NEWS

STOP CHA-CHA, OUST GLORIA

Makati City, Philippines (December 12, 2008) - Militant troups, political leaders of the opposition, humanitarian leaders, University students, church people and civilians gathered at Makati City, Friday afternoon in line with the protest against the pursuant of the charter change in the House of Representatives and the call to oust President Arroyo from the Malacanang Palace.

Amidst the loud background music of 'cha-cha', the uproar of thousands of people that calls for the resignation of President Arroyo and the besiegement of the charter change at the lower house, filled the silent business environement of Makati.

Surrounded by tall buildings and fancy trffic equipments of Makati, the banners and flags were waved combined with raised fists and loud voice of people that sang the administrations ear lending to the peoples' outrage against corruption and governement's system change to Parliamentary form, renowned and ordinary people united for one cause.

Militant groups such as Akbayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Liga ng Kabataang Pilipino, League of the Filipino Students (LFS), PAMALAKAYA, Kilusang EDSA 3 , Anakbayan, Anak Pawis, Gabriela, Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party, and Guardians of the Philippines, church groups like Promotion of Church Peoples' Response, cultural groups like KARATOLA, and Musicians for Change and other sectors like AGHAM, and Health Alliancefor Democracy marched from Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas and gathered at the Monument of Ninoy Aquino to conduct an interfaith rally that was led by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

The senate's attendance was perfect while the Congress renowned opposition leader were also present and were given a couple of minutes to deliver their speeches. Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, ping Lacson, Mar Roxas, Chiz Escudero, Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, and Franklin Drilon spoke to the people about their grievances and corruption that the administration were said to be 'full of.' Sen. Mar Roxas even said a foul word to the government but then asked for forgiveness to the nuns and priests of the De La Salle University that were present at the said rally.

As the program start with a prayer, it seemed that the religious sectors were united and were given the chance to deliver their prayers which were all driven by political grievances and wishes for the people and country's survival amidst the government's corruption and world's fincial crisis.

The Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas were closed to all vehicles. Though the sky was dimmed by clouds and was threatening to drop hard rain, the people seemed to be adamant and stood still, full of outrage. As on of the speakers compare the climate to the God's grievance towrd the Arroyo aministration, "lumuluha ang langit sa katigasan ng puso ni Gloria."

The ethnic groups and the muslim brothers give their support to the protest not only against the chrater change that is now the hot topic in te Congress, but also to the call for resignation of President Arroyo. According to the leader of Liga ng Kabataang Moro (LKM), they do not have the knowledge on the high technology fo the new age and they do not have much money unlike the city people, they do not care about their situtation, as long as President Arroyo is not in the Malacanang Palace either, "kahit wala kaming piso, basta wala si Gloria sa Malacanang."

The program was heated by performances by cultural artists such as Jimmy Santiago, Danny Fabella ("Baliktad na ang Mundo"), Armida Seguion-Reyna who delivered a poem, Syke (a rapper from Iligan City), Noel Cabangon, the Christmas carol with a twist (cha-cha ni Gloria) of the Musicians for Change, and the youtube star 'Juana Change' that teamed up with Rex Cortez. Director Joel Lamangan was one of the emcee of the program.
The organizers of the rally estimated the number of people who attend the rally was 30, 000.

NEWS

CHILDREN’S OUTCRY: KNOCK-OUT ARROYO FROM THE MALACANANG PALACE

Manila, December 06, 2008 –One day before the renounced dream match between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Oscar “the Golden Boy” dela Hoya, 300 children from depressed areas in Metro, Manila gathered to draw a rally that cries for President Arroyo’s resignation at Mendiola Saturday afternoon.

With the theme ‘labanan ang teroristang atake ng rehimeng US-Arroyo sa mga bata at mamamayan” (fight terrorists attacks done by US-Arroyo regime towards children and people), the rally corroborated by different activists groups, such as Gabriela, Children’s Rehabilitation, KMP (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas), SAMAKANA, Salinlahi and Alliance for Children’s Concern, almost 350 people, 300 of which are children who have different outcries against the Arroyo administration gathered in accordance to the 60^th anniversary celebration of Human Rights Day.

In the midst of a cloudy day, the protest that started from the Bustillos Church in Legarda to the historical land of Mendiola, the children outgrew the traffic situation in the said area with banners and flags that show their grievances to the administration.

If Pacquiao and dela Hoya’s matched was proclaimed as the dream match, the activists entitled their soiree as the ‘nightmare match’ between the people of the Philippines and the Arroyo administration.

“Knock out Gloria, the number one children’s right violator.”

Many activist children were now labeled as a member of the New People’s Army. An example to that is the death of a child who died in an encounter between the activists groups and the military officers. The said child was supposedly set up by the military. According to Jert Ranjo Libang, a member of the Gabriela, the military planted an armalight beside the corpse of the unnamed child, making her a prospected child soldier of the New People’s Army.

“Naiintindihan naman ng mga bata ang ipinaglalaban dahil kung ‘di sila magpoprotesta ngayon lalong lalala ang lipunan” (the children do understand what the activists groups were fighting for because they knew that if they don’t protest, the society will be more chaotic).

Verna Cepe, 13 of Batasan, Quezon City suppose to talk at the said rally, but was hit by nervousness. Though she was not able to talk at front of many people, she allowed an interview. According to her, President Arroyo should resign. “Nagpapayaman si Gloria tapos tumataas ang bilihin,” (Gloria Verna said. She said that the reason behind her presence at the rally and her pursuance of the protest is to have an action from the palace against the economic disturbance that the country is going through (“para babaan ang bilihin. Patalsikin si Gloria.”)

A teacher and mother four, Linda Libangan, 33 of Taniman Quezon City brought her four children at the rally. She wanted to call for the administrations attention about the demolition process that their barangay is going through. The MMDA demolished their houses without relocation as an alternative.

The rallyists seemed to be adamant about Arroyo’s resignation, but when they were asked about who, if ever President Arroyo will resign, is their prospected politician to replace the vacant office at the Palace, they do not have any one to cite. “Lahat naman ng pulitiko kurakot” (all politicians are corrupt), Linda Libangan said

the street

Though there are times that darkness triggered my mind; of how things should be, and how the outcomes shall come, I know that one day, the promise that I have waited for so long will come and clear all the ambiguity and confusion that clunged in my mind and made my life misirable each and everyday.

As I've walked down the street that seemed to be so long and enraged, I have noticed the people mingling around the corner, and somehow, I feel envious to how they see the world and to their perspective of life. I really wished that I have that kind of perception and somehow that happiness and contentment that was in their eyes. Though there are times that I cannot understand why they do the things that they do and how they perceived life, somehow I cannot outgrow the fact that they are happy and it made me sick that I feel the need to be in their shoes and have the chance to be contented with what I have and what is in my future. . .

I'm just kidding. . . I am terribly happy with who I am and what I am yesterday, today and in the future. . . I just hope that you feel the same way too. . .

Be happy, 'cause that's what Life's ultimate purpose. . .