shano

THE REBEL JESUS

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants’ windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
They’ll be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thanks for all god’s graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by the prince of peace
And they call him by the savior
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they’ve turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robber’s den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

But please forgive me if I seem
To take the tone of judgment
For I’ve no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

*Its a Yuletide song written and performed by American rock poet laureate (and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) Jackson Browne. It is performed here by Browne with The Chieftains

PASTORAL LETTER

To:    People of God in Sorsogon, All Men and Women of Good Will and Faith
Re:    ON THE MOST RECENT FISH KILL IN RAPU-RAPU

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land!
The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done!       (Amos 8,4&7)

We, the Diocese of Sorsogon echo our common stand in one voice that the Lafayette mining operation in Rapu-Rapu Island be shut down permanently for the common good of the people of Bicol region. 

We fraternally support the stand and call of the Diocese of Legaspi on the most recent fish kill in the Rapu-Rapu Island.

On the morning of 28 October 2007, Sunday, the people in Brgy. Poblacion, Rapu-Rapu awoke to the sight and stench of dead fish everywhere littering their shores. Their shock and questions grew into gnawing anxiety, then into panic, as, in waves, they beheld their worst fears coming true.

That day and the days that followed, several people fell sick after eating fish and other food from the sea. With the health concerns, came the realization: they could not fish. Based from previous experience, full recovery of the fishing industry on the island would take several months. For the 70% of the island’s population whose livelihood is dependent on fishing, there could be no worse economic disaster than this. They could not bring home food from the sea. Soon they would have no more money left to buy food from elsewhere.

Several sacks of rice were distributed by the municipality. Food relief trickled in from the provincial government, the Church and non-government organizations (NGOs). But they seemed to be never enough – both the food and the justice they are seeking.

They blamed the Lafayette mine for unleashing yet another disaster upon them. It was not the first fish kill incident on this island. In 2005, despite repeated denials from the company, the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission found Lafayette culpable of the mine spill that caused the fish kill and subsequent fish scare in nearby towns.

The mining company, in statements made by its representatives, denied culpability of the recent fish kill, claimed sabotage, called it a hoax, and even threatened to sue anyone suspected to be responsible for their proposed hoax.

A team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) made initial investigation and concluded, among other things, that:

1.   The fish kill was limited only to Brgy. Poblacion, around 10 kilometers away from the mine site. Thus, it was too far away from the mine site.

2.   No fish kill happened in the shorelines of Brgys. Carogcog, Sta. Barbara, Malobago, Pagcolbon and Binosawan. The Brgy. Chairmen of these five barangays issued certifications to the non-existence of any fish kill in their areas.

3.   The quality of marine waters between the mine site and Brgy. Poblacion was found to be within DENR standards and showed no trace of cyanide contamination.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which analyzed some fish kill samples, reported that the fish they had, died not of chemical contamination but probably because of strong sea currents.
The conclusions submitted by the DENR-EMB and BFAR practically absolved Lafayette of any link to the fish kill, undermined the extent of its damage to the community and to the island, and made it a non-issue to the national government.

However, the consultations with the people of Rapu-Rapu and concerned individuals and organizations, revealed certain information that prompts us to seriously question the methods and motives of these government agencies’ findings and Lafayette representatives’ denials.

1.     The fish kill was not limited to Brgy. Poblacion only. Cases of food poisoning took place not only in Brgy. Poblacion but in other barangays as well. Eyewitness accounts from the other five barangays testified to fish kill sightings in their areas, too. Several residents from Brgy. Binosawan even claimed that the fish kill started in their place as early as 26 October 2007. In one instance, a resident from Brgy. Carogcog, who was interviewed by a team from the EMB, also testified that he saw dead fish littering the shorelines of his barangay. This detail never found its way to the EMB report.

2.     The contention that Brgy. Poblacion is too far away from the mine site did not take into consideration the direction and speed of the wind and water current at the time of the fish kill. Seasoned fisherfolks and astute observers not only point out this fact, but also how the EMB conveniently took this fact aside.

3.     Is the quality of all marine and inland waters between Brgy. Poblacion and the mine site really well within DENR standards? Can this conclusion pass the scrutiny of credible independent scientific experts? Then as now, we have been receiving disturbing reports of researchers being harassed by barangay and private security personnel, and prevented from taking water and soil samples, or even pictures, near the mine site, even when the studies are being done outside company property.

4.     The BFAR theory of fish drowning in the strong sea currents and not of chemical contamination strains credulity not only at the first instance but especially when one takes into consideration the following:

a.     The sea has always been rough in these parts at this time of year. But the fish kill incidents only happened when the mining company started its operations. This appears to be a valid case of post hoc ergo propter hoc. It happened after it, therefore, it happened on account of it.

b.    Several residents of the island fell sick after eating fish and other sea food caught around the same time as the fish kill. A dog even died in Brgy. Poblacion after eating some dead fish by the seashore. If the food they ate did not contain some chemical contaminants, could strong sea currents then induce the fish and crustaceans to produce toxins in their body?

            The ultimate measure of the reality and extent of the damage of the fish kill lies in its effect on the people. Most of the island’s residents are poor and dependent on fishing. Now their existence has been made even more precarious. They worry about their food for the day, their health, their livelihood and their uncertain future. A 73-year old resident cried out in the vernacular: “Fish is our life! Kill them at the sea, and you kill us here living on dry land!”

            They feel betrayed by the authorities who, they see, not only failed to protect them, in favor of the powerful, but still managed to publicly question their misery. Their voices and reactions speak in so many ways of anger and desperation. A woman recounted how her fears crept into her dreams; she dreamt of seeing her elderly father eating his fish net for lack of food.

            As Pastors, it pains us to see so much suffering, especially suffering caused by man’s inhumanity to man and to the environment. Our response, as members of the One Body of Christ, should be to help alleviate their suffering and find ways so it would not happen again.

1.     We strongly support the move by the Sangguniang Bayan of Rapu-Rapu to finally declare a State of Emergency on the island, in order to facilitate the granting of financial and food assistance from government and international funding institutions.

2.     We enjoin our faithful in the parishes, schools and ecclesial communities to organize relief efforts for the people of Rapu-Rapu. Our Diocesan Social Action Center will coordinate the relief operations.

3.     We condemn the violence, harassment and illegal detentions which have been the response of certain local authorities to the peaceful protest gatherings which the people of Rapu-Rapu have been regularly staging ever since the most recent fish kill happened.

4.     We appeal to our government officials to conduct thorough investigations and public hearings on the fish kill, even as we reiterate our position that Rapu-Rapu island is not suitable for large-scale mining and that the most just and proper response is the closure of the Lafayette mine.

5.     We ask our faithful and all concerned citizens to join this call by supporting a signature campaign which will be addressed to our leaders, policy makers, and other concerned individuals and institutions.

As Pastors, it is our duty to teach and remind our faithful, and all men and women of good will, of certain moral imperatives to this case that are important in the formation of our individual consciences.

1.     Stewardship of God’s creation is everybody’s responsibility. God’s offer to subdue the earth is not a license to wantonly exploit it but a charge to take care of it so everybody, including future generations, may benefit from its bounty. Stewardship has no room for apathy and indifference in the face of very real threats to the environment and to the lives and livelihood of the poor. All of us, thus, are environmentalists by divine vocation.

2.     Truth-telling is necessary for genuine development to happen. Truth-telling is crucial to the promotion of justice. Social justice, in turn, is the foundation of any program that seeks to achieve sustainable development, genuine prosperity and lasting peace. The issue of mining in Rapu-Rapu has unfortunately been marred by assertion of half-truths, suppression of evidence, corruption of witnesses, harassment of truth-seekers, manipulation of scientific data and plain deception.

Those who know the truth but speak and act otherwise, either by invoking official documents that lie or succumbing to the influence of unscrupulous superiors or lobbyists, are guilty of being party to the cause of the suffering of the people of Rapu-Rapu.

3.     Public office is at the service of the people. Any public official who considers his personal interests, or the confidence and predispositions of his political patrons or foreign investors, above the rights and wellbeing of his constituents, especially the poor, has misguided priorities and misplaced loyalty. He may, for some time, escape accountability from the people, but never from God. For the highest sovereign in a democracy is not the people, it is God.

As Pastors, we join ourselves with the aspirations and labors of the people of Rapu-Rapu, and all men and women who are committed to the protection of the environment and of the poor. Though we may feel the hardship of our task at hand, yet we do not lose hope for God is with us.

Let us continue to pray with greater fervor the Oratio Imperata, our Prayer for Deliverance against Calamities – natural and man-made.  For God is not deaf to our cries and blind to our afflictions.

The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest
till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right. God indeed will not delay, and like a warrior, will not be still till he breaks the backs of the merciless and wreaks vengeance upon the proud;  till he destroys the haughty root and branch, and smashes the scepter of the wicked; till he requites mankind according to its deeds, and repays men according to their thoughts;  till he defends the cause of his people, and gladdens them by his mercy. (Sirach 35:17-24)
                                                                                                Sincerely in His service,
                                                                                    
(signed) +MOST REV. ARTURO M. BASTES, SVD, DD
Bishop of Sorsogon
(Signed by the Presbyterium of the Diocese of Sorsogon)

anuman ang sabihing buladas ng malakanyang at ng ilang nagdudunung dunungang komentarista, hindi maitatatwang TAGUMPAY ang pambansang tigil pasada ng PISTON at ng mamamayan. Dito sa bikol 95 hanggang 98 posrsyento ang tantya di lamang ng CONDOR-PISTON kundi pati ng media at ng LTFRB mismo sa isang pahayag.

Napilitian namang magbigay ng pahayag si Angelo Reyes na hindi na mag uumento ang presyo ng langis hanggang matapos ang taon. Sabi naman ng mga LPG marketers mag roroll back sila ng piso/kilo sa mga produkto nila. Sa senado nag pasa na ng resolusyon si Mar Roxas ng tanggalin ang VAT sa petrolyo, samantalang tuloy ang pakikipag gitgitan ng mga makabayang sectoral representatives natin sa kongreso upang tanggalin ang pahirap na oil deregulation law at ang RVAT.

Anu kaya ang mangyayari kung walang welga? siguro patuloy lang tauyong uutuin ng tatlong dambuhalang kartel ng langis. Siguro lalakas pa ang loob nila kasap[akat ang gubyernong "babying baby ang trato hinaypak na oil companies na ito!

Makatarungang ang Pagwewelga ng mga Tsuper, sa hirap ng buhay at sa harap ng mga panggagansto ng gubyerno at mga corporasyon ng langis, mga patay na lamang ang di dumaraing. Ito ay epektibong porma up[ang iprotesta ang mga kabulukan at ipakita ang militante at nagkakaisang lakas ng sektor ng transportasyon( take note militante..ewww sa mga taga fejopdap, pasangmasda,pcdo-acto, imboa at marami pang mga grouplets…magsama sama kayo zeny maranan, de luna at yung laos na singer na si…sino na nga yun..laos na nga! mga walang pakinabang… di pa ba npupudpud ang dila nyo sa paghimod ng pwet ng angelo reyes, thomson lantion at ni gloria? (kaya di manalo nalo sa parylist!))

laban ng buong sambayan ang laban ng mga tsuper, kayat ang kanilang welga ay naging welga rin ng mamamayan, alam kong bagamat nahirapan ang marami sa pagparoot pagparito naalam nilat naiintindihan ang mga aksyon ng kapatid nating tsuper. sa tinambayan ko ngang tipunan ng mga welgista nakakatuwang tignan na nag aabot pa ng konting halaga o kayay pagkain ang marami. GAGAP nila ang pakikibaka, gagap nilang ang naisin ng mga tsuper ay kabutihan ng mas nakakarami…

SA MGA TSUPER-HEROES NG BAYAN…SALAMAT SA INYONG SAKRIPISYO! MABUHAY PO KAYO! MABUHAY ANG NAKIKIBAKANG MAMAMAYAN!

*RE-POST OF TONYO CRUZ’ BLOG

Lessons from PISTON’s successful jeepney strike

By tonyo | December 13, 2007

The transport strike is a success, despite the Arroyo government’s claims that it did not affect anything. The MMDA suspended color-coding and provided free rides to stranded commuters.

In Davao, three out of every four jeepneys did not ply their routes.

Jeepney drivers in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities also joined the strike. Also in Iloilo and Aklan, and in Baguio, Calabarzon and Bicol.

What do jeepney drivers want? Not heaven. They don’t want immense wealth. They don’t want fancy cars.

They are actually fighting for everyone’s welfare on the issue of relentless oil price hikes. Jeepney drivers and just about everyone have been affected by these increases, and the Arroyo government has not done anything to check the price hikes. The government just always gives the lame excuse about the world market determining the final pump price, and that the industry is deregulated — meaning that the government won’t intervene.

Lame excuses really because the government has the mandate to check whether oil companies are gouging consumers, including jeepney drivers, in the price hikes. We have yet to be informed by the government whether the increases are warranted. Moreover, nothing stops the government from reacquiring Petron,  establishing centralized oil procurement (so we won’t depend 100% on overpriced oil products from Shell, Petron and Caltex) and other stuff. The government just wants to sit down and relax, the same things the oil cartel owners do everyday while all of us endure an endless wave of price hikes.

Congress should also seriously consider some proposals on how to address the problem.

Yes, many were inconvenienced by the strike, that we must all admit. But that is a small price to pay for making the entire nation take note of the kadusta-dustang sitwasyon of jeepney drivers, the runaway prices of oil, and the government’s incompetence.

Buti pa ang jeepney drivers, umaangal para sa lahat.

Noong Nob 30, araw ng dakilang lider ng rebolusyong pilipino: Andres Bonifacio, idineklara ng mga multi sektoral na mga samahan na araw din ng Pagtakwil sa isang Bangkaroteng Gubyerno ni GMA,

Bagamat isang araw bago ang naka iskedyul na martsa protesta ay nanggulat ang grupo nina sen trillanes ng mag walk out sila sa hearing ng kanilang kaso at itake over ang isang high-end hotel sa makati…. nakakawindang ang mga sumunod na pangyayayri.Kinundena nila ang morally bankcrupt na pamahalaan ni gma, ang garapalang nakawan at suhulan at ang di maampat ampat na pagpaslang sa mga aktibista. Binira rin nila ang pag gamit sa militar sa mga illegal na aktibidad ng pamahalaan.Nanawagan silang magtipon tipon ang mga tao at mag lunsad ng panibagong people power, pero walang dumating, kung meron man kakaunti para makasindak kay gloria. Matapos ang ilang oras ay tapos na ang lahat, nasupil ang muling pag aaklas ni sen trillanes.

Kinagabihay nag text saken ang isang kaibigan, anu daw opinyun ko sa nang yare, kako simple lang: ang mga tao hindi ang mga bagay ang mapag pasya, ang anumang pagkilos para sa bagbabago ay parating dapat pinapahalagahan ang papel ng masa at ng sambayanan. Sa nangyare kay sen trillanes, tama ang kanyang mga panawagan pero walang masa component. Although sabi ko pa sa kanya, di nito ibig sabihing mahal na ng mga tao si gloria, maling mali ang ganung assumption.

Noong araw ng mismo ng a trenta may lakad ako sa makati, kaso nasa shaw pa lang ako nag text ang kaibigan ko, may emergency day syang lakad. Badtrip. Sakto namang nag text ang kaibigan ko, asking kung gusto ko daw sumama sa isang inter faith prayer worship sa may san cruz church kako SURE.

Nagsimula ang panalanging bayan at ang repleksyon sa magandang balita ugnay sa kasalukuyang mga pangyayari. Pinaalab pa ito ng pag kanta ng Pagibig sa tinubuang lupa, isang tula ng birthday boy na si ka andres. Matapos yun ay nag wika ang pari na sasama kami sa malawak ng pormasyon sa liwasan bilang pagkundena sa Bulok ng pamamahala ni gma. high na high ako nun, sa wakas makakapag martsa muli…sa wakas sa piling muli ng mamamayan…

Di ko inakalang ganun karami ang pupunta, puno ang buong liwasan, ito siguro ang patunay na di takot kay GMA ang taongbayan. Matapos ang maikling programa sa liwasang bonifacio… biglang dumagundong ang isang sigaw MENDIOLA…MENDIOLA…nalunod ang buong liwasan ng sabay sabay na sumigaw ang mga tao..mediola mendiola….Sigaw ng masa! Patalsikin si Gloria… inihanda ang hanay sa pag mamartsa muli… sinakop ang isang lane ng daan..pero instead na ma badtrip makikita mo ang pakikiisa ng mga natrapik na drayber at pasahero, may pumapalakpak, may sumisigaw ng ayos, may nag thuthumbs up, nakasalubong pa kami ng mga bombero na nag pawangwang habang nagthuthumbsup ang mga ito. nakakawala ng pagod, diko ramdam ang init… init ng militansya at ng pakikiisa ang nararamdaman ko…dumaan kami sa may avenida, sa may appliance store na nooy nag papa sounds ng kanya ng sex bomb,pinahinto ang tugtug ng may ari, kinuha ang mikropono at sumigaw; patalsikin na natin si gloria, tama yang ginagawa nyo.. hiyawan ang mga tao… Mejo paos na ako sa kasisigaw ng: Ang taong Simbahan… ngayon ay Lumalaban… sumegue ako sandali para bumili ng candy at inumin, kako sa aleng nag lalako ale pabili ng candy at isang maliit ng mineral.. inabot saken ang kendi at tubig ng nakangiti, ng iaabot ko na ng bayad..tinanggihan nya, pinilit ko kako bayad ko po ito,,, sabi nya noy wag nag, sumusuporta ako sa inyo, katunayan ang laki ng tulong nyo sa taongbayan kahit jan man lang makabawi ako..di kasi ako makakasama sa martsa… natigilan ako sandali, di ko alam kung sa hiya, sa kasiyahan o halo halo nang emosyon, na blangko talaga ako, si manang pa ang nag sabing nag sisimula na ulit ang martsa at baka maiwan ako….grabeng nagpasalamat ako at kumaway paalis.

Matagumpay sa kabuuan ang naging martsa, bagamat hinarang na sa recto pa lamang( pakshet ka mayor LIM liar), naipakita ng mamamayan na kahit anu pa ang gawing panunupil ni Gloria, mapa martial law man yan o Curfew, hindi tayo mag papatinag hanggang di sya nakakaladkad sa kangkungan ng kasaysayan.

Sa anumang pagkilos ang masa ang magpapasya.. sabi nga ng wikain sa liturhiyang sa santa cruz church… panginoong mapagmahal… lingapin mo ang sambayanan sa paglikha nila ng bagong yugto ng kasaysayan….

At ang mga katulad ni manang ang magbabago ng kasaysayan… manapa’y alam kong sa malaoy sasama at magiging aktibo din syang kikilos sa pag tatamo nito……..