Sabado, Agosto 30, 2014
Lunes, Agosto 25, 2014
Sigaw sa Mendiola at Luneta: Pork Abolition, Hindi Term Extension, Hindi ChaCha!
Sigaw sa Mendiola at Luneta: Pork Abolition, Hindi Term Extension, Hindi ChaCha!
Agosto 25, 2014 - Madaling araw pa lang ng Lunes ay nasa Mendiola na ang mga kasapi ng SANLAKAS, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng mga Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML), Metro Manila Vendors Alliance (MMVA), Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO), Piglas-Kabataan, at Teatro Proletaryo. Bandang ikapito ng umaga ay dumating naman ang Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM).
Sa saliw ng ChaCha, at ng awiting "Kung alam mo lang, Bayan" (rendisyon ng awiting "Kung Alam Mo Lang, Violy" ni Gary Granada), nagsayaw ang mga kasapi ng Teatro Proletaryo sa Mendiola, bandang ikaanim ng umaga. Ito'y bahagi ng kanilang protesta laban sa pork barrel at term extension na balak ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino kaya nais nitong magkaroon ng ChaCha o Charter Change.
Bandang ikasiyam ng umaga ay nagmartsa na sila patungo sa Quirino Grandstand upang makiisa sa mas malawak na pagtitipon ng sambayanan. Idinaos sa Luneta ang aktibidad na "Stand Up! Sign Up!" o "Manindigan at Lumagda" laban sa pakanang term extension ng pamahalaang Aquino.
Ulat at mga litrato ni Greg Bituin Jr.
Martes, Hulyo 29, 2014
Mga kawatan sa pamahalaan DAPat managot
SONA 2014: "Mga kawatan sa pamahalaan DAPat managot"
Lunes, Hulyo 28, 2014 - Nakiisa ang grupong Metro Manila Vendors Alliance (MMVA) sa martsa sa ikalimang SONA (State of the Nation Address) ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino, dalawang taon bago matapos ang kanyang termino.
Dala ang malaking streamer na de-gulong na may panawagang "Aquino, Patalsikin! Itakwil ang Kurap at Elitistang Rehimen! Itayo ang Gobyerno ng Masa!", kasama nilang nagmartsa ang mga grupong Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), SANLAKAS, Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng mga Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML), Samahan ng Mamamayan - Zone One Tondo Organization (SM-ZOTO), Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA), SUPER-Federation, Piglas Kabataan (PK), Makabayan-Pilipinas, Koalisyon Pabahay Pilipinas (KPP), atbp. Sumama rin sa kanila ang grupong Manggagawang Sosyalista (MASO) at Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC). Mula sa Tandang Sora ay hindi man lang sila nakarating kahit sa Gotesco dahil hinarang na sila ng mga pulis, kaya nagpasya na silang magprograma isang kilometro bago mag-Ever Gotesco, sa kahabaan ng Commonwealth Avenue.
Ang SONA ay ginaganap tuwing ikaapat na Lunes ng Hulyo.
Ulat at mga litrato ni Greg Bituin Jr.
Huwebes, Hulyo 3, 2014
Ang vendor ba ay kapitalista o proletaryado?
ANG VENDOR BA AY KAPITALISTA O PROLETARYADO?
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
Utak-kapitalista, pero buhay proletaryado. Ganito nga ba maaaring ilarawan ang vendor?
Utak-kapitalista dahil nag-iisip sila ng tubo sa kanilang munting negosyo, tulad ng buy and sell na karaniwan nilang trabaho. Ngunit buhay proletaryado sila dahil wala silang pag-aaring mga pabrika, maliban sa kanilang mga paninda. Kadalasan sa kanila'y nakatira sa mga lugar ng iskwater, mga danger zones, dahil doon na ipinadpad ng tadhana.
Mga vendor silang nagsisikap maghanapbuhay ng marangal, nagtitinda-tinda upang tumubo lamang ng kakarampot. Kumbaga'y mga palpak silang kapitalista kung mahigit na silang sampung taon sa pagnenegosyo ay vendor pa rin, at walang sariling negosyong maipagmamalaki.
Nagsimula sa pagiging vendor ang mayayamang kapitalistang sina Henry Sy at Lucio Tan. Si Henry Sy ay nagsimula sa pagtitinda ng sapatos, at naitayo niya ang Shoe Mart. Si Lucio Tan naman ay nagsimula sa paggawa ng sigarilyo, at naitayo ang pabrika ng Fortune Tobacco.
Ngunit hindi lahat ng vendor ay ganito. Dahil bihira ang tulad nila. May gintong kamay ba sila sa paghawan ng landas tungo sa pag-unlad? Anong uri ng diskarte at anong klaseng utak mayroon sila upang marating ang kinalalagyan nila ngayon? Vendor noon, tycoon ngayon.
Karamihan ng mga vendor ngayon sa bansa ay nabubuhay sa sariling diskarte, buy-and-sell, pagbabakasakali upang makakain bawat araw at hindi magutom ang pamilya. Kilala ang Divisoria at Baclaran sa maraming vendor, na pati ang kalsada ay hindi na madaanan ng mga sasakyan dahil sa nakahambalang nilang paninda.
Dumating pa ang panahong ang mga vendor sa Kalakhang Maynila ay itinuring na animo'y may ketong. Ipinagbawal na sa kanila ang magtinda, itinaboy sa mga bangketang nagmistulang kanilang tindahan, sinusunog ang kanilang mga paninda upang hindi na makabalik muli sa lugar na pinagtitindahan nila. Idineklara sila ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), sa pamumuno ni Bayani Fernando, na mga hudyong dapat malipol. Kaya itinuring din nila si Bayani Fernando na Hitler.
Sa kasagsagan ng bakbakang ito laban sa mga vendor ay naitayo ang Metro Manila Vendors Alliance (MMVA) noong Agosto 30, 2002 sa UP Diliman. Nagkaisa ang mga vendor upang ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga kabuhayan, na siyang tama naman at marapat gawin. Dahil hindi sagot ang hindi pag-imik na kahit nasasaktan na ay oo na lang ng oo.
Kung ating susuriin, ang pagiging vendor ay usapin pa ng survival, usapin kung paano lalamnan ang tiyan ng pamilya bawat araw. Hindi pa ito usapin ng pag-hire ng mga trabahador para magtrabaho sa kanyang negosyo. Dahil usapin ito ng survival at dahil karaniwan ng mga vendor ay nakatira sa mga lugar ng iskwater o mahihirap, hindi pa sila ganap na kapitalista kahit kung mag-isip sila'y tulad ng kapitalista, magkaroon ng tubo ang kanilang pinuhunan. Biktima rin sila ng kapitalismo. Dahil kailangan nilang mabuhay sa ilalim ng umiiral na sistema, ang pagvevendor ang naisipan nilang trabaho. Wala man silang amo, matindi naman ang kotong sa kanila, dahil kung hindi sila magbibigay ng tong, hindi sila makakapagtinda sa lugar.
Sa ngayon, ang vendor ay maaaring ituring na bahagi ng proletaryado, o mga taong walang pribadong pag-aari maliban sa kanilang lakas-paggawa. Bagamat sila'y negosyo na ang nasa isip dahil kailangan nilang buhayin ang kanilang pamilya. Nagbabakasakaling sa pamamagitan ng negosyong ang puhunan ay sariling sikap at kaunting salapi ay magkaroon ng maayos na buhay ang kanilang mga anak sa pamamagitan ng marangal na paghahanapbuhay.
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
Utak-kapitalista, pero buhay proletaryado. Ganito nga ba maaaring ilarawan ang vendor?
Utak-kapitalista dahil nag-iisip sila ng tubo sa kanilang munting negosyo, tulad ng buy and sell na karaniwan nilang trabaho. Ngunit buhay proletaryado sila dahil wala silang pag-aaring mga pabrika, maliban sa kanilang mga paninda. Kadalasan sa kanila'y nakatira sa mga lugar ng iskwater, mga danger zones, dahil doon na ipinadpad ng tadhana.
Mga vendor silang nagsisikap maghanapbuhay ng marangal, nagtitinda-tinda upang tumubo lamang ng kakarampot. Kumbaga'y mga palpak silang kapitalista kung mahigit na silang sampung taon sa pagnenegosyo ay vendor pa rin, at walang sariling negosyong maipagmamalaki.
Nagsimula sa pagiging vendor ang mayayamang kapitalistang sina Henry Sy at Lucio Tan. Si Henry Sy ay nagsimula sa pagtitinda ng sapatos, at naitayo niya ang Shoe Mart. Si Lucio Tan naman ay nagsimula sa paggawa ng sigarilyo, at naitayo ang pabrika ng Fortune Tobacco.
Ngunit hindi lahat ng vendor ay ganito. Dahil bihira ang tulad nila. May gintong kamay ba sila sa paghawan ng landas tungo sa pag-unlad? Anong uri ng diskarte at anong klaseng utak mayroon sila upang marating ang kinalalagyan nila ngayon? Vendor noon, tycoon ngayon.
Karamihan ng mga vendor ngayon sa bansa ay nabubuhay sa sariling diskarte, buy-and-sell, pagbabakasakali upang makakain bawat araw at hindi magutom ang pamilya. Kilala ang Divisoria at Baclaran sa maraming vendor, na pati ang kalsada ay hindi na madaanan ng mga sasakyan dahil sa nakahambalang nilang paninda.
Dumating pa ang panahong ang mga vendor sa Kalakhang Maynila ay itinuring na animo'y may ketong. Ipinagbawal na sa kanila ang magtinda, itinaboy sa mga bangketang nagmistulang kanilang tindahan, sinusunog ang kanilang mga paninda upang hindi na makabalik muli sa lugar na pinagtitindahan nila. Idineklara sila ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), sa pamumuno ni Bayani Fernando, na mga hudyong dapat malipol. Kaya itinuring din nila si Bayani Fernando na Hitler.
Sa kasagsagan ng bakbakang ito laban sa mga vendor ay naitayo ang Metro Manila Vendors Alliance (MMVA) noong Agosto 30, 2002 sa UP Diliman. Nagkaisa ang mga vendor upang ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga kabuhayan, na siyang tama naman at marapat gawin. Dahil hindi sagot ang hindi pag-imik na kahit nasasaktan na ay oo na lang ng oo.
Kung ating susuriin, ang pagiging vendor ay usapin pa ng survival, usapin kung paano lalamnan ang tiyan ng pamilya bawat araw. Hindi pa ito usapin ng pag-hire ng mga trabahador para magtrabaho sa kanyang negosyo. Dahil usapin ito ng survival at dahil karaniwan ng mga vendor ay nakatira sa mga lugar ng iskwater o mahihirap, hindi pa sila ganap na kapitalista kahit kung mag-isip sila'y tulad ng kapitalista, magkaroon ng tubo ang kanilang pinuhunan. Biktima rin sila ng kapitalismo. Dahil kailangan nilang mabuhay sa ilalim ng umiiral na sistema, ang pagvevendor ang naisipan nilang trabaho. Wala man silang amo, matindi naman ang kotong sa kanila, dahil kung hindi sila magbibigay ng tong, hindi sila makakapagtinda sa lugar.
Sa ngayon, ang vendor ay maaaring ituring na bahagi ng proletaryado, o mga taong walang pribadong pag-aari maliban sa kanilang lakas-paggawa. Bagamat sila'y negosyo na ang nasa isip dahil kailangan nilang buhayin ang kanilang pamilya. Nagbabakasakaling sa pamamagitan ng negosyong ang puhunan ay sariling sikap at kaunting salapi ay magkaroon ng maayos na buhay ang kanilang mga anak sa pamamagitan ng marangal na paghahanapbuhay.
Biyernes, Hunyo 13, 2014
Mga vendor, nakiisa sa kilos-protesta laban sa katiwalian
MGA VENDOR, NAKIISA SA KILOS-PROTESTA LABAN SA KATIWALIAN
Nakiisa ang grupong Metro Manila Vendors Alliance (MMVA) sa panawagang
ikulong lahat ng sangkot sa porb barrel at mga nangurakot sa kaban ng
bayan. Sumama sila sa malawakang kilos-protesta nitong Hunyo 12, 2014,
mula sa Plasa Salamanca sa Kalaw Ave., hanggang sa Bonifacio Shrine sa
Mehan Garden sa Maynila. Kaunti man sila, kasama ang bulto ng grupong
Sanlakas, ang kanilang pakikiisa ay isa nang malaking hakbang tungo sa
panawagang totoong pagbabago sa lipunan. Nais din nilang magkaisa ang
kanilang sektor upang labanan ang katiwalian sa pamahalaan.
Ulat at mga litrato ni Greg Bituin Jr.
Martes, Hunyo 3, 2014
A priest on the plight of vendors and the poor
You shall not Kill - Be Compassionate
“You shall not kill” was what I told the police of Quezon City last May 22, 2014 when I saw them confiscating the stores of the poor at the Agham Road. Victims of the recent demolition they were only trying to eke out a living to survive. “This is a sidewalk and it is against the law, ” the police justified their action. “When you destroy their livelihood, you practically kill them, ” I answered back.
That incident was a good opportunity for me to confront the authorities because a few days back, while riding on a tricycle, I saw a pregnant woman who was running after her wares which were scattered by the police on the Agham road.
These incidents with government officials abusing the poor people have become a very common sight all over the country. There are no qualms of conscience even if these officials know that they are dealing with citizens who pay for their salaries through taxes and whom they vowed to serve. They select laws they can use and disregard laws that protect human rights because the poor could not afford to defend their rights.
The recent violent demolition in Agham brought home this point very well. The Constitution clearly provides that demolition has to be done in a “just and human manner”. The provisions of UDHA law, for all its defects, should have been followed conscientiously: there should be notice at least thirty days prior to eviction, adequate consultations, proper identification of all persons taking part in demolition, decent housing at affordable cost with basic services and employment opportunities. Moreover, the government was in full battle gear hitting even unarmed citizens and using powerful tear gas – all in the name of road widening but in reality to facilitate the business interests of the Ayalas. In Quezon City development means slow death to poor people.
Even until now NHA could not care less whether families who were left homeless continue to live under the heat of sun or under the rain. There are no more budgets they told the homeless. They are not even allowed to have tents over their heads during the day. The whole urban poor area is now like a Nazi concentration camp surrounded by wires and with more exits closed. What would happen if there would be a fire? Well, security of the land is more important than human beings. And to add insult to injury, they hired people of other faith who themselves lived in area as the security guards - divide and conquer technique. Many people have become numbed to this treatment. Or maybe the lull before a storm.
The government closes it eyes to the reality that demolition and relocation without job opportunities have always been a failure. It only causes intense suffering for the already suffering people. Many relocatees have sold their houses and are back to Manila just to have something to eat. The government does not see that its laws on land reform, contractualization and “libing” (living) wages, privatization, etc exclude the poor from the benefits of society and thus push them to squatting. Government sees only the high profits of business and their personal gains.
Pope Francis articulates it: “Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape. (Evangelii Gaudium, #53, underscoring supplied)
When I jogged around Agham Road last May 29, 2014 at 4:00 AM, I saw, to my surprise, some families whose houses were demolished sleeping on the sidewalk. As human beings endowed with human dignity, they have a right to shelter which should have been given them especially in a predominantly Christian country. But that is not the case. The government has gone into a demolition spree to clear Metro Manila of its half million squatter families and in the process pushing more and more people into grinding poverty which kills. Violence on the unarmed only convinces people that the government listens only to those with arms. This begets more killings.
The police and the military should never be used to crush the dignity of the poor for the moneyed and powerful but rather they should promote Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.
Last June 1, 2014 we had no electricity from 6:00 PM until 8:AM the next day. So many families had to endure the heat and mosquitoes. Would that happen if Agham were already be populated by the rich? Descrimination against the dignity of the poor has become so accepted that nobody seems to be bothered by it anymore.
Pope Francis who will be coming in the Philippines in 2015 reminds us : “We are called to care for the vulnerable of the earth”. (Evangelii Gaudium, 209). A compassionate Philippines will be the best welcome for him.
Fr. Pete Montallana – June 2, 2014
-On Exposure in Agham since March, 2014
My email: pinding2003@yahoo.com
“You shall not kill” was what I told the police of Quezon City last May 22, 2014 when I saw them confiscating the stores of the poor at the Agham Road. Victims of the recent demolition they were only trying to eke out a living to survive. “This is a sidewalk and it is against the law, ” the police justified their action. “When you destroy their livelihood, you practically kill them, ” I answered back.
That incident was a good opportunity for me to confront the authorities because a few days back, while riding on a tricycle, I saw a pregnant woman who was running after her wares which were scattered by the police on the Agham road.
 |
| Fr. Pete Montallana of Diocese of Infanta |
The recent violent demolition in Agham brought home this point very well. The Constitution clearly provides that demolition has to be done in a “just and human manner”. The provisions of UDHA law, for all its defects, should have been followed conscientiously: there should be notice at least thirty days prior to eviction, adequate consultations, proper identification of all persons taking part in demolition, decent housing at affordable cost with basic services and employment opportunities. Moreover, the government was in full battle gear hitting even unarmed citizens and using powerful tear gas – all in the name of road widening but in reality to facilitate the business interests of the Ayalas. In Quezon City development means slow death to poor people.
Even until now NHA could not care less whether families who were left homeless continue to live under the heat of sun or under the rain. There are no more budgets they told the homeless. They are not even allowed to have tents over their heads during the day. The whole urban poor area is now like a Nazi concentration camp surrounded by wires and with more exits closed. What would happen if there would be a fire? Well, security of the land is more important than human beings. And to add insult to injury, they hired people of other faith who themselves lived in area as the security guards - divide and conquer technique. Many people have become numbed to this treatment. Or maybe the lull before a storm.
The government closes it eyes to the reality that demolition and relocation without job opportunities have always been a failure. It only causes intense suffering for the already suffering people. Many relocatees have sold their houses and are back to Manila just to have something to eat. The government does not see that its laws on land reform, contractualization and “libing” (living) wages, privatization, etc exclude the poor from the benefits of society and thus push them to squatting. Government sees only the high profits of business and their personal gains.
Pope Francis articulates it: “Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape. (Evangelii Gaudium, #53, underscoring supplied)
When I jogged around Agham Road last May 29, 2014 at 4:00 AM, I saw, to my surprise, some families whose houses were demolished sleeping on the sidewalk. As human beings endowed with human dignity, they have a right to shelter which should have been given them especially in a predominantly Christian country. But that is not the case. The government has gone into a demolition spree to clear Metro Manila of its half million squatter families and in the process pushing more and more people into grinding poverty which kills. Violence on the unarmed only convinces people that the government listens only to those with arms. This begets more killings.
The police and the military should never be used to crush the dignity of the poor for the moneyed and powerful but rather they should promote Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.
Last June 1, 2014 we had no electricity from 6:00 PM until 8:AM the next day. So many families had to endure the heat and mosquitoes. Would that happen if Agham were already be populated by the rich? Descrimination against the dignity of the poor has become so accepted that nobody seems to be bothered by it anymore.
Pope Francis who will be coming in the Philippines in 2015 reminds us : “We are called to care for the vulnerable of the earth”. (Evangelii Gaudium, 209). A compassionate Philippines will be the best welcome for him.
Fr. Pete Montallana – June 2, 2014
-On Exposure in Agham since March, 2014
My email: pinding2003@yahoo.com
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