Category: General

EDSA30 EDSA30

Ellen

It has been 30 years since that one shining moment in Philippine history when the people came together to put an end to tyranny.

Rebel soldier reading Malaya. Photo by Joe Galvez.

Rebel soldier reading Malaya. Photo by Joe Galvez.

As Che Francisco, a colleague in Ang Pahayagang Malaya, remarked , “Parang kelan lang.”

On this day, Feb. 24, we, in Malaya were covering the fast-changing events non-stop. I was sleeping in the office. Malaya editors were working in a safe house as rumors were swirling about raids of newspapers unfriendly to Marcos.

In the evening after the editorial work, we would go to Camp Crame where Fidel V. Ramos, then the chief of the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police and then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce-Enrile, were holding fort together with the rebel soldiers and police officers after they declared on Feb. 22 that they were breaking away from then President Ferdinand Marcos who had been in power for 20 years.

I had come from a very moving and exhausting coverage of the burial of Evelio Javier, former governor of Antique and one of the leaders of Cory Aquino, who was killed on Feb. 11 while monitoring the canvassing of the results of the Feb. 7 presidential snap election in Antique.

Fidel Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile pressconThe noontime murder of Javier – the assassin run after him across the town plaza and finally caught up with him in the bathroom of one of the stores nearby- added to the already tense situation in the country.

There were reports of massive election irregularities in areas controlled by Marcos. Comelec tabulators walked out declaring that they do not want to be a party to cheating. Early election results as tabulated by the citizens’ quick count, NAMFREL, put Cory Aquino winning but the lead was slowly being eroded as votes from Marcos bailiwicks were coming in.

Cory called for civil disobedience if the people’s will would be frustrated by election results. Then Ramos and Enrile’s coup d’état which they called “the People’s Revolution.”

Noontime of Feb. 25, there were two inauguration of winners of the 1986 snap election. Marcos took his oath at the Malacanang balcony surrounded by grim-looking members of his family. Cory Aquino took her oath at Club Filipino in Greenhills before a jubilant crowd.

Evening of Feb. 25, Marcos and his family boarded a helicopter provided by the U.S. government from Malacanang grounds. They were brought to Clark Air Base where a C-130 was waiting which brought them to Hawaii.

Cory takes his oath as president before Justice Claudio Teehankee. Dona Aurora Aquino looks on.

Cory takes his oath as president before Justice Claudio Teehankee. Dona Aurora Aquino looks on.

That paved the way for Cory Aquino’s ascent to Malacanang. She declared a Revolutionary Government and disposed of the Constitution written under the Marcos regime. A new Constitution was written.

Four presidents have been elected – Ramos, Joseph Estrada (his term was cut short by another People Power), Gloria Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III- under the 1987 Constitution.

It is significant that we are celebrating EDSA 30 with Cory Aquino’s son presiding the celebration. It’s like coming full circle.

The question frequently asked is, “Has life for the Filipino people changed for the better because of EDSA One?”

Whatever is said about EDSA One especially the fact that poverty remains a heavy burden for many Filipinos, we are better as a nation because of that four days in February that we stood up to end the Marcos dictatorship. Foremost is the restoration of democracy.

How we handled our regained freedom is all up to us.

Doble ‘gudtime’

Ellen

Neri Colmenares, main author of bill increasing pension of SSS retirees by P2,000 a month, says SSS has P325 billion uncollected revenues. From Philippine Star.

Neri Colmenares, main author of bill increasing pension of SSS retirees by P2,000 a month, says SSS has P325 billion uncollected revenues. From Philippine Star.

At the Mercury Drugstore the other day, I overheard two senior citizens discussing about the President’s veto of the P2, 000 peso a month increase for members of the Social Security System.

One was telling the other about the commentaries of DZMM’s Ted Failon which she fully agreed. “Bakit nila binigyan ang sarili nila ng bonus na P1 milyon tig-isa kapag Pasko kung wala pa lang pera para sa mga miembro?”

The lady said bonuses are given as reward for good performance but the she cited the report of the Commission on Audit that the SSS owns many assets that are idle that have resulted in losses amounting to over a hundred million pesos yearly.

“Bad management yun. Bakit sila may bonus?” the lady asked to which the other one senior citizen fully agreed.

ABS-CBN reported that among the properties owned by the SSS are 102 condominium units in seven condominium buildings in the National Capital Region; 44,000 square meters of office space, 16 residential houses and 69 parking lots, all valued at P17.956 billion.

The idle status of the assets means that the SSS is “(deprived) of an estimated P198.118 million in a year when occupied/rented, computed based on the lowest rental rate of lessees in the condominium units, office/store spaces, houses or parking lots,” ABS-CBN quoted the COA report.

On top of these, COA also found more idle properties of SSS in Mindanao, particularly the 15 units in Pryce Tower condominium located in Pryce Business Park, J.P Laurel, Bajada, Davao City.

SSS also acquired Pryce Tower’s parking slots, as well as 663 units of memorial lots in various measurements in Mt. Apo Garden Memorial Lots in Barangay Calinan, Davao.

“The idle/unoccupied properties incurred fixed costs such as association dues, electricity and water bills, repairs and maintenance, and manpower without any return on invested capital,” COA said.

After buying their medicines the senior citizens said, “Pinapanalangin ko na lang na matuloy ang ating increase sa pension.”

SSS President and CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr No hike in the remaining month of Aquino administration. Photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer.

SSS President and CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr No hike in the remaining month of Aquino administration. Photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The old ladies would have to pray much harder because SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros Jr. said categorically that there would not be any increase in the pensions of over two million SSS before President Aquino steps down on June 30.

So what happens then to President Aquino’s statement after criticized heavily for the veto that he ordered a study on a P500 increase instead of the P2, 000.

He was quoted as having said, “May benefits na inaaral. Kaya ba natin ang P500? Pag dinagdagan natin ng, let’s say, P500, babawasan naman natin ‘yung life ng ating pondo. Ngayon, pinapasigurado ko sa kanila ‘yung computation.“

De Quiros said they are studying an increase of a smaller amount but he is concerned that it would be politicized if it is given within the remaining months of the Aquino administration because of the coming election in May.

He said in a press conference:”We are always studying ways and means to improve the benefits. My concern is if we do it now and it’s an election year, what would people think? It’s under study but we need to look at it from that point of view.”

Why would his concern about the issue getting politicized override the welfare of the pensioners? And we are paying him P4.2 million a year plus P1 million bonus to give us this crap!

No wonder Malacanang no longer talks about the P500 peso alternative increase.

Na-gudtime na tayo sa P2,000. Na-gudtime pa rin sa P500.

From Renato Reyes' FB post.

From Renato Reyes’ FB post.

Grounding lessons

Ellen Leave a comment

A book on the rise of Kinaray-a language by Alex de los Santos.

A book on the rise of Kinaray-a language by Alex de los Santos.

Second day of the year 2016, I was pulled to the ground – a much needed lesson, courtesy of a bus conductor.

Last Saturday, I took a Ceres bus to Iloilo from our province in Antique to take my flight back to Manila.

As I was gathering my baggage upon arriving at the bus terminal in Iloilo, I couldn’t find the box containing foodstuff (adobong manok, suman, saba na saging, rootcrops) that neighbors went out of their way to obtain and prepare for Manila relatives.

There were no more passengers left and I looked all over the bus but I couldn’t find the box. I was sure it was loaded in the bus together with my two bags. So I asked the conductor, “Sa diin tana ang akon box? May higot nga yellow nga straw.” (Where’s my box? The one tied with yellow-colored straw.) That’s in the Kinaray-a language of Antique.

The conductor helped me look all over the bus. We couldn’t find it. He tried looking at the rear and side compartments. No box.

He took one last look inside the bus and he found it under the last seat. I thanked him profusely.

He accepted it with relief saying they felt responsible for every piece of baggage loaded in the bus. Then he remarked. “’Box’ man ikaw nga’box’. Karton gali ang imo ginasagap. (You keep on saying ‘box’ when you are looking for a ‘karton.’)”

I was taken aback by what sounded to me was a scolding. I retorted, “Ano ang diperensya kang box kag karton? (Why, what’s the difference between a box and a karton?)”

He looked at me as if giving me basic lessons in language: “Karton dya.(This is a karton.)”

Then I realized “Box” is an English word which may not be the language of the conductor. I was talking to him in Kinaray-a so why did I use the English word “Box”?

My friend Sol Vanzi remarked when I told her this incident, “Your mind did not catch up with your feet.”

A Ceres bus plying Antique-Iloilo route.

A Ceres bus plying Antique-Iloilo route.

Yes. I have become so used to mixing English and Tagalog in a sentence when talking which is fine here in Manila but not in our province with people who are not used to Taglish.

I reacted strongly to the conductor’s remark about my talking about the “box” when all along I was looking for a “karton” because when were were kids, we would make fun of people returning from Manila who insisted on talking in Tagalog, as if they have forgotten Kinaray-a. They looked ‘maarte” and ridiculous.

I remember there was once a woman returning home from Manila who told the bus driver, “Para, Para” when the bus was nearing their house but the driver didn’t stop. That’s because during those days, if you want to get off the bus, you tell the driver, “Brake lang.” That’s telling the driver to step on the brakes.

Now, I noticed people don’t say, “Brake lang” anymore. “Para” is now understood as “stop.” Or “Sa lugar lang.” The direct translation is “in the right place” but it’s more of a request to stop where it is not prohibited.

At least my province mates are slowly catching up. I hope not so fast because I would not want to hear them say what is so common these days in the cities among young people :“Wait lang ha. (Just wait.)” Why not “Hintay lang po sandali.” Or say it in straight English, “Please wait.”

Worse is the text lingo: Hir na mi. Wer u na.”

I cannot imagine how the bus conductor would react to what sounds like the alien talk.

Sorry for the general statement about education in the provinces

Ellen Leave a comment

He was featured in CNN Philippines

He was featured in CNN Philippines

I made a terrible mistake in my column last Monday.

In my article on Ronald Gadayan, the NAIA janitor who returned to the owner a pouch he found while he was cleaning the departure area in September 2012 containing some P2.4 million cash and valuables, I wrote about his concern about his children’s education.

Being a contractual employee at NAIA, he only earns P481 a day. He has three children, ages 12, 10 and 6. His wife is looking for a job to augment their income.

His children go to a public school in Bulacan. He said he is worried about his children’s future education and asked Education Secretary Armin Luistro for assistance. He said the education secretary told him that his children cannot qualify for scholarship because they are not “matalino.”

I said Luistro’s answer was harsh but he was just being honest. Scholarship grants, be it in public or private schools, require that the applicant pass an academic exam. To get into the University of the Philippines or any State University where tuition is not as high as in private schools, one has to pass an exam.

I wrote: “Gadayan’s problem for his children is the problem of many young people coming from poor families, who could only afford to go to public schools in the provinces where the quality of education is substandard. When they move on to higher education and they have to compete with others, the cards are stacked against them.”

That was bad. I generalized schools in the provinces which was wrong.

I revised that paragraph to read: “Gadayan’s problem for his children is the problem of many young people coming from poor families, who could only afford to go to public schools in the provinces where the quality of education in many areas leaves a lot to be desired. When they move on to higher education and they have to compete with others, the cards are stacked against them. “
It’s understandable that many criticized my original article. Eunice Jebulan commented in the ABS-CBN site: “Just to correct this biased article, schools from provinces are not substandard. Hindi ibig sabihin a nasa probinsya, malayo at may distansya sa Maynila ay hibdi na kalidad na edukasyon ang naibibigay. It is just the same education that students get. Iba iba lang ang forms and ang effects. ABS-CBN News, you have done the probinsiyanos wrong. Ilang beses na kayong nagpopost ng mga articles na mali-mali at hindi umaayon sa Requirements for Good Journalism. Ayusin niyo! You are losing your credibility!

Cristine Marquez said:”Schools in the province are not sub standard. Some are well known state universities. Para sa akin di naman talino sa libro nare-rate ang utak ng tao. Ang daming tinatawag na matalino.Wwala naman diskarte. Nagkataon lang na pinanganak na mayaman.Maraming kuneksyon. Madaming mahirap na matalino. Actually most are street smart and practical. Mas mataas ang common sense. Sana wag lahatin.”

Others pointed out the advantage of those in public school in the provinces where their classes are spread out the whole day unlike in Metro Manila where the schools are overcrowded, classes have to be crammed into half a day.
I agree with Eunice, Cristine and others who expressed similar sentiments. I am a product of a public school. I went to a barrio school: Guisijan Elementary School in Antique.
At the same time, I know very well the inadequacies of the public school system in the provinces especially in the remote barrios. During our time, we even had to bring our own chairs to school. Textbooks were very few, we had to take turns in bringing them home.
It was worse in schools in remote barrios where the teachers have to walk some two hours and cross rivers to get to the school. Usually the teachers hold classes only four days a week as they would start returning to the poblacion Friday.

Nowadays,computers are standard tools in many classrooms in progressive towns and cities. In know of many high school graduates in our place who do not know how to use the computer because they have not had the chance to learn how to use it in school.

The internet opens students to a world of knowledge. Internet service in our barrio is only available through pocket wifi. The schools have no internet service.

Prince Sipal knows very well this situation. He said: “I am a product of the public school system, ok lang sa amin na mag aral dito dahil masipag umalalay sa aming magkakapatid ang mga magulang namin dahil kahit sa bahay at pinagtityagaan kaming turuan ng aming mga magulang. But as an educator, malinaw na malayo sa kalidad ng pagtuturo ang mga public school teachers kumpara sa private schools. Sa public schools, pili lang ang mga sections na natuturuan ng maayos.

One commenter, Ako si Anne, raised a valid point how poverty affects a child’s education: “ Sometimes humihina ang ulo ng isang bata kpag kulang sa sustansya at sa pagkain ng tama. Sguro ng dahil sa kakapusan sa pera hindi gaano masustansya nakakain ng mga bata. Proper nutrition is needed kahit man lang sana sa pagkain ng mga bata sagutin ng may magandang puso para makapag aral ng maayus at lumabas ang tunay na talino ng mga anak nya ng makakuha ng scholarship. “

Again, I apologize.