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A Wanton Disregard for Press Freedom
2006-12-02 15:35:02
spread, sign and pass to other journalists (email you name and media network to nujphil@gmail.com)lifted from Bulatlat.comThere are presently 43 journalists in the Philippines facing libel charges filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo. The sheer number betrays a wanton disregard for freedom of the press and the propensity to use power and influence to silence critics. This statement is to protest the use of the libel law to stop critical reports and commentaries and to fight for the right of every Filipino to seek and receive information and ideas on matters of public interest, which are at the very core of the concept of a democratic society. -----------------The law on libel exists to protect private citizens from unwarranted damage to reputation, but in the Philippines libel has been predominantly used by public officials as a tool to cow an independent press.The most glaring example is the multiple libel cases filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo against 43 r...
More About: Freedom , Press , Free , Edom , Want

Red Tag
2006-12-02 15:35:02
Arroyo and Her Goebellian Propaganda*18 September 2006metrica, manilaIn a desperate attempt to cling to power, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is now on her way to becoming the Adolf Hitler of this generation. With the number of people denouncing her presidency growing exponentially, her administration has resorted to aggressive red baiting, mercilessly ganging up on personalities and organizations as enemies of the state.This move is Arroyo government?s response to wind up the brewing political crisis. It has applied the Goebellian propaganda to break the backbone of anti-Arroyo groups. Losing its control over its constituents, it has now become trigger-happy, exhibiting its expertise in employing goons, guns and grenades to silence and cow those who are going against its underlying interests.The overt singling out of people and organizations as enemies of the state has justified the already intensifying human rights violations in the country. It has given more pretexts to the extens...

Autonomy Under Siege
2006-12-02 15:35:02
The Philippine Collegian and RA 9184The Philippine Collegian bears witness to a lasting tradition of independence as a student institution. It is a publication funded solely by the students, and for years has served as a salient representation of academic freedom and democratic rights. Throughout history, UP students have vigilantly fought for the publication's autonomy from all forms of administration intervention. Once again, the Collegian's autonomy is under siege. Using Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, the UP administration since June 2006 has blocked the release of the Collegian's printing funds. According to the administration's interpretation of RA 9184, all fees collected by the university are government funds?including the Collegian's funds. Under this false assumption, the UP administration insists that the bidding and selection of the publication?s printing press be facilitated not by the Collegian editorial board, but by the administration...
More About: Auto , Under Siege , Autonomy

Paalam Rando
2006-12-02 15:35:02
07 september 2006makati cityAside from my ability to watch TV, read Milan Kundera's or Gabriel Garcia Marquez's, eat handful of peanuts or any chichiria, do homework and pull strands of hair in one breath, one of the few things that I can take pride of is my sharp memory. For so long a time, it has been my anchor to survive the turbulent waves of life. Time and again, it has proven to be my effective tool in asserting that I am a force to reckon with, as I could make my friends and former classmates pee in their pants by unearthing and reliving their Sub Rosa they are struggling to put six feet under their memories.The only difficult thing about it is that it can never be overwhelmed. No matter how you try to bury your nightmares into oblivion, they would continuously hunt you. That has been my situation upon learning that Rando, a former classmate, fell prey to the misfortune.It was exactly Rando's 26th birthday when it happened. Just went outside to buy some food to treat his f...

Going Mobile: Text Messages Guide Filipino Protesters
2006-12-02 15:35:02
By Mary JordanWashington Post Foreign ServiceFriday, August 25, 2006; A01MANILA -- Raymond Palatino's cellphone pinged loudly, and a text message lit up the display: "Other students are already marching. Where are you?"Palatino and hundreds of others -- nearly all carrying cellphones -- were on their way to Manila's gated presidential palace for a protest rally. Palatino and what people here call a "text brigade" were still a couple of miles away, about to board buses in the steamy midday heat."No, not ready," he typed, holding his phone in both hands, his thumbs flying across the buttons. "We're 30 minutes away."In a string of unsolved murders in recent months, trade union leaders, government critics, students, journalists and others have been killed. Students had begun clamoring for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to do something.Once they might have called a demonstration by printing fliers. Now, they do it by mass texting. Palatino had spent days getting the word out, bangi...
More About: Mobile , Protesters , Essa , Guide , Message

In Defense of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
2006-12-02 15:35:02
07 August 2006makati cityWhen I was a kid, I never dreamt of becoming a president. I have known that the task has always been hard, and no matter how you struggle to perform well, the fact is that you cannot please everybody. These days, I have thought of something that is much harder than being the president. That is, being in the shoes of Pres. Gloria Mac apagal Arroyo. Just exactly how hard it is to be PGMA?1.It takes galls and guts to prove that you won "fair and square" during the presidential polls last May 2004.While some of us may find it too easy, it would be making things possible if you were to fill in the shoes of GMA as there are a lot of fingers, with overwhelming and sufficient evidence, that pinpoints you not just a loser, but a cheater on that election. GMA: "So will I still lead by 1 million overall?"Garci: "Pipilitin ho natin ?yan." ("We will do everything to make it so.")("Hello Garci" tape, May-June 2004. GMA made no less than 15 calls to Garci for several weeks ...
More About: Defense , Ense , Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo , Maca

Where are our students?
2006-12-02 15:35:02
From the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism blog:Former UP student leaders condemn abductions, return of 'state-sponsored terrorism'IT?S been over a month since University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sheryl Cadapan have disappeared, along with their companion, farmer Manuel Merino, all of whom were reportedly forcibly taken by soldiers in Bulacan last June 26. The three remain missing despite the Supreme Court?s grant of the petition for habeas corpus filed by the students? parents ordering the military to produce them in court last July 24.The disappearance of two of its students ? Empeño is with the Sociology Department of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy while Cadapan is with the College of Human Kinetics ? has alarmed the UP Diliman community. In a July 12 resolution, the University Council, a body composed of faculty members, said it feared for the lives of the two, greatly concerned over the Arroyo government?s inaction about their d...
More About: Student , Students , Here , Where

The Running Man
2006-12-02 15:35:02
26 July 2006metrica, manilaUnder the scorching heat of the sun, I found myself rubbing elbows with the tubaw-wearing youth on the grounds of Senate. Bored of being bum for weeks, I was in the process of ?soul-searching? when I got drawn in to these people?s grasp of reality. Anyway their ideas weren?t too big to take in as I could easily identify with the evil effects of the whopping budget slash in education sector.Though-looking as I am but I would not deny that at that time, I felt boneless, especially upon catching a glimpse of the marines who looked hell-bent in wiping us off the earth. Sitting prettily while alternately digesting my sandwich and the heart-warming, temperature-rising speeches of the mass leaders, piles of bodies hurled into mine. Blood started to taint the ground as the men in uniform thrashed us to death. The throng was in complete disarray.I was struggling to get out of the mesh of bodies when someone grabbed me and escorted me towards a safer place. Exactly ...
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BALI-BALITA ni Edel Garcellano
2006-12-02 15:35:02
reprinted from: www.tigilpaslang2.blogspot.comNoong i-text sa akin ng isang guro ang tungkol sa mga nawawalang estudyante sa Bulacan, hindi ko malaman ang aking daramahin: araw-araw sandamukal na balita ang aking nababasa at napapakinggan, at itong mistulang desaparecidos sa ating panahon ? luma na marahil sapagka?t mula?t mula pa sa rehimen ni Marcos ito?y ulit-ilit nang pinangangambahan ? ay waring hindi na ito tumimo sa aking isipan. Sino sila? Bakit nga raw dinukot? Alam ko na rin naman ang sagot sa istoryang ito: tiyak na mga tao ng estado ang nagpasimuno, mga sintomas wika nga ng mga dapat ilihim at isiwalat sa publikong lipunan na gumagalaw sa kumpas ng iilan: iyong mga nakakotse?t sekretarya, kasunod ang mga hagad na escort at agresibong kumakaway, tabi! tabi! may lakad kami! At sa telebisyon mo nga maririnig ang pakiusap ng isang ina: sana ay makita na ang aking anak, birthday nya sa makalawa, ang presidente ay isa ring ina, sana ay magawan ng paraan ito, sana...Ang tv scre...
More About: Cell , Bali , Lano , Ella , Alita

the flying sexy girl
2006-12-02 15:35:02
01 july 2006makatiOne thing about Nanen: she has never failed to surprise us. At a single period of time, she could be dead serious perfecting the assigned tasks to her while unleashing her prowess to make us laugh ? or cry or get irritated. Schizophrenic she is not; she has just a gift to instinctively shift from one character to another that could spontaneously transform us into laughing hyenas or combust us into raging bulls.But beyond her colorful personality lies the true color of Nanen. Deep down in her heart, she is true and tried to her commitment. Her immersion to the real world tightens her grip to what she believes in. She would defy the pull of gravity to make sure that she presses on her principles and passion.That was how Nanen has steeled in her resolve. I was not caught unawares at all when she announced that she decided to go beyond the four corners of her classroom to give way to her undying passion to go among the hapless and the helpless. It was the last time we ...
More About: Flying , Girl , Sexy , Lying , The Fly

Breaking the Barriers
2006-12-02 15:35:02
05 December 2005metrica, manilaAbout a year ago, the town was in total shambles. Calamities came one after the other, seemingly never-ending, wreaking havoc to the once pristine and placid town of Dingalan. Loss of lives, as well as loss of properties was beyond compare, making the already beleaguered people hopeless and helpless to go on living. For them, life would never be the same again. After a year, Dingalan is now on its way to full recovery. Reconstruction and rehabilitation are being carried through to bring back the glory of the town. With sheer determination, the people have come together to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Through this unity and collective action, the town is now inching towards progress. Brgy Butas na Bato, like any to other place in Dingalan, bore witness to the nature?s wrath. Indeed, it was one of the most devastated. And, akin to the other communities, from the remnants and vestiges of the aftermath, it is now in the process of restorati...
More About: Break , King , Barr , Arri , Breaking

A Brazen Act of Violence
2006-12-02 15:35:02
09 november 2005sampaloc, manilaThe twists and turns of events bring the nation back to its darkest days. Already trapped in dire economic woes and political turmoil, it is being dragged along the way of reimposition of Martial Law with the full-scale implementation of the " calibrated preemptive response" (CPR). The CPR is Malacanang's solution to the intensifying crisis. In sheer desperation to put the country out of disorder, the government has resorted to use 'muscle' to defeat anyone going against its interests. It has vowed to quash any group that attempts to bring down the Arroyo administration, avowing that it is for the good of the country. Unambiguously, this is akin to the toppled Pres. Ferdinand Marcos's brand of leadership. This is a recycled but heightened version of Martial Law - a blatant use of force to oblige the people to rally behind the government. Amid the government's claim that it is working within the framework of democracy, the CPR is an obvious suppre...
More About: Violence , Viol

Writing 30
2006-12-02 15:35:02
tuesday,17 november 2005sampaloc, manilaAnd now, the newsmakers have taken the headline.Sick and tired of her consistent bad image and poor projection, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has resorted to lambasting the media for its espousal to bad boy image. Speaking before seasoned journalists and media practitioners, she lectured them on how to be fair and square in carrying out the five W?s and H of reporting.The president?s bitter criticism to media is explicable, especially now that her political survival is on highly dangerous ground. Indeed, in her speech, she exhorted the media not to be used as ?pawns in political games and destabilization schemes,? but to be messengers of ?positive news? about ?a nation on the verge of economic takeoff.? She even encouraged it to hook up with her administration in molding the ?destiny of this republic for the good of the greater number.?The speech is an obvious intrusion to the independence of media. It is reminiscent of the way the late dictat...
More About: Writing , Portage

Education for Sale
2006-12-02 15:35:02
The Further Commodification of Education through GATSStill suffering from its continuously worsening state, the Philippine education is up for another battle with its inclusion to General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS). In the guise of a corporatized, world-class education, the crisis-ridden education sector has now opened all its way to a free enterprise directly controlled by the World Trade Organization (WTO). GLOBALIZING EDUCATION"Free trade" in education services has been flourishing since the formal promulgation of GATS in 1994. Education service, a springboard for a more potent free trade, was one of the explicit topics in the international trade meetings that led to the creation of the WTO in 1995. Since trade talks spiraled among trading powers prior to WTO's ministerial conference in Seattle, education and other social services were among the extensions of the term of GATS. This round of table talks, however, collapsed due to protests inside and outside the confer...
More About: For Sale , Cat , Sale , Ducati

Where is Joey Estriber?
2006-12-02 15:35:02
lifted from Freedom Watch (www.cmfr-phil.blogspot.com)06 November 2006In a statement, the Paris-based press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders voiced its outrage over the "indifference of both local and national authorities" to the case of radio broadcaster Joey Estriber who was kidnapped eight months ago.Still no word of missing radio presenter and environmentalist eight months after his abduction -- RSFReporters Without Borders voiced outrage today at the indifference of both local and national authorities to the fate of radio presenter and anti-logging campaigner Joey Estriber, who has been missing ever since he was kidnapped outside an Internet café in Baler, in Aurora province (northeast of Manila), on the evening of 3 March 2006."It is eight months to the day since Estriber was abducted and nothing has been done by the authorities to find and identify his kidnappers," the press freedom organisation said. "It seems that complicity between the local police and logging co...
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