Wherever in the country or in the world we will be at that moment, let's all join the chorused prayer of a grateful nation right after the actual physical interment of former President Corazon Aquino thanking God for giving her to us as a living example of Filipino greatness and excellence, and vowing to persevere in the struggle for freedom. Composed by SanibDasal co-founder Ding Reyes (upon the idea of Galing Pilipino Movement Prsident Erly de Guzman, and in consultation with Kamalaysayan) and immediately sent out through various channels in the Internet, the prayer was also uploaded in this page of http://sanibdasal.8m.net/share.htm.
The prayer says in Filipino:
Isang Sama-samang Panalangin
Pagkatapos ng Paghihimlay kay
Pangulong Corazon C. Aquino
Nagpupugay po kami at nagpapasalamat / kay Ginang Corazon C. Aquino, / dati naming Pangulo, / na Inyong ibinigay sa amin / upang mabuhay nang huwaran / sa kadakilaan at galing ng Pilipino. //
Sa aming paghahatid sa kanya sa hantungang himlayan / ay taos-puso kaming nangangakong / matatag na itutuloy at isusulong pa / ang pagmithi at pagkakamit / ng ganap na kalayaan para sa aming Inang Bayan / na halos limang siglo nang pinaghaharian at sinisikil / ng mga gahamang kabalat at dayuhan. //
Taglay naming lakas / ang Inyong mapagpalang basbas, / at sa ami'y gagabay ang liwanag / ng Inyong Katotohanang Buháy // Nawa'y loobin po Ninyo / na magampanan namin ito. /
Translation:
"We salute and thank Ms. Corazon C. Aquino, our former President, who was Thy gift to us to be our living example of Filipino greatness and excellence.
"Now, as we have brought her to her final resting place, we express our heartfelt collective commitment to firmly persevere and even carry further forward our desire and full attainment of freedom for our Motherland, that has for almost five centuries suffered domination by greedy rulers both native and foreign.
"Thy blessings we shall carry as our strength, and we shall be guided well by Thy own Living Truth.
"Let this be willed for us to get it fulfilled."read MY BLOGS at http://readdingz.blogspot.com & view my books in on-line catalog, http://bookmakers-phils.8m.net. See also http://kamayanforum.8m.net; and http://sanibdasal.8m.net.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Let not Our Ranks be Divided – Sanib-Sining
The Sanib-Sining Movement for Synaesthetics seeks to express serious concern that the ranks of practicing artists are being divided over GMA’s acts of obvious abuse of discretion with the recent choice of the latest batch of National Artists, where her decisions removed one, clearly miscategorized another, and insensitively honored a government functionary in charge of an office involved in making the choices. Let not such abuse on the part of Arroyo cause further division among the ranks of people whose role in society is above that of mere partisan politicians like GMA is. Let art be above the reach of the lack of quality of politics in this country. Let us focus our righteous indignation on what are the misdeeds and who the real culprits are.
Quezon City, Philippines August 3, 2009
Quezon City, Philippines August 3, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
a KAMALAYSAYAN textbook coming?
Word reached me last night that i'm being considered for a commission to write a Philippine history textbook. a meeting with the publishers will soon be scheduled. Offhand i feel honored. But it will also be a worthwhile effort only if it's about the history that our citizenry needs to know.
Instead of what events happened in the past, it should rather focus on how have most of the people been living, and what factors determined it? what have been their patterns of thinking, behavior and interaction, and what factors determined them? how briefly or how long did those patterns last? what factors accounted for all the quick and the slow changes? what patterns of thinking, behavior and interaction are prevalent in our lives now? and what will they be in the coming decades and centuries?
Otherwise, my book would just be giving our students more trivia, more inconsequential details to memorize throughout a semester only to recall them only once -- during exams. Our sense of history should guide us, enlighten us with experiential lessons in our long paths toward upliftment and fulfillment, invigorate us with a well-deserved sense of pride as tempered by an honest sense of humility. Our collective sense of history should be the pillar of our collective sense of mission as a nation in the service of humanity. This is what Kamalaysayan exists for. This is what its members should be joining, and reamining in, this organization for.
Prof. Ed Aurelio C. "Ding" Reyes
Lead Founder and National Spokesman,
Kamalaysayan (Kaisahan sa Kamalayan sa Kasaysayan)
(Subic, Zambales 08-01-09)
Instead of what events happened in the past, it should rather focus on how have most of the people been living, and what factors determined it? what have been their patterns of thinking, behavior and interaction, and what factors determined them? how briefly or how long did those patterns last? what factors accounted for all the quick and the slow changes? what patterns of thinking, behavior and interaction are prevalent in our lives now? and what will they be in the coming decades and centuries?
Otherwise, my book would just be giving our students more trivia, more inconsequential details to memorize throughout a semester only to recall them only once -- during exams. Our sense of history should guide us, enlighten us with experiential lessons in our long paths toward upliftment and fulfillment, invigorate us with a well-deserved sense of pride as tempered by an honest sense of humility. Our collective sense of history should be the pillar of our collective sense of mission as a nation in the service of humanity. This is what Kamalaysayan exists for. This is what its members should be joining, and reamining in, this organization for.
Prof. Ed Aurelio C. "Ding" Reyes
Lead Founder and National Spokesman,
Kamalaysayan (Kaisahan sa Kamalayan sa Kasaysayan)
(Subic, Zambales 08-01-09)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
SONA- Showing Off the Nation's Ailments
It's show time today! show of force on one side; show of force on the other -- the show of fists vs. the show of firearms.
(Eight years ago, the holders of these firearms deserted their civilian commander-in-chief and deserted to the side of a new commander-in-chief who was sworn-in a full day later. There was no civilian supremacy in the day-long interim. No, they didn't have to admit having mounted a rebellion, a coup d'etat; after all, they were cheered by civilians, weren't they? and they won, didn't they?)
At the podium of the House, the overstaying usurper will recycle her fairy tales, albeit possibly with altered details. She can't repeat that story about a paper banca. Ibang drama naman, for this year's SONA. This will preferably her last one, but don't count on it.
Outside, the fists will seek to present the word from the sponsors -- those who foot the bill by handing over some trillions in taxes every year. As always, their voice will be ignored. But, as always, their trillions will be used to buy longevity in power.
Remember the Golden Rule: She who holds the gold rules. Because contrary to the expectations of dignity, some people can be bought. Like those that command firearms that point against the raised fists.
'Tis the annual show we're having today, ladies and gentlemen -- it's showtime!
I wonder which shows would really affect the daily lives of the farmers of the pilapil networks of the islands and the daily lives of the fisherfolks on these islands' edges! I wonder if any of these would really affect the daily lives of those who live on the edges of our society!
[07-27-09]
(Eight years ago, the holders of these firearms deserted their civilian commander-in-chief and deserted to the side of a new commander-in-chief who was sworn-in a full day later. There was no civilian supremacy in the day-long interim. No, they didn't have to admit having mounted a rebellion, a coup d'etat; after all, they were cheered by civilians, weren't they? and they won, didn't they?)
At the podium of the House, the overstaying usurper will recycle her fairy tales, albeit possibly with altered details. She can't repeat that story about a paper banca. Ibang drama naman, for this year's SONA. This will preferably her last one, but don't count on it.
Outside, the fists will seek to present the word from the sponsors -- those who foot the bill by handing over some trillions in taxes every year. As always, their voice will be ignored. But, as always, their trillions will be used to buy longevity in power.
Remember the Golden Rule: She who holds the gold rules. Because contrary to the expectations of dignity, some people can be bought. Like those that command firearms that point against the raised fists.
'Tis the annual show we're having today, ladies and gentlemen -- it's showtime!
I wonder which shows would really affect the daily lives of the farmers of the pilapil networks of the islands and the daily lives of the fisherfolks on these islands' edges! I wonder if any of these would really affect the daily lives of those who live on the edges of our society!
[07-27-09]
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Beauty of Nature Gallery
The beauty of nature is to be felt deeply, not only to be seen clearly.
Such beauty throbs in the magic of life that thrives in the extremes of tranquil simplicity and complex orchestration. Whenever your eyes feast on nature's beauty, you could almost hear the beating music, see the flowing dances, smell the fragrances, and savor the tastes, of all those abundant provisions for life to thrive, and thrive on forever, and enjoy every moment of beholding beauty.
Take time to stop and smell the flowers, or to tickle the cutest among the baby leaves... there's one at the end of every growing branch... Enjoy!
THIS IS THE CENTRAL MESSAGE of a recently launched by the GREEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES NERWORK (GFCN, formerly more known as the World Environment Day-Philippines Natwork), the TA-NOOD KALIKASAN (NatureWatch) Videos and Stills Gallery. Even without any videos yet, we have uploaded stills, beautiful phoyographs by photo artist Rex Deveratura of Sanib-Sining and SALIKA, and you may check it out and repeatedly enjoy at:
http://naturewatch.8m.net.
Such beauty throbs in the magic of life that thrives in the extremes of tranquil simplicity and complex orchestration. Whenever your eyes feast on nature's beauty, you could almost hear the beating music, see the flowing dances, smell the fragrances, and savor the tastes, of all those abundant provisions for life to thrive, and thrive on forever, and enjoy every moment of beholding beauty.
Take time to stop and smell the flowers, or to tickle the cutest among the baby leaves... there's one at the end of every growing branch... Enjoy!
THIS IS THE CENTRAL MESSAGE of a recently launched by the GREEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES NERWORK (GFCN, formerly more known as the World Environment Day-Philippines Natwork), the TA-NOOD KALIKASAN (NatureWatch) Videos and Stills Gallery. Even without any videos yet, we have uploaded stills, beautiful phoyographs by photo artist Rex Deveratura of Sanib-Sining and SALIKA, and you may check it out and repeatedly enjoy at:
http://naturewatch.8m.net.
Ang Alamat ng AkMa
Ang Alamat ng AkMa
Ating mga Ninuno sa Malaking Bangka
Ni Prof. Ed Aurelio C. Reyes
isinulat habang nag-aayuno sa Morong, Bataan laban sa
Plantang Nukleyar, Abril 13, 2009.
-
BALANGHAI ang tawag sa malalaking bangka, na naging mga lumulutang na tahanan ng malalaking pangkat, kadalasa’y mga angkan, ng mga ninuno ng kasalukuyang naninirahan sa malaperlas nating kapuluan sa gilid ng pinakamalawak na karagatan. Ayon sa mga nagsaliksik, sa ganitong sama-samang pamumuhay sa laot unang natutunan ng ating mga ninuno ang ugaling pagbabayanihan, ang sama-samang paggawa para sa sama-sama ring pakinabang.
Maglingkod sa kapwa nang walang hinihintay na materyal na kabayaran; ang tanging maaasahan ng tumutulong sa tinutulungan ay ang ganting-lingkod na palagian namang ipinagkakaloob. Hanggang ngayon, sa kalooban ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga lalawigan, ay malinaw na buháy pa ang diwa nito.
Hindi naman marahil ganito kaganda na kaagad ang pakikipamuhay ng ating mga ninuno sa isa’t isa, lalupa kung nagkahalo ang iba’t ibang angkan sa paglulan sa iisang malaking bangkang tahanan. Ang tiyak na katotohanan lamang, na alam ng lahat pati na mga batang nagsisimula pa lamang magkaisip, ay ito: Silang lahat na naglalakbay sa iisang lumulutang na tahanan ay may-tayâ sa ligtas na paglalakbay nito – nakataya ang kaligtasan nilang lahat, nakataya ang buhay nilang lahat. Ang di lamang nakakaalam nito ay ang mga sanggol na kasisilang pa lamang. Nakataya sa katatagan ng malaking bangka ang buhay nilang lahat! Sila’y nasa puso ng pinakamalawak na karagatan sa daigdig – kung paglubog ay maganap, walang makakaasa pang makaligtas. .Kahit hanggang sa mga sandali ng kanilang pagkahimbing, silang lahat nga ay May-Taya.
Ganito nga ang nangyari isang tahimik na gabi sa isang may katamtamang-laking balanghai. Nahihimbing noon ang karamihan at panatag sa pag-aakalang ito’y gabing karaniwan lamang, kagaya ng mga nauna. Malayo sa isip nila ang anumang sakuna. .
Ngunit napabanda pala sila sa isang bahagi ng karagatan na mabató at mababaw. Di sapat na mataas kaya’t kahit sa kasikatan ng araw ay di natatanaw. At may mga bato roon na katulad ay balaráw.
Hindi man sila sumadsad, kanilang gilid na lubog na sa pantay-dagat ay nahiwa at nabutas ng ilan sa batóng napakatalas, at agad na ang tubig-dagat ay nagsimulang pumasok, sa isang baligtad na pagtagas!
Ang kakaunting gising, ay di agad nakapansin, hanggang sa may karamihang tubig na ang nakapasok at napalaki na rin nito ang butas dahil sa lakas ng pagsirit ng tubig. Noon nalaman ng kakaunting gising na may malaki silang suliranin. Walang pagdadalawang-isip na tumalon sila sa pagkilos. May mga sumalok upang ang tubig sa pinagmulang dagat ay agad maibalik. May mga humanap sa butas at ng doo’y maipapasak. At may kinailangan pang humiwalay upang gisingin na ang mga walang kamalay-malay. .
Nahati sa Tatlo ang mga May-Taya!
Di man tinatakán, nagdalawang pangkat na noon ang mga may-taya – ang mga aktibong may-taya o akma na ubos pagod sa pagparo’t parito sa pagsasahod at pagtatapon, ang mga nagpapasak at naghahanap ng mas mainam at karagdagang pamasak, at ang mga nanggigising sa mga tulog pa, sa mga tulog na may-taya. Kailangan silang gisingin. Kailangan silang pakilusin sa pagharap sa malaking gawaing iligtas ang balanghai. Sila ang mga akma at ang mga tuma – aktibong may-taya, at tulog na may-taya.
Ngunit ang mga tuma ay may iba’t ibang naging tugon nang sila ay ginigising, nang sila ay tinatapik, hinahampas, yinuyugyog ng mga akma upang makatulong na sana agad sila.
Nagtagumpay naman ang mga akma sa panggigising sa halos lahat, kundi man sa lahat nga, at sila’y naging mga muma. Ang mga tulog na may-taya ay naging mga mulat na may-taya.
Kinailangan nga lamang sukuan ang mga imposible talagang gisingin pa – ang gisíng na ngunit patuloy na nagtutulug-tulugan pa. Mabagal na bumangon ang karamihan, at nang makabangon ay pinanood at pinalakpakan ang kasipagan ng mga akma, bagay na di naman kailangan ng mga ito. Sa panahong iyon, ang kailangan talaga’y gisíng na mga isip at buháy na mga kamay para mapagtulung-tulungan ngang harapin at lutasin ang napakabigat na suliranin nilang lahat, at nanganganib na nga ang buhay ng bawat isa.
Nang tumaas pa ang tubig-dagat sa loob ng malaking bangka, napilitan na ring bumangon ang dating mga nagtutulug-tulugan. At ang kanilang binitawang salita: “Dapat nating malaman at maparusahan ang mga may kasalanan kung kaya’t naganap ang sakuna! Nagambala tuloy tayo sa pagtulog na panatag at mapayapa!
Naistorbo tuloy ang buhay natin!” Di sila pinansin ng mga nakarinig, at sa halip ay inabután ng mga balde, at sinabihang “Magtrabaho na kayo! Kung di natin malutas ito, di lang pagkaistorbo ang aabutin ng buhay n’yo!” .
Nasaan ang Pag-asa ng Bansa?
Ano nga bang uri ng tao, ng pagkatao, ang nababagay humarap sa ganitong malaking pagsubok, isang problemang nakapagsasapanganib sa lahat ngunit kakaunti ang handang tumalon sa aksyon? Ang kailangan ay ang hindi magkakaila na sila’y may-taya, gising na’y magtutulug-tulugan pa. Ang kailangan ay ang akma sa kalagayang ganito – ang akma – ang aktibong may-taya!
Ngunit kung di sumapat ang bilang ng mga aktibong may-taya, kung marami pa ang maghihintay muna, “titingnan natin” muna, magdadahilan muna, wala rin – mamamatay rin silang lahat, at masasayang lamang ang kabayanihan ng mga mabilis na nagpasyang maging mga akma.
Sumapat naman yata, at tila di naman sila namatay lahat sa trahedyang iyon sa dagat. Kung namatay nga silang lahat ay sino ang nakapagkuwento ang naganap at maipasa-pasa bilang alamat?
Ito nga lamang ay hindi alamat na pangmadla na nagmula sa kwentuhan ng ating mga ninuno at ipinasa-pasa hanggang makarating sa panahong kasalukuyan. Ito ay alamat na kathang-isip lamang ng isang tao. Oo kathang-isip ko lamang ang “Alamat ng AkMa.” Hindi kapos sa talino ang mga ninuno natin para ang karamihan sa kanila’y mag-atubili pa muna bago tumalon sa aksyon, bago harapin nang sama-sama ang malaking kapinsalaan o matinding panganib sa kaligtasan at kapakanan ng lahat.
Matalino ang mga ninuno ng dakilang lahi, na ang kadakilaan nila’y nakilala ng lahat sa libu-libong taóng pagpapakatao at pakikipagkapwa-tao, bago napingasan ang mga ugali at gawi nito nang magsimulang manghimasok dito ang mga dayuhang mapangamkam nito na lamang huling kakalahating libong taón.
Ang totoo, naisip ko ang kwentong ito, batay sa asal ng marami ng ating mga kababayan ngayon – palaiwas sa sakripisyo para sa sama-sama nating kaligtasan at kapakanan, paladaíng ngunit ayaw namang kumilos para mapagtulungang malutas ang mga idinadaing; matatakutín sa paninindak ng mala¬lakas kaya ayaw mangahas na sumama sa pagbubuo ng pagkakaisa ng sambayanan na lubha sanang mas malakas sa malalakas (naduduwag na nga ba ang mga anak ni Lapu-Lapu?); nasisilaw sa kwarta at nagbebenta ng kaluluwa, kundi man nangungunsinti pa lalo sa kaibigan, ngunit kaytigas kung manisi sa mga “korap.”
Buti na lamang, nasimulan na ang pagbabangon ng sambayanan sa ganitong laganap na mga kahinaan. May ilang nakapagsimula nang maglatag ng mga pangkat sa mga komunidad upang itayo ang ating bagumbayan. Bago mangalahating milenyo ang pagpasok ng Kastila, malaki na ang maaabot nito!
Ang karapatdapat lamang na mapabilang, o maaanyayahan man lamang na mapabilang, sa kapatirang ito ng ating bagumbayan ay ang mga Pilipinong may sapat na kagandahang-loob at lakas ng loob upang ganap na magpakatao at makipagkapwa-tao. Itatayo na, sa wakas, ang bagumbayan na kaytagal nang minithi at ipinagbuwis pa ng pawis at buhay ng mga naunang bayani ng ating dakilang lahi.
Tatatag, dadami at mahigpit na magbubuklod ang mga AkMa. Sila ay magtataglay ng diwa at asal, ng Kulturang AkMa, sapagkat “Nasa AkMa ang pag-aasa ng bawat pamayanan, at ng Sangkatauhan.
Nasa mga Aktibong Maytaya ang pag-asa ng bansa!”
Batay sa mga AkMa, magsasanib-lakas ang Pilipinas!
Ating mga Ninuno sa Malaking Bangka
Ni Prof. Ed Aurelio C. Reyes
isinulat habang nag-aayuno sa Morong, Bataan laban sa
Plantang Nukleyar, Abril 13, 2009.
-
BALANGHAI ang tawag sa malalaking bangka, na naging mga lumulutang na tahanan ng malalaking pangkat, kadalasa’y mga angkan, ng mga ninuno ng kasalukuyang naninirahan sa malaperlas nating kapuluan sa gilid ng pinakamalawak na karagatan. Ayon sa mga nagsaliksik, sa ganitong sama-samang pamumuhay sa laot unang natutunan ng ating mga ninuno ang ugaling pagbabayanihan, ang sama-samang paggawa para sa sama-sama ring pakinabang.
Maglingkod sa kapwa nang walang hinihintay na materyal na kabayaran; ang tanging maaasahan ng tumutulong sa tinutulungan ay ang ganting-lingkod na palagian namang ipinagkakaloob. Hanggang ngayon, sa kalooban ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga lalawigan, ay malinaw na buháy pa ang diwa nito.
Hindi naman marahil ganito kaganda na kaagad ang pakikipamuhay ng ating mga ninuno sa isa’t isa, lalupa kung nagkahalo ang iba’t ibang angkan sa paglulan sa iisang malaking bangkang tahanan. Ang tiyak na katotohanan lamang, na alam ng lahat pati na mga batang nagsisimula pa lamang magkaisip, ay ito: Silang lahat na naglalakbay sa iisang lumulutang na tahanan ay may-tayâ sa ligtas na paglalakbay nito – nakataya ang kaligtasan nilang lahat, nakataya ang buhay nilang lahat. Ang di lamang nakakaalam nito ay ang mga sanggol na kasisilang pa lamang. Nakataya sa katatagan ng malaking bangka ang buhay nilang lahat! Sila’y nasa puso ng pinakamalawak na karagatan sa daigdig – kung paglubog ay maganap, walang makakaasa pang makaligtas. .Kahit hanggang sa mga sandali ng kanilang pagkahimbing, silang lahat nga ay May-Taya.
Ganito nga ang nangyari isang tahimik na gabi sa isang may katamtamang-laking balanghai. Nahihimbing noon ang karamihan at panatag sa pag-aakalang ito’y gabing karaniwan lamang, kagaya ng mga nauna. Malayo sa isip nila ang anumang sakuna. .
Ngunit napabanda pala sila sa isang bahagi ng karagatan na mabató at mababaw. Di sapat na mataas kaya’t kahit sa kasikatan ng araw ay di natatanaw. At may mga bato roon na katulad ay balaráw.
Hindi man sila sumadsad, kanilang gilid na lubog na sa pantay-dagat ay nahiwa at nabutas ng ilan sa batóng napakatalas, at agad na ang tubig-dagat ay nagsimulang pumasok, sa isang baligtad na pagtagas!
Ang kakaunting gising, ay di agad nakapansin, hanggang sa may karamihang tubig na ang nakapasok at napalaki na rin nito ang butas dahil sa lakas ng pagsirit ng tubig. Noon nalaman ng kakaunting gising na may malaki silang suliranin. Walang pagdadalawang-isip na tumalon sila sa pagkilos. May mga sumalok upang ang tubig sa pinagmulang dagat ay agad maibalik. May mga humanap sa butas at ng doo’y maipapasak. At may kinailangan pang humiwalay upang gisingin na ang mga walang kamalay-malay. .
Nahati sa Tatlo ang mga May-Taya!
Di man tinatakán, nagdalawang pangkat na noon ang mga may-taya – ang mga aktibong may-taya o akma na ubos pagod sa pagparo’t parito sa pagsasahod at pagtatapon, ang mga nagpapasak at naghahanap ng mas mainam at karagdagang pamasak, at ang mga nanggigising sa mga tulog pa, sa mga tulog na may-taya. Kailangan silang gisingin. Kailangan silang pakilusin sa pagharap sa malaking gawaing iligtas ang balanghai. Sila ang mga akma at ang mga tuma – aktibong may-taya, at tulog na may-taya.
Ngunit ang mga tuma ay may iba’t ibang naging tugon nang sila ay ginigising, nang sila ay tinatapik, hinahampas, yinuyugyog ng mga akma upang makatulong na sana agad sila.
Nagtagumpay naman ang mga akma sa panggigising sa halos lahat, kundi man sa lahat nga, at sila’y naging mga muma. Ang mga tulog na may-taya ay naging mga mulat na may-taya.
Kinailangan nga lamang sukuan ang mga imposible talagang gisingin pa – ang gisíng na ngunit patuloy na nagtutulug-tulugan pa. Mabagal na bumangon ang karamihan, at nang makabangon ay pinanood at pinalakpakan ang kasipagan ng mga akma, bagay na di naman kailangan ng mga ito. Sa panahong iyon, ang kailangan talaga’y gisíng na mga isip at buháy na mga kamay para mapagtulung-tulungan ngang harapin at lutasin ang napakabigat na suliranin nilang lahat, at nanganganib na nga ang buhay ng bawat isa.
Nang tumaas pa ang tubig-dagat sa loob ng malaking bangka, napilitan na ring bumangon ang dating mga nagtutulug-tulugan. At ang kanilang binitawang salita: “Dapat nating malaman at maparusahan ang mga may kasalanan kung kaya’t naganap ang sakuna! Nagambala tuloy tayo sa pagtulog na panatag at mapayapa!
Naistorbo tuloy ang buhay natin!” Di sila pinansin ng mga nakarinig, at sa halip ay inabután ng mga balde, at sinabihang “Magtrabaho na kayo! Kung di natin malutas ito, di lang pagkaistorbo ang aabutin ng buhay n’yo!” .
Nasaan ang Pag-asa ng Bansa?
Ano nga bang uri ng tao, ng pagkatao, ang nababagay humarap sa ganitong malaking pagsubok, isang problemang nakapagsasapanganib sa lahat ngunit kakaunti ang handang tumalon sa aksyon? Ang kailangan ay ang hindi magkakaila na sila’y may-taya, gising na’y magtutulug-tulugan pa. Ang kailangan ay ang akma sa kalagayang ganito – ang akma – ang aktibong may-taya!
Ngunit kung di sumapat ang bilang ng mga aktibong may-taya, kung marami pa ang maghihintay muna, “titingnan natin” muna, magdadahilan muna, wala rin – mamamatay rin silang lahat, at masasayang lamang ang kabayanihan ng mga mabilis na nagpasyang maging mga akma.
Sumapat naman yata, at tila di naman sila namatay lahat sa trahedyang iyon sa dagat. Kung namatay nga silang lahat ay sino ang nakapagkuwento ang naganap at maipasa-pasa bilang alamat?
Ito nga lamang ay hindi alamat na pangmadla na nagmula sa kwentuhan ng ating mga ninuno at ipinasa-pasa hanggang makarating sa panahong kasalukuyan. Ito ay alamat na kathang-isip lamang ng isang tao. Oo kathang-isip ko lamang ang “Alamat ng AkMa.” Hindi kapos sa talino ang mga ninuno natin para ang karamihan sa kanila’y mag-atubili pa muna bago tumalon sa aksyon, bago harapin nang sama-sama ang malaking kapinsalaan o matinding panganib sa kaligtasan at kapakanan ng lahat.
Matalino ang mga ninuno ng dakilang lahi, na ang kadakilaan nila’y nakilala ng lahat sa libu-libong taóng pagpapakatao at pakikipagkapwa-tao, bago napingasan ang mga ugali at gawi nito nang magsimulang manghimasok dito ang mga dayuhang mapangamkam nito na lamang huling kakalahating libong taón.
Ang totoo, naisip ko ang kwentong ito, batay sa asal ng marami ng ating mga kababayan ngayon – palaiwas sa sakripisyo para sa sama-sama nating kaligtasan at kapakanan, paladaíng ngunit ayaw namang kumilos para mapagtulungang malutas ang mga idinadaing; matatakutín sa paninindak ng mala¬lakas kaya ayaw mangahas na sumama sa pagbubuo ng pagkakaisa ng sambayanan na lubha sanang mas malakas sa malalakas (naduduwag na nga ba ang mga anak ni Lapu-Lapu?); nasisilaw sa kwarta at nagbebenta ng kaluluwa, kundi man nangungunsinti pa lalo sa kaibigan, ngunit kaytigas kung manisi sa mga “korap.”
Buti na lamang, nasimulan na ang pagbabangon ng sambayanan sa ganitong laganap na mga kahinaan. May ilang nakapagsimula nang maglatag ng mga pangkat sa mga komunidad upang itayo ang ating bagumbayan. Bago mangalahating milenyo ang pagpasok ng Kastila, malaki na ang maaabot nito!
Ang karapatdapat lamang na mapabilang, o maaanyayahan man lamang na mapabilang, sa kapatirang ito ng ating bagumbayan ay ang mga Pilipinong may sapat na kagandahang-loob at lakas ng loob upang ganap na magpakatao at makipagkapwa-tao. Itatayo na, sa wakas, ang bagumbayan na kaytagal nang minithi at ipinagbuwis pa ng pawis at buhay ng mga naunang bayani ng ating dakilang lahi.
Tatatag, dadami at mahigpit na magbubuklod ang mga AkMa. Sila ay magtataglay ng diwa at asal, ng Kulturang AkMa, sapagkat “Nasa AkMa ang pag-aasa ng bawat pamayanan, at ng Sangkatauhan.
Nasa mga Aktibong Maytaya ang pag-asa ng bansa!”
Batay sa mga AkMa, magsasanib-lakas ang Pilipinas!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Old Wisdom from an Old Friend
I am not calling him an Old Friend because he's old; rather, because our friendship is old. And during the many years after lost contact, i would occasionally hear vague kwentos about him being terribly ill, which would always i would be saddened. Part of the kwento i heard rather early in that period was that he had transerred residence -- of my old friend very sick; as i've also been on and off, and i don't know where to find him and we might never see each other again.
Last week, in the library of the school where i teach, i came upon a page of the Inquirer that carried a letter to the editor from him. It identified him as the spokesman of a Movement for Truth in History, and two content words in that organizational name resonated well with as many among my favorite advocacies, as co-founding secretary-general of the Consumers and Communicators for Truthful Information (CCTI) and Kamalaysayan Solidarity on Sense of History. The signature part of the letter even carried his e-mail address! Wow!
Nahanap ko na uli si Kuya Maning Almario!
Of course it made me so glad to have gotten the info on how to reconnect with our indefatigable floor leader of the annual assemblies of the National Press Club of decades ago. And it gladenned me more to read his letter, showing me the clearest indicator that his Old Wisdom still shines clearly through his writing. It is definitely great wisdom to assert, sans any equivocation, not even a tinge of apologetic qualification, the incontrovertible truth that the Philippines has to have our own industrialization in order to stop and reverse our accelerating plunge to economic abyss. Kuya Maning asserts the truth that has remained valid despite the moderately-successful drive of deception to discredit nationalism and patriotism especially in economics.
Most of us Filipinos who do have big reasons to groan and complain about worsening woes in our economic lives as individuals and as families, sad to say, stop at groaning and complaining, and even harbor, or worse, spread the confusion that our economic predicament has been caused by high-level corruption and the groans and complaints get mixed with invectives thrown at the most visible enemies of the people, adding the wish that they be replaced in the corridors of power by opposition politicians (who would likely continue with suicidal and pro-foreign economic policies). All serious advocates of economic upliftment with the defense of what is still left of our patrmony ought to read Almario's letter, And because it might be difficult to look for a copy of PDI's July 15, 2009 issue, i encode hereunder this letter from my Old 'Friend, Atty. Manuel F. Almario. I hope my former student Dr. Ernesto R. Gonzales, Ph.D., who heads the National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA, now approaching its 75th founding anniversarythis November) and all members, past members, and future members of that consistently-nationalist economic organization, would intently read Atty. Almario's letter and find ways to get is disseminated among as many other people as possible. Here's the letter:
Industrialization as key to development
None of the presidential candidates for the 2010 elections has mentioned industrialization as a plank of his or her program of government. This is tragic. No countyy in the world has become prosperous without industrialization without industrialization. Under an agricultural economy, our people will be condemned to perpetual poverty. This is the lesson of history.
"In Europe and North America, countries had gone through a process, lasting in some cases more than a century, in which most workers had left agriculture (and rural areas) and became industrial ... This structural change was seen as the key element in rising incomes and national power." ["The end of the Third World: Newly Industrializing Countries and the Decline of Ideology" by Nigel Harris]
In his book, "The Reign of Greed," Dr. Jose Rizal, through the main protagonist, Don Simoun, gave a trenchant piece of advice on how the Phiippines could prosper. During a party thrown by a wealthy Chinese , a group of merchants who had been complaining just how bad business was,asked Simoun, a well-travelled gentleman, for his opinion on how the Philippines could prosper. "My opinion?" Simoun huffed. "Study how other nations prosper, and then do as they do." (Translation by Charles E. Derbyshire.)
Rizal, who had been to Europe, the United States and Japan, knew that these countries were "advanced" precisely because they were industrialized.
japan, a latecomer, rose to the ranks of the advanced countries by studying how Europe and the United States prospered, and by copying them. The newly industrialized countried countries (NICs) like South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and China, all folllowed the Japanese path.
The constitution of the La Liga Filipina which Rizal founded provided that the "The introduction of machines and industries new or necessary in the country, shall be favored." This policy was followed by the Commonwealth government under President Quezon, and implemented by Quirino, Magsaysay and Garcia, until it was scrapped by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's father, President Diosdado Macapagal, in favor of free trade, liberalization and privatization, dictated by the Washington Consensus and the IMF-World Bank.
Under the theoretical model devised by these Western institutions, our country fell to the bottom of the heap. Under the regime of industrialization, exchange controls and protectionism adopted by the industrialized countries in similar stages of development, the Philippines advanced second only to Japan in economic growth in Asia.
We shoud learn to measure development by the results.
--MANUEL F. ALMARIO
Spokesman, Movement for Truth in History (Rizal's MOTH)
mfalmario@yahoo.com
Last week, in the library of the school where i teach, i came upon a page of the Inquirer that carried a letter to the editor from him. It identified him as the spokesman of a Movement for Truth in History, and two content words in that organizational name resonated well with as many among my favorite advocacies, as co-founding secretary-general of the Consumers and Communicators for Truthful Information (CCTI) and Kamalaysayan Solidarity on Sense of History. The signature part of the letter even carried his e-mail address! Wow!
Nahanap ko na uli si Kuya Maning Almario!
Of course it made me so glad to have gotten the info on how to reconnect with our indefatigable floor leader of the annual assemblies of the National Press Club of decades ago. And it gladenned me more to read his letter, showing me the clearest indicator that his Old Wisdom still shines clearly through his writing. It is definitely great wisdom to assert, sans any equivocation, not even a tinge of apologetic qualification, the incontrovertible truth that the Philippines has to have our own industrialization in order to stop and reverse our accelerating plunge to economic abyss. Kuya Maning asserts the truth that has remained valid despite the moderately-successful drive of deception to discredit nationalism and patriotism especially in economics.
Most of us Filipinos who do have big reasons to groan and complain about worsening woes in our economic lives as individuals and as families, sad to say, stop at groaning and complaining, and even harbor, or worse, spread the confusion that our economic predicament has been caused by high-level corruption and the groans and complaints get mixed with invectives thrown at the most visible enemies of the people, adding the wish that they be replaced in the corridors of power by opposition politicians (who would likely continue with suicidal and pro-foreign economic policies). All serious advocates of economic upliftment with the defense of what is still left of our patrmony ought to read Almario's letter, And because it might be difficult to look for a copy of PDI's July 15, 2009 issue, i encode hereunder this letter from my Old 'Friend, Atty. Manuel F. Almario. I hope my former student Dr. Ernesto R. Gonzales, Ph.D., who heads the National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA, now approaching its 75th founding anniversarythis November) and all members, past members, and future members of that consistently-nationalist economic organization, would intently read Atty. Almario's letter and find ways to get is disseminated among as many other people as possible. Here's the letter:
Industrialization as key to development
None of the presidential candidates for the 2010 elections has mentioned industrialization as a plank of his or her program of government. This is tragic. No countyy in the world has become prosperous without industrialization without industrialization. Under an agricultural economy, our people will be condemned to perpetual poverty. This is the lesson of history.
"In Europe and North America, countries had gone through a process, lasting in some cases more than a century, in which most workers had left agriculture (and rural areas) and became industrial ... This structural change was seen as the key element in rising incomes and national power." ["The end of the Third World: Newly Industrializing Countries and the Decline of Ideology" by Nigel Harris]
In his book, "The Reign of Greed," Dr. Jose Rizal, through the main protagonist, Don Simoun, gave a trenchant piece of advice on how the Phiippines could prosper. During a party thrown by a wealthy Chinese , a group of merchants who had been complaining just how bad business was,asked Simoun, a well-travelled gentleman, for his opinion on how the Philippines could prosper. "My opinion?" Simoun huffed. "Study how other nations prosper, and then do as they do." (Translation by Charles E. Derbyshire.)
Rizal, who had been to Europe, the United States and Japan, knew that these countries were "advanced" precisely because they were industrialized.
japan, a latecomer, rose to the ranks of the advanced countries by studying how Europe and the United States prospered, and by copying them. The newly industrialized countried countries (NICs) like South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and China, all folllowed the Japanese path.
The constitution of the La Liga Filipina which Rizal founded provided that the "The introduction of machines and industries new or necessary in the country, shall be favored." This policy was followed by the Commonwealth government under President Quezon, and implemented by Quirino, Magsaysay and Garcia, until it was scrapped by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's father, President Diosdado Macapagal, in favor of free trade, liberalization and privatization, dictated by the Washington Consensus and the IMF-World Bank.
Under the theoretical model devised by these Western institutions, our country fell to the bottom of the heap. Under the regime of industrialization, exchange controls and protectionism adopted by the industrialized countries in similar stages of development, the Philippines advanced second only to Japan in economic growth in Asia.
We shoud learn to measure development by the results.
--MANUEL F. ALMARIO
Spokesman, Movement for Truth in History (Rizal's MOTH)
mfalmario@yahoo.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
