Ka-Blog!

Laughing, despite gloria

  My blog hasn’t been updated for more than two weeks.  In all that time, our award-winning radio program has been axed, we have been falsely charged by a hooded government witness, my name has been included among those accused as seditious against the current disposition, and we’ve been spending our days in fear for our safety.

We could have slinked away, hunkered down and waited out gma’s eventual ouster.  But the regime underestimates us.  Because of its asinine moves, it is giving us chances to become better servants of the people by exposing all the mess it causes.  We’re winning the propaganda war; we’ve been on the papers and on television for several days already.  We denied the witness’ false charges before the Department of (In)Justice and we’ve already asked the courts to declare the continuing harassment against us as a brazen attack on the freedom of the press.  Many media groups here and abroad sent us their statements of support. 

 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately on how I could get back at gloria.  The best way I could think at 1:17 in the morning is to have a good laugh despite her messed up efforts to make my life even more harder that it already is.  Aside from being the best medicine, laughter to me is the best defense against insecure presidents.

I am hereby making a list of my most hated and loved persons on television.  I hope it brings a smile on your faces as it did to me while writing this:

Most annoying people I see on television (in no particular order):

1. Ronnie Rickets: always talks to the microphone as if he’s about to give it a karate chop; has more facial contortions than a exclusive school colegiala
2. Michael Fajatin: news reporter who thinks he is the news
3. Winnie Cordero: high pitched voice matches put on smile
4. Mike Enriquez: can’t see that his news reading style is already being made fun of
5. Rey Langit: overly modulated voice straight from hell
6. Tulfo Brothers: can’t talk beyond curses and grunts; all sound like jammed guns; must have cause arthritis to their forefingers for pointing too much
7. Manoling Morato and ilk: sex-centered moralists
8. Leah SalongaL: performance level laugh and diction
9. Sharon Cuneta (sometimes lang naman): hollow sounding guffaw
10. Ricky Reyes: always whines like an alley cat in heat; “f” & “p” defect I can only wish on gloria
11. Kim Atienza: (I got a message from this guy about what I previously wrote here.  I am taking it back.  He is the new Ernie Baron, after all.)
12. Mike Defensor: panggago sa bayan numero uno
13. Toting Bunye: cheekiest of liars
14. Mike Arroyo: huge bulk, tinny voice, voracious appetite
15. Mikey Arroyo: untalented flop movie artist
16. Norberto Gonzales: queer nose identifies him as belonging to a different specie; may be related to monkeys because of fixation to bananas
17. Fr. Sonny Ramirez: hides a pointed tail underneath his habit
18. Mike Velarde: panggago sa nananampalataya numero uno
19. Carmen Ignacio: needs Corega and lobotomy patient maintenance pills
20. Brady Barr: always makes me want to bet on the croc
21. gma: the most hated person in the country; eye-popping negative approval rating says I am right
22. Imelda: everything’s an act
23. Fr. Archie Quiboloy: needs more fiber in his diet
24. Madam Ratcha: number 17’s biggest rival
25. Alex Magno: lusts for number 11’s job—fails miserably
26. Rep. Prospero Nograles: ass kisser numero uno
27. Chairperson Bayani Fernando: bee-stung face; human rights violator
28. Rep. Prospero Pichay: ass kissing didn’t give him the Speakership
29. Speaker Jose de Venecia: talks like a trapo even when talking about daughter who died tragically in a fire
30. Richard Gomez: so much talent but debases himself by singing
31. Joey Marquez: good dramatic actor but sucks at hosting
32. Lito Camo: specially when singing his Datu Puti commercial;
33. Mark Lapid: walang dating
34. Sec. Raul Gonzales: old fart
35. Rep. Raul Gonzales Jr.: sequel to the old fart—stinks just as bad

Lovable people on television (in no particular order):

1.  Iglesia ministers: see number 2

2.  Ely Soriano: see number 1

3.  Ariel, with a capital A: see number 4

4.  Maverick: see number 3

5.  Simon Cowell: he is the American Idol

6.  Elizabeth Ramsey: diva

7.  Melanie Marquez: has more surprises than a Jeffrey Archer story

8.  Ariel Ureta: smooth

9.  Jeremy of Top Gear: top gearhead; funny bloke

10.  Gary Lising: intelligent

11.  Willie Nepomuceno: can make hated politicians lovable somehow

12.  Armida Siguion-Reyna: loves kundiman, Levy Celerio and Gary Granada

13.  Sen.  Juan Flavier: good copy anytime

14.  Informercial hosts: mahirap ang ginagawa nila, ha!

Are you listening, finally?

In the guise of protecting democracy, Presidential Proclamation 1017 went after what to many, at least in this country, a bastion of democracy—the free press. Much have been written and said about the police raid on the editorial offices of The Daily Tribune and the harassment on the tabloid Abante. Mentioned in between more sensational events during those fateful seven days when PP1017 was in effect was the call made by the National Telecommunications Commission on all radio stations in the country warning them to be extra careful in their criticism of the government. 

       Now that PP1017 has been (paper-) lifted, it is clear that both the broadsheet and the tabloid would continue operations with the added prestige of having stood up against Malacañang. But one radio program in a small Manila station seems to be the biggest PP1017 “media casualty.”

       Meet Ngayon Na, Bayan! a critical and now controversial one-hour-and-a-half gabfest on the 810 kHz dial of the AM band. It went on air on weekdays from 2:30 to 4:00 in the afternoon. Until the NTC call came and the show’s subsequent cancellation.

       Produced by Kodao Productions, Inc., Ngayon Na, Bayan! claims direct lineage to People Power 2. DZRJ-AM station owner Ramon Jacinto, he of the Radyo Bandido fame of the first Edsa uprising, offered a timeslot to Bayan Muna, one of the movers of the 2001 ouster of former President Joseph Estrada, which in turn asked Kodao to produce the program. In February 26, the program broadcast its first show.

       Advocating for good governance, the show became increasingly critical of the Arroyo government because of the latter’s obvious faults—corruption, shameless accommodation of the Marcos and Estrada groups, poll fraud, human rights violations, among many others. It prided itself in inviting as resource persons the voices of the marginalized sectors like peasants, workers, political detainees, human rights victims, exiled or underground revolutionaries, and the like. Of late, it has interviewed diplomats from countries considered to be members of US President George W. Bush’s “Axis of Evil” list. 

       In its nearly five years of broadcast (it was “suspended” a mere two days before it did), Ngayon Na, Bayan! also bore witness to violence against the civilian populace. It was there when seven peasant strikers were massacred in Hacienda Luisita. Days before their murder, Eden Marcellana, Eddie Gumanoy, Ricardo Ramos, Diosdado Fortuna, Councilor Abel Ladera, Fr. William Tadena, and many others were either live studio guests or phone interviewees. Even its ever-growing listeners base have not been spared. One of its most active texters, Danny Macapagal from Nueva Ecija, has even been abducted in 2004 and remains missing to this day. The six persecuted party list representatives—Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador, Rafael Mariano, Liza Masa and Teodoro Casiño are regular guests, even co-hosts on special occasions. 

       Hosted by veteran broadcaster Sonia M. Capio, the program’s co-hosts include human rights worker Benjie Oliveros, former Alliance of Concerned Teachers secretary general Raymund B. Villanueva, former College Editors’ Guild of the Philippine president Ruth Cervantes, martial law foe and activist priest Joe Dizon and University of the Philippines professor Danilo A. Arao. Aside from its own set of reporters, it also maintains a team of regional and sectoral correspondents and it is the only program in its station that could field reporters especially during nationally-coordinated events. According to a survey in 2002, Ngayon Na, Bayan! is among the top five most listened to radio programs on its time slot despite DZRJ-AM having a modest 10,000 kHz broadcast strength. The show’s popularity is such that it has spawned an organization on its own, the Ngayon Na, Bayan! Crusaders for Good Government.

       Ngayon Na, Bayan! has been adjudged as the Best Public Affairs Radio Program in Metro Manila by the Kapisan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas 2002 Golden Dove Awards. It has been a consistent finalist in the Catholic Mass Media Awards from 2001 to 2005. It fact, it is the only awarded radio show on in the entire Rajah Broadcasting Network organization. 

       The program’s critical stance has not escaped the ears of the over-eager defenders of the dispensation in Malacañang. After it consistently denounced what it calls “shameless poll fraud” in the 2004 national elections, it began receiving threatening text messages and hysterical phone calls. Meetings with the station owner soon followed where the hosts were asked to tone down its criticisms of the president. The hosts never directly called for the president’s resignation since then but it never asked its resource persons and listeners not to either. 

       Hours after PP1017 was announced, a call came through to Ms Capio informing her that Ngayon Na, Bayan! was “suspended” from broadcast “until further notice.” In a meeting with Mr Jacinto last Monday, the producers were informed that the program is to be cancelled permanently. 

       Since then, the show’s supporters have been burning web lines denouncing NTC and Malacañang’s moves against the critical press and calling for the show’s resumption of broadcast. Letters in email groups, articles in Friendster blogs, calls in phone lines and messages in cell phones are making sure that Ngayon Na, Bayan! is still in the airwaves—ever vigilant, ever critical, ever free. 

       Are you listening, finally?

"Ito ang ating sama-samang krusada para sa tunay na paglilingkod bayan."

"Ito ang ating sama-samang krusada para sa tunay na paglilingkod bayan.  Bayan muna bago ang sarili.  Paglingkuran ang sambayanan...NGAYON NA, BAYAN!"
       This slogan has been on air for exactly five years.  Since February 26, 2001, a few weeks ater People Power 2, Ngayon Na, Bayan! served the Filipino people without fail.  Except when the station is hooked up on a television station or its owner has declared a holiday, NNB offered an alternative radio program that aired the deepest and most sacred of our people's aspirations--national soverignty, national industrialization, genuine agrarian reform, democracy, respect for human rights, nationalist and scientific culture, among many others.
     In its five years of broadcast, it has been awarded a KBP Golden Dove Award as best public service radio program in Metro Manila in 2002 and it has been a consistent finalist in the Catholic Mass Media Awards from 2001 to 2005.  One of its co-hosts as well as one of its reporters has recently been accepted into the Konrad Adanauer Center for Journalism Program for Radio.  And despite its carrier station having a weak 10,000 khz signal, it remained among the top five most listened to programs on its time slot.
        Many of its regular resource persons have been martyred for espousing the interests of the Filipino people--Eden Marcellana, Eddie Gumanoy, Ricardo Ramos, Councilor Abel Ladera, Fr. William Tadena, Diosdado "Ka Fort" Fortuna and many others.  Some of its most ardent listeners have been abducted and have remained missing, like Danny Macapagal of Nueva Ecija.      
       This is hardly surprising.  Even though they wouldn't care to admit it, NNB is closely being listened to by the ISAFP, the CIDG, the shadowy ANAD, even Malacanang itself.
       And we were not the least surprised when we received a call last Friday from the DZRJ-AM management that our program is suspended "until further notice."  Before The Daily Tribune and Abante, Ngayon Na, Bayan! was the first "media casulaty" of gma's Proclamation 1017.  And while both the Tribune and Abante will bounce back from these attacks (with added prestige), I am not sure whether NNB will ever go back on air again.
        At 3:30 this afternoon, I received a text message from Kodao Productions Radio Cluster head Dee Ayroso that DZRJ-AM has announced that two of its reporters shall soon take over our time slot.  Pending our meeting with the station owner on Monday, nothing is yet final.  But, like the hundreds of progressive martyrs and the entire Filipino people, NNB has fallen victim to gma's murder of the people's democratic rights.      
       I am sad beyond words.  But we will wear this attack against our program and the people's right to free speech as a badge of honor we will take to our graves.
       Ms Sonia Capio and her co-hosts like myself will soon find other radio programs to produce and work in.  But already, I miss NNB.      
       Mabuhay ang Ngayon Na, Bayan! Mabuhay ang nakikibakang sambayanang Pilipino!

Seven days that shook Malacañang

I am writing this piece a few hours after the illegitimate president has paper-lifted Executive order 1017. It came seven days after she promulgated her so-called state of national emergency.  It took her a full week to realize once more how demented her edicts and how moronic her cabal of advisers really are.
       I only have admiration to the Filipino people for actively resisting gma's Marcosian edict. ( From hereon, her acronym would be in low caps—at least in this blog space—dahil sa pagkabansot ng kanyang katauhan physically and everything else about her.)  Which part of our long history as a people led her to believe that we would just drop on all fours and accept her unjust orders?  Tae nya!
       From where my battered sneakers now lie in front of this equally battered computer, it has been a hellish yet exhilarating week.

       February 24 was when it started. We knew there was something afoot when we were told as media persons that some members of the military would be joining the rallies in commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of the first Edsa uprising. I got up early that morning and prepared for a long day. I picked up the Bayan people’s packed lunch from their office and drove to the Edsa shrine in my veteran and beloved Batik. (Unlike gma, my car deserves the capital letter and more.) When I arrived, the first thing I beheld were the police personnel getting ready to snatch Ka Satur Ocampo and other progressive leaders. The rallyists were hosed down by the firefighters and were bludgeoned by the police. The rally had to beat a retreat towards Greenhills.

       As the throng was marching towards San Juan, we were monitoring through our handheld radio sets that gma promulgated Proclamation 1017. This is it, I thought. In all my 14 years as an activist, I have been told the about horrors of martial law. On my 34^th year, I am being given a taste of it myself. Natakot ako.

       Then we received a call from Sonia Capio, the main host of our radio program “Ngayon Na, Bayan!” She was told that our program is suspended from airing “until further notice.” Now, we have been summoned time and again by the management of our radio station about the need to “tone down” our criticisms of the current dispensation in Malacañang. To accommodate them, we tried to be “creative”. But creativity can only take us so far when we have a dictator who is trampling down our hard-earned democratic rights.

       I did not have enough time to ponder on the implications of our suspension from broadcast.  Just then, we had to video-document the rally as it broke through the many police barriers erected on San Juan, Mandaluyong and Makati. We were running all the way and I have never sweated as much in all my time with Kodao. Eventually, we reached Ayala.  We thought we could stay there until late at night. But there was a state of national emegency according to gma and we had to beat a retreat when darkness fell and the police were about to use their truncheons on us once more.

       Sunday night, just as some members of the Philippine Marines were having that so-called standoff at Fort Bonifacio, I covered the gathering at the corner of Ayala and Buendia led by Bayan. When it gathered a respectable number, we again marched, this time towards Fort Bonifacio. Upon reaching Mantrade, another police line blocked our path. A few minutes after, we learned from Boy Saycon that Col. Queribin folded up and that the standoff is over.

        The next day, we learned that we are still suspended from broadcast. Having no direct outlet for our reports, we took to asking regional radio stations to accept them just so the people in the countryside would know what is really happening in Manila. Meanwhile, our video cameras are rolling like mad capturing on film the people’s defiance against Proclamation 1017.

      The cabal in Malacañang has not been idle. They have arrested Representatives Crispin Beltran and Joel Virador. They tried to arrest Rep. Satur Ocampo but failed because Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares blocked the police car with his bulky frame (a fellow Bedan I am so proud of). Good thing that some members of the media were present because an assault rifle was already trained against Ka Satur. ACT national council member and Bayan-Quezon president Napoleon Pornasdoro has been assasinated. The Department of (In)Justice came out with a list of those it accuses of rebellion and, subsequently, a hold departure order against them. (And being a former holder of a Jasig card, the list might include me under general item number 50.) Several members and officers of labor groups were arrested when they tried to express their support to the jailed Ka Bel. The Daily Tribune broadsheet has been raided and Abante tabloid has been harassed. The National Telecommunications Commission issued warnings against critical broadcasts. And lastly, suspicious-looking-therefore police-and-military-personnel have been casing the offices of progressive organizations.

       Move-for-move, the militants matched the black propaganda aganst them and managed to show the illegality of the proclamation and the injustices committed by gma. Rep. Virador managed to reach the House of Representatives alive and the four others—Reps. Ocampo, Teddy Casiño, Liza Masa,and Rafael Mariano—escaped illegal arrest by seeking refuge inside the Batasang Pambansa. The lackey of a speaker had no choice but to allow them to stay inside the Batasan premises.

       Several groups did their part as well. The La Sallian brothers held a mass, a way of the Cross and a candle-lighting ceremony in its Ortigas school. The Benedictine nuns are hosting a gathering as of this writing. The UP community declared its entire Diliman campus Proclamation 1017-free. It even allowed class walk-outs in protest of the edict. Majority of the senators went to town denouncing the edict. This morning, members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines along with other law groups such as CODAL and the Civil Liberties Union scored a breakthrough when they retook the hallowed Edsa Shrine from the police goons.

       I covered the last event. I have been slightly injured when mediapersons had a scuffle with the police when they refused to let us inside their cordon. When the Edsa program ended, Atty. Colmenares announced that gma paper-lifted Proclamation 1017 but with a collatilla that she wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

       Guess what, mrs arroyo. Uulitin din namin nang uulitin ang aming mga rali hanggang muling matalo ang iyong mga proklamasyon at hanggang ikaw mismo ay mapatalsik.