Philippine Observer

Perceiving the ‘Real World’

Sunday, April 23, 2017 The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">Perceiving the ‘Real World’</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By: Ray Matthew O. Lamzon</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Graduation day. My final hours as a high school student. The culmination of all my hard work. According to my teachers, this is the day that I step out of my comfort zone and into the ‘real world’. Since my very first day in high school, my teachers have been rambling on and on about how they were preparing us for the ‘real world’. They were readying us for the unforgiving and challenging nature of the ‘real world’ and that they were shaping us to become the leaders of tomorrow. Back then, all of this seemed so true. I was just a young student. I was just a blip on the radar. I was but one small piece of the puzzle of Philippine society. Yet, as graduation day came, I felt no change. There was no stepping into the real world. There was no ‘coming-of-age moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There was only the realization that I was in the real world all along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In that moment, it came to my attention that the things that my teachers said were only partly true. Yes, it was true that they were preparing us for our futures and it was also true that we are going to face more challenges and obstacles when we step out of our high school lives. However, saying that they were shaping the leaders of tomorrow was a mistake. This is because they were actually shaping the leaders of today. The youth of today simply has too much potential and power to be only limited and labeled as ‘leaders of tomorrow’. They should be encouraged to voice out their opinions and take action today instead of tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Like many of my fellow Millenials, there have been too many times wherein I’ve been apathetic towards the issues of Philippine society. I blame myself for not seeing the importance of my voice in the problems that plague our beloved country. Now that I’m older and less ignorant, I want to change this mentality. I want to be more involved. I want to be more aware. To my fellow youth, I encourage you to do the same. Let us not allow our generation to be labeled as the ‘Selfie Generation’ that only thinks about self-importance and individual image. We are part of a larger community and it is our duty to work for its improvement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are already in the real world and we must face it with honor and dignity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The author graduated Class Valedictorian of the Lourdes School of Mandaluyong High School Class of 2017. He is an incoming Business Administration freshman at the University of the Philippines</span></div>
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Perceiving the ‘Real World’ By: Ray Matthew O. Lamzon Graduation day. My final hours as a high school student. The culminatio...

Shelter: The Unsolved Problem

Monday, March 27, 2017 The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">This writer’s experience in government service first started with housing. It was the early 1990s when earnest efforts were made in addressing the housing problem of the country. It was during those times that millions of housing units were needed and it was projected that millions more will have to be built in the near future if only to break even with the demand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Government has recognized then that aside from national food security, shelter was second in the basic needs of Man. Previous attempts have been made to solve the perennial problem but it has not been effective. The thrust was to give low-cost housing to the working class. Thus, housing programs and financing were offered to middle income workers both from the government and private sectors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Funds were mobilized in both the SSS and the GSIS institutions for these low cost housing programs. It was also supplemented by the PAGIBIG Fund so as to provide the least interest rates. The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) tried to bridge the gap as the Housing Loan Originator bank so that housing units can be built and financing availed from the SSS and GSIS that required the housing units first be built before releasing the needed loans to finance them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the problem persisted since only 12% of the population qualified for the requirements in availing of the housing programs then existent. The D and E classes of the population could hardly qualify since they were not formally employed and does not even have the capability to pay for the monthly amortizations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The National Housing Authority (NHA) was given the mandate in providing housing for these unserved sectors of society that formed the bulk of those that needed housing. It is not only in the economic front that the programs will address but also in the social and cultural aspects of the entire body politick of the country. Housing has become not only a political mission but a mission for national survival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But how come there are still millions that are in need of socialized housing programs? Almost 3 decades have passed and yet the problem increases? How coe the recent headlines have bannered the KADAMAY organization occupying 5,000 idle government housing units in Bulacan?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is recorded that in the NHA that there are 53,000 unoccupied housing units nationwide and these are deteriorating because they are unoccupied and neglected. Even so, they are still not enough to address the situation that is rending the socio-economic and political fabric of the nation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The government seems not serious enough in addressing the problem with regards to spending and allocation of funds in relation to GDP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The government would have to make a dramatic departure from the past public spending record in housing. Data on public expenditures on housing over the years and there is an obvious fact. The  spending levels on housing have been  lower compared to other ASEAN countries. According to Asian Development Bank data, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, plus Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal and Sri Lanka, figures  show that over the 15-year period 2000-2014, public expenditures on housing averaged 0.75 percent of gross domestic product for the other countries, ranging from Bangladesh’s 0.25 percent to Singapore’s 1.6 percent. The Philippines, the smallest public housing spender in the bunch, spent only 0.12 percent of GDP, even less than half of Bangladesh’s proportionate allocation, and less than one-sixth of the group average.  </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the reason why we have an increasing amount of informal settlers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Such investment in housing also redounds to downstream industries such as labor and housing materials supply enterprises.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The investment by government will thus have positive social and economic results.</span></div>
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Finance Socio-Economic Shelter: The Unsolved Problem

This writer’s experience in government service first started with housing. It was the early 1990s when earnest efforts were made in add...

Agham Road

Thursday, March 16, 2017 The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">Agham Road traverses a part of Diliman , Quezon City. First of all, Diliman is home to many government offices, Departments and agencies. It was part of having a National Capital that will have all the government offices and even the Parliament. Quezon City was envisioned to be the showcase of the best in the Filipino. A planned city just like Washington DC and even Brasilia in Brazil. To serve the needs of the nation and house those who work for the government. That is why there is a Project 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8. Settlements  expected to house the thousands of civil servants that will man the huge government bureaucracy that will be the human resource of the government.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Aside from the usual civil administration, it also was aimed to come up with the software in human capital. There is the Department of Science and Technology as well as the head office of the source of the funds that will be the lifeblood of government basic services, the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Along Agham Road these agencies are located. But again, there is more to it. Agham Road is where the Philippine Science High School has its home. PSHS is the premier Science High School in the Asia – Pacific. Its scholars are the most “gifted” in all the Philippines. The hope of the motherland as Jose Rizal would have termed it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Agham Road is aptly named because of the DOST and PSHS, one for applied theory and the latter for the basic building blocks for national development and progress. The school will provide an endless stream of talent, creativity and the germ of genius needed to catapult the country to greatness. Such was the plan. A grandiose plan and with a noble ideal. So aptly named, Agham means Science in Filipino. Real development will be complemented by the Advance Sciences, Mathematics, Humanities, Politics, Literature and the Arts of the University of the Philippines while the raw talent will be supplied by PSHS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But we do not live in a vacuum. In the 1990s, a PSHS honor student was mugged and killed. Across PSHS was a huge squatter colony. The culprits came from there. One of the best and the brightest the country has to offer was killed by the dregs of society whom he was supposed to serve and uplift when his time came.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The outcry for blood was tremendous. How dare the sub-humans kill the cream of the cream of the Filipino race. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After observing and learning how the PSHS nurtures the future seed corn of the race, I availed myself of the chance to see the other side. The killers. It was the first time I rode a pedicab or a “traysikad”. From PSHS to East Avenue. I had no intention of riding one to be honest but upon my exit from the gate of the school, a guy stood in front of me and offered to take me to my destination. I just said yes. The fare was 30 pesos. Not even the flag down rate of a taxi. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The driver seemed gaunt and undernourished. Although there were no inclines along Agham Road, he was huffing and puffing even after 10 meters. Each pedal came with an effort. The fact that he was driving against the wind even made it harder for him. He was also tubercular because I can tell from experience. I asked him to stop and rest. That he did. We pulled over and I offered him a cigarette which he accepted with great appreciation. I asked him to sidle up to a sidewalk stand and I bought him a bottle of Coca-Cola. Upon conversing with him, I learned that he only lived a few meters away. I told him that he should take a break and he invited me to his hovel which was only a few meters away. There I found he has 4 children. None of them were going to school. His wife was lying down and he apologized for her since she also has tuberculosis. She could not sit up for long. He told me that he earns around 200 pesos a day since he was too weak to keep pedaling the whole day. With that he can buy a kilo of Galunggong, some tomatoes, onions and garlic. He already bought rice from his morning’s earnings. He told his 10 year old daughter to prepare the fish with the ingredients and put lots of water since their mother would need to have lots of soup. So this was the other side of the tracks or road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I told him I was leaving and there was no need for him to finish the trip. I paid him the fare plus extra. His hovel has no piped in water much less electricity. One of his sons have lumps on his head. It was an infection and he could only afford antibiotics if he had extra. So, one lump goes away and another one takes its place. I cannot escape comparing them from the gifted children in PSHS.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I was walking along Agham Road, I saw the institutions that were supposed to solve these problems. EDSA may be the center of gravity for the body politick of the country but Agham Road signifies the deep divide in the heart of the nation.</span></div>
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Nationalism Socio-Economic Agham Road

Demolition at Agham Road Agham Road traverses a part of Diliman , Quezon City. First of all, Diliman is home to many government offic...

The Philippine Credit Gap

Monday, January 16, 2017 The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">Recent news about the “5-6” Bumbay financiers have been the staple of headlines. These are the ubiquitous motorcycle riding financiers for many of Filipinos. These Indian nationals have been part of the trade and business landscape of the country for almost 100 years. They have a niche carved in the “informal” lending business so critical to the “underground” economy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is already recognized that the underground economy employs more Filipinos than the top 100 corporations. In fact, the Micro enterprises comprise more than 80% of businesses in the country. But where and when did this start?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to current belief, there was a similar mode of financing more than 100 years ago. Being an agricultural country, Filipinos also obtained loans then. But it was not in the form of money. Loans were given in the form of palay. Small farmers would borrow palay to be repaid in palay twice a year since there were 2 seasonal harvest times. The palay borrowe will be repaid with interest also in the form of palay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the shift gradually from agriculture to commercial due to urban migration also necessitated such small scale borrowings and lendings. Instead of farms, Filipinos in the urban areas would put up stores and food stalls. The traditional lending institutions such as banks would never touch these small enterprises since the risks were high, processing in terms of credit investigations and even loan monitoring had a higher overhead than the expected credit yields. Of course, these businesses would never have the needed security or collateral.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thus, the Bumbays came into the picture. They of course would lend and then collect every day the loans payments. They would be part of the community in such fact that they provided a service to the community by easy lending terms but at interest rates as high as 12% per month. In so doing, they would also have the funds to further expand their clientele in financing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> This is where the problem lies. A segment in the economy that needs financing but with traditional institutions unable to serve their needs. An informal source of financing that is considered illegal but is also seen as indispensable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The government must fill in the gap with relaxed credit rules and guidelines that will enable Filipinos to bridge the credit gap that is so important I economic development. This is the only way that the underground economy still survive and even thrive. It must be noted that a vast segment of the population survives only because of this economic sector.</span></div>
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Finance Op-Ed Socio-Economic The Philippine Credit Gap

An integral part of the economy Recent news about the “5-6” Bumbay financiers have been the staple of headlines. These are the ubiqui...

The Challenges of Filipino Housing

Sunday, January 15, 2017 The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">They said that when Magellan first stepped foot on Philippine shores, all Filipinos became squatters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The historical roots of this country’s housing problems still haunts the country. In the United States, one of the indicators for its economic performance is based on how many houses were built for a year. This dates back to the boom years after WWII.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the Philippines, the burgeoning population of 102 million as of the current date give population pressure to land ownership and homesteads. This also competes with available land for commercial, agricultural and industrial purposes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Resolving the challenge of affordable and sustainable housing has long been a subject of many discussions and forums among think tanks, governments, experts, industry stakeholders, and the non government organizations. But this lingering problem continues to persist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An estimated 56% of the population lives in rented or even informal housing. This is a stark reminder of the need for housing with increasing population as a backdrop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Effective solutions to address inadequate housing has yet to be formulated and more so implemented.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to a paper written by Zaigham M. Rizvi last year for the World Bank, more than one billion people—or one out of seven persons on the planet—are now slum-dwellers. Asian cities such as Karachi, Dhaka, Mumbai, Kabul and Manila have some of the world’s largest slums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Asia, which is already facing a massive housing backlog, will soon be facing an even bigger housing challenge—compounded by the deterioration of the existing housing stock and the continuing shrinkage of household size. The housing deficit, with demand outpacing supply, is destined to intensify today’s already-massive housing backlog,” said Rizvi, an expert consultant on housing and housing finance to the World Bank Group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Despite government promises to alleviate the situation, most countries are making no progress toward meeting the housing challenge. Thus ground realities are fast deteriorating and are getting complex for urban planners for viable and doable solutions,” he had said in the paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Philippines needs socialized housing owing to the socio-economic conditions not only of its D and E socioeconomic brackets but also from the “C” class or middle class. The country needs to reverse the backlog of 5.7 million units registered last year 2016. That would entail building 2,600 housing units everyday for the next 6 years</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“The massive housing backlog in the Asia-Pacific region—made all the worse by the absence of adequate, affordable institutionalized housing finance and the apathy of stakeholders in addressing housing-related issues—requires an assertion of political leadership that goes far beyond political sloganeering. It is imperative that political leadership comes forward, in a determined manner to take on this challenge, by mobilizing urban planners, academic scholars, local governments and regulatory authorities,” Rizvi had said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This only highlights the need for socialized, affordable housing that are located in non-hazard areas since the Philippines is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world.</span></div>
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Finance Socio-Economic The Challenges of Filipino Housing

They said that when Magellan first stepped foot on Philippine shores, all Filipinos became squatters. The historical roots of this ...

Gifts and Curses

Sunday, January 8, 2017 The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">I remember when the world started to open up. I was in 1st grade and I started to learn how to read. I once felt amazed on what the world had to offer. I can now choose between Coke and Pepsi because I can read. I knew that it was called Chippy since I can read. A flood of knowledge cascaded when I found that 1937 Reader’s Digest tucked in one of my grandfather’s bookshelves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But along with obtaining information, there came the responsibility of not only keeping it but also using it the right way. When I read that copy of Time Magazine with the emaciated child, I learned of hunger. Not the hunger I daily feel but of a hunger that is deliberate. It then explained to me things that were unwritten. The day I had to accompany my mother and aunt to a store further down the street and wait in line. I discovered that the same situation was also [present but to a far lesser degree. We had to wait in line for the National Grains Authority truck to deliver rice. Those in line were only allowed to purchase 5 kilos of rice. There were no assurances when the truck will be back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That explained why some of my classmates would defecate inside our classroom much to laughs from us. Then other classmates would tell stories of how their rice was mixed with corn or kamote (sweet potatoes) to augment them. That of course became the source of diarrhea. The same story was recounted by my sister to happen in their classes. That was a time in our history that seems to have been conveniently forgotten but hunger still stalks these lands. I have only to go to our school that is beside the church every Saturday. The church and school have feeding programs and that is a laudable program. What must be considered is that those styropor food containers must also include eating utensils. I find it obscene to take pictures but I have seen with my own eyes how the children eat with their hands and the food packets were just laid  on the sidewalks. The children were eating like dogs. In fact, our family pet, Khal has better food containers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How did I arrive at this? It is because I learned how to read. I learned through the structured instructionals at school how to analyze and evaluate. Those are the same skills that I have applied throughout my professional career that ranged from banking, finance, project development and Complete Staff Work at the Presidential Management Staff in the palace at a given span of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I use it still in everyday life. Those skills have managed to feed me and put a roof over my head. I have met people of high standing because of it and I have so many times broken bread with them and even got to know more about them and they got to know me. Such contacts have also given me a modicum of standing and connections. I made friends and also enemies because of these skills but the ledger points to assets more than liabilities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I use those skills in trying to help those that need help but we all know that these are not enough. Analysis and evaluation, forecasts and projections are now second nature to me. At a certain level, I try to turn it off since it always adds to the same thing. That the bottomline is we are losing more than winning. It is not a breakeven proposition. It seems that every day, more of the children end up eating on the sidewalk every morning. By evening, while walking home, I get to see not only children but entire families eating like dogs on the sidewalk. I will do the math on my head and I discontinue before arriving at the same “solution” since it will mess up my evening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is what is happening to many of us now. Having been blessed with education and above all discernment, we having been cloaked with the mantle of critical reasoning are able to see things as what they are. We are now faced with choices on what to do about these gifts. To turn a blind eye and have tunnel vision on what we want to see and do or use the gifts for a greater responsibility bestowed. We used to marvel at our abilities and talents but then realize what must be done. The country is in need of those gifts now more than ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Truly, ours is a gift and at the same time a curse. </span></div>
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Nationalism Op-Ed Patriotism Socio-Economic Gifts and Curses

I remember when the world started to open up. I was in 1st grade and I started to learn how to read. I once felt amazed on what the wor...

19 years after: The Quintos Brothers and the Mamburao 6

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 13, 1997, 19 years ago, gunmen went to a house in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. There was a birthday party being celebrated when they opened fire on Michael and Paul Quintos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Quintos brothers were the sons of a local official named Ricardo Quintos. The elder Quintos tagged a political rival who was Congressman at that time of the province. Rep. Jose Villarosa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those who were involved in the killings were known as the Mamburao 6. They were Eduardo Hermoso, Josue Ungsod, Manolito Matricio, Mario Tobias, Ruben Balaguer and Gelito Bautista.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In March 2006, then former Rep. Jose Villarosa together with the Mamburao 6 were sentenced to death by Judge Ma. Theresa Yadao of RTC Branch 81. It was 8 years after the death of the Quintos brothers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But it did not end there, in March 2008, the Court of Appeals acquitted Jose Villarosa (his wife was the current Congresswoman of the province) citing that the verdict was based on flimsy witnessing by one of the group who served as lookout. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The appellate court’s fifth division, in a decision penned by Justice Noel Tijam dated March 18, ordered the release of Villarosa and “Mamburao 6” farmers Balaguer, Bautista and Tobias. The other members of the fifth division were Martin Villarama and Sesinando Villon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In November 2008, the Quintos family asked the Supreme Court to reverse Villarosa’s acquittal, saying the appellate court committed an abuse of discretion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Villarosa filed criminal and administrative charges against Quezon City judge Yadao in September 2008, accusing her of wrongfully convicting him of the murder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In October 2009, a resolution by state prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera cleared Yadao of the charges, but in a subsequent directive issued in March 2010, former Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera ordered charges to be filed against Yadao, citing “gross errors” in her decision and reversing Navera’s earlier resolution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In May 2012, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima cleared Yadao of the charges, saying she was denied due process when Devanadera directed her indictment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In November 2011, Villarosa said the Quintos’ filings were a form of “harassment.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thus, the case is still pending in the Supreme Court. It has been 19 years since the killings occurred.</span></div>
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Events History Socio-Economic 19 years after: The Quintos Brothers and the Mamburao 6

Dec. 13, 1997, 19 years ago, gunmen went to a house in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. There was a birthday party being celebrated when t...

Si Karen. Si Lawin at si Fe

Wednesday, October 26, 2016 The Mail Man 0

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD26qyNdzmv-Q1XB6n56hVpvri1GToMRReXS0nYCM0Dn4TQl4qmeQMY_uxh71Uo7-VF2k3IKKRP2Fi0CU8U5Y_5zpYSaP_vMOZMKbRH1aLC6D0NxtPjBT6GRBya4AwuMvvbDnhSw36hZq/s1600/Lawin+Damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD26qyNdzmv-Q1XB6n56hVpvri1GToMRReXS0nYCM0Dn4TQl4qmeQMY_uxh71Uo7-VF2k3IKKRP2Fi0CU8U5Y_5zpYSaP_vMOZMKbRH1aLC6D0NxtPjBT6GRBya4AwuMvvbDnhSw36hZq/s400/Lawin+Damage.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of a widow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By now, many would have seen the devastations caused by the two typhoons Karen and Lawin. To many, the perception is that what is typical. A region destroyed by a natural disaster. This country is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. An average of 20 storms and typhoons visit it annually. Not to be cavalier about it but we are a people used to calamities and disasters. And what is remarkable is that we seem to get up after every disaster. This is regardless of how many casualties, the homes destroyed and the crops lost. Others would say that we do not learn our lessons. That we are stupid as a people for letting such misfortune visit us year in and year out. That we have a government that perennially fails to help its people and does not “build better” after every disaster.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a_og8BTOzTHltqghWLoAMOqgJ61W-XHLbi5Z4kNGD9-m2-EKs5-fxuSJr7bzdBdHO5y5K2Qsn_WEjr_Rj-1-7WmboI6d_oGn4B9uQwkLed5hUvZ7Td6RuitSmNjaDx0Pdn7UAtL5CVZm/s1600/Lawin+Damage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a_og8BTOzTHltqghWLoAMOqgJ61W-XHLbi5Z4kNGD9-m2-EKs5-fxuSJr7bzdBdHO5y5K2Qsn_WEjr_Rj-1-7WmboI6d_oGn4B9uQwkLed5hUvZ7Td6RuitSmNjaDx0Pdn7UAtL5CVZm/s400/Lawin+Damage2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmlands and ricefields</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I pose an anthropological answer. As compared to the Dutch who built dikes to protect their country from the ever rising tides that beset their lands that is below sea level. The Filipinos never behaved and much less plan as such. One only has to look at the North Atlantic. The skies are always grey, the waves high and menacing, the water so cold and the winds freezing. Their shores have no fine white sand. Maybe that is why they always come here.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk0WWbTQPoKqzbXZ23DkxM1ZAOD5wFuWMIk5CGbysHSsbrJNEZI4paC70i96yfFw67FaKeJAusv6Wwjl_FVfypWdeKoOL5FhyphenhyphenaIzggWEL3w1dK2IkZSr3ofBXlmN1OngaIOM3Zwnsz2gS/s1600/Lawin+Damage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk0WWbTQPoKqzbXZ23DkxM1ZAOD5wFuWMIk5CGbysHSsbrJNEZI4paC70i96yfFw67FaKeJAusv6Wwjl_FVfypWdeKoOL5FhyphenhyphenaIzggWEL3w1dK2IkZSr3ofBXlmN1OngaIOM3Zwnsz2gS/s400/Lawin+Damage4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the Philippines, typhoons and storms are vicious. There are high winds enough to uproot the Acacia (not an indigenous species) but not enough to uproot the coconut tree. After every storm, the sun will come out full and bright, the waves will be gentle and the sand will remain white and powdery. It is the collective experience of a people so used to such vagaries of fate and climate that they will just carry on. The government officials elected came from such racial stock and institutional memory. The Filipino will always know that the sun will shine after every storm. That is what makes the Filipino resilient.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Such resiliency is put to the test now. Owing to the economic and social history in contemporary (relatively) times, failure of all governments and administrations to address the economic needs of a growing population destroyed the socio-economic equilibrium of the country. Failure to industrialize meant that no work for the burgeoning population both in the urban centers and the rural areas. Such industrialization is what spelled the difference between developed and undeveloped countries. Now we have a large population that needed work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The typhoons devastated regions that are dependent on agriculture. We are an agricultural country with 60% of the population residing in the rural areas. That is why, those who are experiencing poverty accounts for 60% of the number. But there are dynamics, since the Filipino is resilient even in poverty, a considerable number of farmers were able to send their children to school and a great number of them, unable to find employment went to work overseas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is where things are intertwined. Those who went abroad try to support their families left behind. But that is getting ahead of the story. The agricultural sector remains bound by unequal distribution of wealth. The Comprehensive Land Reform Program dating back to 1988 failed to address the main problems of the agricultural sector. A greater number of farmers remain tenants and that is supported by statistics of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The CARP was subjected to what my mother would say Philippine Problems (they had that subject with Mrs. Pagulayan in their HS class in the 1950s). There is the “Palakasan” system for beneficiaries of the CARP with the Municipal Land Reform Office, the Mayor and the Governor and maybe even connections to Satan himself. Tghus, they remained in a state that is like an eternal quagmire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fe is an OFW. Her father is still a farmer so as her brothers. Her educational attainment precludes her from being in the “skilled” category of OFWs. Thus, her skills are typically classified as “Semi-Skilled”.  But she braved the challenges of going abroad and sought to serve her family as best she could. Subject to indignities by foreign employers she persevered. Managing to send money, send gifts and packages home and send emergency remittances owing to the exigencies required. What is remarkable is that she is able to generate savings for her. Fe knows that she cannot be an OFW forever and wants to secure her future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the savings generated, she would invest in palay farming, buy land and even invest in hog raising. But the land where that her grandfather tilled and currently tilled by her father never belonged to them. CARP never reached them. She would plow her hard earned Php100,000 to 4 hectares of ricefield with a projected profit of Php20,000. Fe thought she can have enough income for her savings and for her father. This has happened so many times before and Fe and her neighbors never got any aid or assistance from the government. They can only drool at the assistance and aid given to the victims of Yolanda. Fe wondered how come in the case of Yolanda, aid kept coming in for one month. Now, it is zero and Fe had to work harder for her family and community. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpUIfkgSJRJcu__u2D1jioxtzdVErwwn2-4B121SS2w9iRR1A2GTxBpJV71HGka7m83KEA3Fz8yKZWaNG25KUH_9A_zaQE6QX99RTLSoClurzsYasoNcq-g4XteN_4fl38doDtbEYlt51/s1600/Lawin+Damage6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpUIfkgSJRJcu__u2D1jioxtzdVErwwn2-4B121SS2w9iRR1A2GTxBpJV71HGka7m83KEA3Fz8yKZWaNG25KUH_9A_zaQE6QX99RTLSoClurzsYasoNcq-g4XteN_4fl38doDtbEYlt51/s400/Lawin+Damage6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Karen and Lawin came. The ricefields were devastated. She not only lost her savings, investments and projected income but have to shell out money so that their kitchen roof be repaired. She was told that electricity will be restored after 3 months and a generator be bought. Fe was lucky. Her neighbor who was a widow had their entire roof torn off by the typhoon. In that barangay, every family had at least one OFW. The social cost is just too much to bear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the cost was not only to be measured in these terms. Such a system could not support the needs of the present and of the near future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a depiction on what the country and its people face. Kailangan bang ma-kuba ang mga tao ditto at yung mga nasa abroad? Yes the sun will shine tomorrow but having clouds of despair in the horizon is by now unacceptable.  </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It will take the goodwill of everybody in the country and all those who are abroad and even those who are not Filipinos to get us out of this morass. There will be more Karens and Lawins in the near future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Center just cannot hold.</span></div>
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Environment Events Op-Ed Socio-Economic Si Karen. Si Lawin at si Fe

House of a widow By now, many would have seen the devastations caused by the two typhoons Karen and Lawin. To many, the perception is t...

Heroes 6 (6th installment on my Philippine Alternative History series)

Saturday, October 8, 2016 The Mail Man 0

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHtB2VfsoTXX12wcNKLCspu3b_5xCgKtT4ZQ5RS9hz7BUmrb5pLDqQB6OKBAiHSAn4XGato3GbNHbRmx60PfDqb7OPJni8vhjLZJBH3pkgey8kdVPnmINDAFjoFUF_L1ypdL6lT_D7bqA/s1600/Mabini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHtB2VfsoTXX12wcNKLCspu3b_5xCgKtT4ZQ5RS9hz7BUmrb5pLDqQB6OKBAiHSAn4XGato3GbNHbRmx60PfDqb7OPJni8vhjLZJBH3pkgey8kdVPnmINDAFjoFUF_L1ypdL6lT_D7bqA/s400/Mabini.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Apol Mabini was just waiting by the kiosk across the PLDT Office at Sampaloc, Manila. Classes were suspended by noon. News has been going around on what happened at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and the employees of Ayala and Ortigas business districts. Already, there were students and other protesters at Mendiola. They had returned after being dispersed by Civil Disturbance Control units earlier in the morning. What led to the return bout was the appearance of pro-government mob who cornered a group of students isolated near Tandem. A group of students then threw rocks at them and they chased the students all the way to Morayta little knowing that a bigger group was waiting for them and ambushed them sealing both ends of Morayta. The pro-government mob were themselves cut off and were beaten up until none were left standing.  There was no police to break up the fracas since most police were concentrated on Mendiola Bridge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lacson Avenue was already being filled with traffic. Welcome Rotonda was closed by the police since there was a contingent of students marching from UP, Ateneo and Miriam College. News travels fast in this age of the internet. Apol was lighting his third cigarette when 3 vans arrived. He saw Andy Bonifacio alighting from one and several people also disembarked. It was the signal for those also waiting in the area. They converged on the PLDT Office. Security guards were taken by surprise and a group managed to enter the building. Andy told Apol that this was strategic. They have to keep the international communications gateway open. PLDT must not be shut down. The group then proceeded to the Tower area and convinced the engineers to remain calm. Following the vans was a truck that brought in water, food and other supplies. The protesters were digging in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Three police cars arrived but by that time, those manning the barricades were almost 2 thousand strong, mainly Civil Society groups and students from nearby UST. Andy let the Civil Society negotiators deal with the police. He was communicating via the new FB Messaging that included encryption. He was talking to his brother Proxy who at that time was at the Meralco Substation with other protesters. There would be no brownouts in the area. They sealed off the substation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Andy was on the line again with Syano Jaena who was at Ayala Boulevard. Syano was telling him that the entire Ayala Golden Mile was emptied out of employees and the tail end was at Mckinley Road proceeding to BGC. A group of protesters with nuns from Assumption and students from the Ateneo Business Schools were already manning the barricades at the corner of EDSA and Ayala and another group manned by Don Bosco brothers and students were barricading Ayala corner Buendia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Syano Jaena was also online and saw the drone footage realtime at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. An Assumption Sister was also watching and tears were running down her cheeks when viewing the carnage at the LmnB. Such ruthless barbarity but the barricade was holding. Syano tried to call Dr. Jose Rizal on the encrypted FB PM but got no answer. The video showed that the teargas was clearing up and the police and military have taken a step back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back in Espana, Apol was manning the front line of the barricades together with students from UST. One of his law students was pointing at something. When he looked towards the area, he saw several SUVs and Pick-up trucks disembarking men. The vehicles prominently had DDS stickers on their sides. “Ah, Digong Duterte Supporters” he said to himself. This was expected since police and military units were already stretched, it was just a matter of time that such hoods will show up to augment the regular police and military. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These men charged the barricades and they had pistols out. A UST bother tried to block them but they shot him in the head. Guns spewed fire towards the protesters and a dozen fell down. Nobody ran away, in fact, more reinforced the frontlines. Stones and Molotov cocktails were thrown towards the group of gunmen. Five were immolated at once. A foodcart became part of the barricade. Five gunmen fired at the barricades and a bullet ricocheted and hit Apol at the back. He was attended to by a student and dragged towards the back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Apol was in distress, not because of the attack but because he could not feel his legs…….</span></div>
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History Nationalism Patriotism Heroes 6 (6th installment on my Philippine Alternative History series)

Apol Mabini was just waiting by the kiosk across the PLDT Office at Sampaloc, Manila. Classes were suspended by noon. News has been going...

Today is Wednesday

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 The Mail Man 0

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOD6HCcm2DcIbFMqnc6JQmEHFGNPnQwkDLTsZCxVLTCv2Wk0CH1scQgZdS_bX4tskIxA8VjyHCBSIKgfNloG8OnB1eCQmToTCBsC1dXbVi7fq-wvn_THVDM0QepHOxTBftPI-Dwf8v_Rc/s1600/Marcos+ML.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOD6HCcm2DcIbFMqnc6JQmEHFGNPnQwkDLTsZCxVLTCv2Wk0CH1scQgZdS_bX4tskIxA8VjyHCBSIKgfNloG8OnB1eCQmToTCBsC1dXbVi7fq-wvn_THVDM0QepHOxTBftPI-Dwf8v_Rc/s400/Marcos+ML.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday is what most of us consider as the middle of the week. Something to look forward to at the end of the workday knowing that the other half of the week will lead to the weekend. It is a touchstone for most of the working class. It is as if the worst is now behind us. We can cruise until the weekend comes. Wednesday is the crossroads in the week. For those who have labored so hard on Monday and Tuesday. In most bars, Wednesday is Ladies' Night. A Promtion to lift up the spirits of the stressed and tired, to tide them over until the weekend. Days of recuperation and respite. A time for home, family and friends. A time for the weekly respite on a middle of the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today is Wednesday. The economy shows strength in GDP indicators and yet the poorest of the poor have yet to benefit from it. International Rating Agencies have yet to put food on the tables of millions of Filipino children who will sleep on mats, cardboards, bare floors and garbage without eating supper. Those who are sick will not get any doctors, medicines and medical attention today because is Wednesday. Many of them will die because they did not have the medicines and medical attention because it is Wednesday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today is Wednesday. Many of the people have no jobs because of failed economic policies made during that Wednesday. Industrialization was thrown out so as to assuage the IMF-WB conditions on what the Philippine economy must be after the 1947 Bretton Woods Agreement. In exchane for loans, the country must not industrialize. our people will just be the market for the products of other countries. our people will just be hewers of wood and carriers of water. And yet the country will need dollars to survive. Hotels, the Cultural Center, PICC, Folk Arts Theater, the Manila Film Center were financed by those loans in order to attract tourists. Agreements were made with Middle East countries for Philippine labor. At such acost. The cost was a Presidential Decree that automatically allocated 40% of Philippine government revenues to automatic debt payment. Now, no industrialization meant no jobs. Now we have the Diaspora of Filipinos to foreign lands. The cost is social and very hard to measure. The very fabric of the Filipino family is now being threatened. How I miss my sister and brother. These all happened on Wednesday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today is Wednesday. When elected and appointed government officials run roughshod over the people. Giving them crumbs, corrupting their values and morals so as to sustain a Ruling Class that is answerable to no one. Of having the biggest mansions, the most delicious food, the best and fanciest vehicles, the most lavish parties, the finest clothes and the most money. They do so because of the Pork Barrel system. They do so because of corruption. They do so because they have made beggars of the people so that they will be elected again and again and again. Because it is always Wednesday and they made a Mendicant State.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Macliing Dulag. Dr. Johnny Escandor, Eman Lacaba, Edgar Jopson, Alex Boncayao, and thousands of soldiers, MNLF, NPA, activists, workers and way before them Elias, they all died on Wednesday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a Tuesday now, but our country is still at Wednesday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today is Wednesday. Our country is at the crossroads. We must decide if we are to be a better country, having ridden over the hump for the promise of a weekend or to be stuck on Wednesday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the evil started on Wednesday. In Malacanang. Marcos surrounded by his Rolex Twelve. They were making the countdown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">September 20, 1972 was a Wednesday. The next day was September 21, 1972. The day Martial Law was declared.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today is a Wednesday.</span></div>
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History Nationalism Patriotism Today is Wednesday

Wednesday is what most of us consider as the middle of the week. Something to look forward to at the end of the workday knowing that the ...

History in the Upside Down: Bud Dajo

The Mail Man 0

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgjvLgOo8P13pCij-3OCuGF86X4n8raa6kukPMp6pfdGgjvZ7L0OW0AXZ6KWifv8q6VcHshtaWRMB64dWYIdTNRO-qSlDl3l0uhEOt80vJzmCv4h3dOp-1y8wNpvk0M0hXyKMsGoKucD5/s1600/Bud+Dajo+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgjvLgOo8P13pCij-3OCuGF86X4n8raa6kukPMp6pfdGgjvZ7L0OW0AXZ6KWifv8q6VcHshtaWRMB64dWYIdTNRO-qSlDl3l0uhEOt80vJzmCv4h3dOp-1y8wNpvk0M0hXyKMsGoKucD5/s400/Bud+Dajo+Pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The things happening recently really transports one to a world of surrealism. I have never imagined that history can be used as a weapon of disinformation to this day. In fact, it is not only disinformation but is used to muddle up any issue. The recent digging up of the Bud Dajo battle is an example of such a case. It was waved and bandied about as a sort of the pot calling the kettle black</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been a serious student of history but not formally. My main source of history back then was my maternal grandfather. He was born during a time when the Philippines was an American colony, and then part of the Commonwealth, WWII, Independence and contemporary history.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But he is remarkable since he graduated Magna cum Laude at the Philippine Normal College during the commonwealth era and Magna cum Laude at the Union Theological Seminary. I deferred to him most regarding history, both written and unwritten because he also came in contact with those whose stories are not part of formal history books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was during grade school that I became aware of the Muslim Question in Mindanao. Not finding it in my grade school elementary history books, I asked him. I knew that the Philippines was an American colony before and I saw the movie posters of Dugo ng Tarikan (starring Vic Vargas) and also Sunugin ang Samar! (starring Ramon Revilla), and I wondered what about Mindanao.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">His answer came in the form of a lecture on the Bates Treaty and that it somehow kept the peace after that. He did mention the Bud Dajo battle and that it was the battle that settled American dominance in Mindanao.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, Duterte waved it as an example of American terrorism and disrespect for human rights of Filipinos. Again, I went back to my grandfather but he passed away 1987. And again I fall back on what he taught me and did research on the subject. That was why I kept my mouth shut during the time when it was the stuff of headlines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here goes.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacSJefq4zZSaIZWxpouw4-1rKdz7LkaFVUxzGEJkmK9x_90sZyDHsSGugSxfEzDkU3JUVDY3Ow1NaFV0nGmhURblgreylTtV0kHu8eUk4CHVx3JOcb9RhiL_DR52cMsNj-21nRKGpFwQk/s1600/Bud+Dajo+Pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacSJefq4zZSaIZWxpouw4-1rKdz7LkaFVUxzGEJkmK9x_90sZyDHsSGugSxfEzDkU3JUVDY3Ow1NaFV0nGmhURblgreylTtV0kHu8eUk4CHVx3JOcb9RhiL_DR52cMsNj-21nRKGpFwQk/s640/Bud+Dajo+Pic2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bud Dajo Mountain</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bud Dajo</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bud Dajo is located 6 kilometers from Jolo. It is the crater of an extinct volcano with an elevation of 640 meters above sea level. Its crater has a circumference of 1,800 yards and the volcano itself has an 18 kilometer circumference and is steep and thickly forested. It has three major trails going to the summit. In military terms, it is a formidable defensive perimeter and owing to the size of the area, a siege would be very difficult to undertake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why Bud Dajo?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Moro named Pala ran amuck in a village in Borneo, then part of the British colony that was to be now Malaysia. Having become a fugitive, Pala went back to Jolo, then part of the Sulu Sultanate. He was to be arrested by Col. Hugh Scott, district governor of Sulu. The Datu opposed the move to arrest Pala and during the ensuing fight, Pala managed to escape. In time Pala became a Datu and it was several months that another attempt to arrest him was made. Pala then sought refuge in Bud Dajo because of its easily defensible perimeter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bud Dajo was not only easily defended but also had a source of water and soon, other Moros joined Pala in the sanctuary of Bud Dajo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">During that time, “reforms” were being implemented in Mindanao. These reforms were:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. No more “Cedula”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Stopping of the Slave Trade</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even in pre-Hispanic Philippines, slave raiding and slave trading was an industry in Mindanao, with slave raiders ranging as far as Luzon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those joining Pala were against the reforms banning slavery and were the remnants of three earlier revolts against the Americans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Initial attempts at inducing Pala and his group to surrender were futile. These consisted of sending Datus and even the Sultan himself failed to make Pala and his group to surrender.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having a secure base, Pala and his group raided nearby villages for women and cattle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This prompted the Americans to neutralize Bud Dajo. 3 combat columns attacked from the three main trails leading to Bud Dajo. Each trail was defended by barricades and fighting was intense and even led to hand-to-hand combat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, the crater summit was on the verge of being overrun. A last resort was then made for a surrender, two Datus were sent to negotiate and again failed to obtain a surrender. The final assault began on March 7, 1906 and was made by artillery and machineguns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Only 6 of the estimated 800 – 1,000 Bud Dajo garrison survived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">------------------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There was no massacre. There was a battle which was a culmination of months of negotiations. The issue was not about religion but about those who wanted slavery to continue as an industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Duterte said they were his ancestors. Then so be it. It explains a lot of things about him. Even his use of history is incompetent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">History in the Upside Down</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sources:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Arnold, J.R., 2011, The Moro War, New York: Bloomsbury Press, ISBN 9781608190249</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. John J. Pershing (25 June 2013). My Life before the World War, 1860--1917: A Memoir. University Press of Kentucky. p. 386. ISBN 0-8131-4198-2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. "The Right Sort of White Men": General Leonard Wood and the U.S. Army in the Southern Philippines, 1898-1906 (Doctoral Dissertations). p. 8. Retrieved 11 August 2015. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. The statement from Scott comes from: Gedacht, Joshua. "Mohammedan Religion Made It Necessary to Fire:" Massacres on the American Imperial Frontier from South Dakota to the Southern Philippines," in Colonial Crucible: Empire in the Making of the Modern American State. Edited by Alfred W. McCoy and Francisco A. Scarano. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 2009, pp. 397-409. Information on the use of craters as sites of refuge during Spanish attacks can be found in: Warren, James Francis. The Sulu Zone, 1768-1898: The Dynamics of External Trade, Slavery, and Ethnicity in the Transformation of a Southeast Asian Maritime State, 2nd ed. Singapore: NUS Press, 2007.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. The Battle of Bud Dajo (archived from the original Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. on 2008-05-09), chapter 19 of Swish of the Kris (archived fromthe original Archived February 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. on 2008-02-02), by Vic Hurley.</span></div>
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Events History Nationalism Patriotism History in the Upside Down: Bud Dajo

The things happening recently really transports one to a world of surrealism. I have never imagined that history can be used as a weapon ...

Heroes 5 (Part V of my Philippine Alternative History Series)

The Mail Man 0

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<span style="font-size: large;">P/SInsp. Augusto Tirona was having a bad day. He was suffering from a headache brought about by a bad hangover. He and 3 of his men had 3 liters of Emperador the previous day. It started early enough at around 2 in the afternoon but it dragged on until 10:00 p.m. His men, Lito and another one “Bulik” and Julian were in the PCP drinking because of domestic troubles of Capt. Tirona. The alternating hot sun and short but sharp rains all throughout the morning tested Tirona’s nerves. Although he and his men were not I the frontlines, they were still ordered to deploy behind the Civil Disturbance Control phalanx that faced the demonstrators. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tirona’s men were armed unlike the CDC before them. The rallyists were able to barricade themselves behind the 10-wheeler truck that served as their stage earlier in their morning program. It was not supposed to be this way since earlier orders from Gen. Kamagong was for the policy of maximum tolerance. They though they outsmarted the demonstrators. Although the demonstrators sat behind the students who lay down on the road leading to the Libingan ng mga Bayani, their plan was to fly in the body of ex-President Marcos. But the organizers of the demonstrators also had contingencies. When the helicopter was approaching, a barrage of fireworks were lighted, dozens of rockets filled the air and the helicopter could not safely approach. It turned out that the 10-wheeler truck not only brought the stage and sound systems but also brought with it face masks, water, the fireworks along with enough food to last for days. It also brought a generator that powered laptops, cellphones and gadgets that brought streaming video to the internet. After 3 attempts the helicopter could not loiter anymore and would have to return to Villamor Air Base. The demonstrators felt victory at hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, employees from Ayala went down from their offices and are now marching down McKinley Road. Employees from Ortigas Business Center were also now marching down C5 and were already at Bagong Ilog, Pasig. The Police and the AFP never had any such contingencies. Radio reports of clashes between police and demonstrators coming from Quezon City were being fed them and the stopline was in Cubao where those in Araneta Center were attempting to outflank the blocking force at EDSA corner Aurora. There can be had no reinforcements from Crame or Aguinaldo since a large part is already in Cubao and another contingent was blocking Shaw Blvd because of demonstrators coming from Mandaluyong and Manila.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The adjacent provincial commands had to send augmentation forces to surround Malacanang. It would be hours before more units can be poured in from Rizal and Bulacan. A day at least from Quezon Province and Bicol commands. It took them by surprise since all they expected was resistance from the demonstrators already at the BGC.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tirona was given the order to move forward since the CDC was already advancing towards the demonstrators. Then several teargas launchers were fired against the rally line. But instead of dispersing, the rallyers poured water over their eyes and face marks. Those lying down were also doused with water, thus the teargas was neutralized. The Amihan wind also blew the teargas towards the police line and greatly degraded the operations. Not all the policemen and soldiers were issued gas masks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the CDC reached the demonstrators lying down on the road. The impact was psychological. It was one thing to use truncheons on standing demonstrators. It was different beating down on students who were lying down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Emilio and Gregorio were the one’s who were sitting down in front of the students lying down. They were part of the UP contingent. Those lying down were students from UST and Ateneo. The troopers cannot beat them down but they tried pulling them up and carrying them but the students held on to each other’s hands and arms. They were locked in a human mesh. No matter how hard they tried, it was useless. The CDC was faltering. Tirona had his men with guns firing rubber bullets come forward. When the CDC retreated in frustration, Tirona ordered a volley. The first rank of those sitting down crumpled. Emilio was hit on the chest and he crumpled over. Gregorio carried him to the back and other students took their place. Again Tirona ordered a volley and the front line of the students went down, but again others took their place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tirona was already frustrated, a third volley was ordered with the same results. Students already had bloody heads and faces. Tirona then stepped on the bodies of the students lying down. He did not care if it was a face or a stomach or a leg. A priest the stood up and told him that it was enough. Then a nun implored him to cease the volley of rubber bullets. More than 1 hundred students were bleeding behind them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gregorio took Emiio to the aid station. Dr. Jose Rizal together with volunteer nurses and doctors were treating the casualties and more were coming. Dr. Jose Rizal then went towards the frontlines because of the continuous flow of casualties. He was wearing his white coat and just following the line of litter-bearers who came streaming to the aid station. When he got to the from, he saw the final volley of rubber bullets and his hands turned white with rage upon seeing the students being mown down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But the students and other demonstrators would not back down. They started to sing Lupang Hinirang which was commenced by a lone UP Music Conservatory student. It was such a stirring voice that upon the second stanza, all the others sang together with her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tirona was blocked by the priest and nun. He could not hear what they were saying since the national anthem was being sang around them. Tirona took out his 9mm Beretta and pointed it at the priest to order them to stop. The priest just stood there. The nun seeing the gun tried to yank Tirona’s arm. Tirona, confused, having a bad headache and the loudness of the song pulled the trigger. The priest crumpled and fell down, the nun draped her body over another student. Tirona said “Putang ina ninyo, tumigil na kayo!”, But the students only sang louder, He pointed his gun towards the head of another student sitting down. It was Gregorio, the nun dived over Gregorio, the gun went off and the bullet hit the nun.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Rizal was running towards Tirona but other policemen went to Tirona and carried him off toward their lines. Dr. Rizal knelt with tears running down his cheeks. The priest was dead and the nun had a gunshot wound on her side. Gregorio was trying to stanch the blood on the nun. Dr. Rizal took the puls of the priest as the song ended at “Ang Mamatay ng Dahil sa iyo……..”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Events were now being livestreamed over the internet. Pictures were being posted realtime on facebook. The demonstrators even had drones flying of the carnage. The world saw what was happening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the same time, Andy Bonifacio was with a group inside vans that were heading to Sampaloc…</span></div>
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History Nationalism Patriotism Heroes 5 (Part V of my Philippine Alternative History Series)

P/SInsp. Augusto Tirona was having a bad day. He was suffering from a headache brought about by a bad hangover. He and 3 of his men had 3...

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