Students enraged over Aquino’s budget cut on State U

Davao City- Militant youth organization League of Filipino Students- Southern Mindanao Region expressed its disapproval on the education budget cut proposed by Pres. Noynoy Aquino in favor of putting the highest budgetary priority to debt servicing and military. This as nationwide clamor against the budget cut on state colleges and universities echoes a similar campaign by students overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom who are also crying against the arbitrary slash on their government education subsidy.

“The budget cut smacks right into the face of Pnoy who falsely claimed that the 2011 national budget is a reform budget. The plan to slash state spending on state universities and colleges is a clear negligence of students' rights,” said LFS- Southern Mindanao Regional Spokesperson Karlos Manlupig.

“This is also contrary to the constitutional mandate that the Philippine government should place high premium on education  in terms of national budget allocation and other sources,” LFS added.

The University of the Philippines- Mindanao and the University of Southeastern Philippines are the state-owned schools in the Davao that will suffer from the budget cut.

“At least 120 students joined the forum against budget cut in UP Mindanao, whose budget will be slashed by P1.39 billion--  the highest from among the 112 SUCs. A symbolic protest action followed as students rallied in front of the Oblation,” Manlupig cited.

“We also hail the militance of the students of the University of Southeastern Philippines Mintal who staged a spontaneous walkout that led to a dialogue and later, a support from with the Dean.  As the fourth university out of 112 SUCs that has the biggest budget-cut, the students  were outraged with the P44.39 million slash,” said Manlupig.

USEP main campus in Obrero registered its firm stand in opposition to the budget-cut through a candle lighting protest supported by all college governors. Students appealed that “if Pnoy is really sincere in addressing the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized sector, he must make education as his top priority.”

“We have already warned Noynoy. For as long as the demands of the people are neglected, particularly on the right of the youth for free and quality education, we will intensify the struggle to resist and crush this rotten system,” said Manlupig.

The youth group along with the Kilos Na Laban sa Budget Cut and Kabataan Partylist will lead thousands of students in a nationwide strike on November 30 and December 1. ###

fireflies

Fireflies are more capable than man in creating "cold light". Having a light efficiency of 96%, this light contains no ultraviolet rays.

Barrio fiesta!

A day before Undas, the usually silent hilly barrio in the southern tip of the country suddenly transmogrified into a "weird" convivial mood. Second foundation anniversary pala ng kanilang purok. Tiyempo namang nandoon kami kaya inavail ko na ang pagkakataon na magobserve, lumamon at kumuha ng mga litrato.

Wala ang mga usual na banderitas na sponsored ng mga dambuhalang companies ng beer, softdrinks at mobile networks. Sa halip ay mga cellophane na ginawang lobo na tinali sa tie-box ang ginawa nilang banderitas. Syempre pula, dilaw at asul ang kulay. Present at 100% ang attendance ng mga nanalo na mga barangay officials at hindi mawawala ang handshaking at "inspiring" na talumpati gamit ang lumang karaoke.

May communal na pagkain malapit sa make-shift na entabado at may kanya-kanya din namang handa sa halos lahat ng tahanan. May naglalaro ng basketball. May mga nagiinuman. Tanduay, Gold "igol" Beer at tuba. Sa isang sulok, may batang lalake na umiiyak dahil naiinggit sa mga kaibigan na naliligo sa ilog. Hindi siya pinayagan ng kanyang ina. Kawawang bata.

After ng hardcore lamon event, dumating na ang mga malalaking sound system na gagamitin para sa diskohan ng bayan. Bago kami umalis, pinanood muna namin ang presentasyon ng mga batang babae na nasa edad 3-5. At ang sinayaw nila ay ang sikat na kanta na "Hindi ako bakla". Perfect diba? At ang nakakatuwa pa, may nakiki-epal na aso sa gitna ng mga sumasayaw na mga bata.

Haaay. Old school barrio fiesta.

Good morning!

goooood morning Mindanao! Kalinaw!


Mindanao sunrise mula sa kwarto ko.

-Karlos Manlupig

random thoughts

A country that spends more time and money on war will absolutely face degeneration and suffer the state of economic and political pandemonium.

Tapos na ang Undas

Sa mundo ng mga dapat, may gagawin akong mahalaga kahapon. Kaso dahil sa mga hindi ko maintindihan na mga dahilan ay hindi natuloy ang mga bagay na dapat ay matagal nang na-accomplish. Sa madaling salita, bokya ang productivity level ko kahapon. Nagmadali pa naman akong bumiyahe, nakipag-unahan at nakipagsiksikan sa mala-sardinas na bus.

Dahil bokya ako magpopost na lang ako ng mga litrato. boooo! Tapos na ang undas!

Students, teachers, and parents picket DepED vs. 2 more school years

Hundreds of high school and college students, teachers and parents staged a protest action yesterday outside the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office XI to express their disapproval over the extension of the 10-year basic education cycle to two more years, a proposal presented by DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro to Pres. Benigno Aquino III in Manila.

“Owing to the fact that the country lacks 49, 699 teachers, 57, 930 classrooms, 3.48M armchairs and 34.7M textbooks, the education crisis,” according to No to K+12! Alliance, “will not simply be solved by adding two more years in the students’ schooling.”

“Unless the poverty incidence in the country is given due attention, unless the teachers are given just compensation, parents employed with sufficient salary and benefits, and school facilities be improved, such reform will only serve as a “band aid” solution that temporarily covers, but will not essentially heal the wounds of the educational system,” said Paul Randy Gumanao, spokesperson of the alliance.

Gumanao said that the alarming increase in the drop-out rate is an indication that the students cannot sustain a longer stay in school due to many factors such as poverty. For every 100 students who enroll in grade 1, only 25 students can proceed to college and this, according to Gumanao, “should be looked into by the government rather than adding more years.”

“What has to be immediately addressed is the budget allocation for education that will improve the quality of instructions and the quality of the facilities. The government failed to see the real situation of education in this poverty-stricken country. Extra years in school would mean extra expenses and this is very burdensome especially to poor families whose primary concern is survival,” Gumanao added.

The alliance urged the Aquino administration to be faithful to its promise of allocating 6% of the GDP which will automatically go to education budget.
“Extending the basic education to 12 years would mean more school drop outs, more jobless graduates and more OFWs,” said Gumanao.

Gumanao called on the youth, the parents and the teachers to be part in campaigning against the K+12 and to help push for a genuine educational reform. He also urged the local legislators to make necessary actions to heed the clamor of their constituents to scrap the proposed moves.

Similar protests were held in different major cities in the country including Cotabato City and Zamboanga City.

--------------

A reporter asked me if isn't it too violent that the high school students almost knocked down the agency's gate. I answered her that this is the best way to express the anger of the youth. And the destruction of the gate (if ever nasira o masisira man)is nothing compared to the millions of lives that will be ruined if this nonsensical program will be implemented.

DepEd Sec Luistro yesterday asserted that the additional school years under the K12 program will address the problem of deteriorating quality education in the country. Ito lang ang masasabi namin, ISTORYAHEEEEE!

LFS commemorates 33 years of anti-imperialist struggle; deplores continuing US intervention

Davao City- Members of the League of Filipino Students launched yesterday the month-long celebration of their 33rd anniversary through a protest action to condemn the continuing foreign intervention, principally by the United States of America in the country.

The students simulated the “Hostage Crisis” in a street play wherein they presented the Filipino people as hostages and Uncle Sam as the hostage-taker. According to Karlos Manlupig, LFS-Southern Mindanao Regional Spokesperson, “As citizens of a nation long trapped in colonial relationship with US, we are actually hostages to the economic, political and cultural dictates of US Imperialism.”

LFS has long held the tradition of being a consistent and the biggest anti-US student organization in the country.

The youth leader expressed his dismay over the present administration’s programs which kowtow to imperialist interest in the country. “P-noy, without doubt, is the commissioned replacement to the bootlicker Arroyo regime. Despite the massive movement calling for the pull-out of US troops and the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement, P-noy has refused to this call, he being the newest US puppet in Southeast Asia,,” said Manlupig.

In Mindanao, it was reported that more than 600 US troops are deployed in different areas in the island that actively participate in different overt and covert operations. Recently, USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered warship, docked in Manila Bay.

“The stories of the brutal massacres perpetrated by American soldiers during the Philippine-American War are still reminiscent . Modern cases of savagery by US forces have been recorded including the Subic Rape Case and the murder of Gregan Cardeno and Capt. Javier Ignacio,” Manlupig said.

Manlupig calls for the Aquino administration to learn from the mistakes of the previous administrations and listen to the clamor of the people. He also challenges P-noy to stand for the people and act on the scrapping of VFA on his coming state visit to the US.

“No country in the history of mankind attained development under the avaricious clutches of US Imperialism. And the people, including the youth, will fight back to cut off foreign domination and to dislodge the local puppets. Over the last hundred years, we have become ‘hostage’ victims. We have to work and struggle hard to end this oppression,” Manlupig said.

The students will conduct a series of protests, art exhibits and cultural activities this month to commemorate the LFS’ 33 years of militance and perseverance. #

Davao youth opposes ROTC revival

Davao City --- Progressive youth group League of Filipino Students and Anakbayan – SMR express its strong opposition against plans of the Aquino administration and the AFP to revive mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

Karlos Manlupig, LFS-Southern Mindanao Regional Spokesperson, explained that the maneuvering of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Department of National Defense (DND) to resurrect the mandatory ROTC is an expression of the state’s militarist bent especially in reviving once again its plan to train young students for combat, intelligence and other military-related purposes.

Mandatory ROTC was abolished in 2001 after waves of massive protests were staged nationwide due to longstanding complaints of corruption, hazing, mental abuses and harassments of student leaders and activists. The ROTC abolition was also triggered by the murder of one Mark Chua, a student at the University of Sto. Tomas, in March 2001.

Chua exposed the corruption in the ROTC corps in the UST’s college newspaper, an expose which resulted in the relief of the ROTC commandant and his staff. As a result of his courageous act, he got death threats and was later assigned to undergo security training in Fort Bonifacio. He was killed a few days later, when his body was found floating in the Pasig river; his body bore torture marks, hands hogtied and face wrapped with packing tape

“Mandatory ROTC will resurrect once again the evils which Chua exposed, and which thousands of students have experienced. It will also foster campus militarization, mental and physical abuses, and additional financial burden to students and their families who are hardly able to cope with skyrocketing prices of tuition fees,” said Manlupig.

“There is no need for students to undergo ROTC because the purported trainings, as being justified by the AFP for the revival of the ROTC, are already being conducted under the NSTP-CWTS program. All students who underwent this program will automatically be reserve volunteers that may be deployed in times of calamities and emergencies,” said Manlupig.

The youth groups also lambasted the AFP’s logic that ROTC is the most effective program in teaching patriotism and discipline.

“Fascism is not synonymous to patriotism and discipline. If the government is sincere in teaching the youth patriotism, the most plausible option is to overhaul the colonial structure of our education system from and change it one that is nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented,” Manlupig said.

He added, “The people, particularly the youth, has rejected ROTC already. We cannot afford to see another Mark Chua who will die brutally under the hands of ROTC and the military personnel,” Manlupig said.#

Youth alarmed over Pnoy's public-private partnership, says it will make education less accessible

The youth raises the alarm today after failing to hear from Aquino concrete plans to address the education crisis in his first ever State of the Nations Address.

“Instead of providing solutions to the dismal state of the country’s education system, Pnoy ironically prioritized public-private partnership and foreign investments,” said Karlos Manlupig, League of Filipino Students Regional Spokesperson.

The group expressed its fear that Aquino's public-private partnerships will open our gates to gross foreign exploitation and will only intensify the commercialization and privatization of education.

According to KABATAAN Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino, “Opening further the education sector to private and foreign investors would only make education less accessible to the youth. It does not at all address the need for higher state subsidy nor the yearly tuition and other fee hikes that hound the education sector."

The youth solon said that the present education crisis is characterized mainly by the commercialization of public education in order to cope with low government spending. "The burden of budget cuts and poor education spending is being shouldered by students through exorbitant tuition and other fee hikes. Aquino failed to present this sorry state of Philippine education in his speech."

“We urge Aquino to seriously consider and review the youth's education agenda:
• Increase state spending on education to six (6) percent of the GDP.
• Implement a three-year moratorium on tuition and other fee increases in all levels.
• Promote a nationalist curriculum.
• Uphold democratic rights of students
• Improve teachers’ welfare.
• Improve science, research and technology development.
• Promote transparency and sanction corruption cases in education programs and contracts.
• Review existing policies and institutions of education.

a. Repeal Education Act of 1982.
b. Repeal Campus Journalism Act of 1991.
c. Revamp the government policy of reducing the budget of state universities and colleges.
d. Review and strengthen the regulatory powers of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd)

In Davao City, existence of repressive policies like the BASE 20 Policy in the University of Mindanao are affecting thousands of students.

“Noy said “pwede ng muling mangarap.” But to merely dream is folly amidst the realities we are facing. The supposed hope of the nation-- the youth-- do no want to merely dream. We want concrete solutions to the economic, political and cultural realities that are posing obstacles to us being the hope of the nation,” Manlupig concluded. ###

Photo: Pinoy Weekly (Boy Bagwis)

UM students walkout versus base 20

Davao City- Hundreds of students from the University of Mindanao (UM) staged a barricade and a walk-out Tuesday to manifest their strong opposition against the administration’s latest Base-20 and Retention policies.

The Base 20 policy directs the teaching staff to implement the 80% passing grade while the Retention policy mandates that three (3) failing grades in any major subject will result to the “forced” shifting of the student.

“According to the administration, these policies would improve the quality of education in UM. But the truth is that this is just another policy that smokescreens the deteriorating quality of education in the university and the country as a whole. The base 20 and retentition policy will benefit the profit-hungry UM administration who will face a deluge of students taking and retaking their courses,” said Glen Rubio of Anakbayan- University of Mindanao

Without undergoing due consultation process with the studentry, UM has implemented these policies therefore sparking rage from the students.

The students barricaded the UM Main campus in outright defiance against the profit-hungry and repressive administration of the university.

“We challenge the UM admin and CHED to make immediate and appropriate actions. The students will employ other forms of actions to demand for the scrapping of these repressive policies. Such policies cannot resolve the real problems besetting the education system owing to the massive commercialization of education. Specifically, the schools’ curriculum, facilities and modes of teaching must be developed within the framework of a pro-poor and nationalist educational system,” said Rubio.

Noy: Day 1

As a Mindanaoan youth, I expect the administration of Noynoy Aquino to urgently prosecute the previous administration for its atrocities committed against the people.

Concrete actions are also expected to address the education crisis. He may allot emergency funds for education in his first 100 days and he should also push for the automatic allocation of the 6% of our GDP for education spending.

Mindanao, which plays a vital role in the agricultural sector, needs the new administration to implement a genuine agrarian reform program that will stand for the interests of the farmers.

For the working class, it is imperative that the proposed P125 nationwide wage increase be immediately approved. In contrast to what is being practiced in Hacienda Luisita, fair working conditions and the right to organize unions should be championed at all times.

And of course, I expect the new administration to deal with the peace and order situation particularly here in Mindanao. We call on Aquino to make all necessary actions to ensure the resumption of peace talks on both the MILF and the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Youth gives Arroyo failing grade; challenges Aquino to prosecute her

“Finally, the end is here and Gloria must face the final curtain,” this was the statement of Karlos Manlupig, Regional Spokesperson of League of Filipino Students, as youth led by Kabataan Partylist, LFS and Anakbayan today staged a march-protest as a send-off for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“We deplore Arroyo for further neglecting the millions of youth in her 9-year rule who were forced to quit school and suffer the miserable working and farming conditions in our country,” said Sheena Duazo of Kabataan Partylist.

In a study conducted by the National Union of Students in the Philippines, only 1 out of 10 Filipino students were able to get a college degree under the US-Arroyo administration.

“This our solid basis in giving Arroyo a failing mark in her performance as the president of the country,” Duazo said.

Manlupig explained that Arroyo’s exit from Malacanang today does not mean that the people will easily forget her atrocities. “Arroyo and her rabid lapdogs must pay dearly for their sins. And we will do all necessary actions to ensure that they face what they deserve,” Manlupig added.

The youth groups also challenge Noynoy Aquino to make sure that Arroyo be severely punished for all her crimes to the Filipino people.

“The “daang matuwid” presented by Aquino have to mean the prosecution of Arroyo,” added Manlupig.###

Skimboarding in Digos City

Sauntering by the shoreline with my mom, we saw some teens braving the waves of Digos City using round and short type of surfboards called skimboards. I immediately took my cam and clicked using the multi-shot function.

Skimboarding is a water sport where many Filipino youth are doing well. Contests and workshops are being conducted regularly in different spots here in Mindanao.

After watching them ride the waves, I am now planning to swap my old skateboard for a skimboard.

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad

Here is the anime/manga for all the rakista, mga feeling rockers and rock fans.

BECK is a manga by Harold Sakuishi published by Kodansha in Monthly Shōnen Magazine. It was adapted as an anime television series with the title BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad. It tells the story of a group of Japanese teenagers who form a rock band.

Yukio, known by his friends as "Koyuki", is a regular 14-year-old Japanese boy who enters junior high school with two childhood acquaintances. One is a pervert, and ironically the other is a highly sought after female student. Koyuki's boring life is changed when he saves an odd-looking dog, named Beck, from some kids. Beck's owner turns out to be an emerging rock musician, Ryûsuke Minami, who soon influences Koyuki to start playing the guitar, and even gives one to him. The story focuses on the trials and tribulations of their rock band named BECK, and Koyuki's relationships with the members of the band, in particular Ryûsuke Minami and his sister, Maho Minami. (www.wikipedia.org.)

Raaaaaaaknroooooowl!

Sana may kasunod pa na season. Abangan ang Beck movie ngayong taon!

Uncle Sam wants us... to become stupid

Here are some cogitations after reading the article written by Victor M Rodriguez Dominguez regarding the recent strikes launched by students and faculty to expose and oppose the privatization of the University of Puerto Rico.

Dr Dominguez effectively explains the struggle for free and quality education within the historical context of the anti-colonial movement in Puerto Rico. The article is a presentation of the real economic, political and social state of affairs of a country exploited, abused and repressed by a foreign master.

The massive strikes reveal that the privatization of the University of Puerto Rico is a case not unique in their country but rather a global scheme maneuvered by the educator-capitalists to further liberalize education for the benefit of the few in order to accumulate super-profit.

A country manacled by a rapacious colonial master will suffer not only tuition fee increases but also the worst form of modern-day slavery. As predicted, poverty rate rose dramatically as a result of massive landlessness and unemployment. The classic line “the rich gets richer and the poor becomes poorer” is considered subversive and muttering it is considered an act of terrorism.

The US imperialist-local puppet collaboration might appear as an indomitable foe. They have in their hands almost all resources, chances and means to do whatever they want to attain even their most ridiculous goals. Mis-education, westernization, liberalization, privatization, globalization, deprivation, militarization, human rights violation… Is there a chance to change this funereal situation? Yes.

Cut away the weed. Let the seeds of freedom and democracy flourish and bear the fruit called “change”.

Following this line of logic, we can therefore say that only through the smashing of the chains of Imperialist thralldom can the youth have the benefit of free and quality education.

Let us unite and fight for what is right.

Here's the link: http://ethnosboriquen.blogspot.com/2010/06/puerto-rico-invisible-and-recurring.html

Students storm CHED, demand tuition rollback and refund

Davao City- Students led by progressive groups League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan and KABATAAN Party-list stormed the regional office of the Commission on Higher Education to protest the irresponsibility of the government in protecting the right to education and demanded for tuition rollback and refund.

“The tuition and other fee increases is an expression that the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has sold-out the future of the youth to the avaricious educator-capitalists,” said Karlos Manlupig, LFS Regional Spokesperson.

The action was part of their participation to the Global Wave of Action wherein thousands of youth, students and teachers across the globe will launch different activities to demand for free and quality education.

According to CHED's figures, 339 private schools and 2 state universities and colleges implemented increases for the school year 2010-2011.

“Although some schools will not implement tuition increases, they still conspired with CHED by implementing increases in miscellaneous fees like laboratory fee, test fee and other fees in order to clinch super-profit,” Manlupig said.

“It is imperative that the government make immediate actions to rollback in tuition and refund the increases to the students and parents,” added Manlupig.

In a study conducted by UNESCO, 73% of the Filipino youth were forced to quit schooling due to unbearable and extortionate school fees. The study also presented that the survival rate in the college level is only 22%.

The youth challenges the incoming administration to prosecute the Arroyo government and her lapdogs that were responsible for the worsening education crisis.

“Noynoy Aquino will bequeath this rotten educational system perpetrated and tolerated by the previous administrations. He should make all necessary actions to ensure that education be made accessible to all,” Manlupig said. #

Musings over Palparan

By KARLOS MANLUPIG
Regional Spokesperson
League of Filipino Students-Southern Mindanao

One would visualize a butcher as a person covered with blood after meticulously chopping and carving an animal in a slaughterhouse. For a man to be labeled a butcher, that person must have done something really brutal. “Berdugo” in the native language, “butcher” is by and large used to tag someone who has the reputation to have a hand in a series of massacres and other fascist acts.

A retired General and now a party-list Representative, Jovito Palparan is notorious as the epitome of fascism in the country. Execrated by the people, Palparan is now again on the loose to sow fear, deception and murders in Davao.

The Making of a Murderous Psychopath

Born in Cagayan de Oro City, Palparan studied in the University of the East and expeditiously rose to the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was called to active duty in the AFP in 1973 and served as a lieutenant in Basilan for eight years. Palparan was reportedly wounded during an encounter with armed guerillas belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front.

After his stint in Basilan, he was promoted to become the commander of the 24th Infantry Battallion bringing with him his McCarthyist antics of terrorism spilling blood all over the National Capital Region as early as 1987. In his delusion to crush the legal progressive and underground movement, Palparan’s barbaric exploits caused the death of countless lives.

Palparan then emerged in the center stage as one of the prized weapons of mass deception and destruction of the government against the people’s movement for national liberation and democracy. His expertise includes summary executions, abductions, tortures, harassments, indiscriminate bombing and strafing, enforced disappearances and brainwashing through black propaganda.

Reports recorded by human rights group Karapatan identified 39 cases of extra-judicial killings, 11 failed killings and 5 enforced disappearances in his stint in the Southern Tagalog Region. Palparan was transferred as commander of the 8th Infantry Division in Samar and there he raised the record of 25 extra-judicial killings, 9 failed killings, and 12 enforced disappearances. Some 7,250 individuals, 5,223 families at 141 communities fell victim to intensified militarization. And as the commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division assigned in Central Luzon, he collected 77 bodybags of victims of extra-judicial killings, 15 attempted murders and 42 enforced disappearances.

One of the highlighted cases of Palparan’s malfeasance is the abduction of University of the Philippines student leaders Karen Empeño and Sheryl Cadapan and peasant Manuel Merino in Bulacan. The abduction created uproar from the UP community, human rights organizations, civil society and even from groups abroad. The statement of the Manolo brothers who were also abducted by the military and managed to escape reinforced the evidences. According to sworn statement of Raymond Manolo, they were detained with Karen, Sheryl and Manuel in a military camp in Bulacan. Raymond was able to have a discussion with them and witnessed how Sheryl attempted to escape. The military agents went berserk when they found out about Sheryl’s plan. “They delivered heavy punches to the whole of Sheryl and Karenís bodies, their mouths bled, they were hanged upside down with only one foot tied while naked. Then the military poured water in their nostrils,” Manolo affirmed in his sworn statement.

The numbers are enough to attest that Palparan is indeed a murderous psychopath. His atrocities caused an international alarm stirring the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the United Nations to conduct an investigation. The Phillip Alston Report and HRW concluded that Jovito Palparan is liable for the countless cases of human rights violations in the Philippines. The Melo Commission created in 2006 also concluded that “there is certainly evidence pointing the finger of suspicion at some elements and personalities in the armed forces, in particular General Palparan, as responsible for an undetermined number of killings, by allowing, tolerating, and even encouraging the killings.”

Palparan takes pride over his so-called exploits: “The killings are being attributed to me. But I did not kill them. I just inspire the triggermen.”

By praising Palparan, Arroyo is sending an unambiguous message. That her administration rewards, not penalizes, those who participate and promote the murders of those regarded as oppositions, leftists and communists.

Tito Palpy

Student activists, as a joke, refer to Palparan as Tito Palpy and usually use it to scare some kasamas when they go home late, “Hala ka, naa baya si Tito Palpy diha sa gawas sa gate. Ginahulat ka.”

Just a few months away from the first automated election in our country, the Davao region is under threat by the presence of the “Butcher” and his brainwashing buddy Pastor “Jun” Alcover. Their mission- to demonize the MAKABAYAN senatoriables Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza and party-lists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, ACT and Katribu and disenfranchise the legitimate struggle of the Filipino people.

The pronouncement of Palparan and Prospero Nograles to team-up against the Left and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is preposterous. Palparan said in a press conference in Davao City that Mayor Duterte has “ties” with the communists. “Intelligence officers of the military told me to be wary of Mayor Duterte”, Palparan told the local media. The political interest of Nograles reinforced by Palparan’s militarist and terrorist approach will only spell out chaos in Davao City.

The deployment and installation of the 69th Infantry Battalion of the AFP last August 27, 2009 in Davao is clearly part of the maneuvering of the government to further terrorize Mindanao. Referred to by some as the “Palparan Battalion”, the 69th IB originally came from Central Luzon under the 7th ID, the division-cum-killing machine led by Palparan before his so-called retirement in September 2006. The “Palparan Battalion” is a band of gun-for-hires involved in the brutal massacre in Hacienda Luisita and the abduction of Jonas Burgos.

In the last futile attempts of the US-backed Arroyo administration to crush the people’s liberation movement, it is crystal clear that their turgid Oplan Bantay Laya 2 (OBL 2) is bound to fail. Suffering tremendous blows from the people movement and offensives launched by the New People’s Army particularly in Southern Mindanao, the government is frantic in sending the best of the beasts to save their sinking ship.

Dead Man Walking

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”, a line borrowed from the book A Tale of Two Cities perfectly describes the political scenario in the Philippines.

This is the worst of times because the people are under attack. The election is only a few months away and Arroyo and her deadly minions, Palparan and Nograles, are on a killing spree. Democracy, justice and peace are fiction. If student leaders Karen and Sheryl were easily dragged, tortured and raped by state agents, then no place is safe for the youth anymore.

This is the best of times because the condition is very ripe for a huge leap in the progress of the people’s struggle. This times calls for the people to unite and resist against the evils that desire to destroy our dream for a better future. We want change. The times calls for the youth to prove that we want change, genuine change, and that we really are, as Rizal declared, as the hope of the nation.

The day of reckoning is about to come. Palparan is a dead man walking.No title, not General, Congressman, not even Senator, will make Jovito Palparan an honorable man.

Soon, Palparan’s atrocities will catch up with him and the Butcher will suffer the bitter end he deserves. Like stories written in books, some characters will live happily ever after and some will face the consequence of their evil deeds. The “Berdugo” will surely face the wrath of the people and will forever be in the dark pages of our history. And the people, through the advancement of the national democratic struggle, will harvest the hard-won fruits of their labor- a society without injustice and exploitation.

(Posted in Bulatlat)

LFS-SMR Statement on the death of Kemberly Jul Luna

Statement
January 8, 2010

“Only through militant struggle can the best in the youth emerge.” – Jose Maria Sison

Ginapaabot sa League of Filipino Students- Southern Mindanao Region ang taas kamao nga pagsaludo alang kang kaubang Kemberly Jul Luna.

Ginaingon nga lisod ang kinabuhi sa usa ka aktibista. Daghang pasakit. Anaa ang mga higayon nga dili makauli ug balay, makasab-an sa ginikanan, mga gabii nga walay tulugay, magutman ug syempre ang walay puas nga paglangoy sa lapad nga ihap sa masa aron mag-Arouse, Organize ug Mobilize. Apan dili mabayaran ang kalipay sa mga kauban sa matag kampanya nga madaugon. Mao kini ang kinabuhi sa mga aktibista. Mao kini ang kinabuhi sa LFS.

Dako nga sakripisyo ang pagwakli sa pangkaugalingong interes, ang paggawas sa eskwelahan aron magserbisyo sa maguuma sa kabukiran, labi na sa mga naggikan sa hut-ong peti-burgesya. Sa esensya, batakang responsibilidad sa kabatan-onan ang paglubog ug pagsalmot sa pakigbisog sa batakang masa.

Ginasaluduhan ug ginaila sa mga kaubanan sa LFS-SMR ang personal nga desisyon ni Kaubang Kimay nga ihalad ang iyahang kinabuhi pinaagi sa pagsalmot sa armadong pakigbisog sa kabukiran aron i-asdang ang nasudnong demokratikong interes ug katungod sa katawhan.

Ang nagapadayon nga pagpahimulos, pagyatak sa tawhanong katungod, pasismo sa estado ug Imperyalistang agresyon ang nagapugos sa katawhan partikular sa kabatan-onan nga musalmot sa tanang porma ug pamaagi sa pakigbisog alang sa tinuod nga kabag-ohan ug kalingkawasan.

Sa pagkahagba sa lawas ni Kaubang Kimay nga gibangagan sa bala sa kaaway, nilanog sa kakusog ang singgit sa katawhan. Nasuko sa kasamtangang kahimtang. Nasuko sa nagharing hut-ong nga padayon na nagapahimulos sa katawhang nilupigan.

Mabuhay si Kaubang Kemberly Jul Luna!
Mabuhay ang tanang kabataang martir!
I-asdang ang Nasudnong Demokratikong Pakigbisog sa Katawhan!


Alang sa tinuod na hustisya ug kalingkawasan,

Karlos Manlupig
LFS-SMR, Regional Spokesperson