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[Statement] On the gruesome killing of a Filipino transgender woman by a US Serviceman -OWGC

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Statement on the gruesome killing of a Filipino transgender woman by a US Serviceman
October 20, 2014

Our shock and horror over the gruesome killing of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer (legal name: Jeffrey) Laude by a US marine serviceman are accompanied by grave concern about how the case will progress and the kind of justice that might prevail in the end given the circumstances surrounding the case.

1. The crime committed and the suspect are covered by the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States that puts a Filipino crime victim at a disadvantage. A provision in the VFA gives the US custody of a crime suspect being tried who is a member of the US visiting forces.

2. Laude, the latest victim, is a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community that, in present society, continues to suffer discrimination, marginalization, exclusion and hate crimes. Such is the result of centuries-old societal biases toward those who “do not fit” into the so-called mainstream.

3. The victim belongs to a family of humble means whose resources might not see them through the whole legal process while the suspect has the whole US military might behind him.

We do not want to see a repeat of a past case that saw a rape suspect spirited away by his US defenders through the use of wile and force, resulting in the victim’s capitulation (despite overwhelming support from anti-violence against women advocates) and an acquittal.

Laude is dead and cannot give an account of what happened. We call on witnesses to put aside fear and come forward with what they know. We call on

Laude’s family and supporters to stay the course and not be cowed into giving up. We call on Laude’s critics to hold their judgment. We call on our government officials and lawmakers to re-examine the onerous provisions in the VFA.

Even while protecting the rights of a US citizen, in this case, US Marine PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is a crime suspect, the US government should refrain from using might to get its own brand of justice, with little regard for Philippine sovereignty.

We pray that genuine justice based on the truth will be served—for both the victim and the accused.

Office of Women and Gender Concerns

Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines

Sr. Mary John Mananzan OSB
Fr. Quirico Pedregoza OP
Chairpersons

Sr. Aurora Zambrano ICM
Chair emeritus
Board Members
Sr. Graziella Aseberos DOLSH
Sr. Betty Baroro PDDM
Ma. Ceres P. Doyo
Atty. Corazon Fabros
Sr. Lucila Vasquez SP
Sr. Leonila Villanueva FMM

Contact:
Office of Women and Gender Concerns
Mission Partner of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines
3F St. Scholastica’s College Museum
884 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila, PHILIPPINES
owgc_14@yahoo.com, 02-2636208

Statement

[Resources] Tubig Natin! – Our Water! An Illustrated Publication in Filipino -Focus on the Global South

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Tubig Natin! – Our Water! An Illustrated Publication in Filipino

ABOUT THE PUBLICATION

Ginawa ang komiks na ito upang mas maipalaganap ang mga pagsasaliksik na ginawa ng Focus tungkol sa mga isyung kaugnay ng tubig. Maaari itong gamitin sa mga gawaing pang-edukasyon sa pamayanan, sa LGU at sa mga CSOs.

This illustrated publication in Filipino, “Our Water! Rights and Responsibilities”, is based on research by Focus on the Global South on the privatization of water, water justice, and alternative public-public partnerships in water delivery. It aims to popularize these issues and raise awarenes about them among the general public in the Philippines. It can also be used as an educational tool by community leaders, local government staff, and civil society organizations in their education campaigns on water.

See more at: http://focusweb.org/content/tubig-natin-our-water-illustrated-publication-filipino#sthash.mM3AVOOE.dpuf

http://focusweb.org/content/tubig-natin-our-water-illustrated-publication-filipino

Focus on the Global South
19 Maginhawa St. UP Village
Diliman, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Telephone: +63-433-1676
Mobile +639062983206
Twitter: @criticalcommons
Focus Twitter:
twitter.com/focussouth

This 2014, let’s do it again for our children! By Kuya Edel

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

THIS 2014, LET’S DO IT AGAIN FOR OUR CHILDREN!.

By Kuya Edel

2013 had been very challenging and even dreadful for many Filipinos, like to the fishermen in Zambales who were caught in the middle of the conflict of the Philippines against the Republic of China, the passengers and the victims of the Don Mariano Skyway incident, the another Sulpicio line mishap in August, and of course for the victims and survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

This is also the year when the country discovered just how crazy and unacceptable the corrupt practices of the many legislators and politicians as highlighted by the “Pork Barrel” issue. Of all the seemingly unimaginable and overwhelming trials of the year, finding triumphs could have been very hard if we are not who we are, Filipinos.

Read full article @kuyaedel.wordpress.com

Blog

[Video] Filipino Youtube Singers Unite for Typhoon Relief (“The Prayer” for the Philippines). By GREEN MANGO

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Filipino Youtube Singers Unite for Typhoon Relief (“The Prayer” for the Philippines)
GREEN MANGO

Published on Youtube, December 17, 2013
Donate to Red Cross: http://bit.ly/18NZZBy A deeply touching collaboration of some of the best and most unique Philippine voices on YouTube (feat. viral stars such as Zendee ‘random girl’ & Aldrich Talonding).

This very special charity video could not have happened were it not for the internet as more than a dozen Filipino YT singers combined voices for a cause.

Conceptualized, arranged and edited by Derek Wanner (GRNMNGO)
GRNMNGO – the viral company
http://www.grnmngo.com

In the weeks since the historic super typhoon Haiyan caused such carnage in the Philippines, we have been working tirelessly to assemble together some of the most gifted Filipino singers that can be found online for a very special viral video collaboration.

Read full article @ http://youtu.be/Nrlr0ci4DTs

Video

[Statement] Apathy and alibis -NUJP

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Apathy and alibis

It says much when the president of a country that time and again boasts of being a democracy insists that one of, if not the, worst wave of media murders does not constitute a national catastrophe.

No, we don’t believe President Benigno Aquino III is in a state of denial about the three latest killings, which happened in all of two weeks’ time, bringing the death toll for media since he came to office in 2010 to at least 21.

We believe he is clearly aware of how serious the problem is. The problem is, he keeps on looking for excuses to play down what the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism has called the worst annual incidence rate under any president.

In short, he just doesn’t care.

In a meeting with Filipino journalists in Tokyo, Aquino, as reported in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said he would not treat media killings as a national trend unless “somebody can say that there is some sort of an established policy to kill a journalist of this particular position, mentality.”

According to the PDI report, Aquino said a “’correlation’ must first be established: ‘What’s common among (the killings) besides (the reality) that somehow they are connected to media’.”

“’Now if you don’t identify the problem correctly, you will not come up with a solution. The point is … we are 95 million Filipinos. It’s difficult to see the intent, especially for those … some might really be wanton and merciless and totally wrong,’ he said.”

Evidently, Mr. Aquino has not been listening, if he ever did in the first place.

Mr. Aquino, in case you missed it, we have never claimed the murders of our colleagues were the result of any “established policy” unlike, say, the extrajudicial killings of activists, environmentalists, indigenous people and other dissenters that human rights experts both here and abroad have rightly linked to a murderous counterinsurgency program that deliberately targets members of legal organizations.

What we HAVE said is that these killings are the inevitable offshoot of governance by expediency, which has seen administration after administration, bar none, allowing the corrupt, the warlords, the crime lords to reign supreme in their respective personal fiefdoms in the regions and provinces in exchange for their support.

It is a system of governance that has allowed local tyrants to keep their populations cowed and silence any attempt to unmask them while the national government turns a blind eye for fear of losing their loyalty.

But of course, no self-respecting president, especially one who has staked his name on “tuwid na daan,” would ever admit to that.

Thus the search for alibis, like Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma’s describing some of the victims as “not legitimate” to justify describing the problem as “not so serious,” or the attempt by an investigator to explain the recent killings as the offshoot of the victims’ less than impeccable ethics.

Admittedly, Philippine media have their work cut out to improving ethical and professional standards. But before sanctimoniously dumping the blame on the individual practitioner, especially the grossly overworked and underpaid variety that populate our provinces, shouldn’t we look first to those who keep them so overworked and underpaid that not a few succumb to the blandishments of those would have the news slanted in their favor? And if corruption were to justify murder, shouldn’t we be wondering, given the surfeit of evidence, why our corridors of power continue to be populated by the foremost purveyors of graft and who, by all indications, are the most likely brains in the murders of our colleagues?

So there, Mr. Aquino, is the “correlation” you claim to seek, the problem identified to which you must now find a solution.

That is, if you even care a whit to.

For reference
Rowena Paraan
Chairperson

Aquino doesn’t consider media killings a national catastrophe (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
Gunmen kill Bukidnon radio Broadcaster (businessmirror.com.ph)
Radio commentator shot dead in Iligan City (rappler.com)
Radio commentator shot dead in Bukidnon (rappler.com)
‘Act on media killings,’ gov’t told (bulatlat.com)

Statement

[Statement] Promoting the Interests of the Few; Trampling on the Rights of the Majority -Kaisa Ka

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Promoting the Interests of the Few;
Trampling on the Rights of the Majority

In the wake of super typhoon Yolandas’ devastations and the urgent and long term need of millions of affected people to recover and be rehabilitated, observing Human Rights day should focus on critiquing what the government has done and is doing in the interest of the many who are more vulnerable to disasters.

The Kilusan sa Pambansang Demokrasya (Kilusan) believes that it is a grave insult on the rights of the Filipino people to have a government that is irresponsible and not responsive to the needs and interests of the overwhelming majority of the people.

After the super typhoon has made millions more of the people several times more vulnerable to impacts of disasters, the government has not even considered suspending laws that promote and safeguard the interests of very few monopoly capitalists only and have proved to be detrimental to the majority.

Even as electric power services have not been restored in the typhoon-ravaged areas, the government allowed MERALCO to increase charges on its electricity consumers/users, which are undoubtedly mostly residential. The commercial consumers on the other hand can simply increase the prices of their goods or costs of their services thus passing on to consumers the burden of paying high electricity costs.

Power rate hikes and continued oil price hikes, including staggering increases in the price of LPG, are disastrous to the people several times over than the immediate impacts of calamities. The government has placed the whole country under a state of calamity but this is to no avail. The price controls imposed in storm-ravaged areas are rendered useless by existing laws especially—Oil deregulation, EPIRA and the EVAT.

By promoting privatization and deregulation laws and policies, the government is abdicating its sworn duty of serving and protecting public interests. At the present stage of pursuing privatization of hospitals and other social services through the PPP scheme, the government has concretely abandoned its duty to the people.

The Philippines lies within a typhoon belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire but the present and past governments have not drawn any long-term, comprehensive disaster preparedness and response plan. Annual government expenditures are not really aligned with the concrete problems and needs of the people for decently earning jobs and livelihoods; for a national land use policy that prioritizes lands for food production, industries and residential areas; for properly guided housing assistance instead of merely giving housing loans; for proper community planning; for health and medical services; and for correct and timely information and systematic and pre-planned evacuation not solely dependent on using public school buildings.

The Philippines has a number of environmentally protective laws but these are not being implemented. They are always compromised in the interest, especially, of foreign capitalists as in the Mining Act, Water Code, Clean Air Act, etc. Evidently, the many mining permits, the reclamation of foreshore areas and tourism obliterate the inland and mangrove forests.

It is ironical that even as the two chambers of Congress passed the supplemental budget to augment the recovery and rehabilitation fund for the victims and survivors of Yolanda’s wrath, this government of political patrons has besmirched record in budget use. New cases of pork barrel scam, SARO scam and misuse of other public funds have just been recently un-earthed.

The PNoy government could perhaps have passing grade for anti-forced disappearance law, compensation for Matial Law victims and the still unimplemented reproductive health law. But this grade will be entombed in the landslide of laws that amount to the whole sale surrender of people’s rights to a few private monopoly interests.

PRESS STATEMENT
December 10, 2013

Statement

[Statement] PERSONALAN NA! Isang daang araw na ang nagdaan, pangatawanan ang tuwid na daan, panagutin lahat ng kawatan! -#ScrapPorkNetwork

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

PERSONALAN NA! Isang daang araw na ang nagdaan, pangatawanan ang tuwid na daan, panagutin lahat ng kawatan!
A CALL TO UNITY ON DECEMBER 6, 2013

100-day-protest. Extracted from http://scrapporknetwork.com/

Source: scrapporknetwork.com

A year of unprecedented natural and man-made disasters, a display of unparalleled corruption are what most Filipinos will remember of the year 2013.

On the one hand, reports of massive corruption, of people toying around with billions of pesos of our money — and a government preoccupied with defending the infrastructure that props up these wrongs. On the other, millions of survivors of disasters reeling from their loss and the balance of the population struggling to fill the vacuum in government services.

The deaths, injuries and scale of destruction highlight the gaps in disaster reduction and management that an efficient budget process and exercise of fiscal responsibility could have plugged.

What we have, however, is a system that diverts too much public funds to Pork: the whole-scale award of state monies to institutions and official positions and the assigning of vast discretionary powers that often place them beyond the pale of accountability.

‘Walang personalan?’ Hindi po. No Filipino has been spared the direct impact of the corruption bred by pork. Personalan na! Walang Pilipino na ligtas sa epekto ng korupsyon.

The Scrap Pork Network believes there can be no piecemeal approach to the eradication of pork. Thus, our three main calls (1) Scrap the pork barrel system. 2) Account for all funds spent. 3) Investigate and punish ALL who misuse pork.

December 6 marks 100 days since the surrender of Janet Napoles, a major conduit for diverted pork funds. No case has yet reached the Sandiganbayan. Very few from the huge cast detailed in special PDAF audit have been charged for the loss of public funds. Nor has the public been shown detailed accounting of pork spending outside of 2007 to 2009.

The Supreme Court has recently declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as illegal; a move which we certainly welcome. However, this only comprises a small fraction of “pork”, which plagues our nation.

Year after year, grassroots calls for improvement in government service have been met with one excuse: lack of funds. The billions of pesos that are just the tip of the pork iceberg show the real story: Pork and its accompanying corruption steal funds that could have improved people’s lives.

We, the #ScrapPork Network, a network composed of many different groups, as well as many unaffiliated individuals—students, activists, economists, faith-based leaders, young workers, artists, businesspeople, educators, together with other groups and individuals, are calling on all Filipinos to join us on at 4pm on December 6 to point to the failure of the Ombudsman to file cases within 100 days of Napoles’ surrender. And to call the government to account for its inadequate response to the disaster brought about by typhoon Yolanda.

We are also calling for concerned citizens all over the Philippines and even in different parts of the globe to join us at 5:00pm on December 6th in giving voice to our call to demand for systemic change.

Program:
4:00pm— Assembly and program at the Office of the Ombudsman
5:00pm— Noise barrage and united raising of the Philippine Flag
5:15pm— Torchlight Walk from the Office of the Ombudsman to Quezon City Memorial Circle
6:15pm— Program for Yolanda survivors at Quezon City Memorial Circle

[Press Release] Filipino climate justice activists join mass walk-out at UN climate change talks -PMCJ

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

‘A big blow to Yolanda victims and survivors’
Filipino climate justice activists join mass walk-out at UN climate change talks
November 22, 2013

Mass walk-out at UN climate change talks. Photo extracted from Herbert Docena FB

WARSAW (Nov 21): Members of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice has joined a mass walk-
out at UN Climate Change conference in Warsaw, Poland “to protest against the failure of the
talks to deliver climate justice.”

Hundreds of representatives of civil society organisations and social movements around the world
streamed out of the National Stadium here on the penultimate day of the two-week long round of
negotiations.

“Everyone here was saying they sympathise with Filipinos affected by typhoon Yolanda, and yet
some parties—specifically the rich, developed countries and dirty industries—are refusing to
increase their ambition on emissions cuts and refusing to provide compensation for those of us
affected by climate change,” Gerry Arances, National Coordinator of PMCJ said.

“This is a slap in the face of people who are already suffering from climate change,” said
Arances.

“On the one hand they’re giving us humanitarian aid for Typhoon Yolanda, on the other hand
they’re ratcheting up emissions and refusing to hand over new, adequate and predictable funding
for the loss and damages caused by their historic emissions of greenhouse gases,” said Val Vibal,
Spokesperson of Aniban ng Managgagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA) and a Coordinating Committee members
of PMCJ.

“Their one hand is reaching out to us and giving us relief goods; their other hand is effectively
pushing us into the path of more and stronger typhoons,” Arances said.

“As the Philippines’ climate change commissioner Naderev Sano said, ‘This climate crisis is
madness.’ And yet, they’re refusing to stop this madness.”

The walk-out followed an earlier walk-out by developing countries from a negotiating session
after developed countries continued to block the establishment of an international mechanism for
providing funds to poorer countries bearing “loss and damages” from climate change

Filipinos led by PMCJ here in the Philippines launched several activities, including fasting
across the country and actions in front of embassies of the US, Canada and Australia, to press
for adequate climate actions by the developed countries to avert catastrophic climate change.

Press Release

[Press Release] Filipino Groups Demand Real Action for Climate Justice to the UNFCCC COP19 -PMCJ

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Filipino Groups Demand Real Action for Climate Justice to the UNFCCC COP19
Sent Filipino Communique to the Conference of Parties

Photo extracted from Herbert Docena FB

Filipino groups still dealing with the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan/ Yolanda, conveyed their outrage that UN negotiations on climate change are still failing to arrive at any meaningful outcome, in a communique from the Philippine movements and civil society organizations.

The release came as lead negotiator of the Philipines Yeb Sano accepted a petititon with over 600,000 signatures from online campaign group Avaaz calling for devleoped countries to increase their climate controls, honour their finance promises and adopt a loss and damage mechanism to deal with climate impacts like Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.

“This is a time of outpouring of support and solidarity from all around the world. We are touched and strengthened and grateful. But our people need more than solidarity – we demand climate justice.” Said Lidy Nacpil, National Convenor of Phillipine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and the Coordinator of Jubilee South – Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development.

“Our people are suffering the terrible impacts of a climate crisis they had no part in causing, while those most responsible refuse to take the actions necessary to effectively address climate change – its causes and its consequences.” .” Said Nacpil

“Instead, we see the continued excessive consumption of energy by elites and corporations, the expansion of fossil fuel projects the aggressive promotion of false solutions, and the drive for profit-seeking investments in “Climate” projects and carbon markets.” She added.

“This is a most painful and difficult time for the people of the Philippines. Not only for those among us who have lost loved ones and homes, staying in crowded ‘shelters’ with little food, or still waiting to be rescued, living with great uncertainty about our immediate future.” said Gerry Arances, National Coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)

“It is painful even for those of us who were much less affected by Typhoon Yolanda but grieve with our relatives, our friends, our colleagues, with entire communities, towns, cities and islands for the untold loss and destruction.” said Arances, of the devastation that his country has experienced.

The typhoon that is Yolanda/Haiyan may be the strongest typhoon to ever make landfall in recorded history – but it was not the first of its terrible kind nor will it be the last. The country have experienced the 4th super-typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2013. In 2012 it had Habagat in Luzon and Typhoon Pablo in Southern Mindanao; in 2011 it had Typhoon Sendong in Northern Mindanao; in 2010 it was Typhoon Pepeng in Central Luzon, and in 2009 it was Typhoon Ondoy devastating MetroManila.

“Every year, extreme weather events hitting the Philippines are increasing in number and magnitude.” Arances added.

The groups are demanding climate justice to the government representatives gathered here in Warsaw.
The Philippines, despite its low contribution to the historical global greenhouse gas emissions, which is pegged at 0.3%, is one of the most vulnerable countries around the world for the past ten years.

Key demands of the groups included:

· The fulfillment of obligations to provide finance and technology needed by developing countries like the Philippines for adaptation and building resilience. We demand reparations for inescapable losses and damage from the onslaughts of the climate crisis.

· An end to false solutions, the further expansion of carbon markets, and corporate domination of the climate negotiations.

Since the opening of the Convention when Commissioner Yeb Sano announced that he will fast in solidarity of his brothers and sisters that have been devastated by Typhoon Hainan/Yolanda, fasting in support of the Philippines and demanding climate justice are spreading like wildfire here inside the UN talks and gathering and in almost all countries around the globe, including the Philippines.

“This year we continue our support, in all the ways we can, including the solidarity fast. We do it to show the resilient people of the Philippines that we are still standing with them, and to send a message to our own government that we will never accept an outcome that is not based on equity and climate justice. An outcome in Warsaw with weaker controls than when we started is not acceptable.” Said Silje Lundberg, of Friends of the Earth Norway, who has been fasting for the past two weeks.

The Philippine Communique outlines clearly what the Filipino people, and in solidarity of the rest of humanity, needs from the representatives of governments in the climate convention here in Warsaw, “We demand immediate, drastic cuts of global GHG emissions, which will not happen without banning new fossil fuel projects and stopping the excessive consumption of energy by elites and corporations. Thus it is imperative to demand an end to public subsidies for private fossil fuel corporations and mobilization of public finance for swift and just transition to low carbon economies. “

Communique went on to demand that “These demands are greatly connected to the fulfilment of obligations to provide finance and technology needed by developing countries like the Philippines for adaptation and building resilience, and at the same time reparations for the inescapable losses and damage from the onslaughts of the climate crisis.”

The Philippine movements and civil society organizations also reiterated their stand against false solutions, the further expansion of carbon markets, and corporate domination of the climate negotiations.

Three Filipino civil society delegates, Gerry Arances, Claire Miranda and Herbert Docena, will commence today their fasting in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the Philippines. Filipinos from all walks of lif, and different parts in the Philippines have already commenced a 6-day fasting last Sunday until the end of the COP19 on November 22 to put pressure to the parties to have a more ambitious targets on emissions cuts, setting up of a loss and damage mechanism, and climate finance for adaptation and mitigation of developing countries.

“Yes, we are a resilient people. We are also a people that know how to persevere and fight hard for justice.“ Nacpil concluded.

[Appeal] An urgent demand from a Filipina especially in the light of the recent devastation caused by Yolanda (hronlineph.com)
[Campaign] #WeStandWithYou (hronlineph.com)
COP 19: Activists Demanding Climate Justice (dandelionsalad.wordpress.com)
[Statement] Justice for an Act of Solidarity -PMCJ (hronlineph.com)
Philippines calls for climate justice after world’s worst storm (eco-business.com)
[Blog] Climate crime. By Rodne Galicha (hronlineph.com)
After Typhoon Haiyan’s Devastation, Filipino Calls for Climate Action Take On New Urgency (democracynow.org)

Press Release

[Video] ”SOS Philippines” – The song after the storm! By Armand TJ

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

”SOS Philippines” – The song after the storm!
Published on youtube by Armand TJ
November 15, 2013

Our nation still needs more aid, and we’re happy more help is on the way. Please spread this video to touch more hearts and souls around the world.

”The Filipino spirit is force of nature”

Please share this song and video on all social medias. You should hear these children’s voices! They’re from different parts of Panay island, also hit by the storm. Please help us encourage more help/aid from the rest world, and to deliver a message of hope and solidarity to the Philippines and humanity. The Filipino spirit is a force of nature, struggling to rise up. With all your help, we can survive this crisis. This song connects us all as one humanity, from our island, to the rest of the Visayas, the Philippines – and the rest of the world! Please ask all your friends to share. One Love! Thanks for those who contributed to delivering this SOS.

People from around the world have called the Philippines a Paradise on Earth. After the super typhoon, we are struggling to recover and save our Paradise. And that starts with our spirits and our smiles as we go through our daily efforts in picking up the pieces and addressing the emergencies at hand.

This song celebrates the spirit of the Filipino people rising up during this crisis, with the help of all of you around the world. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We are grateful, more help is on the way. We hope this song encourages more souls to reach out to our nation and help us in any way. Me and my fellow artists have poured our hearts, soul, sweat, blood, and tears, and traveled far to rush and put this song out there. The children learned the song on the same day as the recording. And came up with their own arrangement. Amazing!

The song was recorded in Iloilo (Also hit by the storm) the night after it was composed in Boracay. Aside from physical needs, our whole nation needs uplifting emotionally and spiritually. And we Filipinos do it best through music.
#SOSPhilippines

For the story behind the song and video, here’s the link below:

http://www.oneisland-oneworld.com/sos…
To get in touch with us, just message my fb page:

http://www.facebook.com/armandtjmusic
LYRICS:

SOS Philippines

Chords: F#m — A/E – A/ D – A/ E

I have a prayer, inside of me, humanity will unite.
and finally, differences will subside.
In this tragedy, together we stand for love.
A prophecy, to be a family of humankind.
Its time, its time!

A/C#m -A/D – A – A/E

The light in me still burns bright, even when the world seems dark.
if there’s a need stand up unite to hear the call of every cry

A/C#m -A/D – A – E
SOS Philippines, Ohhhh! (2x)
F#m — A/E – A/ D – A/ E

I have a prayer that all nations and societies will collide, for synergy, to make history, to end indifference
the child in me, still believes in this dream
Its time, its time!
‘
A/C#m -A/D – A – A/E
The light in me still burns bright, even when the world seems dark.
if there’s a need stand up unite to hear the call of every cry

A/C#m -A/D – A – E
SOS Philippines, Ohhhh!’ (3X)

Bridge:
A/C#m -A/D – A – E
A hope for you and me!
A cry for dignity!
A call for humanity reaching for the highest light
Faith to believe, burning through my hurting soul
One world we have, stand up dont give up the fight
lets save the dream, wake up and we’ll rise again!

A/C#m -A/D – A – E

SOS Philippines!
Bangon Pilipinas!
Rise up Philippines!

One World!
One Humanity!
Let us save the dream!

Video

[Blog] A call to every Filipino: Lift each other’s spirit. By Kuya Edel

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines One comment

A call to every Filipino: Lift each other’s spirit
By Kuya Edel

Rumor has it that Korina Sanchez had been suspended for one week in TV Patrol after commenting that a foreign reporter does not know what he is talking about, referring to the non-evidence of organized relief effort in Tacloban coming from the government. On the other hand, netizens flooded various social media sites with posts criticizing the Aquino administration for their slow, unorganized and somehow inadequate response to the disaster brought to us by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Even sincerities of the efforts of some celebrities and business institutions are being questioned. Things like these and more, sadly, will never help us get through with this hard time.

We all recognize that the impact of Super Typhoon Yolanda is beyond our expectation, unimaginable in some sense. With the catastrophe that killed thousands of people, affected million Filipinos and damaged billion worth of property, each act of kindness, big and small, is important. This is the time in modern history that everybody is called to do something.

This is not just a disaster in Leyte or in Tacloban or in Visayas Region but — of the whole country. As a nation, we are very hurt. I call on to everybody to please, let us not demolish each other’s spirit including of the government. What we need right now is encouragement over criticism.

We have lost thousands of people from our rank. And I hope we instead work together so that no one will no longer lose his or her life, or his or her dignity or even the hope that things will get better the next day.

http://kuyaedel.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/a-call-to-every-filipino-lift-each-others-spirit/

Blog

[Blog] The brat prima donna, the Good Guy and the Resilience of the Filipino People. By Jose Mario De Vega

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

The brat prima donna, the Good Guy and the Resilience of the Filipino People

I refer to the on-going ‘controversy’ concerning a so-called “veteran newscaster” as against a world renowned and widely respected international journalist, Anderson Cooper of CNN.

This pertains to the latter’s harrowing report on the ground which is being disputed by the “veteran newscaster” who did not even (up to this day) went to the calamity site (Tacloban).

To quote a portion of the report of Gil Cabacungan, Anderson Cooper-Korina Sanchez tiff goes viral on the Internet, PDI, November 16:

“Sanchez had criticized Anderson in her radio program on Wednesday afternoon on DZMM after he reported on the government’s less than stellar response to the needs of Yolanda survivors. Said the ABS-CBN news anchor: “Itong si Anderson Cooper, sabi wala daw government presence sa Tacloban. Mukhang hindi niya alam ang sinasabi niya. (This Anderson Cooper. He said there was no government presence in Tacloban. It seems he doesn’t know what he is saying).”

“Sanchez’s remarks became a hot topic on Twitter, something that Cooper was not about to let slip by. Said the CNN journalist: “Here’s what I actually said: As for who exactly is in charge of the Philippine side of operation, that is not really clear. I am just surprised. I expected on this Day Five, I thought I may have gotten here very late, that things will be well in hand; it does not seem like that. People are desperate, they do not have any place for shelter. It’s very difficult for people to get food, neighbors are helping out neighbors, water is in short supply, it is a very very bad situation here.”

“Cooper, who arrived in Manila on Monday, took a dig at Sanchez for not being on the ground to do her reporting. “Miss Sanchez is welcome to go there (Tacloban City) and I would urge her to go there. I don’t know if she has, but her husband is the interior minister and I’m sure she can arrange a flight,” he added.”

So, here is a local newscaster who criticized a foreign journalist, except that the former is reporting at the comfort of her news network, while the latter was precisely there at the scene of the colossal tragedy of massive proportions joining the thousands of the people, victims of this unimaginable catastrophe on their everyday hardships, miseries, woes and countless struggles.

The latter has seen eye ball to eye ball the aftermath of the super typhoon; while the former has only seen the after fact, after watching or seeing the live reports of her fellow crew from the television.

Who among these two individuals are credible and believable on their respective reports?

I believe without the shadow of doubt that only a moron, worst a complete idiot of the highest order would support the contention made or the assertion claimed by that local newscaster. This creature I likened to a brat prima donna of baseless broadcasting and good for nothing reporting.

What kind of reporting is that? Reporting inside the bloody studio?

What a shame!

In the scathing and strong words of Film Icon and Director Peque Gallaga:

“What our leaders tell us is contradicted by the reports from the international commentators who are understandably more objective and growing less dispassionate as they witness the horrors around them. What our leaders tells us is also contradicted by the victims in these areas who are slowly able to give us the true picture of the realities of the situation. And the reality is that people are starving. The dead still lie on the streets even five days after the event. There are anguished souls scavenging for whatever they can survive, as well as professional looters ambushing the helpless and relief caravans. It’s a warzone out there.”

This prima donna brat of local news casting has the galls and the think face to ridicule and criticize a good man, when in fact that man has the guts and the balls to go to the bloody field and report from there live, together with the survivors.

Again to quote Director Gallga’s rant and stinging criticism:

“So I very much care now where all this help is going. I read Marvin Xanth Geronimo who was there when Yolanda struck: that TV personalities and politicians like Mar Roxas and Ted Failon going to Tacloban for the photo op. they never helped; endless tracking video shots of flattened towns with people walking clutching a plastic bottle of water with no government presence whatsoever; Korina Sanchez calling Anderson Copper “misinformed”. Copper was in Tacloban. Korina was not; the US landing 5 planes full of goods and not allowing any politicians to touch any of it. How much more do we need for us to realize that the enemy was not Yolanda? Yolanda was just a force of nature. The enemy is our leaders. And the leader of our leaders is the President.”

Rather than criticizing those good for nothing leaders, who at most are only good at alarming and frightening the people prior to the arrival of the typhoon, yet so bloody slow, as slow as the snail to come, to respond and help after the typhoon has left, the brat has instead criticized unjustly a man who is rightly and greatly doing his job.

Rather than criticizing and calling the attention of the national leadership for somehow “abandoning” the other areas that were also hit such as Eastern Samar, Antique, Capiz, Panay Islands, Palawan, Cebu’s coastal towns and other far-flung remote areas (such as Homonhon Island), this local “news caster” instead has shown her bias and prejudice by attacking Mr. Cooper for something which he did not even say in the first place.

Rather than criticizing those politicians which the United Nations has specifically named by giving strict order to the US military that those donations and the relief goods was not to be touch, the prima donna instead has directed her bullet to a good man who is doing and carrying out his duties on the field.

How on earth would it be possible that a man who is on the field of battle could be misinformed and a creature is so informed when that creature has merely staying and reporting at the four corners of her bloody office?

Well, in fairness to this creature, it was reported that she went to Ormoc; yet I am wondering why she did not bother to go to Tacloban? She did not go to that place, yet she has the galls and the thick face to question the integrity and accuracy of the people who went to the place! Wow!

That is the heights of absurdity and the greatest mockery of all time! Shame! Bloody shame!

In criticizing a good man, in such a vulgar and baseless manner, this idiota has shown the whole world how idiotic and pathetic she is. She completely made a fool out of her foolish self!

I wonder what would be her reaction to the following observations and field reports of the other foreign press/journalists.

Consider the pronouncements/observations of the following members of the international media:

“There does not seem to be an effective operation to get help to those in need.” — Jon Donnison, BBC

“It is certainly not organized.” — Paula Hancocks, CNN

“There is no real evidence of organized recovery or relief.” — Anderson Cooper, CNN

“Minimal amounts of aid have reached the worst-hit areas”. — Tania Branigan, The Guardian

Is there a reasonable ground to believe, it possible that all of them are misinformed, too?

How about the sister of the President himself, Ms. Kris Aquino who also believes that the government is quite slow responding to the needs of the victim, will that brat newscaster also lambast her as “misinformed”?

The Resilience of the Filipino People

I overwhelmingly concur with the report of Luigene Yanoria of the Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom, November 15th, “International media laud Filipino reliance amid ‘worst disaster’ Yolanda”:

“When the world looks at the Philippines, they won’t remember the worst typhoon to hit the earth—they will recall how strong Filipinos are, too.

“Seven days on, the world’s eye remains on the Yolanda-battered nation as international media like CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, NBC, ABC, and CBS—dispatch their topnotch journalists to deliver updates on the record-breaking typhoon.

“Leading the pack of foreign journalists on the ground is CNN’s Anderson Cooper who’s been ironically making headlines of himself due to a report where he mentioned the lack of national government support in the badly-hit Tacloban City.

“But for the veteran journalist who has so far covered the world’s biggest disasters, Filipinos show incredible strength even when aid seems bleak.”

As Anderson Cooper said in the November 15 broadcast of AC360:

“The Filipino people–the people of Tacloban, and Samar and Cebu and all these places where so many have died—they’re strong not just to survive the storm; but they are strong to have survived the aftermath of the storm…

“They have survived for a week now often with very little food, with very little water, with very little medical attention…”

Response to President Benigno Aquino III’s comment

The President appealed to the (practically the international) media for them “to use your role to uplift the spirits of the Filipino people — to find stories of resilience, hope and faith, and show the world just how strong the Filipino people are” and to observe accuracy in reporting. Mr. Cooper underscored that that is also what they strive for as well.

As he stated categorically: “Accuracy is what we care most about here at CNN.”

The Question of Accuracy, Credibility and the Truth

Mr. Cooper said in narrating the horrendous aftermath and also highlighting the resilience of the Filipinos:

“They have survived for a week now, often with very little food, with very little water, with very little medical attention.

“Can you imagine the strength it takes to be living in shock, to be living, sleeping on the streets next to the body of your dead children? Can you imagine that strength? I can’t. And I’ve seen that strength day in and day out here in the Philippines. And we honor them with every broadcast that we do…”

The brat prima donna meanwhile has yet to even set foot on Tacloban and smell the stench of death on the air.

Question:

Again, to reiterate the point: who do you believe between these two individuals?

Mr. Cooper is a foreigner, but after what he did, doing a fine job and that is reporting the truth, no matter how painful it is, no matter how inconvenient and uncomfortable it is to the powers that be, I, on behalf of the Filipino people is hereby adopting him, now as a part and as a member of the Filipino people!

Mr. Cooper, maraming-maraming salamat po! Mabuhay po kayo!!!

Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Blog

[People] The lost orphans of Yolanda. By Fr. Shay Cullen

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

The lost orphans of Yolanda
By Fr. Shay Cullen
November 12,2013

Besides the thousands that have been killed, injured, and made homeless by the most devastating typhoon known to humankind, the orphaned children are the most vulnerable. Their towns and villages and homes are no more and their parents are dead. They are threatened by malnutrition, kidnapping, and abduction. Horrible as this prospect is, it has been a deadly reality in times of natural disasters. These children need our special attention and direct intervention to save them from child traffickers and pedophiles. Under the pretext of saving the children, traffickers can abduct them and sell them as “brides” to pedophiles or earn hundreds of thousands of pounds or euros by providing these children for illegal adoption and even worse, sexual abuse and exploitation.

The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has called for urgent vigilance by aid workers to this form of child trafficking in the areas devastated by the most powerful typhoon in history to hit land. Called Haiyan or by its local name “Yolanda”, it has devastated and flattened entire towns, villages, and killed scores of people in the central Philippines and their children will be known as the lost children of Yolanda. Driven by winds up to 315 kilometers an hour, brutal ordeal will scar the people of the Visayan region for a generation. We too will be judged by how we responded or when we did not.

The television reports show the extent of the devastation and the hardship, hunger and homelessness will last many months. The approaching of yet another rain storm, a tropical depression named “Zoraida” will be lashing the country by the time you read this or will be leaving more destruction to a country already reeling in shock.

As many as ten thousand and more people could have been killed. No one could predict that it would be such a killer cyclone and now the people have nothing. They are totally dependent on the generosity of donors and the ability of the government to deliver relief aid in the shortest time possible. A time will come when they will be able to pick up the strength and recover and become self-sufficient and self-reliant. But now as in all disasters, help is needed and we are called up to provide it and give back and share with those that need it most.

There are problems getting the relief to the people as roads and bridges have collapsed or buried under landslides. Bodies are decomposing under the rubble, some have been buried in mass graves. This will go on for several weeks more as rescuers and aid workers reach the remote villages

But this tragic event brings with it another kind of danger, the danger to the homeless, lost and orphaned children. With as many as fifteen thousand dead, many children will be orphaned, vulnerable to malnutrition and the worst of all, vulnerable to abduction, kidnapping, and trafficking into illegal adoptions or sexual exploitation.

Many people don’t want to read or think about such harsh and painful realities but it happens and we have to do all we can to prevent this. Preda children’s charity is appealing for donations and help to send trained social workers into the devastated area to provide a child feeding station and help find and protect these lost, homeless, abandoned children before they are abducted.

With such challenges before us, we have to summon up the spiritual strength to meet them and overcome them. The Filipino people are a very resilient people and suffer up to twenty typhoons a year and one or two strong earthquakes. Sitting on the pacific ring of fire, it is expected and when there is no exploding volcano to cope with, there are plenty of other natural disasters.

In the past 44 years that I have been a missionary in the Philippines with the people who are poor and needy, I have come through many natural disaster, super storms, floods, landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and rivers of volcanic mud and “lahar” destroying all before them.

The Filipino people have shown the remarkable spiritual strength and resilience and are capable of coping with a sense of humor and smiling at cameras and even laughing at their own predicament. Not this time though, it’s harder than ever before. Yet their will to live and survive is the driving strength of the Filipino people and they do it with courage and resourcefulness and are a people who get on with the task of recovering, rebuilding and planting and harvesting year after year.

These are a people who live in hope and have a great ability to overcome all kinds of disasters and hardship. The people need food, water and shelter. The children need protection, nutrition and the good will of the world community. All need help to get them through this most terrible time in their lives. They believe in a loving God who lives in all people of faith, love and good will and this eternal force of goodness will reach out to the needy through the love of others.

Donations for the orphans of Yolanda to Fr. Cullen, St. Columban‘s, Widney Manor Road, Solihull B93 9AB or Dalgan Park Navan, Co. Meath or any TSB bank Preda – Ireland, sort code 990 604, account number 30001836. (Email shaycullen@preda.org)

People

[In the news] VP Binay seeks double prayers for OFW in Saudi Arabia death row -GMAnews

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

VP Binay seeks double prayers for OFW in Saudi Arabia death row
November 2, 2013

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday asked Filipinos to double their prayers for overseas Filipino worker Joselito Zapanta, on the eve of the Nov. 3 deadline for him to pay blood money so he can escape the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.

Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said the staff members of the Philippine and Sudanese embassies are already working to save Zapanta.

“It’s already November and we still have to raise a big amount. We need to double our prayers for Joselito and his family,” he said in a post on his Facebook page.

“Let’s hope he will be given an extension or his blood money will be lessened,” he added.

Read full article @www.gmanetwork.com

In the News

“March 8, 2013 International Women’s Day” finalist for the 3rd HR Pinduteros Choice for HR VIDEO

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

A feminist flashmob organized by World March of Women-Philippines, participated by Women Human Rights Defenders from different NGOs in the Philippines.

This entry was posted on March 9, 2013
https://hronlineph.com/2013/03/09/featured-video-march-8-2013-international-womens-day-by-clydiecandy/

Iboto ang iyong #HRPinduterosChoice para sa HR VIDEO.

Ang botohan ay hanggang sa 11:59PM ng Nov 15, 2013.
Ikaw para kanino ka pipindot? Simple lang bumoto:
• i-LIKE ang HRonlinePH.com FB page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Human-Rights-Online-Philippines/160809923975269) , sa photo album ay i-LIKE ang thumbnail/s ng iyong mga nais iboto, i-share at ikampanya.
• Maari ring bumoto sa pamamagitan ng pagpindut sa button sa poll sa ilalim ng bawat nominadong post na matatagpuan din sa ilalim ng post na ito.
• Most number of the combined likes sa FB at sa poll buttons ang magiging 3rd HR Pinduteros Choice na kikilalanin sa 2013 HR week celebration.
Makiisa sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon hinggil sa karapatang pantao. Pindot na!
WHAT IS 3RD HR PINDUTEROS CHOICE AWARDS? https://hronlineph.com/2013/10/01/3rd-human-rights-pinduteros-choice-awards/

“Feminist Flashmob for Women’s Rights” finalist for the 3rd HR Pinduteros Choice for HR VIDEO (hronlineph.com)
3rd Human Rights Pinduteros Choice Awards (hronlineph.com)
[Blog] Pinduteros para sa karapatang pantao By Mokong Perspektib (hronlineph.com)
Pinduteros para sa karapatang pantao (mokongperspektib.wordpress.com)

Finalists for 3rd HR Pinduteros Choice for HR Video

[Event/Campaign] Commemorate the sacrifice and struggles of martyred environmental and community rights defenders -ATM

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Commemorate the sacrifice and struggles of martyred environmental and community rights defenders.

Nov 10—the death anniversary of Nigerian environmental activist Ken Saro Wiwa, who with his eight comrades, was killed by hanging by military personnel. They were killed in 1995 because of their sttuggle against Shell and other oil companies in the Niger Delta. Climate justice activits commemmorate Nov 10 as the Global Day of Action Against Oil as part of the Global Month of Action Against Dirty Energy.

Since 2010, we have joined the global commemoration. Here we give tribute to Ken Saro Wiwa, and the lives of Filipino environmentalists and human rights defenders who sacrificed their lives for the mining struggle.

#WeRememberWeResist -Dr. Gerry Ortega – environmental advocate, broadcast journalist, veterinarian (taomunahindimina.wordpress.com)
Wish Ken Saro-Wiwa A Happy Birthday (lemixmedia.wordpress.com)
Slippery justice for victims of oil spills (sierraexpressmedia.com)
Slippery justice for victims of oil spills (modernghana.com)
Murder Incorporated: Big Oil Pleads Immunity from Prosecution for Human Rights Crimes (sierraclub.typepad.com)

[Blog] In Defense of Love and Humanity: Down with Racism, Sexism and all forms of Discrimination By Jose Mario De Vega

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines 3 comments

In Defense of Love and Humanity: Down with Racism, Sexism and all forms of Discrimination
By Jose Mario De Vega

I am writing to highlight two seemingly apparent different stories which in my view in a closer introspection are connected by the same cause of love and humanity.

The first one is with regard to the racist, discriminatory and utterly preposterous comments of a certain Divina DeDiva with regard to her unjust and undeniably distasteful attack on Megan Young, the recently crowned Ms. World.

As reported by PDI’s Bayani San Diego Jr., “Beauties take up cudgel for Megan Young”, October 2:

“On Sunday, a certain Facebook user (Devina DeDiva) criticized Young’s Miss World victory, dismissing the Philippines as a country of maids.

“The Facebook user said: “Miss Philippines is Miss World? What a joke? I didn’t know those maids have anything else in them. Hahaha.””

Immediately, Filipinos rushed to the defense of their local beauty. Here’s what a fellow Beauty Queen, Precious Lara Quigaman, former Miss International 2005 said:

“We should just dismiss her and not give her the fame that she craves.” Thereupon, she also lavishly praised the sacrifices and contribution to the country of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs):

“We are a country of beautiful, smart and loving maids, nurses, teachers, doctors and beauty queens… No one can take that away from us.”

It is also heartening to see that a “self confessed Pinoy-at-heart, British native Malcolm Conlan could not help but defend his Filipino family and friends against this Facebook basher. The 42-year old Conlan is married to a Filipina and runs a small UK-based charity that provides books to poor Filipino communities around Batangas and Laguna.”

Here’s Mr. Nolan’s letter in full:

Dear Ma’am

Please look around you and wake up. Who do you see working in hospitals in your country as nurses, health care assistants, pilots, drivers, working in banks, customer service, restaurants, shops etc? Filipinos.

Exactly the same kind of jobs that everyone is employed in, oh and yes even in houses as house helpers and nannies. Yes Filipino’s. The Philippines has always been a big exporter of labour overseas and what’s wrong with that?

Filipinos work in all kinds of industries, I can say one thing, they all want to work hard to support their families and do not enjoy claiming benefits or help from the Government. They do the noble thing and work very for a living, contributing to taxes and the Economy. I hate the word ‘maid’ it’s old fashioned and not necessary, but actually ‘maid’ as you call it, yes many Filipino’s do work as domestic helpers in the Middle East as well as across the world, they do so to help their families and their country.

They should all be very proud. I am married to a Filipina and we have two wonderful children who are also Filipino. I am honoured and consider myself very privileged indeed to be part of a British/Filipino family

Finally don’t know what your issue is with the winner of Miss World is?

Megan Young is Filipino, she is also very proud, as I am sure many millions of Filipino’s are across the entire world, so before you really do upset many millions, please think very carefully and apologise. Thanks so much.

MALCOLM CONLAN

Though I am happy that people are united in condemning this undeniable racist and discriminatory comment of an undeniably sick creature, bastard bigot and pathetic freak, this event also made me a bit sad.

I am sad to think that at these modern times, still some fiendish and detestable individuals are still practicing racism and discrimination!

Needless to state, I join the world in condemning the unjust, unfair and indisputably barbaric comment of that bloody idiota. She does not deserve to live in a civilized society, because she is not a human being, but a mere human form in an animalistic character! Shame on her!

It is my view that Ms. Megan Young won the said competition not because of her nationality or her beauty alone. She got the nod and approval of the judges by virtue of her wit, intelligence and true, natural beauty.

This is what she said, which in my view bag the bacon, so to speak:

“I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides her into understanding people, why they act the way they do, how they’re living their lives. And I will use these core values and understanding not only in helping others but to show other people how they can understand others, to help others.… So that as one, together, we shall help society. Thank you!”

Indeed, she is beauty and brains in one…

As I’ve stated in my own FaceBook account dated, September 30th:

I don’t care whether she is a Filipina or an American or both, in my view, what is more important is the fact that she personifies both beauty and brains! In the end, what defines her is not her nationality but her Humanity! Mabuhay ka, Bb. Young! Yehey! Yabaduwap to the max!!!! 🙂

Moving on to the next issue, this refers to the moving letter of an unnamed grandfather who heavily criticized her own daughter because the latter has booted out of the house her own son when he revealed that he is gay.

Here’s what that great grandfather stated:

“Kicking Chad out of your home simply because he told you he was gay is the real “abomination” here. A parent disowning her child is what goes “against nature”. The only intelligent thing I head you saying in all this was that “you didn’t raise your son to be gay.” Of course you didn’t. He was born this way and didn’t choose it anymore than he being left-handed… If you find your heart, give us a call.”

While the first issue that I’ve tackled deals with racism and discrimination, this one deals with sexism and discrimination.

I was so moved by the letter of that grandfather and he has shown the world that his duty as a father to his daughter does not end, even if the same has already have her own family.

That kind and great grandfather has also shown us all that his duty is not only for her child, but extends to that of the child of his child.

The grandfather is blasting his own daughter has shown that he will not stop in his duty as a father and he will continue correcting her daughter, no matter what.

I like it most when grandpa stated in no uncertain terms that: “I am disappointed with you as a daughter.”

This single line alone has restored my faith in humanity and made me respect more said old man.
In the same letter he also defended the status or situation of his grandson to his daughter:

“The only intelligent thing I head you saying in all this was that “you didn’t raise your son to be gay.” Of course you didn’t. He was born this way and didn’t choose it anymore than he being left-handed”.

Clearly the old man is saying that it is not the fault of Chad that he is now what he is now and the duty of his parent is not to abandon or discriminate or curse or kick him out, bit to accept and respect him for what he is.

As grandpa categorically stated: “A parent disowning her child is what goes “against nature””.

Of course, even if the old man is disappointed with her daughter, still the love is there and the hope that her daughter will apologize to the family and do the right thing.

That is why the letter ended in an admonishment:

“If you find your heart, give us a call.”

In relation to that racist and discriminative creature, Devina DeDiva:

Ms. Idiota: if ever you find your reason, love and humanity, do apologize not only to the Filipinos but to the whole people of the world that were offended and hurt by your backwardness, ignorance, idiocy, arrogance, racism and discrimination!

It is only in doing so that you will restore your humanity and self-respect!

Jose Mario Dolor De Vega

Philosophy lecturer
College of Arts and Letters
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Blog

[Statement] #ScrapPork Network Unity Statement

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

#ScrapPork Network Unity Statement

We are all citizens of the Philippines. Hear our call:
.

#ScrapPork Network

SCRAP THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM. We define pork barrel as all state funds subject to discretionary use and/or allocation by officials in all branches and in all levels of the government. We urge all Filipinos to push hard for the scrapping of the pork barrel system, and at the same time, to continue the discourse on the best alternative to take its place — an alternative that will fully serve the interests of our people as a whole, and will ensure that public money is strictly and absolutely for the use and benefit of all Filipinos, and not just the greedy few.

ACCOUNT FOR ALL PORK SPENT. We challenge all government officials, officers and employees who received, allocated, or otherwise made use of these discretionary funds to publicly make an accounting of the same. We call on all Filipinos to demand such action from all levels of government and to maintain utmost vigilance until these public servants have accounted for all of the pork, down to the last centavo. We encourage fellow Filipinos to launch and share their initiatives to press for transparency in all levels of government and in all kinds of government transactions .

INVESTIGATE AND PUNISH THOSE WHO MISUSE PORK. The pork barrel scandal goes beyond the Napoles scam. We Filipinos must sustain our demand on the government to show its determination to prosecute and punish not only its political enemies but also its own allies and appointees involved in the misuse of discretionary funds. We must continue letting our voices be heard until the guilty are convicted with finality and jailed, to serve as examples to those who may want to follow in their footsteps, that public money must be used solely and exclusively for the benefit and in the best interests of the Filipino people.

***

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Hashtags: #MillionPeopleMarch #ScrapPork

Cebu faithful urged to join protest vs pork barrel (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
People bring ‘pork’ fight to EDSA (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
[Blog] Heroes March to Scrap Pork Barrel by Rod Rivera (hronlineph.com)
ConcernedPH supports Million People March (concernedph.wordpress.com)
Filipinos speak out against pork barrel (bulatlat.com)

Statement

[Blog] Kung bakit salbahe ang salitang “SALVAGE” ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.

Posted on September 21, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Kung bakit salbahe ang salitang “SALVAGE”
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.

Wikang Ingles ang salitang “salvage” na ang ibig sabihin ay “save” o isalba, sagipin, iligtas. Ginagamit ito lalo na sa pagsagip ng isang barko. Ngunit sa wikang Filipino, hindi pagsagip, pagligtas at pagsalba ang ibig sabihin ng salitang “salvage” kundi ang kabaligtaran nito – pagpatay, pagpaslang, pagsalbahe sa katauhan at katawan ng isang tao. Sa kahulugang ligal, ang “salvage” ay “summary execution” o “extrajudicial killing”. Sa ating bansa lamang masasabi na ang salitang “salvage” ay nangangahulugang pagpaslang.

Nang sumadsad ang barkong USS Guardian ng US Navy sa Tubbataha Reef sa Palawan hanggang sa pagtanggal ng barko nitong Marso 30, 2013, narinig natin ang pag-uusap hinggil sa pag-salvage ng barko, na ibig sabihin ay pagsalba. Tingnan natin ang balitang ito: “(CNN) — The Guardian is gone. What was left of the former U.S. Navy minesweeper was lifted off a Philippine reef on Saturday. “As the hull has been removed, the team is now shifting their effort to collecting minor debris that remains on the reef,” the head of the salvage operation, Navy Capt. Mark Matthews, said in a statement. “Every salvage operation presents unique challenges. It has been difficult to extract the Guardian without causing further damage to the reef, but the U.S. Navy and SMIT salvage team with support from other companies and the government of the Philippines have really done a superb job. I could not be more proud,” Matthews said. (Minesweeper lifted from Philippine reef, By Brad Lendon, CNN March 30, 2013 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/30/world/us-navy-ship-reef/index.html)

Ganito naman ang balita sa Pilipinas: “MANILA, Philippines—The salvage team working on the USS Guardian, which ran aground in Tubbataha Reef, removed the warship’s last remaining section early Saturday afternoon after being stuck on the Unesco World Heritage site for more than 10 weeks, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said. PCG Palawan District chief Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista said the stern of the 68-meter US mine countermeasures ship was lifted off the reef at around 2 p.m. Evangelista, head of the task force that oversees the salvage operations, said the team had worked throughout the Holy Week to remove the four sections of the warship’s wooden hull which included its bow, auxiliary machine room, main machine room (MMR) and the stern.” (Tubbataha reef salvage, by Philip C. Tubeza, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sunday, March 31st, 2013, http://globalnation.inquirer.net/70721/tubbataha-reef-salvage). Pansinin ang kahulugan dito ng salitang “salvage” batay sa pagkakagamit ng mga Amerikano.

Sa ating bansa, ang kahulugan ng salitang “salvage” o pagpaslang ay uminog mula sa salitang Kastilang “salbahe” na ibig sabihin ay masama ang ginagawa sa kapwa. At dahil maraming salitang uminog na napapaghalo natin ang salitang Kastila at Filipino, tulad ng salitang “amin” o pag-amin ay naging “aminado”, napasama na rin dito ang salitang Kastilang “salbaje” na naging “salbahe” sa Filipino na naging “salvage” sa Ingles.

Kaya maraming balita sa radyo, dyaryo at telebisyon ang nagsasabing may “na-salvage” na naman, na ibig sabihin, may pinaslang na naman. Sa pambungad na pahina (front page) ng pahayagang tabloid na Pilipino Star Ngayon (Hulyo 2, 2013) ay nakasulat: 4 KATAO ‘SINALVAGE’, NATAGPUAN SA HIGHWAY, at ang kabuuang balita sa pahina 2 ay pinamagatang “4 ‘sinalvage’, natagpuan”. Kapuna-puna ang panipi sa salitang “sinalvage” dahil ginawang Filipinisado ang isang salitang Ingles, na sa katotohanan ay mula sa wikang Kastila.

Narito ang ilang saliksik sa media hinggil sa balitang “salvage” matapos ang “salvaging operations” ng USS Guardian sa Tubbataha Reef noong Marso 30, 2013. Pansinin kung paano inilarawan ang ginawang pag-salvage:
(1) mula sa GMA News: “Bodies of 2 ‘salvage’ victims found in Manila”, April 6, 2013:
The bloodied bodies of two victims of suspected summary execution were found in Manila before dawn Saturday. Both bodies were dumped along Dimasalang Street at about 3 a.m., radio dzBB‘s Paulo Santos reported. A separate dzBB report said both men were blindfolded with packaging tape, and their hands were tied. One was initially described as wearing blue shorts and an orange shirt, while the other was described as wearing gray shorts and a black shirt. No note or identification was found near the bodies. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/302676/news/metromanila/bodies-of-2-salvage-victims-found-in-manila

(2) mula sa dyaryong Tempo tabloid: ‘Salvage’ victims dumped in Cavite, posted by Online on Aug 5th, 2013
CAMP GEN, PANTALEON GARCIA, IMUS, Cavite – Two bodies of men, apparently “salvage” victims, were found dumped separately over the weekend in the province. A Police Provincial Office (PPO) report said that the first victim was found on Daanghari Road in Barangay Molino IV, Bacoor City, late Friday night. The victim’s body, with tattoo marks, was found stuffed in a sack by passersby. The body was wrapped with packaging tape. http://www.tempo.com.ph/2013/08/salvage-victims-dumped-in-cavite/#.UjqC4dJmiSo

Ito naman ang ilang lumang balita:

(1) “2 more ‘salvage’ victims in QC; 8 bodies just this month”, by Julie M. Aurelio, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Tuesday, August 21st, 2012
The bodies of two more men believed to be summary execution victims were discovered by the side of a road in Quezon City Tuesday morning. The find brought to eight the number of “salvage” victims found in the city so far for this month. All of them died of strangulation and none of them has been identified. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/255056/2-more-salvage-victims-in-qc-8-bodies-just-this-month

(2) “Pangatlong biktima ng ‘salvage’ sa Cubao ngayong Hunyo”, (Pilipino Star Ngayon) | Updated June 19, 2013
MANILA, Philippines – Isang bangkay na naman ng lalaki ang natagpuan sa basurahan sa isang bangketa sa lungsod ng Quezon nitong Martes ng gabi, pangatlo na ito ngayong buwan.
Ayon sa pulisya, natagpuan ng isang basurero ang bangkay ng hindi pa nakikilalang lalaki bandang alas-11 ng gabi sa Aurora Boulevard sa Cubao. Sinabi ng mga imbestigador na may saksak sa katawan, may mga marka ng pagsakal sa leeg at nakatali ang mga paa ng biktima. Hinala ng mga pulis na biktima ng summary execution ang lalaki na tadtad din ang katawan ng tattoo. Ito na ang pangatlong bangkay na natatagpuan sa Cubao ngayong Hunyo lamang. Nitong Hunyo 12 ay may natagpuan ding katawan ng lalaki sa kahabaan ng Aurora Boulevard na sinundan ng isa pang nakitang bangkay sa tumpok ng mga basura malapit sa EDSA-Cubao footbridge. http://www.philstar.com/psn-balita-ngayon/2013/06/19/955790/pangatlong-biktima-ng-salvage-sa-cubao-ngayong-hunyo

(3) mula sa pahayagang Remate: “Biktima ng salvage, natagpuan sa Maynila” by Jocelyn Tabangcura-Domenden & Ivan Gaddia, July 19, 2013: NAKATALI ng nylon cord ang leeg, kamay at paa ng isang lalaki na hinihinalang biktima ng summary execution nang matagpuan ito kaninang madaling araw sa Sampaloc, Maynila. Inilarawan ang biktima na nasa edad na 25-30, may taas na 5’4 hanggang 5’5, balingkinitan ang pangangatawan, nakasuot ng T-shirt na painted at brown khaki short pants. Nauna rito, naglalakad umano sa lugar ang di nagpakilalang tricycle driver nang mapansin ang biktima na nakabalot sa tela at may placard na nakapatong sa kanyang dibdib na “Snatcher ako,huwag pamarisan”. http://www.remate.ph/2013/07/biktima-ng-salvage-natagpuan-sa-maynila/#.UjqEptJmiSo

Pagpaslang, pagsalbahe sa katawan, pagpapahirap, pagtiyak na wala nang buhay, itinatapon kung saan. Natatagpuan na lamang na malamig nang bangkay. Ang mga biktima ay sinalbahe ng kung sino. Sinalvage sila. Biktima sila ng “summary execution” o “extrajudicial killing”.

Sa WikiPedia, ang “summary execution” ay ganito: “Extrajudicial killings in the Philippines are referred to as salvage in Philippine English.” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summary_execution)

Sa artikulong “Philippine English” na nalathala sa The News Today (Online Edition) ay nakalista ang 61 mga salita o yaong “terms common only to Philippine English”, at ang pang-53 ay “salvage” na ang kahulugan ay “it means to deprive of life; kill”. ( http://www.thenewstoday.info/2005/03/15/opinion6.htm)

Sa aklat na “The Activist” ng isang Antonio Enriquez, ganito niya inilarawan ang salitang “salvage”: Unknown yet to the public was Davao’s Killing Fields, where those who opposed Dictator Marcos were “salvaged,” a coined word meaning executed. Hundreds of student activists, NPAs, and suspected communists were murdered, after Dictator Marcos’ goons in military uniform tortured them and they were dumped like so many carcasses in the Killing Fields—without a tombstone to mark their graves, or coffins. (mula sa http://www.scribd.com/doc/57252924/The-Activist-by-Antonio-Enriquez)

Kahit sa mga dokumento ng iba’t ibang human rights organizations, ang salitang “salvage” ay nangangahulugang “summary execution”.

Sa ikawalong kabanatang pinamagatang “To salvage” sa isang aklat ay ganito ang nakasulat: “About 3,000 were killed, 400 to 1,000 were disappeared during the Martial Law. It is believed that the word “salvage” which has original meaning “to save or to rescue” got a different meaning during this time. “Salvage” was used as a euphemism to the act of police and military to assassinate, to execute, to murder suspected enemies of the state.” (For Democracy and human Rights: Rekindling Lessons of Martial Law and People Power Revolt, A Public Exhibition, by the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking or CYAN)

Sa isang libreto naman ng FLAG (Free Legal Assistance Group) na muling inilathala ng PhilRights (Philippine Human Rights Center) ay ganito ang nakasulat:
Ang mga dapat gawin… KUNG SA PALAGAY MO’Y IKAW AY AARESTUHIN O ISA-SALVAGE:
Gawin ang mga sumusunod na pag-iingat:
1. Huwag lumabas nang mag-isa. Tumataas ang panganib ng pagkawala at salvage dahil walang nakakasaksi o walang gustong sumaksi at magpatunay sa pagdakip sa isang taong nawawala o sinalvage.
2….
10. Kung mayroon ka pang mapagkakatiwalaang impormasyon na may planong arestuhin o i-salvage ka, hindi maipapayo na ikaw ay magtago. Sa halip, pakiusapan ang abogado mo o kung sino mang responsableng tao upang itanong kung may warrant para sa iyong pagdakip.

Kahit ang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan na si Virgilio S. Almario ay isinulat din ito nang kanyang tinalakay ang tulang “Katapusang Hibik” (na sa ibang bersyon ay may pamagat na “Katapusang Hibik ng Filipinas sa Inang España” bilang ikatlong dugtong sa dalawang tula ng ibang makata na naunang lumabas) ni Gat Andres Bonifacio “hinggil sa parusang kinamit ng mga Filipino sa kamay ng mga Espanyol”. Ani Almario sa tulang ito: “Ano ang ikaiiba dito ng mga makahayop na torture at salvaging ngayon? Ngunit hindi ang realismo lamang ng paglalarawan ni Bonifacio ang dapat limiin; hindi rin lamang ang mga historikal na saligan ng mga inilatag na pruweba. Ang higit na makabuluhan sa pagbasang ito ngayon ay ang talim ng pagsipat sa isinagawang paglapastangan ng kolonyalismo sa katawan at katauhan ng sakop. Bukod sa hindi makatao ay mistulang hindi tao ang mananakop. Sa kabilang dako, waring imposibleng maging tao ang sakop dahil sa tinamong mga kahayupan.” (Panitikan ng Rebolusyon(g 1896), Virgilio S. Almario, pahina 71)

Balikan natin ang ilang saknong na tinutukoy ni Almario sa tulang “Katapusang Hibik” ni Bonifacio na naglalarawan nito (Ibid. p. 145):

“Gapuring mahigpit ang mga tagalog
Hinain sa sikad, kulata at suntok,
Makinahi’t ‘biting parang isang hayop
Ito baga, Ina, ang iyong pag-irog?

Ipabilanggo mo’t sa dagat itapon
Barilin, lasunin nang kami’y malipol,
Sa aming tagalog ito baga’y hatol,
Inang mahabagin sa lahat ng kampon?

Aming tinitiis hanggang sa mamatay
Bangkay nang mistula ayaw pang tigilan
Kaya kung ihulog sa mga libingan
Linsad na ang buto’t lamuray ang laman.”

Nasa kamalayan na nga ng masa ang pag-unawa sa salitang “salvage” bilang pagpaslang, bilang isang gawaing salbahe, pagsalbahe sa kapwa, pagsalbahe sa pagkatao, na isinagawa ng mga salbahe. Nasa media na rin ito, at nasa panitikan.

Una kong nalaman ang paggamit ng salitang “salvage” bilang “pagpaslang” noong 1989, pagkabalik ko rito sa Pilipinas mula sa anim-na-buwang pago-OJT sa ibang bansa, nang maging front page sa magasing Philippines Free Press ang pagkakapatay ng isang Patrolman Rizal Alih kay Heneral Batalla sa Zamboanga. At nakasulat sa malaking titik: “SALVAGING A GENERAL”. May nabasa rin akong artikulo noon na ganito naman ang pamagat: “Salvaging Bonifacio” at itinuring ng artikulong iyon na “first celebrated salvage victim” si Gat Andres Bonifacio. Talagang sinalbahe sila ng kanilang mga kalaban.

Naghahanap ako ng mga lumang panitikan kung saan ginamit ang salitang pagsalbahe, sinalbahe, sumalbahe, nanalbahe, bilang paglalarawan sa nangyaring pagpatay. Halimbawa, ang isang taong nakitang nakahandusay sa ilog na may tama ng bala ay sinalbahe ng kung sino. Sino ang sumalbahe sa taong iyon? Mula doon ay maaari nating mahalukay pa ang pinag-ugatan o pinag-inugan ng salitang “salvage” na alam ng marami ngayon.

Ang salitang “salvage” na pagpaslang ay isang pabalbal na salita o masasabi nating salitang nauunawaan ng karaniwang tao, ng masa. Pumunta ka nga lang sa isang lugar na maraming tao at sabihin mo sa isa roon na isa-salvage mo siya na ang iniisip mo ay ang kahulugan sa Ingles na “save”, ingat, dahil baka bugbog sarado ka, buti kung bugbog lang, dahil ang salitang “salvage” nga ay pagpaslang at hindi pagsagip. Sa mga balitang inilatag natin sa itaas, mapapansin nating pawang mga dinukot ang mga biktima saka itinapon na lang kung saan. Kaya bago isinagawa ang “salvaging” sa mga biktima, maaaring ang mga ito muna’y tinortyur o pinahirapan, saka pinaslang ang mga ito at itinapon na lamang sa lugar na sa tingin ng mga dumukot ay magliligaw sa mga imbestigador.

Kaugnay nito, may tatlong batas sa karapatang pantao na naisabatas nitong mga nakaraan, na may kaugnayan sa pagdukot bago isagawa ang tortyur o pagpapahirap, at ang pagdukot na hindi na nakita pa ang katawan ng dinukot. Ang mga batas na ito’y ang Republic Act 9745, o Anti-Torture Act of 2009; ang RA 10353, o Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012; at ang RA 10368, o Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. Gayunman, walang nabanggit na “salvage” o “summary execution” sa RA 9745 at RA 10353.

Isang beses namang nabanggit ang “salvage” o “summary execution” sa RA 10368. Ayon sa Chapter 1, Sec. 2, 3rd paragraph ng batas na ito: “Consistent with the foregoing, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize the heroism and sacrifices of all Filipinos who were victims of summary execution, torture, enforced or involuntary disappearance and other gross human rights violations committed during the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos covering the period from September 21, 1972 to February 25, 1986 and restore the victims’ honor and dignity. The State hereby acknowledges its moral and legal obligation to recognize and/or provide reparation to said victims and/or their families for the deaths, injuries, sufferings, deprivations and damages they suffered under the Marcos regime.”

Ibig sabihin, wala pang batas talaga na nagpaparusa sa mga nagsagawa ng “salvaging” o “summary execution.” Kaya nagsagawa ang ilang mambabatas ng panukalang batas hinggil dito. Noong Hulyo 2009, nagpasa ng panukalang batas si dating House Speaker Prospero Nograles. Ito ang House Bill 6601, na tatawaging “Anti-Salvaging Law”. Nito namang Nobyembre 2012, ipinasa naman ni Kongresista Karlo Alexei Nograles (1st District, Davao City) ang House Bill 3079 o ang “The Anti-Summary Execution Act of 2012.”

Ngunit sa panahong wala pang batas na nagpaparusa sa “summary execution” ay tiyak na magagamit ang batas hinggil sa “murder” o pagpaslang. Ngunit dapat mas linawin ang kaibahan ng dalawa. Ang “murder” ay pagpatay na isinagawa ng sinuman sa kanyang kapwa, habang ang “salvaging” naman ay isinagawa ng mga ahente ng estado. Paano kung hindi ahente ng estado ang nagsagawa kundi sindikato? Dapat mailinaw ito sa magagawang batas hinggil dito. Maraming aktibista ang pinaslang ng walang awa, mga biktima ng “salvaging”, kaya ito’y masasabi nating isang krimeng pulitikal, at hindi lamang simpleng “murder”.

Gayunpaman, dapat matigil na ang ganitong karahasan. Ayon nga sa International Convention on Civil and Political Rights: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No man shall be deprived of his life arbitrarily.” “[The Death] penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final judgment rendered by a competent court” – ICCPR Articles 6.1 and 6.2.[1]

Ang “salvage” ayon sa Merriam-Webster Dictionary ay (a) compensation paid for saving a ship or its cargo from the perils of the sea or for the lives and property rescued in a wreck; (b) the act of saving or rescuing a ship or its cargo; (c) the act of saving or rescuing property in danger (as from fire). Ayon naman sa Oxford Dictionary, ang kahulugan ng “salvage” ay “the rescue of a wrecked or disabled ship or its cargo from loss at sea”. Sa depinisyon ng dalawang diksyunaryo, tumutukoy ang “salvage” sa pagsagip sa barko at sa mga kargong dala nito. Ang kahulugang ito ang ginamit sa ilang Batas Republika ng bansa na tumutukoy sa pagsagip ng barko, tulad ng mga sumusunod:

Republic Act No. 9993 – Philippine Coast Guard, Section 3, Powers and Functions. (h) To issue permits for the salvage of vessels and to supervise all marine salvage operations, as well as prescribe and enforce rules and regulations governing the same;

Republic Act No. 6106 – An Act Amending RA 1047, as amended, to prescribe the rules for financing the acquisition or construction of vessels to be used for overseas shipping, to allow the creation of a maritime lien thereon, and for other purposes. Sec. 1, letter d, number 4. General average or salvage including contract salvage; bottomry loans; and indemnity due shippers for the value of goods transported but which were not delivered to the consignee;

Naglabas din ang Philippine Coast Guard ng Memorandum Circular MC 06-96 (Salvage Regulations) na ang layunin ay: II. PURPOSE: To prescribe guidelines on the salvage of vessels, including cargoes thereof, wrecks, derelicts and other hazards to navigation.

Marahil, matatagalan pa bago tumimo sa kamalayan ng masa ang kahulugang Ingles ng salitang “salvage” (to save or to rescue), pagkat ang etimolohiya o pinagmulang salita ng paggamit ng mga Pinoy sa salitang “salvage” ay ang wikang Kastilang “salvaje”, mula sa mga mananakop na salbahe at sumalbahe sa marami nating kababayan. Higit sa lahat, dapat nang matigil ang “salvaging” o pamamaslang na ito, at idaan sa proseso ng batas kung sakaling sila’y may kasalanan na dapat panagutan. Kung di’y nararapat lang sadyang maparusahan ang mga nagsasagawa ng mga “salvaging” na ito dahil hindi ito makatao, at lalong hindi makatarungan.

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[Petition] Save Lungsod ng Kabataan (PCMC)! Donate PCMC site to PCMC -Change.org

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines One comment

President Benigno S. Aquino: Save Lungsod ng Kabataan (PCMC)! Donate PCMC site to PCMC.
Petition by Violeta Guzman

PETITION

The Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) has provided poor Filipino children with subsidized quality medical treatment for decades. In 2012, more than 70,000 children from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, benefitted from their services, and the number is growing each year. It has also been an effective training ground for pediatric specialists such as pediatric oncologists. It is one of just three level 4 training hospitals in the country, the others being UP-PGH and UST Hospital.

Its Pediatric Cancer and Hematology Center has been a boon to children with cancer, and their families who otherwise could not afford the necessary care and treatment. Every year 3,500 children are afflicted with cancer, which is now the 4th leading cause of total child deaths in the country. As the biggest tertiary child care center under the Department of Health, we believe the PCMC merits priority in financial and other support from the national government. This is obviously one institution where we want, and hope, public funds should go. Not to pockets of unscrupulous politicos but to badly, even desperately needed social services for all Filipinos.

To our dismay, newspapers recently reported that the NHA is pressing PCMC for P1.1 pesos as payment for the lot that it now occupies. Worse, NHA seems bent on evicting the PCMC from its location altogether. The PCMC lot used to measure 6.3 hectares but was reduced to 3.7 hectares when NHA gave 2.6 hectares to the Office of the Ombudsman and Court of Tax Appeals. It has also sold another portion of the lot to the Philippine Institute of Development Studies or PIDS for P86M.

Recently NHA expressed an opinion that the children’s hospital should be relocated to a high rise building in a mere 2,500 square meter-lot. Dunning the PCMC and pressuring it to pay P1.1B may well be NHA’s tactic to achieve this, a below the belt blow against the well being of tens of thousands of Filipino children.

Since 1980, the PCMC has been pleading with the National Government to donate that amount and transfer the title of the property to the hospital. It is after all a government hospital and not a profit-making institution, with a clear mandate to provide total health care to children, especially those from poor families. The appeal has remained unheard and unheeded by past five presidents, while public funds have been channelled to the pockets of corrupt public officials, their families and their accomplices. It is also puzzling why government has seen fit to subsidize the purchase of the sites of other institutions such as the NKTI and Lung Center, but not PCMC, a hospital for KIDS!

We the people, the ‘Boss’ strongly urge President Benigno Simeon Aquino to ensure that the PCMC continues to remain where it has stood for decades to provide competent, comprehensive and devoted health care to the present and future generations of Filipino children.

Stop NHA from dunning the PCMC and selling pieces of the PCMC site. Execute a Deed of Donation in favour of the PCMC. Spend public funds for our benefit, for the children’s benefit.

We further express our strong opposition to the continuing privatization of health services and facilities that puts quality health care beyond the reach of the ordinary Filipino. Health care is after all a right, and government must act, with dispatch, to ensure that that right is realized now.

Sign petition @http://www.change.org/