Philippines: Erap Estrada endorses leftist leader Neri Colmenares for senator (tags)
MANILA, Philippines – Former President now Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Wednesday, September 30, endorsed leftist congressman Neri Colmenares for Philippine senator in the 2016 elections.
Prof Lim's review of E. San Juan's radical interpretation of Rizal in SISA'S VENGEANCE (amazon.com) focuses on Rizal's view of women as actual/potential agencies in the national liberation struggle of the Philippines from Spanish colonialism and U.S. imperialism. Dec. 30 marks the anniversary of Rizal's execution by the Spanish colonial govt., making him the national hero of the Filipino people.
Review of E San Juan's AMBIL (tags)
Filipino activist Karlo Mongaya reviews the avant-garde postconceptual writing of E San Juan Jr., and its critique of author-centered institutionalized expression in the neoliberal regime of Aquino in neocolonial Philippines.
LONG LIVE ANDRES BONIFACIO, FILIPINO REVOLUTIONARY (tags)
November 30 is the anniversary of the Philippine revolution against Spain led by Andres Bonifacio, the "supremo" organizer, theoretician and strategist. This essay seeks to explain the essence of his greatness.
REMEMBERING JOSE RIZAL AND SISA, THE ANTI-POSTCOLONIAL DIFFEREND (tags)
June 19 this year marks the 53rd anniversary of the Philippines' national hero Jose Rizal's birthday. In Nov 1884, Rizal joined mass demonstrations in Madrid to protest the government's repressive policies. He wrote to his family:"Filipinos are dishonored, entrapped, debased, opposed and tyrannized," so he had to disguise himself three times. The following review centers on Rizal's ideas and Sisa, the character in Rizal's novel, who symbolizes the "wretched of the earth," discussed in E. San Juan's book, SISA'S VENGEANCE (available at amazon.com & createspace).
Philippines: 'Forward, Bayanihang Sosyalismo!' Popularising a socialism 'with local colour (tags)
The following is the English-language translation of a document on bayanihan socialism that was presented at the convention of the Philippines socialist party Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the Labouring Masses, PLM) in December, 2013.
REMEMBER AND COMMEMORATE THE VICTORY AT THE BATTLE OF BESSANG PASS, 1945 (tags)
On June 14, 1945, one of the greatest battle of World War II ended in a victory for the Filipino and American soldiers in Bessang Pass, in the Cordilleras Northern Luzon, Philippines. Before the light of day, on June 14, 1945, units of the 121st Infantry launched the final assault of Bucual Ridge, In dramatic but costly rushes they obliterated the last enemy soldier on Bessang Pass. To the end with flourish, the greatest feat of Filipino arms in modern times, the Filipinos secured the hill held by the Japanese Imperial army. It was a payback for the defeat in Bataan, three years ago. Presidential Citation No higher honors can be bestowed on the heroes of the battle of Bessang Pass , who avenged the defeat of Bataan and Corregidor than the tribute of President Elpidio Quirino in 1952 to the United States Forces in Northern Luzon (USFIP-NL) during the 7th anniversary of the Battle of Bessang Pass: ?To win the liberation of Northen Luzon in which the USFIP-NL played a a major role, you accomplished no ordinary achievement. Your battle of bessang Pass in eastern ilocos Sur in n1945, for instance stands out prominently as one of the major decisive battles of the Philippine Liberation Campaign.?
JOSE RIZAL & PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY (tags)
JUNE 12, marking the independence of the Philippines from the Spanish empire, would not have been realized without the martyrdom of countless Filipinos foremost of whom is Jose Rizal. Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the Katipunan rebellion, honored Rizal's memory by using his name as a shibboleth. But the neocolonial politicians today have only fulfilled Rizal's nightmare that the slaves of yesterday will be the tyrants of today. This essay pays homage to Rizal on the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Inaanyahan ang lahat sa Isang Gabi ni Rizal" dito sa LA, Tayo na at manood!" (tags)
"Inaanyahan ang lahat sa Isang Gabi ni Rizal" dito sa LA, Tayo na at manood!" Bantay Pilipinas- USA will. again venture into another ground breaking event - a multi media celebration of the heroism and artistry of the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on October 16, 2010 This will be held at the East West Players in the heart of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo -at the East West Players (EWP) Theater, 120 Judge Aiso St. Los Angeles, CA, 90012 "Isang Gabi ni Rizal" will feature a full reception replete with chamber music, wine table, verses from Rizal's work, exhibition of paintings by U.S. based Filipino artists, books and Rizal inspired publications and a sumptuous Filipino style light buffet.
Night with Jose Rizal, October 16 in LA (tags)
"Isang Gabi ni Rizal". Bantay Pilipinas- USA will. again venture into another ground breaking event - a multi media celebration of the heroism and artistry of the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on October 16, 2010 This will be held at the East West Players in the heart of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo -at the East West Players (EWP) Theater, 120 Judge Aiso St. Los Angeles, CA, 90012 "Isang Gabi ni Rizal" will feature a full reception replete with chamber music, wine table, verses from Rizal's work, exhibition of paintings by U.S. based Filipino artists, books and Rizal inspired publications and a sumptuous Filipino style light buffet.
BANTAY PILIPINAS FORMED IN CALIFORNIA (tags)
The Manila based BANTAY PILIPINAS, a cybernet group that advocated for free, clean and honest elections in the Philippines last May 10 presidential elections - formed the Steering Committee of its LA project last August 29, 2010. In a collective decision to continue the tasks of BANTAY PILIPINAS not only as an election watch dog but also as the premier advocate of good governance and anti graft and corruption campaign in the Philippines - individuals and groups banded together and formed a steering committee in Los Angeles
BANTAY PILIPINAS FORMED IN CALIFORNIA (tags)
The Manila based BANTAY PILIPINAS, a cybernet group that advocated for free, clean and honest elections in the Philippines last May 10 presidential elections - formed the Steering Committee of its LA project last August 15, 2010. In a collective decision to continue the tasks of BANTAY PILIPINAS not only as an election watch dog but also as the premier advocate of good governance and anti graft and corruption campaign in the Philippines - individuals and groups banded together and formed a steering committee in Los Angeles.
Rites for hero Graciano Lopez Jaena turn into call for justice (tags)
The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) News learned today that the annual rites commemorating the 153rd birth anniversary of Ilonggo patriot Graciano Lopez Jaena in Iloilo City, in the island of Panay echoed a call for justice for 31 journalists who were murdered in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Graciano Lopez Jaena was known to be an orator but he was also a writer. “If he were alive today, Graciano Lopez Jaena would be part of the ‘endangered species’—journalists being killed with impunity,” said Demy Sonza, former Iloilo vice governor and head of the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation Inc. “But he would have fought hard, uncowed by threats,” said Sonza. Sonza said Lopez Jaena offered an inspiration for Filipino journalists “to remain vigilant, stand up for what is right and expose what is wrong” like what the patriot did in his lifetime.
MABUHAY ANG ARAW NG PAGKATATAG NG KATIPUNAN! (tags)
Nagpupugay ang Kilusang Dekada 70, ang organisasyon ng mga aktibista sa Amerika sa araw ng pagkakatatag ng Katipunan, Hulyo 7, 1892- araw ng simula ng pambansang demokratikong rebolusyong ng lumang tipo 1896. Maalalang matapos ng ilang araw ng pagkakatatag ng repormistang La Liga Filipina ni Dr. Jose Rizal noong Hulyo 2 sa Maynila, dinakip ng mga awtoridad Espanol si Rizal at ipinatapon sa Dapitan, sa isla ng Mindanao. Dahil dito namatay ng kusa ang La Liga at ang pumalit na Liga De Compromisarios ni Mabini ay hindi na ring gumana. Sa halip na manahimik, si Andres Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano at Ladislao Diwa sila ay nagpasya na buuin ang Katipunan. Ang tatlong taong ito ay nagpasyang hindi na uubra ang mapayapang paraan at tanging armadong rebolusyon ang kinakailangan para mabago ang kaayusan at tapusin ang kolonyal na paghahari ng bayang Espana sa Pilipinas.
On the 148th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal: To Rebel is justified (tags)
“There are no tyrants if there are no slaves” We are one with the Filipino people in commemoration of the 148th birth anniversary of the great Filipino patriot, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. His birth anniversary is significant indeed in the turbulent times the nation is facing. Our situation hardly changed. This time, we are not under a colonial Spanish masters but under the tyranny of a local despot named Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo who serves at the pleasure of her US imperialist masters. Instead of the dreaded Spanish Guardia Civil, we have the obedient Armed Forces and the PNP that wrecked havoc on the people.
"BALER'- A MOVIE FOR NEO-COLONIALISM (tags)
“Baler,” winner for best picture in the present Metro Manila Film Festival, is the first feature film made of the siege of Baler- the last Spanish outpost to surrender to revolutionary forces during the revolutionary war of 1896. The Siege of Baler was based on the diary Spanish Lt. Col. Martin Cerezo, commander of a garrison of Spanish soldiers in Baler, Tayabas( now called the Quezon province), during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. By December 10, 1898, the Spanish-American War had already ended; Spanish forces in the Philippines, Cuba and elsewhere had already surrendered but the Spanish garrison in Baler didn’t know it. Their headquarters in Iloilo (the last capital of Spain in the Philippines to surrender), forgot to tell them. Katipuneros attacked the 57-man garrison and the Spaniards took shelter in the town church. Instead of rushing the church, the Filipino colonel decided to surround the church with his more superior forces and wait for the Spaniards to run out of food and is forced to surrender. He did not expect the tenacity and fighting spirit of the Spaniards. The siege lasted almost a year, exactly 338 days. Col. Martin Cerezo recounted in his diary the suffering of his soldiers inside the besieged church.
NEWLY ELECTED FACLA BOARDS ELECTS OFFICERS DEC.7 (tags)
The Coalition for A Better Community (CBC) 15-person slate led by former FACLA vice-president Rizalino Manuel that swept the Nov 16-18, 2008 Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) board of directors elections for the year 2009-2001 will meet on December 7th to elects its executive officers.
CBC SWEEPS FACLA ELECTIONS (tags)
The Coalition for A Better Community (CBC) 15-person slate led by former FACLA vice-president Rizalino Manuel that swept the Nov 16-18, 2008 Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) board of directors elections for the year 2009-2001 will meet on Nov. 30 to elects its executive officers. The elections was held and the counting of votes was conducted by a private elections agency hired by FACLA. The counting of vote and the formal declaration of the outcome of the elections was held in FACLA on Nov 16 and 18, 2008. The CBC made a clean sweep of the elections like what they did in 2001 and 2004 under the leadership of De. Jose Baldonado.
CBC SWEEPS FACLA ELECTIONS (tags)
The Coalition for A Better Community (CBC)'s 15-person slate led by former FACLA vice-president Rizalino > Manuel swept the Nov 16-18, 2008 Filipino American Community > of Los Angeles (FACLA) board of directors elections for the year 2009-2001. The elections was held and the counting of votes was conducted by a private elections agency hired by FACLA. The counting of vote and the formal declaration of the outcome of the elections was held in FACLA on Nov 16 and 18, 2008.
On the Colombia “ Hostage Rescue” (tags)
n the American press media, the Colombian “hostage rescue” last July 3 that rescued three American servicemen was given prominence. The stress of the media especially the CNN was not only to hail the so called rescue mission as a success. It was also hailed for the rescue being bloodless and “not a single shot being fired.” Another stress of the media was the guerilla forces of FARC “ is finished” while at the same time maligning the revolutionary forces as “ narcotrafficers and terrorist” while at the same time pointing out that the 40-year struggle of the armed revolutionaries as “ the longest insurgency is southern hemisphere.
This review highlights the global positioning of discourses/writing on the Filipino diaspora, given the neocolonial and subjugated situation of Filipino migrants, exiles, refugees, etc. in the planet. Unless this subordination to U.S. imperial hegemony is acknowledged and the revolutionary resistance to it recognized, any reflection on the condition of the Filipino/the Philippines is only a Hollywood fantasy, if not a bad case of incurable self-delusion.
Commemorate the 115th Year of the Founding of the Katipunan, Continue the Unfinished Revol (tags)
On July 7, 1892, three dedicated patriot, Andres Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata and Ladislao Diwa founded the Katipunan, the secret society of patriots in a hosue in Azcaraga Street in Manila. The Katipunan was organized after the Spanish authorities clamped down on the La Liga Filipina, founded by Jose Rizal and only lasted for several days until it was outlawed in July 2, 1892. By August 23, 1896, when the Spanish authorities discovered the organization, it has organized an undeground network of more than 30, 000 members all over the nation it was ready to launch the armed revolution against Spain. Today, we are not farther from the same unjust and repressive conditions under Spain. The US-Arroyo regime on July 15, 2007 will implement a new martial rule system under a law named Human Security Act or the Anti-Terror Law abhorred by the people.
AJLPP HAILS PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISION FOR THE PROVISIONAL RELEASE OF SATUR OCAMPO (tags)
The Alliance for A Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) shared the progressive Filipino democratic movement joy and relief over the Supreme Court decision for the detained BAYAN MUNA Congress person Satur Ocampo. It proved US President and jurist John Quincy Adams statement; “ The independence of the court safeguards the independence of the nation.” While we savor the tactical victory we are not completely happy. Congressperson Ka Bel ( Crispin Beltran) is still languishing in jail together with more than 200 other political prisoners like the Mamburao 6 and the Tagaytay 5 all of whom are peasants. We should exert all efforts to free all political prisoners and stop the political persecution under the US- Arroyo regime.
ANG MGA MANUNULAT AT ARTISTA SA PANAHON NG GLOBALISASYON (tags)
Kailangang ipaalam sa madla na ang ugat ng mga ideya ng mga naghaharing uri na ipinapakalat ng mga binabayarn nilang mga alagad sa sining at panitikan ay naka-ugat sa kanilang pagnanais na panatiliin ang kaugalian ng kanilang uri.
Commemorate August 23, 1896, the Cry of Pugad Lawin: The Start of the 1896 Revolution (tags)
There are limits to what the cedula and terrorist killings can accomplish in keeping the restive Filipino people cowed into submission. Aspiring Mini-Me Dictator Arroyo must realize that Dictator Marcos’ brazen terrorism and iron-fist rule did not last indefinitely. And like the Cry of August 23, 1896, the Filipino people will once again rise up and fight their oppressors. The Filipino people will finish the unfinished Philippine Revolution against US imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism until they become truly sovereign and free.
The Filipino American Community Problems on the Pilipino Language (tags)
August is usually the National Language Week ( Linggo ng Wika) in the Philippines. Pesante-USA presented this paper this week for Filipinos in the Philippines and America to ponder. Its an irony while the Philippine government ( US-Arroyo regime) is reverting to the colonial mendicancy of propagating English to compete in the international market for labor exports, Filipinos abroad and Filipino Americans in the U.S are advancing the propagation of Pilipino in the United States. This is an important development we should monitor and work on. The more than 3 million Filipinos in the United States might be away from their homeland but their patriotism is afire and will never forget their roots.
Are the Filipinos Really United? (tags)
This year, the 4th year commemoration of the Historic Filipinotown district on August 5, 2006 will take the form of the traditional Pilipino “Pistahan “(Community Feast ) in a common Filipino town. Different community as well as private entities have lined-up different program of activities. They will be the sites of the different events that will last the whole day.
E. San Juan's recent book, ONLY BY STRUGGLE (Quezon City: Giraffe Books), represents one of the most important progressive voices in the movement for national democracy and liberation in the Philippines. This review highlights some noteworthy themes of the work.
THE FILIPINO PEASANT IMAGINATION VERSUS AMERICAN LEFTISM (tags)
The following remarks are intended to supplement the author's paper "Blueprint for a Bulosan Project" posted in the online journal OUR OWN VOICE. This essay critiques the position of "leftists" in the elite U.S. academies who claim a "manifest destiny" to civilize colonized subalterns and peasant radicals like the Filipino writer Carlos Bulosan who (they claim) have failed to take "America" out of a transnationalizing U.S. Studies. Are we seeing a replay of the "Thomasites" who produced generations of neocolonized "little brown brothers" now serving U.S. imperialist aggression in Iraq, Aghanistan, Palestine, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and in the Philippines, its former direct colony? "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea...."
WALKOUT - A Critical Review (tags)
Some people have recently called the HBO film, Walkout, as “providing much inspiration to the student walkouts” across America in recent days. Although the film is a historical feature that tells the story of the Chicano people’s struggle against racism and discrimination and is undoubtedly a breakthrough against white supremacy, it is also a telling lesson in the chauvinism of some Chicano activists towards Filipinos in America. This is a case of a majority minority that unconsciously or consciously discriminates against another albeit smaller national minority in advocating for its own self-determination in the United States.
The anniversary of the death of the Philippines' national hero Jose Rizal this Dec. 30 affords us the occasion to reassess his work, particularly in the context of ongoing fierce class war in the Philippines between the oppressed, impoverished majority and the few privileged landlords and politicians bought by global capital. This is taking place at a time when the Philippines is being re-colonized by the U.S. as the world's imperialist hegemon. Would Rizal want the country partitioned to greedy transnational corporations and their national elites in the current terrorist war against peoples of color in particular? These reflections hope to provoke a re-thinking of what it means to be a Filipino with the Philippines in permanent crisis, using Rizal as a point of departure, especially in the light of its citizens becoming an embattled diaspora--more than ten million OFWs as exploited domestics and contract workers around the planet, while the country's rich natural resources, cultures and traditions are wasted by foreign profiteers of globalizing capital supported by local comprador parasites currently headed by the corrupt Arroyo regime. "O where is the hope of the motherland...."?