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Pinoy International
Saturday, August 16, 2008
at
5:35 PM
Mahahalata sa SONA ni Pang. Arroyo, sa pagtaya ng gubyerno, hinibang na tayong lahat ng gutom. Ipinatatanggap na lamang sa ating wala silang pananagutan, ni paliwanag, sa mabilis na paglalim ng karalitaan sa bansa. Inaasahan nilang ipagpapasalamat na natin ang awa at mumong limos na kanilang alok. Pinaniniwala tayong pagpiga pa ng buwis ang ultimong solusyon sa krisis. Rurok na ito ng pagmaliit at pag-insulto ng pamahalaan sa kakayahan ng mamamayang limiin ang mali sa tama, ang buktot sa makatarungan.
Malamang dahil laging bundat at marangya ang pamumuhay, hindi batid ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ang ginagawa ng lagi’t-laging gutom sa tao.
Taliwas sa inaasahan ng gubyerno, hindi minamanhid ng pagdurusa ang mamamayan. Bilang ng mga tsuper, may 20 beses na tumaas ang presyo ng langis mula Enero hanggang Hulyo. Bawat araw, mas nakakapamitig ng binti ang pagpila ng mamamayan para sa NFA rice. Kinukwenta-kwenta ng mga manggagawa kung magkano ang dapat nilang sahurin para makapamuhay ng disente ang kanilang pamilya. Doble, triple man ang trabaho, laging nakatutok ang isang tainga ng mga OFW sa mga kaganapan sa iniwang bansa.
Malayo sa pangarap ng pamahalaan, hindi sila pinapanginoon ng masa kapalit ng mga pakitang-taong limos. Habang nakapila sila sa pagkuha ng P500 pantawid kuryente, habang inaabot nila ang sari-saring pautang package, nagpupuyos ang kanilang kalooban dahil hinuhubdan sila ng gubyernong ito ng dignidad at ginagawang mga kaawa-awang pulubi.
Pinapatalas ng pang-araw-araw nilang pakikihamok sa buhay ang pagsuri ng mamamayan sa reyalidad. Nasusuma nila, higanteng tubo ang kinakabig ng mga kumpanya ng langis sa lingguhang pagtaas ng presyo nito. Nakikita nila, mga dayuhang kumpanya, malls at golfcourse na ang nakatayo sa dating malalapad na taniman ng palay. Nasusubaybayan nila, lalong yumayaman ang pamilyang Arroyo habang nasa kapangyarihan. Mahirap tanggapin ang sinasabi ni Pang. Arroyo na biktima ang lahat sa kasalukuyang krisis. Alam ng mamamayan, kahit pa nga sa aksidente at kalamidad, mayroong may kasalan, may kailangang managot.
Kung kaya, labindalawang beses mang sinambit ni Pang. Arroyo ang VAT sa SONA, parang mantra mang inulit-ulit niyang sasagipin tayo ng VAT, hindi nito malilinlang ang mamamayan. Batid ng mamamayan, ipinagtatanggol ni Arroyo ang VAT dahil pondo itong mawawaldas sa katiwalian at pambayad utang sa mga dayuhan. Kalabisan nang kumbinsihin pa tayong maniwala na dapat pang kuhanan ng dugo ang agaw-buhay nating katawan para gamiting pampataba sa mga dayuhan at nasa kapangyarihan.
Hindi batid ng pamahalaang Arroyo, higit na nakahihibang kaysa gutom ang pagkalunod sa yaman at kapangyarihan. Kung kaya iniisip nitong mangmang at wala sa katinuan ang mamamayan. Kung kaya inaakala nitong sapat na ang kanyang pag-arte sa SONA at ilang kusing na kawanggawa para himasin ang disgustadong mamamayan.
Higit sa anupaman, tinuturuan ng kagutuman ang mamamayan na hanapin ang solusyon sa kanilang kalagayan. Dahil walang laman ang sikmura, sa naghihimagsik na damdamin sila humuhugot ng lakas. Hindi malayong maganap, habang naglulunoy ang pamahalaang Arroyo sa kanilang kahibangan, gugulantangin na lamang sila ng pagsambulat ng galit ng sambayanan.
“With the exclusion of ongoing contracts in the suspension of the levy, the HK government has once again shown how heartless it is when it comes to foreign domestic workers,” this was the statement of the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) as the Executive Council announced the implementation of the levy suspension starting August 1, 2008 but only for new contracts.
Staging a picket at the Central Government Offices in response to the government’s announcement, the AMCB expressed fears “an open season of termination” as employers will scramble to avail of the levy suspension.
“In the current design of the suspension, it does not show the government’s sincerity or flexibility. Instead what we are witnessing is the government’s obvious refusal to make our condition even slightly better,” AMCB spokesperson Eni Lestari said.
Lestari lambasted the HK government for the latter’s response to the concerns of premature termination of ongoing contracts due to the selective suspension of the levy. According to the government, it will leave to the discretion of the immigration director to allow for “advanced contract renewal” to enable the foreign domestic workers to stay in HK while their contracts are being processed.
“The government definitely missed the point, only aggravated the FDWs’ anxiety and complicated the process with the implementation of this new policy,” said Lestari. “This government has the habit of putting FDWs in a difficult position. With the decision of the HK government on the levy suspension, FDWs are put in a situation that is inconvenient, full of hassles, bureaucratic.”
Lestari said that “advanced contract renewal” is a vague process, lacks clear guidelines and does not allay worries of FDWs
“Does the new term say that even if an FDW has worked for only a month, for example, her contract can already be renewed now? Will this be considered as termination of contract? If so, does it mean that even if we can stay in Hong Kong, we cannot do any work while our papers are processed? The government is even thinking of a quota system to face the deluge of termination and applications. How are we to survive while we are waiting for more than a month? Additionally, what will happen to entitlements such as the long-service payment and severance payment?” she asked.
Lestari believed that the only beneficiaries of such scheme will be the employers who will be able to avail of the suspension, recruitment agencies who will be able to get more fees for the processing of applications and consulates of labour-sending countries for the fees it will charge to applicants.
“The best and simplest way to solve all these problems will be to implement the suspension of the levy without exclusion. Why make it complicated and difficult? The option that the government has offered for ongoing contracts is practically not an option at all considering the problems it will create. With the way the government is heading on this suspension, FDWs will surely find ourselves at the losing end,” she said.
The situation, she added, will be even worse for those who will not be rehired by their employers because the government’s proposal doesn’t guarantee that the current employees will be rehired. If they find a new employer, they still have to go out of Hong Kong to await their visa.
Last Sunday, more than 1,000 foreign domestic workers rallied at the Central Government Office (CGO) to demand the coverage of all FDW contracts – ongoing and new ones – and its immediate implementation. Testimonies were also given by several FDWs whose contracts were terminated or threatened with termination as well as those applying for a new visa but whose employer either withdrew or deferred its issuance.
“It is a heartless decision that has shown the HK governments’ discrimination against and total lack of concern for FDWs. Will chief executive Donald Tsang feed the families of those who will face the axe?” she remarked.
Lestari said that the decision of the government will be met by more protests of FDWs. She announced that in August 17, the AMCB will mobilize more migrant workers to continue the call for an all-inclusive levy suspension.
While the suspension of the levy is the government’s acknowledgment of her group’s position that the levy is burdensome, cruel and unjust, said Lestari, its decision does not dispel the FDWs’ fears of losing their jobs.
“We will monitor and document cases of termination resulting from this decision. The true stories of our fellow migrant workers will expose the injustice that this government has brought us,” she relayed.
Finally, Lestari called for more FDWs to take part in the actions. She also called on for the local people to support the call of the AMCB.
Lestari reiterated long-standing call for the abolition of the levy and the significant wage increase for FDWs. She blamed the levy for the drastic wage cut imposed to FDWs in 2003 and, according to her, “the continued collection of the levy has also held our wage hostage.”
Also, Lestari called for the abolition of the New Conditions of Stay or Two-Week Rule that, she said, has put FDWs in their current vulnerable position.
“The attacks to our rights must stop. We’ve been severely battered already. There is no recourse for us but to fight back,” she concluded.#
It was raining like hell that day. Thousands of people along Commonwealth Avenue did not seem to mind the shower. Red flags were waving; wet placards were everywhere while policemen couldn't wait for the day to end. Mrs. Arroyo was sputtering empty promises and made up accomplishments in front of her bored congressmen and senators.
While trying to listen to the muffled voices of the speakers on the stage, my thoughts persistently wandered on something else. Has he eaten his lunch yet? I hope he doesn't catch pneumonia. I wonder where he is. After coming up with excuses to look for him, I finally gave in. Foregoing the umbrella (just in case he sees me first, I don't want him to think that I'm such a sissy missy), I looked for the avocado green flag to catch a glimpse. Just a glimpse, I told myself.
Then there he was, sitting under the rain, satisfied with the company of comrades to keep him dry and warm. As usual, looking so unkemptly cute. Not heeding the promises I have made, I walked up to him and tried to sound nonchalant, "have you eaten lunch yet?" For whatever reason, his yes sounded like Freddie Mercury belting out Bohemian Rhapsody to me. Okay, he was still doing well. I tried to calm myself, didn't look at his eyes, because otherwise "I'm dead". I had to summon all the strength left in me not to stare in his heavenly eyes, just to be sure that I will be able to maintain an intelligent conversation, least a coherent one with him.
And that scene was from SONA (State of the Nation Address) two years ago.
What has changed? Nothing much really. The reasons that drove the people to the streets to call for the ouster of Gloria two years ago are the very same reasons that they have for this year. More and more people are hungrier than they were two years ago, in fact.
Well, after past and present governments decided that we need to have more hectares of land for golf courses, super malls, subdivisions, cash crop plantations, and mining than for rice fields, it won't take a genius to solve the rice crisis. Most unfortunately, we're not only out of rice, sense and logic among Mrs. Arroyo's political and economic thinkers seem to have run out before the rice did. And so the dimwits decided to import more rice. An imbecile government official one time gallantly mentioned in an interview that we are very lucky because the price of rice in our country is much cheaper than that of Vietnam's. Then someone please explain to me why on earth are we importing rice from Vietnam? Motorists and commuters for months now are not thanking God when it is Friday. It is because oil companies are increasing their prices every Friday. In the defense of these weekly price hikes, the oil cartels are whining that business is not good and they are "nalulugi". If they refer to billions of pesos in profits as "lugi", then how much blood do we need to bleed just to make business good for them? The government, not missing a beat for media mileage, announced that the high cost of oil is a blessing in disguise. It encouraged everyone to think economical or healthy and take the LRT and MRT instead, or ride bicycles to work. I, even before this weekly price hikes happened, was forced to shed off pounds and inches just so that I could squeeze myself into overcrowded couches of the MRT. I have seriously contemplated of buying a bike to save on fare, but have you seen those red plated SUVs zooming along EDSA? I would rather die of natural causes. I have seen pink fences, pink urinals, pink waiting sheds, pink islands constructed in every corner of Metro Manila, but I don't see any bike lanes for those who are braver and more adventurous than me.
Mrs. Arroyo's government imposed 12% VAT on petroleum products, just so she can have the people line up to collect their one time "pantawid kuryente" assistance worth P500. Why not forget VAT and at least make the hard life easier? But oh no, she would not. She would rather have the people from Tondo, Payatas or Commonwealth wait in queue under the sun to a get a morsel of the money stolen from them. She, in her less that five foot frame has reduced the poor people to beggars.
It has been 2 years since that rainy SONA. Nothing has changed much. The Filipino people still do not have land to till, decent jobs, food on the table, and access to social services. We still have crooks for government officials and a stealing, congenital liar for a president who fattens up her husband with the people's money.
The people have the same reasons why they are protesting on the streets.
It has been two years now since that rainy SONA. I still worry that he might catch pneumonia when it's raining, still wondering if he has eaten lunch. He still is the same unkemptly cute person that he was two SONAs ago. What has changed? I now have the liberty to be lost in his eyes without the fear of revealing how I feel. I do not have to worry about not having any intelligent thing to say. Why, this man hangs on to my every word no matter how mundane my chosen topic is. (Had I known!)
Also, I do not miss out the umbrella anymore. Good for me.
You know what, I know three people who made promises two SONAs ago. But only two kept their promises (Gloria was not one of them). Why? Because we still have the same reasons for falling for each other as we had that one rainy SONA.
Kabilang ako sa napakaraming mga kabataang lumaki at namulat noong dekada ‘90. Panahon iyon ng muling pag-arangkada ng Pinoy Rock na may ilang taon ding natulog. Panahon din iyon kung saan sa halos lahat ng kalye, eskinita at eskwelahan sa Metro Manila, may mga kabataang kasama sa banda o kaya’y nagbabalak magtayo ng banda. Sa resurgence ng Pinoy Rock noong early 90’s, hindi matatawaran ang malaking kinalaman ng grupong Eraserheads nina Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala at Marcus Adoro.
Bago sila sumikat, tila bahagyang nahirapan ang mga naunang banda sa kanila na mahuli ang kiliti ng publiko. Pero nang mag-umpisang marinig ang mga kantang “Pare ko,” “Ligaya,” “Toyang,” at “Tindahan ni Aling Nena” ng Eraserheads noong 1993 sa kanilang unang album na Ultraelectromagneticpop!, agad tinangkilik ng buong bansa ang dating para sa marami’y “puro ingay lang” na mga banda - nag-umpisa ang Eraserheads Mania. Tuloy, pati ako, nagpabili sa Nanay ko ng drumset at pares ng sapatos na Converse Chuck Taylor, pinraktis ang kanilang mga kanta at nagtayo ng sariling banda.
Nakita ko ng live sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ang Eraserheads noong Mayo uno ng 1993 sa Amoranto Stadium. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang pa-morningang konsyerto na iyon na alay sa mga manggagawang Pinoy. Kasi naman pumutok ang labi ko dahil sa tama ng lumilipad na takip ng maliit na drum. Pero kahit duguan ang bibig pati damit (naging pula nga ang puti kong suot), nag-enjoy pa rin ako sa dami ng mga bandang maghapon at magdamag na nagpalitan sa entablado.
Kalaunan, grumadweyt din ako sa impluwensiya ng Eraserheads at Beatles, at nag-umpisang makinig sa iba pang mga tugtugan. Hindi na kami nambubulahaw sa mga kapitbahay namin noon ng paulit-ulit na tugtog ng Toyang at Pare Ko (mas maingay na) at nag-umpisa na kaming sumali sa lahat ng Battle of the Bands na mabalitaan. Pagkatapos din ng ilang taon at sunud-sunod na hit albums, nag-disband ang Eraserheads na tinagurian na ring Beatles ng Pilipinas at nagkani-kaniya nang buhay ang mga miyembro. Marami ang nagulat sa kanilang biglaang pagkakawatak-watak, madami rin ang istorya at haka-haka ukol sa dahilan nito.
Pero kahit ganoon, malaki pa rin ang pasalamat ko sa Eraserheads dahil sa himig nila ako nagsimulang ma-hook sa musika at pagbabanda. Hanggang ngayon nga, kahit puro agiw na yung drumset ko sa bahay, tumutugtog pa rin ako paminsan-minsan. Kaya’t nung mabalitaan ko kalian lang na may pinaplanong reunion concert ang E-heads, na-excite ako at agad inalam kung talagang totoo nga ba ito.
E = 83008
Pag-search ko sa Google, nawindang ako sa dami ng blog posts tungkol sa tsismis ng reunion concert. Mga blind item pa ang gimik! May mga ibinigay na clues panaka-naka; gaya ng litrato ng chuck taylor, blurred na picture ng banda at mga miyembro at isang imahe ng titik E na may numerong 83008.
Narito ang ilan sa mga naglipanang blog posts:
“The reuniting band members have already signed the contract and this may-jah event will happen sometime around the last quarter of this year. The venue might probably be at the Pasay Area. Somewhere near that humongous Mall. They are expecting an audience of 35,000.”
“Decoding: “83008” can be a date right? And “E‘ could mean Eraserheads. So does it mean that their reunion concert will be on August 30, 2008? Will the venue be at SM MOA Complex/Grounds/Open Field or, could it also be at the CCP? Am I asking a question? Or, am I stating a fact here? =D Well, it’s the perfect time for them to reunite and for sure, a lot of their fans will be happy if this will be true.”
Ang sabi pa sa mga tsismis sa blogosphere, isang malaking kumpaniya ng sigarilyo ang nakatakdang mag-spo
nsor ng 45 minute concert, at P10 milyon daw ang bayad sa kada isang E-head.
Hanggang sa noong July 13, 2008, kinumpirma na ni Ricky Lo sa kaniyang artikulo sa Philippine Star ang bali-balitang konsert. “Yes, it’s confirmed: The Eraserheads are reuniting after many years of being apart, not for good but only for one show slated for Aug. 30 at the CCP Open Grounds.”
“According to the STAR source, all the original members… are performing — Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan. This piece of good news should make the Eraserheads fans very happy,” sabi ni Ricky Lo.
At totoo namang ‘di mapakali sa saya ang sandamukal na mga alagad ng E-heads, lalo na nang ‘opisyal’ na ianunsyo na sa Eraserheads mailing list and mensaheng ito:
“Yes it’s true. It’s been in the works for several months na. Marlboro is sponsoring this concert and paid each of the members a staggering P10M each to do a full 45-minute set. This is the official announcement:
No more blind items my dear friends. Yes. We are confirming it. There is no point denying: August 30, 2008 will be LEGENDARY!!!
The country’s most influential band ever will be reunited for ONE NIGHT ONLY.
This once in a lifetime experience will be staged at the CCP opengrounds. Tickets are free and you can download it early August. Website to be announced. ONE BRAND. ONE BAND. ONE NIGHT ONLY…”
Shrewd, manipulative marketing
Pero kung sadyang napakarami ang naglundagan sa tuwa sa balitang muling pagsasama ng iniidolong Eraserheads, may ilan din naman ang di naiwasang punahin ang maitim na adyenda sa likod ng reunion concert.
“Assuming that all that has been written about this supposed concert is true … I think the Eraserheads are doing a great disservice not just to the generation of Filipinos who were weaned on their music but also to the younger ones who are bound, I am certain, to love their songs,” pakiwari ni Caloy Conde, isang journalist at blogger.
Sa kaniyang blog na naka-post sa pinoypress.com (Why the Eraserheads’ Reunion Concert Sucks); tinukoy niya na isang “shrewd” at “manipulative” na marketing gimmick lamang ito ng Marlboro at ginagamit lamang daw ng kumpaniya ng sigarilyo ang kasikatan ng Eraserheads para bumenta ang kanilang produkto.
Kasi naman, ani Conde, ipinagbabawal na ngayon ng batas ang anumang advertisements ng ‘nakamamatay’ na sigarilyo, kaya sa ganitong paraan naisip ng kumpaniya na ilako ang produkto.
“What Marlboro did was to create the buzz, which later turned into an event that found its way to the mainstream press. In the process, Marlboro got the attention that it craves to sustain interest in its deadly product. Intelligent as they are, the Eraseheads must realize by now that they are being used by Marlboro to peddle a product that has been proven to be so fatal as to force the government to ban their advertisement and promotion in the popular press. I hope that, as the Eheads enjoy the millions that they will earn after this so-called reunion concert, they can sleep better at night,” dagdag pa ni Conde.
May punto naman itong si G. Conde, isang tuwirang pambabaluktot sa batas ang ginagawa ngayon ng kumpaniyang Philip Morris (gumagawa ng Marlboro) para lamang makabenta. Gayunpaman, kahit ako ay aminado na mahusay at pumatok ang kanilang gimik – pinag-usapan, pinag-piyestahan at inaabangan na ngayon ng buong bayan ang konsyerto. Ayon nga sa maraming mga usisero diyan sa tabi-tabi, kahit pa biglang iurong o hindi na ituloy ang Eraserheads reunion concert, wala lang ito sa Marlboro. Ang dami na kasi nilang inaning marketing points sa dami ba naman ng excited na mga Pinoy sa internet.
Pero ako, panonoorin ko pa rin ang reunion concert sa simpleng dahilan na gusto ko ulit marinig at makitang magkasamang muli ang banda na kinagiliwan ko noong hayskul. Hiling ko lang, sana wala nang lumilipad na takip ng drum sa konsyertong ito. Kitakits!###
Kung Saan P7 Lang ang Pamasahe
Mac Ramirez
Alas-kuwatro pa lang ng umaga, gising na si Mang Daniel Soriano, 41, para umpisahan ang maghapong kayod sa manibela. “ ‘Pag hindi ako magsisipag, walang kakainin ang pamilya ko,” aniya, kaya naman ‘hataw’ kung bumiyahe itong si Mang Daniel.
Pero habang maraming mga tsuper ang natuwa sa pagtaas ng minimum na bayad sa pamasahe patungong P8.50 kamakailan dahil na rin sa di maawat na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis at mga produktong petrolyo, wala naman raw itong epekto kay Mang Daniel. Kasi naman, sa lugar kung saan siya bumabiyahe, pitong piso lang ang pamasahe - di hamak na mas mababa sa itinakdang singil ng gubyerno.
EDSA-Bagong Barrio sa Caloocan ang ruta ni Mang Daniel. May halos isang daan ding dyip ang bumabagtas sa rutang ito. “Wala naman kaming magawa. Hindi kami puwedeng magtaas ng pasahe kasi wala nang sasakay sa‘men,” paliwanag ni Mang Daniel habang naghihintay sa pila at sukbit-sukbit pa sa katawan ang sisidlan ng kinita sa maghapon.
May mga bumibiyahe din kasing mga tricycle sa ruta nila na pitong piso din ang sinisingil sa mga pasahero. Kaya naman hindi maaaring sumabay ang mga tsuper ng dyip sa Bagong Barrio sa minimum fare increase na itinakda ng Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board o LTFRB.
Kalbaryo ng mga tsuper sa Bagong Barrio
Sa katunayan, noong Hulyo 7 lamang naging pitong piso ang minimum na pamasahe sa dyip sa Bagong Barrio. Bago nito, limang piso lamang ang kailangang bayaran ng mga pasahero.
Ito ang matinding kalbaryo ni Mang Daniel, sampu ng kaniyang mga kapwa tsuper sa Bagong Barrio. Sabi nila, hirap na hirap na sila sa halos lingguhang pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo. “Hindi na ba matatapos ang mga pagtaas na ito?,” tanong ni Mang Daniel. “Hirap na hirap na kaming mga drayber dito.”
Tatlong daang piso ang karaniwang boundary ng mga tsuper sa Bagong Barrio at P250 naman kung walang pasok. Sabi ni Mang Daniel, suwerte na raw ang mga drayber doon kung makapag-uwi sila ng kita na P200. “Ang kumikita lang talaga dito ng malaki ay ang mga kumpaniya ng langis. Sabi nila nalulugi sila kaya kailangang magtaas ng presyo, kalokohan ‘yon. Imposibleng malugi sila” bulalas pa niya.
Limandaang piso hanggang P700 daw ang ginagastos ng mga tsuper sa Bagong Barrio sa krudo pa lamang. Kung kaya minsan, si Mang Daniel, alas-dose na ng hating-gabi natatapos sa pamamasada, may maiuwi lang kahit kaunting pera sa pamilya.
“Minsan nga pangkain na lang, kulang pa. Wala na nga kaming panahon mag-hapi-hapi,” sabi ni Mang Daniel, sabay tawa. Nang makapanayam ng Pinoy International mag-aalas-singko, Linggo ng hapon; wala pang boundary si Mang Daniel. Idinagdag pa nga niya, baon na baon na siya sa utang. Humiram lang daw siya ng isang libo sa nagpapa-five six noong Sabado para lang may ipantawid sa gutom. May mga kailangan din daw kasing bilhin sa eskwela ang dalawa niyang anak sa hayskul. Daing pa ni Mang Daniel: “Sa sitwasyon nga naming mga drayber ngayon, hindi ko na nga alam kung papaano ko papaaralin ang mga anak ko sa kolehiyo. Bahala na.”
