i don't even know how to spell revolutionary jesus in the sky

suzanne vega ( beauty & crime cover photo)

Cuscatlan
Frente!

I love my country
But it wears a uniform
It speaks with foreign guns
In the background you can almost hear
The sound of intervention

And I dont know when liberty fell
But we rang every mission bell
We rang them loud and clearly
For a world that wouldnt listen

I dont want to die
Im as innocent as anybody
I dont even know how to spell
Revolutionary
Jesus in the sky
The bullets in the guns
You dont even know what we
Mean by repression

Blood is the colour of the sunset
You walked into the darkness
I did not hear your last breath
There will not be an inquest
This is not human interest

We danced the dirt with
Surrender for our drumbeat
We danced for the balance sheet
Died for the kind of lasting peace
That pleases the world policeman

And fatherland raped motherhood
And told her it was for the global good
And now we ring the mission bell
To warn their children

And I dont want to die
Im as innocent as anybody
I dont even know how to spell
Revolutionary
Jesus in the sky
The bullets in the guns
You dont even know what we
Mean by repression

Blood is the colour of the sunset
You walked into the darkness
I did not hear your last breath
There will not be an inquest
This is not human interest

---

kapag naririnig ko ang kantang ito ni suzanne vega, naaalala ko si c, ang ultimate viajero.

Gypsy
Suzanne Vega

You come from far away
With pictures in your eyes
Of coffeeshops and morning streets
In the blue and silent sunrise
But night is the cathedral
Where we recognized the sign
We strangers know each other now
As part of the whole design

Oh, hold me like a baby
That will not fall asleep
Curl me up inside you
And let me hear you through the heat

You are the jester of this courtyard
With a smile like a girl's
Distracted by the women
With the dimples and the curls
By the pretty and the mischievous
By the timid and the blessed
By the blowing skirts of ladies
Who promise to gather you to their breast

Oh, hold me like a baby
That will not fall asleep
Curl me up inside you
And let me hear you through the heat

You have hands of raining water
And that earring in your ear
The wisdom on your face
Denies the number of your years
With the fingers of the potter
And the laughing tale of the fool
The arranger of disorder
With your strange and simple rules
Yes now I've met me another spinner
Of strange and gauzy threads
With a long and slender body
And a bump upon the head

Oh, hold me like a baby
That will not fall asleep
Curl me up inside you
And let me hear you through the heat

With a long and slender body
And the sweetest softest hands
And we'll blow away forever soon
And go on to different lands
And please do not ever look for me
But with me you will stay
And you will hear yourself in song
Blowing by one day

Oh, hold me like a baby
That will not fall asleep
Curl me up inside you
And let me hear you through the heat

Injustice

mula sa blog ng isa sa mga pinakarerespeto kong tao, naks!. 'pag ganitong usapin talaga, nakikita ang tunay na kulay ng mga tao, ang ubod, ika nga. naaala ko tuloy ang yung gasgas na metapora ng mga tibak sa keso de bola-- pula sa labas, dilawan sa loob. pero siyempre, pana-panahon pa rin naman sumasapul si de quiros, huwag lang sa usaping ideyolohiya at paraan kung paano babaguhin ang lipunang ito.

Injustice (by kr guda)

De Quiros, in his new column, joins the chorus of applause for the Dutch government’s arrest of Jose Maria Sison. He says this: “If it is true that Sison has committed these crimes—and there are witnesses aplenty, not the least of them the widows of the dead, to testify so—then his arrest is indeed a giant step toward peace, a victory for justice and the rule of law. Then there is indeed every reason, from the perspective of freedom, human rights, and all that democracy holds sacred, to be very excited about it.”

What’s wrong with this statement?

De Quiros apparently is not even sure that Sison commited the crimes – if they were indeed crimes – imputed upon him. My previous entry argues that the accusation goes against reason, and that people who only give credence to such accusations either: (1) dislike Sison and the national democratic movement, like De Quiros and the Inquirer; (2) or is politically-motivated to prosecute Sison, like the Dutch, US and Philippine governments.

How on earth can prosecuting Sison for really, really flimsy charges ever be a “giant step toward peace and the rule of law”? How can De Quiros conscientiously approve of the arrest when he is not even sure of Sison’s guilt?

The question that should be asked is: Given the military record of both Tabara and Kintanar, is the killing of Kintanar and Tabara a crime at all? As legitimate combatants (i.e. engaged in armed confrontations) in the civil war between the Philippine government and the CPP-NPA-NDFP, they should have very well known that they were legitimate targets by their enemies.

The problem with this state – whose ideological framework De Quiros embraces – is that when its armed agents kill enemy combatants (i.e. NPA, MILF, MNLF), there is no crime, only casualties. But when enemy combatants kill soldiers (i.e. killing of 12 Marines in Basilan, and killing of Kintanar and Tabara), they cry out to the heavens for justice, demanding and enforcing the arrest of those enemy combatants.

Joma is not even a combatant. Yes, he is the chief political consultant (not in quotation marks, as De Quiros so maliciously writes) of the NDFP, representing the revolutionary organizations, including the NPA, that are directly engaged in combat. But precisely because he is a consultant to a party to peace negotiations that we must make the distinction. This is precisely the rationale behind the Joint Safety and Immunity Guarantees that both the Philippine government and the NDFP signed: negotiators cannot be targetted in the armed conflict. They are there precisely to end the armed conflict.

Let us grant for a moment, though, that Joma, is indeed a combatant, and that he did order the killing of Kintanar and Tabara. If the widows of Kintanar and Tabara indeed feel that they have been wronged and that their spouses were unjustly killed by the NPA – who in turn declared they did so to punish them – the first thing that they should have done is to file a complaint in the Joint Monitoring Committee for the implementation of Carhrihl (Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law). This is the organ, composed of representatives of both the Philippine government and the NDFP, which monitors violations of the agreement signed by both parties declaring their respect for internationally-recognized human rights laws and standards.

Filing a complaint in either the Philippine or Dutch courts goes against the very spirit of this landmark agreement. The NDFP, which claims to have its own judicial system, does not recognize Philippine or Dutch laws. But it declares commitment to Carhrihl. How can the widows make the NDFP accountable under a system that the latter does not recognize? The right thing to do is to make the NDFP accountable under this agreement that it committed itself to.

This is precisely why the NDFP says arresting Joma virtually kills the peace talks. The Carhrihl was signed by both parties as a step towards eventual cessation of hostilities. In assisting in the arrest of Joma, the Philippine government flouts the agreement.

“Frankly, I don’t understand what people are doing marching in the streets, banging heads with fully shielded and truncheon-wielding cops, to protest Sison’s arrest,” writes De Quiros. But of course, the militants have every reason to march in the streets to protest the arrest. Joma is a patriot, someone who spent his entire life for a revolutionary cause. He is innocent of the charges. He is being politically persecuted. The question is why De Quiros is not out there with the ralliers.

A quote from Pastor Martin Niemoller after the Second World War that De Quiros might have used before might be of use to him now: “First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Social Democrats, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Social Democrat. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew, Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.”

Avid readers of De Quiros’ column know by now his distrust of Jose Maria Sison, and by extension, the national democratic movement. He is entitled to his opinions. But to applaud the arrest and trampling of the rights of a man whom he is not sure is guilty in the first place but nevertheless dislikes is a betrayal of the very thing he claims to fight for:

Justice.

The Enemy

Paminsan-minsan Sabik ang Puso sa Mangga
ni Jose Maria Sison

Paminsan-minsan sabik ang puso
sa mangga kung nariyan ang mansanas
sa init kung nariyan ang ginaw
sa mabundok na kapuluan
kung nariyan ang kapatagan
kay layo ng kaib’han sa tahanan
at sa daloy ng mga kaibigan at kamag-anakan.

Ang mga di kinasanayan at kinasasanayang
bagay at lugar na naghuhudyat
sa hapdi ng mga patid na ugnayan
ang mga kawalang dulot ng antala at kaligta.

Direct dialing at fax machine
computer disc at video cassette
mga bisitang lulan ng supersonic jet
ay bigong paglapitin ang agwat
ng mga aral na pagpapamalas
at mga kaalwaan sa tahanan.

May mga kasama at kaibigang
nakakapagpa-ibig sa lupang dinayuhan
subalit sila’y may sariling gawi,
may sariling buhay
na di abot ng pang-unawa at pakialam ng dayuhan.

Silang ibig ipagkait sa distiyero
ang tahanan, mga kaibigan at kamag-anakan
ang buhay, katawan at kalayaan
ay sila ring pinakamaingay;
Na siya raw ay nakalutang
sa dagat matapos siyang hugutin
sa lupang pinag-ugatan.

Ang distiyerong may layunin
ay patuloy na nakikibaka
para sa inang bayan
laban sa nagpalayas sa kanya
ang mga mapagsamantala,
at kahit tiyak na nananahanan
sa kanyang bayan at sandaigdigan.

playing dead, writing 30

hinamon ko si k at jeeu na maglista ng mga bagay na makikita sa bag nila pag namatay sila. naisip ko kasi, paano kung matagapuan akong deds sa kalsada, nasagasaan o di naman kaya ay naabgsakan ng falling debris, hahalungkatin ng mga uzi ang bag ko for identification. at siyempre ayoko namang makilala sa aking pagkamatay bilang pangkaraniwan lamang (kahit matagal ko na namang tanggap na hindi ako mamatay na tulad nina antonioni o bergman). ang siste ng larong ito anong mga libro(5) at dvds(5) ang laman ng bag mo pag natagpuan kang bagay. sabihin na nating pati mp[3 player mo ay papakialaman, anong mga kanta (50) ang huli mong napakinggan?

kaya heto, heto ang sinusumpa kong makikita niyo sa bag ko pag namatay ako:

Mga libro:

1. Franny and Zooey- JD Salinger
2. The Hours- Michael Cunningham
   
3. Illuminations- Walter Benjamin
4. Written on the Body- Jeanette Winterson
5. 24/7 Walang Panahon- Carlos Piocos (editor)

Mga DVD:

1. Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising- Mike De Leon
2. Almost Famous- Cameron Crowe
3. The Dreamers- Bernardo Bertolucci
4. Science of Sleep- Michel Gondry
   
5. Amores Perros- Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Mga MP3:

1. Blue- Joni Mitchell
2. Fast Car- Tracy Chapman
3. Leave This City- The Sundays
4. Small Blue Thing- Suzanne Vega
5. We All Fall in Love Sometimes- Jeff Buckley
6. The Other End- Aimee Mann
7. I’ll Follow You Into the Dark- Death Cab for Cutie
8. Going for Gold- Bright Eyes
9. Mad World- Gary Jules
10. A Case of You- Joni Mitchell
11. Rosemary- Suzanne Vega
12. Mexico- Cake
13. If You Could Read My Mind- Johnny Cash
14. Mystery- Indigo Girls
15. High and Dry- Jamie Cullum
16. Landslide- Smashing Pumpkins
17. River- Joni Mitchell
18. All Flowers in Time- Jeff Buckley
19. Father and Son- Johnny Cash and Fiona Apple
20. Suzanne- Leonard Cohen
21. Fields of Gold- Eva Cassidy
22. A Waltz for a Night- Julie Delpy
23. Ghost- Indigo Girls
24. Invisible Ink- Aimee Mann
25. Satisfied Mind- Jeff Buckley
26. Homeward- The Sundays
27. Just in Time- Nina Simone
28. Eleanor Rigby- The Beatles
29. The Flowers- Regina Spektor
30. How to Disappear Completely- Radiohead
31. Never is a Promise- Fiona Apple
32. Folk Song- The Sundays
33. Bitterly- The Jerks
34. Fragile- Sting
35. Marlene on the Wall- Suzanne Vega
36. Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley
37. Stop This Train- John Mayer
38. Last Goodbye- Jeff Buckley
39. Forever Young- Youth Group
40. Summertime- The Sundays
41. Left of Center- Suzanne Vega
42. Don’t Let it Bring You Down- Annie Lennox
43. Nakalimutan ang Diyos- The Wuds
44. One for My Baby and One More for the Road- Frank SInatra
45. World Before Columbus- Suzanne Vega
46. Scarborough Fair- Simon & Garfunkle
47. Matter of Time- Wolfgang featuring Radha
48. Here’s Where the Story Ends- The Sundays
49. The Promise- Tracy Chapman
50. Walk Down the Road- Cynthia Alexander
    

Springfield

si guilly, alter ego ko sa springfield

pag nakakapanood ako ng the simpsons, hindi pwedeng hindi ko maalala 'yung isang byernes na bumaha sa amin nung grade 2 ako. tumirik yung kakaragkarag na kotseng minamaneho ng nanay ko kaya pinasundo niya ako sa pinsan ko. at bilang malilimutin, nasa bahay na kami nung napansin kong naiwan ko pala sa parking lot yung bag ko. kaya bukod sa pag-tow sa kotse, na-hassle din ang mga magulang ko para balikan ang naiwan kong bag sa school. at habang nagaganap ang patung-patong na kamalasan na iyun, prenteng-prente akong nanonood ng mga noo'y isa sa mga unang episode ng the simpsons. lampas 15 taon na palang nung nangyari yun. ngayon ko lang din na-realize na antagal pala bago nagkaroon ng movie version ang paborito kong cartoon--17 years. pero magkagayunman, hindi pa rin tumatanda sina bart at lisa, hindi pa rin nagdidivorce sina marge at homer, at di pa rin nakakapagsalita si maggie ( at may subo pa ring pacifier si maggie. pero antabayanan ang first word niya sa history ng the simpsons).

di naman nasayang ang paglalakad ko sa ulan papunta sa community cinema (hehehe) sa may amin para manood ng the simpsons movie. wala pa ring nagbago, andun pa rin yung biting sarcasm at pagtalakay sa mga nagbabagang isyu sa amerika (nagawa ko pa ngang i-connect sa anti-terror bill ang pakahulugan sa pelikula, hehehe). and i must say, i really love it. at mabuti na nga lang mag-isa lang ako sa row, kasi iyak lang ako nang iyak sa kakatawa at sa nostalgia.

eto, ang isang glowing review ni peter bradshaw ng the guardian. at eto naman ang isa pang blogentry tungkol sa pelikula.

manananggal terrorizes manila*

photo courtesy of arkibongbayan.org

di pa nakuntento sa higit na 800 biktima ng extrajudicial killings, mas kahindikhindik pang mga halimaw ang pakakawalan ni gloria. sa isang banda ay kinukundena raw niya diumano ang mga pamamaslang, ngunit susog niya sa kabilang kamay ang hsa, na hindi lamang ang mga militante ang maaaring targetin kundi ang mga simpleng sibilyan. at sabi pa niya, "we do not fight terror with terror," bilang pagtanggi na maaring maghasik ng terorismo ang estado-- na sa katotohanan, ito ang pinakamabangis na porma ng terorismo.

lahat ng ito ayon sa sa kumpas ng pandaigdigang gera ng amerika laban sa terorismo ayon sa kanilang pakahulugan. sa pustura at pananalita pa lamang ni gloria, di maikakaila ang wangis ng pasismo. sa kabila ng mga ibinabandilang kaginhawang hatid ng mga impastratuktura ng super regions ay ang walang kapararaang pandarahas sa mga aktibista at maging sa mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan na sa tingin niya sagabal sa kanyang vision, "anyone [who] gets in the way of the national interest and tries to block the national vision. From where I sit, I can tell you, a President is always as strong as she wants to be." so marcosian. di na katakataka kung isa sa mga pumapalakpak sa session hall ay si imelda marcos.

--

ito na ang ikalawang sona na hindi ako sumama sa rali. magmula noong freshman ako sa diliman, hindi ako nagmimintis sa pagtambay sa harap ng ever gotesco. naisip ko rin namang dumaan kanina sa commonwealth pero di ko nagawa. antagal ko na ring di naaarawan.

---
*pasintabi kay jessica zafra

Mystery White Boy

My, oh my! Jeff Buckley biopic is in the works. Read article here. And here. And here.