On Activism (Philippine Christian University - Manila)

Activism

"Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. This action is in support of, or opposition to, one side of an often controversial argument.

The word "activism" is often used synonymously with protest or dissent, but activism can stem from any number of political orientations and take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, both work stoppages and hunger strikes, or even guerrilla tactics."

(Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activism)

Misconceptions

It has been said more than a few times that political activists are nothing but nuisance. ?some say they clog up the streets or that they were paid by a political rival to oppose another politician.

Well, let's clear that up. There are three kinds of activists, in my view, in the Philippine scene. One is "mobocracy" (in contrast to democracy, that the view of the majority, here it takes the view of the mob); the ones that blame a politician for their strife. They blame the person and only the person (even though it is the system that corrupts the person). They are the ones who usually pay people to join their rallies. They reach in great numbers but their purpose and/or principles are usually a blur, even to themselves. They are the ones that are closest to the word nuisance.

Second; there are the extremists. These are the ones who agitate the people for a revolution. They want a civil war yet their reason for it is not quite clear. They understand their purpose but fail to impart that view to the masses. These are the ones who either crave power or just wants to see the world burn.

And third; there are the activists who are filled with theories and applies those theories. They also impart those theories to the masses. They take these principles from philosopher-socialists who have proven themselves times over. These theories have been tested and proven all over the world; lessons learned from history are taken in part.

The third kind of activists arouse the masses political awareness, organize the masses to take action against oppression, corruption, destruction, injustice and mobilize them towards social, political, economic and environmental change.

(Let us call the third kind of activists "the movement" for this essay)

The movement teaches the masses all their views of a better world, all the theories and lessons how to get there in an alternative school they cal PaDePa or Pambasnsang Demokratikong Paaralan (National Democratic School). The movement is composed of freedom loving, democracy seeking and justice driven youths as a majority of their numbers. Making a living proof of Jose Rizal's statement that the youth is the hope of the motherland.

Yet some say that we are too young. Well, "say not 'I am too young.' to whomever I send you, you shall go; what ever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you says the Lord." (Jeremiah 1:7-8)

We should not leave the politics to the politicians. We are the future of this world and whatever they sow, The youth will reap. The youth, the movement should takes part on politics because if the youth does not then there will be no hope for the country.

The decaying system

The movement takes legal ways to bring forth change, yet the government ignores their petition and even discards them. Most of the government officials do not want change because the system feeds their greed for land, wealth and power (to the point that they oppress the poor). So the movement takes to the streets and filling it with their cries for social justice. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9) Fighting for the rights of the oppressed. "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4) To set the captives free "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19) To free all from the oppressive and decaying system and oppressive government.

"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

" 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them." (Ezekiel 34:2-10)

A system of the oppressive government filled with people of lies.

"This is what the LORD says:
"As for the prophets
who lead my people astray,
if one feeds them,
they proclaim 'peace';
if he does not,
they prepare to wage war against him.

"Therefore night will come over you, without visions,
and darkness, without divination.
The sun will set for the prophets,
and the day will go dark for them.

"The seers will be ashamed
and the diviners disgraced.
They will all cover their faces
because there is no answer from God."

"But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the LORD,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin.

"Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob,
you rulers of the house of Israel,
who despise justice
and distort all that is right;

"who build Zion with bloodshed,
and Jerusalem with wickedness.

"Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
Yet they lean upon the LORD and say,
"Is not the LORD among us?
No disaster will come upon us."

"Therefore because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets."
(Micah 3:5-12)

The Ideal System

The movement is Fighting the system. They aim to bring forth a new and better world.

"Behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.

I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more.

"Never again will there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out his years;
he who dies at a hundred
will be thought a mere youth;
he who fails to reach [a] a hundred
will be considered accursed.

They will build houses and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the works of their hands.

They will not toil in vain
or bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the LORD,
they and their descendants with them.

Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.

The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but dust will be the serpent's food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,"
(Isaiah 65:17-25)

This new world where the system ends all misery.

"However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you," (Deuteronomy 15:4)

They are the activists with integrity. putting the people [learn to do right!Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.(Isaiah 1:17)] and the new world before themselves.

Being Passive

If you have seen what this decaying and oppressive system does to your fellow men, do not turn away. Yes, the Lord said turn the other cheek but not towards your neighbor. Do not think that the movement is fighting for themselves but rather for for your neighbors. Be the light of the world.

bagong taon: bagong rebolusyonaryo!

Bagong taon: bagong Pag-asa.

Ito ang madalas na bukambibigng mga tao. Dala daw ng bagong taon ay bagong pagsubok na dapat malampasan. Dala daw ng bagong taon ay bagong pag-asa at bagong pagkakataon.
Siguro nga may katotohanan sa mga sinasabi nila. Sa bagong taon ay lilitaw ang bagong suliranin. Ngunit kung titingnan natin ng maigi, kahit sa kalagitnaan ng taon ay may mga bagong pagsubok. Kahit nga noong patapos ang 2009 ay lumitaw ang bagong suliranin.

Ano ito..?

Ang walang awa at walang kabuluhang pagpaslang ng mga tao sa Maguindanao.
Atheto pa: ang paglilinlang ng gobyerno at pagpapabagal ng paghatid ng katarungan sa masaker sa Maguindanao.
At mas mahayop pa sa sahul: nagdeklara ng walang basehan at iligal na martial law ang pekeng presidente na si Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

At ngayong bagong taon, Huwag tayong umasa na babago ang mga kabulukang ito. Totoo na maybagong suliranin na lilitaw pero lumang-luma na at nabubulok na nga ang ugat na pinanggagalingan nito: ang Sistemang mala-kolonyal at malapyudal na lipunan na pilit na pinananatili ng mga burokrata-Kapitalista at mga gahaman sa lupa at pera.

Lumang sistema ang sanhi ng matagalang pagkakalugmok natin sa kadiliman, karahasan at kahirapan.

Ngunit may bagong pag-asa.

Makakamit lang natin ang bago at masaganang pamumuhay kung matagumpay na mawasak natin ang kadenang nagtatali sa atin sa nabubulok nana sistema.

Pero ano nga ba ang bagong pag-asa?

Hindi 'ano' kundi 'SINO'.

Tayo!

Tayong KABATAAN ay dapat na pag-aralan ang lipunan, tukuyin ang sanhi ng mga paghihirap ng masa at gumawa ng mga tamang hakbang paramapalaya ang sambayanang Pilipino mula sa pang-aapi ng mga naghahring uri.

Tayong KABABAIHAN ay dapat baguhin ang tingin sa sarili at sa proseso ay mabago ang tingin ng iba sa atin. Tukuyin na ang ugat ng mababang pagtinginsa kababaihan ay ang sistemang nabubulok.

Tayong MANGGAGAWA ay dapat malaman ang tamang pamamalakad, tamang pangangalaga sa kapwa.Pag-aralan natin ang lipunan at maging hukbo na magpapalaya ngsambayanan at ng sangkatauhan.

Tayong MAGSASAKA ay dapat alamin ang karapatan, ipaglaban ang kabuhayan at bayan. Alamin na tayo ang puwersa na magpapalaya sa sarili at magbubukas ng isip ng tao sa bulokna lipunan.

Tayong MAG-AARAL ay dapat na matuto sa masa. Huwag tayong magsawang mag-aral ng lipunan, matuto sa masa at magturo ng tamang hakbang sa pagpapalaya ng bayan.

Buksan natin ang ating mga mata at isipan. Alamin natin ang kabulukan ng nag-iiral na sistema. wasakin natin ito at isulong ang bagong sistema na mag-aahon sa atin mula sa putik na ating kinaroroonan.

Ang bagong pag-asa ay: ang mulat; ang pagmulat sa mga nagbubulag-bulagan at nagbibingi-bingihan;
Pagmulat ng sangkatauhan.

At sa pagpula ng silangan, lalaya na ang sambayanan.

sa mga kamag-aral ko sa paaralan ng buhay

Ikaw ba ay estudyante ng isang unibersidad? May kaya ba ang pamilya mo? Sapat ba ang baon mo sa pangaraw-araw?

Tumaas ang presyo ng langis.
Sino ba ang may kasalanan? Ang mga tsuper ba na may sariling anak na pinagpapaaral? Siyempre hindi. Si mamang tsuper ay nagtaas ng pamasahe dahil tumaas ang presyo ng langis. Eh sino ang may sala? Ang pump boy ba sa gasoline station? Mas lalong hinde, biktima din siya sa araw araw niyang pagcommute papunta ng pinagtratrabahuhan niya.
Ang totoong may sala ay ang gobyerno.
Bakit 'ka mo? Dati ay may kontrol ang gobyerno sa presyo ng langis. Kayang pigilan ng gobyerno kung hinihingi ng mga commuters na babaan ang langis. Eh putik pa sa putik, sira yata ulo ng gobyerno, nagpasa ng oil deregulation law. Patay si Juan. Ngayon kung gusto ng Petron, Shell at Caltex mag oil price hike eh 'di maka-ek ang gobyerno. Sa makatuwid, walang kwenta ang gobyerno! Inaalagaan nila ang mga dayuhang kumpanya ng langis at pinapahirapan ang mga mamamayan na dapat nilang inaalagaan.

Sinabi ng isang kolehiyong manunulat sa akin noon, ang issue daw na ito ay 'di bagay sa Campus Publication dahil di naman apektado ang mga estudyante.
'Di nga ba tayo apektado? Araw-araw, mula lunes hanggang sabado me pasok eh. Kailangang magbyahe. Eh sa pagtaas ng langis tataas ang pamasahe. Therefore I conclude na apektadong apektado ang mga estudyante.


Education.
Sa mga private schools, colleges and universities ay nag baba ng deregulation law. Ibig sabihin ay 'di maka-ek ang gobyerno kung gusto ng unibersidad na magtaas ng tuition fee. O 'di naman kaya ay maningil ng walang kabuluhan na mga bayarin. Muli: Walang kwentang gobyerno!
Tulad ng oil companies, ang mga paaralang ito ay nasa loob ng Pilipinas. Napapasailalim ng pamahalaa ng Pilipinas. Bakit namang binigyan ng independence ang mga 'to? 'Di ba dapat hawak parin sila ng pamahalaan?

Sa buong systema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas, may buget ang gobyerno para dito. Ang badyet na ito ay 'di umanong mula sa mga buwis na binabayaran ng lahat ng Pilipino. (take note: kahit 'di ka pa 18 at wala ka pang sedula, nagbabayad ka ng buwis sa oras na bumili ka ng kahit na ano, mapa McDo o sari-sari store.) Ang dapat na badyet ay 6 percent ng gross national income (correct me if I'm wrong) Ngunit binawasan ito at ginawang 2 percent. ang binawas ay gagamitin daw umano sa pagbayad ng mga utang ng Pilipinas. Sa dami-daming pera paroo't parito sa mga NBN-ZTE at fertilizer scam, may Euro generals pa, bakit ang edukasyon pa ang binawasan? Kung di ba naman ga*uhan 'to!


Sinabi ng isang kolehiyong manunulat sa akin noon, ang issue daw na ito ay 'di bagay sa Campus Publication dahil di naman apektado ang mga estudyante.
'Di nga ba tayo apektado? Eh edukasyon ang pakay natin sa pag punta sa paaralan.


Sa pamumulita.
Sa korapsyon.
Sa divertion of funds.
Sa illigal abduction ng gobyerno.
Sa 1 milyong piso na hapunan.
Sa mga kabulastugan ng mga politiko.
Sa mga kasinungalingan ng pangulo.
Sa pamamaslang nga mga kabataan at mamamahayag.
Sa criminal neglect ng gobyerno sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo.
Sa mga manlolokong tatakbo bilang pangulo.

Ang bawat estudyante ng kahit na anung unibersidad ay dapat makialam sa mga issue ng Pilipinas.
Ito ang tahanan ng ating lahi, ang lupang sinilangan. Naging Pilipino tayo bago naging estudyante ng PCU. Naging mag-aaral tayo ng Pilipinas simula sa pagkabata hanggang sa huling hininga natin.
Kabataan!
Pag-aralan ninyo ang ating lipunan. Alamin ang tamang mga hakbang. Huwag matakot! Na sa MGA KAMAY NATIN ANG PAGLAYA NG BAYAN MULA SA BULOK NA SISTEMA NA GUSTONG IPANATILI NG MGA TUTANG POLIKO NG ESTADOS UNIDOS.
GUMISING KA KABATAAN!
Ika nga ni Rizal: "ang kabataan ay pag-asa ng bayan."
AT HINDI LALAYA ANG BAYAN KUNG ANG KABATAAN AY WALANG PAKI-ALAM, KIMI, PASIBO AT MAKASARILI!
KUNG WALANG PAKI-ALAM ANG KABATAAN, WALANG PAG-ASA ANG BAYAN!