Video: Artists Converge at Anti-VFA Cultural Night

Video: Artists Converge at Anti-VFA Cultural Night

Posted using ShareThis

Message of Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino to the Filipino youth on the historical event of seating the first youth rep in Congress

Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.

Five years in the making for the country's sole youth sectoral party-list, but better late than never and victory is still sweet for all Filipino youth.

Kabataan Party-list, the largest youth party in the country, represented the youth sector in the 2007 elections. It was the second time for our organization to run in the party-list elections. In 2004, we ran under our previous name, Anak ng Bayan, and were among the top choices for party-list based on pre-election surveys. Anak ng Bayan, however, fell prey to massive cheating. A significant number of our votes were anomalously counted in favor of another party-list group, thus our change of name in the 2007 party-list elections.

Despite not winning, we went on with our advocacies and continued to carry on with our principles and general program of action with the help of our founding organizations, such as the National Union of Students of the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students and Anakbayan and other supporters nationwide and abroad.

Now, five years after our first electoral bid, Kabataan Party-list has finally secured a seat in the House of Representatives per SC GR No. 179271, promulgated April 29, 2009.

Now, we are happy to convey the message to all Filipino youth that the SC Resolution, in effect, has once again marked the youthâs rightful place in history by granting the first ever youth sectoral representation in the House of Representatives.

This is truly a historical event and we share this resounding victory to all Filipino youth who voted for and supported Kabataan Party-list. We are overwhelmed but more than ready to take on the task and challenge of being the sole voice of the youth in Congress.

We are youth from different walks of life. We have long-ago advocated for the youth to devote its intellect, energy and courage to building a better society devoid of corruption, inequality and social injustice. We are youth that foster active participation in nation-building, good governance and change.

In this junction in history in light of our recent victory, we, the youth, are change. Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.

We will uphold, promote and defend the interests of the youth to be able to harness our potential as a vital, albeit marginalized, sector in society.

The Filipino youth have always played a pivotal role in ushering in significant changes in history. We have always been at the forefront of uprisings and revolutions every time the social, political and economic conditions in society became too intolerable for Filipinos to endure.

It was young men and women who prevailed in the leadership and membership of the revolutionary army and other patriotic forces against Spanish colonialism, against US colonization, against Japanese fascism and against the puppet regimes in the Philippines.

It was also the Filipino youth who were the biggest marchers and rallyists during the historical First Quarter Storm of 1970, the people power uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986 and once again in the similar uprising that ousted the Estrada regime in 2001.

We are more than willing to take up the cudgels our forebears left us. Right now, a rotten system of governance and a severe global economic crisis confront us but we rise to the challenge of our times.

In the past eight years of the Arroyo administration, the youth has also always been amongst the most vigilant and vocal against issues of electoral fraud, corruption and plunder, human rights violations, tyranny and social injustice causing poverty, hunger and indecent living conditions to the people.

While we recognize that one year is too short a time in the House of Representatives, we pledge to work tenfold to efficiently and effectively bring our new brand of politics to Philippine government. To be able to fully realize this, we appeal to all Filipino youth to work hand-in-hand with us. We reiterate the need for active youth participation in nation-building and continue to rely on the strength and unity of the youth movement to reinforce our sole youth voice in Congress.

We will immediately register our opposition against charter change and join moves by other progressive party-lists to disqualify human rights violator Ret. Gen. Jovito Palparan from assuming party-list representation.

We are also now consulting with youth from different sectors to aid in our plans to immediately submit for legislation bills concerning youth empowerment in governance, employment for the 900,000 new graduates, and tuition fee hike moratorium, among others.

Finally, we look forward to bigger things that lie ahead in the future. It is the Arroyo administration's last year in office and the youth are anticipating and working for significant changes come 2010. As early as now, we pledge to work for a transparent and clean 2010 elections that will realize the youth's clamor for good governance and change. We are set to embark on a nationwide youth voters' registration and education campaign in the aim to collectively mobilize the broadest number of young Filipinos to register, vote, and guard the 2010 ballot.

Change is bound to happen if and when the youth strives for it.

Kabataan, maraming salamat!

Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.

Finally, Kabataan Party-list seats FIRST EVER youth sectoral representative in Congress!

The Supreme Court overturned the Panganiban formula as basis for allocation of seats for party-list groups, thus, consequently granting 32 more party-list representatives in Congress.

The SC justices were unanimous in their decision, raising the total number of party-list representatives from 22 to 54. The decision is immediately executory.

*reposted from adarna's attic

My recollection of the "The Final Set" - Eraserheads's Reunion Concert

The stars were shining really bright that night.

The brightest star shone as soon as I entered the open field. Video clips started to roll on screens positioned in strategic areas of the venue. The place was jam packed. It was a mixture of excitement, agitation and discomfort –this after we missed the chance to be at the VIP section. (My partner and I were three minutes late. Blame it on long queue at Reyes Barbeque. Our colleagues made it through the coveted section though).

After the video footages from Eraserheads’s glory days, lights dimmed. Everyone set their eyes on stage; obviously, it was a sign that the group will be coming out soon. There was no countdown. The crowd held their breaths for a moment, curious about the dramatic entrance the group might have prepared.

There were the fireworks, then their silhouette images. This stirred up the crowd. I was beaming with excitement! This is the first time that I’m going to see them perform live.

“Magasin” was the first song they performed, after which, Ely Buendia – to everyone’s delight, uttered “Name that tune!” as if implying “let’s see how well you still remember our songs.” They proceeded on performing songs in succession: “Walang Nagbago,” “Maling Akala,” “Maskara.”

A change in stage lights gave Ely the opportunity to take off his black jacket– revealing his familiar Pupil get up. After “Maskara,” Ely asked the crowd “Kumusta kayo?” and proceeded to play “Poor Man’s Grave” and “Waiting for the Bus.”

As soon as the song ended, Marcus Adoro took off his leather jacket. It was his turn to sing “Huwag Mo Nang Itanong” – reggae version. Raimund Marasigan, substituted by Jazz of Itchyworms in drums, danced gamely while playing the shaker. This was one of the highlights of the concert. It was a sight to behold. Ely was obviously interacting not just with the crowd but with his former band mates as well. I was too far from to stage to get a close glimpse of the person Ely addressed: “Ang bait mo!”

Then, it was Raimund’s turn to perform. He sang “Alkohol,” “Insomnia,” and “Slo Mo.” The crowd even cheered Raimund and Ely when the former went to the latter’s side and they did a funny antic.

The crowd didn’t fail to notice that Marcus changed his electric guitar to a cute pink Hello Kitty one.

“Torpedo” – performed by Ely – completed their first set.

The second set was composed of “Julie Tearjerky,” “Tikman,” “Wishing Wells,” and “Fine Time.” Eraserheads was in a more relaxed set-up. Ely was sitting comfortably in a sofa. Beside him was Marcus, Buddy was wearing a cool red shirt, and Raimund was wearing shades this time.

They went on to play their popular songs: “Pare Ko,” “Kailan,” “Back 2 Me,” “Trip to Jerusalem,” “Spoliarium,” and “Overdrive.”

Ely said goodbye to the crowd jokingly. After a few moments, the band played Superproxy with Ely requesting the crowd to shout for Francis Magalona. It was obviously a tribute for Francis M. Ely did the part Francis was supposed to perform.

When the band sang “Minsan,” everyone thought they would shed tears. They did not.

Then they played “Alapaap.”

Eheads did the chorus of “Kaleidoscope World” – this was how they did their tribute for Francis M. Obviously, they weren’t able to prepare a special tribute. It was understandable as Francis died a day before the concert.

When Huling El Bimbo reverberated through the air, it was a signal the concert is about to end. Emotions were so high that everyone would not have wanted it to end that fast. But, as everyone else had guessed, it was the last song. Fireworks spiced up the sky alongside stars that were shining even brighter. It definitely was a night to remember.

They closed the event with Ely thoroughly drenching the top of his old piano, which was used in their Sticker Happy album. He set it on fire, played the last few keys on it and officially bid the instrument goodbye after wrenching it into pieces.

The group gathered at the center of the stage and did their final bow.

When everyone has already accepted it was all over, the crowd, though wanting more of Eheads’s songs, lined up to the exit.

There were so many people outside the field. People just can’t get enough of the band. Some stereo cars were even playing Eheads’s songs.

Then Buddy went back on stage announcing “Di na ‘to kasama sa set.” Then they were all on stage once again.

THREE FOR THE ROAD. This really touched the crowd. The night wouldn’t end without them playing some of their most popular songs. They played “Ligaya,” “Sembreak,” and “Toyang.”

Then, it was really over.

It was a night worth remembering. This I will share with my nieces and with my future children.

I, myself, grew up playing some of their songs in my guitar when I was around 15 years old, I know, Eraserheads’s music will forever be a staple on my music playlist.

Now I know why my parents still continue to listen to songs by Frank Sinatra, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Nat King Cole.

GMA and her band of army

The reshuffling of the Arroyo government, where key positions were assigned to mostly generals, portends bigger things to come. The move bespeaks danger.

Whether she is paying debt to people responsible for her stay in power is out of the question. With desperate moves to change the constitution, GMA prepares her band of army to clear whatever obstacle comes her way to extending her term beyond 2010.

The fact that most of the appointees came from an institution whose reputation reeks of several cases of human rights violations -- political killings, and innumerable cases of enforced disappearances -- is highly questionable.

Remember Hermogenes Esperon Jr -- the then AFP chief of staff at the time Jonas Burgos was abducted by military men, the man behind the controversial ancestral
domain who several times said that "enemies of democracy shall be decimated."

Then there's former PNP Chief General Avelino Razon who's responsible for kidnapping Jun Lozada to suppress the latter from testifying against the First Family's involvement in the controversial ZTE broadband network deal. Razon, along with National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, is also responsible for the disinformation campaign against Prof. Jose Maria Sison.

Now, can we expect change to come? I say yes. To say expect a more repressive government is an understatement.

I am certain these people were appointed to make sure no amount of civilian upheaval can prevent GMA from pushing through with her agenda. As Inquirer aptly titled today's editorial: More militarization. Click here

Save our children's future, spare our country from Gloria's evil ways

New Year revelries are over but we must remember the unfinished tasks from the past year. Lawmakers, who are set to return to work on January 19, are expected to come out with a decision on the manner of changing the Constitution – either by constituent assembly or constitutional convention.

There is nothing to be joyful about. We must take bolder actions to foil Gloria Arroyo’s desperate moves to stay in power. Watch out for the signature drive Youth Act Now is set to launch. Let us gather our collective actions and let the people’s will prevail.

Photo courtesy of Newsbreak/Buck Pago

The Dictators by Pablo Neruda

An odor has remained among the sugarcane:
a mixture of blood and body, a penetrating
petal that brings nausea.
Between the coconut palms the graves are full
of ruined bones, of speechless death-rattles.
The delicate dictator is talking
with top hats, gold braid, and collars.
The tiny palace gleams like a watch
and the rapid laughs with gloves on
cross the corridors at times
and join the dead voices
and the blue mouths freshly buried.
The weeping cannot be seen, like a plant
whose seeds fall endlessly on the earth,
whose large blind leaves grow even without light.
Hatred has grown scale on scale,
blow on blow, in the ghastly water of the swamp,
with a snout full of ooze and silence