Busina... a kid's plea

No to CONASS Noise Barrage
June 19, 2009
Gate 2.5
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, QC

2009 Aliw-iw Dance Forum

The PAGASA Youth have partnered with Baybayin Craft and the University Student Council (USC) of UP Diliman to launch the first ever Dance Forum on June 14, from 3:00pm-6:00pm at the UP Sunken Garden.

Walang usapan -- sayawan lang! The Dance forum hopes to start the process of re-enlivening the dancing spirit of the Filipino people...thus, expect a series of dance fora in different spaces and venues happening soon!



What's more exciting is that during the event, the Liping Baybayin rhythm -- an original dance movement inspired by the ancient Filipino syllabary was also launched. Known as Sulat Baybayin and mistakenly called alibata, its roots can be traced to Pinoy consciousness. A group of 8 children from the foothills of Mt. Banahaw in Lucban, Quezon started to learn the dance last April 11, 2009 and shared their skill and knowledge during the dance forum.

Dance your heart out and connect to the Filipino dancing spirit!

NO TO CONASS Rally in Makati

What is the Con Ass and What Can We do About It
Young Public Servants

Our Constitution, the fundamental law of the land, can be changed in three ways. One is through a Constitutional Convention where delegates are elected by the people. This is how our 1987 constitution was drafted. Second is through an initiative where twelve percent (12%) of the total registered voters can sign a petition for charter change. Each legislative district must be represented by at least three percent (3%) of its registered voters. And finally, through a Constituent Assembly where Congress (House of Representative and the Senate) transforms itself into a body that changes or amends the constitution. This is more popularly referred to today as the Con Ass.

The debate today is not whether Con Ass is a valid way to change the constitution. It is. Rather, it is the way the House of Representatives formed the Constituent Assembly. In our current constitution it simply states that the Constituent Assembly is formed by a vote of 3/4 of all the members of Congress. It is not stated if the vote is done separately in the House of Representatives and Senate. A 3/4 vote means 176 congressmen and 17 senators voting separately or 196 congressmen plus senators voting as one.

House Bill 1109 was passed on 2 June 2009 with a vote of majority of the Congressmen present. The way this resolution was passed has been questioned by many as unconstitutional. It does not follow the process written out to form a constituent assembly. Only the Supreme Court can now decide whether this is Constitutional or not.

Changing our constitution is a valid exercise of our democracy but the question to ask is this: Do we need to change it now? And do we trust our Congressmen to amend it in the interest of the people. We are in the midst of gearing up for a 2010 Presidential election. 57% of the voting population is made up of youth and young professionals. If there is increased political participation among the youth then we carry the key in leading effective change in the country. And we would want to be a part of any discussion that changes our Constitution.

Young Public Servants works to build a nation of Filipino youth engaged in Good Governance, the foundation of which should be Good Citizenship. As a member of Youth Vote Philippines, YPS believes that engaging more Young Filipinos to register and vote provides the best anchor for sustained and increased political participation. In the next couple days we should all do one or all of the following:
(1) Read HB 1109
(2) Be updated about moves to change the constitution
(3) Engage your friends and family in discussions about what scenarios the Con Ass can bring
(4) Continue this discussion online – social networking sites, blogs – get your opinion out
(5) Get involved in activities where you can express your opinion or show support (www.yps.org. ph will provide a list of activities you can join as activities are organized).
(6) Know if your district representative voted for HB 1109 or not
(7) Attend the Con Ass forum at the Ateneo (today at 4 pm)
(8) Organize your own fora in your schools and communities
(9) Work harder at getting more young voters registered and engaged to vote in 2010
(10) Visit www.youthvotephilippines.com and www.yps.org.ph

For comments and inquiries email info@yps.org.ph or yvotephilippines@gmail.com


*House Bill 1109 is a resolution calling upon the members of congress to convene for the purpose of considering proposals to amend or revise the constitution upon a vote of three fourths of congress

*There are 216 district representatives and 22 party-list representatives for a total of 238 representatives. Including the senate (23) this makes a total of 261.

Katarungan para kay Ka Rene Peñas!

Mula sa aking email:

Gari Lazaro posted an announcement to the cause Justice to Ka Rene Peñas, Justice to All Farmers!.

----------------
Magandang Gabi sa Lahat!

Habang sinusulat ko ito ay patuloy pa rin ang pagdagsa ng mga solidarity statements para kundenahin ang brutal na pagpaslang kay Ka Rene Peñas.

Kanina ay nagpahayag na ng pormal sa kanilang kundemnasyon ang lider ng Kaya Natin!, Bro. Eddie Villanueva ng Bagong Pilipinas Movement, Sen. Mar Roxas ng Liberal Party at Bishop Broderick Pabillo ng CBCP-NASSA/Archdiocese of Manila.

Natapos na rin ang sinasagawang Factfinding ng Balaod Mindanaw hinggil sa pagkamatay ni Ka Rene at para sa kabuuan ng report ay maaring basahin rito: http://landwatch.i.ph/blogs/landwatch/2009/06/07/balaod-mindanaw-fact-finding-team-on-the-death-of-ka-rene-penas/.

Gayundin, bukas ng umaga (Hunyo 8) ay magsasagawa ng PRESS CONFERENCE upang ibahagi ang resulta ng Fact Finding at ang planong dalhin sa Maynila ang katawan ni Ka Rene para sa apat na araw na luksang parangal.

Inaanyayahan din ang lahat na dumalo sa Banal na Misa para Kay Nong Rene bukas, 4:30 PM sa Ateneo College Chapel (Immaculate Conception Chapel of Loyola School), Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City sa pangunguna ng Simbahang Lingkod Bayan.

Patuloy pa rin pong tumatanggap ng tulong at donasyon ang pamilyang Penas at maari po itong ipadala sa: Account Name: PAMBANSANG KILUSAN NG MGA SAMAHANG MAGSASAKA Banco De Oro Katipunan Branch, SA 570013841 at mangyaring paki-fax ang deposit slip sa tel. 434-2079.

Muli, maraming salamat po sa inyong patuloy na panalangin at panawagan para sa katarungan para kay Nong Rene!





Dear Comrades and Colleagues,

Rene Peñas the farmer leader of Sumilao was shot dead last night June 5, 2009 at around 11:00 p.m. on his way home with two other companions. His two companions are in the hospital but Ka Rene did not survive.

He had led the struggle to gain the land in Sumilao since the late 1990s and this culminated in the long walk from Sumilao to Manila to fight for their right to get the law implemented. They won it and they are now tilling the land.....but he did not stop working for the cause of agrarian reform...he could have chosen to lead a quiet life and enjoy the land they won....he saw the need to continue serving the farmers by helping in the organization of campaigns especially to get back land and have CARP extended with reforms.They just got the CARPER with the pain of arrest on the night it was approved by HOR.

The last time we saw each other was in the red carpet showing of Lupang Hinarang. He spoke eloquently about the farmers are now educating the government about the law because they are demanding the implementation of the law not anything extra ordinary.I congratulated him for the inspiring work he was doing...it was a long way from the seminars we were conducting in the hills of Bukidnon. We hugged each other and I said goodbye..... .I did not know that was the last time we will see each other.

It is transactional politics and arrogant politics that support these killings. This government must be held accountable with the death of Ka Rene and the numerous people who have stood up for their rights.

We will carry on Ka Rene...magpadayon gyud mi.....para nimo ug sa tanan naghatag ng ilang kinabuhi aron mabuhi gud ang nasud.Salamat Ka Rene.

Let us show our outrage write and make statements condemning the killing and write letter of sympathy to PAKISAMA who can bring the letters to his family.

Tumindig Tayo.....

dinky

Related Link: SUMILAO FARMER LEADER GUNNED DOWN
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/164242/Sumilao-farmer-leader-gunned-down

Stop Con-Ass, Defend Democracy

CODE-NGO Statement on HR 1109 on Con-Ass
Stop Con-Ass, Defend Democracy

The railroading of HR 1109 again shows that the Administration and its congresspersons cannot be trusted to keep their word - not now and not when they convene as a Con-ass to decide on changes to the 1987 Constitution.

We call on all citizens and civil society organizations to express their condemnation of the midnight approval of HR 1109 and the planned Con-ass. Let us fight the relentless attempts of this Administration to perpetuate its hold on power! Let us defend democracy!

Read more here:
http://changepolitics.ning.com/

Syndicating my own blog post

Syndicating my blog post from another blog. I have no time to blog these days so I will do an excerpt of blog post from another blog:
http://ofwbagongbayani.blogspot.com/2009/05/peba-and-abused-ofws.html

So here's an excerpt of another source of inspiration for which I am willing to multi-task, but good thing colleagues are so diligent enough to put into action decisions from online-discussions:


Definitely it is not a perfect world. So PEBA believes that there is HOPE, that OFW can still be gift to the world for his/her diligence and world class skills. I really look forward to that day that aside from awarding bloggers, Expats and OFW bloggers are united in addressing and helping prevent OFWs being abused and taken advantage. And also NGOs and other civil society groups and mostly the government, assist and provide the necessary services OFW truly they truly deserve. After all they remain pillars for the Philippine economy to survive.

PEBA will then award not only bloggers but also those who support and benefactors of those less fortunate OFWs.

Mabuhay PEBA!

Mabuhay ang uring migranteng manggagawa!


More here: http://ofwbagongbayani.blogspot.com/2009/05/peba-and-abused-ofws.html

ADD THIS IN YOUR SIDEBAR, WE LINK YOUR BLOG TO THE AWARD SITE

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Aliw-iw Dance Forum 2009

(foto source - http://www.filipinobooks.com/copy1roa/_borders/folkdance_poster.JPG)

Mga Ka-Sayawan at Ka-Tugtugan! Ito po ang pinakahuling balita patungkol sa ating proyekto:

Itutuloy po natin ang ating napagusapang gawain, ang sayawan at tugtugan para muling buhayin ang dancing spirit nating mga Pinoy...

Aliw-iw Dance Forum 2009

Ito ay gaganapin sa: Hunyo 14, 2009 (Linggo)
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
UP Sunken Garden

Sa bawat grupong "co-conspirator" UP Street Dance Club, LaSalle FROLIC, UP Indak Oryantal, BANGSI, UP Kontragapi, Sanghabi at mga inaasahan pang maging "co-conspirators" Filipiniana Dance Troupe, UP Anido, Dance Sport, Brigada, at Spring of Harmony Internal Arts maaari po lamang maghanda ng 5-sentence write-up patungkol sa inyong grupo, at mp3 file ng 3 tugtog na maaaring gamitin para sa inyong mga sayaw. Gayundin po ang listahan ng mga kasapi na makakasama (buong pangalan/ kasarian) at food preference (vegetarian, allergies, etc).

Ang nakatakda po nating rehearsal ay sa Hunyo 14 din, mula 12:00-2:00 PM, maaaring sa likod ng Vinzons hall, o isa sa mga bakanteng lugar sa loob na rin ng UP.

Nais rin po naming klaruhin sa lahat na bagamat maganda kung "kikita" tayo sa gawaing ito, di ito ang pangunahing layunin ng pag-organisa nito (maliban sa maaaring di naman talaga tayo kumita)...kundi ang magkaroon ng "venue" para sa mga kakaiba at bagong pamamaraan ng pagtitipon, yaong di nakatali sa mga pag-uusap o pag-iisip, sa halip ay nakatuon sa paggalaw ng katawan na nagmumula sa ating mga puso at kaluluwa...

Tanging maipapangako po namin sa bawat grupong makakasama dito ay ang libreng "publicity" at "exposure". Sa anuman pong "publicity material" na ilalabas ay makakasama ang pangalan ng inyong grupo, at sa mismong araw ng ating Dance Forum ay babanggitin din kasama sa anunsyo (sa dulo ng programa) ang mga grupo naging kabahagi. Gayundin ay maaari kayong magbenta ng tiket, o anuman sa araw na iyon at maaari ring mag-anunsyo ng inyong mga proyekto.

At nais rin po sana naming humingi ng tulong, kung may mga kontak kayo na maaaring mabigyan ng "solicitation/ sponsorship letters" ay sabihin lamang po sa akin, thru email or text.

Ang Stage Manager po natin ay si Louise, kaya't para sa anumang komunikasyon, katanungan o klaripikasyon ay sa kanya ninyo i-diretso -- louisefar@yahoo.com / cel #09196952507. Sa kanya nyo na rin po ipadala ang mga mp3 file, 5-sentence write-up, listahan ng pangalan at food preference.

Maraming salamat po!


Sumasainyo,

Janneke NEX Agustin
nexagustin@gmail.com
0916.2486592
02.4735803