#ang bayan

[connorthemaoist]

March 21, 2024 | Ang Bayan

Desperate to “finish off” the revolutionary armed resistance of the Filipino people, the US-Marcos regime’s armed tentacles is carrying out a rampant terrorist and fascist rampage throughout the country. Marcos and the AFP are set to make one false declaration after another that provinces have become “insurgency-free,” especially in areas that have long been targets of foreign corporations for mining, plantation and energy projects. At the behest of US imperialism, the AFP is also in a hurry to “end” the armed struggle of the Filipino people so that the US military can fully employ the AFP in its war of provocation against China which is likely to intensify in the coming year.

Marcos and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have recently ordered an all-out war. The declared aim of this war is to dismantle all NPA guerrilla fronts by the end of March, destroy all NPA combat units by the end of June, and destroy all regional Party committees before the end of the year. Thousands of military troops, alongside police combat troops and tens of thousands of paramilitaries armed by the AFP, have been dispatched to ravage the countryside.

Hundreds of villages are being garrisoned by Marcos’ fascist minions. Oppressive soldiers are controlling people’s lives and livelihoods, silencing them and trampling on their rights and freedoms. Checkpoints and food blockades, prohibiting people from working in their fields or swidden farms, armed soldiers occupying barangay centers, going house to house and forcing people to “surrender,” harassing young women or even married women, all-night drinking, beatings and altercations, indiscriminate firing of guns—this is how people perceive the rotten soldiers. Amid drought and disasters, fascist soldiers are like pests who bring nothing but disaster to their communities.

Using powerful weapons such as drones and jetfighters, helicopters and howitzers, Marcos’s terrorist soldiers are bombing mountains and fields, indiscriminately firing night or day, destroying the forests and poisoning waters, shattering the peace and causing deep trauma to the people, especially children, pregnant women and the elderly. These result in unnecessary number of lives lost, contrary to all principles and laws of civilized warfare.

The evil aim of Marcos is to instill fear in the hearts of the people and force them prostrate while allowing their land to be grabbed by big foreign capitalists and their partner comprador bourgeoisie and big landlords. But instead of falling on the ground, the people are more and more roused to stand up and fight, and tread the path of armed revolution.

In the guerrilla fronts across the country, the units of the New People’s Army (NPA) continue to enjoy deep and widespread support from the peasant masses. Military officers of the AFP and the reactionary state are furious that despite their intensified all-out war which has lasted for almost seven years, the peasant masses continue to provide political and material support to the Red fighters. Young farmers, as well as young students, workers, as well as professionals continue to join the people’s army.

The people’s desire to carry forward the armed struggle continues to burn. Amid fascist attacks perpetrated by the armed minions of the US-Marcos regime, and oppressive policies that worsen their plight, it is becoming clearer to the minds and consciousness of the peasant masses that they completely have nothing if they do not have the New People’s Army on their side to defend their lives and rights, and to fight with for their land and livelihood.

In recent years, the NPA has suffered losses and setbacks in various parts of the country due to the errors and weaknesses of conservatism and complacency with its previous accomplishments. Instead of boldly treading the path of continuous expansion and invigoration of the armed struggle, the scope and mass base of guerrilla units were reduced, and units became passive and vulnerable to enemy encirclement. Under the guidance of and inspired by the Party, the NPA is determined to rectify errors and move forward on the path of strengthening and galvanizing the people’s war.

In the spirit of the rectification movement, the NPA must more vigorously wage armed struggle in all parts of the country. Utilizing the broad mass movement in guerrilla warfare, they must use all weapons—guns and rocks, spears and punji traps, shotguns and landmines—and carry out large or small tactical offensives that can be won against weak and isolated parts of the enemy. Strike at the enemy’s fascist troops and all its tentacles by way of rendering justice for the people and inspiring their resistance. Only by waging widespread armed resistance can the NPA consolidate, overcome setbacks and strengthen.

Since its establishment, five and a half decades ago, the NPA has served as the true people’s army in promoting the revolutionary aspirations of the Filipino people for national democracy. On its coming anniversary on March 29, let us celebrate its accomplishments for the past 55 years, pay tribute to all the martyrs and heroes, and reaffirm the determination to advance the protracted people’s war, without fear of sacrifices and hardships, to achieve ultimate victory in the future.

#revolution #maoism #communism #revolutionary #marxism leninism maoism #communist #maoist #marxism #mlm #the philippines #pw #ang bayan #cpp

[pettybourgeoisculturalreform]

#Ang Bayan #philippines #febuary

[thegreatdeprussian]

what's philippines' relationship with faith?

Yup, I have hwspirilovebot for seatalia but that's alright! I can answer asks here too

And this news right here sums up Filipino faith:

Okay but jokes aside, Piri is definitely religious and superstitious. Spiritual? Hmmm. He will get there one day. Besides, how Piri's relationship with faith is viewed depends on his age. Here's an oversimplified timeline of what religions dominated the PH archipelago through the centuries:

Ancient: Animism

800s: Buddhism and Hinduism

1300s: Islam

1500s: Christianity

Modern: Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism from Chinese and Indian immigrants, Judaism from Jewish refugees, more Christian denominations, etc.

Some headcanon that Piri is a representation of a precolonial chiefdom, for example, if he was Sugbu (modern day Cebu), he would be practicing a combination of Animism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, before being baptised as a Roman Catholic in the 1500s. If he was Maynila, then it would be the aforementioned 3 with Islam (but he still ate pork in that era, lmao). Some also headcanon that Piri was born in 1521 when Magellan gifted Rajah Humabon with the Santo Niño upon the latter's baptism, and in that case, his relationship with faith will also be different (@sweaty-clouds can expound on this better than I do 🤧)

I view that Piri was born due to the intramarriages and intramigration within the archipelago that came to be known as the Philippines. I have no specific date yet, but it's sometime in the 1300s or earlier.

There are tons of belief systems in the country, different set of Deities and Anitos for every ethnolinguistic group and indigenous group. Some are remembered, many are forgotten. Not all are worshipped as the dominant religions are monotheistic.

The Philippines is a Roman Catholic-dominant (but under the constitution, the church and the state are separate, and you are free to practice your religion), and my Piri practiced it under Spanish colonization until today. Discrimination against indigenous people and Muslims are rampant, and Christian denominations fight each other on who worships God better and who goes to Heaven (spoilers: none of you)

Now, faith.

Faith in Tagalog has many words but the one I hear the most in churches is "sampalataya" which came from the Sanskrit word, sampratyaya (सम्प्रत्यय). We often use Diyos but when reading folklores, you will regularly come across the word Bathala which also came from Sanskrit: Batthara (भट्टार). Our fairies, Diwata, came from Sanskrit as well: Devata (देवता). Despite the dominance of Catholic faith, the Hindu-Buddhist roots are still present. Other precolonial anitist beliefs such as dancing the Obando Fertility Rites are also still practiced. We politely say excuse me (tabi-tabi po) when hiking in forests in the belief that it is the realm of spiritual entities or that the environment itself has spirits.

My version of Piri grew up practicing many belief systems, depending on which personification was his assigned guardian, but if you want to survive, you have to assimilate to the dominant culture. He was definitely a sacristan, until he became a revolutionary. He still prays, attends the mass, volunteers in the church, and participates in holy days and feasts for almost every saint today.

He doesn't sweep the floor at night as it sweeps away luck, and maybe it's just a coincidence that the Goddess Lakshmi will walk out of your house if you sweep your place after sunset. He wears an agimat or anting-anting (amulet) and despite having a medical degree, he still carries a lana (a concoction of oil and herbs to ward off evil entities). He can exorcise demons and drive away tiktik (that baby-eating monster targetting pregnant women) too. Perhaps he has an altar in his house that has both the crucifix and a Buddha statue. Oh, and he still gives babies that red and black beaded bracelet and the red pouch for protection. Pwera Usog or Pwera Buyag! (Fuera Curse, to repel a hex)

Piri's not agnostic, but he sure rolls his eyes during homilies when the priests shuns people who believes in precolonial or pagan beliefs, and he definitely cringes at fuccboys who have John 3:16 in their bio.

What else did I miss? Piri's Catholic guilt? The way my dad did the sign of the cross in front of a giant Buddha statue when we went to Thailand? or one of my friends visiting my other friend's condo and saying "Yup. This is bad Fung Shui", but there's a rosary on his doorknob so it balances out

There are tons of mythological creatures too, and the babaylan who was demonized and now referred to as a mangkukulam, but my brain is just not braining at the moment and I feel like I answered more about religion rather than faith but I still hope this still answers your question, anon.

TLDR: Folk Christianity, but this needs more thoughts from Filipinos of other religions

#hetalia #hetalia world stars #hws philippines #hetalia headcanons #deprussing answers #kung tuyo na ang luha mo aking bayan #hetalia philippines

[caleohateclub]

KATHNIEEELLLLLL ANO BAYAYAAAAANANANANANANANA.

NAPANOOD KO LANG ANG "THE HOWS OF US" THIS MONTH LANG.

PLEASE... WALA NA TALAGANG PAG-ASA ???? NAG-CHECK KA NA BA SA ILALIM NG IYONG REFRIDGERATOR, KATHRYN???

ALAM KONG MAHIRAP, QUEEN BERNARDO, PLEASE, SORRY TALAGA AT HOPE YOUR OKAY.

GALIT AKO SA UNIVERSE!!! PAGKATAPOS NG SOBRANG MATAGAL AFTER ALL THIS TIME??? DAHIL 2023 NA LANG???

MAY N-BREAK NA BA SA IYO, UNIVERSE??? AT PINILIT MO ANG MAG-IBIG???

SORRY, PO. MAY PATAWAD BA ANG MAIBIGAY MO?? PWEDE KANG MASAKTAN PERO WAG KANG SAKTAN ANG KATHNIEL, NEVER KATHNIEL.

ANO ANG DAHILAN??? KATHNIELL PLEAASSE.!!1 KUNG WALANG KATHNIEL WALANG PAG-IBIG WALANG DESTINY NO HOPE NO PERFECT. PLEASSEEEE PLEASSSEE

#LABIS NA NAIINIP 😭😭😭 NAYAYAMOT SA BAWAT SAGLIT 😭😭😭 ANG GANDA TALAGA NG MATA MO PAG NATURAL #PLEEEEASSSE TILL I MET YOUUUU?????? #KATHNIEL #KATHNIEL BREAKUP #KATHRYN BERNARDO #daniel padilla #FORGIVE ME JO ANO BAYAN

[piarles]

NOOOOO

#in this case that makes seb and lewis an isko because fuck the cars in a2 amirite #piarles as atenistas and sewis as iskolar ng bayan 😭😭 #nainvest ako bigla sa au na to HAHA uhm #pierre as a SOM kid (probably management engineering) #charles is a SOH kiddie probably bfa art management or theater arts #seb is a CAL girlie like me (ba european languages major in german minor in teaching in the early grades) #lewis ang babyboy ng CSSP na nagshift to CDSW para itake bs community dev

[barbie-girlll]

Last 30 days in office 🥲🤘💕

#vp leni #halalan #halalan2022 #yep #we're back at it again folks #im sorry in advance international moots #this is just one of my many ways of coping now. #salamat sa pagmamahal sa bayan madam leni #truly our liwanag sa dilim #lezzgooo angat buhay ngo!!! #ang presidente? #leni robredo!!!!

[ivancorteza18]

#Kahirapan ang isa sa pinaka malaking pagsubok sa ating bayan na hanggang ngayon ay di pa rin masolusyonan. Ito ay bunga nga rin ng marami pa #kakulangan ng pansin sa gobyerno at iba pa. Marami pang ibang sanhi ng kahirapan #ngunit mas marami itong nabubunga na mas ikinahihirap pa ng ating mga kababayan. Diskarte #ito ang ating kailangan upang makaalis sa rehas na ito. Tayo lang rin ang makatutulong sa ating sarili na makaahon sa kahirapan.

[teruri-ruri]

i just wanna say... shuta ang pogi ni izana sa style mo 😭🥹

ladies with gentle hands i present to u, izana 'crush ng bayan' kurokawa [also btw ty po ahuhuhuhuhuhuh 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺😭]

+ bonus chifuyu bc ik hes ur fave :]]]

#if u didnt get the gentle hands reference then just pls ignore that HJAVBFEDA #i feel like izana would be emotionally constipated #yk bc of all the emotional baggage + abandonment issues and all but hes trying ok #izana kurokawa #chifuyu matsuno #[mail] answered #my art

[fuxuannie]

↳ pairing : dan heng x gender neutral reader

↳ prompt : hanggang notes lang yung gusto kong sabihin sayo, pero kahit alam na alam ko na di ko kaya isabi sa mukha mo, mamahalin kita from afar.

↳ authors note : for my non-filos, the prompt is essentially writing everything you want to say for a person in your notes app and admiring them from afar <3 this is me self projecting & taking this chance to practice some filo

↳ brief disclaimer : this is for my hopefully existing filipino audience! i will be providing translations and such if people want it

MODERN FILO AU

Stelle and March 7th dealt with your constant rambling of your 5th 'happy crush' this year. "Promise! Iba na to, I sweaar!" You'd giggle, but the two just gave each other a look and back at you. "Whatever you say..." Knowing damn well you've said that every single time, and they were in fact, not different.

Just like clockwork, at the same hour and at the same place, Dan Heng quietly walks by the table the three of you were seated on. His earphones in his ears as he's kept busy with whatever is on his phone, you catch a quick glance and you start to cover your mouth and giggle. "Haysss, ampogi ni crush." You'd say while kicking your feet, and Stelle and March 7th's jaw DROPS at the realization.

"SIYA??" The pair said together, slamming the table and jolting up from their seats, the same baffled expression as they looked at you. "Oo, b-bakit? Mali ba desisyon ko?" You stammered, putting your hands up in the air while smiling awkwardly.

Stelle crosses her arms, and March 7th puts a hand on her hip and the other points at you. "Ingatan mo ang puso mo bhie, reputation na rejecter yun. Sobrang cold sa mga tao nagcoconfess sakanya!"

"Super super cold yun. As in parang aircon." Stelle huffs, nodding her head in agreement to March's statements. "Ang weird ninyo, of course hindi ako magcoconfess!" You retaliate, grabbing your phone from your hand and passing it over to them. "Hanggang notes app yung rants na sobrang pogi niya, wala naman akong plano sabihin sakanya eh." You watch as Stelle grabs it from the table and March 7th takes a peek at what you were showing.

"Crush ng bayan yan, wala naman akong chance." Was the last thing you added, shrugging your shoulder as you accepted your feelings most likely not being reciprocated.

Stelle looks at the phone, looks at you, one more look to the phone and finally a disgusted stare in your direction. "Corny mo."

"Alam ko naman."

"You're hopeless." March 7th sighs, going on her phone to what you could only assume to be and check whatever notification made it go off and buzz.

#˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ bailu's candy stash #honkai star rail x reader #hsr x reader #dan heng x reader #dan heng hsr x reader #I LOVE HIM!! #hsr filo au #conyo si march #real

[wittykahitcorny]

Meron akong happy crush. Fan din siya ni Taylor Swift at iyon ang big similarities namin. Simula yesterday ay may 3 day seminar kami. At chance ko na yun na makakita siya kasi sa ibang bayan siya naka assign at baka ito na ang last chance para makasama siya.

Chinat ko siya kagabi at sinabi ko na masaya ko na nakita ko siya dun sa venue. Wala kasi division nila sa memo dahil city na ang municipality nila. Nakatulog ako ng may ngiti sa labi kagabi kasi nung nag goodnight siya ay sinabi niya na see u tom.

Kanina, ang aga kong dumating kasi excited ako. Nung nakita niya ako nung morning ay nagulat ako nung kinawayan niya ko at kumaway namana ako pabalik. Ang saya lang. Nung hapon ay kinawayan niya ulit ako. Siya din naglead ng prayer kanina. Naisipan ko rin na magpa picture sa kanya kaso inatake na naman ako ng hiya at natorpe ako kaya ayun tiklop.

Bukas na ang last day kaya dapat lakasan ko na ang loob ko na makapag picture kami together para may remembrance man lang ako sa kanya dahil malamang ay iyon na huli naming pagkikita.

Nga pala, may boyfriend na siya.

[cirquedepacchan]

Patuloy na umaalingawngaw ang sigaw ng bayan

Maligayang bati kay Gat Andres Bonifacio at mabuhay ang rebolusyon! ✊🏽❤️‍🔥🇵🇭

#blood cw #injury cw #hetalia #hetalia world stars #hws philippines #historical hetalia #hetalia philippines

[connorthemaoist]

#the philippines #filipino #ang bayan #maoism #communism #marxism leninism maoism #marxism #communist #maoist #socialism #revolutionary #revolution #mlm #pw #cpp #anti-revisionism #martial law

[upismediacenter]

OPINION: 100% Banyagang kapital, Bagsak ang mga mag-aaral

Photo credit: Anna Gabrielle Dalet

“The 1987 Constitution was not written for the globalized world,” iyan ang pangunahing rason ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. para sa economic charter change (Cha-Cha) ng Pambansang Konstitusyon ng 1987 na ipinapanukala ngayon ng parehong kapulungan ng Kongreso.

Upang makamit ang globalized world na ito, nais pahintulutan ng administrasyon ang 100% foreign ownership sa mga institusyon ng edukasyon, advertisement firms, at public utilities ng Pilipinas. Ayon sa mga tagasuporta ng Cha-Cha, sa ganitong paraan makakahabol ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas na matagal nang nahuhuli sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Idinadahilan nila ang kakulangan ng Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) sa Pilipinas bilang rason kung bakit naghihirap ang bansa. Ayon sa kanila, kung ikukumpara sa mga kalapit nating bansa katulad ng Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia at Vietnam, mababa ang ating FDI; at dahil doon, lugmok ang ating ekonomiya.

Ngunit kontra rito, mas mataas pa rin ang ating FDI kaysa sa pinagsama-samang FDI ng Cambodia, Myanmar at Lao PDR. Kamakailan lang, inulat din ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) na 27.8% ang itinaas ng FDI noong Nobyembre 2023 kumpara noong Nobyembre 2022. Kung kaya’t ang tanong: bakit isinusulong pa ang economic charter change?

Sa ganitong punto, makikita ang pagkukulang ng Cha-Cha at ng mga nagsusulong nito. Bukod sa mga kontradiksyon sa kanilang argumento, naghihirap pa rin ang sambayanang Pilipino kahit nagkakaroon ng upward trend ang FDI natin. Ayon sa ulat ng IBON, 75% o tinatayang 20.6 milyong pamilyang Pilipino ang lubog sa kahirapan.

Maliban pa rito, hindi rin angkop na gamitin ang FDI bilang sukatan ng kaunlaran dahil ang ipinapakita lang nito ay ang dami ng foreign investments. Malinaw na hindi ito nangangahulugang maayos na ang ating mga pampublikong serbisyo o walang paghihirap na nararanasan ang pangkaraniwang Pilipino.

Kailangan alalahanin na sa panghihikayat ng mga foreign investors na mamuhunan sa Pilipinas, ang potensyal para sa kita at expansion ang nagsisilbing pangunahing pakay. Kapalit nito ang pangako ng inobasyon at pagsasaayos ng ating mga industriya at ekonomiya. Ngunit dahil nagsisilbing itong investment, ang prayoridad ng mga investors ay kumita. Sa kabila ng kanilang pangako ng kaunlaran, ang kanilang pagpapakahulugan sa “pag-unlad” ay nakaangkla sa kanilang mga layunin at karanasan, hindi sa kalagayan ng bayan.

Sa usapan ng kasalakuyang Cha-Cha, malinaw na malaking kontradiksyon ang lente ng pagnenegosyo na ito sa pampublikong serbisyo at institusyon ng edukasyon na ang pangunahing layunin ay magsilbi sa sambayanang Pilipino. Kung ilalagay natin sa kamay ng mga banyaga ang ating mga paaralan, ang iiral sa silid-aralan ay ang pagpaparami ng kapital sa pandaigdigang merkado kaysa sa ating sariling kasaysayan at bayan. Ang tanging makikinabang dito ay ang mga dayuhang kapitalista at muling mapag-iiwanan ang masang Pilipino.

Noong Disyembre 14, anim na buwan mula noong naluklok bilang pangulo si Marcos Jr., inanunsyo ng House Committee on Constitutional Amendments ang plano nitong talakayin ang charter change pagkatapos ng holiday break ng Kongreso. Naganap ang unang pagpupulong para sa Cha-Cha ng administrasyon noong Enero 26, 2023. Sa loob ng 16 buwan, mangilan-ngilang bersyon at hearings na rin ang isinagawa upang itaguyod ang pagsasabatas nito. Ngunit, sa kabila ng lahat ng panahon at pakikipagtalastasan, isinasawalang-bahala ng pamahalaan ang taong bayan sa usapan ng pagbabago ng Saligang Batas. Ayon sa isang sarbey ng Pulse Asia noong Marso 27, three-fourths ng mga respondents ang umaamin na sila ay may “little to no knowledge about the 1987 Constitution.” Kasama na rito ang kung paano isinasagawa ang charter change.

Nakakaalarma ito dahil dapat pinagtutuunan ng pansin ang Konstitusyon at kung ano mang rebisyon ang nais gawin dito lalo na sa konteksto ng ating kasaysayan. Maaaring samantalahin ang kakulangan sa impormasyong ito upang basta-bastang baguhin ang Saligang Batas ayon sa interes ng iilan.

Ang Cha-Chang nais isabatas ngayon ng administrasyong Marcos ay isang amendment sa Konstitusyon. Nilalayon nilang dagdagan ang Artikulo 12, 14, at 16 ng “unless otherwise provided by law.” Sa pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag ng sugnay na ito, mabibigyan ng kapangyarihan ang mga mambabatas na piliin ang mga institusyong maaaring maging 100% foreign-owned. Dito pa lang ay malinaw na maaari itong abusuhin at maging breeding ground ng korapsyon.

Dagdag dito, sadyang mahal ang economic charter change. Sa katotohana’y binigyan na ng Kongreso ang Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ng badyet na PHP 14 bilyon upang isagawa ang eleksyong plebisito, ngunit naniniwala sila na hindi pa ito sapat. Nangangailangan pa ng karagdagang PHP 12 bilyon hanggang PHP 13 bilyon upang maisagawa ito. “The COMELEC will have a financial crisis just in case a national plebiscite materializes this year,” sabi ng executive director na si Teopisto Elnas Jr.

Suhestiyon naman ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na kung magkakaroon ng eleksyong plebisito, mas mainam ang dual vote na magaganap sa Mayo 12 sa susunod na taon, kasabay ng eleksyon sa 2024. “Dahil kung paghihiwalayin natin ‘yang election saka ‘yung plebiscite, parang dalawang eleksyon ‘yun e, napakamahal,” amin ng presidente. Ngunit, hindi pa rin nito isinasaalang-alang ang dagdag na materyales, kawani, at makinarya na kinakailangan—sumabay man ito sa isa pang eleksyon o hindi.

Bukod dito, nagkakaroon din ng imbestigasyon patungkol sa posibleng panunuhol sa pagsasagawa ng People’s Initiative. Sa unang bahagi ng Enero, ang mga nilagdaang dokumentong sumasang-ayon sa pag-amyenda sa Konstitusyon ay nagsimula nang kumalat. Ayon kay Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman, mayroong ilang mga mayor na nakatanggap ng mobilization funds na nanggaling sa Ako Bicol partylist coordinators upang makakuha ng suporta sa petisyon. “Voters who would sign the petition or people’s initiative will be given PHP 100 each,” ani ni Lagman. Ito’y tinanggi ng Ako Bicol Representative na si Jil Bongalon at ng presidente ng League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Albay Chapter na si Raymond Adrian Salceda.

Hindi lamang umano sa Albay naganap ang sinasabing vote-buying. Ayon sa Kabataan Partylist, mayroong “template form” na ginagamit upang mangolekta ng mga lagda para sa People’s Initiative. Sabi pa ni Imee Marcos, “PHP 20 million total kada distrito ang inaalok, meron pa akong narining ‘nung malaking siyudad na pinangakuan din ng ganoon at ang sabi magproduce kayo ng 20,000 signatures by January 13.”

Mayroon ding nadagdag na PHP 26.7 bilyon na pondo sa naaprubahang 2024 badyet ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na dapat para sa Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), na ayon kay Sen. Imee Marcos ay ginamit din na panuhol para sa People’s Initiative. Ang lalong nakababahala ay tila sorpresa ang ilang bilyon na ito, hindi lang sa Senado na nag-apruba ng badyet, kundi pati na rin sa DSWD. Ayon nga kay DSWD Undersecretary Fatima Aliah Dimaporo, ang PHP 26.7 bilyon ay isang “happy surprise.”

Bilyong-bilyong pera ang ginagastos para sa paglelehitimo ng charter change na dapat ilaan na lamang sa mga sektor na “nilalayon nitong paunlarin” tulad na lamang ng sektor ng edukasyon. Malinaw sa lahat ng pondong winaldas na sinasayang lang ng Cha-Cha ang oras at pera ng bayan at ang kinabukasan ng milyon-milyong kabataang Pilipino.

Lugmok na lugmok ang estado ng ating sistema ng edukasyon dahil sa pagsasawalambahala ng gobyerno. Hindi rin maikokonsidera ang 100% foreign ownership bilang solusyon dahil sa mahabang kasaysayan ng dayuhang impluwensiya sa ating edukasyon na nagdulot ng negatibong epekto sa kalagayan ng karaniwang mamamayang Pilipino.

“90% of Filipino children aged 10 struggle to read or understand simple text,” ayon kay Prop. Portia Padilla ng UP College of Education. Ngunit hindi lamang mga kabataan ang mababa ang reading comprehension. Ayon sa parehong pag-aaral, 200 na guro mula sa Bangsamoro Region na kasali sa programa para sa pagbabasa ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang nakakuha ng gradong “below 50% in reading comprehension.”

Maraming rasong makapagpapaliwanag sa mababang reading comprehension ng mga Pilipino. Maaari nating isipin ito bilang siklo kung saan ang mga guro at mag-aaral ay kapwa kulang ng kinakailangang kasanayan. Subalit, ang pinakamalaking salik ay ang pagpapahalaga ng ating gobyerno at mga paaralan sa wikang Ingles. Sa unang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., binanggit nito ang importansya ng marketability natin bilang isang “English-speaking people” sa pandaigdigang merkado. Bunsod nito, nais ng pangulo isulong ang Ingles bilang midyum ng pagtuturo.

Matagal nang mahigpit ang hawak ng wikang Ingles sa edukasyong Pilipino. Simula pa noong pananakop ng mga Amerikano, ginagawang simbolo ng “karunungan” at ng pagiging “maabilidad” ang pagkabihasa sa Ingles. Dahil dito, naisasantabi ang iba pang wika sa Pilipians. Ayon kay Leila Areola, Director IV ng Curriculum and Instruction sa DepEd Bureau of Learning Delivery, na 78,872 lamang sa target na 305,099 na guro ang trained sa paggamit ng mother tongue bilang midyum ng instruksyon.

Kapalit ng paggamit ng wikang hindi atin para sa pandaigdigang merkado, nawawala sa pagsasalin ang ganap na pag-unawa at pagpapalalim ng mga konseptong dapat nakalapat sa karanasang Pilipino. Masasabing kapareho nito ng ideolohiya ang Cha-Cha kung saan nauuna ang marketability at napag-iiwanan ang ipinapangakong pag-unlad.

Dahil dito, hindi maipagkakailang maapektuhan din ng 100% foreign ownership ang karunungan ng mga mag-aaral na magbasa at magsulat sa sarili nilang wika. Sa mas matinding presensya ng mga dayuhan sa ating mga paaralan, lalong maisasantabi ang Filipino. Mananatiling midyum ng instruksyon ang wika ng mga banyagang nagmamay-ari ng ating mga paaralan. Kahit manatili mang asignatura ang Filipino, hindi sila bihasa sa ating wika at kasaysayan kaya’t sinong makakapagsabi na mabibigyan nila ng hustisya ito?

Ganito rin ang alalahanin sa magiging epekto ng dayuhang presensya sa kasalukuyang kurikulum. Wala pa nga sa kanilang kamay ang ating mga paaralan ay matagal nang binabastardo ang ating mga aralin upang iangat ang naratibo ng mga korap at abusado. Halimbawa nito ang baliktad na kwento at kulang-kulang na impormasyon na tinuturo sa mga estudyante patungkol sa mga pang-aabuso sa ilalim ng diktadurya ni Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Bunsod ng isang memorandum ng Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) ng DepEd, ginawang “Diktadura” imbis na “Diktaduryang Marcos” ang pangalan sa yugto ng Batas Militar.

Patuloy na umuulit ang kamalian ng ating kasaysayan noon dahil itinatanggi at binabaluktot ito ng sistema. Mula pagkabata, tinuturuan ang mga Pilipino ng mali at kulang-kulang na impormasyon tungkol sa diktadura ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Sr.. Parehong-pareho lang ito sa mga paaralan at konserbatoryong itinayo ng mga banyaga noon na nagtuturo ng “malinis na bersyon” ng paghahari. Kaya hanggang ngayon, inaaral pa rin ng mga bata ang mga “kabutihang dala” ng pananakop ng mga Espanyol, Amerikano, at Hapon. Sinong makapagsasabi na hindi ito gagawin ng mga foreign investors, lalo na’t sila na ang nagmamay-ari ng ating mga eskwelahan?

Ngunit, ang pinakamalaking sala ng ating sistema ng edukasyon ay ang pilosopiya ng ating pamahalaan na “Basta nakakapasok ang estudyante.” Halimbawa nito ang No-Fail Policy na umiral noong kasagsagan ng Covid-19. Nais pa rin ng DepEd at CHEd na ituloy noon ang akademikong taon sa harap ng pandemya at ito ang nagsisilbing “solusyon.” Sa halip na tugunan ang krisis sa mental health ng kabataan, binigyan na lang nila ito ng band-aid solution sa pangakong hindi sila babagsak basta’t pumasok sila. Mayroon namang mga batang natulungan ng polisiya: basta’t tapusin lang nila ang kanilang mga gawaing pampaaralan, matiwasay na silang makakaakyat sa susunod na baitang. Ngunit, ipinapakita nitong iba ang prayoridad ng gobyerno patungkol sa ating edukasyon. Malinaw na sinisigurado lang ng ating sistema ng edukasyon ang regular na pagpasok ng mga mag-aaral at ang kanilang pagtapos sa pag-aaral sa lalong madaling panahon. Ang kurikulum natin ay nagsisilbi na lang checklist kaysa sa gabay sa pagtuturo. Dahil dito mas umaangat ang pagsasaulo ng impormasyon kaysa sa pagpapalalim ng pag-uunawa. Ayon kay Cynthia Bautista, EDCOM 2 adviser at dating dean ng UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), ang ganitong pag-uugali ang bumubuo sa reputasyon ng ating mga paaralan bilang mga diploma mills. Bunsod nito, ang maakit din natin na paaralan mula sa mga dayuhang kapitalista ay kapwa diploma mills rin. Sa madaling salita, ang sisiguraduhin lang ng mga foreign investors ay ang bare minimum dahil ito ang nakikita nila mula sa ating pamahalaan. Dagdag dito, di hamak na mas maliit ang kinakailangang puhunan para sa mga paaralang bare minimum. Kahit ano man ang kalidad ng edukasyon, hanggang may mga mag-aaral na pumasok at makapagtapos, kikita sila.

Isa pang problema na kinakaharap sa ating institusyong pang-edukasyon ay ang mababang sahod ng mga guro. “The current salary level of teachers and other workers in government is not livable,” sinabi ni Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Partylist Chairperson Vladimir Quetua. Ang sahod ng mga guro sa mga pampublikong paaralan ay PHP 36,000 lamang, habang ang mga guro naman sa mga pribadong paaralan ay sumasahod nang mas mababa sa halagang PHP 27,000. Sa patuloy na lumalalang “inflation, hindi ito sasapat sa lahat ng mga gastusin, lalo na ng mga may sari-sariling pamilyang binubuhay. At kung hindi sapat ang pagpapasahod ng mga pribadong paaralan natin ngayong investors pa lang ang mga dayuhan, paano pa kaya kung kanila na ang buong pagmamay-ari sa mga ito?

Ang lalo pang nakapanghihinayang ay mayroon nang mga panukalang batas ukol sa pagtaas ng sahod ng mga guro na hindi lang binibigyang-pansin ng gobyerno, tulad ng Senate Bill No. 4 at Senate Bill No. 1164. Ang Senate Bill No. 1610 naman ay ukol sa pagbibigay-daan sa mataas na kalidad ng pagtuturo sa state universities at ibang mga kolehiyo sa pamamagitan ng pagbigay ng libreng tuition. Dagdag dito, kung ikukumpara sa ating mga kapitbahay, kakarampot lang na pondo ang nilalaan natin sa edukasyon kada taon. Inilaan ng gobyerno ang 3.6% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) sa edukasyon mula 2014 hanggang 2022. Noong 2017 naitala ang pinakamataas na budget na umabot sa 3.9% GDP. Subalit, maliit ito kumpara sa Vietnam at Malaysia na naglaan ng 4.2% ng GDP at sa Singapore na naglaan ng 25.8% ng GDP noong 2018. Dahil dito, makikita natin na ang pag-amyenda sa 1987 Konstitusyon ang kanilang pangunahing layunin, hindi ang pagpapaunlad ng kalagayang pang-edukasyon ng ating bansa.

Hindi uunlad at magkakaroon ng matinong edukasyon ang Pilipinas kung patuloy na isusulong ang privatization ng mga paaralan. Ayon sa ulat ng IBON Foundation Setyembre 2023, 13.2 milyong “self-rated” na pamilya o 48% ng pangkalahatang populasyon sa Pilipinas noong ay nagmumula sa mahirap na pamilya. Dagdag pa rito, 18.2 milyon o 67% ng sambahayan ay mababa ang savings sa ikatlong kwarter ng 2023. Mula sa mga nabanggit na datos, masasabi nating ang karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay hindi makatatanggap ng matinong edukasyon hangga’t sila ay mahirap, at ang gobyerno ay patuloy na inaprayoridad ang pagtataguyod ng mga pribadong paaralan.

Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, kailangan nating alalahanin na ang masang Pilipino ay hindi magpapaloko. Mangilan-ngilang kilos-protesta ang isinagawa laban sa economic charter change linggo-linggo, at araw-araw ring dumarami ang mga grupo, organisasyon, at mga network na nanawagan para sa tuluyan nitong pagbasura. Noong Marso 22 lamang ay nagkaroon ng kilos-protesta sa labas ng Commision on Higher Education (CHEd) ang iba’t ibang mga student organizations laban sa 100% foreign ownership sa mga institusyon ng edukasyon. Malaking bahagi rin ng paggunita ng ika-38 na anibersaryo ng EDSA noong Pebrero 25 ang pagkontra sa Cha-Cha. Nagpahayag din ng pagtutol ang iba’t ibang sektor ng UP sa pamamagitan ng papaskil ng mga poster at tarpauling nagtataglay ng panawagang “No to Cha-Cha!” sa buong campus.

Bukod dito, ilang grupo rin ang nabuo upang kondenahin at labanan ang Cha-Cha. Halimbawa nito ang Teachers, Education Workers, and Academics Against Charter Change (TEACH). Nanawagan ang grupo sa kanilang inilabas na pahayag, “Rather than open up our schools to foreign ownership, the Philippine government should be reminded that improving the quality of Philippine education is a state obligation.”

Hindi malulutas ng foreign ownership ang krisis sa edukasyon sa Pilipinas—maaari pa itong makadagdag sa mga kasalukuyang kakulangan sa ating kurikulum. Sa halip na ang pagtuunan ng pansin ay ang mga kapalpakan sa loob ng sistema ng edukasyon, inuuna pa ng administrasyong buhusan ng pera ang economic charter change na wala namang maipapangakong ganap na pagbabago.

Asahang sa araw na tuluyang maipatutupad ang Cha-Cha, tulad ng mga banyagang mananakop noon, gagawing westernized at for-profit ng mga foreign investors ang ating mga paaralan ngayon.

Dati nang kinontrol ng mga dayuhan ang ating mga institusyon ng edukasyon. Nagpondo at nagtayo sila ng mga paaralan upang turuan tayo kung paano maging mas masunurin bilang kolonya. Ginamit nila ang kanilang wika bilang panturo at itinuring nila ang kanilang kultura bilang nakaaangat sa sariling atin. Malaki ang posibilidad na mangyari ito sa pagsasabatas ng Cha-Cha, lalo na't wala sa mismong amendment ang mga regulasyon na maaaring makapagpatigil sa pang-aabusong tiyak na mangyayari.

Bilang mga mag-aaral, kailangan natin idiin sa mga nanunungkulan ang pagbabasura ng Cha-Cha. Sapagkat ang tunay na kailangan ng mga estudyanteng Pilipino ay isang sistemang pang-edukasyon na nakalapat sa kanilang mga karanasan at realidad bilang Pilipino. Manawagan tayo na mabigyan ng respeto ang ating kasaysayan at wika sa pagtuturo. Mag-anyaya tayo ng ating mga kamag-aral na gamitin ang ating wika at humanap ng mga paraan upang pahalagahan ito. Makiisa tayo sa mga kilos-protesta para sa sapat na sahod at benepisyo ng mga guro at staff ng bawat paaralan. Dagdag dito, suportahan natin ang mga unyon at ang mga indibidwal na namumuno sa mga pagkikilos na ito. Matitiyak lang natin ang ating karapatan sa dekalidad na edukasyon kung pagsasama-samahin natin ang ating mga boses.

Hindi malabong matugunan ang mga panawagang ito ng ating gobyerno lalo na’t may pondo namang nakalaan para rito. Huwag tayong magsawa sa pangangalampag at paggigiit na itigil ang Cha-Cha, at sa pangangampanya para sa makamasang sistema ng edukasyon! //nina Mayden Bartolabac, Japhet Casabar, at Eda White

#NoToChaCha

Mga Sanggunian:

Africa, S. (2024, February 4). The spectacular errors of economic cha-cha proponents. IBON Foundation. https://www.ibon.org/the-spectacular-errors-of-economic-cha-cha-proponents/

Ager, M. (2024, March 13). Bill on people’s initiative, penalties for signature buying, selling filed. INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1917149/pimentels-bill-provides-for-pi-penalizes-signature-buying-selling

Canlas, R. (2024, March 6). Women organizations oppose ‘Cha-cha’. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/6/women-organizations-express-opposition-vs-cha-cha-on-women-s-day

Cayabyab, M. J. (2023, September 12). DepEd hit for rebranding of Marcos dictatorship. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/13/2295879/deped-hit-rebranding-marcos-dictatorship

Chi, C. (2024, January 13). Explainer: With students’ poor literacy, are all teachers now ‘reading teachers’? Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/01/11/2325063/explainer-students-poor-literacy-are-all-teachers-now-reading-teachers#:~:text=At%20 least%2090%25%20 of%20 Filipino,in%20the%20Philippines%20at%2070%25.

Chi, C. (2024, March 5). DepEd objects to foreign control of schools via Cha-cha, cites national security risk. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/03/05/2338262/deped-objects-foreign-control-schools-cha-cha-cites-national-security-risk

Chi, C. (2024, February 15). Salary hike for teachers? DepEd defers answer until World Bank study complete. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/15/2333571/salary-hike-teachers-deped-defers-answer-until-world-bank-study-complete

Chi, C. (2023, July 17). Most private school teachers paid less than entry-level salary in public schools — survey. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/17/2281732/most-private-school-teachers-paid-less-entry-level-salary-public-schools-survey

Chi, C. (2024, February 23). Philippines’ “diploma mill” rep may attract low-tier foreihn universities, expert warns. Philstar. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/22/2335333/philippines-diploma-mill-rep-may-attract-low-tier-foreign-universities-expert-warns

Cigaral, I. N. P. (2024, February 13). Net FDI inflows soared to near two-year high in Nov 2023. INQUIRER.net. https://business.inquirer.net/445148/net-fdi-inflows-soared-to-near-2-year-high-in-november-2023

Communications, E. 2. (2024, February 20). Allowing foreign ownership is only a first step in promoting internationalization in education – EDCOM 2 Executive Director. EDCOM 2. https://edcom2.gov.ph/allowing-foreign-ownership-is-only-a-first-step-in-promoting-internationalization-in-education-edcom-2-executive-director/

De Leon, D. (2024, January 25). Why mounting a 2024 plebiscite on charter change will be a daunting task for Comelec. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/issues-comelec-face-plebiscite-charter-change-people-initiative-2024/

De Leon, D. (2023, February 27). FAST FACTS: What does the House bill on charter change contain? RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/nation/things-to-know-key-provisions-house-bill-charter-change/

De Leon, D. (2024, March 1). Marcos says proposal to hold Cha-Cha plebiscite alongside 2025 polls for ‘practical’ reasons. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-proposal-simultaneous-conduct-charter-change-plebiscite-2025-polls-practical-reasons/

Felipe, C. S. (2021, February 6). ‘No-fail policy not good for students.’ Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/02/07/2075903/no-fail-policy-not-good-students

Galvez, D. (2022, July 25). Marcos wants to reexamine medium of instruction in schools. Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1634255/english-speaking-people-marcos-wants-to-reexamine-medium-of-instruction-in-schools#ixzz7aA6ZU7H6

Gavilan, J. (2018, January 16). What you need to know about Charter Change. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/193718-charter-change-explainer-philippine-constitution/

Gorecho, D. (2024, February 21). “No to cha cha” in UP Fair and oblation run. INQUIRER.net. https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/557610/no-to-cha-cha-in-up-fair-and-oblation-run

IBON Foundation. (2023, December 9). Marcos Jr admin fails to respect, protect, and fulfill social and economic rights. https://www.ibon.org/marcos-jr-admin-fails-to-respect-protect-and-fulfill-social-and-economic-rights/

Leon, D. (2024, January 23). Marcos now open to amending economic provisions of 1987 Constitution. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-open-economic-charter-change-january-2024/

Limlingan, V. S. (2024, March 11). EDCOM II Year One Report: Misreading the Philippine Education situation. BusinessWorld. https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2024/03/11/580722/edcom-ii-year-one-report-misreading-the-philippine-education-situation/

Magsambol, B. (2024, February 25). IN PHOTOS: On 38th People Power anniversary, groups oppose charter change. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/photos-protests-edsa-people-power-revolution-anniversary-2024/

Marcelo, E. (2024, March 9). Teachers oppose 100 percent foreign ownership of schools. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/03/10/2339415/teachers-oppose-100-percent-foreign-ownership-schools#:~:text=The%20TEACH%20pointed%20out%20that,are%20underserved%20by%20public%20schools.%E2%80%9D

Miguel, M. J. S. (2023, August 30). 2024 education budget: When will government learn? IBON Foundation. https://www.ibon.org/2024-education-budget-when-will-government-learn/

Philstar. (2022, October 17). DepEd to junk ‘mother tongue’ subject, but not as medium of instruction. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/10/17/2217367/deped-junk-mother-tongue-subject-not-medium-instruction

Punongbayan, J. (2024, April 1). [In This Economy] Economic charter change is very unpopular – it’s time lawmakers listened. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/in-this-economy-economic-charter-change-very-unpopular-time-lawmakers-listen/

Quismorio, E. (2023, March 13). (Update) A short timeline: Cha-cha in the House, 19th Congress Edition. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/12/a-short-timeline-cha-cha-in-the-house-19th-congress-edition#google_vignette

Second Congressional Commission on Education. (2024). Miseducation: The failed system of Philippine education, EDCOM II year one report. Second Congressional Commission on Education. https://edcom2.gov.ph/media/2024/02/EDCOM-II-Year-One-Report-PDF-022924.pdf

Valmonte, K. (2024, January 10). Will you sell your soul for P100? Allegations vs charter change bid via people’s initiative. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/things-to-know-allegations-charter-change-via-people-initiative/

Valmonte, K. (2024, March 6). Why 4 lawmakers voted against RBH7, the economic charter change proposal. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/why-lawmakers-opposed-resolution-both-houses-7-economic-charter-change-2024/

#MC2024 #MC2025 #Opinion #Filipino #Mayen Bartolabac #Japhet Casabar #Eda White

[hinaypod]

A bit of a different one today!

"Happy" Philippine Independence Day! May the Filipino people truly be free one day 🇵🇭

Content Warnings:

Discussions of real life fascism, Philippine Martial Law, extrajudicial and state sponsored killings, massacres, dismemberment, red-tagging.

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Spoilers for some past Hi Nay episodes! Episode excerpts include:

Remind Me To Tell You Later: Tiyanak

Episode 11: Nakaraan (Before)

Remind Me To Tell You Later: Madre

Episode 26: Undas Part 2

-

Stories included:

EDSA by Russel Molina and Sergio Bumatay III

Ito Ang Diktadura by Equipo Plantel, Mikel Casal (Illustrator), Annie Yglopaz (Translator), Kata Garcia (Translator)

You can purchase them at Adarna House.

-

Songs included:

Ili-ili Tulog Anay (Visayan Lullaby) played by Monching Carpio on guitar

Bayan Ko (Kundiman by José Alejandrino) played by Monching Carpio on guitar

#hinaypod #hi nay podcast #horror podcast #filipino podcast #horror audio drama #philippine independence day #araw ng kalayaan #martial law #philippine politics #philippine history #filipino culture

[pannaginip]

Ang Bayan, the official publication of the CPP, on Twitter @angXbayan:

From April 17 to 24, the NDFP holds the Week to Remember and Honor the Filipino People's Heroes and Martyrs. During this week, we remember the heroes and martyrs of the Philippine revolution's more than five decades of resistance for freedom and democracy.

2024 Apr. 19

Full thread on Twitter

#junk anti terror law #philippines #extrajudicial killings #state violence #cpp-npa-ndf

[skyethewolfwizard]

I love going through old poems and tweaking them again and again to make the meaning more clear

My land of birth and pride,

sandy shores, and calming tide.

Its people in which I side.

Fervour for freedom we don't hide.

We've been conquered many times,

by neighbours and by lands far away.

The Americans yet to admit to their crimes,

The Spanish who forced us to pay and pray.

Diverse in our culture, now more homogeneous,

destroyed by the friars who were "righteous".

Yet we all act as the kings did, as if we lost nought.

We are undoing everything for which we fought.

We sell our greatest souls to our oppressors,

our own government has become moles, serving our captors.

Both giving us nothing for our skills.

Just the salaries of the artisans taxed and brought back to barely pay bills.

They sacrifice their time and love for this country.

Only to be faced with discrimination and broken banks.

While back here we suffer the consequences of their "clemency".

Our country has a myriad of problems, yet no aid or apology from Spain or the Yanks

And now. I leave, despite wanting to help.

All of this guilt within me, and all I can do is yelp.

Is it wrong to work to go somewhere better?

Abandon this place instead of fighting to end this terror?

I sacrifice my love for my home, for me?

To be my true self? To have safety and freedom?

I just feel as if I cannot fight if I myself am not free

Is it selfish? Is it wrong? For me to have a chance so seldom?

No, I will have my cake and eat it too.

I promise to continue fighting valiantly.

Even if I have to fight the ignorant majority.

I promise to stoke my fervour and fury.

Even if I am in a far land living freely.

I may be doing this to leave and be free,

to be myself, to be safe, to be happy.

But I will never stop fighting for humanity,

for love, for the ability to be free from land to sea.

I carry my guilt knowing I leave many suffering.

And I will always remember that every second I live free and enjoying.

I will leave as I truly can't take not being able to be me, to be free

But I won't forget the many at home and abroad all suffering unjustly.

Farewell to the Philippines, I will fight for you to be free from the shackles of imperialism.

Farewell to my neighbors and friends, I will never stop fighting this old schism.

We will escape the exploitation of the West, and no longer be under capitalism.

And free ourselves from the friars who imposed Catholism.

Mahal ko kayo mga kaibigan, kahit a-alis na ako hindi ko kakalimutan kayo.

Mahal ko kayong lahat kahit pu-punta ako sa mga bayan na malayo.

Baka may araw na pwede umuwi ako dito.

Kapag ang mga bakla ay pwede mag-sabi na "ito ang totoong sarili ko".

#wizardpostingn't #philippines #poem #poetry #writeblr