Rage

They glide through halls of polished stone,
dine in fully-carpeted lounges,
mingle in mansions plying vintage wine.
Their words reverberate throughout the land
examined, analyzed and revered by fools.
At night they thrive
In marble habitats and exotic gardens.

In their Armani-inspired suits
They reek petrified nicotine,
clandestine deals and mindless
affairs, souls newly-soaped, soaked
In a hotel tub of hastily-concealed sins,
As they flaunt their greed and shameless
Indulgence, wandering shriveled fingers
fondle gentle young women
too naive to scream.

In their vanity, they argue pompously
About matters of state, exchanging
Insults, opportunistic ideas,
superficial comments in between.
Always on the look out for that, which
could send them away to rot for good or
earn them a moment of glory.

So they delude themselves, believing
They have every right to be where they are--
Patriots meriting utmost respect.
When in truth they are just flies
clinging to the honey pot of power
in a ravaged land.

They feign honor and wisdom
And pretentiously hoard to themselves
the monopoly of truth
Casting their verdict both upon
The guilty and the innocent.
Simply because compared to their love
for power, everything is simply expendable.

They ride their SUVs
While children brave treacherous highways
For a handful of coins,
Stomachs churning blood.

They ride their SUVs
While emaciated farmers cling to their last breath
like withered weeds, waiting for the
emancipation that would never come.

They ride their SUVs
While entire families cram inside
Plywood walls ‘neath sagging concrete
Along muck-colored creeks with nary a trace of life
Just flotsam of garbage and never-ending
Stink.

So they ride their SUVs.

by Wyanah, August 2007, all rights reserved.

* photo courtesy of mindfully.org

Drastic Measures Needed to Save Laguna de Bay

Experts’ Prognosis for Biological Life in Lawa ng Bae: Only Five Years to Go


The Laguna Lake Development Authority is currently spearheading a media campaign to encourage multi-sectoral commitment in its efforts to save Asia's second largest inland lake.

Representatives from various stakeholders comprising the government, NGO, church/ parish and fisherfolk sectors attended the LLDA's “3rd Annual learning Forum” last October 3, 2007. The highlight of the activity was a multi-media presentation of some notable conservation practices namely: the Solid Waste program of the Kilus Foundation, a waste recycling program in Barangay Teresa of Rizal, and the showing of an award-winning documentary on the state of Laguna Lake entitled “Lawa ng Bae” by up and coming filmmaker Donnie Sacueza.

Laguna Lake Development Authority General Manager Edgardo Manda emphasized the need for a multi-agency approach to address the numerous problems besetting Laguna lake. Based on a recent study and at the rate of its current deterioration, he said that the lake could be biologically-dead in five years time.

He said that a cohesive solution is needed to be derived from the much-needed participation of concerned agencies like the National Housing Authority, and the local government units of Pasig City and Rizal, portions of which are located along on the lakeshore.

At the moment, Manda said that around 80 hectares of shoreland are being occupied by illegal settlers numbering to about 25 thousand families. These makeshift houses do not have any kind of disposal or sewerage system and the people directly throw their garbage, and human wastes into the lake bed.

“The NHA must coordinate with our agency as soon as possible because it has the mandate and administrative jurisdiction to resolve concerns pertaining to illegal settlers,” he said.

As of date, the LLDA has succeeded in bringing down the volume of industrial wastes polluting the lake. From 85% in 1990, it was down to 22% in 2003. The problem now however, is the escalating volume of domestic wastes. The latest study showed that it is now the lake’s biggest pollutant comprising almost 75% of wastes thrown into the lake.

“Do you know that fish harvested from the lake was filled with toxic components? The latest study showed they contained lead, ammonia and mercury contaminants, which I presume are from batteries being thrown in the garbage.” Manda said.

In closing, Manda asked the help of media and all the concerned stakeholders to promote awareness on the unfortunate state of Laguna Lake. “Our lake is dying. In five years time, it could end up like the Pasig River. The time to start saving it is now.”

UNGGOY SA SYUDAD

Dahil sa aking pagtanto ay akmang-akma ang tema nito sa aking blog, I am reprinting in full, a post made by one of my fave bloggers who is also one heck of a writer--Mr. Ashley Riot (see my links). Cheers, pinoy style!

Friday, August 31, 2007
Unggoy sa Siyudad

Sa tagal ng pamamalagi ko sa kalye papuntang eskwelahan noon at sa trabaho ngayon, sa tingin ko'y namalagi ako sa pampublikong sasakyan ng mahigit 10 taon. Hilig ko talaga ang pagbiyahe at ang pag-commute sa kalakhang Maynila ay isa sa mga maliit na kaligayahan na aking tinatamasa sa araw-araw. Ngunit gaano man ang hilig ko dito, hindi maiiwasang meron din mga tao na sisira ng magandang karanasang ito. Sa talakayang ito, itatawag natin silang mga Unggoy sa Siyudad. Mga taong nag-aasal hayop!

Unggoy sa hagdanan. Kung madalas kang sumakay ng pampublikong tren ay makakakita ka nito. May mga lubid na nakapalibot sa mga hagdanan upang igabay ang pila ng mga taong gustong sumakay. Pero ano ito? May tumatawid sa mga lubid! At minsan, matatamaan o mahahagip ka pa ng mga naglulundagang mga unggoy! Dugyot na ang barong na suot mo. Madungis na ang itim mong pantalon na kinaingat-ingatan mong huwag maapakan at madumihan. Sira na ang araw mo, sira pa ang porma mong disente sana.

Unggoy Libre. Iba talaga ang epekto ng salitang "libre" para sa mga Pilipino. Parang wala nang bukas at di bale nang ikaw lang ang makinabang dito. Hindi ko alam kong bakit pati libreng periodiko ay kelangang kunin ng tig-iisang dangkal. Magbabago ba ang balita sa bawat kopyang kunin mo? Wala pang alas-siyete ng umaga, ubos na ang libre. Diyata't naubos ng mga unggoy.

Unggoy Rehas. Ewan ko ba kung bakit ang unang rehas sa pinto ng tren ay syang paboritong kapitan ng mga unggoy. 'Di naman sila lalabas ng maaga. Palagay ko ay dahil sa pintuang bumubukas at sumasarado mag-isa kung bakit hilig nilang tambayan ito. Babara sila sa lahat ng gustong pumasok at lumabas. Kakapit sila ng madiin na parang tuko, 'wag lang mawala sa puwesto! Siguradong gusot-gusot ang damit mo na parang galing ng sampayan pagdaan mo sa kanila.

Unggoy Reyna. Sa lahat ng uri ng sasakyan, meron kang makikita nito. Nakaupo ito ng patagilid. Nakaharap sa bintana at tila walang pakialam sa iba pang gustong umupo! Ito ang mga tipong nasanay sumakay ng nag-iisa. Huwag 'mong susubukang makiupo kung ayaw mong matitigan ng masama!

Unggoy Hari. Syempre, di patatalo ang hari. Nakaupo ito ng diretso at nakabukaka ng todo upang ipagyabang ang kanyang pagiging hari. Ayaw nya ng may katabi! At pag nagtabi sila ng reyna, 4 na katao ang sakop nila! Naku, puno na pala ang sasakyan, sa susunod na jeep na lang po, mamang driver!

Unggoy Usok. Kahit ilang panawagan na ang meron sa telebisyon o sa dyaryo at sa mismong pakete ng yosi, madami pa ring nalululong sa bisyo na ito. Ok lang sana kung sila lang ang nakalalanghap. Kung talagang masarap magyosi, bakit nyo pa binubuga? Di ba dapat, hithit na lang ng hithit? Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ang pagyoyosi sa pampublikong sasakyan ay labag sa batas. At hindi rin totoo yung commercial na pag nakiusap ka eh, titigil sila. Baka nga mapaaway ka pa eh.

Unggoy Dura. Ilag! Baka tamaan ka ng lumilipad na sipon! Dito ka lang ata makakakita ng taong dumudura sa kalye. Kung hindi ka alisto ay siguradong tatamaan ka at baka kailangan mo nang sunugin ang suot mo para hindi mahawa. Malas mo lalo kung nasa sasakyan sila at ikaw ay nataon na lumalakad sa bangketa. Hindi lang pantalon mo ang maaring masapul.

Hindi lang yan ang mga unggoy na makikita mo sa siyudad. Pero marami pa rin namang natitirang tao. Pag laon kasi ng panahon, dahil nakasanayan na ang mali, nagiging tama. Hangga't may pumupuna, hindi mangyayari iyon. Ipagpatuloy nating pansinin ang mga mali para maituwid at di pamarisan ng ibang tao. Hindi ka maarte kung nasa tama ka. At wala ka sa tama kung ang tanging dahilan mo lang ay ginagawa rin ito ng iba. Kung mahal mo ang Pilipinas, hindi mo hahayaang maubos ang tao dito at mapalitan ng mga unggoy. Kumilos ka. Makialam. Yun lang.... Wala akong sponsors kaya wala ng kasunod.... Salamat po.

Posted by Ashley Riot at 6:19 PM

"ZTE" Overload

I'm so glad that Joey De Venecia, as far as his career as one of most cooperative witnesses in the history of the Senate is concerned-- finally decided to call it quits. He contends that he already said everything he had to say and ergo, his appearance is no longer necessary in the continuing investigation surrounding the controversial and now moot, ZTE contract.

In the midst of all the brouhaha spawned by his expose, I was absorbed, enraged even at the audacity of all these thick-skinned and back-stabbing officials haggling between themselves, millions of pesos or dollars in kickbacks. It was almost surreal, and tragic too in the case of once-incorruptible men, who had turned corrupt.

As De Venecia kept coming back to testify however, his version of the events became more complicated, convoluted and at times, bizarre. I was almost afraid he'd suddenly start laughing his head of for no reason as the entire nation watched on live TV.

To his credit, I realized that this guy must have guts of steel. I found myself asking over and over--What's in it for him? Because all I could see was-- here was a guy who had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Why did he do it? Why push your own family to the wall? And it seemed the only conclusion--the unnerving, the terrifying answer to that was--you'd never dare go to all THAT trouble unless it was the TRUTH.

As the old adage goes, truth is stranger than fiction. In the Philippines, anything goes. Politicians, commissioners, businessmen and what have you's--could make anything possible in their insatiable, wheeling-and-dealing world, of course, always at the expense of the people.

I realized too how intricately intertwined politics and business is, in mundongnoypi. This disgusting system of patronage and mutual parisitic dependence between the go-to guys of business and politics is one of the main reasons why, the gaping divide between rich and poor in this country could never be bridged. No offence to the heralds of the so-called "good news of the economy," because there really has never been a "level playing field." The "tree that bears much fruit" will always belong exclusively to the owner of the garden or his friend. As long as this system persists, the goods and the treats will only belong to a few, while the scraps and the crumbs will have to be scavenged by the hungry mass.

*photo courtesy of abs-cbn news

Go Kaisa!

Kristine Raisa Saguisag is the sole gymnast representing the Philippines in the coming Southeast Asian Games to be held this December in Thailand. Last Wednesday, the fifteen-year-old SEA bronze medalist performed her special routine before her mother, her lifetime coach and number one fan-- not knowing that it would be their last moment together. An hour after midnight Thursday, a ten-wheeler dump truck smashed into her parents' van, killing her mom Dulce instantly, and seriously injuring her father, former senator Rene Saguisag, their driver and a family friend.

The late Dulce Saguisag, from what I gather--was an epitome of a mother, wife and friend who gave her all to the people who mattered most to her. On the last day of her life, it seemed she was everywhere at the same time. She was at her daughter's gymnastics practice, managed a brief but substantive chat with her trusted mayordoma, asttended her friends' tete a tete at that famous house in Polk St. San Juan, and finally danced the night away with her husband of over thirty years. According to her eldest son, Atty. Rebo, in her last moment, she even spared her husband the worst fate by shielding him with her body, thus taking the impact of the collision upon herself.

Dulce's dream was to have her daughter bring honor to this country by being the best gymnast she could be. Kaisa, though grieving, knows this. It is indeed tragic for a young lady to lose her mother in such a sudden and senseless manner at the time she needed her the most. Kaisa, the courageous girl she is, has decided to push through with her SEA bid, and we could only wish and hope for her all the best...

(photo courtesy of her friend Millicent's multiply account)

Legacy of Mariannet

Today, the story of a little girl from Davao who hanged herself because of her family's poverty made the headlines. Twelve-year old Mariannet Amper was the sixth of seven children of a poor couple from the slums. She could hardly make it to school everyday because she didn't even have the money for transportation fare or food. Apparently however, this girl was very smart, sensitive and introspective that she was able to chronicle her family's suffering in a diary. The following is an entry she made just last October 5:

Parang isang buwan na kaming absent. Hindi na kasi nakin (sic) binibilang ang absent ko. Hindi ko namalayan na malapit na pala ang Pasko." [It feels as if we’ve been absent for a month. They’re not counting my absences anymore. I just realized that Christmas is just around the corner.]

Mariannet, innocent and young as she was, put a human face to another disquieting news item today, where allegedly around 11 million Filipinos live on less than a dollar a day. Indeed, despite the MACRO-economic achievements being trumpeted noisily by the government, the tragic thing here is, until now--and yes, in spite of the hike in the EVAT (now RVAT)-- the bulk of the population continues to live in subhuman conditions. No wonder so many have already lost all hope--like this little girl. No wonder so many, (around three thousand Filipinos daily last I heard)--continue to leave for foreign shores.

After all this time and seven years into Pres. Arroyo's leadership, I wonder where all these economic gains are being channeled to. Evidently, not to those who are in need of them the most. A nation that could not even send its young citizens to school is hardly a strong republic. A nation that causes its children to choose death than to endure a lifetime of despair is certainly not a nation at all.