Preface - My Pen is Still Burning

Preface

MY PEN IS STILL BURNING

I have compiled these articles a few years ago. This is a collection of my columns, selected essays and poems in English and Tagalog, which I wrote during my stay in The Featinean, the official publication of the students of FEATI University, as a staffwriter for two years, from January 1993 to May 1995, and as a features and literary editor for two years, from June 1995 until I decided to relinquish my post on March 1997. But I still contributed articles in The Featinean literary folio of Summer 1997 and Summer 1998.

My stay in The Featinean is a fruitful one and will never be forget. I started my career as a published writer when The Featinean editors have given me a chance to be part of this great publication. I have passed the writing exam given by The Featinean in January 1993, when some of its writers resigned or fired from the publication.

This book “Fire in the Pen” is a rare gem of valuable writings, and I’m proud of this. This is a record of my writings printed in the pages of The Featinean. This may be incomplete because I only started collecting my printed pieces only in 1996, and some The Featinean magazines and newspapers during our time were gone. Only those copies which I have kept at my cabinet in the publication office remains with me, which became part of this collection.

As I retyped these articles I have written more than ten years ago, I sense that I should improve my writings, most especially my grammar in English, and the structuring of paragraphs. I edited here only grammars and typographical errors printed in the original, and deleted some unnecessary data. But I preserved to its original form some of the thoughts I wrote then, but I didn’t agree now, so I can assess myself in the future and the development of what I believe in. And what’s printed then is now history.

Anyway, I did not included in this book the news and other researches I have written and was published in The Featinean because I thought this is not necessary and should be left in the pages of The Featinean. I only published in this collection my selected essays, columns and poems, which I believe can stand the test of time.

To our publication advisers, to my co-editors and co-writers, wherever you are, thanks for everything. You will always be in my heart and writings. I hope someday we’ll meet again and maybe to reminisce our memories of yesteryears. Let us keep our pen burning, for a nation with social progress based on social justice.

I maybe gone from The Featinean, but I’m proud I started there. I continue to write articles, essays and poems, in English and Tagalog, in other publications. I still continue what I have started in The Featinean, which is writing from the heart for the present and future of our beloved nation, the working class, and for social justice. I believe that the future belongs to those who are brave enough to pass the path of social justice, where there will be no inequality, no injustices, no harassment, no intimidation, no corruption, but peace and justice reigns in this nation and in the whole world.

In this, I heartfully dedicated this collection to my parents (who both graduated in FEATI University), my family, my relatives, to our future writers, to our fellowmen, and yes, to you.

My pen still burns and will continue burning! Mabuhay ang ating The Featinean!!!

GREGORIO V. BITUIN JR.

Features and Literary Editor, The Featinean, 1995-1997

Staffwriter, The Featinean, 1993-1995

FEATI University

Sta. Cruz, Manila

LTTE - Price of Upholding Truth

PRICE OF UPHOLDING TRUTH
Published at the Letter to the Editor section
Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 10, 1997, Tuesday, page 10

THE DEATH of People's Tonight newsman Danny Hernandez was a big blow not only to freedom of the press but also to social justice. Is this the price of exposing and upholding the truth?

According to the Philippine Movement for Press Freedom (PMPF), he was the 49th journalist to be killed in the line of duty since the Edsa Revolution. The death of so many journalists, as well as the physical injuries, assault, intimidation and other types of harassment suffered by others in the profession, should not discourage us. We write not for our own sake, but for the sake of truth and honest reporting. We hope that the people understand this.

In behalf of The Featinean, the official publication of the students of FEATI University, we express our condolences to the family of our fallen comrade in the profession. Danny Hernandez helped save the youth from illegal drugs as he fought a lonely crusade against drug syndicates.

Ka Danny, we are proud of you. Your campaign against illegal drugs, corruption in government, and other evil deeds will not be in vain. You awaken in us our duty to the people, to humanity and to the world. We have learned that our duty should not be confined to the campus and our personal interests, but should be for the betterment of the world. Progress is nothing without social justice.

Your fight against social injustices will not vanish but will remain as inspiration to us in our struggle for truth and justice. we did not know you personally, but we know you through your writings. We vow to continue your fight.

This is our commitment, not only to you but for all our comrades in profession who died in the line of duty.

We hope that the murder of Hernandez as well as Press Freedom editor Ferdinand Reyes, ABS-CBN's Bert Berbon and other journalists will be given enough attention by the government. We urge the government to create a body that will investigate killings of journalists.

We call on the Filipino youth, Sangguniang Kabataan members, campus journalists and student leaders to unite against all evils that may destroy our community. We ask parents and teachers to always guide their children so that they will not become victims of drug pushers and other types of injustices.

We encourage our fellow campus journalists to always be ready to fight for truth and social justice. The truth sometimes hurt but as the saying goes, "The truth shall set us free."

- GREG BITUIN JR., The Featinean, Feati University, Sta. Cruz, Manila

LINKS: The Next World War

THE NEXT WORLD WAR
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication, March 1997, pages 42-43

I am not against social progress. Any progress the government and the people to whom they serve is a very ideal one. No one can deny that fact. Oh, is it really a fact? But I am against social progress with social justice. Any progress that the government and the basic masses need should be based on social justice. I know that no one can deny that fact.

Why do we need social progress with social justice? All of us want to live in a better society, where there is peace. Peace doesn't mean fear, chaos, inferiority and other negative connotations. Peace means equality, social order, internationalism and better life for all. We need social progress to live a good life. We need social justice because we want equality for all.

The declaration of the Catholic Church of becoming the "Church of the Poor" during the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) held last 1991 is really a great leap forward in serving the poorest of the poor in our society. Its relative importance to the workers, rural and urban poor communities is a great help in understanding the plight of those who are in need. Most of the bishops and priests who attended PCP II were very much vocal about the issue of social justice. For most of them, social progress should be based on social justice.

According to the PCP II document, pages 100-101 of the subtitle The Social Doctrine of the Church, "If development causes the widening of the morally scandalous gap between the rich and the poor of our society, development is simply inauthentic and misdirected. This is why we cannot help but mention the negligence and even exploitation, made to the poorest of the poor..." It further added, "Each person has to be respected as equal member of the human family, can participate actively towards the common good in solidarity with others. A situation such as the concentration of the economic wealth and political power in the hands of the few is an affront to human dignity and solidarity. It runs counter to the truth that all human beings and not just few are 'the source, the center' and the purpose of all socio-economic life. Human dignity and solidarity are fundamental values from which our development as a people must proceed." According to Pope John Paul II in his Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, "One must denounce the
mechanisms of unlimited free trade which are maneuvered by the more developed countries to their own interests, but which suffocate the economies of the less developed countries."

One of the most urgent calls of our time is to fight all evils that will destroy us. One such thing is the so-called development that some of our "powerful" leaders want us to accept. They said we need development to raise the standard of living of the people. I agree. Perhaps, that's why they are thinking of globalizing the economy. But social progress must be based on social justice. Under globalization, development means the freedom of the international capital to exploit the labor and resources of poor countries like the Philippines. Globalization means borderless economy.

Let's emphasize it more clearly. Philippine development plans for some decades ago were based on plans laid down by foreign creditors represented by multilateral institutions. For them, development can only be possible if the poor countries will be integrated into a global economy. They did not emphasize that this development will be at the expense of the poor. It will also degrade our natural resources. This is perhaps because these industrialized countries think that they are colonial powers, that's why they want to exploit the weak. They become rich by exploiting their colonies or former colonies by extracting cheap raw materials from them, then selling it as expensive products. After the Second World War, these colonizers have run out of territories that they can plunder. Wealth continued to flow from their ex-colonies under the present concept of development based on free trade. Through import liberalization, the products of industrialized countries can easily penetrate weaker economies at the expense of
these poor countries that usually cannot compete with the industrialized ones. Global corporations from Europe and Japan can set up corporations and factories anywhere in the world because of cheap labor and law taxes.

In other words, globalization means recolonization by industrialized countries with weaker economies. One example of these is the APEC which many world leaders think will save the world from ruin. On the contrary, APEC will only destroy most of us because it is concerned only with solving the crisis of the world capital. In the sense, the crisis of capitalism has just come to the fore. That's why they invent APEC. They did not have concrete plans in solving the plight of the poor, most especially workers which became slave of the capital. The question is: Who is directly affected by this borderless economy? The workers themselves!

Globalization is a renewed capitalist expansion. This transpires as rigid international competition. We know how fierce and cruel capitalism is when it is in delirium of expansion and competition. The darkest evidence of this is the two World Wars. We cannot compare these wars to other wars in history because it killed lives of millions of people. If World Wars I and II were wars between imperialist countries, the present globalization is a war of the world of capital against the world of labor. Globalization greatly affects the working class. It is attempting to destroy the trade union movement in the world. Take the case of German company Telefunken Electronics (Temic) which laid off about 1,600 Filipino workers. From September 1995, the DOLE issued at least five orders to let the workers go back to work. The Temic management refused. Yes, the DOLE cannot implement its own orders!

Globalization, in essence, is a world war between the world of the capitalist and the world of labor. It is a competition to cheapen and lower the value of labor force by extensive and extreme extracting of profit from the working class. This is why casualization, subcontracting, downsizing and other forms of workers' oppression exist. All of these have one objective in mind: Press labor power to its cheapest value. To dominate the competition, the capitalist must lessen his cost of production. Rival capitalists feud on who can crate the same product with lesser expenses. The capitalists have no interest in the solution of the workers' fate. They have no interest because they want it to remain unsolved.

They say that technology gives the forefront between capitalists. They say globalization is a competition of technology, but it covers up its real motive - the competition on how to cheapen the value of labor. Capitalism develops technology not for public service, but for competition that is profit-hungry. Capitalism develops technology to make the labor force more productive in a cheaper price. So cheap that almost caused their lives.

It is also ironic to note that the government spends P1.5M for toilet alone for use in APEC, grand villas for visiting heads of states, APEC lane, to mention just a few. The government has done it rush, just for the sake of 17 heads of states who visited our country in just a few hours, while they cannot do it for millions of poor Filipinos. Also take note of this brutal fact: The combined assets and property of three hundred fifty eight (358) billionaires in the world is equal to the combined yearly income of countries representing 45% of the world's population!

They say that we are in a democratic country, but democracy for whom? They said we are heading for development, but development for whom? They said we should compete our products with others, but do we have the capability to compete without making much suffering for the workers, as well as not degrading our natural resources? In the spirit of world competition, many will suffer. That's reality. That's APEC. What we need is world cooperation, not competition. What we need is development based on social justice.

Oh! How I wish I could still continue serving the studentry as a campus journalist. My stay in the Featinean as a staffwriter, then an editor, is fruitful enough. It contributed much to sharpen my writing skills. In sudden deliberation of my conscience, I decided that I have to say goodbye. I believe that my continued stay in the Featinean will become fruitless. My farewell is not a loss, but a gain. For me, for you, for all of us. My gradual rise as a Featinean editor has to meet its sudden end like a meteor. I'm tired. I have to go somewhere. To the place where I can valuably contribute my talent, skills and my whole life. I know I will pass a narrow line between life and death. Offering my life for social progress with social justice is a great and a valuable decision. A social injustice, the globalization, ruined our race, made our morals rotten, and causes the widening split among our people. I believe that the worldwide capitalist system is the root cause of all our misery. Its' time to face the greater challenge outside the four walls of the academe. From now on, our struggle is our life. Someday, we will be victorious. It's time to say goodbye. A sour way to exit, but a very sweet farewell. See you some other place, some other time.

LINKS: Brutal Facts

BRUTAL FACTS
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication
July-October 1996, pages 28-29

In his article, "Journalism versus Literature," multi-awarded writer Nick Joaquin wrote, "We do not want mere fancies. We want facts as brutal as possible." And that's what most journalists are made of. They want to inform. To make interpretative news stories. To search for and uphold the truth. Being an investigative journalist is a tough job, as there have been many issues or subjects we have to research, investigate and expose. That's our sole responsibility to our readers, even if it will cost our life. Here are some of the expose:

A Tale of Fallacy? The Ramos government pronounced in his July 22 State of the Nation Address (SONA): 7.69% growth in the second quarter of 1996, creation of 1.2 million new jobs annually and reduced poverty incidence from 39.9% in 1991 to 35.7% in 1994. Let's see these brutal facts: almost 16,000 families will be displaced in relation to the APEC meeting in November; almost 3.5 million individuals live in slum areas in Metro Manila alone; the cost of living in MM is P359 a day; a gasoline increased 50 centavos per liter. In 1994, there were 36,000 prostitutes. In 1996, the Philippines has about 5 million working children between 5 to 17 years old, including 1.5 million street children, thousands of whom were engaged in sex trade. Based on Metro Manila Housing Plan for 1995-1998, there are 482,275 families in priority areas targeted for demolitions.

Sometimes, sword is mightier than pen. In their newspaper, Press Freedom Advocates, the Philippine Movement for Press Freedom (PMPF) reported the number of journalists killed: 79. These were distributed as follows: Marcos regime - 32; Aquino administration - 34; Ramos time - 13. In 1985 alone, 16 journalists were killed, half of the total listed during Marcos time. Take note of this brutal fact: they were killed and did not die of natural causes. Exposing the truth against bad elements of society rally has a price.

Our First President. The Katipunan's transformation into a democratic national government signaled "the birth of the nation", and the start of the revolution. According to UP history professor, Milagros Guerrero, scientist Emmanuel Encarnacion and writer Ramon Villegas, with the support of Kamalaysayan (Campaign for the Sense of History), Andres Bonifacio was our first president, from August 24, 1896 to May 10, 1897. On August 24, 1896, Bonifacio convened the KKK at Tandang Sora's barn in Banlat, then part of Kalookan. They arrived at a decision to establish a national government which they called "Republika ng Katagalugan". Katagalugan means all the people in this island whether Ilokano, Visayan, Bicolano, etc. were also considered Tagalogs. There was no concept of regionalism. In the late 1980s, three letters and one appointment letter dated from March 8 to April 24, 1897 were found to prove that Bonifacio was the first president of the national government. Historians said that the government headed by Bonifacio was democratic in nature and national in scope, contrary to some post war historians' contention that Bonifacio attempted to establish a government separate from Aguinaldo only after the Tejeros Convention. Aguinaldo lived until 1964, sixty seven (67) years after he ordered the brutal killing of Bonifacio in 1897.

Victory Unclaimed. Many people in Pasig celebrate "Nagsabado", the first victory of Bonifacio-led Katipunan which was never written in the pages of history. Pasig historian Carlos Tech wrote on his account dated October 8, 1956 that he had interviewed Gen. Valentin Cruz, one of the Katipunan generals who was present with Bonifacio in Hagdang Bato in Mandaluyong on August 29, 1896, Saturday. That day, Gen. Cruz led his men, about two thousand Pasigueños, in an attack at the guardia civil headquarters of the biggest garrison outside Manila. They managed to overrun the Spanish defenses and had confiscated three Remingtons and seventeen "de piston" rifles. Their triumph was cherished by Pasigueños as first victory of the Katipunan. It was celebrated in Pasig as the victory of the "Battle of Nagsabado" as it happened on a Saturday. Let's give them what they deserve, a page in our history.

Fake Marxists. Written in the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, "Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chain!" Russia's Josef Stalin and China's Mao Tse Tung were not Marxists, but bloodsucker dictators. They didn't care for the workers, but only themselves. They were responsible for the death of millions of workers and peasants in many parts of the globe. For the Maoist cult, revolution comes from the barrel of the gun. For Marxists, revolutionary change comes from the power of the workers. No wonder, they reject Stalin and Mao. These are based in reality.

Labor Power? In 1993, DOLE inspected 38,220 commercial establishments out of more than 300,000 to be inspected. Out of 38,220, almost 20,250 or 52.8% violated the prescribed labor standards under the Labor Code. For 1996 alone, there were 2,744 companies that didn't give 13th month pay to their workers; 1,791 didn't give holiday pay; 1,591 didn't integrate the cost of labor allowance (COLA); and 2,138 companies didn't pay the SSS. This year, labor force stood at 29.92 million.

Massacre Without Corpse. This year, we were welcomed by series of demolitions, such as the Freedom Island in Parañaque, Damayan Lagi in Quezon City and the Muslim Community in Quiapo. This is perhaps a part of the government campaign to get rid of the so-called eyesores in the metropolis in conjunction with the forthcoming APEC meeting in November. What transpired in the urban poor community in Del Pan Bridge was really a "massacre without corpse". Demolition teams destroyed their houses and burned all of their things. Including those which have sentimental values for them.

C is not for Cooperation. The C in APEC which stands for cooperation is not really cooperation in the real sense of the world. The C in APEC stands for... Do you want to guess? Yes, you're right! The C in APEC stands for "conspiracy of industrially advance countries". Therefore, there's no cooperation, but Competition. How can you say that there is cooperation when in fact you compete your product with those of the more advanced countries, economically and technologically wise? We have no capacity to compete with others without fast destroying our natural resources which seem degrading. Environmental degradation results from competition. Because capitalists crave for profits, they don't care for the environment. Remember what happened in Ormoc, Chernobyl and Marcopper? These are brutal facts! It is really true that the law of profit doesn't care for the laws of nature. APEC is a capitalist invention. Under capitalism, as the cost of living goes up, the cost of life goes down. It reduces life's purposes in the individual act of consumption.

Death Wish. Those who fear death don't care for life because they only care for themselves. What is the value of life if we reached the age of seventy or eighty and we have done nothing except to work and live for ourselves alone? It's better to die even before the age of thirty as long as you live your life to the fullest. Death is inevitable, and if our time is up, we must gladly go. Just do what you think is right and be happy of what you are doing. Then you live your life to the fullest not only for your own sake, but also for the sake of our fellow human beings and the environment we live in. You know, I don't care if I die tomorrow, because I know that if death will come to me, I can face it squarely and fairly. It's because I live my life to the fullest. I wish that if I would die, my corpse would not be buried inside the casket but honorably laid in the soil so that in the cycle of life, I can still contribute. My dead body can help make new life, make plants grow, so that others may continue to live. Anyway, how I love to feel death at the age of seventy! Lastly, take good care of your family always as well as your health. See you next issue. I'll be back.

LINKS: The Fourth Estate

THE FOURTH ESTATE
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication, June 1996, pages 46-47

Of Love and Shadows. This movie starring Jennifer Connelly and Antonio Banderas remarkably shows that the pen is mightier than the sword. Based on a true story, it depicts the courage and vigilance of a journalist and a photographer who took the risk of exposing the truth behind the atrocities committed by the fascist regime against the people of Chile. Investigative journalism in action, it really touched the journalist instinct in me. This movie is truly inspiring.

In my almost three years in The Featinean, I now realize that journalism will become a part of my life. As the noblest profession I know, I enjoy every millimeter of it. Becoming a member of the fourth estate is not an easy job and may discourage the new ones as it needs a lot of balls, patience, sacrifices, courage, perseverance, ability, and split-second accuracy in reporting. Anyway, the term "fourth estate" was coined by English essayist Baron Thomas Macaulay in his essay "Constitutional History" in 1828 which refers to the members of the press. Accordingly, the other three were the kings, lords and commons in the 17th century.

By the way, aren't you afraid of history? Our actions may be recorded not only in the minds of those who know us but also be written in the pages of history. Someday, history will judge us! In other words, if we die, our good name and honor depend on what we do today. Honestly speaking, much of history is unknown, locked away in the dark. That's why our job as journalists is very, very crucial - to record the events of our time. Like solving chess or jigsaw puzzles, we can work in the shadows like some investigative journalists in search for truth. That's why journalists must possess the quality of an investigator, political analyst, accountant, psychologist, chessplayer, lawyer, actor, professor, historian, criminologist, sociologist, etc. As journalists, upholding the truth is not just our job. It is a responsibility which is parallel to our dignity. Yes, in our hands lies the history of today!

Being a journalist means daring to take risks. Why? Many people realize how powerful the press is and they fear it. Some resort to violence if their illegal activities or privacy have been criticized and published. Dangerous as it is, many journalists risked their own lives to expose the truth. Accuracy of the facts must be established in an expose', else those involved might retaliate and journalists can't defend themselves. Anyway, in this job, if you don't dare to take risks, you'll never get ahead. You don't just write what you like, but what the readers deserve to read because a newspaper or a magazine is not a diary. People want to know the truth and be informed on time.

Journalism really is a dangerous job as there were journalists who were killed or murdered while others became victims of physical assault in performing their duties. For the record, some of them are the following: Associated Press photojournalist Willy Vicoy, while riding with a military convoy, was killed in an NPA-conducted ambush in Cagayan province in 1986. Visayan Life Today journalist Josef A. Nava, known for his exposes on military's corruption and human rights abuses, was killed on Oct. 30, 1988 in Iloilo City. Reporter Jess Malabanan of Lider tabloid was tortured physically and psychologically. Elements of the PC Metrodiscom pierced his genitals with pliers sometime in 1990 in Olongapo. Former tabloid Balitang Bayan reporter Vilma Manzo, abducted by PAF intelligence agents on June 5, 1990, was sexually molested, tortured, starved and forced to sign certain self-incriminating documents within the main airbase of the Philippine Air Force. This year, Inquirer's Caloy Sanchez was mauled by responding policemen while performing his duty as photojournalist after a bank robbery. He was also shot in the chest allegedly by a WPD cop on Aug. 29, 1991 when he was still working with Dyaryo Filipino. Press Freedom editor 33-years old Ferdinand Reyes of Dipolog City was shot dead last Feb. 12. This daytime killing triggered journalists and media people to stage a protest-rally last April 30 pleading for justice. They denounce the murder of Reyes and 52 other journalists since 1988. This also made a newspaper state that "the Philippines is one of the most dangerous places for working journalist in the world". Correspondent Jose Tiongson of the Ilocano Observer was the latest of the victims. A lone gunman shot him dead last March 31. Other journalists have had their own death threats.

Is this the price of exposing and upholding the truth? Their death, physical injury, assault, harassment or intimidation should not discourage using performing our duties. As journalists, we must be ready to face all the consequences if we want to be honest in our job. Therefore, you people out there should understand us! Most especially if we write about your unscrupulous activities! That's how committed we are in this profession. Well, if you are committed in some wrongdoings, then that's not being committed, but kumitid! Kumitid ang utak!

In our job, we are guided by some popular sayings: "Batu-bato sa lansangan, tamaan na ang tamaan, basta't makatarungan!" and "Walang personalan! Trabaho lang!" We believe that "The truth shall set us free!" Our dear readers, this is our job: To expose and uphold the truth!

Aaaahhh... you're asking: At what price? One newspaper editorial, which discussed about vulgar journalism, stated, "Ask the publishers how many millions of pesos the highest leaders of the land have been paying them just to keep their mouth shut." I didn't say that we are working just for money. As I've said last issue, "If that's what you think I'm saying, I don't care! Because that’s your choice. "But I'll ask you. Can money buy happiness and sleep? Does the life of the oppressed and victims of injustices have a certain price? Can money buy peace of mind and conscience? Well, to tell you honestly, this is the price we understand: JUSTICE!!!

We just hope that we will not become judges and executioners to uphold the truth and seek social justice for the oppressed. We still believe that the law still exists and the cry for justice will always prevail. Anyway, for me, dangerous as it may seem, being a journalist is really exciting. That's why, like playing chess, we must calculate our moves precisely while analyzing its consequences. In any profession, if you know the risks, you can determine what price you'll get. As journalists, calculating the risks we may encounter is vitally important. It is best to know your job, the people around you, your enemies (if you have) as well as yourself and your capacity. Well, if you commit blunders, then you may die in just a wink of an eye!

Most journalists find great satisfaction and happiness when they give their readers the kind of articles they need (NOT what they want), as well as truth and analysis of different issues confronting us. At least in our own little way, we know we can help. Well, I just want to write and be an honest, but hardhitting, journalist who crusades for truth and justice. See you next issue. I'll be back.

LINKS: Dangerous Illusions

DANGEROUS ILLUSIONS
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication, February 1996
page 22, continued on page 25

I was in Basilan and Zamboanga for two weeks two years ago in the company of some Franciscan and Muslim friends. We stayed mostly in Lamitan town in Basilan. The Abu Sayyaf was popular in those days when Franciscan missionary, Bro. Gus, OFM, was abducted. I learned that most members of the Abu Sayyaf are sons of MNLF commanders and combatants who died in the war in Mindanao during the Martial Law years. Some say that the Abu Sayyaf (which means "shining sword") was formed to avenge their parent's death.

Early this year, we are raged by grand illusions which some "powerful" leaders say will trigger our country into an economic boom. They are the EVAT, the anti-terrorism bill (this was shelved according to the latest news) and the demolition of shanties of our countrymen. These grand designs, they say, will make our country an industrialized nation by the turn of the century. These are dangerous illusions if these will be at the expense of the poor.

Anyway, let's go back in history. Do you remember who admitted with regret to the Filipino people a few days after the EDSA revolution that he engineered his own ambush that became one of the reasons for declaring Martial Law? He was the Minister of Defense during Martial Law as well as the godfather of an elite troop who killed fifty-three (53) civilians in 1987 and almost a hundred in 1989 during the coup d'etat. Today he defends that with the passage of Senate Bill 1353 or the anti-terrorism bill which he authored, peace and order will be restored and that will greatly attract foreign investors to our country. His bill is now junked, but Malacañang has a harsher version. In the new version, illegal possession of firearms will be sentenced to life imprisonment. How about the planting of evidence by the police? How will you defend yourself? They are so powerful and you're defenseless in their choiced situation. Doesn't this remind us of returning to Martial Law?

Terrorism was rampant during the Martial Law days. Most of its implementors were suffering from blind obedience. As most of them always say, "Obey first before you complain," and "That's an order!" Even if many victims will die of torture. Even if there is no justice just to obey their superiors! An obedience syndrome created by the fascist regime for the sake of "democracy". A democracy only for the elite. No wonder why most of them think and act like a walking doll! Yes, blind obedience is really very- very dangerous.

Even the EVAT terrorizes the poor. How come the 12% equitable tax in hotels became 10% while the 3% or 4% taxes on consumer goods also became 10%, as one congressman noted? Where is justice for the poor? How come that basic goods and services as well as medical, dental, hospital and veterinary services are now covered by EVAT? Poor families who eat thrice a day may probably eat only once. Their inefficient tax collection cannot be corrected through EVAT since doing so will be at the expense of the consumers. It seems that the EVAT is just a scapegoat of the BIR on the on-going tax evasion problems caused by some rich capitalists.

At the Smokey Mountain demolition, a child and one of the residents were killed when demolition men opened fire. Another was wounded in the hand. A team of policemen together with a demolition team forced the residents to evacuate and demolished their shanties. Is this not terrorism? Why should a demolition team always carry high-powered firearms in their operations, when in fact they will not go to war? And Smokey Mountain is not even a war zone!

The Muslim residents in Quiapo whose shanties were also demolished will be relocated somewhere in Taguig where there is only one comfort room for almost a hundred families. According to some reliable sources, there are many scheduled demolitions this year.

Are we in a democratic country? Or do we just perceive it as democratic without really knowing the meaning of democracy? Is our democratic system only for the powerful and the elite? Is justice only for the rich? I think an oppressive capitalist education fed us with wrong information. We are popularly known as the only Christian nation in Asia but mist of the implementors of Martial Law, as well as our leaders and demolition men are Christians. Even the Gomburza were not spared because of some foreign friars.

I didn't say that I'm against social progress. But if that's what you think I'm saying, I don't care! That's what you think. Ang that's your choice. But I want to defend my position. I'll ask you, do we need social progress at the expense of the lives of our poor countrymen? Do we need social progress just to say that we are an industrialized country like our neighbors? Do we need social progress for the sake of progress alone without justice for the oppressed? Do we need social progress for the sake of the capitalists who handle most of our industries? Do we need social progress for the sake of profits alone? Some leaders say that sometimes we should sacrifice some things to be industrialized. Sacrifice what? The life of the working people, the poor? They have sacrificed a lot! Then another mga pahirap sa bayan will be added to their sufferings. Enough is enough! The grand designs of some of our "powerful leaders" are dangerous illusions, indeed! It can attract foreign investors but not us. We must get rid of them before these illusions will turn into a nightmare!

Aaaahhh... democracy. If that's what we mean by democracy, then it's better to destroy it! We need to abolish this oppressive system if it will only destroy the future of generations to come! It seems we are not in a democratic society in its real sense, but are under an exploitative capitalist system which disguises itself in the name of democracy!

What we need is SOCIAL PROGRESS WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE. We need social progress to ease our sufferings and to have a better society to live in. We need social justice to be fair to all concerned, we, our enemies, to the environment we live in, etc. If these two will triumph, maybe, well, maybe, these evils of society will go to hell with their inventors.

But social progress with social justice will not just come to the fore. We must struggle for it! We must struggle for it because we know that the oppressors will deny us of justice. We must struggle for it because we know that future generations need it. WE MUST! Yes, we must, for this will be our greatest legacy to the generations to come.

Answer to chess puzzle (W: Kd3, Re2; B: Kd1; White moves and mate in three): (1) Rook moves at any square from e4 to e8. Black's only move is Kc1. (2) Rook must move to b-file to force the enemy King to go back at d1. (3) Rb1 mate.

To my comrades: We must study and work harder and sharper. To the graduates: Congratulations. I hope you have given your beloved parents the joy they deserve. To my fellow student writers: A proposed Campus Journalists Organization (CJO) is preparing for an NCR-wide Student Press Congress in preparation for a proposed National Student Press Congress next school year. Just call us anytime. According to Mark Twain: Courage doesn't mean absence of fear but resistance of fear, mastery of fear. Never let a problem become an excuse. So long for this issue. I'll be back.

LINKS: Blunders May Kill

BLUNDERS MAY KILL
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication
September 1995, page 11, continued on page 31

I'm back again but this time, I'll tackle something about the sport I love to play most as I relate it to real life. It is the woodpusher's game. The game of sports legends GMs Capablanca, Alekhine, Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fisher, Gary Kasparov, Eugene Torre and eleven year old Filipino genius Mar Paragua. Anyway, I'll not discuss chess here as a sport but the error most woodpushers commit; a chess jargon call the "blunder".

Blunder is more than a word used in chess and it is not applied to chess alone. As most woodpushers know, chess is an abstract expression of the complexity and conflict of life in general. It is useful for studying complex and conflicting situations and help us in developing decision-making skills, abilities and patience. A chessplayer's strength lies in his clear rational thinking, right approach, logic, knowledge and the ability not to make a mistake. Psychologists have found that chessplayers possess higher spatial ability than others of comparable intelligence levels. They also possess greater physical endurance together with the capacity to endure pain and frustrations. In every move, analysis of the position is applied, as well as self-control, creativeness, determination, vision and the execution of the plan. But what is a "blunder"?

Blunder means committing mistakes resulting from miscalculations, oversight, violation of principle, or opening of your defenses that may lead you to disaster. If you commit blunder, sometimes it’s hard to win the game or gain a good position, unless your opponent will also commit one.

Take a look at this popular mate from Philidor defense: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4 4. Nc3 h6 5. Nxe5! Bxd1 6. Bxf7+ Ke7 7. Nd5 mate. Black's fifth move is a blunder. He probably thought he could win the game by capturing the enemy's most powerful piece, the queen. But for white, he sacrificed his queen to win the game. He foresaw and calculated precisely his win in just three moves. A queen pseudo-sacrifice, indeed.

Maybe you're asking, what does the game of chess have to do with my life? According to a legend, Ravana's consort, Mandodari, invented this royal game of war as an exciting alternative from bloody wars. Maybe we can say that life is like a chess game. Sometimes you win in one area of your life, sometimes you lose. Some accept the draw or stalemate just to escape losing and survive. Sometimes there are defaults. Those are the ones who are probably caught unprepared or escape the problem or maybe have other things to worry about. Each game is a process. Each player keeps on analyzing each logical move in order to win. Likewise, we keep on planning our work or career in order to be successful in our endeavors.

Sometimes we play the game seriously as if it is the last game of your life. Let's accept the fact that sometimes we lose but there's always a next game and maybe this time we'll win. Sometimes we encounter many problems that almost kill us or break our hearts.

Let's accept our failures. There's always a new life as there's always a new game.

There's a limitation when you compare life and chess. Chess is pure reason, while life has emotions combined with reason. Let's take a look at the world of politics. Many world leaders commit blunders on their way to power. Take Marcos, for instance. In his pursuit of power, wealth and glory, many people lost their lives. He had billions but he went down in history as the world's greatest thief. Read the Guinness Book of World Records for facts.

Take a look at the shortest game possible. It's called the "fool's mate": 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4 mate. In this example, most of us play white and play aggressively but do not analyze the moves. This is why one loses immediately. Likewise, during the Marcos era, many didn't think that there are other forms of struggle other than armed struggle alone. That’s why maybe many lost their lives.

One of humanity's greatest blunders is Stalinism. When the Russian dictator Stalin distorted and destroyed the real essence and beauty of Marxism-Leninism, it was the start of socialism's greatest mistake. It is the greatest blunder, a thousand times greater than typhoon Rosing. The emergence of Stalinism brought the death of millions of workers and peasants in many parts of the globe, most especially those countries who inherited the Stalinist cult. Such an example is the Maoist cult in China and the Philippines.

Stalinism is second only to the world's greatest manmade disaster: capitalism. Capitalism is not a blunder per se as it evolved from scientific development of society. Under capitalism, as the cost of living goes up, the cost of life goes down. Remember EVAT, GATT and now the rice crisis. Let's take a look at the first example (Philidor defense). Black didn't think thrice why white captured the pawn in e5, which exposes the white's queen. Because of black's greed for power and profit (by capturing the white's queen), he loses the game easily.

You must first develop your opening moves so that you can reach the middlegame and the endgame. Honestly, many chess games end quickly in the opening phase without reaching the two other phases, the middle and the endgame. Likewise, many individuals make mistakes in their younger years which results in drug dependency and suicide.

So let's be careful in making our plans in life. We cannot bring back the time lost as well as the life that will be lost. Anyway, take some chess advices: (1) Be certain about all pawn moves. You can't take them back. (2) If you commit blunder, you'd better play perfectly thereafter. There's no more room for mistakes. (3) Don't start attacking if you can't follow through with muscle. Build first your game by rapid development. (4) Try to evaluate the consequences of your opponent's reasonable moves. They could force you to change your plans completely. And lastly, (5) It is prudent to think hard. Take an advice from Bruce Willis: "Think fast! Look alive! Die hard!"

Let us solve this simple problem: W: Kd3, Re2; B:Kd1. White to play and mate in three. It has five solutions. If you can't solve it, just drop by our office and we'll tell you. Promise.

DEDICATIONS

To my comrades: Every move is critical in every phase of the game. We must not waste a single tempo and must play a food gambit. Our enemies are practicing in high-tech computer chess, so be careful in playing against them. Beware of double-check, fork, pin, blunders, etc. Try to use perpetual check, if ever, or play for a draw if we're in a losing position. To my one and only: Pain hurts, yes, but that's nothing if you know you can sacrifice everything for the one you love. My heart may bleed, but I'll always respect you. I may commit blunders many times, but I continue to develop my talent and skills to win. I hope I'll not be checkmated. Always remember, you're the queen of my heart. To all of you out there: Even if you lose a game, always remember that there's always a next game. Don't be a pawn. Be the key player in your life. You may use Nimzo-Indian or Sicilian defense or maybe the Birds or Pirc attack, but be very careful in every move, or you'll commit blunders. Always remember this popular saying: "Every move maybe your last!" Hope you'll always remember the moral lesson from Philidor defense and the "fool's mate". It can help you in making decisions and be successful in all your endeavors. Enjoy playing your game. Always smile and be cool in all your undertakings. Take good care of your family always, most especially your health. If you have problems or stress, try to play chess and relax. See you next issue. I shall return.