Catanduanes Forum

Magayon an saindong palitan ning opinyon Elpidio buda Sir Dave.

Kun maheling ko na an "progressive left" an makapaasenso sa Pilipinas...matabang ako siguro sainda. Buda maisihan ko lamang kung ano ang target year na makakamtan ini. Ta kan panahon kan enot na "insurgency" (nina Bonifacio, Rizal, etc.) 2 to 3 years lang an inabot nagkaigwa na ning resulta. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Pakisimbaga daw tabi Elpidio ining mga hapot ni Sir Dave:
1.) ano na baga lamang yan naginibo nin mga NPA sa corruption sa gobierno, ha? bukong mai man? Mai man ta sado man yan mga NPA na parpangikil... pilang mga contratista sa Catanduanes yan inangga kikilan nin mga NPA? Pila yan factions ninto nin NPA? Tayon ta ikan factions? Sila sila ngani sa loog nin NPA mai gaka uruyon... Clean acts first before anbything! Liniga ngona yan inyong baray bago kamo makialam sa pamaray nin ibang taho... mai mo yan nasasabotan?

2.) Kun naipakita nin NPA na patas, malinig buda naaayon sa igataram mong "morals" yan kilang hiro para sa pagbabago... ay elpidio huray na akong naging NPA

3.) Pero... Mmmm... sano nirespeto nin NPA yan humanitarian law? ay pinangurog ako sa imo uy! sano naging patas yan laban nin NPA sa mata nin Humanitarian Law, sa mata nin Geneva Convention? sa pag recruit nin mga minor de edad sa surok nin catanduanes? sa paagi nin talaw na pag patago sa likod nin mga para abaca? madiag pa yan mga pulis ta ikan uniporme... yan NPA ikan lamang uniporme nganing madistinguish from the civilian? Bayong na ikan nin badil iso... Yae ako pag hu'nuhi nin humanitarian law ta dudusuun kita ninyan! Nanghurit ka pa!

4.) Do I have to be there? Tayon, si kaka mong Sison is also there?

Pakisimbaga daw tabi Elpidio ining mga puntos ni Dave ta baad maniwala ako buda an Catandunganon na doomed from the start an saindong struggle.

"Kahoy man daw na babad sa tubig, pag palay ang lumapit...sa patalim ay kakapit"

I am very facinated with the passionate exchanged of ideas. This is very informative for me, being a person in the sideline. I could see a big contrast. One has a bigger and more complete outlook on the issue . The other is groping in the dark...to the point of appealing to emotion. One is wise and the other is knowlegeable. In Philosophy, wise person applies the body of knowledge he or she knew for the good of many. While the knowledgeable person applies it for himself, for few people or group of people and doesn't go with the SOPHIA (Truth or wisdom).

I admire both of you Dave and Elpidio. I would like to see more of this. In whatever ideology one is adhering to. I hope that everybody is safe and will be safe. What i mean by that...for ex. Dave will not ask the US-RP military exercises be done in the frontyard of Elpidio that he may be treatened by its presence . And Elpidio will not ask the NPA to harash, harm, and treatened Dave and his family, when goes to Catanduanes for vacation.

Let this be a safe place to express one's opinion.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

Thanks!

ildynjake

one of my profs way back in college used to say that a revolution can only be a success if blood is spilt. he always makes a reference to the "peaceful" edsa revolution which he characterized a sham as the leaders at both sides of the spectrum made compromise to only topple down Marcos. as a result, the aquino government was never able to institute genuine reforms needed by the country at a time these reforms were much needed in view of her debt of gratitude to the various organizations, sectors, factions who supported her climb to power. trust me, I don't advocate for a marcos return nor praise his abominable deeds. but, as my prof has put it, when marcos left the office, he was replaced by thousands of him.

in view of the balikatan exercise, we may well say that its objective is to strengthen our armed forces against hostile attacks from the inside and outside of our borders. however, the question of "when will this balikatan end?" hounds me. will the americans be here until our insurgency problem, either with the npa or milf ceases? whatever happen to our independent national policy and territorial integrity? how about our terrorism woes? when will the philippines remain at the mercy of the american government's aids, militarily or financially? can we not make it on our own? what is holding us back? is it our indolence? the rebels? the sweeping poverty? is it the lack of education? lack of opportunity? what if we get rid of the mountain people?? will our people in catanduanes live happily 'til kingdom come? are we sure that no other insurgency groups will take their place?? will the road to pandan be finished in 3 years time should they be gone? will our economy improve? how about our life expectancy? will the all the townspeople be able to send their children to college so they could get a better job? how about the recent fund diversion scandal involving former wesmincom commander cedo? did the 1 billion peso Arroyo government allocation to fight corruption alleviated the problem? your questions are as good as mine.

it seems corruption has been the rule, not the exception in the philippine society. you will not only find it in the government. it is also rampant in educational, health, business and even religious institutions. Filipinos have already become desensitized of its prevalence. they are now immuned. the courts (alluded to be the least corrupt of the three branches of government) is powerless to protect the rights of the ones who need it because, aside from the extensive litigation, the victims are afraid of going straight to their grave as soon as a suit is instituted. it is rightful to say that we are a bunch of cowards.

at one point, the NPA's enduring struggle to fight the "ruling elite's" greed for and abuse of wealth and power is praiseworthy. the only sad thing is, some of its "breakaway" groups do not live out the organization's ideals. however, this does not mean that the organization as a whole should be condemned. surely, their cause is noble. but will it have more weight when measured against the welfare of the greater number of people?? the answer to this question will depend on which side you belong. well, as a catandunganon, my symphathy goes to the abused, threatened civilian in the middle.

it is true that the island province is feared by tourists and residents alike because of the the communist rebels there. and if the law permits it, i am all for the eradication of the said elements (NPA's, etc) if only to restore the peace and security the people have enjoyed before their gloomy presence spread havoc and wreckage in the island province, even if this would mean allowing the u.s. military's intervention. nonetheless, i am very skeptical as to whether this approach will lessen the casualty from all military, rebels and civilians alike.

"blood must be spilt". i say that lots of of blood have been offered, lots of head have rolled from both (government's and the rebels') sides. the balikatan exercise is just a small piece of the vast jigsaw puzzle that is the philippines. we are facing the more pressing socio-political issue that is corruption.

as one philosopher (or is he?) said, we deserve the kind of leaders that we have. true enough, we are governed by thieves of the highest order. the funny thing is, we call them "honorable".

Election time is near (we pray). i say that even the most intelligent person is not fit to govern if he is not a good person. we always face the same problem year after year. "NUarin daw mauswag an sakuyang banwaan? nuarin daw kami makamate nin kaginhawaan?" we must vote for the right people to run our government!! the politicians whom we voted for last election promised and broke the same thing all over again!!! when can we learn??

they say that the body can work well if the head is well. thus, we must elect a national leader at the helm of our government who can withstand the tempest of corruption, who knows not how to compromise, who calls "suhol" by its proper name, who never bats an eye when everyone else is against him for doing the right thing. he must be someone who can withstand the pressure of his peers, who can say with pride that " I NEVER STOLE A SINGLE DIME FROM THE PEOPLE'S CHEST". i thought this kind of leader can never emerge in our lifetime. i was proven wrong. I've seen him in the person of Father Ed panlilio of pampanga as well as gov. grace padaca of isabela. last i heard, fr. panlilio is now subject to recall election because the trapos in his province find his zero corruption policy too stringent!! where in the world will you hear a news that somebody is persecuted for doing a right, noble, bright thing? ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES MY FRIEND! some critics argue that fr. ed will do no better as president. well, this may shock the whole bureaucracy as corruption has become the blood that is running the system. but i say that with the help and support of patriotic filipinos from all walks of life (i hope there still are numerous), the overhauling the system is not a distant future just as Rico blanco in his song "antukin" said, "kung ayaw may dahilan, kung gusto palaging mayro'ng paraan."

as for me, a newly registered voter, i will vote for panlilio and company should they decide to run for national office ( the presidency in particular). its now high time for us, this coming election, to choose the leaders that we "ought" to deserve. i urge you fellow cataduanganons abroad to not miss this golden opportunity, to be one with us here in effecting socio-political "change", just like in the u.s.
YES WE CAN!!

so much for this. i've seen this ad "ako mismo". i suggest to kuya dave to provide in this site advocacy program or initiative (as i am not a computer savvy) to not vote for a candidates (they be local or national ones) who will hand out money this upcoming election. during the campaign period, posters as well as sound systems (as those used by politicians) about the evils of receiving "election money", i believe, will greatly increase the people's awareness on this matter. a tandem with namfrel catanduanes or ppcrv catanduanes is highly feasible. as for the funds, i think this deserves another discussion. i believe in the objectives of catanduanes forum! let us (catandunganons) be the ones to be that difference. we are not cowards. are we???