farmers are the most neglected, but the government don’t care

After a year of institutionalizing red-tagging through the contested Anti-Terror Law, peasant groups continuous to parade the streets under terror law implementation, unifying their calls to denounce state-sponsored attacks, and demand pro-farmer policies.

The skyrocketing cases of harassment such as red-tagging insinuated by the Duterte regime provoked farmers to take their dissents to the streets.

For the peasants, the driving force to be an activist is the systemic oppression they have been enduring for decades—the innate feudal system in which farmers are victims of the hacienda system, one main reason why they still remain landless up to this very day. A systemic oppression that demands systemic solutions.

Despite being the most important producers in the country, Duterte paid no attention to their call to prioritize agriculture. Duterte’s criminal negligence sounded the alarm for the whole peasantry to oppose his poorly-led and militaristic COVID19 response. Agriculture has been overlooked for such a long time that it eventually developed several problems along with the pandemic burden.

Not only laws are weaponized as offensives to keep their mouth shut but the puppetry of landlords to capitalists seem to make it more violent. For critics conscious of the outmoded framework, they believe that there is more to see than just the backward system of farming.

The oppressed peasantry is eager to protest and exhaust ways to amplify calls to junk terror law, demand for genuine agrarian reform, and call to implement of pro-farmer policies.

Clearly, the fight was deemed to be a selfless choice, that the choice they make is grounded from a unified voice in the hopes of getting heard by an administration playing blind-deaf.

The struggle roots from the history of injustices, and has amplified now that agriculture is so overlooked by a regime that is fully invested in guns more than farmers. It has a history of neglect, that farmers carry the burden of inadequate government support, red-tagging, and repressive policies.

In response to the peasants’ outcry, the Rice Liberalization Law has been ratified with a promise of making the local rice production more competitive, only to know that just it allowed big corporations to monopolize the local market.

But what has actually been addressed with these policies? There is no advantage. In fact, the problem has been so real that it rippled its effects in every existing sector. There is more to see than just the price of 7 pesos per kilo; farmers tilling a land they do not own.

There is more to see than just farmers being left out, because the problem lies in the ineffective structural policies. The pandemic and the absence of government response has claimed sa much from farmers, and so the fight must continue.

 

 

On the systemic oppression and bloodshed

How can a color enliven the parallelism to a world so bloody?

We might think that red is just a color associated to different emotions, but what more can it still offer for someone who cannot see? Red, in its very essence, is the color that resonates to fear, anger, cruelty, and all other emotions that encompasses indignation to everything beyond the horizon.  For a blind person, the world is black and white; monochromatic as it may seem, but we might think that these things that are felt can somehow taint colors in someone’s imagination.

Red is a color of an envisioned reality today—The bloody drug war; the amplified state fascism; the revolution. The bloodshed of the Filipinos brought by a cruel regime has resurfaced reasons to resist the tyrannical system we are all enslaved in.

 

ON THE BLOODY DRUG WAR

“Shoot them dead!” as the President mandates his troops on the evening of April 1, 2020. The impromptu order sounded the alarm on human rights advocates and vilified quarantine violators.

“Nanlaban”, as one of the most reiterated narrative of the police that is used to justify the killings of suspected drug pushers.

 

ON THE AMPLIFIED STATE FASCISM

The number of political prisoners skyrocketed up to 629 as of November 2019, and is continuously increasing up to this year under the fascist regime of Duterte. The alarming numbers reflects the determination of the government to silence dissenters and weaponized the law against activists.

 

ON THE ROOTS OF ARMED STRUGGLE

Poverty. Exploitation. Injustices. As for someone who carries the burden of having an impoverished family might think that the only way to assert their rights is to take up arms against authorities in the hopes of making their way out from poverty.

As what Mao Zedong said, “War can only be abolished through war, and in order to get rid of the gun it is necessary to take up the gun.

 

ON THE ENVISIONED REVOLUTION

Red—the color that signifies the strength and power of the collective action anchored with deeply embedded aspirations. To fight, to mobilize, and to resist tyranny is seemed to be highest form of benevolence for the struggling class.

That even if a blind person can’t seem to envision the color of Red, one can ideate the parallelism of the color, for it is not only for those who can see reality, but also for those who are one with the struggle.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion is a right.

 

Dangers of Resiliency: The Exploitation of Volunteerism under the Guise of Civic Engagement.

After the super typhoon Rolly wreaked havoc in the Bicol Region, various groups from different provinces stepped into the picture to offer assistance that would aid severely affected individuals. While the government is playing blind-deaf to the battle cry of their people, donation drives from private sectors sounded the alarm on social media together with various organizations asking for monetary and in-kind donations. It was indeed a struggle to exhaust resources, enable transportation, and establish proper communication while cities and municipalities are barred down—all in the middle of a pandemic. The courage in each one of us may be in deep slumber, but with constant affirmations from people that deepens our in-depth analysis and awareness which awakens various potentials, it can affect change in the long run if we choose to actualize our advocacy and serve its purpose aligned with the current national setting—advocacy that would not enact ways to feed the need for resiliency, but rather, advocacy that grounds to strong principles of our nationalistic and democratic aspirations—something that would serve the interest of the masses up to the grass root levels of our society. To be able to advocate for a mass-oriented development mechanism means to further the call to demand accountability, transparency, and efficient public service amidst being a catalyst carrying out Band-Aid solutions to a system growing backward. This does not invalidate the efforts of those that embody the spirit of volunteerism in serving the people because it is clear that only through civic participation we can get a glimpse of the demands and interest of the community.

This also does not demonize the acts of kindness by respected volunteers that aided the socio-economic crisis that endangered many lives for the past few weeks. We are always reminded with such upbringing that it is significant to back up our words with meaningful actions that we can consistently do one step at a time, strong enough to prove and justify the claims that Filipinos will always volunteer for the frontline when a situation asks for it, even if it means facing potential risks.

But even if spontaneous solidarity rekindles in the heart of strong-willed individuals, poverty in all aspects would still resurface in the community in one way or another if people will continue to live under the roof of a faulty and poorly planned system. It is also important to realize that all though people will always be willing to exceed their helping boundaries, it should not be a free pass for the government to allow Band-Aid solutions as people should not carry the burden of bad governance in the first place. There is no harm to aim for positive transformation in communities but volunteers should also be under the obligation to demand transparency and accountability from those who are in direct authority to act on specific community defects. The mishandling of the pandemic as well as the unprecedented events of three consecutive typhoons just exposed how important it is for the government to innovate, realign, and amend its framework to come up with radical solutions. While ordinary people are almost emptying their pockets to suffice the need for relief goods, government officials should
not allow volunteerism to be exploited in any way. This boils down to the idea that to champion the goal of a society, the locality should not just resort to Band-Aid solutions but rather, find the cure to what is being aided.

Angel 

P.S. Several months ago, I published an article entitled One Vision, One Future, an advocacy-driven opinion piece about unifying visions. Now that the entire nation has gone through a lot, it’s time to see things through the lens of a supporter of radical reforms.

[Appreciation post] Dear frontliners and essential workers.

We all know how risky it is to sacrifice your life just to keep the entire community safe from the virus. I cannot equate my gratitude into words, but I hope in this simple letter, I can manifest my strong and sincere admiration to all the front-liners and essential workers out there.

Nothing can beat the unwavering support of the Filipinos through tough times, not even a pandemic. The COVID19 closed borders to observe strict lockdown guidelines, but it opened doors for people embodying great compassion for the underprivileged. People coming from different social class unite as one to combat this dangerous disease which cost the lives of many. Truly, the pandemic resurfaced a lot of kindhearted and good-natured individuals.

The Coronavirus has caused fear to everyone, but here you are, standing strong, aiding people with their necessities, and waking up every day to work for the healing of our nation. You are the bravest risk-takers I’ve known.

To all the front-liners and essential workers, may your burning passion to be of service to others help in rebuilding the nation through your hard work and dedication.

This too shall pass. In these trying times, while all of you are working outside the comforts of your home, may you always remember to take care of yourselves as well, and we, the Filipino youth will always be here to cheer you up and show our heartfelt support in every way we can.

Yours truly,

Angel

One Vision, One Future.

A progressive society equipped with globally competitive individuals begins with a simple dream.

Our simple dreams for ourselves can affect change in the long run if we choose to actualize our advocacy and serve its purpose. Being a youth, I always believe that it is significant to back up our words with meaningful actions that we can consistently do one step at a time.

Our growing society continues to rely on the hopes and dreams of the youth. The goals that we always sought after, may it be big or small, reflect on the aspirations we always want to meet. We are entitled to an innovative realm where social media platforms have the potential to unify us with our visions. Given the privileges that we are blessed with, we always have the choice to utilize our resources in creating an inclusive locale where the youth can effect change in their very own way. This inclusivity opens a door for thorough discussions about the status quo of the society where the youth can actively participate and articulate their ideas. There are times that the current directorate requires innovative ideas, and that’s the time where the youth can enter the bigger picture. In that way, every voice will be heard and it can pave its way to reconstruct an existing framework governed by our officials.

The determination of every person gravitates to strong energy. A hard work of a persevering individual will realize a dream that will soon turn into reality. The voice of every youth in our community can awaken countless concepts about how we can generate a borderless society. It is our duty as advocates to embody the spirit of volunteerism to champion the goals of the community. If we always aim for success, we should also remember to aim for better progress.

Educate patiently, advocate passionately and inspire consistently.

I have a purpose.

I have a purpose in this chaotic world. A world that seems to be crowded by empty people, walking down the streets at night, searching for serenity and peace. A world, where children in some parts of the world are deprived even with the simplest right to be educated. A world, where kindness is a bad thing, and with that, you are different.

I have a purpose to be of help to others. The priviledged should hold hands together as they began their mission to offer a helping hand to the needy.

I have a purpose to become a keen observer of the society, in order for me to filter those things that needs to be taken action.

As a student, I have a purpose to educate myself and others, for the perseverance of the mission that needs to be acted out by the future contributors.

As a daughter, I have a purpose to mold myself for the future that awaits me. To be responsible enough for my actions, and to be wise enough in making decisions.

As a beautiful steward of My Creator, I have a purpose to maintain peace and harmony that starts within myself. A beautifully made creature who wholeheartedly dedicate her existence for the reconstruction of our problematic society.

I am blessed physically, mentally, and spiritually, and by that, I have a purpose.