. I always say I am so young to be a veteran because I was born after the war.
My bonding with my grandfather and my father is the answer to that. My grandfather and my father when I was in grade school, if they have spare time, always visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Fort Santiago during the early 1960’s.
And they always bring me with them on those visit. Those visit bonded all of us together and instilled in me the deep sense of patriotism and love of country.
My grandfather had bad memories of the Fort. Fort Santiago was the inner fort bastion inside the walled city of Manila during the 333 years of Spanish colonial rule and the 48 years rule of the Americans in the Philippines. It was there where he was tortured when he was arrested during the Japanese occupation. He will always point out the place where he was imprisoned and tortured. The dungeons of Fort Santiago.
And we will always end up in front of the Tomb where we always start. It was at the center of fort Santiago, in front of the gate of the old fort that became my favorite hiding and place where I meditate.
It was also the headquarters of the US Army in the Philippines from August 13, 1898 to July 1941 and the USAFFE from July 1941 to January 2, 1942 until it was relocated to the Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor from January 3, 1942 to May 6, 1942 when the USAFFE surrendered to the Japanese during WWII.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers was a simple tomb dedicated to all Filipino soldiers who fought during the Second World War. It was dedicated to all soldiers who were remained unidentified and who remained nameless, buried in nameless graves all over the country, those whose bodies were never found and were never given a decent burial during the war.
What distinguished it from other tombs that it has a light or an eternal flame that is never extinguished. This is a symbol of the nation’s eternal gratitude and also to symbolize their sacrifices and bravery for the people and the nation.
The light is inside a small lamp that protects the flame from all elements of nature—water, wind, air and others. It is located on top of the tomb. Its simplicity evokes the simplicity of the courage and the character of our nation.
I always known that the tomb was there. Until one day when I was in college, I was dumbfounded that the tomb was not there anymore. It was transferred to the newly built national heroes cemetery called the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” in Fort Bonifacio in Rizal.
The Libingan was constructed side by side with the American War Memorial Cemetery in the Philippines. That is where the more than 17,000 American war dead from the combat in the Philippines and New Guinea are buried. It is also the largest American War cemetery outside of the United States.
If for the better, it was one of those good copycat that the Philippines learned from the US.
It became a habit of mine to take a walk to the Fort after walking through the newly renovated Rizal Park, the new name of Luneta, where Dr. Jose Rizal and hundreds of Filipinos met their martyrdom during the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
The government decided to renovate Fort Santiago and maybe somebody thought that the tomb is an obstacle to the beautification of the Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago for it occupied the center. It was placed in the center of the Libingan and in its place, a monument with three pillars were made for the tomb.
In its place, a marker was made that explains that the Fort was the exact place of the palisades of the city made by Rajah Soliman, the ruler of Manila when it was conquered by the Spanish forces of General Legazpi, Captains De Goite and Salcedo in 1571.
I always hold that Fort Santiago was the most proper and fitting place for the Tomb of unknown Heroes for so many nameless Filipino martyrs met their death in Fort Santiago in the course of the 333 years of Spanish Colonialism and the Japanese Occupation from 1941-1944.
But the Fort was almost in shambles after the Americans destroyed it during the liberation of Manila during the early months of 1945. It has to be rebuilt for so many years until the Ramos administration completed it in time for the centennial of the Philippine Revolution in 1996.
I kept quiet for the Tomb was placed in a cemetery of the Republic. For it is the center piece of the whole cemetery for heroes. I rationalized that that maybe the reason they relocated the Tomb to that place.
I have questioned the government relocation of markers, destruction of historical places and other seemingly disrespect for history and heritage. But on this matter I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
The only question is if the dictator Marcos will be buried in that place, maybe the Tomb must be relocated elsewhere for it will desecrate the memories of the real nameless heroes if the dictator will be rested besides them.
**********
The Tomb of the Unknown Heroes in the Philippines
Arturo P. Garcia
One question that almost surprised me but I was able to answer during our lobby in the US Congress is one from the staff members from the representative from Riverside. She asked me why I became active in the struggle for the Filipino Veterans. But before that she asked me if I was a veteran.
I almost smiled because my age shows. Some people always ask me, especially college students if I was veteran. I always say I am so young to be a veteran because I was born after the war.
My bonding with my grandfather and my father is the answer to that. My grandfather and my father when I was in grade school, if they have spare time, always visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Fort Santiago during the early 1960’s.
And they always bring me with them on those visit. Those visit bonded all of us together and instilled in me the deep sense of patriotism and love of country.
My grandfather had bad memories of the Fort. Fort Santiago was the inner fort bastion inside the walled city of Manila during the 333 years of Spanish colonial rule and the 48 years rule of the Americans in the Philippines. It was there where he was tortured when he was arrested during the Japanese occupation. He will always point out the place where he was imprisoned and tortured. The dungeons of Fort Santiago.
And we will always end up in front of the Tomb where we always start. It was at the center of fort Santiago, in front of the gate of the old fort that became my favorite hiding and place where I meditate.
It was also the headquarters of the US Army in the Philippines from August 13, 1898 to July 1941 and the USAFFE from July 1941 to January 2, 1942 until it was relocated to the Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor from January 3, 1942 to May 6, 1942 when the USAFFE surrendered to the Japanese during WWII.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers was a simple tomb dedicated to all Filipino soldiers who fought during the Second World War. It was dedicated to all soldiers who were remained unidentified and who remained nameless, buried in nameless graves all over the country, those whose bodies were never found and were never given a decent burial during the war.
What distinguished it from other tombs that it has a light or an eternal flame that is never extinguished. This is a symbol of the nation’s eternal gratitude and also to symbolize their sacrifices and bravery for the people and the nation.
The light is inside a small lamp that protects the flame from all elements of nature—water, wind, air and others. It is located on top of the tomb. Its simplicity evokes the simplicity of the courage and the character of our nation.
I always known that the tomb was there. Until one day when I was in college, I was dumbfounded that the tomb was not there anymore. It was transferred to the newly built national heroes cemetery called the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” in Fort Bonifacio in Rizal.
The Libingan was constructed side by side with the American War Memorial Cemetery in the Philippines. That is where the more than 17,000 American war dead from the combat in the Philippines and New Guinea are buried. It is also the largest American War cemetery outside of the United States.
If for the better, it was one of those good copycat that the Philippines learned from the US.
It became a habit of mine to take a walk to the Fort after walking through the newly renovated Rizal Park, the new name of Luneta, where Dr. Jose Rizal and hundreds of Filipinos met their martyrdom during the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
The government decided to renovate Fort Santiago and maybe somebody thought that the tomb is an obstacle to the beautification of the Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago for it occupied the center. It was placed in the center of the Libingan and in its place, a monument with three pillars were made for the tomb.
In its place, a marker was made that explains that the Fort was the exact place of the palisades of the city made by Rajah Soliman, the ruler of Manila when it was conquered by the Spanish forces of General Legazpi, Captains De Goite and Salcedo in 1571.
I always hold that Fort Santiago was the most proper and fitting place for the Tomb of unknown Heroes for so many nameless Filipino martyrs met their death in Fort Santiago in the course of the 333 years of Spanish Colonialism and the Japanese Occupation from 1941-1944.
But the Fort was almost in shambles after the Americans destroyed it during the liberation of Manila during the early months of 1945. It has to be rebuilt for so many years until the Ramos administration completed it in time for the centennial of the Philippine Revolution in 1996.
I kept quiet for the Tomb was placed in a cemetery of the Republic. For it is the center piece of the whole cemetery for heroes. I rationalized that that maybe the reason they relocated the Tomb to that place.
I have questioned the government relocation of markers, destruction of historical places and other seemingly disrespect for history and heritage. But on this matter I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
The only question is if the dictator Marcos will be buried in that place, maybe the Tomb must be relocated elsewhere for it will desecrate the memories of the real nameless heroes if the dictator will be rested besides them.
**********
9.7.11
Bakit Kailangang Panoorin ng mga Pilipino sa Amerika ang “Amaya”
Lathalain
Bakit Kailangang
Panoorin ng mga Pilipino sa Amerika ang “Amaya”
Hindi dahil sa nais kong ipahayag na maganda ang obrang “Amaya
ng GMATV dahil lubha na akong naiinis sa mga pinaikot( recycled) na mga telenovela
ng ABS-CBN o ng GMA 7. Kaya “ Mula sa
Puso” –ang nais kong sabihin.
Sa palagay ko makapangyarihan ang Amaya dahil naglalahad ito
ng pakikibaka, buhay at sinaunang kultura at kasaysayan ng mga Pilipino.
Partikular ng kultura at kasaysayan ng mga kaugalian bago pa dumating ang mga mananakop
na Kastila na nakikita parin natin hanggang ngayon sa ating komunidad sa
Pilipinas maging sa Amerika.
Pinapatunayan nito ang mga sinulat ni Dr. Jose Rizal na may
sariling kakanyahan at katangian ang mga sinaunang Pilipino bago pa man
dumating ang mga Kastila.
Pinasisinungalingan nito ang mga pahayag ng mga mananalastas
na Kastila maging ng ibang dayuhan na sumulat ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas na
walang kabihasnan ang mga Pilipino, mga ignorante at dumating sila para gawing
sibilisado ang mga Pilipino.
Nakatutuwang sa kabila ng mga panggagagad ng mga ilang
Pilipino sa dayuhan tulad ng mga telenovela kapwa sa ABS-CBN at sa GMA na
nangogopya sa dayo tulad ng Captain Barbel, Immortal ( Gaya sa Twilight at True
Blood), mga multo at kaluluwa tulad ng 100 Days atbp, dumating ang isang
telenovelang istorikong nagpapahayag ng ating pagiging maka-Pilipino.
Personal sa akin, waring nagiging balik-aral ito sa mga
aralin sa Social Studies noong elementary na nagbibigay aral sa sinaunang
Pilipinas. Sa mga Prinsesa ng kumintang , mga duplo, Balagstasan at sa mga
panahong ng mga Datu at Rakajn.
Ang yumaong Ishmael Bernal ay nagplanong gawaing pelikula
ang buhay at pakikibaka ni Rajah Soliman ng Maynila at ang makasaysayng labanan
sa bangkusay. Dnagan nga lamang at inabutan ito ng martial law ni Marcos noong
1972.
Noong mawala ang panahong gumagawa pa ang mga director natin
ng mga pelikulang tulad ng Makario Sakay, Lapu-Lapu, Noli me Tangere at ang
buhay ni Rizal at Andres Bonifacio at nangalwala na ang gma pelikulang ito. Isang bugso ng sariwang hangin ang Amaya na nilikha
ng GMATV.
Muling nanariwa sa akin ang dahilan kung bakit nagsasaboy
tayo ng bigas kapag may kinakasal. Bakit nagbibigay ng dote kapag namamahinkan.
At kung bakit ang mga ugaling ito ay nanatili kahot na makabago na ang panahon.
May mga pumipintas man o bumabatikos sa katotohanan at
pagiging tumpak ng Amaya, hindi na dapat itong pansinin. Ito ay dahil ano ba ang tumpak sa kalagayang
halos nabura na at wala nang naitala ang ating kasaysayan dahil sa 300 taong
pananakop ng mga Kastila at pangagantso ng Hollywood sa mga Pilipino. Mahusay
ang panulat ni Bb. Doctolero.
Tatalakayin ko marahil sa mga susunod na talakayan. Kung
dito ko ito tatalakayin hahaba an gating talakayan. Ayokong pagsawain kayo sa
aking isinusulat.
Isa lang ang matingkad na bagay ang sumasagi sa aking
isipan. Hindi kailaman maibabaon sa limo tang kasaysayan at ang magiting na
kultura ng isang lahi, mailalarawan at mailalarawan ito kahit na sikaping
patayin ng ibang kultura.
At mananaig ito tulad ng Amaya. Kaya dapat lamang panoorin
ito ng bawat Pilipino sa Amerika man at sa Pilipinas.
Tangikilin at mahalin ang
sariling atin!
************
7.7.11
My Childhood Memories of Manila
Discordant Notes
July 7, 2011
My Childhood Memories of Manila
The first thing that struck me when I went to the Amsterdam, twelve years ago was that it looked like Old Manila during the 1960’s. It bring back good memories of old Manila to me.
Manila was then, looked and feel like Amsterdam. There were a lot of foot bridges ( wooden most of them) between the canals. There were small stone bridges especially near Intramuros. But the wooden bridges that connect communities north of Manila we fondly call of them lambingan bridge.
In the middle class communities,apartment homes abound. They exactly looked like old Europe, Amsterdam and New York. They are near the schools and the business district of Quiapo, Santa Cruz and the like. Residential homes abound in the south of the main streets.
Up the hill, we marvelled at Hollywood type homes with high walls. We used to run and up and down the hill, it was still a rough road until they asphalted it. it was the palatial homes of the Legardas. And around it are the nipa shacks of the poor district of Sampaloc.
A railroad divide the lower class from the upper class. As you go up the hill, the richer the people are. The bigger are the houses.
It was one of our child games. To run and outrun each other up the hill and down the hill. We will make a run around the old church walls and find our way back down the hill near the river. Our elementary school is located near the bank of the river.
We use to mill around one of the oldest and smallest park in Manila. It was called Plaza Guipit. Gipit in Tagalog means "a place that is too narrow." But the people say it also means "too poor". Referring to their state.The city mayor then, Antonio Villegas replaced it with a new name-Plaza Isabelo Delos Reyes. In honor of another hero- the labor leader who co-organized the Aglipayan Church.
There stood the first monument to Andres Bonifacio in the early 1900's. It was built through the contributions of Manilenos before anyone can build a monument for the real hero of the Philippines.
It was a simple bust of Andres Bonifacio. It is a real monument built by the people for him. We gaze at him when we were young and hold him in awe. Until now, our respect for him never faltered. The "Great Plebeian".
And at the other bank is a big high school they demolished and built new apartments. We play in its ruins while they were starting to build the new apartment. We play at the piles of old woods and stones where Lipa High School stood. We replayed the scenes we watched in war movies and the television series “Combat” starring Victor Morrow and Rick Jason and play Japanese versus Filipino guerillas. We usually make our own wooden rifles or submachine guns.
Or sometimes, when we grew tired of fighting war, we engage in sword play. Banging swords and shields made from tin can covers usually the big margarine cans. We play pirates or princes or sometimes as Vikings or like El Cid.
The river we call big canals in Manila were clean. They were not filled with trash. We could swim in there after a storm not on ordinary days when it is dark. It was dredged almost weekly. We fondly watched the big derricks dredge the rivers every other day and watch how it scooped the dark soil and dirt out of the water. Nowadays, they have outsource dredging the rivers to foreign companies.
Then Marcos decide to cover up all the canals and small rivers and made it as roads. Now the old canals that runs from the north of Manila to the Pasig river is gone.
That is the short story why Manila is always flooded. Imagine Amsterdam or Venice without its canals. They you will understand Manila well.
*****
July 7, 2011
My Childhood Memories of Manila
The first thing that struck me when I went to the Amsterdam, twelve years ago was that it looked like Old Manila during the 1960’s. It bring back good memories of old Manila to me.
Manila was then, looked and feel like Amsterdam. There were a lot of foot bridges ( wooden most of them) between the canals. There were small stone bridges especially near Intramuros. But the wooden bridges that connect communities north of Manila we fondly call of them lambingan bridge.
In the middle class communities,apartment homes abound. They exactly looked like old Europe, Amsterdam and New York. They are near the schools and the business district of Quiapo, Santa Cruz and the like. Residential homes abound in the south of the main streets.
Up the hill, we marvelled at Hollywood type homes with high walls. We used to run and up and down the hill, it was still a rough road until they asphalted it. it was the palatial homes of the Legardas. And around it are the nipa shacks of the poor district of Sampaloc.
A railroad divide the lower class from the upper class. As you go up the hill, the richer the people are. The bigger are the houses.
It was one of our child games. To run and outrun each other up the hill and down the hill. We will make a run around the old church walls and find our way back down the hill near the river. Our elementary school is located near the bank of the river.
We use to mill around one of the oldest and smallest park in Manila. It was called Plaza Guipit. Gipit in Tagalog means "a place that is too narrow." But the people say it also means "too poor". Referring to their state.The city mayor then, Antonio Villegas replaced it with a new name-Plaza Isabelo Delos Reyes. In honor of another hero- the labor leader who co-organized the Aglipayan Church.
There stood the first monument to Andres Bonifacio in the early 1900's. It was built through the contributions of Manilenos before anyone can build a monument for the real hero of the Philippines.
It was a simple bust of Andres Bonifacio. It is a real monument built by the people for him. We gaze at him when we were young and hold him in awe. Until now, our respect for him never faltered. The "Great Plebeian".
And at the other bank is a big high school they demolished and built new apartments. We play in its ruins while they were starting to build the new apartment. We play at the piles of old woods and stones where Lipa High School stood. We replayed the scenes we watched in war movies and the television series “Combat” starring Victor Morrow and Rick Jason and play Japanese versus Filipino guerillas. We usually make our own wooden rifles or submachine guns.
Or sometimes, when we grew tired of fighting war, we engage in sword play. Banging swords and shields made from tin can covers usually the big margarine cans. We play pirates or princes or sometimes as Vikings or like El Cid.
The river we call big canals in Manila were clean. They were not filled with trash. We could swim in there after a storm not on ordinary days when it is dark. It was dredged almost weekly. We fondly watched the big derricks dredge the rivers every other day and watch how it scooped the dark soil and dirt out of the water. Nowadays, they have outsource dredging the rivers to foreign companies.
Then Marcos decide to cover up all the canals and small rivers and made it as roads. Now the old canals that runs from the north of Manila to the Pasig river is gone.
That is the short story why Manila is always flooded. Imagine Amsterdam or Venice without its canals. They you will understand Manila well.
*****
6.7.11
A Note on the Fourth of July:
A Note on the Fourth of July:
The Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17,1775---From a Defeat to Victory
Today, on the Fourth of July, while the whole of the United States revel in holiday, we pause to remember a day that led to the 4th of July, the first great battle for independence, the Battle of Bunker Hill in the state of New England.
On June 17, 1775, the first battle of the American War for Independence against England was fought in Breeds Hill in the outskirts of Boston that became to be known in American history as the Battle of Bunker Hill.
It was a defeat for the Americas but was a very costly victory for the British crown.
The first skirmishes for the American struggle was fought earlier in Lexington and Concord but the first formal battle was joined between the British Army and the American militia in Breeds Hill 235 years ago.
The Battle was later known to be the Battle of Bunker Hill because it was the original objective of the British but they were met by the American in Breeds Hill closer to Boston, thus the battle was known as such.
The British army assaulted the hill for three times and suffered more than 1,000 killed. Out of the force of more than 2,300 who attacked the hill. The Americans lost the battle because they run out of ammunition and retreated and suffered less than 271 killed. Indeed for the British it was a costly victory.
Why must we remember the Battle of Bunker Hill?
For the spirit to fight and win the greater battle is the spirit of the fight in Bunker Hill.
This is the spirit for the war for liberty and American principle of fighting for its principle.
Like in all world revolutions, the first battles might be lost, but in the end the war will be won by the people. The Filipinos lost their first battle in San Juan in the revolution of 1896, Cuban Jose Marti was killled in Cuba, The Grito De Dolores in Mexico was lost to Spain, the revolution of 1905 in Russia was a failure and many others like the Battle of Bunker Hill of 1775 but it gave birth to the 4th of July that we always mark today with fireworks.
The Filipino American veterans of World War II and their survivors were denied of that recognition and benefits so they
have to fight a losing battle in the courts and the halls of US Congress in order to win in the end.
Their fight has been long and tortuous but as the American colonist fought for more than 150 years and a war for independence for more 18 years, we will prevail.
With the adherence to America principle and tenacity as the Battle for Bunker Hill, with that spirit the JFAV, AWARE and MHC and all its advocates are sure to gain final victory in the end.
Fight on for recognition, justice and equity!
Justice for Filipino American Veterans and their widows!
Happy 4th of July to All!
The Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17,1775---From a Defeat to Victory
Today, on the Fourth of July, while the whole of the United States revel in holiday, we pause to remember a day that led to the 4th of July, the first great battle for independence, the Battle of Bunker Hill in the state of New England.
On June 17, 1775, the first battle of the American War for Independence against England was fought in Breeds Hill in the outskirts of Boston that became to be known in American history as the Battle of Bunker Hill.
It was a defeat for the Americas but was a very costly victory for the British crown.
The first skirmishes for the American struggle was fought earlier in Lexington and Concord but the first formal battle was joined between the British Army and the American militia in Breeds Hill 235 years ago.
The Battle was later known to be the Battle of Bunker Hill because it was the original objective of the British but they were met by the American in Breeds Hill closer to Boston, thus the battle was known as such.
The British army assaulted the hill for three times and suffered more than 1,000 killed. Out of the force of more than 2,300 who attacked the hill. The Americans lost the battle because they run out of ammunition and retreated and suffered less than 271 killed. Indeed for the British it was a costly victory.
Why must we remember the Battle of Bunker Hill?
For the spirit to fight and win the greater battle is the spirit of the fight in Bunker Hill.
This is the spirit for the war for liberty and American principle of fighting for its principle.
Like in all world revolutions, the first battles might be lost, but in the end the war will be won by the people. The Filipinos lost their first battle in San Juan in the revolution of 1896, Cuban Jose Marti was killled in Cuba, The Grito De Dolores in Mexico was lost to Spain, the revolution of 1905 in Russia was a failure and many others like the Battle of Bunker Hill of 1775 but it gave birth to the 4th of July that we always mark today with fireworks.
The Filipino American veterans of World War II and their survivors were denied of that recognition and benefits so they
have to fight a losing battle in the courts and the halls of US Congress in order to win in the end.
Their fight has been long and tortuous but as the American colonist fought for more than 150 years and a war for independence for more 18 years, we will prevail.
With the adherence to America principle and tenacity as the Battle for Bunker Hill, with that spirit the JFAV, AWARE and MHC and all its advocates are sure to gain final victory in the end.
Fight on for recognition, justice and equity!
Justice for Filipino American Veterans and their widows!
Happy 4th of July to All!
Ilang Tala para sa Araw ng Kalayaan ng Amerika, Hulyo 4, 2011
Artikulo
Ilang Tala para sa Araw ng Kalayaan ng Amerika, Hulyo 4, 2011
Nang mapanood ko ang "John Adams" sa HBO, sumagi sa aking gunita at wari'y nahabag ako at naikompara ang naganap kina Felipe Agoncillo na nagtangkang katawanin ang Unang Republika sa Amerika noong 1899.
Inalipusta siya at di tinanggap ng Kongreso ng Amerika. Tulad ni Adams, kinatawan ni Felipe Agoncillo ang republika ni Aguinaldo sa Amerika sa panahong may digmaan sa pagitan ng Amerika at ng Pilipinas. Kaiba kay Adams na tinanggap sa Pransya,
Sina Teodor Agoncillo ay inupasala, hindi tinanggap at hindi kinalala ngKongreso ng Amerika. Sa kabila nang katotohanang sariling gatos ang lakad ni Agoncillo, hindi ito naging mabunga, Tanging ang Anti-Imperilalist League lamang sa Boston ang nakinig sa kanila. Sa halip, nagdeklara pa ng gyera ang Kongreso at ginawang pormal ang gyera at sinakop pa ang Pilipinas sa loob ng 50 taon at magpahangang ngayon.
Samantalang si John Adams, dahil hindi marunong magsalita ng Pranses ay napag-iwanan ni Benjamin Franklin sa gawaing diplomatiko Sa Korte ng Pransya,tulad ni Agoncillo, siya ay dumanas ng mga pagkabigo at pag-upasala. Hindi lamang sa mga Pranses kundi sa mga Holandes . Ito ay nang magsikap siyang humingi ng suporta sa Amsterdam, Holandiya, Ni ayaw siyang pautangin dahil wala raw kakayahang magbayad ang Amerika.
Ang karanasang ito ay tumatak sa kamalayan ni Adams. Siya ang nagsabi na kailangang irespeto muna ang sarili bago irespeto ng iba. Ngunit napatunayan niyang umpisa lamang ito. Kailangan ka ring irespeto ng iba sa pamamagitan ng iyong sariling lakas.
Ganoon din ang nangyari kay Benjamin Franklin na matagal binuro ng mga Pranses bago binigyan ng pansin ng Hari ng Pransya. Kaiba lang kay John Adams, si Franklin ay lubhang pasensyoso at sanay sa buhay burges. nasanay na siya sa arte ng diplomasya. Ang arte ng matagal na paghihintay at tamang oportunidad. Hindi tulad ni Adams na laking bukid, may ugaling magsasaka na mainipin bagamat isang intelektwal.
Magkaiba sila ni Franklin o ni Thomas Jefferson na kapwa magaling magsalita ng Pranses. Direkta at mainipin si Adams. Kaya hindi siya makatagal sa diplomasya na ayon kay Franklin ay; “Ang arte ng nagpapakita ng maraming gawain habang itinatago sa kakaunting resulta.”
Karanasang Pilipino
Sa karanasan ng Pilipinas, sina Andres Bonifacio at Emilio Jacinto mismo ang nakapag-usap sa mga Hapon at nakakuha ng suporta ng Emperador laban sa Kastila at para sa rebolusyong Pilipino ng 1896. Sa katunayan, nagdeklara at nagbigay ng tulong ang Emperador ng Hapon. Dangan nga lamang ang unang byahe ng mga armas ay sinamang palad na lumubog. Ang iba pang armas ay naimbak sa Hapon at inabutan na ng rebolusyon.
Samantala sa Hongkong, sina Felipe Agoncillo, Mariano Ponce at Juan Luna ang nagsikap na kumalap ng malawak na suportang materyal at pinasyal para sa rebolusyon. Nagpatuloy ito laban sa digmaan laban sa Amerikano. Sa katunayan, nagpatuloy si Mariano Ponce na nagbase sa Hongkong at Japan sa pakikipagtalastasan sa mga Hapon kahit na nasakop ng mga Amerikano ang Pilipinas.
Sa katunayan, sa pakikipag-ugnayans a kaibigang si SunYat Sen, nailipat ni Mariano Ponce ang may 2,000 ripleng Kimura na hindi nailusot tungo sa Pilipinas para maitulong sa rebolusyong Tsino laban sa dinastiyang Manchu noong 1911. Naipasok ang armas sa pamamagitan ng mga tauhan ni Sun Yat Sen at ginamit sa pag-aalsa sa Canton laban sa Emperador ng Manchu.
Lubos itong kinikilala ng mga Tsino maging ng Tagapangulong Mao nang lumaya ang Tsina noong 1949 bilang isang “ malaking tulong sa rebolusyong Tsino.”
Ito ang karanasan ng mga diplomata ng mga bagong tatag na republika o nang mga nakikipaglabang kilusan sa lahat ng panig ng mundo. Ito ay bahagi ng kanilang pagpapakilala sa kanilang rebolusyonaryong kilusan. Kaya nga dahil sa karanasang ito tumimo sa isip nian Adams maging kay Washington ang patakarang panlabas ng Amerika; “ Wala itong permanenteng kaibigan o kaaway, tanging permanenteng pambansang interes.”
Kaya sa ikalawang pagtungo sa Kongreso sa paglolobby ng JFAV, dala ang inspirasyon kina Adams ng Amerika at Agoncillo ng Pilipinas, dala namin ang determinasyong ipaglaban ang interes ng ating mga beterano at balo kahit waring papalimos ng awa at benepisyo para sa ating mga kababayan.
Isulong ang pakikibaka para sa hustisya at pagkakapantay-pantay!
*************
Ilang Tala para sa Araw ng Kalayaan ng Amerika, Hulyo 4, 2011
Nang mapanood ko ang "John Adams" sa HBO, sumagi sa aking gunita at wari'y nahabag ako at naikompara ang naganap kina Felipe Agoncillo na nagtangkang katawanin ang Unang Republika sa Amerika noong 1899.
Inalipusta siya at di tinanggap ng Kongreso ng Amerika. Tulad ni Adams, kinatawan ni Felipe Agoncillo ang republika ni Aguinaldo sa Amerika sa panahong may digmaan sa pagitan ng Amerika at ng Pilipinas. Kaiba kay Adams na tinanggap sa Pransya,
Sina Teodor Agoncillo ay inupasala, hindi tinanggap at hindi kinalala ngKongreso ng Amerika. Sa kabila nang katotohanang sariling gatos ang lakad ni Agoncillo, hindi ito naging mabunga, Tanging ang Anti-Imperilalist League lamang sa Boston ang nakinig sa kanila. Sa halip, nagdeklara pa ng gyera ang Kongreso at ginawang pormal ang gyera at sinakop pa ang Pilipinas sa loob ng 50 taon at magpahangang ngayon.
Samantalang si John Adams, dahil hindi marunong magsalita ng Pranses ay napag-iwanan ni Benjamin Franklin sa gawaing diplomatiko Sa Korte ng Pransya,tulad ni Agoncillo, siya ay dumanas ng mga pagkabigo at pag-upasala. Hindi lamang sa mga Pranses kundi sa mga Holandes . Ito ay nang magsikap siyang humingi ng suporta sa Amsterdam, Holandiya, Ni ayaw siyang pautangin dahil wala raw kakayahang magbayad ang Amerika.
Ang karanasang ito ay tumatak sa kamalayan ni Adams. Siya ang nagsabi na kailangang irespeto muna ang sarili bago irespeto ng iba. Ngunit napatunayan niyang umpisa lamang ito. Kailangan ka ring irespeto ng iba sa pamamagitan ng iyong sariling lakas.
Ganoon din ang nangyari kay Benjamin Franklin na matagal binuro ng mga Pranses bago binigyan ng pansin ng Hari ng Pransya. Kaiba lang kay John Adams, si Franklin ay lubhang pasensyoso at sanay sa buhay burges. nasanay na siya sa arte ng diplomasya. Ang arte ng matagal na paghihintay at tamang oportunidad. Hindi tulad ni Adams na laking bukid, may ugaling magsasaka na mainipin bagamat isang intelektwal.
Magkaiba sila ni Franklin o ni Thomas Jefferson na kapwa magaling magsalita ng Pranses. Direkta at mainipin si Adams. Kaya hindi siya makatagal sa diplomasya na ayon kay Franklin ay; “Ang arte ng nagpapakita ng maraming gawain habang itinatago sa kakaunting resulta.”
Karanasang Pilipino
Sa karanasan ng Pilipinas, sina Andres Bonifacio at Emilio Jacinto mismo ang nakapag-usap sa mga Hapon at nakakuha ng suporta ng Emperador laban sa Kastila at para sa rebolusyong Pilipino ng 1896. Sa katunayan, nagdeklara at nagbigay ng tulong ang Emperador ng Hapon. Dangan nga lamang ang unang byahe ng mga armas ay sinamang palad na lumubog. Ang iba pang armas ay naimbak sa Hapon at inabutan na ng rebolusyon.
Samantala sa Hongkong, sina Felipe Agoncillo, Mariano Ponce at Juan Luna ang nagsikap na kumalap ng malawak na suportang materyal at pinasyal para sa rebolusyon. Nagpatuloy ito laban sa digmaan laban sa Amerikano. Sa katunayan, nagpatuloy si Mariano Ponce na nagbase sa Hongkong at Japan sa pakikipagtalastasan sa mga Hapon kahit na nasakop ng mga Amerikano ang Pilipinas.
Sa katunayan, sa pakikipag-ugnayans a kaibigang si SunYat Sen, nailipat ni Mariano Ponce ang may 2,000 ripleng Kimura na hindi nailusot tungo sa Pilipinas para maitulong sa rebolusyong Tsino laban sa dinastiyang Manchu noong 1911. Naipasok ang armas sa pamamagitan ng mga tauhan ni Sun Yat Sen at ginamit sa pag-aalsa sa Canton laban sa Emperador ng Manchu.
Lubos itong kinikilala ng mga Tsino maging ng Tagapangulong Mao nang lumaya ang Tsina noong 1949 bilang isang “ malaking tulong sa rebolusyong Tsino.”
Ito ang karanasan ng mga diplomata ng mga bagong tatag na republika o nang mga nakikipaglabang kilusan sa lahat ng panig ng mundo. Ito ay bahagi ng kanilang pagpapakilala sa kanilang rebolusyonaryong kilusan. Kaya nga dahil sa karanasang ito tumimo sa isip nian Adams maging kay Washington ang patakarang panlabas ng Amerika; “ Wala itong permanenteng kaibigan o kaaway, tanging permanenteng pambansang interes.”
Kaya sa ikalawang pagtungo sa Kongreso sa paglolobby ng JFAV, dala ang inspirasyon kina Adams ng Amerika at Agoncillo ng Pilipinas, dala namin ang determinasyong ipaglaban ang interes ng ating mga beterano at balo kahit waring papalimos ng awa at benepisyo para sa ating mga kababayan.
Isulong ang pakikibaka para sa hustisya at pagkakapantay-pantay!
*************
My Childhood Memories of Manila
Discordant Notes
My
Childhood Memories of Manila
The first thing that struck me when I went to the
Amsterdam, twelve years ago was that it looked like Old Manila during the
1960’s. It bring back good memories of old Manila to me.
Manila was then, looked and feel like Amsterdam.
There were a lot of foot bridges ( wooden most of them) between the canals. There
were small stone bridges especially near
Intramuros. But the wooden bridges that connect communities north of Manila we
fondly call of them lambingan bridge.
In the middle class communities,apartment homes
abound. They exactly looked like old
Europe, Amsterdam and New York. Up the hill, we marvelled at Hollywood type
homes with high walls. We used to run and up and down the hill, it was still a
rough road until they asphalted it.
It was one of our child games. To run and outrun
each other up the hill and down the hill. We will make a run around the old
church walls and find our way back down the hill near the river. Our elementary
school is located near the bank of the river. And at the other bank is a big
high school they demolished and built new apartments.
We play in its ruins while they were starting to
build the new apartment. We play at the piles of old woods and stones where
Lipa High School stood. Now you cannot make out of the place filled with apartments and houses.
We replayed the
scenes we watched in war movies and the television series “Combat” starring
Victor Morrow and Rick Jason and play Japanese versus Filipino guerillas. We
usually make our own wooden rifles or submachine guns.
Or sometimes, when we grew tired of fighting war, we
engage in sword play. Banging swords and shields made from tin can covers
usually the big margarine cans. We play
pirates or princes or sometimes as Vikings or like El Cid.
The river we call big canals in Manila were clean.
They were not filled with trash. We could swim in there after a storm not on
ordinary days when it is dark. It was dredged almost weekly.
We fondly watched
the big derricks dredge the rivers every other day and watch how it scooped the
dark soil and dirt out of the water. Nowadays, they have outsource dredging the
rivers to foreign companies.
Then Marcos decide to cover up all the canals and
small rivers and made it as roads. Now the old canals that runs from the north
of Manila to the Pasig river is gone.
That is the short story why Manila is always
flooded. Imagine Amsterdam or Venice without its canals. They you will
understand Manila well.
***********
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