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Open Letter from the People of Sitio Kabute

21 September 2008

TO ALL FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS

Warm Greetings!

We are indigent residents of Sitio Kabute, Brgy. Real, Calamba City composed of 150 families, which at present is facing an impending threat of displacement from our homes in view of the forced demolition order perpetrated by Metrobank.

The area has been our peaceful abode in the past three decades. We raised our families there and it’s strategic to our line of livelihood as dispatchers, tricycle drivers, vendors, and laborers among others.

But in January this year, we were alarmed by a written notice declaring our land as property of Metrobank, purportedly through a land title dated only in 2006. We are suspicious of the fact that for a long time, no party has claimed ownership to it. But due to intimidation and given our meager understanding of the law, we voluntarily demolished our homes. Left with no option to relocate but with understanding of our fundamental right to abode, we decided to regain possession of our land and settled back.

Subsequently, in the past 8 months, we faced systematic forms of harassments from private security elements of Metrobank to force us to vacate our land. But these dirty tactics only pushed us to unite and organize ourselves and defend our right to our land.

Unfortunately, last September 11, the Regional Trial Court of Calamba, through Judge Alberto Serrano handed a decision notifying us to vacate the land and ordering demolition of our homes.

Hence, at present we are faced with a legal battle, notwithstanding the fact that we are really short of finances to sustain this tough challenge in court. We‘ve already conducted protests to concerned government offices instrumental in setting up Metrobank’s claim. Anytime this week, the people of Sitio of Kabute will face a violent demolition, thus we set up a Camp Out in the area as a common place and outright defense whenever the demolition is at hand.

In this regard, we appeal for financial, material, and moral support to sustain our fight for right to land and decent homes. We are also inviting you to visit the area to further understand our plight.

We hope for your kind understanding and support.

For the people of Sitio Kabute,

NANAY MELICIA ALMARIO

Samyo ng Makiling

Samyo ng Makiling

Sisilo't kumawala na parang isang paslit
sa sinapupunan mong dalit ay habag
Hahayo ako sa dahilig mong katawan
kakandong sa palad ng ulan.

Sisinghot sa yelong tunaw sa hangin
na kinusot mo ng punong umugat na sa limot
Sisigla ako't mangatatayo sa lagapak
ng iyong tila burol na unan.

Ako'y samyuhin sa iyong sabakan
ihele mo ako sa lubid ng araw
At sa tutok ng gabi ako'y pagsarhan
ng haplos mo na tungkod sa lunangan.

*alay sa hiwaga ng bundok makiling at kay dalandan.

edge 9.23.08, LB

RIGHTS v. 2 Launch

RIGHTS v.2

September 19, 16pm UP-CMC Media Center. Admission is FREE!

Artist's ARREST - "Awit"
Artist's ARREST - "Tula"
Bon Labora - "Warrant"
Emil Mercado - "Peace"
Ging Flores- "Luya"
J Pacena - "Left Turn"
JP Carpio - "Tao Po"
Keith Sicat - "SIlenced"
Kodao Productions - "Quenching Fire"
Ron Papag - "Rights 101"
Sinepatriyotiko - "Stop the Killings"
Southern Tagalog Exposure - "Bakwet"
Southern Tagalog Exposure - "Eduardo Serrano"
Ted Edward Ferreras - "Terorista Ka Ano?"
Zig Dulay and Recci Bacolor - "Tagu-Taguan"


Program:

National Anthem with shadowplay performance by Anino shadowplay Collective

Welcoming Remarks from College of Mass Communication Student Council

Intro: From the Producer of Rights v.2 – Southern Tagalog Exposure

Intro: HR Situatione from Karapatan – Ruth Cervantes

Film screening

Acknowledgement of present filmmakers

Reactors: Bibeth Orteza, Roland Tolentino, Doy Del Mundo, Axel Pinpin and Sarah Raymundo

Musical Performance - Cynthia Alexander

Q&A with fimmakers


Rights Background:

RIGHTS is a pioneering compilation of independently produced and human rights themed short films/public service advertisements (PSAs). Initiated originally by artists involved with Southern Tagalog Exposure and the Free Jonas Burgos Movement, RIGHTS exposes the incessant human rights hostilities in the Philippines. It is an open and continuing call for filmmakers to participate in the growing movement to defend and uphold human rights.

However, timely of its launching on September 21 last year, blatant state censorship rendered RIGHTS' non-exhibition atIndie Sine following MTRCB's X rating to some of the PSAs. Filmmakers decried MTRCB's X-rating on RIGHTS as a form of violation of freedom of expression, validating their opinion on the human rights situation in the Philippines. Yet despite the censorship, organizers and filmmakers were determined to continue to reproduce and distribute copies for the benefit of the people's right to know and reach out further to the broad mass of people.

For almost a year following the systematic state intervention, the struggle of RIGHTS' independent filmmakers for a free and relevant disposal of their craft continues. The repression of freedom of expression and worsening human rights situation only gives them more reason to produce more films and actively participate in the struggle for justice and peace.

Thus, as an offshoot to last year's unyielding and remarkable production, comes RIGHTS 2. Some 15 relatively new set of artists and artists collective from the independent film movement will display their artistic prowess and social relevance.

The Anti-Progressive Pope (repost)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Huling Lagapak ng Kandado

NI AXEL PINPIN*
Inilathala ng Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 30, August 31-September 6, 2008

Kumupas at kumupis ang kalendaryo
Kumalampag at ipininid ang kandado
Kumupad at bumilis ang oras
Nagasgas at numipis ang rehas
Dumatal at umalis ang lamig
Sumagad at umibis ang init
Nangutya at tiniis ang inip
Nanuya at nanikis ang inis

Walong daaan at limampu’t siyam na araw
Paulit-ulit, paikid-ikid lamang na galaw

Dalawang taon at apat na buwan
Pabalik-balik, paikit-ikit lamang na kawalan

Ninakaw, inagaw ang kalayaang inakalang
Maitatangkal sa kalaliman ng kadiliman
Ng libingan ng mga buhay at matatabunan
Ng tambak ng batas na butas
Na nauna pang maagnas at ipag-aguniyas
Ang kamatayan ng sirkerong testigo na di-bihasa
Sa kinabisang panulayan at panimbangan.
Ay! Nagkandudulas sa lubid ng kasinungalingang
Ibinuhol ng buhong na piskal, nagkandabulol
At nagkandahulog ang katwiran
Na nagiging mahika-blanka
Sa tuwing kabulaanan ang bumubulagang
Sorpresa sa kahon ng ebidensya at hindi
Kunehong puti na sana’y mabilis at malinis
Na lilinlang sa namanghang mga
Mamamayang bantay sa katarungan
Sa sala ng Hukom na nagmistulang karnabal.

Walong daaan at limampu’t siyam na araw
Paulit-ulit, paikid-ikid lamang na galaw

Dalawang taon at apat na buwan
Pabalik-balik, paikit-ikit lamang na kawalan

At sa isang iglap, walang nakakurap,
Tapos na ang palabas!

29 Agosto 2008/0358hr
Unang labanan ng rebolusyong 1896 sa San Juan
At unang araw sa labas ng bilangguan ng Tagaytay 5

Inilathala ng Bulatlat
*Si Axel Pinpin ay kabilang sa tinaguriang “Tagaytay 5” – kasama nina Riel Custodio, Aristedes Sarmiento, Enrico Ybañez, at Michael Masayes – na dinukot ng mga pulis at militar noong Abril 28, 2006 sa Tagaytay City, pinaratangang mga “rebeldeng komunista” at mahigit sa dalawang taong nakulong sa Camp Vicente Lim ng Philippine National Police (PNP) bago mapalaya nitong Agosto 27. Naging fellow siya para sa tula ng UP National Writers Workshop noong 1999.

VERBATIM: On good governance & the recall petition of Gov. Ed Panlilio

The recall petition is not about good governance or transparency. It is about political opportunism and personal greed. At a time the Filipino nation is in desperate need of honest leaders, officials of the President’s province are doing everything to remove one. For shame.-- Philippine Dailiy Inquirer

From PDI Editorial:

That most of the local officials of Pampanga province, especially the mayors and board members, are suddenly beside themselves with their non-negotiable demand for credible and clean leadership is not at all surprising. But their brazenness is still breathtaking. Simply put, their “campaign” is both shameful and shameless. In Filipino, “nakakahiya, walang hiya!”. Read on.