Aktibo! Pahayagan ng Mamamayan - Akbayan Official Mag, October issue. :)

1. A
Vol. 1
ktibo!
October
Issue # 1 2011
Pahayagan ng mamamayan
Active
Citizenship

2. Table of contents
Active Citizenship as Remedy to National Crisis:
Some Sketch Notes........ 3
Mayor Daus: Simple pero rock....... 5
Desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa Hacienda Luisita,
Panalo ba o Talo?........... 7
Akbayan National Council meeting ........... 9
Pamumunong tatak Akbayan.......... 10
Brainstorming for Aktibo!
Akbayan sa Buong Kapuluan ........... 11
Rough and rugged road toward change.......... 12
Pagasa: An Unlikely Paradise........................ 15
Tuloy tuloy. Isulong ang mga
progresibong batas............ 17
MODA Akbayan........... 18
Paa
n ok
aya
???
Inspiring???
ar?
the ye
yee of
emplo
Aktibo! Pahayagan ng mamamayan
Conrad Catillo
Editor in chief
Brain(washing) for Aktibo?
Perry Legaspi
Managing editor
Aaron Moralina
Contributing editor
Contributing Writers
Sabrina Gacad team building???
Edwin Chavez Aktibo! Pahayagang Akbayan:
Kaka Bag-ao 36-B Madasalin St., Sikatuna Village,
Quezon City
Carlo Vargas (02) 433-6933 / (02) 433-6831
secretariat@akbayan.org.ph
Graphic Artist www.akbayan.org.ph
Edz Ayson twitter.com/ AkbayanParty
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3. Editor’s Note
Pagpupugay sa lahat ng Aktibo! readers,
Andito na ang natatanging PAHAYAGAN NG MAMAMAYAN. Ang Aktibo ay isa sa mga proyekto ng
partidong Akbayan upang ihatid ang mga maiinit at malamang isyu na kinahaharap ng ating bansa.
Nais nitong ipaabot sa taong bayan ang mga opinyon, kuro-kuro at posisyon ng Partido sa mga iba’t
ibang usapin.
Subalit hindi lamang ito talaan ng mga batas na ating ipinaglalaban sa Kongreso, ito rin ay
nagpapakita ng mga pangaraw-araw na buhay Akbayan. Mula sa pamamahala ng isang
munisipalidad hangang sa “leadership training”.
Ang mga bumubuo ng Aktibo ay taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagnanais na patuloy na
kumalap ng impormasyon, paglalaan ng oras at panahon para basahin ito at higit sa lahat ang
patuloy na pagiging Aktibo! ninyo.
Mabuhay tayong lahat, mabuhay ang partidong Akbayan,
CONRAD CASTILLO
Editor in chief
Aktibo!
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4. Active
Citizenship
As Remedy to National Crisis:
Some Sketch Notes
by Aaron Moralina
Comrades, I wrote this piece for
Aktibo, originally set to be
released in time for our National
Council Meeting (but because of
logistical issues, was released
much later). Here, I've drawn on
the ideas of citizenship, socialism,
and democracy by Martell, Laclau
and Mouffe, and Hirst. I wish the
essay could still be developed by
incorporating other writings on
active citizenship and by
sharpening the reference to
Philippines. Since this is by no
means a definitive piece on active
citizenship, I hope it could jump rethinking new forms of people's A key feature of active citizenship is the
start conversations regarding this struggles, mobilization, and strong presence of civil society. Here
empowerment. We need a culture of individuals could look for meaningful
important aspect of our party
active citizenship that addresses the ways to participate and have a stake in
narrative. – A.R.M. democratic deficit in the country, and the political decision-making. Voluntary
We are all too familiar with Philippine stasis in political motion among the organizations, unions, and cause-
politics. While formally a democracy, the people. oriented groups are made to pursue
deficit in democratic accountability is their particular advocacies based on
very much palpable in various levels. their particular interests. Still, due to the
Much of the conduct in government is Active Citizenship and the commitment to a general social good,
influenced by exchange of favors, Aspiration for Empowerment organizations pursue their interests
dispensation of spoils, and formations of while meaningfully interacting with each
clientelist alliances. A handful of families The aim of active citizenship is to other: this is to prevent the actualization
with their extended kin and clients empower. Hence, it aspires to engage of their interests at the expense of
dominate politics. While universal adult governmental institutions. This is done others' interests. A common good is
suffrage is practiced and elections serve through proposing various ways to shared by all and should respond to
as chief source of political legitimacy in place public goods under greater everyone's needs, and this should be
the country, people's participation in democratic control. It does not aspire to forged through continuous interaction
government remains limited and relieve the state from its conventional with each other. Since a plurality of
superficial. Save for some surges of responsibilities, rather, it prods on the interests is involved in setting social
EDSA-esque mobilizations, the people state to perform its responsibilities priorities, any kind of centralization of
have no meaningful and substantial role through meaningful participation from power is prevented. In this way, political
in political decision-making. the people. At present, the role of decision-making is brought down to the
defining and actualizing public goods local level where people are able to
It is no longer surprising that a big are in the hands of private interests participate more freely and more
segment of our population has been (e.g., corporations, the economic elites, meaningfully.
resigned to cynicism vis-à-vis socio- powerful families embedded in state
politico issues. Such attitude is even institutions, among others, whose chief This is not to say that active citizenship
compounded by the value systems aim is to accumulate wealth and strives to bring ALL political decisions
promoted by popular cultural forms: on produce profit). It is a challenge to outside formal representational
one hand, a culture of mendicancy is advocates of active citizenship to structures of the state. The present
promoted by game shows which peddle contribute to the creation of a culture system of representation is retained
the promise of quick riches; on the other transcending the formal institutions of whereby multitude of parties of various
hand, one can sense a general feeling of democracy in the country. The present colors, traditions, etc. continues to
apathy among the slightly monied who structure will not be allowed to continue, pursue their politics. But on top of the
are resolved to leave everything in favor rather, measures are carried out to formal political structures, public forums
of migrating abroad. change it. Advocates of active are created and allowed to thrive so that
citizenship promote reforms to the organizations participate in identifying
Hence, the country seems to suffer from political, economic, as well as social their common needs. Although the
a chronic crisis in accountability and structure of the country, in the hope that present formal democracy in the
social conscience among the people. it will culminate in a more pluralist and country has so many flaws, a lot of its
There is an exceptional need for participatory democracy. components still need to exist to
3

5. continue the existence of mechanisms Active Citizenship and Individual citizenship promotes a strong sense of
for accountability and other forms of Freedom individual freedom, it also promotes
check and balance to political authority. solidarity among diverse experiences
Nevertheless, they should not be Since active citizenship holds plurality in and plural interests. Hence, advocates
separated from forms of direct highest regard, it aspires to create a of active citizenship have a strong sense
participation. Aside from formal culture that places utmost respect to of egalitarianism.
involvement in elections, pluralist individual freedom. An individual's
interests could influence political expression of selfhood is sacred, hence Active Citizenship and the Market
decision-making. it is also protected. Expression of
diverse individualities is also allowed to Within an active citizenship framework,
Active Citizenship as an Answer to flourish in a free environment where no people are empowered producers and
Old Socialist Thought kind of force—physical, ideological, consumers. They strive to sway
etc.—can suppress the individual in enterprises to respond to the real needs
It seems that active citizenship is no favor of a collective identity. Hence, of the citizens, not only to the demands
longer new as there has been a plethora people are called on to raise their level of the market. Needs should not defined
of political groups who advocate similar of consciousness so that they become by the enterprises or market forces, but
ends. It is clear that active citizenship aware of any force that could stifle by the people themselves through the
addresses the deficit in accountability of individuality—from the most manifest recognition of their diverse interests.
the present political system in the forms of repression such as totalitarian External forces are not allowed to
country. Likewise, active citizenship regimes that aims to impose one- impose a unitary decision of what
aspires to propose an alternative to dimensional thinking, to the most should be produced or sold, because
Marxism-Leninism-Maoism pushed concealed such as structural bases for the people themselves should be able to
forward by the National Democratic skewed distribution of power and identify and acknowledge genuine
movement, whose goal is to establish a wealth, unequal opportunities for social needs through mutually inclusive
society whereby decision-making and personal growth, unevenness in the political forums. In a society inspired by
political actions are all centralized to the production of knowledge, among active citizenship, people engage in
state. Within this paradigm, no discursive others. People are called on to act in both entrepreneurial and governmental
space is created for the existence of order to change or outright remove decision-making through individual
pluralist interests, aside from those who these obstacles to the actualization of actions and trade unions, workers
express the aspirations of the vanguard individual freedom, and propose or associations, consumer action groups,
party. The community is a collective establish alternatives. cooperatives, etc. Through these
without plurality: it is assumed that the
people have a “singular form” of interest, “Active citizenship is founded in values like
which is by and large actualized by the egalitarianism, cooperation, and unity. But it
vanguard party. A society built on this is firmly based in a deep sense of plurality,
premise does not draw its strength from
cooperation and plurality. On the and it unequivocally opposes any form of
contrary, diversity is conflated into a centralization of state power.”
“unitary” decision, which is imposed by a
vanguard party that purports to As much as advocates of active citizens organizations, enterprises are swayed,
“represent” all peoples. promote freedom at the level of the if not pressured, to do consultations and
individual, they also strive for a society dialogues with the people, whose inputs
In this sense, diverse interests are with a clear sense of social good which become integral in production and sale
disempowered as they are not allowed to is over and above the individual's of commodities. In support of this
come together, negotiate with each desire. One cannot be allowed to pursue venture, people also strive to create
other, and reach a settlement among individual freedom without any sense of communal structures that promote
them. Hence, even in the outset, there common good or else it would only coordination and cooperation between
seems to be a great likelihood to resort to promote the competition of individual enterprises and government agencies.
violence and excess, most especially if interests. Competitive individualism is
this was to be advanced in large and actually promoted by neo-liberal Conclusion
highly complex societies characterized thought. Within the neo-liberal
by fractions and diverse interests paradigm, all forms of obstacles to We must emphasize that at the core of
(there's enough historical precedence individual freedoms have to be active citizenship lies the aspiration for
that attests to this). To actualize its removed—chief among them is the unity, cooperation, and equality. It
pursued “good,” the vanguard state does state—and the concept of a general intends to promote genuine democracy
not allow the participation of the people good is left to the consideration of the anchored in a deep and strong sense of
because the state itself expresses, individual. This kind of thinking is pluralism. While it recognizes the
represents, and carries out unitary opposed because of its danger: without primacy of pursuing individual interests,
decisions. attempts to negotiate a common good, it does not aim to essentialize the
there would emerge a vicious culture individual over the collective. Truly, in
On the contrary, in a society inspired by where self-interests are pursued at the the face of crisis of accountability in the
active citizenship, mutually inclusive cost of other individual freedoms. A country, alongside the general feeling of
interactions between diverse interests “dog-eat-dog” culture is no longer new hopelessness harbored by the people,
are strongly encouraged and not to the Philippines where there's a wide there is sore need for active citizenship.
suppressed. Active citizenship is gap between a few rich and an end
founded in values like egalitarianism, impoverished mass. Thus, there is
cooperation, and unity. But it is firmly utmost need to create an environment photo on the other page: Janela Arcos
based in a deep sense of plurality, and it Lelis during typhoon “juaning”, July 26,
that is genuinely caring and nurturing to 2011(taken by and property of Frank
unequivocally opposes any form of all, not only to a few. So while active Lurzano)
centralization of state power.
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6. “Simpleng tao si Mayor.” hindi bakas sa kanya ang ugali ng Pagsabak sa Pulitika at sa
Yan ang unang sagot sa iyo ng mga tao pagiging “trapo” o traditional politician. Partidong Akbayan
sa Laur, Nueva Ecija kapag iyong
tatanunging kung ano ang pagkakakilala Sa katunayan, payak ang pamumuhay Sa pagpasok ni Mayor sa pulitika bilang
nila sa kanilang alkalde, si Mayor G. ni Mayor magmula noong bata pa siya chairperson ng isang lokal na partido, di
Alvaro Daus. Kaya naman hindi kahit ngayon. Sa pagsasaka ang kalaunan nakilala din niya ang iba't
katakataka na malapit si Mayor sa mga hanapbuhay ng kaniyang pamilya ibang grupo at personalidad na aktibo
tao ng Laur. Sa katunayan, pangalawang bagaman mas mataas ang antas ng sa lokal na pulitika ng Nueva Ecija. Isa
termino na niya ito ng paninilbihan sa buhay nila kumpara sa ibang na rito si RG Escuejo na lokal na pinuno
bayan. Pero higit sa pagiging malapit sa kababayan. Gayunpaman, hindi ito ng Akbayan sa Nueva Ecija. Bagama't
taumbayan, kasama na rin sa kanyang naging handlang sa pagiging malapit ng hindi pa siya tahasang sumasali sa
pamumuno ang tatak ng pagiging tapat ama niya at ng pamilya sa mga Akbayan, nasaksihan na ni Mayor ang
at matuwid sa panunungkulan. ordinaryong tao. katapatan sa paninilbihan sa kapwa ang
Masdan lang ng sinuman ang daan ginagawa ng Partido.
papasok sa Bayan ng Laur sa Nueva “Tinuruan kami ng mga magulang
Ecija, mababatid ang ilang hirap ng namin na laging tumulong sa masa,” Nang tanungin si Mayor kung wala ba
pangangasiwa sa lugar na ito. ayon kay Mayor. Ito ang naging tatak ng siyang alinlangan nang makilala ang
Sementado naman ang kalsada pero pamumuno ng kanyang ama bilang Akbayan, “Siyempre sa ibang tao na 'di
malaking problema tuwing tag-ulan ang alkalde ng bayan mula 1960 hanggang nakaaaalam sa Akbayan may pananaw
baha. Agrikultura ang pangunahing 1986. na ang Akbayan ay makakaliwa, mga
pinagkakakitaan ng Laur partikular ang Noong 1986, lumipat si Mayor sa aktibista, o di kaya NPA. Pero noong
pagtatanim ng palay at sibuyas. Hindi Estados Unidos kasama ang pamilya at makilala ko ang Akbayan nagustuhan ko
naman malaki ang populasyon ng Laur doon piniling maghanapbuhay. Doon, ito dahil reporma ang pangunahing
na nasa humigit-kumulang sa 30,000 naging tsuper ng trak sa Jersey city ng naisin.”
katao. Dito rin matatagpuan ang Fort halos 18 na taon at naging miyembro ng
Magsaysay ng Armed Forces of the unyong International Brotherhood of Dahil na rin sa responsibilidad na dala-
Philippines. Teamsters na kilala bilang isa sa dala ni Mayor Daus at sa pagkakakilala
pinakamalaking unyon sa Estados ng tao sa kanya at sa kaniyang pamilya,
Sa maliit na bayang ito hindi mo aakalain Unidos. di naglaon na maraming tao na nasa
na may tinatago silang yaman sa Bumalik si Mayor sa Pilipinas noong poder ang nagkaroon ng haka-hakang
maayos at tapat na pamumuno sa 2003 upang balikan ang iniwang bayan maaaring ninanais na rin niyang
katauhan ni Mayor Daus na “orig” na at bumalik sa dating simpleng tumakbo sa isang lokal na puwesto.
mayor ng Akbayan (nakatala siya sa pamumuhay ng pagsasaka. Bagaman
COMELEC na ang kanyang partido ay huli ang pulitika sa dahilan ng kanyang “Sa katunayan, wala talaga sa aking
Akbayan). Pag pupuntahan mo siya sa pagbalik. Aniya, “Hindi ko plano ang isipan ang tumakbo. Hindi mo naman
kanyang bahay, siguradong mabibigla ka pagpasok sa pulitika. Malayo yun sa kailangan maging pulitiko para
na lang na ang alkalde ay simple sa aking isipan”. tumulong e. Nagkataon lang na yung
kanyang pananamit, malayong malayo kapatid ng naging kalaban ko sa
sa marangyarng imahe na meron ang Gayunpaman, napasabak na rin siya halalan, inakala na tatakbo ako siguro.
mga mayor o pulitiko dito sa ating bansa. dito dahil na rin sa paguudyok ng isang Pinagsasabi pa nga na hindi raw ako
Bagaman hindi maituturing na baguhan kaibigan at suporta ng mga mananalo dahil wala nga akong pera o
sa pulitika si Mayor Daus, ikalawang mamamayan. Noon, napasali siya sa yaman para ipanggugugol. Parang
termino na niya ito ngayon at BALANE party bilang isang local nahamon ako, eh 'di syempre tumakbo
ang kanyang ama ay dating chairman nito dahil na rin sa nakitang na ako para sa pagka-alkalde.” wika ni
mayor ng Laur, pagiging likas na malapit ni Mayor sa Mayor Daus.
taumbayan. “Naging chairman ako sa
local area ng partido BALANE (Bagong Sa unang pagtakbo ni Mayor sa halalan,
Lakas ng Nueva Ecija) dito sa Nueva malinaw sa lahat na kredibilidad ang
Ecija dahil na rin kay Voltaire Chua na pangunahing puhunan ni Mayor at hindi
congressional candidate noon ng pera o makinarya na meron ang
partido. Kaya ako nakumbinsi ay dahil kanyang kalaban. 'Di naglaon nang
nakita ko na rin na mabuting tao itong si umusbong rin ang relasyon nya sa
Voltaire,” ayon kay Partidong Akbayan at tuluyan na siyang
Mayor Daus. naging miyembro.
“Kaya ko pinili ang Akbayan, dahil sa
katangian nitong magsulong ng
matinong pulitika. Hindi kagaya ng
ibang pulitiko na pagpapayaman ang
iniisip. Kita naman sa partido na hindi
tayo mayaman at gustong
magpayaman.”
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7. Ang ganitong pananaw ni Mayor ang Pagtingin sa pulitka
nagdala sa kanya sa pagkapanalo at ang
pagkakakilala sa Akbayan sa Laur. Sa
katunayan, maliban sa isang konsehal, Ayon na rin kay Mayor Daus, likas sa
ang buong sangguniang bayan ng Laur kanyang pagkatao ang tumulong sa
ay pawang mga miyembro at kasapi ng masa. Palibhasa ganito na raw siya
Partido. pinalaki ng mga magulang niya. Halata
rin ang pagiging iba ni Mayor sa
“Talagang kinampanya namin ang tradisyunal na pagtingin ng mga Pilipino
Akbayan dito sa Laur. Dito kilala ang sa mga pulitiko. Kung bibisita sa
Akbayan sa maayos na pamumuno.” tahanan ni Mayor, mapapansing ang
lagi niyang pag-aalala sa mga isyung
Tatak Mayor Daus pampamahalaan. Sa tuwina'y usapan ni
Mayor sampu ng ibang lokal na opisyal
Di maikukubli ang pagiging malapit sa at mga mamamayan ng Laur ang
puso ng mga taga-Laur si Mayor Daus. problema ng bayan at mga proyektong
Bukod sa pagkakakilala nila sa kanya ipatutupad.
bilang mabait at tapat na pinuno, kilala
din siya sa pagiging isang epektibo na Kabaliktaran ng tradisyunal na pulitiko, * May populasyon na
lokal na ehekutibo. Sa katunayan, sa si mayor ay araw-araw na pumapasok 30,997 ang Laur, Nueva Ecija.
ilalim ni Mayor Daus napasementuhan sa munisipyo para magopisina at laging 3 na lang 31,000 na!
ang dating mga lubak lubak na kalsada pwedeng lapitan ng mga taong
sa bayan at nakabili na rin ng mga humihingi ng tulong. Nagsisimula siya * 1917 ng tinatagang bayan
makinarya't kagamitan ang lokal na ng ika-8 ng umaga hanggang dapit- Laur.
pamahalaan. Ang dati nilang health hapon, hangga't may mga tao pa ring
center na walang doktor ay mayroon dumudulog sa kanyang tanggapan. * Ang opsiyal na selyo ng bayan
nang isang regular na doktor at isang ng Laur ay nagpapakita ng mga
medical technician. Nang matanong siya “Dapat diretso ang utak at matinong bundok, pananim at kalabaw.
kung paano niya nagagawa ito para sa mag-isip,” ang bukang-bibig ni Mayor
bayan ng Laur gayong ang ilang serbisyo nang tanungin kung ano ang katangiang
at proyekto na mayroon siya ay wala sa meron dapat ang isang pampublikong
ibang mas mayaman na lungsod at opisyal. Itong pagiging “diretso” at
bayan, sagot ni Mayor ay, “'Yung pondo “matino” ang siyang pinakapilosopiya ni
lang talaga na binibigay sa bayan ay Mayor sa pagsilbi sa kapwa. Kitang kita
ginagastos agad para sa ito sa pamamalakad ni Mayor sa
pangangailangan ng mga tao. 'Yung munisipyo. Mismong mga kawani ng
ibang nasa pwesto kasi, siguro sarili ang lokal na pamahalaan ang saksi sa
iniisip sa halip na sa nakararami.” diretso at matinong pamumuno ni
Mayor sa Laur.
Naipamamalas din ni Mayor sa panahon
ng kalamidad ang kanyang pagmamahal Dahil na rin sa mga prinsipyong ito ni
sa mga kinasasakupan. Sa katunayan, Mayor, di maiiwasan na mapagmuni si
bago pa man sumapit ang panahon ng Mayor sa pagkakaiba niya sa mga ibang
tag-ulan o bagyo, inihahanda na ni pulitiko. Saksi siya sa karangyaan ng
Mayor ang mga kakailanganin ng mga ilang pulitiko gayong naghihikahos ang
tao. “Kapag alam mong magtatagulan nakararami. Kaya payo ni Mayor sa
na, inihahanda na naming yung gamit Partido at sa mga kasamang
para sa mga maapektuhan. Bahain kasi naninilbihan sa tao ang pagpatuloy sa
ang lugar namin kaya kailangan laging tapat na serbisyo. Aniya, “Yung ibang
handa. Kung tag-ulan nga, uunahan ko pulitiko perang ipanggagastos na lang
na sa pagronda sa mga lugar na sa mga tao, ibubulsa pa. Kung
tatamaan ng baha para matugunan papayuhan ko ang mga sasabak sa
agad.” pulitika sa Partido, tandaan lagi na
maging honest. Huwag dapat tularan
Nagpapatupad din ng isang programang yung ibang mayor at pulitiko. ”
Universal Healthcare sa Laur ang lokal
na pamahalaan. Sa ilalim ng Ibang-iba talaga ang uri ng pamumuno
programang ito, kahit ang mga kapos ni Mayor Daus sa Laur, kaya nga't
palad ay maaaring mabigyan ng mga ganoon na lang ang pagmamalaki ng
serbisyong medikal nang 'di na Akbayan na may isang mayor na
kailangan pang gumastos ng malaki. nagsasabuhay ng mga prinsipyo ng
Partido at ipinamamalas ang tatak ng
pamumuno ng Akbayan. Sana nga'y
marami pang mayor, gobernador, bokal
at konsehal ang magsabuhay ng tatak
Akbayan sa pamumuno ng kanilang
sinasakupan. lahat ng larawan ay
end mula sa kuha at pananaliksik
ni Carlo Angelo Vargas at
Edz Ayson
6

8. Sinasabing ang kaso ng Hacienda . Pagkatapos ng halos isang taong Sa isang banda, kinilala ng Korte
Luisita ay isa sa mga mahahalagang paghihintay, naglabas ang Korte Suprema na may legal standing ang
kaso sa repormang agraryo. Naging Suprema ng kanilang resolusyon. mga magsasaka at manggagawang-
malaking usapin ito noong naging bukid sa kasong ito. Kinilala rin ng
Pangulo si Cory Aquino at ngayong Noong lumabas ang desisyong ito sa Kortena sangkot sa kasong ito ang
Pangulo na ang anak niyang si Noynoy. kasong pagpapawalang-bisa ng Stock interes ng publiko at ito ay hindi
Ang mangyayari sa Hda. Luisita ay Distribution Option (SDO) ng Hda. simpleng sigalot sa pagitan ng mga
magbibigay ng isang napakalaking Luisita, marami ang nalito. Inakala ng stockholders ng korporasyon kung
pulitikal na senyales sa pagpapatupad marami na magbubunyi ang mga kaya't ito ay usaping sakop ng mga
ng administrasyong ito sa programang magsasaka at manggagawang-bukid probisyon ng mga batas sa repormang
repormang agraryo. ng hacienda dahil pinawalang-bisa ng agraryo.
Korte ang kinekwestyong Stock
Ang kasong nakasampa sa Korte Distribution Plan (SDP) ng HLI. Kaya Bahagyang kinatigan ng Korte ang
Suprema ay bunsod ng resolusyon ng nagtataka ang marami kung bakit lubos batayan ng desisyon ng Presidential
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council ang pagkadismaya nila at ang nagbunyi Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) na
(PARC) noong 2005 na pinapawalang- ay ang management ng hacienda. ipawalang-bisa ang SDO ng hacienda.
bisa ang SDO ng Hacienda Luisita Inc. Tunay ngang nakakalito ang desisyong Sinabi ng Korte Suprema na mali ang
(HLI) at nag-utos sa DAR na ipamahagi ito dahil sa katunayan ito ay ginawang proseso ng HLI sa
na ang lupa ng hacienda sa mga nagpapanggap na panalo ng mga pamamahagi nito ng shares of stocks sa
benepisyaryo. Kinuwestyong ng HLI and magsasaka ng hacienda subalit ito ay mga magsasaka at manggagawang-
resolusyong ito ng PARC sa Korte totoong panalo ng hacienda at ng mga bukid. Anila, sa ginawa ng HLI na
Suprema at nakakuha sila ng temporary Cojuangco. Ang mga positibong pagtakda ng 30-taon na pautay-utay na
restraining order (TRO) na nagpahinto bahagi ng desisyon ay nilamon ng mga pamamahagi ng stocks at ang pagtakda
sa DAR na ipatupad ang desisyon ng bahaging nagbibigay ng malalaking ng shares batay sa man-days (na
PARC. Nagkaroon lamang ng pagkilos banta at ligal na implikasyon sa katumbas ng bilang ng mga araw sa
sa kasong ito nitong nakaraang taon pagpapatupad ng repormang agraryo pagtratrabaho ng isang manggagawa sa
kung saan nagsagawa ang Korte hindi lamang sa Hacienda Luisita at iba hacienda), lumabnaw ang halaga ng
Suprema ng oral arguments sa kaso. pang mga katulad nitong isinailalim sa shares of stock ng mga magsasaka at
Nagsubok pa ang Korte Suprema na SDO kundi pati na rin sa kabuuang manggagawang-bukid. Sinabi rin ng
magkaroon ng negosasyon sa mga pagpapatupad ng programa. Korte Suprema na lumabag din sa SDO
partido sa kaso subalit walang inabot na ang HLI nung hindi nito lubusang
kasunduan ang prosesong ito.
Desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa Hacienda Luisita,
naipatupad ang pamamahagi ng mga
homelots sa mga magsasaka.
Sa kabilang banda, hindi sinang-
ayunan ng Korte ang tatlo pang
batayan ng PARC sa kanilang
pagsasawalang-bisa sa SDO ng HLI.
Ayon sa Korte hindi ligal na obligasyon
ng HLI ang paunlarin ang kabuhayan
ng mga magsasaka at
manggagawang-bukid. Sapat na raw
na nabigyan sila ng HLI ng posibilidad
na umangat ang kanilang kabuhayan.
Dinagdag pa ng desisyon ng Korte na
hindi obligasyon ng HLI na panatilihing
buo ang mga lupang agrikultural na
sakop ng SDO kaya't sinususugan nito
ang conversion ng mahigit 500
ektaryang lupang agrikultural sa loob
ng hacienda. Sinabi pa ng korte na hindi
ito labag sa SDP.
Dinagdag pa ng Korte na hindi nilabag
ng HLI ang SDP noong hindi nito
naipamahagi ang mga shares of stocks
na ayon sa batas.
7

9. Sabi ng Korte ang dalawang taong dapat patungo sa adhikaing ito. Hindi Pang-apat, naninindigan tayo na
nakasaad sa batas ay tumutukoy dapat iniiwan ang kapakanan ng mga walang kahit anuman ligal na batayan
lamang sa proseso ng aplikasyon para magsasaka para sa panig ng isang ang inutos ng Korte Suprema na
sa SDO at hindi yung aktwal na palubog na korporasyon at kapag hindi referendum. Hindi ito nakasaad sa kahit
pamamahagi nito. nito kayang gampanan ang pagpapa- anumang batas pang-agraryo.
angat ng kabuhayan ng mga Pinawalan ng bisa ang SDP dahil
Bagamang dineklara ng Korte na benepisyaryo ng reporma naniniwala naagrabyado ang magsasaka, bakit pa
“unconstitutional” ang SDP sa Hda. tayong dapat ipamahagi na ang lupa sa hinahayaan ng Korte Suprema na
Lusita, ginamit ng Korte Suprema ang kanila. ipagpatuloy ang SDP?
prinsipyo ng “operative fact” para
mabigyan ng ligal na batayan ang Pangalawa, naniniwala tayo na hindi Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga pangunahing
pagpapatuloy nito. Ayon sa prinsipyo ng dapat kinatigan ng Korte Suprema ang punto ng ating mga argumento laban sa
“operative fact” kapag ang isang batas konbersyon ng mga lupang agrikultural desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Kasama
ay dineklarang “unconstitutional” ang sa loob ng hacienda. Kung papayagan ng FARM-Luista at mga kasama nating
mga epekto ng batas na ito bago natin na maconvert at maibenta ang mga abugado sa repormang agraryo,
pinawalang-bisa ay dapat irespeto. Ito mga lupa, malaki ang posibilidad na tayo ay nagsampa ng Motion for
ang ginamit nilang pundasyon para sa hindi lamang malulusaw ang Reconsideration sa desisyon ng Korte.
posibleng pagpapatuloy ng SDP sa pagmamay-ari ng mga magsasaka
pamamagitan ng isang referendum sa kundi mawalan pa sila ng kabuhayan. Patuloy tayong maninindigan at
mga origihinal na mang benepisyaryo Ang puso ng repormang agraryo ay ang magtutulak na ipamahagi na ang mga
sa loob ng hacienda. pagmamay-ari ng mga magsasaka ng lupain ng Hacienda Luisita sa mga
lupa. kwalipikadong benepisyrayo nito.
Ang mga deklarasyong ito ng Korte Patuloy nating ipagtatanggol ang
Suprema ay hindi naaayon sa Pangatlo, naniniwala din tayo na kapag kagalingan at kapakanan ng mga
paninindigan ng Akbayan at ng pinawalang bisa ang SDP, napawalan magsasaka sa Hda. Luisita, sa iba pang
maraming mga civil society na rin ng bisa ang SDO dahil hindi mga hacienda at sa buong bansa.
organizations. naman magkaiba ang dalawang ito. Kapag Akbayan ang lumaban, panalo
Naniniwala tayo na ang prinsipyo ng ang mamamayan.
Una, hindi tayo sang-ayon na walang “operative fact” ay magagamit lamang end
obligasyon ang HLI na paunlarin ang kung may naiwang legal vacuum ang
buhay ng mga benepisyaryo. Ang batas pagsasawalang-bisa ng isang batas.
ng repormang agraryo ay isang social Sa kaso ng Hda. Luisita walang
legislation na ang pakay ay paunlarin ganitong puwang dahil ayon sa Sec. 31
ang buhay ng mga mahihirap. Kaya't ng CARP, kapag hindi natapos ang
dapat lang na ang lahat ng hantungan pamamahagi ng stocks dapat direktang
ng mga programa sa ilalim ng CARP ay ipapamahagi ang lupa.
Photo (left): the supreme
court of the Philippines
(right): Chief Justice
Renato Corona
Photo (left): farmers of
the Hacienda
(right): Court hearing
the case of Hacienda
Luisita
above photos are property of
inquirer.net, UCAnews and lng12blog respectively
8

10. Political officers and political organizers conference - brainstorming and status report.
Committees and Units report Roll call of the members of the National Council NC members
Kiko Isaac presenting Crazy as Pinoy performing
Terms of Engagement for the Solidarity Night
Political Report from
Akbayan acting President Machris Cabreros
National
Council
Meeting
Rep. Walden Bello presenting the Economic Platform of the Party
Aug. 2011
9

11. Pamumunong Tatak-Akbayan
by Edwin Chavez
Magandang araw mga kasama! Sa unang labas ng Aktibo, minabuti kong paksain ang
PAMUMUNO. Naniniwala akong ang lakas at tagumpay ng partido ay nakasandig sa uri
ng pamumuno na mayroon ito. Ang pamumuno ng partido ay hindi lamang yaong nasa
pambansang antas, kundi katumbas na mahalaga ang pamumuno sa lokal na antas.
Mahalaga sa partido ang pagpapaunlad ng mga lider. Kaya nga't naglunsad tayo ngayon
ng programang kung tawagin ay ALAMAT o Akbayan Leadership and Party Management
Training upang sanayin ang mga pangunahing lider mula sa mga dibisyon at seksyon ng
partido, gayundin ang mga sektoral na lider.
Kahulugan at Kahalagahan ng Pinagmumulan rin ng impluwensya ang Makikita rito ang mga batayang
Pamumuno salapi, materyal na bagay, armas, katangian at pagpapahalagang tunay
posisyon o estado sa buhay. Para sa na makabuluhan noon hanggang sa
Ayon sa mga iba't-ibang babasahin, ang atin, hindi ito ang mga tunay na ngayon. Ang Kartilya ang gabay sa
pamumuno ay IMPLUWENSYA. Ito ang pinagmumulan ng impluwensya. Sa pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay ng
kakayahan ng isang tao o grupo na kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, maraming mga kasapi at lider ng Katipunan.
impluwensyahan ang iba upang kumilos naging lider na naluklok at sinusunod ng Walang sapat na armas at yamang
tungo sa pagkamit ng layunin. Ang mga tao dahil lamang sa kanilang materyal ang Katipunan katumbas ng
sinumang pangunahing nakakapag- posisyon, o dahil sa suporta ng padrong mga Kastila, subalit may mga lider at
impluwensya sa grupo o mga tao ang pulitiko. Ginagamit rin nila ang kasaping may ningas at rubdob para
siyang maituturing na lider. kapangyarihan ng pera, pabor, sa pagbabago at kalayaan.
posisyon, o armas para mapalawig ang
Ang pamumuno ay isang proseso kung pagsunod ng mga tao sa kanila. Lider sa Lider
saan ang isang tao ay
nakakaimpluwensya sa iba upang abutin Tinutuligsa ng mga lider ng partido ang Ang laban para sa pagbabago ay
ang isang layunin at nagbibigay ganitong kalakaran. Upang maihahantulad din sa labanan ng mga
direksyon sa isang samahan o grupo maisakatuparan ang demokratikong lider. Kung tayo na naghahangad ng
upang mas maging matibay at higit na adhikain, pangunahing pinagmumulan pagbabago ay may mga lider, sila na
nagkakaisa. ng impluwensya ng lider ang kanyang nais manatili ang kasalukuyang
kakayanan at kaalaman. Gayunpaman, sistema ay nagpapaunlad rin ng
Bilang lider ng partido, mahalagang mahalaga ring sandigan ng pamumuno kanilang mga lider. May tagisan sa
mapalakas natin ang ating kakahayang ang ugali at pagpapahalagang pagitan ng mga lider para sa
impluwensyahan ang ating mga kasapi, pinaunlad at patuloy na pinauunlad ng pagbabago at mga lider para sa
mga ka-alyado, at ang mamamayang isang lider bilang isang aktibong kasalukuyang sistema. Sa dulo, sino
ating inoorganisa at pinapakilos. kasama at kasapi ng partido. ang mananalo? Huwag nating
hayaang ang mga lider ng reaksyon at
Ang tagumpay o kabiguan ng isang Kung babalikan lamang natin ang mga pwersa ng pang-aapi ang
pangarap o layunin, o kahit na anong karanasan ng Katipunan ng huling ika- manalo. Tayo ang kailangang
plano o gawain, ay nakabatay sa pinuno 19 na dantaon, mahalaga ang naging magwagi.
at pamumuno. Makikita ito sa iba't-ibang papel ng Kartilya ng kilusang
halimbawa at larangan—sa pamilya, rebolusyonaryo sa pagpapanday ng Ito ang malaking hamon sa mga lider
mga panlipunang institusyon, wastong pagpapahalaga sa pamumuno ng partido. May malalaking laban
palakasan, mga samahan, estado, at at pagsapi sa kilusan. tayong hinaharap ngayon at
kahit saan pa man. haharapin sa mga darating na taon.
end
Maraming mga organisasyon ang
bumagsak at nasira dahil sa masamang Narito ang anim sa 13 puntong nakasaad sa Kartilya:
uri ng pamumuno. Marami ring mga
bansa ang patuloy na nasasadlak sa Ÿ Ang buhay na hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na
kahirapan at nananatiling atrasado dahil kadahilanan ay puno na walang lilim, kundi man damong
sa mga lider na naluklok. Sa kabilang
banda, marami ring mga organisasyon,
makamandag.
gobyerno at iba pang institusyon ang Ÿ Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa paghahambog o
naging matagumpay dahil sa kanilang paghahangad na makasarili at hindi talagang nasang
mga naging pinuno. gumawa ng kagalingan, ay 'di kabaitan.
Ÿ Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang-gawa, ang
Mga Pinanggagalingan ng
Impluwensya
pag-ibig sa kapwa, at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa't
pangungusap sa talagang katuwiran.
Kung ang pamumuno ay impluwensya, Ÿ Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y
ano ang mga pangunahing magkakapantay; mangyaring ang isa'y higitan sa dunong, sa
pinanggagalingan nito? Bilang isang yaman, sa ganda; ngunit 'di mahihigitan sa pagkatao.
demokratiko at mapagkalingang partido,
kinikilala natin na ang impluwensya ay
Ÿ Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang dangal o puri
pangunahing nagmumula sa ating kaysa sa paghahangad na makasarili; ang may hamak na
kaalaman, kamalayan, kasanayan, mga kalooban, inuuna ang paghahangad na makasarili kaysa
asal at pagpapahalaga. puri.
Ÿ Ipagtanggol ang inaapi; labanan ang umaapi.
10

12. Nards Dapitan
11

13. ROU
RUG GH &
GED
ROA
D
tow
CH ard
AN
GE
Akbayan Party’s Statement on the especially because of the legacy of Anti-corruption and political reforms
First Year of the Aquino Government corrupt and ineffective governance that
was put into practice by the previous
The country just marked the first year of government, which like a stubborn Together with the Filipino people,
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s stain, is hard to wash off. Arroyo’s Akbayan celebrates it victory in
administration, a government put into henchmen are now busy subverting our removing an inept ombudsman, who
power by the Filipino’s hope for a better aspirations for reforms by making the chose to serve the interests of the
future, an administration that the people journey toward change more difficult corrupt over that of the people. Her
hoped would be radically different from and the straight path crooked. removal cleared the way for the people
the despotic nine-year reign of Gloria “The people must not be seduced to call erring public officials to account,
Macapagal Arroyo. leaving Ms. Arroyo, her family and
by their political rancor and lies. cohorts no other choice but to face the
The people’s expectation for this new The people must not let them music.
administration to perform is naturally exploit our occasional impatience
high, since the previous government and distract us from the straight We also express joy in the advances we
systematically stripped us of our political, path toward change. We must not made in prosecuting the corrupt. Justice
civil, and economic rights, that horrid Secretary Leila De Lima’s swift, yet
experience taught us to value let Gloria Macapagal Arroyo win in judicious, handling of the plunder
democratic entitlements all the more. It the end.” charge against Ms. Arroyo and the
also reminded us how to hope, leading criminal case we filed against the
us to recover our collective desire for First Year: Planting the Seeds of Sandiganbayan Justices who approved
change. Change, Winning Important Battles the lopsided Garcia plea bargain deal is
laudable. The same goes for the Bureau
Stains of the Past: Arroyo’s Decade of Truth is, not all is unwell. A year has of Internal Revenue’s courageous
Corrupt and Ineffective Governance passed and the Aquino government has pursuit of big-time tax evaders including
a l re a d y p l a n te d th e s e e d s o f Mikey Arroyo.
For this reason, it is not surprising that meaningful change, won important
the Filipino people welcome the Aquino battles in order to reverse Arroyo’s Furthermore, we commend the Aquino
government’s first year with feelings of brand of corrupt and as such, Akbayan government for heeding the Filipino
disappointment and anxiety coupled with joins the administration in celebrating people in its decision not to give the late
a more cautious hope, sentiments the the significant gains we made in dictator Ferdinand Marcos a hero’s
Aquino government must learn to cleansing the bureaucracy of erring burial. We support President Aquino’s
embrace and keep near its heart. The public officials who were glaring decision on the matter, which is firmly
people are disappointed because they symbols of corruption and obstacles in based on the truth and consistent with
believe that this government is different the dispensation of justice. the just struggle of the people against
from the previous one and capable of tyranny and oppression.
effecting needed change. However, the crooked governance, and begun
public is still hopeful albeit now in a more reclaiming our lost political and We also celebrate the passing of the
cautious way because they know too economic gains. These are major GOCC Governance Act of 2011, which
much is already at stake for them to slide accomplishments, which Akbayan is a step in the right direction to end
back into the dark years of Arroyo past. Party, being a coalition partner of the endemic cronyism and political
government has contributed patronage in government-owned and
Truly, the change we are direly working significantly.
for does not happen overnight,
12

14. controlled corporations, something but also crucial in a period when climate
practiced capriciously by the previous change is a grim reality. It also
regime. demonstrated that the hue of the
Aquino government’s politics is not only
Likewise, we recognize President yellow but could also be green.
Aquino’s firm support for the passage of
the Reproductive Health bill, an Social Contract to Broaden and Deepen
important legislative measure, which Reforms
Akbayan is resolutely pushing for its
passage. Despite the strong opposition Definitely, we have planted the seeds of
of the Catholic church hierarchy and its change, and have emerged victorious in
threat to withdraw support from his important battles against corruption.
administration, Aquino’s decision to However, the seeds need proper
advance women’s rights and Filipino nurturing and the war against corruption
families’ just claim to have another is yet to be won. As much as we
chance in life is remarkable. celebrate our triumphs in the struggle
for reforms, more work are yet to be
The same can be said of our victory in accomplished.
synchronizing the election of the
Autonomous Region of Muslim Being a member of the coalition
Mindanao (ARMM) with that of the government serious in its reform
national in 2013. Now the region has agenda, Akbayan Party would like to
ample time to implement essential make the following recommendations to
reforms to promote peace and political the Aquino administration to sustain the
modernity and work towards the momentum of change. We believe now
elimination of warlordism and electoral is the time for President Aquino to enter
violence that was hideously exemplified into a social contract with the people to
by the Ampatuan massacre. implement broader and deeper reforms
in the political and economic fronts.
Foreign Policy Here are some proposals:
In the international scene, we welcome Prosecution of the Corrupt and
the Aquino government’s firm stand on Recovery of Ill-gotten Wealth
the Spratlys conflict. We laud its effort
using diplomatic channels in fighting for The Aquino government must not lower
our sovereignty in the West Philippine its guard against corruption. The public
Sea. However, we caution the demands no less than the prosecution
government in relying on the United of big-time corrupt public officials
States to help resolve the issue. We starting with Ms. Arroyo, her family and
believe the conflict is a regional issue the state’s deficit in transparency and
cronies. President Aquino must also
and any intervention from another accountability.
see to it that all ill-gotten wealth
superpower will only complicate matters. amassed by the previous regime is
Similarly, Congress must pursue
expropriated. The same must go for the
Addressing the immediate needs of the legislation that would drastically reform
illicit wealth accumulated by the re-
poor the party-list system and transform it
emergent yet still unrepentant Marcos
into a viable arena for proportional
family.
In the economic front, we support the representation.
government’s effort to address the Human Rights
country’s poverty problem. Its swift and Agrarian Reform and Justice
bold implementation of the conditional Concurrently, we call on President
cash transfer (CCT) program as a With only 2 years left before the
Aquino to certify as urgent the Marcos
poverty-containment measure points to Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Compensation bill that would give
its sensitivity to the needs of the poor, Program- Extension with Reforms
indemnification to all human rights
who for the longest time have been told (CARPER) expires, there remains
victims under the brutal Marcos
to wait for the promises of trickle-down around 1 million hectares of
dictatorship.
economics. undistributed agricultural lands. It is
therefore urgent for the government to
We also urge the government to step up
This poverty containment measure is ensure the swift distribution of all lands.
its drive against state and non-state
reinforced by the subsidies the state human rights violators. Particularly, the
provided to mitigate the series of Also, it is incumbent on President
Aquino administration must curb the
economic crises such as the Aquino to use his moral and political
alarming incidents of extrajudicial
skyrocketing prices of oil, which fell suasion to resolve the Hacienda Luisita
killings of journalists and political
hardest on the ordinary people. issue in the event the Supreme Court
advocates.
fails to render a just decision. The HLI
Lastly, we celebrate the issuance of issue strikes at the very heart of the
Political Modernity
Executive Order No. 23, which provides every Filipino farmer. If they cannot
for an indefinite log ban in all national and obtain justice from the court of last
We ask President Aquino to certify the
residual forests. Such executive resort or anywhere else in this country,
passage of the Freedom of Information
directive is not only timely then it is the onus of the President to put
Bill as urgent to address
right this historical injustice.
13

15. Economic Development We are alarmed by the growing Challenges beyond the first year
violations on the rights of workers such
Now that CCT is in place, it is imperative as those demonstrated in Hanjin While one year is too short to judge
to implement more strategic economic shipyard. We therefore urge President the performance of any respectable
programs to complement its tactical Aquino to certify the Security of Tenure government, it is already enough to
ones. bill pending in Congress as urgent. give a fair appraisal of its
commitment to meet the promises it
Primarily, labor-intensive infrastructure Urban Poor made to the Filipino people. From
programs must be implemented to planting the seeds of change and
generate more jobs and give the We call on the Aquino government to winning several important battles,
economy a boost. This must go hand in impose an indefinite national the Aquino government, in its first
hand with emergency employment moratorium on the demolition of all year has proven its sincerity and
provided to poor households that were informal settlements. The duration of the resolve in accomplishing the
not included in the CCT to complement moratorium must be used to develop challenging tasks of restoring the
the initial poverty-containment strategy. comprehensive state policy on mass integrity of democratic institutions,
housing, which will lead to the realization social justice and ensuring the
Strong regulation on oil prices must also of state-subsidized, onsite and in-city economic welfare of the people.
be imposed to stop the erosion of the low-cost housing programs.
people’s welfare. We need a group that The next step is to build on the initial
w o u l d d i r e c t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s We likewise call on President Aquino to gains and lead the people into a
intervention comprised of the Energy support House Bill No. 4022 mandating vision of a better future where it can
secretary, independent technical all private developers of subdivisions to reap the fruits of what they sowed.
experts, consumers and representatives allot 20% of the total subdivision area for
of the big oil companies. The mission of socialized housing. Akbayan Party, being a coalition
this team: to keep fuel prices at a partner of this government and with
reasonable, minimum price to allow the Universal Health Care the support of the Filipino people
people respite from the economic will strive to significantly contribute
hardships of today. Lastly, we must put a premium on in this endeavor by helping sustain
ensuring the universal coverage of the momentum of effecting change.
Consequently, we request President improved publicly provided health care.
Aquino to craft an energy policy relying For this, it is important to expand the The straight path may be a rough
on renewables rather than depending membership of PhilHealth towards and rugged road and could indeed
heavily on dirty technologies such as universal coverage, and ensure the be the hardest path, but that is what
coal and fossil fuel. adequate access and upgrade of health the straight path is, a road less
facilities. Accordingly, the government traveled, but a path that we must
Moreover, the country’s debt problem must step up on its capacity-building, necessarily take to realize the
must be seriously addressed. A particularly in enhancing barangay change we want.
comprehensive debt audit starting with health workers’ skills that is crucial for end
the illegitimate debts accumulated by the the implementation of public health
previous administration is a good way to programs in poorer municipalities across
begin this endeavor. the nation.
We also need to redesign the rules These are some of the daunting tasks we
governing contractual work and ensure face in the coming years.
workers’ security of tenure.
“Sa tuwid na landas,
ang dulo dapat maaliwalas!”
Akbayan Party on Pres. Aquino’s 2nd
State of the Nation Address
July 24, 2011
14

16. Pag-asa: An Unlikely Paradise
by Sabrina Gacad
It was in the early morning of July 20 At the time of the mission, Pag-asa was there are no doctors or health workers to
when we flew with the sun rising at our inhabited by only 69 people; 44 look after the health concerns of the
back. Destination: Pag-asa Island, civilians, including children, that made community. Indeed that there have been
Municipality of Kalayaan. The members up seven families, and 25 armed two live-births recently is a miracle. The
of the Peace and Sovereignty Mission to personnel. The people live a simple life. people had also asked for a multicab
the West Philippine Sea, the first-ever They live in nipa-huts fortified by that the community could use to
civilian undertaking to the island concrete slabs. Their main source of transport goods around the island,
composed of a handful of Congressional livelihood is fishing and a little bit of engine- powered grasscutter or
Representatives, local government subsistence farming. Soldiers and lawnmower to facilitate easier
officials, military personnel and press, civilians alike share the multipurpose maintenance of the airstrip and the
touched-down on the grass-strewn hall, and recreation facilities: a billiards grass, and improve recreation facilities
runway at half-past 10 in the morning. table and a basketball court. The people to ward off the boredom.
We were received by the warmth of the shared that on clear nights, some of
sun and the mild breeze from the sea. them would lay mats under the trees by
the seashore to exchange stories under Trouble in paradise
Pag-asa is a 37.2-hectare island in the the moonlight.
middle of the West Philippine Sea, a little
over 200 nautical miles from Palawan. But even in this paradise, much is left to Listening to the various stories about
Year-round the weather on the island is be desired. their simple life on the island, one almost
sunny, with the sea breeze blowing in. forgets the most crucial point of the
The island experiences occasional rains The quarterly shipments of food rations people's existence. Why are they given
when the monsoon season rolls in, but, and other basic commodities, as well as P3,000.00 every month to live on an
because it sits outside the typhoon belt, civilian reinforcements, are sometimes island in the middle of the West
never the storms that ravage other sea- disrupted by the high waves and strong Philippine Sea?
side municipalities in the country. And winds during the monsoon. Kalayaan
because the Kalayaan Island Group, like Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon told of the The Philippines first staked its claim
Palawan, is situated outside the Pacific people's experience years back, when over the Spratly Islands in the late -
Ring of Fire, the island is spared the the shipments were delayed, and 1950s, when navigator Thomas Cloma
destructive wrath of earthquakes and people had to subsist on papaya discovered them during his exploration
tsunamis. cooked in all sorts of ways due to the of the West Philippine Sea and he
unavailability of rice. Electricity is only decided to establish the Kalayaan state
The sea, we were told, teems with available for a couple of hours every composed of some 50 isla nds and rock
marine diversity. Coral reef formations day. Fresh water is likewise limited due formations that he found. It was only in
are home to different species of fish and to the lack of personnel capable of 1968, however, that the Philippine
other sea creatures. Out on the sea, one operating a water desalinization government, led by former dictator
would easily encounter dolphins and system. A cellular communication Ferdinand Marcos, sent troops to Pag-
other migratory sea animals; people satellite, their sole window to the asa Island and a handful of other big
would occasionally come across a outside world, is only powered a couple rock formations.
pawikan's nest on the shore. 10 meters of hours per day to make what a military
from the shore all around the island, the personnel described as “necessary Since then, we have engaged Vietnam,
waters of the West Philippine Sea reach communication.” As Pag-asa does not China, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan in
only below the neck of an average-height have schools, the handful of children on asserting our authority over the various
grown individual. Perfect for swimming, the island would have to return to rocks and reefs in the area. Today, the
and cultivating seaweeds and other Palawan to receive formal education. Philippines claims seven islands or
marine flora for livelihood. While the island has bare-minimum islets and three reefs.
medical facilities,
Pretty much like paradise, indeed. But why all the fuss?
15

17. It was Commission on Maritime and
Ocean Affairs Secretary General Henry All the government has to do is take
Bensurto that pointed out the development one step further: provide
significance of ownership of the Spratlys: for the welfare of the Filipinos living in
“(S)he who owns the land, owns the sea.” Pag-asa.
As stipulated in the United Nations Mayor Bito-onon has exactly that on his
Convention on the Laws of the Sea mind. Plans for creating a greenhouse
(UNCLOS) a country gets authority over to meet some of the food needs of the
the waters surrounding its land and the community are already in the pipeline.
resources found in the same waters. And He is also looking at the development of
owning the sea in the case of the Spratlys a marina in the medium-term to jump-
means having complete control over the start economic activity on the island,
passage of vessels and owning rights to and a longer-term aspiration of
exploit marine resources in the area and developing Pag-asa tourism, among
the alleged fossil fuel deposits in the sub- others. The national government must
sea terrain. support these efforts, and they must
prioritize Pag-asa's unimpeded access
This is precisely why the People's to basic services—health, education,
Republic of China has declared the water, communication, and electricity.
entire sea, almost up to the coast of
Palawan, as theirs based on ridiculously While the Philippine military could
formulated historical arguments. This is easily be overcome by the Chinese,
why the Chinese are scrambling to build effective civilian authority and Filipino
an aircraft carrier to patrol “their” seas. settlements are harder to dislodge. In
This is why they held live-fire exercises fact, an attack on Filipinos living
against the Vietnamese just in the past peacefully on an island would constitute
month. And this is why China raised its genocide. Clearly, the best way for the
“great concern” with the mission to the Philippines to cement its claims on
Department of Foreign Affairs and said Kalayaan is by propping up the
that the mission would ”undermine community. And for the longest time that
peace and stability in the region and civilians have been living on meager
sabotage China-Philippines resources on the island just to keep the
relationship.” Chinese or the other nation-states
claiming the island. At bay, the
It is both to ward off China's imperialist government owes them that much.
ambitions and maintain our authority
over currently occupied islands, islets, On that day, we spent four hours trying
and rock formations that Pag-asa Island to understand the life that people lived
and the nine other formations that the call in Pag-asa, how they deal with the news
to fortify Kalayaan Island Group of territorial disputes, how they relate to
becomes important. foreign soldiers that they come across
fishing in the seas, and how they ward
Gen. Sabban couldn't have said it better: off boredom that is a staple in daily
Pag-asa Island, being the sole island in island life. And upon leaving that
the Spratlys Archipelago that has an unlikely paradise, I am sure we had
airstrip, is a floating aircraft carrier in the each felt we needed to fulfill a greater
West Philippine Sea, and that the purpose than that which we carried that
Philippines is in possession of it is a clear morning that we came, and that was to
strategic advantage. At this point, we let the rest of the nation know Pag-asa's
need to match this strategic advantage hopes for a more peaceful tomorrow.
with adequate military facilities and end
improved naval and patrol capacities to
maintain authority .
Hope in Paradise
But nothing spells out Philippine territory
over the Kalayaan Island Group more
clearly than the development of the
Filipino civilian community in Pag-asa.
Already, the local government hierarchy
is in place—you have a barangay, a
municipality, and the corresponding
leaders. They have been holding
elections since 1992, and were delivered
a fully-functioning PCOS machine in May
2010.
16

18. Tuloy-tuloy.
Isulong ang mga progresibong batas.
by Perry Legaspi
Tatlong panukalang batas mula sa mga Ilan pang batas na isinusulong ng
inihain ng Akbayan Party sa Mababang Akbayan na umabot sa plenary ay ang
Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang kasama Security of Tenure Bill (HB 4853) at ang
sa priority bills ng administrasyon ni Marcos Victims Compensation Bill (HB
Pang. Noynoy Aquino. 00302).
Napagkaisahan sa pulong ng Naaprubahan naman ng Mababang
Legislative-Executive Development Kapulungan ang Credit Assistance for
Advisory Council (LEDAC) na isama sa OFWs (HB 5439) habang nasa iba't
mga priority bills ang Reproductive ibang antas ng pagsasabatas ang mga
Health Bill, amendments sa Balanced sumusunod: Anti-Trafficking (HB 4212),
Housing Development Act (HB 4022) at Irrigation (HB 4231), Rescue
ang Kasambahay Bill. Olympics— “Disaster Preparedness
Thru Sports” (HB 4397), Food
“Aktibong isinusulong ng Akbayan na Sovereignty (HB 4626), SILIP SALN
maisabatas ang Reproductive Health (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and
Bill, ang Balanced Housing Net Worth) (HB 2827), Overseas
Development Act, at ang Kasambahay Absentee Voting Amendments (HB
Bill sa Kongreso bilang bahagi ng 3201), Anti-Trafficking Amendments
makamamamayang agenda ng Partido. (HB 4212), Land Use Bill (wala pang
Nagpupugay kami sa Pangulo dahil bilang dahil hinihintay pa ang komento
idineklara niyang mga priority bills ang mula sa Appropriations), Asbestos Ban
mga ito,” wika ni Akbayan Rep. Walden (HB 896), Sangguniang Kabataaan
Bello at ni Rep. Kaka Bag-ao. (SK) Reform Bill, Minerals Management
Bill (HB 3763), Bio-fuels Law
Hindi kaila sa lahat na ang layunin ng amendment (HB 2809), Bibong BHW
Reproductive Health Bill ay mabigyan ng (Barangay Health Worker) (HB514),
ayuda ang mga mamamayan hinggil sa Generics-only (HB 2101), Healthy
pagpili ng mga pamamaraan ng Beverage Options Act (HB 4268), Fresh
pagpaplano ng pamilya. Tinutugunan Graduates Assistance (HB 472), Board
naman ng amendments sa Balance of Claims (HB 470), Human Rights
Housing Development Act ang Resource Center (HB 471), Rights of
kakulangan ng pabahay sa bansa sa the Accused (HB 482), Anti-
pagtatakda na 20 porsiyento sa ide- Discrimination Bill (HB 515) at Gender
develop na mga lupa para sa pabahay Quota (HB 2100).
ay italaga para sa socialized mass
housing bilang relokasyon ng mga “The wealth of our country is not buried
informal settlers. under our grounds. It is what we can
plow from our lands and drink from our
Habang isinusulat ito, rivers. It is with this vision that the
pinagdedebatehan sa Senado ang RH immediate passage of the Philippine
Bill at nasa plenary na ang nais nating Mineral Resources Act of 2011 is
susog sa Balanced Housing earnestly sought,” wika ni Bag-ao sa
Development Act. kanyang sponsorship speech ng
Minerals Management Bill.
Layunin naman ng Kasambahay Bill na
kilalanin bilang trabaho ang kanilang Naisabatas din ang panukala ng
ginagampang pagbabanat ng buto at Akbayan na isabay ang halalan sa
maprotektahan ang mga karapatan ng Autonomous Region for Muslim
domestic workers sa bansa. Kasama sa Mindanao sa 2013 elections. Ang
nais itakda ng batas na ito ang minimum Republic Act 10152 o ang ARMM
wage para sa mga kasambahay. Election Synchronization law ay
naglalayong linisin ang mga voters list
“Maraming mga pang-aabusong sa ARMM at magtakda ng mga
dinaranas ang mga kababayan nating repormang panghalalan upang
domestic workers, lalo na sa masigurong demokratiko ang
conservative countries tulad ng mga pamamaraan nito.
nasa Middle East. Paano nga ba natin end
sila mapuprotektahan kung mismong
dito sa bansa natin ay hindi sapat ang
pagpapahalaga sa karapatan ng mga
kasambahay?” punto ni Rep. Bello.
17

19. MODAkbayan
Karaniwang makikita ang mga kasama natin sa Akbayan,
na umiiikot o nakikipagmeeting sa mga Barangay na may
presensya tayo. Iba’t iba ang porma o kasootan. Ang
tanong meron ba talagang MODA, tatak Akbayan?
Sa artikulong ito, hihimay-himayin ang mga japorms na may
pagkakakilanlan sa mga taga-Akbayan.
Sa tag-init.
Shirt: Cotton na T-shirt ang madalas na gamit
upang maspresko at komportable.
Jeans:Maong na pantalon ang gamit kapag mainit lalo
na kapag may mobilisasyon. Masmadaling gumalaw,
masmadaling
tumakbo.
Sunglass:Sa iba, pamorma ang “shades”. Pero dahil
alam ng mga taga-Akbayan na mahalaga ang
proteksyon sa mata, gumagamit sila nito.
Bag:Belt bag o sling bag ang gamit nila kapag tag-init,
masmagaan pero lahat ng kailangan ay kasya.
Sa tagulan.
Shirt: Polo shirt o medyo makapal na T-shirt ang gamit
kapag tagulan.
Jeans: Maong o Cargo pants ang gamit nila sa tuwing
tagulan para hindi mabilis mabasa.
Jacket: Ang No. 1 na panlaban sa lamig at ulan ng mga
taga-Akbayan ay jacket.
Bag: Backpack. Terno sa jacket ang backpack at
masmadaming pwedeng ilagay.
Alam ninyo ba?
Walang opisyal na “porma” ang mga
taga-Akbayan. Subalit sa tuwing
May mahahalagang okasyon o
pagpupulong, sila ay nakaputi at
nakamaong?
18

20. AYAW NAMIN SA
COAL
Akbayan Party