RAPPLER | Schumacher suffers head injuries

ACCIDENT. German driver Michael Schumacher suffers a head injury after a skiing accident in France. File photo by AFP

Michael Schumacher, the retired seven-time Formula One champion, has undergone brain surgery and is in a "critical" condition after striking his head in a ski accident in the French Alps on Sunday, doctors said. Schumacher was "suffering a serious brain trauma with coma on his arrival, which required an immediate neurosurgical operation," the hospital in the southeastern French city of Grenoble said in a brief statement. He remains in critical condition. Schumacher had been skiing off-piste with his 14-year-old son in the upmarket Meribel resort, where he reportedly has a property, when he fell and hit his head on a rock.

The Nation | 100s of corpses unburied after Philippine typhoon

More than a thousand bodies still unburied in Leyte weeks after the supeertyphoon devastated the area.

December 29, 2013 AFP

TACLOBAN, Philippines  - More than a thousand dead victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan lay unburied Saturday, seven weeks after the region was battered by the Philippines’ deadliest storm, residents living alongside the stench said.

About 1,400 corpses, in sealed black body bags swarming with flies, lay on a muddy open field in San Isidro, a farming village on the outskirts of the destroyed central city of Tacloban, an AFP reporter saw. “The stench has taken away our appetite. Even in our sleep, we have to wear face masks,” said local housewife Maritess Pedrosa, who lives in a house about 20 metres (66 feet) from the roadside city government property. Haiyan killed 6,111 people and left 1,779 others missing on November 8, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

This made the storm, which also left 4.4 million people homeless, one of the deadliest natural disasters in Philippine history.

Tacloban and nearby towns were devastated by tsunami-like giant waves unleashed by Haiyan which accounted for a majority of the dead.

The council’s spokesman, Reynaldo Balido, said he was unsure if the official death toll already included the cadavers in San Isidro. Eutiquio Balunan, the local village chief, said government workers assigned to collect the typhoon dead began trucking them to San Isidro on November 10, where they have been exposed to the tropical heat and heavy seasonal rainshowers. There, state forensics experts try to identify the corpses, he told AFP.

The processed corpses are then turned over to relatives, while those that are unclaimed are tagged and taken to a mass grave at the city cemetery about three kilometres (1.86 miles) away.

“Our tally comprises those already tagged and processed by the local governments,” Balido, the disaster council spokesman, told AFP.

Balunan, the village chief, said the processing of the cadavers had been suspended over the Christmas weekend as the forensics experts went on holiday.

“We are requesting the city government to please bury the cadavers because our children and elderly residents are getting sick,” he said.

“This place has become a fly factory.”

The cadavers are guarded by eight policemen. One officer who asked not to be named said they are under orders to prevent the cadavers from being eaten by stray dogs.

INTERAKSYON.COM | Reds doubt peace talks can resume under Pnoy

By: Ria Rose Uro, InterAksyon.com
December 28, 2013 8:21 PM

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines -- Communist rebels are doubtful peace negotiations to with government can resume within the remaining 30 months of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration.

In a statement marking its 45th founding anniversary Thursday, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines blamed this gloomy prospect on what it called Aquino’s disinterest in pursuing a just conclusion to the armed conflict.

“In view of the proven unwillingness of the Aquino regime to negotiate a just peace, the revolutionary movement does not expect the resumption of peace negotiations with the regime. It has no choice but to wait for the next regime to engage in serious negotiations,” the CPP said.

But government said it is not ruling out a return to the negotiating table until the rebels categorically say so.

“For the record, the government has not received any official communication from the CPP expressing their intent to no longer negotiate with the current administration,” presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Quintos-Deles said in a text message.

“If this is indeed their intent, the government, on the other hand, remains committed to work for a peaceful settlement of all internal armed conflict. Government will not close the peace table to those who want to pursue sincere and truthful dialogue in responding to our people’s call for peace,” she added. “We will continue to seek ways to resume negotiations on the basis of a doable and timebound agenda.”

Stalled tracks

The rebels, represented by the National Democratic Front, have been engaged in on-and-off talks with government for two decades now.

When talks resumed under the Aquino administration after six years of being stalled, the negotiations followed a regular and a special track.

The regular track, done through the peace panels, involves building consensus on four substantive agenda as defined by The Hague Joint Declaration inked by the parties on September 1, 1992.

The regular track has been stalled since February 2011, mainly over the issue of government’s refusal to release detained NDF consultants.

The talks broke off during discussions on the second agenda, social and economic reforms. The first agenda, respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, was concluded through an agreement inked on March 16, 1998.

The third agenda is political and constitutional reforms and the last is cessation of hostilities and disposition of forces.

The special track, on the other hand, involved a rebel proposal for an alliance and truce, and was supposed to run parallel to and complement the regular track.

However, the special track stalled in February this year after the parties failed to agree on a joint declaration on, among others, upholding national sovereignty and the need for genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization.

Unrealized meeting

Had the joint declaration been agreed on, it could have paved the way for a meeting between Aquino and Sison this year similar to the one with Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Murad Ebrahim in Tokyo.

The Aquino-Murad meeting helped hasten peace negotiations between government and the MILF.

The CPP said “the Aquino regime is not at all interested in peace negotiations but the capitulation and pacification of the revolutionary forces and people under the guise of unilateral simultaneous indefinite ceasefires.
”

“It has rebuffed the offer of the NDF for truce and alliance or cooperation on the basis of a concise general common intent to realize and carry forward national independence, democracy, social justice, development through land reform and national industrialization, people’s culture and international solidarity,” it added.

For the CPP, the truce and alliance or cooperation “are meant to promote the accelerated negotiation of the remaining comprehensive agreements in accordance with The Hague Joint Declaration.”

More offensives

The CPP urged its supporters to “do our best to cause the ouster of the Aquino regime or compel Aquino’s resignation from his office...” over the next few years.

“We consider our efforts to remove Aquino from power as part of the process of strengthening the revolutionary movement and overthrowing the entire ruling system...” the CPP said, citing the role of the legal mass movement in ousting the Marcos and Estrada governments, 15 years apart from each other.

“Even if this would not succeed, the movement would still be strengthened and will further cause the US-Aquino regime to fail in its brutal attempt to destroy the armed revolution of the people,” the CPP added.

The group also ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army to “intensify the offensives” against enemy targets.

“We must wage battles to wipe out enemy units and seize their weapons. This is the way to strengthen the people’s army for the purpose of overthrowing the reactionary state,” said the CPP, which aims to increase its fighting strength to 25,000.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has estimated NPA strength at around 4,000 armed fighters as of mid-2013.

The CPP hopes to capture political power through total military victory, building its armed strength from the countrysides where the state is weakest.

RAPPLER | Aquino’s long political honeymoon is over

BY CARMELA FONBUENA
POSTED ON 12/26/2013 1:42 PM | UPDATED 12/28/2013 4:44 PM

DOWNHILL: President Benigno Aquino III is getting a hit in the media like he has never seen before. Malacañang file photo


MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang’s special treatment of the country’s most hated pork barrel scam "mastermind" Janet Napoles, its nonchalant attitude over the involvement of allies in the scam, and itshesitation to respond to the people’s call for the abolition of the lumpsum fund left a bad taste in some people’s mouth.


The squeaky clean image of President Benigno Aquino III and the promise of his Daang Matuwidcampaign were eroded by the realization that corrupt politicians remain in power under his watch. (READ: Pinoys think pork barrel misuse continues under Aquino)

The President took a hit in the media in a way that he had never seen before. The long political honeymoon, he must have felt, was coming to a close. And then Yolanda (Haiyan) hit and devastated towns, cities, and the President's record.

Government’s slow response, the power play, and the unstatesmanlike blame game hogged the headlines. Social media was nasty. And the most painful of all, it went on the world stage. (READ:Financial Times: PH typhoon knocks Benigno Aquino's reputation and World media in PH; Cooper slams slow Haiyan response)

Aquino was defiant. "Bahala na si Lord sa inyo. Busy ako (The Lord will deal with you. I am busy)," he told his critics in a statement that fueled another raucous exchange online.

When Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr took over Malacañang press briefings and Communications Secretary Ramon "Ricky" Carandang resigned, there were clearer signs that all was not well in Malacañang.

Disconnect with surveys

Malacañang can find comfort in surveys showing Aquino's ratings survived the political and natural disasters of 2013. He suffered declines in his approval ratings, especially at the height of exposés on the pork barrel scam, but these never went lower than the 41% vote he got in the 2010 polls.

"There were a lot of negative stories this year but the degree that it degrades the popularity of the President is not so significant," said political scientist Allen Surla of the De La Salle University political science department.

Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys show his satisfaction ratings dropped from "very good" in June to "good" in September, following the pork barrel fiasco. But he seemed unaffected by Super Typhoon Yolanda because he maintained his "good" ratings in the newly released December survey. (READ:Aquino gets 'very good' grade in 2013 – SWS)

Ad veteran Yolanda Ong said Aquino is not in danger of losing general support. "What I'm seeing with 48% is, he is coming close to his 41% in 2010, the percentage of voters who supported him. His voters are intact. It means he may be losing those who didn’t vote for him,” said campaign strategist Yolanda Ong, who campaigned for Aquino.

Aquino is probably losing the people who did not vote for him but gave him the benefit of the doubt. "They're the ones who are probably back to being discontented," Ong added.

Midway in his presidency, Aquino is definitely doing better than all his predecessors post-Marcos – former presidents Gloria Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, both of whom suffered single-digit satisfaction ratings on their 2nd year into their presidencies.

After 3 months in office it was President Fidel Ramos who could boast of higher satisfaction ratings (66%) compared to Aquino (60%). But midway his presidency in June 1995, Ramos' approval ratings dropped to 24%. Aquino's June 2013 grade stood at 64% before dipping to 49% in December. He also fared slightly better compared to his mother Corazon Aquino, who also enjoyed "good" ratings at around the same time of her presidency.

Different psychology

Online, criticism tends to be more harsh but this apparently does not reflect the sentiment of the majority.

Pulse Asia chief research fellow Ana Tabunda said about 20% of the population is connected to the Internet but not all of them are politically active. "Even if our people are using Facebook, they're not doing it to get news. The source of news is still TV," Tabunda said.

Those who have the time and interest to pay close attention to what government does are mostly from the privileged crowd. The poor have to worry about the food on their table.

"There's different psychology between the general public and the people online," said Surla. While some people online blamed the President for the shortcomings of government response to Yolanda because of command responsibility, Surla said the people around Aquino may have deflected criticism away from him.

"These people are taking the flak for the President, wittingly or unwittingly," he said. Surla noted that it is Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II taking the hit for the President for the government's shortcomings in handling Yolanda.

For Tabunda, Aquino survived the controversies of 2013 because not a single issue showed that he himself was corrupt, as if it were the singular issue that mattered to Filipinos. "It's not going into his pocket," Tabunda said, referring to government funds.

Media amplifies social media

By itself the social media is not a threat. The threat remains to be from traditional media, where most Filipinos get their information, said Surla.

But here's the thing. The traditional media is fond of echoing the social media – "loves them," said an observer – because it is the natural hangout place for people who closely watch politics. Politicians, academics, NGOs and fellow journalists are all over the place.

Tabunda explained: "Media is very active in the social media. It would seem that a lot of people [have] the same opinion as the people we call netizens. But it's not the case even if let's say 20% have access to the Internet."

The questions now are: How much of the growing dissatisfaction of people online, which is amplified when reported in the traditional media, will continue? And how much of it will rub off on the general public?

"If it lands in the front pages and prime time, it becomes more threatening. The general public will pay attention," said Surla.

Opposition blocks

Despite the good ratings, the new SWS survey still shows warning signs.

It shows a sharp decline in approval from those who live in the country's National Capital Region (NCR) – from 38% in September to 22% in December. But traditionally, this is where the more critical of the population are – as seen during the time of Estrada and Arroyo.

In the urban areas, approval is down 5 percentage points from 47% in September to 42% in December.

These blocks fit the demographics of people who are active on social media.

Just last year the same crowd lavished Aquino with praise for leading the way in removing a controversial chief justice and passing critical bills like the Reproductive Health Law and the Sin Tax Law. (READ:2012 a banner year for Aquino's Congress) This year, they are less approving.

But Ong said Aquino doesn't have to worry about his legacy yet. A lot of things can still happen with two more years in his term.

In January 2014, the country will shift its focus back to Malacañang's supposed pork barrel funds as the Supreme Court is set to tackle the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). With the 2016 presidential elections not too far away, who knows where the issue will go. 

– Rappler.com

Pinoy Weekly | KaMAO

Posted: 26 Dec 2013 09:08 PM PST

“Isang milyong manggagawa at magsasaka ang bumabangon.
Isang mabangis na ipu-ipo ang bumulusok mula sa langit.”

- Martsa Mula Tingchow Tungong Changsa, Mao Zedong
(Salin ni Vijae Alquisola)

*      *      *

Yes siree! Sumulat ng mga tula si Mao Zedong tulad ng mga rebolusyunaryong lider na sina Karl Marx, Andres Bonifacio, Ho Chi Minh, at Jose Ma. Sison.

May mga anekdota na nagsasabing kahit noong bata pa si Mao, mahilig na siyang magbasa ng mga klasikong akda. Galing sa mahirap na pamilya si Mao, at nang makita siya ng kanyang tatay na nagbabasa sa ilalim ng puno, nabuwisit ito dahil naisip nitong magiging makata siya paglaki. Hindi siya makakatulong sa bukid.

Pero nagkamali ang tatay ni Mao dahil hindi lang bukid ang sinimulan niyang palayain kundi maging ang sambayanang Tsino (AKA the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution).

*      *      *

“A poet must also learn how to lead an attack.”- Ho Chi Minh

*      *      *

Hindi lang mga aktibista at rebolusyunaryo ang nagbasa/umunawa/nagsabuhay ng mga dakilang kaisipan ni Mao. Pinag-aaralan/binusisi/binaluktot din ito ng mga pasista at chiwariwariwap ng imperyalismo. Case in point: tres otso.

Gayundin ang nangyari sa kanyang mga tula.

Noong 1972, binisita ni US President Richard Nixon si Mao dala ang isang kopya ng aklat na The Poems of Mao Tse-tung. Kinabisado raw ni Nixon ang isang tula ni Mao at binigkas pa sa harapan niya.

*      *      *

“But my heart / will be a whole soldier / with flags flying.”- Exile, Otto Rene Castillo

*      *      *

Bukod sa pagsusulat ng tula, isang calligrapher din si Mao. Hindi mo yata mapaghihiwalay ito sa mga makatang Tsino.

Sa pagitan daw ng mga pulong, makikita si Mao na nagdu-doodles ng mga tula o calligraphy art. Minsan lalamukusin niya ang papel o iiwan lang basta.

*      *      *

“A mighty flame follows a tiny spark.”
- Dante Alighieri

*      *      *

Sa ika-120 kaarawan ni Mao ngayong Disyembre 26, uploaded sa cyberworld ang updated na edisyon ng KaMAO: Mga salin ng mga tula ni Mao Zedong.

Kabilang sa 36 nagsalin ng mga tula ni Mao ang mga batikan at beteranong makata, mamamahayag, guro, musikero, manggagawang pangkultura, organisador, kawani ng gobyerno, iskultor, mga manggagawa sa pabrika at call center, at migrante.

Marami pang gustong magsalin pero wala na ring makitang tula ni Mao bukod sa 36 na tulang nakuha sa Mao Zedong Poems (Open Source Socialist Publishing, 2008). Usually, 20 tula lang ang laman ng mga koleksyon ng mga tula ni Mao.

*      *      *

Marami kaming natutunan sa proseso ng pagsasalin ng mga akda.

Dati nang nakapagsalin ng mga tula ni Mao ang ilan sa mga kontribyutor. May tala rin ang Sentro ng Wikang Filipino ng ilang salin na isinagawa ng komite sa pagsasalin ng Panulat Para Sa Kaunlaran Ng Sambayanan (PAKSA) at nalathala sa Katipunan noong 1971.

Idinaan din sa maikling palihan ang bawat salin ng bawat kontribyutor. Kailangan kasing sagutin kung direktang salin nga ba ang mga nagawa namin, kung halaw na, at/o sariling bersyon.

Halimbawa, ang paggamit ng salitang “palayok” ni Noel Sales Barcelona, “dyinobus” ni Axel Pinpin, at “Manaul” ni Tilde Acuña. Isama na rito ang usapin kung hahanapan ng katutubong bersyon sa Filipino ang mga idyomang likas sa Tsina na nabanggit ni Mao sa mga tula niya.

Gumawa rin ng salin sa Kapampangan si Oliver Carlos at halaw na tungkol naman sa kampanyang Kahos si Gem Aramil. Tho hindi na isinama ang mga ito sa koleksyon.

*      *      *

Paano nga ba isasalin ang mga tula ni Mao?

Sabi nga ni Joel Costa Malabanan, “Hindi ito gaya ng isang tasang kape na isasalin sa panibagong tasa. Kailangang bigyang-pansin ang kultura, kasaysayan, at ang kalagayan ni Mao Zedong nang nilikha niya ang tula.”

Nadiskubre namin na napakalalim ng kapit ng mga tula ni Mao sa kasaysayan at kaligiran ng Tsina. Pansin nga ni Axel, “May malaking impluwensya ang panahon at itinatakbo ng rebolusyong Tsino sa mga tula [ni Mao]. Halimbawa, ang Long March sa mga pagmumuni-muni niya. Ano ang kalagayan ng Red Army noong panahong iyon? Ano ang relasyon ng PKT sa Kuomintang? Ano ang inaabot ang rebolusyong agraryo sa mga pulang purok? Bakit parang depressed si [Mao] sa ibabaw ng bundok habang nakatanaw sa mga barko? Di ba dahil kamamatay [lang noon] ni Sun Yat-sen?”

Isang hurdle din na wala ni isa sa aming marunong magbasa ng wikang Tsino. For dat, mahirap i-double check kung tama ang bersyong hawak namin sa Ingles. And for dat, minabuting bukod sa pagri-research ng mga lugar na nabanggit sa mga tula, kumunsulta rin kami ng iba pang mga salin to compare.

*      *       *

Balak naming idaan sa mas masusi pang palihan ang mga tula. At, eventually, ilathala bilang aklat at maipamigay nang libre.

Dumami pa sana ang mga salin ng mga akdang kailangan natin. Panabla sa mga salin ng mga ek-ek na akda. Isa pa, hindi lang naman kasi usapin sa loob ng akademya ang pagsasalin. Dibs.

Pinoy Weekly | Salamat, 2013!

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 03:57 AM PST Mayroon bang dapat ipagpasalamat sa 2013 na puno ng trahedya at iba pang problema? Oo naman, pero depende sa pasasalamat na gusto nating gawin. May pasasalamat kasing consuelo de bobo. Isang halimbawa ang sinabi ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino matapos manalasa ang bagyong Yolanda noong Nobyembre 8. Kung matatandaan, isang kaibigan ng negosyante sa Tacloban City ang lumapit kay Aquino para ireklamo ang diumanong panunutok ng baril ng isang tinawag niyang “looter.” Ang sagot ni Aquino sa kanya, “But you did not die, right?” Sa halip na ayusin ang sitwasyon sa peace and order sa Tacloban, nagbigay ng nakapanlulumong mensahe si Aquino sa nagrereklamo: Pasalamat ka’t buhay ka pa! May pasasalamat ding sadyang napakabobo. Pasensiya na po’t wala na akong iba pang salitang maisip na mas malala pa sa bobo na ang ibig sabihin ay tunggak o “mahina ang ulo o nahihirapan o matagal umunawa (UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino [Binagong Edisyon, 2010], p. 1,288).” Sa talumpati ni Aquino noong Disyembre 22 sa pag-inspeksiyon sa pabahay para sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyong Pablo sa Compostela Valley, may mensahe siyang lubhang nakakagalit: “(A)lam n’yo sanay na tayo sa problema. Mula noong pagpasok ko sa trabahong ito…marami na talaga tayong problemang dinatnan. Kaya ‘pag ‘yong ating miyembro ng gabinete ang napapagod, sabi ko sa kanila, `Tatandaan ninyo ‘pag dumating ang panahong wala tayong problema, iyon naman ang problema.’…Dahil magiging boring na. Pero puwede rin namang ‘wag masyadong `interesting’ at `exciting.’” Sa gitna ng kolektibong pagkainis, malinaw ang mensahe niya: Pasalamat kayo’t hindi boring ang Pilipinas dahil sa mga problemang kinakaharap natin! Malinaw ang kabobohan sa sitwasyong ginagawang trivia lang ang ilang problemang pinagdaraanan ng bayan, lalo na ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Kung sabagay, ano nga ba ang konsepto ng problema ni Pangulong Aquino? Noong estudyante pa siya sa isang pribadong unibersidad, naging problema kaya niya ang mataas na matrikula at ang kawalan ng panggastos tuwing papasok sa klase? Naramdaman na kaya niya ang sakit ng sikmura dahil sa matinding gutom? Dahil nanggaling sa mayamang pamilya, duda ako kung naranasan niyang buhayin ang kanyang mga mahal sa buhay sa kakarampot na kita. Napag-uusapan na rin lang ang kayamanan ng Pangulo, wala tayong dapat ipagpasalamat sa dominanteng midya dahil sa katiting na coverage sa nangyayari ngayon sa Hacienda Luisita sa Tarlac City na alam nating pag-aari ng pamilya ni Aquino. Kung hindi pa naaresto ang ilang nagpoprotesta kamakailan, hindi ito maibabalita. Wala itong pagkakaiba sa nangyari noong protesta sa Hacienda Luisita noong 2004. Kung hindi nangyari ang masaker noong Nobyembre 16, 2004 na ikinamatay ng 13 manggagawang bukid, hindi maibabalita sa dominanteng midya ang kaguluhan. Pero tulad noon, hanggang ngayon ay hindi malinaw sa publiko ang konteksto ng ipinaglalaban ng mga manggagawang bukid sa Hacienda Luisita. Mainam na pag-aralang mabuti ang naging pahayag ng grupong Karapatan noong Nobyembre 16: “Nine years after [the massacre], those responsible…have not spent one day in prison. Former Dept. Of Labor and Employment secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas is holding office at the Land Bank of the Philippines. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, head of the Philippine Army deployed in the Hacienda Luisita and a protege of Ret. Maj. Palparan is still sowing terror in the places where he is being deployed…Gen. Visaya’s recent stint of terror is the beheading of the village councilor Ely Oguis, justifying that the victim is an NPA tax collector. Then Senator BS Aquino, whose family’s interests reign in the hacienda, is now the President…The Supreme Court may have decided to distribute the vast lands of Luisita in 2012, but the Aquinos and Cojuangcos, Dept. of Agrarian Reform and Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) are using all possible kinds of deception, bribery, state violence to prevent the lands to be actually distributed to all farmworkers.” May kaugnayan sa matagal nang ipinaglalaban ang kinasasadlakan ng mga manggagawang bukid sa Hacienda Luisita. Pero ang naibabalita lang sa kasalukuyan ay ang ginawang pagbuwag sa protesta at ang pag-arestong nangyari sa limang manggagawang bukid sa salang “trespassing, coercion, direct assault and physical injuries.” Bagama’t nakalaya rin matapos ibasura ng city prosecutor ang mga kaso, napabalitang magsasampa sila ng kaso laban sa mga pulis at sa mga Cojuangco. Malinaw ang mensahe ng mga manggagawang bukid sa Hacienda Luisita: Wala kaming dapat ipagpasalamat sa gobyerno! Lumaya ang lima hindi dahil sa kabaitan ng mga nasa kapangyarihan, kundi dahil sa sama-samang pakikipaglaban ng kanilang karapatan. Sa aking palagay, may malaking kakulangan ang dominanteng midya sa pag-uulat ng mga nangyayari ngayon sa Hacienda Luisita. Ayaw ko mang isiping may kaugnayan ito sa ilang malalaking trahedyang naganap mula Setyembre hanggang Disyembre (i.e., giyera sa Zamboanga, lindol sa Bohol at Cebu, storm surge sa Tacloban at iba pang lugar), hindi ko pa rin mapigilang magtaka kung bakit hindi sineseryoso ang pagbabalita sa isang isyung may direktang kinalaman sa mga pamilyang Cojuangco at Aquino. Sa larangan ng peryodismo, alam kong tinaguriang “dead beat” ang agrikultura dahil walang masyadong interes diumano ang nakararaming mamamayan dito (bagama’t malinaw namang ang tunay na dahilan ay hindi masyadong pinagkakakitaan ng mga may-ari ng midya ang larangan ng agrikultura kumpara sa industriya’t serbisyo). Pero kung ang isyu ay may kinalaman sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao at sa mismong utos ng Korte Suprema, dapat lang na tutukan ito kahit ng ilang organisasyong tinaguriang “yellow media” dahil sa pagkampi nito sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Pero isipin natin: Ano ang mangyayari sa administrasyong Aquino kung bibigyan ng malaking espasyo o airtime ang isyu sa Hacienda Luisita sa gitna ng napakarami pang problemang kinakaharap ng bansa? Matatandaang noong naiulat ang masaker sa Hacienda Luisita noong Nobyembre 2004, lalong bumagsak ang mga net satisfaction rating ni dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – dumausdos ang mga ito sa -5 (Disyembre 2004), -12 (Marso 2005) at -33 (Mayo 2005). Kahit na sabihing may iba pang salik sa pagbaba ng popularidad ni Arroyo, iniiwasan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ang pagpapalaganap ng iba pang isyung puwedeng makasira sa pamilya ni Aquino. At sa puntong ito, mainam na suriin ang inaasahang mensahe ng pasasalamat mula sa Malakanyang bunga ng napabalitang +49 na net satisfaction rating ni Aquino batay sasurvey ng Social Weather Stations (SWS) para sa Disyembre 2013. “We are grateful to our people for proving once more that they are on the side of true public service and are unswayed by mere politicking,” sabi ni Edwin Lacierda, tagapagsalita ni Aquino. Kung gustong maging “tunay na matuwid” ang kasalukuyang administrasyon, kailangang pasalamatan din nito ang dominanteng midya sa hindi pagpapalaki ng isyung kinakaharap ng Hacienda Luisita, o kahit ang iba pang usaping may kinalaman sa patuloy na paglabag sa karapatang pantao at sa lalo pang lumalakas na kultura ng walang pakundangan (culture of impunity). Salamat kasi sa dominanteng midya, hindi gaanong nalalaman ng publiko ang marami pang kontrobersiya, lalo na ang maraming insidente ng pagdukot at pagpatay. Sa ganitong konteksto natin dapat tingnan ang net satisfaction rating ni Aquino. Huwag nating sisihin ang “kabobohan” ng maraming mamamayan. Natural lamang na may iba silang opinyon sa mga bagay-bagay dahil sa limitadong impormasyong inihahatid ng dominanteng midya. Dahil walang malalimang pagsasakonteksto sa mga balita, madaling napapaniwala ang maraming mamamayan sa retorika ng pag-unlad at ang diumanong “daang matuwid.” Pero sa kabila ng mga problemang kinaharap ngayong 2013, nagpapasalamat pa rin ako dahil unti-unti nang lumalabas ang tunay na kulay ng administrasyon. Sa mga pahayag na binibitiwan ni Aquino, mas nagiging kapansin-pansin ang kawalan ng simpatiya nito sa pinagdaraanan ng mga mamamayan. Sa kabila ng propaganda ng gobyerno, nagiging matingkad na ang kawalan ng pangmatagalang solusyon sa mga pangunahing problemang kinakaharap ng mga mamamayan tulad ng kahirapan at kawalan ng hustisya. Sa paglipas ng panahon, asahan natin ang paglawak pa ng protesta para baguhin ang kasalukuyang sistema. At kung hindi magagawa ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ang pagbabagong hinahangad ng mga batayang sektor ng lipunan, malinaw na ang mga organisadong mamamayan na mismo ang kikilos para palitan ang mismong pamahalaan. Salamat sa pagmumulat, 2013! Para makipag-ugnayan sa awtor, pumunta sa www.dannyarao.com. Paunawa: Pansamantalang titigil sa pagsusulat ng kolum niyang “Konteksto” si Prop. Danilo A. Arao sa taong 2014. Bukod sa kanyang administratibong gawain sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) Diliman bilang kawaksing dekano (associate dean) ng Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangmadla, kailangan din niyang pagtuunan ng pansin ang sinusulat niyang disertasyon para sa programang doktoral ng Ilmenau University of Technology (Alemanya).   Para sa mga nais basahin ang mga kolum ni Prop. Arao, abangan ang paglalabas ng bago niyang libro sa unang bahagi ng 2014 na ililimbag ng PinoyMedia Center.

sunstar.com.ph | NPA fighters vow more attacks in 2014

By Anjo Bacarisas

Saturday, December 28, 2013

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Maoist rebels vowed Thursday to launch much wider and bigger offensives with more armed fighters next year.

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, the spokesperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for Mindanao, said the New People's Army (NPA) will intensify its attacks especially in Southern Philippines.

The NPA is the armed wing of the NDFP and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

AGUSAN. Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines for Mindanao, told reporters who attended the 45th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines somewhere in Agusan provinces that the New People's Army will intensify its offensives against government forces. (Anjo J. Bacarisas)

The Philippines has been tagged for holding the longest running revolutionary movement in the world.

Speaking before reporters during the CPP’s 45th founding anniversary on December 26, Madlos said they will deploy more NPA fighters in their punitive actions against the government forces in 2014.

Madlos said that in 2010, the revolutionary group initiated 250 armed operations, 350 attacks in 2011, and more than 400 offensives in 2012.

“This year, the revolutionary forces launched more than 400 offensives, and next year, we will launch more than 500 tactical offensives,” said Madlos.

If the recent assaults were initiated by platoons and squads of the NPA, Madlos said that next year, there will be battalion formations that will launch military operations all over Mindanao.

In the North Central Mindanao Region (NCMR), Norsen “Ka Norsen” Mangubat said amid the addition of the Marine Battalion Landing Team and Scout Ranger to the military forces of the Philippines’ 4th Infantry Division (4ID), the insurgents intensified their aggressive actions from 83 last year to 100 this year.

Mangubat claimed the CPP-NPA in NCMR this year eliminated 117 members of the government’s military forces, while the Maoists lost only 11 of their comrades.

“In those tactical operations, the group confiscated more than 80 weapons of different caliber,” said Mangubat.

Madlos added: “From 2011 to 2013, casualties sustained by enemy forces increased to at least a battalion per year while the casualties with the NPA per year did not go beyond a platoon on the same period.”

CAGAYAN DE ORO. New People's Army fighters perform a cultural show during the 45th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines held somewhere in Agusan. (Anjo J. Bacarisas)

CPP-NPA strength

In NCMR, Mangubat said the forces of the guerilla group increased by 11 percent while the number of high-powered weapons increased by 10 percent.

“The People’s militia in the region also increased by 28 percent,” said Mangubat.

According to the CPP statement, in the five regions of Mindanao, there are 46 guerilla fronts composed of platoons and companies that constitute 10 battalions.

The battalion formations of CPP-NPA in Mindanao are supported by the People’s militia numbering several battalions.

Amid the military and psychological warfare (psy-war) operations conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the bases of the group increased and strengthened in more than 2,000 villages in more than 200 municipalities and 19 provinces in Mindanao.

In sum, the armed revolution in Mindanao guided by the CPP is supported by hundreds of thousands from various sectors of society, the CPP added.

Punitive actions

Based on the CPP statement, part of their tactical offensives were the successful punitive actions on Del Monte Philippines plantation, the raid conducted on an army detachment in Barangay Lantad, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.

Part of these actions was the confiscation of firearms of Dasia Security Agency in Tagum City and the raid on Philippine National Police headquarters in Kibawe town in Bukidnon and Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental.

Meanwhile, Madlos, through a press statement, said the Aquino regime has no capacity to alleviate the misery felt by the survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong and typhoons Pablo and Yolanda because it is preoccupied in squandering the people’s money.

Truce violation

In a statement e-mailed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro on Friday, the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) said the NPA violated the truce between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the CPP.

The military troops under the Barangay Assistance Team for Peace and Development (BATPD) in Sitio Ulayanon, Barangay Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon were allegedly harassed by the members of the NPA using high-powered weapons.

The harassment happened on the same day the CPP commemorated its founding anniversary on December 26, said the army.

The aim of the BATPD, a team of soldiers who were deployed in the different villages in Impasug-ong, is to assist the local government unit in the delivery of basic services and in the implementation of government programs and projects in the area, the military unit added.

“One soldier, namely, Private First class Akmad Maruhom, was killed-in-action,” the 8IB statement said, stressing the attack was a violation of the CPP’s declaration of ceasefire.

“The actions of the NPAs in the area clearly violated this previously announced truce from their side. The incident was the second time that the rebels carried out to inflict casualty among our troops facilitating peace and development activities in the area. First was on November 28 this year when they also perpetrated the same harassment in the area resulting to one soldier wounded,” the unit said.

“It only shows that they (NPA) are deceptive of their pronouncements. In fact, they intend on sowing fear and violence in local communities. More so, they are anti-development and anti-poor,” it added.

The army unit also said that “the CPP-NPA wants the people to continue with their misery so that they can continue to deceive them. In the spirit of Christmas and our strong adherence to peace and development, we once again call on the CPP-NPA to once and for all denounce “armed struggle” and follow the path of peace.”

Captain Christian Uy, 4th Infantry Division (4ID) spokesman, said the division was dismayed “over the actions of the rebels” amid the temporary truce while the whole world is celebrating Christmas and New Year.

There were no reported casualties on the rebel side and the civilians, Uy added.

He said the military has been doing community works, especially in the hinterland villages, in a bid to discourage residents from joining the armed revolutionary movement.

 (With Loui S. Maliza/Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)