Press Release
November 25, 2005
Reference: MR. JOSSEL I. EBESATE, R.N.
Secretary General, Alliance of Health Workers (AHW)
Tel #4043721 CP #09189276381
After being called an "alarmist" now the realization that we are right after all. In fact our grim assessment is even “sunny” than the evolving realities that are now surfacing.
In a press conference after the National Council Meeting of the Alliance of Health Workers on September 16, 2005, we announced that based on our assessment, the Philippines' health care delivery system will collapse within the next 2 to 3 years, if the present trend of exodus of professionals (especially doctors as nurses), closure of secondary hospitals and nil to meager investment in public primary health care would not be addressed properly. This was initially denied by the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) thereby eliciting an “alarmist” tag from an editorial article in a major daily.
Later, the Philippine Medical Association and the National Institutes of Health in U.P. Manila came out with statistics, painting a grim picture of brain drain in the country.
Just recently, the Private Hospitals' Association of the Philippines (PHAP) reported that even private hospitals in the provinces (many are on secondary level) closes down (more than 1,000 for the last 5 years and only 700 remained) because of lack of doctors and nurses. But the DOLE, through Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that "the brain drain of health professionals is nothing but mere perception," that rightfully elicited a harangued editorial from a major daily.
Now, Malacanang itself acknowledged that indeed we are now facing a serious medical crisis. However, merely acknowledging its presence, would not resolved the problem of impending collapse of the Philippine health care delivery system, we need to dig deeper on the root causes in order to came out with the right solutions immediately.
We in the Alliance of Health Workers is proposing the following measures that should be done immediately in order to avert the collapse of our health care delivery system:
1. Increase the budget for health, equivalent to at least 5% of the GNP as prescribed by the WHO. Our constitution prescribed that health is a basic right, and that the state shall provide for an affordable health services to all. The present P10.4B earmarked by the National Government for health is like salt being rubbed to the wounds of the Filipino people.
2. Re-nationalize the delivery of primary health care and assure full coverage of every barangay in the country. The heart and soul of a rationale and comprehensive public health care delivery system is on the prevention of the disease and maintenance of health, not in the curative and rehabilitative aspect.
3. Immediately implement the provisions of existing laws that raised the salaries and benefits of public health personnel. Republic Act 7305 (Magna Carta of Public Health Workers) had been enacted in 1992 yet until this time only in PGH that budget allocation for hazard pay and subsistence allowance were included in the annual national budget, although such allocation does not still include night differential, laundry, overtime pay, hospitalization and other allowances. How about agencies and hospitals under the DOH and the local government units? Also, the Nursing Act of 2002 that include raising the salaries of government nurses from P9,339.00 to P13,300.00 was yet to be implemented by any public health institution. Ask most of the nurses in the provinces and even here in Metro Manila and they will tell you that if only existing laws on health workers’ salaries and benefits were fully implemented, they would think twice before leaving the country.
4. Provide incentives to private hospitals, private practitioners and specialists that are serving our countrymen in depressed or remote areas. This proposal does not need any explanation why.
5. Implement a comprehensive Health Human Resource Development Plan and Management as provided under RA 7305. An effective health care delivery system need to have a comprehensive plan, starting from the determination of the number of students to take a specific health course, entry to a health profession and training of specialists, to deployment, career development and retirement.
6. Never enact a medical malpractice law. It has been proven in the United States that the only parties that benefited from the discriminatory malpractice law are the insurance companies but never the general public that it was supposed to protect. Even former US President Clinton during his incumbency uttered in exasperation that he regretted the enactment of such law. ###
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Public Health Workers Go BOLD For COLA Back Pay
Press Release
October 20, 2005
References: Mr. Jossel Ebesate, Secretary General, AHW CP # 09189276381
Ms. Emma Manuel, AHW PresidentCP # 09178008634
Hundreds of Public Health Workers from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), San Lazaro Hospital, National Center for Mental Health and other hospitals under the Department of Health (DOH) in their bold painted bodies gathered in front of the PGH today to press their demand to the government to pay their back pay of the cost of living allowance (COLA) amounting to P85,000.00 for each of the government employees. “The GMA government is hell bent in imposing E-VAT to the already impoverish Filipinos just to pay its foreign debts, but its debt to the health workers is taken for granted”, said Ms. Emma Manuel, AHW president.
The rallying public health workers lead by the All U.P. Workers Union and the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) demanded that the national government through the Department of Budget and Management and respective government agencies immediately release P1 Billion for an initial payment of COLA as prescribed by Cabinet memorandum dated September 9, 2005.
Mr. Jossel I. Ebesate, President of the All UP Workers Union in Manila and Secretary General of the AHW concluded that: “Now is the time for the government to walk the talk that it cares for its own health care givers. If it really served the interest of the people, no other concrete example would suffice than paying its own debts to its own employees.”
It must be recalled that in 1989 during the implementation of R.A. 6758 (Salary Standardization Law), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) failed to publish in the National Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation the Implementing Rules and Regulations as required by law. It was only in 1999 and 2004 that said guidelines was published for employees in government owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) and other government employees, respectively.
Said DBM guidelines stipulated among others that allowances and other income (COLA included) were already incorporated in the basic salary hence, the payment of which were no longer authorized, eliciting series of charges from concerned government employees that went all the way to the Supreme Court.Subsequently, in a series of Supreme Court decisions (7 as of last account) starting from De Jesus, et. al .vs. Commission on Audit (COA) in 1998 to PPA vs. COA on September 6, 2005, the Court consistently ruled that said DBM Guidelines were declared “ineffective” in the absence of publication, hence “inapplicable.”
The Court further ruled that: “in consonance of the equal protection clause of the Constitution, and considering that the employees were all similarly situated as to the matter of the COLA… they should all be treated similarly. All – not only incumbents as of July 1, 1989 – should be allowed to received back pay corresponding to the said benefits from July 1, 1989 to the new effectivity date…”
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Gloria Arroyo Taksil Sa Mga Manggagawang Pangkalusugan At Sa Masa, Patalsikin Na
Pahayag ng All-UP Workers Union Manila Chapter
Ika-8 ng Hulyo 2005
(This Position of the union was adopted by an expanded Chapter Executive Board Meeting on July 5, 2005 and finalized only today, July 19.)
“Nababagabag ako….” Ito ang mga katagang namutawi mula sa bibig ni Gng Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa isang makasaysayang gabi ng Hunyo 27, 2005, kung saan inamin niya ang pakikipag-usap sa isang opisyal ng Comelec noong panahon ng 2004 Eleksyon. Ngunit ang pag-aming ito ay kalahati lamang ng katotohanan ng sistematikong pakikipagsabwatan upang impluwensyahan ang eleksyon.
“Hindi ako magre-resign….”
Nagresulta ng pagdami ng mga kilos protesta upang malaman pa ang buong katotohanan sa likod nito at nanawagan ng kanyang pagbibitiw. . Ngunit patuloy siyang nagpanggap na kontrolado pa ang sitwasyon at hawak pa niya ang tiwala at kompiyansa ng mamamayan. At nito ngang nakalipas na linggo hinamon pa niya ang kanyang mga kabinete na magsipagbitiw na sa kanilang mga posisyon kung hindi na siya kinikilala ng mga ito.
Ang Pilipinas ay lugmok na sa kahirapan. Ito ay isang katotohanan na walang pasubali at walang kagatol-gatol na sasagutin ng bawat Pilipino ng “oo”. Bago pa man lumabas ang kontrobersyal na “Gloriagate tapes,” talamak na ang korapsyon at katiwalian sa pamahalaan at sumasadsad na ang ekonomiya. Ang mahirap ay patuloy na naghihirap at ang mga tiwaling nakaluklok sa kapangyarihan ay patuloy na nagkakamal ng salapi.
Si Gng. Arroyo ay kapit-tuko sa kanyang posisyon at ni katiting na balak mag-resign sa puwesto ay wala. Nagkasala si Gng Arroyo sa Sambayanan at dapat lang siyang managot. Kapag tayo ay magsawalang kibo sa mga nangyayari ay para na rin nating sinabi na magsawalang kibo na lang tayo sa mga katiwalian at sa lahat ng gumagawa ng kasalanan sa ating lipunan.
Bantad na ang mamamayan sa kahirapan at tayong mga manggagawang pangkalusugan ay hindi naiiba sa ganitong kalagayan. Ang mga benipisyong matagal nang dapat naibigay sa atin ay patuloy na ipinagkakait sa kabila ng legalidad sa likod nito, kagaya ng COLA, libreng pagpapa-ospital at iba pang mga benipisyo. Ang P3000 across-the-board monthly salary increase na matagal na rin nating ipinaglalaban ay nakabinbin pa rin sa Kongreso at ni isang sentimo na pagtaas ng sweldo nating mga kawani ay wala tayong natanggap sa kasalukuyang rehimen.
Ang anumang sandaling pananatili ni Gng Arroyo sa poder ay lalo lamang magsasadlak sa atin sa ibayong kahirapan at mga paglulubid ng kasinungalingan tungkol sa ating ekonomiya.
Hanggang kailan magtitiis at aasa ang mga Pilipino na isang araw ay magbabago ang takbo ng kanilang buhay? Sa kasaysayan ng mga dakilang bansa sa buong mundo, ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang siyang nag-uukit ng kanilang kasaysayan tungo sa kadakilaan at kaunlaran. Nasa ating mga kamay kung gayon ang ating kinabukasan. Kung hindi tayo kikilos at gagawa ng aksyon ngayon; sino ang kikilos para sa atin, at kailan pa?
Tayo ay nanawagang patalsikin na si Gng Arroyo sa Malacañang at bumuo ng isang Transition Government na magpapatakbo ng pamahalaan. Isang pamahalaan na mapagkalinga sa mamamayan, hindi ng interes ng dayuhan at iilan; at kumakatawan sa lahat na sektor ng lipunang Pilipino.
Peke at taksil na Pangulo, bumaba ka na sa puwesto bago mo matikman ang paniningil ng Sambayanan!
Ika-8 ng Hulyo 2005
(This Position of the union was adopted by an expanded Chapter Executive Board Meeting on July 5, 2005 and finalized only today, July 19.)
“Nababagabag ako….” Ito ang mga katagang namutawi mula sa bibig ni Gng Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa isang makasaysayang gabi ng Hunyo 27, 2005, kung saan inamin niya ang pakikipag-usap sa isang opisyal ng Comelec noong panahon ng 2004 Eleksyon. Ngunit ang pag-aming ito ay kalahati lamang ng katotohanan ng sistematikong pakikipagsabwatan upang impluwensyahan ang eleksyon.
“Hindi ako magre-resign….”
Nagresulta ng pagdami ng mga kilos protesta upang malaman pa ang buong katotohanan sa likod nito at nanawagan ng kanyang pagbibitiw. . Ngunit patuloy siyang nagpanggap na kontrolado pa ang sitwasyon at hawak pa niya ang tiwala at kompiyansa ng mamamayan. At nito ngang nakalipas na linggo hinamon pa niya ang kanyang mga kabinete na magsipagbitiw na sa kanilang mga posisyon kung hindi na siya kinikilala ng mga ito.
Ang Pilipinas ay lugmok na sa kahirapan. Ito ay isang katotohanan na walang pasubali at walang kagatol-gatol na sasagutin ng bawat Pilipino ng “oo”. Bago pa man lumabas ang kontrobersyal na “Gloriagate tapes,” talamak na ang korapsyon at katiwalian sa pamahalaan at sumasadsad na ang ekonomiya. Ang mahirap ay patuloy na naghihirap at ang mga tiwaling nakaluklok sa kapangyarihan ay patuloy na nagkakamal ng salapi.
Si Gng. Arroyo ay kapit-tuko sa kanyang posisyon at ni katiting na balak mag-resign sa puwesto ay wala. Nagkasala si Gng Arroyo sa Sambayanan at dapat lang siyang managot. Kapag tayo ay magsawalang kibo sa mga nangyayari ay para na rin nating sinabi na magsawalang kibo na lang tayo sa mga katiwalian at sa lahat ng gumagawa ng kasalanan sa ating lipunan.
Bantad na ang mamamayan sa kahirapan at tayong mga manggagawang pangkalusugan ay hindi naiiba sa ganitong kalagayan. Ang mga benipisyong matagal nang dapat naibigay sa atin ay patuloy na ipinagkakait sa kabila ng legalidad sa likod nito, kagaya ng COLA, libreng pagpapa-ospital at iba pang mga benipisyo. Ang P3000 across-the-board monthly salary increase na matagal na rin nating ipinaglalaban ay nakabinbin pa rin sa Kongreso at ni isang sentimo na pagtaas ng sweldo nating mga kawani ay wala tayong natanggap sa kasalukuyang rehimen.
Ang anumang sandaling pananatili ni Gng Arroyo sa poder ay lalo lamang magsasadlak sa atin sa ibayong kahirapan at mga paglulubid ng kasinungalingan tungkol sa ating ekonomiya.
Hanggang kailan magtitiis at aasa ang mga Pilipino na isang araw ay magbabago ang takbo ng kanilang buhay? Sa kasaysayan ng mga dakilang bansa sa buong mundo, ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang siyang nag-uukit ng kanilang kasaysayan tungo sa kadakilaan at kaunlaran. Nasa ating mga kamay kung gayon ang ating kinabukasan. Kung hindi tayo kikilos at gagawa ng aksyon ngayon; sino ang kikilos para sa atin, at kailan pa?
Tayo ay nanawagang patalsikin na si Gng Arroyo sa Malacañang at bumuo ng isang Transition Government na magpapatakbo ng pamahalaan. Isang pamahalaan na mapagkalinga sa mamamayan, hindi ng interes ng dayuhan at iilan; at kumakatawan sa lahat na sektor ng lipunang Pilipino.
Peke at taksil na Pangulo, bumaba ka na sa puwesto bago mo matikman ang paniningil ng Sambayanan!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
RECLAIMING OUR NATION
by: Dr. Minguita Padilla
I voted for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Not only did I vote for her, I believe that I actually contributed in a definite way to her campaign, small as this may have been.
I voted for President Arroyo, not so much because I was convinced she was the best of the lot; but more because of fear. I feared that a vote against her would be a vote for Fernando Poe, Jr. who, at that time, I believed to be the greater evil; not so much because of his person who history has since judged to have been a good man with a noble heart and a sincere desire to serve our country.
No. Like many, I feared FPJ because of his inexperience and especially because of many of the people behind him who history had already shown to be opportunists who would take advantage of even the most noble of intentions to achieve the darkest of deeds. I voted defensively.
However, it was a defensive vote that carried with it the hope that by giving Gloria Arroyo a clear and true mandate, she would perform as a good president should; with only the best interest of our nation and its people in mind. I did it for love of country.
But the events of the last several months, especially those of the last month, have been enough to almost cause me to throw in the towel and declare, like so many of our countrymen, that indeed we are a hopeless nation. It is only the fighter and the dreamer in me that makes me hold on.
We are a battered people; battered by administration after administration that has betrayed our dreams and shot down our hopes since we fought for our freedom in EDSA I. It is a "learned helplessness" that seems to have taken over the majority of our people, now grown cynical and numb in the face of scandal afters candal that has rocked the last two administrations. But we cannot allow anyone to rob us of hope. We do that and we loose everything.
Shocking as they may be, the latest jueteng scandal now being investigated in the Senate as well as the taped phone conversations of the President that allegedly point to her giving instructions to a Comelec official to cheat during the last elections; are but the symptoms of a cancer that has slowly and insidiously taken over our land and our people simply because we have allowed it to: namely corruption.
A cancer is like a monster. Feed it and indulge it long enough, and it grows to unmanageable proportions so that one day, the food you give it will no longer suffice and the monster ends up devouring the very person who feeds it. This is the very principal that has led many of the jueteng lords and operators to finally comeout and turn state witness. They are now apparently seeking to turn a new leaf because the payola to their "protectors" in government has grown so big that it has come to a point where the profits they make are no longer worth the risk and the burden on their conscience.
Cancers, monsters, and corrupt public officials; they are all the same. They are driven by an insatiable hunger that ultimately consumes everything, including them.
The fact that the greed of our corrupt public officials on "the take" from jueteng operations has grown exponentially during the last four years points to a total lack of political will to stop this practice. For an administration that came into power because of the outrage of our people upon learning that its president then was on "the take"from this illegal numbers game, this fact is not only dismal, it reeksof a grave betrayal of public trust.
Should the taped conversation prove to be authentic, the brazen way the instructions for cheating were being given by the President to a Comelec official is again a symptom of how blasé we have become as a nation to corruption such that the Head of State and an official trusted to safeguard our votes would think nothing of mocking one of the most sacred rights of our people.
And even sadder is that very few groups save those with vested interests, are publicly demanding to get to the bottom of this serious charge. Could it be because we are still stunned at what we are witnessing? Or could it be that we have descended to such abysmal depths as a nation that we are no longer capable of outrage?
We are in another major crossroads and we, citizens of good will who have not yet given up hope, must reclaim our nation. We must complete the unfinished EDSA I revolution that lacked an essential element; namely a transformation of heart. We do nothing now and we may again see our country held hostage by yet another group of people only too eager to oust the present regime just so that they can do exactly what they are condemning the present leadership for.
We need to be united as a nation during these difficult times. But it cannot be a "unity" that is achieved at the expense of truth and justice; a unity that simply helps to propagate all that is wrong withour present system. If we must be united let it be in demanding that our leadership set things straight and stop skirting issues by fighting accusations only with counter-accusations.
Let us demand that we be given the truth for a change. We have turned a blind eye long enough and this is where it has led us.
Like most Filipinos, I so desire to see our country get back on the right path. I wish to see the sanctity of the ballot protected, the dignity of our institutions restored, our constitution respected, and our nation's soul reclaimed. I am not a destabilizer. I am simply aFilipino who refuses to give up hope.
I therefore beg the presidentto submit these taped telephone conversations for authentication by independent, international agencies. Nothing good will come from leaving it all to the NBI. At this point, even they are suspect. If the version wherein she is speaking to the Comelec official is proven false, then everybody stands to gain. She would be vindicated and we would perhaps learn how to trust again.
However, should it be proven authentic then she would be guilty of an impeachable offense. Should this be the case then she should do what is decent and best for our country. She must step down.
Dr. Minguita Padilla, Founder and President of the Eye Bank, is also President of Sinag, a People's Crusade for Good Governance. She is also a consultant of the Department of Ophthalmology, UP-PGH. Email: minguita@pacific.net.ph.
I voted for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Not only did I vote for her, I believe that I actually contributed in a definite way to her campaign, small as this may have been.
I voted for President Arroyo, not so much because I was convinced she was the best of the lot; but more because of fear. I feared that a vote against her would be a vote for Fernando Poe, Jr. who, at that time, I believed to be the greater evil; not so much because of his person who history has since judged to have been a good man with a noble heart and a sincere desire to serve our country.
No. Like many, I feared FPJ because of his inexperience and especially because of many of the people behind him who history had already shown to be opportunists who would take advantage of even the most noble of intentions to achieve the darkest of deeds. I voted defensively.
However, it was a defensive vote that carried with it the hope that by giving Gloria Arroyo a clear and true mandate, she would perform as a good president should; with only the best interest of our nation and its people in mind. I did it for love of country.
But the events of the last several months, especially those of the last month, have been enough to almost cause me to throw in the towel and declare, like so many of our countrymen, that indeed we are a hopeless nation. It is only the fighter and the dreamer in me that makes me hold on.
We are a battered people; battered by administration after administration that has betrayed our dreams and shot down our hopes since we fought for our freedom in EDSA I. It is a "learned helplessness" that seems to have taken over the majority of our people, now grown cynical and numb in the face of scandal afters candal that has rocked the last two administrations. But we cannot allow anyone to rob us of hope. We do that and we loose everything.
Shocking as they may be, the latest jueteng scandal now being investigated in the Senate as well as the taped phone conversations of the President that allegedly point to her giving instructions to a Comelec official to cheat during the last elections; are but the symptoms of a cancer that has slowly and insidiously taken over our land and our people simply because we have allowed it to: namely corruption.
A cancer is like a monster. Feed it and indulge it long enough, and it grows to unmanageable proportions so that one day, the food you give it will no longer suffice and the monster ends up devouring the very person who feeds it. This is the very principal that has led many of the jueteng lords and operators to finally comeout and turn state witness. They are now apparently seeking to turn a new leaf because the payola to their "protectors" in government has grown so big that it has come to a point where the profits they make are no longer worth the risk and the burden on their conscience.
Cancers, monsters, and corrupt public officials; they are all the same. They are driven by an insatiable hunger that ultimately consumes everything, including them.
The fact that the greed of our corrupt public officials on "the take" from jueteng operations has grown exponentially during the last four years points to a total lack of political will to stop this practice. For an administration that came into power because of the outrage of our people upon learning that its president then was on "the take"from this illegal numbers game, this fact is not only dismal, it reeksof a grave betrayal of public trust.
Should the taped conversation prove to be authentic, the brazen way the instructions for cheating were being given by the President to a Comelec official is again a symptom of how blasé we have become as a nation to corruption such that the Head of State and an official trusted to safeguard our votes would think nothing of mocking one of the most sacred rights of our people.
And even sadder is that very few groups save those with vested interests, are publicly demanding to get to the bottom of this serious charge. Could it be because we are still stunned at what we are witnessing? Or could it be that we have descended to such abysmal depths as a nation that we are no longer capable of outrage?
We are in another major crossroads and we, citizens of good will who have not yet given up hope, must reclaim our nation. We must complete the unfinished EDSA I revolution that lacked an essential element; namely a transformation of heart. We do nothing now and we may again see our country held hostage by yet another group of people only too eager to oust the present regime just so that they can do exactly what they are condemning the present leadership for.
We need to be united as a nation during these difficult times. But it cannot be a "unity" that is achieved at the expense of truth and justice; a unity that simply helps to propagate all that is wrong withour present system. If we must be united let it be in demanding that our leadership set things straight and stop skirting issues by fighting accusations only with counter-accusations.
Let us demand that we be given the truth for a change. We have turned a blind eye long enough and this is where it has led us.
Like most Filipinos, I so desire to see our country get back on the right path. I wish to see the sanctity of the ballot protected, the dignity of our institutions restored, our constitution respected, and our nation's soul reclaimed. I am not a destabilizer. I am simply aFilipino who refuses to give up hope.
I therefore beg the presidentto submit these taped telephone conversations for authentication by independent, international agencies. Nothing good will come from leaving it all to the NBI. At this point, even they are suspect. If the version wherein she is speaking to the Comelec official is proven false, then everybody stands to gain. She would be vindicated and we would perhaps learn how to trust again.
However, should it be proven authentic then she would be guilty of an impeachable offense. Should this be the case then she should do what is decent and best for our country. She must step down.
Dr. Minguita Padilla, Founder and President of the Eye Bank, is also President of Sinag, a People's Crusade for Good Governance. She is also a consultant of the Department of Ophthalmology, UP-PGH. Email: minguita@pacific.net.ph.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Police's Closure of PGH Main Gate: Shade of Martial Law
PRESS STATEMENT
May 11, 2005
Reference: MR. JOSSEL I. EBESATE
National PRO and Manila Chapter President, All UP Workers Union
Mobile Phone No: 09189276381
The All UP Workers Union strongly condemned the barbaric acts of the Philippine National Police against the participants to the celebration of the National Health Workers Day last Friday, May 6, 2005 at the Philippine General Hospital compound. The participants, numbering about 600 who are all employees of public hospitals in Metro Manila with some support from urban poor individuals were prevented by the police from marching to the Chino Roces Bridge (Mendiola) by closing the main gate of PGH at around 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon. The gate was opened only after the voluntary, organized dispersal by the Public Health Workers at around 11:30 in the morning - the workers being fully aware and true to their calling as public servants.
The police's action had not only stopped the group from heading to Mendiola but more importantly, it proved that we are now in a state of an undeclared Martial Law. By sacrificing the services provided by PGH to the public and unduly suppress the constitutional rights of individuals – its very own public health workers at that - the police only succeeded in putting further the sitting government in a quagmire; and alienated from it, a large segment of the Public Health Workers.
It is further lamentable that this government, instead of leading the celebration of the National Health Workers Day (as declared by President Aquino in 1987), by focusing on the flight of its own Public Health Workers, what we got was political repression and the deprivation of an affordable and quality health services to our people.
The Union therefore, together with the Alliance of Health Workers’ that organizes last Friday’s activity, is appealing to all freedom loving Filipino people to join us in our crusade. Our crusade that for this government to respect our rights especially our right to health and our freedom of expression and of assembly. The incident last Friday had proven that: it is not only the provincial journalists rights and lives that were at risks, neither were the provincial and regional leaders of progressive party list groups - but all of us.
We call on Congress to investigate the said incident in PGH. Was the action of the police headed by a certain Superintendent Paglinawan and Senior Inspector Peco, an isolated case or a general policy of the state. Are we in a state of an undeclared Martial Law?
We finally call on our fellow Public Health Workers not to lose hope, instead, we must unite so that together, we forcefully carry on in our struggle for P3,000.00 across the board salary increase, implementation of the benefits under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305), the Nursing Law of 2002 (RA 9173), the increase of health budget and an affordable quality health services to our people. We must be also conscious and vigilant that while we pursue our sectoral concerns, we shall not forget that our concerns were part of the aspiration of the Filipino people for a genuine development and a real change.###
May 11, 2005
Reference: MR. JOSSEL I. EBESATE
National PRO and Manila Chapter President, All UP Workers Union
Mobile Phone No: 09189276381
The All UP Workers Union strongly condemned the barbaric acts of the Philippine National Police against the participants to the celebration of the National Health Workers Day last Friday, May 6, 2005 at the Philippine General Hospital compound. The participants, numbering about 600 who are all employees of public hospitals in Metro Manila with some support from urban poor individuals were prevented by the police from marching to the Chino Roces Bridge (Mendiola) by closing the main gate of PGH at around 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon. The gate was opened only after the voluntary, organized dispersal by the Public Health Workers at around 11:30 in the morning - the workers being fully aware and true to their calling as public servants.
The police's action had not only stopped the group from heading to Mendiola but more importantly, it proved that we are now in a state of an undeclared Martial Law. By sacrificing the services provided by PGH to the public and unduly suppress the constitutional rights of individuals – its very own public health workers at that - the police only succeeded in putting further the sitting government in a quagmire; and alienated from it, a large segment of the Public Health Workers.
It is further lamentable that this government, instead of leading the celebration of the National Health Workers Day (as declared by President Aquino in 1987), by focusing on the flight of its own Public Health Workers, what we got was political repression and the deprivation of an affordable and quality health services to our people.
The Union therefore, together with the Alliance of Health Workers’ that organizes last Friday’s activity, is appealing to all freedom loving Filipino people to join us in our crusade. Our crusade that for this government to respect our rights especially our right to health and our freedom of expression and of assembly. The incident last Friday had proven that: it is not only the provincial journalists rights and lives that were at risks, neither were the provincial and regional leaders of progressive party list groups - but all of us.
We call on Congress to investigate the said incident in PGH. Was the action of the police headed by a certain Superintendent Paglinawan and Senior Inspector Peco, an isolated case or a general policy of the state. Are we in a state of an undeclared Martial Law?
We finally call on our fellow Public Health Workers not to lose hope, instead, we must unite so that together, we forcefully carry on in our struggle for P3,000.00 across the board salary increase, implementation of the benefits under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305), the Nursing Law of 2002 (RA 9173), the increase of health budget and an affordable quality health services to our people. We must be also conscious and vigilant that while we pursue our sectoral concerns, we shall not forget that our concerns were part of the aspiration of the Filipino people for a genuine development and a real change.###
Monday, May 09, 2005
Health Workers on Health Workers’ Day: Sick with Government Neglect
It was health workers’ day last May 7 but the more than 400 health workers from different hospitals in Manila gathered a day before not to celebrate but to call the government’s attention to the worsening condition of the health sector. Their plan to bring their grievances to Malacañang Palace was blocked when the police refused to allow them to march.
BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Bulatlat
It was health workers’ day last May 7 but the more than 400 health workers from different hospitals in Manila gathered a day before not to celebrate but to call the government’s attention to the worsening condition of the health sector. Their plan to bring their grievances to Malacañang Palace was blocked when the police refused to allow them to march.
The protesters assembled inside the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) compound in Manila at 9 a.m. and were planning to march along Taft Avenue. However, a 50-man anti-riot police contingent from the Western Police District (WPD), armed with truncheons and batons, closed the hospital gates, including the pedestrian gates. They banned the entry and exit even of patients and relatives who needed to buy medicine from the hospital pharmacy. Everyone was made to use the Padre Faura gate, including a woman in labor.
The rallyists, led by the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and Kilosbayan para sa Kalusugan (KBK) then decided to hold their protest action inside the PGH compound.
One of the rally speakers, Remedios Maltu, president of the San Lazaro Hospital Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers, using the sound system addressed the anti-riot police that blocked the gates of the PGH where they assembled before proceeding to Mendiola, the road leading to the presidential palace.“Kung wala kaming mga unyonistang nakikipaglaban dito, may matitira pa bang ospital na libre ngayon?,” (Without unionists like us, do you think there would still be hospitals offering free services?), asked Maltu.
Maltu said the government should not have declared a “special” day for them if they could not even exercise their freedom of expression on that day. Through an executive order, former Corazon Aquino declared May 7 as health workers’ day.
Jenny Manuel of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said the creation of Health Workers’ Day was just a consuelo de bobo (meaningless token) to them. “Kami na nga lang ang nagse-celebrate, di pa pinapayagan,” she said. “They have lined us with the other unsung heroes, and are now forgotten.”
Bulatlat called the Department of Health (DoH) but its personnel said no one is available that Friday due to the new four-day work policy of the government.
Health crisis
Both AHW and KBK hold President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo responsible for the health sector’s worsening condition. The administration’s inaction with regards the health workers’ demands – a P3,000 across-the-board salary increase; higher budget allocation for health workers’ benefits; and priority to health budget – are part of the reasons the militant health workers support the call for Macapagal-Arroyo’s ouster. Aside from health-related issues, they also criticize other state policies, particularly the anti-terrorism bill and value-added tax (VAT).
Manuel added that aside from reducing the budget for health services, the government is gearing on the restructuring of government-owned hospitals, including the Lung Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), Philippine Heart Center, East AvenueMedical Center and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
Meanwhile, Celestina Latonero, also called Nanay Seling by her fellow protesters and a community health volunteer in Pook Libis, Diliman, Quezon City, said in Filipino that Macapagal-Arroyo “may be the smallest president but the worst of all.”
Nanay Seling, 68, is a native of Samar (a Visayan province 800 kms south of Manila). She told Bulatlat how difficult and expensive it is to avail of medical services whether in the province or in Manila. The problem doesn’t end when the patient dies, she said. She shared how even children are forced to play sakla (a card game) to raise money for the burial expenses of their dead loved ones.
Dr. Gene Nisperos, secretary general of Health Alliance for Democracy (Head), said that the police’s behavior was not surprising and reflects only their chief’s attitude.
Sympathy
Although they blocked the protesters as instructed by their superiors, some members of the anti-riot police believe that the health workers’ calls were legitimate.
Five policemen interviewed by Bulatlat said they sympathized with them but they had to follow orders. One of them even said, “Sana ‘wag naman nila kaming i-reject sa mga ospital, pero wala talaga kaming magagawa, kaysa naman mawalan kami ng trabaho.”
According to another, they know how hard life is with a meager salary. This PO2 ranking policeman said he only receives around P11, 000 because of so many deductions.
But Maltu pointed out that performing their task should not mean the curtailment of other people’s rights. Bulatlat
© 2004 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Publications
BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Bulatlat
It was health workers’ day last May 7 but the more than 400 health workers from different hospitals in Manila gathered a day before not to celebrate but to call the government’s attention to the worsening condition of the health sector. Their plan to bring their grievances to Malacañang Palace was blocked when the police refused to allow them to march.
The protesters assembled inside the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) compound in Manila at 9 a.m. and were planning to march along Taft Avenue. However, a 50-man anti-riot police contingent from the Western Police District (WPD), armed with truncheons and batons, closed the hospital gates, including the pedestrian gates. They banned the entry and exit even of patients and relatives who needed to buy medicine from the hospital pharmacy. Everyone was made to use the Padre Faura gate, including a woman in labor.
The rallyists, led by the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and Kilosbayan para sa Kalusugan (KBK) then decided to hold their protest action inside the PGH compound.
One of the rally speakers, Remedios Maltu, president of the San Lazaro Hospital Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers, using the sound system addressed the anti-riot police that blocked the gates of the PGH where they assembled before proceeding to Mendiola, the road leading to the presidential palace.“Kung wala kaming mga unyonistang nakikipaglaban dito, may matitira pa bang ospital na libre ngayon?,” (Without unionists like us, do you think there would still be hospitals offering free services?), asked Maltu.
Maltu said the government should not have declared a “special” day for them if they could not even exercise their freedom of expression on that day. Through an executive order, former Corazon Aquino declared May 7 as health workers’ day.
Jenny Manuel of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said the creation of Health Workers’ Day was just a consuelo de bobo (meaningless token) to them. “Kami na nga lang ang nagse-celebrate, di pa pinapayagan,” she said. “They have lined us with the other unsung heroes, and are now forgotten.”
Bulatlat called the Department of Health (DoH) but its personnel said no one is available that Friday due to the new four-day work policy of the government.
Health crisis
Both AHW and KBK hold President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo responsible for the health sector’s worsening condition. The administration’s inaction with regards the health workers’ demands – a P3,000 across-the-board salary increase; higher budget allocation for health workers’ benefits; and priority to health budget – are part of the reasons the militant health workers support the call for Macapagal-Arroyo’s ouster. Aside from health-related issues, they also criticize other state policies, particularly the anti-terrorism bill and value-added tax (VAT).
Manuel added that aside from reducing the budget for health services, the government is gearing on the restructuring of government-owned hospitals, including the Lung Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), Philippine Heart Center, East AvenueMedical Center and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
Meanwhile, Celestina Latonero, also called Nanay Seling by her fellow protesters and a community health volunteer in Pook Libis, Diliman, Quezon City, said in Filipino that Macapagal-Arroyo “may be the smallest president but the worst of all.”
Nanay Seling, 68, is a native of Samar (a Visayan province 800 kms south of Manila). She told Bulatlat how difficult and expensive it is to avail of medical services whether in the province or in Manila. The problem doesn’t end when the patient dies, she said. She shared how even children are forced to play sakla (a card game) to raise money for the burial expenses of their dead loved ones.
Dr. Gene Nisperos, secretary general of Health Alliance for Democracy (Head), said that the police’s behavior was not surprising and reflects only their chief’s attitude.
Sympathy
Although they blocked the protesters as instructed by their superiors, some members of the anti-riot police believe that the health workers’ calls were legitimate.
Five policemen interviewed by Bulatlat said they sympathized with them but they had to follow orders. One of them even said, “Sana ‘wag naman nila kaming i-reject sa mga ospital, pero wala talaga kaming magagawa, kaysa naman mawalan kami ng trabaho.”
According to another, they know how hard life is with a meager salary. This PO2 ranking policeman said he only receives around P11, 000 because of so many deductions.
But Maltu pointed out that performing their task should not mean the curtailment of other people’s rights. Bulatlat
© 2004 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Publications
Friday, March 25, 2005
POETRY: Pagtindig
Ni: Joi Barrios
Member, (Congress of Teachers for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND) and, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)
Gaano kadali ang pagpaslang?
Sansaglit, at may nakitil nang buhay.
May punglo na humahagibis
At may pag-asa na napapatid.
Gaano katagal
Ang ating paglalamay?
Hintayin bang ang luha ay maglawa
At ang telang itim na yumayakap
Sa bawat bangkay ay maging dagat?
Luhang alat, dagat alat.
Paanong malulunok itong dahas?
Sinong hindi malulunod sa hinagpis?
Bawat dibdib ay sumisikip.
Sa bawat pagluluksa,
Habol ang hininga
Nagtatalo ang pangamba at galit
Sa bawat panganib na hinaharap.
Isa-isa tayo na kanilang nilalagas,
At ating tinatanong:
Sinong nag-uutos, sinong nagbabayad
Sa bawat pusong dinudurog,
At utak na pinapasabog?
Hindi tayo, kundi sila ang alipin ng pangamba, kaya't namumuksa.
Ating tandaan, laging tandaan,
Matwid ang pinaglalaban.
Sa bawat pagkapit-bisig, sa bawat welga at pag-aalsa,
Ang binabawi natin ay dangal,
Ang inaangkin ay karapatan.
Patag ang lupa kung saan tayo nakatindig.
Ang bayan na pinapaslang, ano't di sisigaw ng himagsik?
Ika-18 ng Marso 2005
This poem, read at a gathering of civil libertarians at the Asian Center on March 19, 2005, responds to the slaying of Victor Conception of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Tarlac City Councilor and Bayan Muna member Abelardo Ladera, Mer Dizon of Anakpawis party list, and Rev. William Tadena, a supporter of Hacienda Luisita strikers.
Member, (Congress of Teachers for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND) and, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)
Gaano kadali ang pagpaslang?
Sansaglit, at may nakitil nang buhay.
May punglo na humahagibis
At may pag-asa na napapatid.
Gaano katagal
Ang ating paglalamay?
Hintayin bang ang luha ay maglawa
At ang telang itim na yumayakap
Sa bawat bangkay ay maging dagat?
Luhang alat, dagat alat.
Paanong malulunok itong dahas?
Sinong hindi malulunod sa hinagpis?
Bawat dibdib ay sumisikip.
Sa bawat pagluluksa,
Habol ang hininga
Nagtatalo ang pangamba at galit
Sa bawat panganib na hinaharap.
Isa-isa tayo na kanilang nilalagas,
At ating tinatanong:
Sinong nag-uutos, sinong nagbabayad
Sa bawat pusong dinudurog,
At utak na pinapasabog?
Hindi tayo, kundi sila ang alipin ng pangamba, kaya't namumuksa.
Ating tandaan, laging tandaan,
Matwid ang pinaglalaban.
Sa bawat pagkapit-bisig, sa bawat welga at pag-aalsa,
Ang binabawi natin ay dangal,
Ang inaangkin ay karapatan.
Patag ang lupa kung saan tayo nakatindig.
Ang bayan na pinapaslang, ano't di sisigaw ng himagsik?
Ika-18 ng Marso 2005
This poem, read at a gathering of civil libertarians at the Asian Center on March 19, 2005, responds to the slaying of Victor Conception of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Tarlac City Councilor and Bayan Muna member Abelardo Ladera, Mer Dizon of Anakpawis party list, and Rev. William Tadena, a supporter of Hacienda Luisita strikers.
Friday, March 18, 2005
IMPOSE STRICTER REGULATION ON PESTICIDE USE, GOV’T TOLD
MEDIA RELEASE
IBON Foundation, Inc.
3/F SCC Bldg 4427 Interior Old Sta Mesa, Manila, Philippines
Tel. +632 713-2729, +632 713-2737 E-mail: media@ibon.org
References: Rosario Bella Guzman (Executive Director)
Antonio Tujan (Research Director)
March 17, 2005
In the face of the DOH findings that a harmful pesticide was the cause of death of 27 children in Mabini, Bohol, research group IBON Foundation calls on government to implement stricter regulation rules on pesticide use.
According to investigations, 1-2-3 insecticide, which has an expired registration with the Fertilizers and Pesticide Authority, is very toxic that just 4 grams of it can kill a 70-kilogram adult.
The 1-2-3 insecticide is not the first chemical to be questioned. Paraquat, a chemical used for the production of rice, sugarcane, bananas and other crops, was discovered to be acutely toxic and can cause reproductive problems to women sprayers exposed to it.
No one will argue-- not even the transnational corporations (TNCs) that manufacture and import pesticides-- about the actual and potential health effects of pesticides to people. Pesticides are poisons and undue exposure to them can cause serious and even fatal health problems.
Filipino farmers, who have been made dependent on chemical inputs with the promise of increased productivity, generally lack protective gear and are continuously exposed to various health hazards of pesticides.
Although extremely harmful, TNCs continue to export their pesticides because these are still marketable and profitable, especially in poor farming countries like the Philippines.
Government should therefore implement stricter regulation policies on pesticide use and impose a strict ban on obsolete, expired, and banned pesticides. IBON also calls on government to immediatey implement safety regulation rules that go beyond market considerations.
More importantly, government should encourage farmers to reduce the use of pesticides and look for more sustainable and healthy farming methods. (end)
IBON Foundation, Inc.
3/F SCC Bldg 4427 Interior Old Sta Mesa, Manila, Philippines
Tel. +632 713-2729, +632 713-2737 E-mail: media@ibon.org
References: Rosario Bella Guzman (Executive Director)
Antonio Tujan (Research Director)
March 17, 2005
In the face of the DOH findings that a harmful pesticide was the cause of death of 27 children in Mabini, Bohol, research group IBON Foundation calls on government to implement stricter regulation rules on pesticide use.
According to investigations, 1-2-3 insecticide, which has an expired registration with the Fertilizers and Pesticide Authority, is very toxic that just 4 grams of it can kill a 70-kilogram adult.
The 1-2-3 insecticide is not the first chemical to be questioned. Paraquat, a chemical used for the production of rice, sugarcane, bananas and other crops, was discovered to be acutely toxic and can cause reproductive problems to women sprayers exposed to it.
No one will argue-- not even the transnational corporations (TNCs) that manufacture and import pesticides-- about the actual and potential health effects of pesticides to people. Pesticides are poisons and undue exposure to them can cause serious and even fatal health problems.
Filipino farmers, who have been made dependent on chemical inputs with the promise of increased productivity, generally lack protective gear and are continuously exposed to various health hazards of pesticides.
Although extremely harmful, TNCs continue to export their pesticides because these are still marketable and profitable, especially in poor farming countries like the Philippines.
Government should therefore implement stricter regulation policies on pesticide use and impose a strict ban on obsolete, expired, and banned pesticides. IBON also calls on government to immediatey implement safety regulation rules that go beyond market considerations.
More importantly, government should encourage farmers to reduce the use of pesticides and look for more sustainable and healthy farming methods. (end)
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Life of the Homeless
At Sitio Top Hill, Cebu City, there is always someone in each house who stays awake at night, boiling water for coffee. Ever since the attempted eviction of its urban poor residents several months ago, they have learned to be alert and keep their guard – to protect themselves and their homes.
BY JANE CATHERINE CHUA ROJO
Contributed to Bulatlat
Vol. V, No. 3, February 20-26, 2005
The place is called Sitio Top Hill – a highland locality just behind a not-so-popular golf course at Lahug, a village in Cebu City. One can reach the place on a habal-habal, a motorcycle that can accommodate at least four passengers, or a 10-minute hike from the corner where the jeepney trip ends. The path is winding, lined at both sides with small houses made of light materials.
Mornings in Top Hill are quite peaceful. Most of the houses are closed and the pathways are for most part devoid of passersby. Only once in a while do harried fathers appear, making haste to get to their working places.
The clock registers 6 a.m. in the house of Manang Pilar. Her husband Manong Lando, though still sleepy, forces himself to wake up. He washes his face and hurries to the house of Titing, the owner of the passenger jeepney he drives. He drives it for 15 to 16 hours every day, returning home at midnight with money that would last till the next day and his body tired and aching.
Next to Manang Pilar’s house is Isabelita’s. She is a 27-year-old mother of two little girls. Her husband is already out for work and she was cooking noodles for breakfast. After her little girls ate and went to school, Isabelita is left to wash the dishes, clean the house and roll the mat where the family sleeps. It’s already 8 o’clock when Isabelita goes outside with the basin filled with dirty laundry tucked beside her. She is about to start her washing when Manang Pilar approaches her.
“Mare, don’t you have clothes to wash?” Isabelita asked.
“There’s a lot in there but I won’t wash them yet. My illness has struck again.”
“So, have you taken your medicine already?”
“Not yet. There’s no money to buy one. It’s only now that your pare was able to drive again after his license was confiscated.”
“That’s right. That’s why he was here during the demolition. But you know, it was in fact good for you. Me? I nearly lost my mind. My partner leaves early on Fridays and Mondays. I could not leave Charisse because she was crying really hard. I could only watch while our house was being demolished. They turned it upside down. The roof became the floor. Too bad!”
“They were pests! Even though you kept asking them not to destroy the house because the owners were not there, they just kept on destroying, destroying, destroying… It was so frustrating because they were not listening.
“So that’s why you’re sick again?!”
“Exactly. And during the barricade, we keep on pushing ourselves forward. We didn’t care if we about the knives they had with them. We were not afraid. What matters to us was our anger towards them.”
“I was not able to join because the kids were all crying… they were all running. I picked them up one by one and brought them there because they might fall into the holes.”
“We were so pitiful. We had no money that time and yet that thing happened. We had to eat for three days at Mare Isis’ house… breakfast, lunch, dinner.”
“We did not eat, too. How could we cook rice when we didn’t even have any dwelling? We just rolled out some mats where we could rest.”
The usual gossip about the episodes of Lovers in Paris and Hiram (Borrowed), two very popular soap operas, has been replaced with talk about the real life drama in their community wherein all of them were actors.
Although the demolition took place months ago, it continues to be the topic of conversations in Sitio Top Hill.
Manang Pilar and Isabelita are still chatting when they hear a group of kids shouting, as if a mantra, the phrase, “Pulis… mang-demolis”
“They’re taunting the police again. Back then, kids were afraid of the police. Not anymore.”
“It’s their fault. Instead of ensuring peace, they would rather help those who demolished our homes. We were the ones who were abused but we’re the ones who were arrested.”
It’s already noon and so the women go to their respective homes to prepare lunch. Meanwhile, just below the plaza, stands the house of Manang Arlinda. The house has unpainted walls made of plywood and bamboo floors. It’s a small house, with no rooms nor furniture, just a few framed photographs hanging on the wall.
Outside that lonely-looking house, the air is filled with lively conversations. People young and old, sit under the shade while enjoying each other’s company. Students from the University of the Philippines (UP) are also present. It’s a part of their Basic Masses Integration (BMI), learning first hand the conditions of the masses by living with them for a brief period. All of them eat lunch together. The small house is filled with people squatting forming a circle. Nonoy, youth leader of the sitio, cooks the food. The students contribute money to buy rice, sardines, buwad (fried fish) and Odong, a cheap noodle brand.
Table talk naturally centers on the possibility of another demolition that week.
“Their plan is to organize four groups for the attack. That would really be tough because the barricade would be divided.”
“But there’s plenty of us. Everybody must help.”
“We would call a meeting so that we could plan very well.”
“We just have to make everybody understand that we really need to win because we don’t have any other home. We must think of our children.”
“Besides, most of us have our sources of income in the area.”
The conversations go on for few more minutes until the students finally decide to leave. Some of the residents stay to chat some more while some go back to their houses. Since the demolition, most of the people prefer to just stay in their homes. “Sige gyud kada adlaw mi magbantay… dili na lang gyud mag lakaw-lakaw kay mao may atake nila kanang mingaw bitaw na way tawo,” (We stay on guard every day… we seldom go out because they often attack when the place is empty) Manang Marissa explains.
In the afternoon, Manong Arman, the Sitio leader, calls for a meeting. By way of introduction, he talks of the time when Mr. Villalon, the original owner of the land they live in, was still alive.
“Villalon had visited us and had never asked us to leave. He would even say that when he sells this land, he would want us to be the buyer. When he died, we approached his secretary and she told us ‘Villalon had not sold any land. If ever this land would be offered for sale, you will be the priority because you are the ones who live in the place.’ The one claiming now to have bought the land is bogus because the titles that he is holding were all just Xerox copies and his map is just handwritten and is not even clear.”
All the residents share the same belief with their leader. They deem that Salud Young, the claimant, is not a legitimate owner. With that conviction, they are determined to fight for their houses. “Mag-andam gyud mi taman-taman. Bisag armado pa sila… dili gyud mi mahadlok.” (We would prepare really hard. Even if they’re armed, we will not be scared.) May-may declared.
In the evening, while most are asleep, there is always someone in each house who stays awake, boiling water for coffee. As Gina said, “Halos dili mi mangatulog dinhi. Kada gabii gabilar, nagabantay gyud.” (We hardly sleep. Every night, we stay awake… we always keep on guard.)
Thus, at 12 midnight, the silence that covers Sitio Top Hill like a thick blanket is ripped softly by a noise that is heard in almost every house – the sound of metal spoon against porcelain cup as it stirs the black aromatic liquid. Indeed, somebody must stay on guard. Bulatlat
© 2004 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Publications
BY JANE CATHERINE CHUA ROJO
Contributed to Bulatlat
Vol. V, No. 3, February 20-26, 2005
The place is called Sitio Top Hill – a highland locality just behind a not-so-popular golf course at Lahug, a village in Cebu City. One can reach the place on a habal-habal, a motorcycle that can accommodate at least four passengers, or a 10-minute hike from the corner where the jeepney trip ends. The path is winding, lined at both sides with small houses made of light materials.
Mornings in Top Hill are quite peaceful. Most of the houses are closed and the pathways are for most part devoid of passersby. Only once in a while do harried fathers appear, making haste to get to their working places.
The clock registers 6 a.m. in the house of Manang Pilar. Her husband Manong Lando, though still sleepy, forces himself to wake up. He washes his face and hurries to the house of Titing, the owner of the passenger jeepney he drives. He drives it for 15 to 16 hours every day, returning home at midnight with money that would last till the next day and his body tired and aching.
Next to Manang Pilar’s house is Isabelita’s. She is a 27-year-old mother of two little girls. Her husband is already out for work and she was cooking noodles for breakfast. After her little girls ate and went to school, Isabelita is left to wash the dishes, clean the house and roll the mat where the family sleeps. It’s already 8 o’clock when Isabelita goes outside with the basin filled with dirty laundry tucked beside her. She is about to start her washing when Manang Pilar approaches her.
“Mare, don’t you have clothes to wash?” Isabelita asked.
“There’s a lot in there but I won’t wash them yet. My illness has struck again.”
“So, have you taken your medicine already?”
“Not yet. There’s no money to buy one. It’s only now that your pare was able to drive again after his license was confiscated.”
“That’s right. That’s why he was here during the demolition. But you know, it was in fact good for you. Me? I nearly lost my mind. My partner leaves early on Fridays and Mondays. I could not leave Charisse because she was crying really hard. I could only watch while our house was being demolished. They turned it upside down. The roof became the floor. Too bad!”
“They were pests! Even though you kept asking them not to destroy the house because the owners were not there, they just kept on destroying, destroying, destroying… It was so frustrating because they were not listening.
“So that’s why you’re sick again?!”
“Exactly. And during the barricade, we keep on pushing ourselves forward. We didn’t care if we about the knives they had with them. We were not afraid. What matters to us was our anger towards them.”
“I was not able to join because the kids were all crying… they were all running. I picked them up one by one and brought them there because they might fall into the holes.”
“We were so pitiful. We had no money that time and yet that thing happened. We had to eat for three days at Mare Isis’ house… breakfast, lunch, dinner.”
“We did not eat, too. How could we cook rice when we didn’t even have any dwelling? We just rolled out some mats where we could rest.”
The usual gossip about the episodes of Lovers in Paris and Hiram (Borrowed), two very popular soap operas, has been replaced with talk about the real life drama in their community wherein all of them were actors.
Although the demolition took place months ago, it continues to be the topic of conversations in Sitio Top Hill.
Manang Pilar and Isabelita are still chatting when they hear a group of kids shouting, as if a mantra, the phrase, “Pulis… mang-demolis”
“They’re taunting the police again. Back then, kids were afraid of the police. Not anymore.”
“It’s their fault. Instead of ensuring peace, they would rather help those who demolished our homes. We were the ones who were abused but we’re the ones who were arrested.”
It’s already noon and so the women go to their respective homes to prepare lunch. Meanwhile, just below the plaza, stands the house of Manang Arlinda. The house has unpainted walls made of plywood and bamboo floors. It’s a small house, with no rooms nor furniture, just a few framed photographs hanging on the wall.
Outside that lonely-looking house, the air is filled with lively conversations. People young and old, sit under the shade while enjoying each other’s company. Students from the University of the Philippines (UP) are also present. It’s a part of their Basic Masses Integration (BMI), learning first hand the conditions of the masses by living with them for a brief period. All of them eat lunch together. The small house is filled with people squatting forming a circle. Nonoy, youth leader of the sitio, cooks the food. The students contribute money to buy rice, sardines, buwad (fried fish) and Odong, a cheap noodle brand.
Table talk naturally centers on the possibility of another demolition that week.
“Their plan is to organize four groups for the attack. That would really be tough because the barricade would be divided.”
“But there’s plenty of us. Everybody must help.”
“We would call a meeting so that we could plan very well.”
“We just have to make everybody understand that we really need to win because we don’t have any other home. We must think of our children.”
“Besides, most of us have our sources of income in the area.”
The conversations go on for few more minutes until the students finally decide to leave. Some of the residents stay to chat some more while some go back to their houses. Since the demolition, most of the people prefer to just stay in their homes. “Sige gyud kada adlaw mi magbantay… dili na lang gyud mag lakaw-lakaw kay mao may atake nila kanang mingaw bitaw na way tawo,” (We stay on guard every day… we seldom go out because they often attack when the place is empty) Manang Marissa explains.
In the afternoon, Manong Arman, the Sitio leader, calls for a meeting. By way of introduction, he talks of the time when Mr. Villalon, the original owner of the land they live in, was still alive.
“Villalon had visited us and had never asked us to leave. He would even say that when he sells this land, he would want us to be the buyer. When he died, we approached his secretary and she told us ‘Villalon had not sold any land. If ever this land would be offered for sale, you will be the priority because you are the ones who live in the place.’ The one claiming now to have bought the land is bogus because the titles that he is holding were all just Xerox copies and his map is just handwritten and is not even clear.”
All the residents share the same belief with their leader. They deem that Salud Young, the claimant, is not a legitimate owner. With that conviction, they are determined to fight for their houses. “Mag-andam gyud mi taman-taman. Bisag armado pa sila… dili gyud mi mahadlok.” (We would prepare really hard. Even if they’re armed, we will not be scared.) May-may declared.
In the evening, while most are asleep, there is always someone in each house who stays awake, boiling water for coffee. As Gina said, “Halos dili mi mangatulog dinhi. Kada gabii gabilar, nagabantay gyud.” (We hardly sleep. Every night, we stay awake… we always keep on guard.)
Thus, at 12 midnight, the silence that covers Sitio Top Hill like a thick blanket is ripped softly by a noise that is heard in almost every house – the sound of metal spoon against porcelain cup as it stirs the black aromatic liquid. Indeed, somebody must stay on guard. Bulatlat
© 2004 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Publications
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