Archive for December, 2008
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Why Rizal Did Not Deserve to Be the Philippines’s National Hero
Today, Dec. 30, is Rizal Day, the commemoration of the death anniversary of Jose Rizal, the national hero. As usual, Filipinos will be subjected to hagiographic stories about him. To be sure, Rizal was a great man. But, as Renato Constantino explains in his classic “Veneration Without Understanding,” he did not deserve to be the Philippines’s national hero. A national hero — Washington for the US, Bolivar for Latin America, Mao for China, Ho Chi Minh for Vietnam, Lenin for the Soviet Union — should be the one that led a country’s revolution. In the Philippines’s case, “our national hero was not the leader of our Revolution. In fact, he repudiated that Revolution.”
NINOTCHKA ROSCA While lining up for kona coffee ($1.95 per 8-ounce Styrofoam cup) at the central kiosk of the food court of the Ala Moana Center, I suffered a mild fugue. Like palimpsest, the image of the food court at the Ali Mall in Quezon City, Philippines, seeped through the environs; surely, that must have been the ancestor of all food courts in the world.
Agrarian-reform secretary and peace negotiator Nasser Pangandaman Sr. has aired his side about the alleged mauling in Antipolo on Friday. He said the alleged victims started the fight. He also “took exception to criticisms about his being a peace negotiator and his failing to prevent the incident from happening,” according to a report in MindaNews. “Unfair kasi nandon tayo just to play. It’s holiday. I seldom see my kids. It was also bonding for us,” he said.
CARLOS H. CONDE A Cabinet secretary and peace negotiator condoning the violence his son and friends were inflicting on an old man and a 14-year-old boy? By doing nothing to stop the beating, Pangandaman Sr. betrayed his skewed ethical and moral sense. President Arroyo should fire him.
Bambee de la Paz blogs about the mauling of her father and brother by the son and people of Agrarian Reform Nasser Pangandaman. She writes: “The mayor socks him in the face. My brother defended himself. My dad is still on the ground getting clobbered. My brother is the same way. I try to stop the fight, but all I can do is stop one person. There were 4 or 5 of them attacking now.”
HUMAN RIGHTS At around 7 in the evening on Tuesday, unidentified men killed 39-year-old environmental activist leader Fernando “Dodong” Sarmiento in Compostela Valley Province. He was shot five times.
As lawmakers debate on the fate of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) before the session in Congress ends this year, farmers believe — and have proven – that owning and having control of a piece of land and the means to cultivate it is their way out of hunger and poverty.
HUMAN RIGHTS By Arthur L. Allad-iw | Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have filed a resolution to investigate the arrest and continuing detention of human rights and labor lawyer Remigio Saladero Jr.
FR. SHAY CULLEN The really big thing about Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ is that Christ brought a message of equality for all, and established the dignity and rights of women and children.
CARLOS H. CONDE What other ignominious crap will Corazon Aquino inflict upon us? An icon of democracy and moral leadership? Hah! She is an icon of everything that is wrong with this country.
Because of the failure of the agrarian-reform program, Filipino peasants have to continue relying on themselves in the struggle for genuine land reform, activists say. They call on farmers to draw lessons from the struggles of farmers from the Hacienda Luisita, Hacienda Looc, Central Mindanao University in Bukinon, among others.
NINOTCHKA ROSCA It’s no longer physically fun. I have to lug an iPod, a laptop, a Nikon, a photo-lens, a smaller camera, digital tape recorder, a cell phone, a hotspot detector, and – good lord – all the batteries, chargers, connectors, USBs, earbuds, accessories, etc., that will keep them useful.
FR. SHAY CULLEN Christmas is all about living a simple, non-luxurious life in the friendship of Jesus Christ putting the well-being of suffering and deprived humanity at the forefront of our concerns.
PRESS FREEDOM | Two Philippine radio journalists, Dennis Cuesta and Martin Roxas, were slain in 2008 after reporting on local controversies. CPJ research over 17 years shows that the Philippines and Russia have been among the deadliest nations for the press—and among the worst in solving the murders.
POLITICS By the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) | With all remaining options including attempts at another Cha-Cha diminishing the whole nation should brace for some extreme measures being resorted to in 2009.
Reds seek activation of NPA hit squads in cities After Ampatuan Massacre, 2009 a Record Year for Journalist Killings Worldwide CHR to military: Respect and protect human rights during martial law in Maguindanao Maguindanao, its political elite and a culture subservient to corruption U.S. Must Improve Responsiveness to Mass Atrocities; Absent UN Action, Make Clear Willingness to Act on Its Own, Says New CFR Report Martial law dilutes the Philippines’s human rights and democratic gains Martial law in Maguindanao sets ‘most dangerous precedent’ Lawyers will wear black armbands, ribbons in courts Law group shall file plunder cases against President Arroyo et al. UN Experts: Maguindanao massacre must be the start of a major reform process
Arroyo’s oil-price control a publicity stunt, cries Ibon Political Bloodbath Continues: Widow of Slain Activist Shot Dead New Wave of Protests Against Charter Change Set in April Comelec’s Automation to Worsen Election Fraud — Watchdog 2008: Another Bad Year for the Philippine Press ‘Unemployment Figures Wrong; Number of Jobless Higher’ ‘Nicole Is Not the Enemy’ ‘Nicole’: ‘My Conscience Bothers Me’ Is the Call Center Industry a Bright Spot for New Graduates? 6 Great Ways to Vent Your Frustrations Eating Dirt Is Actually Good For Children Australia Offers 150 Scholarship Slots for Philippines, Asia-Pacific mamert dolera: The horrible maguindanao massacre displays the “crueltiest 221; act of political warlordism... Don Untalan: I am also interested to buy (AROD) and the tall hybreed variety. Pls advice where to buy from Manila,... scott: Sports and politics do not mix. But the economy of the Philippines relies on Pacqiao. How much money would a... Bernadine Ebo: nov.11,2009 4:45 my husband and i wants to adopt