Sunday, June 24, 2012

History of the Philippines based on Flag Colors


Said to be the first official flag of the underground-society-turned-revolutionary government Katipunan (KKK), led by Supreme President Andres Bonifacio y de Castro. The three letter Ks in white centered on a red cloth stood for Kataastasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng Manga Anak nang Bayan (loosely translates into "Most High & Most Sacred Society of the Children of the Land").





An early version of the flag of the Katipunan  It has the three (3) white letter Ks arranged in an equilateral triangle on a red cloth. It should be noted that leaders of the KKK had their differing war standards.





Flown from August 1896 until possibly the Fil-Am War
Arguably the first official flag of the Philippines-in-revolution. This flag was Bonifacio's war standard that was raised during the Cry of Pugadlawin when revolutionaries tore their cedulas (residence certificates), signalling the call to sever colonial ties with Spain. The Katipunan transformed into a revolutionary government on August 24, 1896 with Bonifacio as President and forming a military arm organized to forcibly attain independence from Spain through the Himagsikan. The Katipunan flag was unfurled two days later in Balintawak, shortly before the launching of the general uprising.



Supposedly the first official revision of the Katipunan flag when military leaders at the 1897 Naic Assembly adopted a design of mythological sun having eight rays but retaining the white-and-red colors.




Flown from 1898 to about 1907; possibly 1919 to about 1936
Design of the flag adopted by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (although the exact shade of blue is contested). The blue, red, yellow and white flag has an equilateral triangle on the left that encases the Sun and three stars. First raised during the June 12, 1898 proclamation of Philippine Independence. Note the mythological sun of the Naic Assembly flag is retained.




Flown from about 1904-1907
Flag of the Republika ng Katagalugan, a government established and led by Gen. Macario Sakay during the protracted Philippine-American War (1899-1914), with areas of influence covering Southern Luzon. The Republika ng Katagalugan was largely based on the original Katipunan, with Sakay being a Katipunero who worked under Bonifacio, and as such, reflected in the design of this flag that incorporated the letter K and the simple sun design of Bonifacio's war standard, also in red and white colors. 




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American Colonial Era


Flown from 1899 (Philippine-American War) -  about 1946
  • The flag of the United States was taught to be the flag of the Filipinos during the American colonial rule. Captured officers of the Philippine Republic and other freedom fighters were made to swear by it. In class, Filipino children were taught the the Bald Eagle flag was their flag. After the imperialist U.S. government tricked Sakay into surrendering and had him executed, it passed the Flag Law of 1907, Act No. 1696, outlawed the display or unfurling of Filipino flags, including that of the Malolos (Philippine) Republic and flags, banners, emblems, and symbols of the KKK. When the flag law was lifted in 1919, the U.S. (Star Spangled) banner was flown side by side with the Philippine flag until 1946. 
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Flown from about 1936* - Present
This is largely the present design of the flag as decreed by Manuel L. Quezon, President of the American-sponsored Commonwealth government, with the issuance of Executive Order No. 23 in 1936. Note that the mythological sun was replaced with a "solid golden sunburst without any markings." This flag was first used by the Philippines as a sovereign nation when the U.S. "granted" independence on July 4, 1946. 

According to section 4 of Republic Act No. 8491 issued in 1998,  The flag of the Philippines shall be blue, white and red with an eight-rayed golden-yellow sun and three five-pointed stars, as consecrated and honored by the people. Earlier in 1997, the blue in the national flag was changed from navy blue to royal blue, according to Flag Bulletin No. 180. Except for the exact shade of blue, the present flag has retained all specifications found in the 1936 flag decree. 


*The Philippine Flag was flown side by side with the American flag from 1936 to 1946 during the U.S.-sponsored Commonwealth government

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Monday, June 18, 2012

Rizal at Bonifacio: Ang Pagwawangis at Paglilihis

ni Gurong  Daniel Mendoza Anciano


HINDI SAPAT para sa isa ang espasyo ng pedestal na maaring pagluklukan para sa isang natatanging pambansang bayani na ngayon ay okupado ni Jose Rizal. Sa kabila nito, ang kaangkupan ni Rizal sa pangingibabaw sa pantheon ng kabayanihan ay matagal ng panahon na binabatikos ng mga taong may higit na pagpapahalaga sa bayaning si Andres Bonifacio. Ang tunggalian ng mga mga maka-Rizal at maka Bonifacio ay hindi lamang nakapaloob sa kahalagahan ng nagawa nila para sa ating bayan kundi higit sa lahat ay ang kaangkupan ng dinadalang pilosopiya at reseta ng bawat isa bilang lunas na aksiyon sa mga sakit ng ating lipunan. Sa anumang pagsusuri ng buhay ng dalawang bayani ay malimit na ipakita ang kanilang pagkakaiba at paglalayo, ngunit sa isang malalimang pagsusuri ng kanilang buhay ay makikita ang napakaraming pagwawangis na kinulayan ng matingkad na paglilihis.
        
Kapwa sila isinilang sa unang hati ng dekada 60 ng nakalipas na siglo, nabuhay at nakisalamuha sa panahon ng kolonyalismo ng Espanya. Nagsagawa sila ng epektibong aksiyon upang ituwid ang tiwaling lipunang kanilang kinamulatan at sa dakong huli ang kanilang nagawa, ang naghatid sa dayuhang pamahalaan sa dapithapon ng kolonyalismo. Isinilang man sila sa iisang panahon ngunit pinag-ibayo naman sila ng pagkakataon. Isinilang si Rizal sa isang bahay na bato sa lalawigan, nagmula sa pangkat ng gitnang uri na noon ay nagsisimulang maging asertibo sa kanilang paghiling ng kapantayan na makilahok sa bumibilis na gulong ng kalakalan. Lumaki si Rizal sa pagkalinga ng kaniyang mga magulang (na naunahan pa niya sa kamatayan) at mga nakakatandang kapatid, partikular na dito si Paciano, na nagsilbing anino sa likuran ng bawat mapagpasiyang hakbang ni Rizal. Taliwas si Bonifacio, isinilang siya sa kalunsuran sa isang tipikal na bahay kubo sa maralitang distrito ng Tondo, nagmula sa mababang pangkat ng mga tao sa lipunan na tuwirang nakadarama ng diin ng pang-aapi, inhustisya, at pagsasamantala. Agad na inulila ng mga magulang at maagang naatangan ng pananagutan na mag-aruga at gumabay sa kaniyang mga nakakabatang kapatid sa pagtahak sa maunos na landas ng buhay.
        
Kapwa makabuluhan ang kanilang mga nagawa at kaisipan na naiambag sa ating lipunan at kasaysayan. Sa kabila ng kapwa nilang maikling buhay, muli't muling hinahalungkat ng mga iskolar ang kahalagahan at kabuluhan ng dalawa para sa mga henerasyong dumadaan. Sa kabilang kapwa makabuluhan buhay, ang batis ng pambiograpiya ay pinagwangki naman sila. Ang buhay ni Rizal ay halos detalyado sa lahat ng aspekto na ipinapakita ng kaniyang daan-daang dokumento at sangkaterbang litrato na ngayon ay nakasinop sa mga aklatan at arkibo. Ang pagbabatayan sa buhay ni Bonifacio ay ang ilang pira-pirasong dokumento na nagsasaad ng kaniyang mga huling taon, mga tagpi-tagping kuwento ng kaniyang mga naging kasamahan at nag-iisang larawan na tangi lamang kababakasan ng mukha ng taong nanguna sa pinakamapangahas at pinakamapagpasiyang pagkilos ng sambayan sa ating kasaysayan.
        
Kapwa sila uhaw sa karunungan at pala-aral sa kalagayan ng lipunan. May mga pagkakataon na nagkatulad pa sila ng mga aklat na binasa at nakapukaw ng kanilang kamalayang panlipunan. Ang magkatulad na pagkauhaw sa kaalaman ay hindi naman pinapagparayaan ng magkatulad na kapalaran, labis silang pinag-agwat sa hagdanan ng pormal na kaalaman. Si Rizal ay nagtapos ng lisensiyado sa dalawang kurso: Una ay sa Medisina; at pangalawa sa Piliospiya at Letra sa isang unibersidad ng Espanya. Si Bonifacio sa kabilang dako ay bahagyang natapos ang primarya at ang karagdagang kaalaman ay natamo niya sa dalawang larangan: Una ay sa kalsadang kaniyang ginagalawan; at ang ikalawa sa trabahong kaniyang pinasukan. Sa kabila ng magkaibayong antas ng edukasyon ng dalawa, sa panahong ang bayan ay naghanap ng magiging karibal ni Rizal sa luklukan ng pambansang kabayanihan hindi ang kaniyang mga kapantay sa kaalamang pormal ang itinapat sa kaniya kundi si Bonifacio na ang pormal na edukasyon ay halos nakasubsob sa ilalim ng pormal na paaralan.
        
Kapwa sila naging aktibong alagad ng Kilusang Propaganda sa panahon na malayo pa sa hinagap ang posibilidad ng isang himagsikan. Sa iisang kilusan na kinasasapian ngunit magka-agwat sila sa aspekto ng kalikasan ng pagkilos at heograpiya ng ginagalawan. Aktibo at nasa rurok ng kasikatan si Rizal sa Kilusang Propaganda sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang pagsulat ng dalawang nobelang panlipunan at mga artikulo sa La Solidaridad na noon ay nakabase sa Europa. Ang partisipasyon ni Bonifacio sa propaganda ay tahimik, hindi pansin, at nakapaloob lamang sa Maynila at limitado lamang sa pamumudmod ng mga babasahin ng propaganda sa kaniyang mga kakilala at ilang mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas.
        
Kapwa sila alagad ng literaturang nagbabandila ng protesta, naghahasik ng pagkamuhi sa kalagayang pinananatili ng kolonyal na sistema at nananawagan sa isang pagbabagong panlipunan. Sa kabila nito ay makikita ang paglalaot ng kanilang mga paraan, lawak, istilo, wika, at layunin. Si Rizal sa malaking bahagi ng kaniyang panulat ay nasa anyo ng nobela at mga artikulong may maka-iskolar na pagtrato, ginamit ang wikang Espanyol, at makikitahan ng kapinuhang panliteratura. Hinikayat ni Rizal ang kaniyang mga mambabasa na itaboy ang dilim ng panatismo at pamahiin sa pamamagitan ng liwanag ng karunungan at abutin ang kapantayang kultural at intelekwal sa ating mga mananakop upang maging isang mabisang sandata sa isang ebolusyong panlipunan. Sentro ng pagbatikos ni Rizal ang frailocracia na noon ay nagsisilbing moog ng pyudal na kaisipan at humahadlang sa pagdaloy ng liberalismo at reporma sa kolonyal na gobyerno. Si Rizal bilang isang repormista ay nakikita pa ang posibilidad na masulsihan pa ang ang naagans na retaso ng kolonyalismo. Ganap ang kataliwasan ni Bonifacio, ginamit niya ang wikang Tagalog sa kaniyang maiikling artikulo na sinasabi ng ilan na "magaspang" at "hubad sa bulaklak ng retorika." Sa kabila ng "kababawan" at "hindi repinado" ng kaniyang sulatin ay tuwiran niyang hinikayat ang sambayanang Pilipino sa pag-aaring ganap ng isang higit na agresibong aksiyon upang patirin ang kadena ng kolonyalismo na mariing sumasakal sa buhay at kaisipan ng kaniyang mga kababayan. Kay Bonifacio ay walang pagkakaiba ang frailocracia at ang kolonyal na burukrasya, hindi ang pagsusulsi ng agnas na retaso ng kolonyalismo ang dapat na maging katugunan kung hindi ang paghahangad ng bagong retasong panlipunan na hahabiin ng mga kamay ng mga taong lalahok sa himagsikan.
        
Kapwa laman ng isipan ng dalawa ang armadong opsiyon sa pagbabagong mukha ng lipunan at pinaglaro nila ito sa kanilang mga kaisipan. Ang magkaparehong pagmumuni ng armadong pakikibaka sa isipan ay inilapat nila sa magkaibang kinalalagyan. Ang armadong opsiyon ni Rizal ay makikitang dinala ng kaniyang mga tauhang sina Elias at Simoun, pinaglaruan niya ang katumpakan at kahinaan ng armas bilang kasangkapan sa pagbabagong anyo ng lipunan, ngunit natakot si Rizal na ang himagsikan sa kaniyang isipan ay malipat at maganap sa mismong lipunan, kaya ito ay kaniyang kinulong at kinitil pa sa pahina ng panitikan. Para kay Bonifacio, bigo ang ebolusyonaryong bisyon na ibinabandila ng mga repormista at ang pagsasakatotohanan sa lipunan ng isang rebolusyon ang tanging landas na tatahakin ng sambayan sa pagtatamo ng kanilang inaadhiang kasarinlan.
        
Kapwa naimpluwensiyahan sila ng martiyo ng GOMBURZA noong 1872 at kinikilala nila ang binhi ng tatlong paring martir sa pagsibol ng kolektibong nasyonalismo ng sambayang Pilipino, ngunit ang paraan ng paghanga ay isinagawa sa magkaibang paraan. Ang Noli Me Tangere ay isang nobelang pang-inbestiga kung papaanong ang repormista ay isinangkot sa krimen na ang mga prayle ang tunay na nasa likuran. Dinakila ni Rizal ang GOMBURZA sa paghahandog nito ng kaniyang El Filibusterismo. Nag-inbestiga rin si Bonifacio sa tunay na pangyayari sa kaso ng GOMBURZA noong kaniyang direktang litisin at ipabitay ang mga nabihag na prayle sa Cavite. Dinakila rin ni Bonifacio ang GOMBURZA sa pamamagitan ng paggamit na nasabing panitik bilang senyales ng isa sa mga pangkat ng Katipunan.
        
Kapwa sila pulitiko na humarap sa magkahiwalay na halalan na isinagawa ng kanilang mga kababayan na nagbunga ng kanilang paghiwalay sa mga dating kasamahan. Si Rizal ay natalo sa hinihinging mayorya sa halalang ginanap ng mga repormistang paisano sa pagpili ng kanilang magiging pinuno sa Madrid, ito ang simula ng alitang Rizal at Marcelo del Pilar. Si Bonifacio ay natalo sa ginanap na unang halalang pampangaluhun na ginanap sa Tejeros na nagbunga ng kaniyang paghiwalay kay Emilio Aguinaldo at sa huli ay ang pagpaslang sa kaniya ng mga dating kasamahan.
        
Kapwa mahalaga sa dalawa ang unang linggo ng Hulyo 1892. Noong Hulyo 3, 1892 (Linggo) nagtagpo sa una at huling pagkakataon sina Rizal at Bonifacio ng itatag ng huli ang La Liga Filipina. Simbolikal ang pagtatagpo na ito nagsilbing parang isang transisyon ng ng dalawang historikal na nilalang sa sentro ng politikang kontra kolonyal. Ang pagtatag ni Rizal ng La Liga Filipina ay sinundan ng pagpapatapon sa kaniya sa Dapitan at panimula ng kaniyang pagkakahimbing pulitikal. Noong Hulyo 7, 1892, itinatag ni Bonifacio ang Katipunan na hudyat ng kaniyang pangingibabaw sa larangan ng kontra kolonyal na pakikibaka.
        
Kapwa sila pinuno ng Kilusang Katipunan, pamumuno na may magkaibang katayuan at kalikasan. Si Bonifacio, ang supremo ang aktibong nagpakilos, nagpalaganap, nagpalakas, at naghanda ng kilusan para sa ilulunsad na himagsikan. Samanatalang si Rizal na noon ay walang kamalay-malay sa mga kaganapan sa Kamaynilaan, ang inilagay na pangulong pandangal ng samahan.
        
Kapwa sila biktima ng puwersang panlipunan na kanilang pinasimulan sa pamamagitan ng pagbabayad ng kanilang mga buhay. Ang repormistang si Rizal na ang mapanuring panulat ay nakagising sa kaniyang mga kababayan sa pangangailangan ng pagbabago sa pamamagitan ng mapayapang pamamaraan ay pinaratangan na nasa likod ng himagsikan. Si Bonifacio naman na nagsindi ng mitsa ng himagsikan ay pinagbintangan ng kaniyang mga kasamahan ng "pagtataksil" laban sa rebolusyon na kaniyang pinamunuan at pinasimulan.
        
Kapwa sila mga biktima ng mga hukumang hubad sa kredibilidad. Ngunit ang pinakamalaking kablintunaan ay si Rizal na nanalig hanggang sa huling sandali ng kaniyang buhay sa posibilidad ng reporma mula sa mga dayuhang kapangayrihan ay nilitis ng bengatibong korte militar ng Espanya. Samantalang si Bonifacio na naglagak ng pagtitiwala sa kakakayahan ng mga kaniyang mga kababayan sa pagpapalaya ng bayan ay nilitis ng makiling na korte militar ng gobyernong rebolusyonaryo ng mga Pilipino.
        
Kapwa sila nagsalo sa iisang tulang pahimakas. Isinulat ni ni Rizal sa Kuta ng Santiago ang kaniyang Mi Ultimo Adios sa bisperas ng bitayan. Pagkatapos ng martiryo ni Rizal, ang kaniyanga asawa na si Josephine ay nagtungo sa Cavite, dito ay hiniram ni Bonifacio ang orihinal na tula ni Rizal at isinalin ito sa wikang Tagalog. Kung mayroon mang maangkin si Bonifacio na kaganapan para sa kaniya sa nasabing tula ay ang hanay na nagpapahiwatig ng ganito.
Kung ang libingan ko'y limot na ng lahat
at walang krus at batong mabakas
bayaang linangin ng taong masipag
lupa'y asarolin at ikalat

Kapwa sila biktima ng malagim na bitayan sa huling hati ng dekada 90 ng nakalipas na daantaon. Magkatulad na kamatayan sa magkabalintunang lugar na kinaganapan. Si Rizal na isinilang sa lalawigan ay hayagang binitay sa pampublikong lugar sa kalunsuran. Si Bonifacio na isinilang sa kalunsuran ay palihim na binitay sa paanan ng bundok sa lalawigan.

"The Martyrdom of Rizal" (1964) ni Carlos "Botong"  Francisco       -     "Ang Wakas ni Andres Bonifacio" (1963) ni Carlos Valino, Jr.
         
Kapwa sila biktima ng inhustisya sa panahon ng kanilang buhay at sa kasalukuyan, ang kanilang kamatayan ay ibinabalot pa rin sa misteryo ng kasaysayan. Magkaibang salarin na hindi matatawaran ang impluwensiya hanggang sa kasalukuayan. Ang salarin ni Rizal ay pinagtatakpan ng simbahan at ang salarin ni Bonifacio ay pinagtatakpan ng mga inapong maimpluwensiya pa rin sa pamahalaan.
        
Kapwa ginugunita ng bayan ang kanilang ala-ala sa pamamagitan ng pambansang tanging araw na magkaiba ang pinag-uukulan. Si Rizal sa araw ng kaniyang kamatayan, samantalang si Bonifacio sa araw naman ng kaniyang kamatayan. Mapansin din sana ang insidente ng pagkakataon, ang buwan ng Nobyembre (30) na kapanganakan ni Bonifacio ay sinusundan ng Disyembre (30) na buwan ng kamatayan ni Rizal. Ang buwan ng Mayo (10) na buwan ng kamatayan ni Bonifacio ay sinusundan ng buwan ng Hunyo (19) na kapanganakan ni Rizal.


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Ang may-akda ay guro ng Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas sa Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite.
Inilithala sa kanyang orihinal na porma sa FILIPINO MAGASIN (FILMAG) noong 1997.



UKOL sa MGA LARAWAN:
 
"Ang Wakas ni Andres Bonifacio" ni Carlos Valino Jr.
ay nanalo sa  1963 Andres Bonifacio Centennial Art Contest. Ang larawan ay kinopy ni Prop Michael Chua sa aklat na Tragedy of the Revolution (akda ni Adrian E. Cristobal) subali't ito ay masusulyapan ng buo ngayon sa Bulwagang Katipunan ng Manila City Hall.

"The Martyrdom of Rizal" ni Carlos "Botong" Francisco na nilikha noong 1964 ng naging National Artist for Painting1964 Republic of the Philippines Cultural Heritage awardee ay sinasabing nasa private collection ngayon.



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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

PALAYAIN ang mga BILANGGONG POLITIKAL: Pagsaludo sa SELDA sa 27 Taong Pakikibaka

by Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Political Prisoner, 1977-86
Chairperson, International League of Peoples’ Struggle
11 June 2012


AS A former political prisoner and member of SELDA (Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto) and as Chairperson of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), I salute and congratulate the SELDA, its current officers and all members for their struggle for the democratic rights and freedom of all the political prisoners since the founding of SELDA on December 4, 1984.

I am proud to say that even while I was still a political prisoner I was consulted about the founding of SELDA. Since then, SELDA has become the most outstanding organization in the Philippines in defending the rights of political prisoners, working for their release and mobilizing moral and material support for them and their families before and after said release.

Known all over the world is the great success of SELDA in pursuing the human rights litigation against the Marcos estate in the US court system and in documenting the victimization of close to 10,000 Filipinos who suffered extrajudicial killings, forced disappearance, torture and illegal detention during the Marcos fascist dictatorship.

Without the work of SELDA, the case against Marcos would not have succeeded. But certain elements have sought to deny the role of SELDA and make a scam for their political and material benefit, going to the extent of excluding 2000 documented victims (including prominent political prisoners and former officers of SELDA) and replacing them with fake claimants in order to spite SELDA.

Year in and year out, there is a bill in the Philippine reactionary congress intended to indemnify and rehabilitate political prisoners and victims of human rights violations under the Marcos fascist regime. But in various ways, such a bill has been sabotaged and fallen short of enactment. SELDA is thus challenged to find ways of effecting a just legislation for the benefit of the victims of human rights violations under the Marcos fascist regime that participated in litigation against Marcos in the US.

It is ironical that the reactionary government which has continued the Marcos policies of puppetry to imperialist powers, corruption, plunder and human rights violations and which has never done justice to the victims of human rights violations from the time of Marcos to the present is posing as the possible dispenser of justice and the possible provider of resources for indemnifying and rehabilitating the victims and their families.

In the course of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations, I have warned several times that the failure to do justice to the victims of the Marcos regime compounds the injustice to them and their families and serves as strong cause for revolution. But from one reactionary regime to another, we have seen the ceaseless exploitation and oppression of the people and the infliction of the worst human rights violations on those activists who seek the national and social liberation of the people.

The reason for the existence and further development of SELDA is the continuance of human rights violations and the need to fight for the basic democratic rights and fundamental freedoms of the people. And it is fine that among the human rights organizations, SELDA is focused on defending the political prisoners and seeking their release and rehabilitation.

The SELDA is commendable for seeking the release of political prisoners in the time of every reactionary regime. It must be credited for the release of political prisoners, usually done in significant number at the early part of every reactionary regime. But today we are confronted by the vicious regime of Aquino who delayed the release of the Morong 43 despite the strong domestic and international public clamor and who now appears to relish the indefinite detention of hundreds of political prisoners (356 at the current count).

These political prisoners are being detained in violation of the International Bill of Rights, the International Humanitarian Law, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the Hernandez political offense doctrine. On the charge sheets, they are accused of participating in the rebellion of the revolutionary forces of the people and yet they are detained and penalized for common crimes. Among the political prisoners are those protected by the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). Yet they are not released, thus causing the paralysis of the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations.

It is of the highest importance that SELDA demand and work for the release of the political prisoners, including those very few protected by JASIG. It is a matter of justice and adherence to human rights that the political prisoners must be released immediately. It is also a matter of improving the conditions and atmosphere for negotiating a just peace. A regime that relishes the indefinite imprisonment of political prisoners is perverse and cannot be trusted.

The Aquino regime claims to be different from the Arroyo regime. But in fact the Aquino regime is not different. It is hell-bent on continuing the Arroyo policies of puppetry,, plunder and gross human rights violations. It is keeping the political prisoners of the Arroyo regime and it is adding its own. It is increasing the number of those unjustly arrested, imprisoned , tortured and murdered by its military and police forces under Oplan Bayanihan.

SELDA has the noble mission of defending the rights of the political prisoners and seeking their release. This mission must be fulfilled if we are to become a better and stronger nation. SELDA must activate and muster the support of all former political prisoners and their friends. The high positions of respect and influence of a considerable number of former political prisoners must be combined with mass mobilization in order to obtain the freedom of all the current political prisoners.

SELDA carries forward a just cause that enjoys abundant support in the country and abroad. We are gratified that whatever are the odds, the SELDA is doing the best it can in order to obtain justice and indemnification for political prisoners and other victims of human rights violations. We must stand in solidarity with the SELDA and support all its efforts in fulfilling its noble mission. ###

(May permiso upang kopyahin at pamahagi)

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Pinagkunan:

Sison, Joma. FREE THE POLITICAL PRISONERS: Salute to SELDA for more than 27 years of struggle. 11 Hunyo 2012. http://www.josemariasison.org/?p=10953



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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Tungkol sa Paghatol kay Corona ng Dilaw na Kamada

Interview of Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Chief Political Consultant
Negotiating Panel
National Democratic Front of the Philippines

By Gerg Cahiles
Reporter of Solar News

Ka Joma, I would like to get your insights on Corona’s removal from the SC through impeachment.

Here are some questions:

1. What is your analysis on the removal of Corona from the SC? What do you think are the factors why the Aquino regime is very eager on this  matter?


Answer: The removal of Corona is a manifestation and offshoot of the conflict between the Aquino yellow gang in power and the Arroyo gang. It is more specifically about Noy Aquino punishing Corona for the Supreme Court decision on Hacienda Luisita. Most importantly, it is strategically about taking over the Supreme Court and dominating the  reactionary government.

2. What will be the next step of the Aquino administration, especially that they are already pushing to control all the branches of the government?

Answer: The Corona trial and conviction show that the Aquino regime now controls all three branches of the reactionary government. And the regime is going to tighten its control in several ways, especially through the forthcoming 2013 elections. Take note that Aquino controls not only his ruling Liberal Party but also the party and coalition UNA of his close buddy Binay and his uncle Peping Cojuangco. Aquino and Cojuangco now monopolize political power and the opportunities to accumulate far more wealth than ever before. There is no other significant reactionary force trying to oppose the regime.

3. Your reaction on: Aquino administration using all its machineries, including the media, to depose Corona and other enemies of their administration.

Answer: It was money and media manipulation that made Noynoy president and demolish his opponents. Once more he has used money, media and government machinery to demolish Corona and force him to make mistakes in his legal defense. What is most dangerous about the Aquino yellow gang is that it can use the military as well as money and the media to attack and suppress not only any intra-systemic opposition but also the patriotic and progressive forces.

4. Did the US intervene in Corona’s removal from office?

Answer: The US has special interest in keeping Aquino in power because he serves US interests. But I do not think that the US had to intervene in the removal of Corona. Noy Aquino and the yellow gang in the media and in government could very well do the job of destroying Corona.

5. How will the Aquino government choose the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

Answer: The Judicial & Bar Council is supposed to recommend the eplacement of Corona. Any president controls this body and chooses from the list of recommendees it submits formally.

6. What else should we expect from the Aquino regime after Corona’s removal? Will they still do something to stop the distribution of Hacienda Luisita?

Answer. It is still possible for the Aquino regime to reverse or undercut the Supreme Court decision on Hacienda Luisita. The farm workers are vulnerable to the machinations of a cacique president. But the Aquinos and Cojuangcos do not have to blatantly cast away the previous Supreme Court decision. Anyway, they can make bigger money  elsewhere, such as in the infrastructure and energy projects, military purchases, mining, new plantations and so on.

7. What should be done by the people to stop Aquino from controlling all the government branches?

Answer: The patriotic and progressive forces should be vigilant and militant. They should expose and oppose by all possible means the Aquino regime’s puppetry to the US imperialism, corruption, plunder and human rights violations. They should arouse, organize and mobilize the masses. They should not be misled or confused by Aquino’s daily manipulation of the media and should not be intimidated by his use of  the military.

(May pahintulot ng pagpaskil mula kay Ka Joma Sison)

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Pinagkunan:

Cahiles, Greg. On the Conviction of Corona and Related Matters.  (Panayam kay Prop. Jose Maria Sison). http://www.josemariasison.org/?p=10933#more-10933

Photo credits:

 The Daily Tribune. http://www.tribune.net.ph/

 Licencia de Creative Commons Reposts are licensed to the respective authors. Otherwise, posts by Jesusa Bernardo are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Philippines.

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