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.

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.###

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

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.

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)