An Open Letter to Noynoy by F. Sionil Jose

An open letter to Noynoy

HINDSIGHT

by F Sionil Jose
from The Philippine Star

Dear Noynoy,

You are now swamped with suggestions and advice, but just the same, I hope you’ll have time to read what this octogenarian has to say.

You were not my choice in the last election but since our people have spoken, we must now support you and pray that you prevail. But first, I must remind you of the stern reality that your drumbeaters ignore: you have no noble legacy from your forbears. It is now your arduous job to create one yourself in the six years that you will be the single most powerful Filipino. Six years is too short a time — the experience in our part of the world is that it takes at least one generation — 25 years — for a sick nation to recover and prosper. But you can begin that happy process of healing.

Bear in mind that the past weighs heavily on all of us because of the many contradictions in it that we have not resolved, whose resolutions would strengthen us as a nation. This past is now your burden, too. Let us start with the fact that your grandfather collaborated with the Japanese. Your father was deeply aware of this, its stigma, its possibilities. He did not leave any legacy because he did not become president. He was a brilliant and courageous politician. He was an enterprising journalist; he had friends in journalism who can attest to his effulgent vision, who did not profit from his friendship, among them Nestor Mata, Gregorio Brillantes — you may consult them. I cannot say I did not profit — he bought many books from my shop and when he was in Marcos’s prison, your mother brought books from my shop to him.

Forgive me for giving you this unsolicited advice. First, beware of hubris; you are surrounded by panderers who will tell you what is nice to hear. You need to be humble always and heed your conscience. When Caesar was paraded in ancient Rome before the cheering multitudes, there was always a man chanting behind him: “Remember, you are mortal.”

I say to you, remember, the poor — some of them in your own hacienda — will be your ultimate judge.

From your comfortable and privileged cocoon, you know so little of our country and people. Seek the help of the best — and the best do not normally want to work in government and neither will they approach you. You have to seek them.

Be the revolutionary your father wanted to be and don’t be scared or wary of the word “revolution.” It need not be always bloody. EDSA I was not. Your father wanted to destroy the most formidable obstacle to our progress — the Oligarchy to which you and your family belong. To succeed, you have to betray your class. If you cannot smash the oligarchy, at least strive to have their wealth develop this country, that they bring back the billions they stashed abroad. You cannot do this in six years, but you can begin.

Prosecute the crooks. It is difficult, thankless and even dangerous to do this. Your mother did not do it — she did not jail Imelda who was the partner in that conjugal dictatorship that plundered this nation. Watch her children — they were much too young to have participated in that looting but they are heirs to the billions which their parents stashed abroad. Now the Marcoses are on the high road to power, gloating, snickering at our credulity and despicable amnesia.

You know the biggest crooks in and out of government, those powerful smugglers, thieves, tax cheats — all you really need is guts to clobber them. Your father had lots of it — I hope he passed on to you most of it.

And most of all, now that you have the muscle to do it, go after your father’s killers. Blood and duty compel you to do so. Cory was only his wife — you are the anointed and only son. Your regime will be measured by how you resolve this most blatant crime that robbed us of a true leader.

And, finally, your mother. We loved her — she united us in ousting an abominable dictator. But she, too, did not leave a shining legacy for her presidency was a disaster. She announced a revolutionary government but did nothing revolutionary. She promised land reform but did not do it. And most grievous of all — she transformed the EDSA I revolution into a restoration of the oligarchy.

She became president only because her husband was murdered and you became president elect only because your mother died. Still, you are your father’s son and may you now — for the good of this country and people — scale the heights he and your mother never reached.

I am 85 and how I despair over how three generations of our leaders failed! Before I go, please let me see this unhappy country begin to be a much better place than the garbage dump our leaders and people have made it. You can be this long awaited messiah but only if you are brave enough and wise enough to redeem your father’s aborted promise.

Hopefully yours,

F. Sionil Jose

Sumilao Farmers' Fight Still On Going

Hindi pa pala natatapos ang pakikibaka ng mga Sumilao Farmers. Akala natin ok na ang lahat, yun pala pinapaikot-ikot nanaman ng mga may kapangyarihan ang proseso upang tumagal ang kanilang paghihirap.

Mabuti at bantayan natin ito muli. Salamat!

29 March 2010

PRESS RELEASE

Reference: Atty. Kaka Bag-ao (09068375849)

Sumilao land remains undistributed after 2 years; Sumilao farmers resume claim over disputed 144-hectare land

Two years ago today, in March 29, 2007, the Sumilao farmers signed an agreement with San Miguel Corporation (SMC), represented by its president, Ramon Ang in the presence of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. In signing of the agreement, SMC ceded 50 of the 144 hectares being claimed by the Sumilao farmers and committed to acquire 94 hectares of land outside the disputed property for distribution to the farmers under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform. This marked the end of the Sumilao campaign which started with their historic 1,700 kilometer-march from Sumilao to Malacañang. As a direct result of their 1,700 kilometer march, President Arroyo revoked the conversion order covering the contested property in December 2007 and ordered the distribution of the property under the CARP forcing SMC to the negotiating table with the farmers. After the signing of the agreement, the Sumilao farmers returned home and occupied and began to cultivate the 50 hectares covered by the agreement.

However, after two years, the Sumilao farmers are yet to receive the land titles of the 50 hectares within the contested property and the 94 hectares outside the 144-hectare disputed land. “We have met with the representatives of SMC and the DAR and they have promised the land titles every time we met. Deadline after deadline came and went but the promised land titles failed to materialize. Even the title of 50 hectares we are now tilling remains an unfulfilled promise” Peter Tuminhay, spokesperson of the Sumilao Farmers said. He added that the lands offered to them by SMC have various problems; some of the lands are still leased to Del Monte, some had titles that were not surrendered by the landowners.

“Last February, Atty. Fred Peñaflor, legal counsel of San Miguel Corporation committed to us that they will distribute the titles for the 50 hectares of land that we are now tilling and the 94 hectares outside the 1-44-hectare property today on the 2^nd anniversary of the signing of our agreement. After waiting for 2 years and listening to promises several times, this will be the last deadline. Should they fail to distribute the titles today, as they have promised, we take it that San Miguel Corporation is not serious about fulfilling its commitments to us. It is almost a year since our leader, Rene Peñas was gunned down here in this land. We can no longer wait for more promises. We will to return to our original claim, should they again break their promise today, we shall begin to occupy and cultivate portions of original 144-hectare land” said Yoyong Merida, spokesperson of the Sumilao farmers. “We call on those who have supported our struggle to once again join us in our cause. We will not stop until we cultivate the land that belongs to us” Merida added.

In commemorating the 2^nd anniversary of the signing of the agreement, Malaybalay Archbishop Honesto Pacana will celebrate a mass with the farmers at their camp outside the gates of San Miguel Corporation in San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon. He will join the farmers in demanding the distribution of the Sumilao property.

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Statement of the Ateneo Law School Student Council re: CJ Appointment Controversy

The Ateneo Law School Student Council calls on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to exercise prudence, restraint, and statesmanship in deferring the appointment of the next chief justice of the Supreme Court to the duly elected President in the coming May 10, 2010 elections.

The impending retirement of Chief Justice Renato Puno on 17 May 2010 has been shrouded with much issue and controversy, centering on the power of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to appoint the next head of the Judiciary. The issue has centered on two conflicting provisions of the 1987 Constitution, one which prohibits the President from making appointments to positions 60 days before the succeeding elections, the so-called “midnight appointments” prohibition, and another which calls on the President to fill in any vacancy in the position of chief justice within 90 days from its occurrence. Various individuals and groups have called on the president not to make the appointment, while the Palace has said that the President will choose the next chief justice to fulfill her constitutional mandate.

The Constitution, in clear and unequivocal terms prohibits any appointments to be made by the President during the 90 day period before the end of her term. Although the President is mandated to fill in any vacancy in the judiciary 90 days from its occurrence, this power and duty is limited by the above constitutional provision. The proscription on “midnight appointments” should be read and harmonized with the duty of the president to fill in vacancies as a qualification on the mandate to make such an appointment. The clear intent of the framers of our constitution is to shield the appointing power of the president from patronage politics and the use of the government for self-interest. Provisions in the Constitution should be read in harmony with each other, and one provision cannot be separated from any other.

We thus call on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to exercise prudence, restraint, and statesmanship by not appointing the next chief justice and allowing the next president elect to make the said decision. The rule of law must be upheld and respected; no one is above the law and the Constitution, not even the President. Our institutions, especially the judiciary, must be insulated from partisan politics. At a time when the Philippines lacks moral leadership and ascendancy, at a point when the integrity of our institutions are being challenged, and at an age when the rule of law faces challenges amidst a sea of injustice, the President must show the people and the world that she is a President bent on protecting and promoting our democracy and our democratic institutions.

An Environmental Convert Story

Here's a story which would hopefully inspire people out there who think that nothing should be done to help our environment (or perhaps are to lazy to actually do anything).

A year ago, I picked up an idea from one of my professors on how to have your own compost pit at home. It's really simple: all you need is a pail, a balde, some soil (depends on how much biodegradable waste you have), and perhaps a small shovel. Put some soil in the, enough to cover the bottom. Then throw in your waste; place them in such a way as to cover the soil. After this, sprinkle some soil over the waste. Repeat the process until the pail is full. At this point, it would be advisable to have a second pail as your next compost pit. Eventually, you will be using the soil (with the decomposted waste) as the soil you will use to cover your new waste.

Now, to the story of the convert. Before, I was the only one at home who put my biodegradable watse into the compost pit. About 2 weeks ago, I convinced my mother, and eventualy my entire household, to place any biodergadable waste into the compost pit. And as it turns out, they were impressed with the results. The amount of grabage we throw has been significantly reduced, and my mother has noticed it. Now, we not only recycle our plastics and papers, we even compost our own waste. The soil that will be produced by the pit can be used to beef up other plants, or can be used as healthy soil for new plants.

Now, I hope this will inspire the lazy and the skeptical to do your part to save the environment.

Weather, weather lang...

I finally found time (after months and months of hopelessly trying to write) to update my blog. This entry will deal with my thoughts on a host of topics and ideas, current events and subjects.

Election 2010

It seems like the race for the presidency will be a multi-candidate race, with the opposition having multiple candidates with the likes of Erap, Villar, Noynoy, Bro. Eddie, and possibly Jamby and Chiz. We may once again see the opposition vote being split by the multiple candidates, which would then give an advantage to the admiistration candidate, who will mostly have Teodoro as its standard bearer. Of course, we have Bayani Fernando and Jun Ebdane from the admin who also want to jump into the fray, and this can also disrupt the admin machinery. I think the opposition should unite under 1 candidate to improve its chances against the Lakas-Kampi machinery. Although surveys point to opposition candidates in the lead, the nationwide scope of the admin party could eventually deliver in May 2010.

Registration Ends on Oct 31

Registration for new voters ended last Oct 31, with long lines and angry crowds being shown on the news. The angry registrants were blaming the COMELEC for the slow and long process. However, I think the COMELEC is not to blame. Registration has been going on for months, with numerous infomercials and ads informing the public about the registration and its impending end. Those people should have gone to register early if they didn't want to wait in long lines under the sun. COMELEC has done its part; we as citizens should be more responsible and have registerd early.

Prize freeze on Oil

Oil companies and transport groups have called on Malacanan to lift EO 839, which imposed a price freeze on oil products. They have threatened strikes and supply shortages. They're just worried about losing their billions in profits. Malacanan should keep the price freeze until the areas badly affected by the recent calamities have fully recovered.

More to follow..(hopefully soon)