Achieving Happiness

Oppose Political Repression in the Philippines!

Free Crispin Beltran and Joel Virador!

At this juncture in our nation’s history, the Filipino people stand united against the incumbent illegitimate president Gloria

Macapagal-Arroyo’s attacks against civil and democratic rights.

By imposing a state of national emergency via the illegal and immoral Proclamation 1017, Arroyo’s corrupt government is trying to buy more time for its beleaguered self.

Failing to convince the public of its innocence of charges of corruption, political repression and electoral fraud, Macapagal-Arroyo is resorting to dictatorial means to curb growing dissent and restiveness not only within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but among the mass population long sickened and disgusted with Arroyo.

Presidential Proclamation 1017 means warrantless arrests, arbitrary takeover of public utilities and industries, intensified military operations especially in the provinces, and a crackdown on the media and the freedom of speech.

The legislators of the progressive party-lists Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and Gabriela Women’s Party are included in the government hit list.

Well-known labor leader turned lawmaker Crispin Beltran was arrested on February 24. A few days later on February 27, Bayan Muna solon Joel Virador was also arrested.

The four other lawmakers Bayan Muna solons Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casino, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza have been put under the custody of the House of Representatives, but they stand to be arrested at any time .

These lawmakers and the political parties they represent are at the forefront of the Filipino people’s relentless campaign against the burgeoning dictatorship under Arroyo.

Crispin Beltran is a labor leader.

                       Satur Ocampo a well-known human rights advocate.

Rafael Mariano a peasant activist.

Liza Maza a staunch defender of women and children’s rights.

Joel Virador is a vocal critic of US intervention in Philippine affairs.

Teddy Casino has a long history of student activism.

We Filipinos in Hong Kong seek the support of the Hong Kong people, Church and welfare organizations, the media and Hong Kong’s political leaders in denouncing the Macapagal-Arroyo government’s worsening attacks against the Filipino people’s civil, democratic and human rights.

We urge all Filipinos as well as our fellow migrants and the rest of the Hong Kong community to help us in our struggle for genuine freedom and democracy in the Philippines.

Please make your stand be known.

Write to H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo President of the Republic of the Philippines

Malacanang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel Manila, Philippines as well as other media institutions in the Philippines, and inform them of your solidarity with the Filipino people.

Defend the Filipino people’s civil and political rights!

Free all political prisoners of the Arroyo government!

Fight the burgeoning Macapagal-Arroyo dictatorship!

“Bilang commander in chief, kontrolado ko ang sitwasyon.” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 24, 2006, declaring the national state of emergency.

Asked on whether he was still supporting  Macapagal-Arroyo, “It’s waning, waning.”- Former president Fidel V. Ramos

“Rumours of martial law have  no basis  and the state of emergency will  be temporary. The objective is to preserve the constitution, defend the rule of law, prevent violence and disorder." - Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye

“ Mrs President, I ask you to make the supreme sacrifice of resigning. – former president Corazon C. Aquino

“Of course we are aware of the political nuances of having this declaration, and the   utilisation of such powers will be, as I’ve said, in the defense of the state, meaning to say we will not be attacking people, putting them in jail… but this particular pinpoint, the main targets, or the principle conspirators in this attempt to bring down the Government.” – Presidential spokesperson Mike Defensor

“This is foolishness. This is not an inquest, charge me with contempt.”- Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, lawmaker arrested February 25,2006 on charges of rebellion. He denounced the inquest arranged by the the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“We are here, we are not hiding. We are not cowed. We will see this regime ousted from power.” -Dr Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, chairperson, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).

“All I thought about was that my men depended on me,” Colonol Ariel Querubin, the Marine officer who figured in the February 26 seven-hour standoff in protest of the relief of his commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda

“May the key players in this military and political unrest all listen to one another in dialogue and come to agreement for the good of our country.”- Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) chairman Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo

“We survived Marcos’ 1081, there is no reason to think we will not survive 1017. Arroyo is a poor copy of the dictator Marcos,” activist priest Fr. Joe Dizon, convenor of Kairos.

“Malacañang, through Proclamation 1017, is the one creating fear to quell legitimate protests against the government. Malacañang could not just go on a witch-hunting spree and violate human rights and freedom of expression through a toothless edict,” – Atty. Neri Colmenares, Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL)

“The country is now under a pseudo-dictatorship that started with the baseless arrests of Ms Arroyo’s enemies, dispersal of protest rallies, harassment of the media and other sectors fighting the looming dictator,”  Senator Jinggoy Estrada

“Just as we urge the government to immediately revoke PP 1017, we also urge the Armed Forces to continue upholding the Constitution,” the MBC said in a statement. “Instead of preserving democracy, the proclamation threatens people’s rights and freedoms reminiscent of martial law-” Makati Business Club

“Sa tanang buhay ko ngayon lang ako natawag na conspirator [In my entire life it’s only now that I’ve been called a conspirator]. ” Former presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.’s widow Susan Roces said, referring to the Malacañang document that said her declaration to join the protest march at EDSA on February 24 was part of a conspiracy against the President.

First posted 01:20pm (Mla time) Feb 27, 2006
INQ7.net, Inquirer
A DEFIANT partylist lawmaker Crispin Beltran refused to recognize the inquest proceedings he was being subjected to over rebellion and coup d’etat charges and walked out of the proceedings in Camp Crame Monday.

“This is foolishness. This is not an inquest, charge me with contempt,” Beltran shouted, as he raised a clenched fist in defiance of the proceedings conducted by justice department prosecutors.

Several policemen tried to placate Beltran, who alongside his lawyer Romeo Capulong, refused to take their seats.

This compelled Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco to submit the case for resolution.

Capulong denounced the inquest proceedings as a “mockery of justice,” and dismissed it as a “farcical script of Malacañang.”

Beltran and several other personalities were charged on Monday by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of rebellion and coup d’ etat.

Beltran, arrested based on a 22-year-old arrest warrant, was charged Monday with rebellion and coup d’ etat.

The inquest was conducted following the filing of charges.

Beltran was arrested in Bulacan by CIDG operatives last Saturday. Upon arrival in Camp Crame, he was shown a 1985 warrant of arrest issued during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos.

————-

Ka Bel’s media officer Lisa Ito gives the following account of the ‘inquest.’

Kinuha si ka Bel from the detention call – paalam ng CIDG na ipapa-medical langsiya, pero hindi siya sa ospital dinala kundi sa  CIDG Conference Room. Walang walang kaalam-alam si Ka Bel. Walang binabanggit kung ano ang magaganap. A police accidentally blurted out that magkakainquest si CB.

On the ‘inquest’ proper

Binasa ng fiscal – no name,whoever the hell he is – yung charge vs CB in the presence of Atty. Romeo T.Capulong, Atty Sato Atty Pastores. Names of SO, LM, JV, RM, TC, JMS were also mentiond, along with  Atty. Christopher Belmonte. They are all being charged with rebellion.

Tinanong ng judge kung may copy na ang lawyers . None.

Fiscal tells them to to receive the copies. They’re several inches thick. Within 10 minutes, kailangang mabasa daw lahat.

RTC went through the documents and abstained on the basis that it was
not possible to probe all the documents in the given time.

Atty. Capulong states the circumstances of pagkakahuli- no
warrant, warrant based on 1985 case, hindi pagsasalita ng rally ng
February 24, na siyang pinagbabasahan nila ng sedition charge.

Fiscal whoever the hell he is says there is no need to elaborate on that.

RTC is enraged, insists that it is part of due process to lay down circumstances of arrest.

Nag- intervene si Ka Bel. Tumayo. "Pabayaan mong magsalita ang aming abugado!"
RTCsays they need to study the sandamakmakdocuments they were handed.

RTC tells the fiscal na "huwag siyang magpagamit, alam mo kung ano ang
tungkulin niya at dapat maglingkod na may katuwiran. Halatang-halata na
scripted ang pagkakahuli kay Ka bel, nagpapagamit kay GMA."

Ka Bel and RTC walk out, denouncing the entire process as mockery.

Ka Bel: "Walang kwenta ang lahat ng ito. Ibalik niyo na ako sa selda ko kung gusto niyo!"
The 73-year old solon’s blood pressure shot up to 180/120

Fiscal tells RTC to sit down. "Atty. Capulong, alam mo ang ruling sa korte.
Matagal ka nang abugado." He tries to get RTC to sit down.

RTC: "Mas ikaw ang hindi nakakaalam ng ruling."

Session declared over. May kaso na.

Ganito pala ang pakiramdam nang malayo sa bayan mo habang doon, sa sentro ng lahat ng pampulitika at pang-militar na kapangyarihan, nagkakagitgitan na.

Nakadikit ang mga mata sa computer screen, nag-aabang ng update. Pana-panahong tumatawag sa mga kaibigan, Kasama at mga mahal sa buhay sa Pilipinas.

Hindi mapakali, hindi mapalagay. Balisa.

Kung pwede lang sumakay ngayon ng eroplano at lumipad nang pauwi. Mula sa airport tutuloy ako sa EDSA kung saan nagtitipon na ngayon ang libo-libong tao, at dumadami pa habang dumadaan ang mga minuto at oras.

Buong kakapalan ng mukha na sinasabi ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na siya pa rin ang presidente at nasa kanya ang kapangyarihang utusan ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at ang Philippine National Police (PNP) na dakpin nang walang warrant ang sinumang sibilyan na magtatangkang alisin sa poder ang kanyang gobyernong matagal nang walang kredibilidad.

Ang sumusunod ay ang kanyang mensahe sa mamamayan, na ito ring laman ng kanyang Proclamation No. 1017 na nagdedeklara ng state of national emergency.

May ilang sumubok lumihis sa Armed Forces chain of command, lumabag sa gobyernong sibil at magtatag ng rehimen sa labas ng Saligang-Batas.

Walang nakakagulat o nakapagtataka dito. Parang manggang inu-uod ang institusyong militar; batbat ng kurapsyon, at nabubulok dahil sa oryentasyongmersenaryo at berdugo. Malalim ang demoralisasyon ng mga batang sundalo at opisyales; at sagad sa buto ang galit sa gobyernong walang ginagawa upang dinggin ang mga hinaing ng mga sundalo.

Nabuwag natin ang pakanang ito kasama sa mga kilos natin ang pagdakip ng mga militar at sibilyang magkakasabwat at hindi din papalampasin ang mga nagbibigay ng salapi at suportang pulitika sa pag-aalsa.

Dahil nga kapit-tuko sa kapangyarihan, ginagawa, ginagawa, at gagawin ni Macapagal-Arroyo ang lahat mawala lang ang lahat ng kumokontra sa kanyang salaulang administrasyon. Wala siyang hindi gagawin manatili lang sa poder. Mula sa iligal na pagmamamanman; iligal na pagdakip at pag-aresto, pagsuspinde sa lahat ng mga karapatang sibil at demokratiko kaugnay sa pagprotesta at pamamahayag - handa itong gawin ni Gloria.

Napigil na ng pamahalaan itong iligal na pagkilos maliban sa ilang tumiwalag na sa pwesto at matapat sa linya ng pamunuan ang lahat ng opisyal ng militar hanggang sa batalyon.

Ang mga sundalo at pwersang matapat kay Gloria ay mga traydor sa bayan at sa mamamayan. Pumapayag silang magpagamit kay Gloria bilang mga instrumento ng pananakot, pandarahas at pagpatay.

Ano ang saysay ng pagiging matapat sa alagad ng isang berdugong gobyerno na matagal nang isinusuka ng mahihirap, ng mamamayang sawa at galit na sa rigodon ng mga lumang mukha at pangalan ng mga napatunayan nang makasarili at sakim sa yaman at kapangyarihan?

Bilang commander in chief, kontrolado ko ang sitwasyon.

Anong kontrol ang sinasabi niya? Siya ang dahilan ng kaguluhan at kahirapan sa bansa.

Katatapos ko lang pulungin ang aking gabinete na nagkakaisa at buong loob na ipagpatuloy ang serbisyo publiko sa kabila ng kalagayang pang-seguridad.

Ows? baka ilang araw na lang, titiwalag narin ang gabineteng yan. Kung gusto pa nilang iligtas ang kanilang mga reputasyon, iwanan na nila sa Gloria. Isang malaking kamalian ang manatili pa sa tabi ng isang presidenteng itinatakwil na ng lahat.

Wala ba kayong dangal?!

Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng ating pamahalaang lokal na patuloy na maglingkod.

Maglingkod kanino? Sa mga katulad ni Gloria sa sinungaling, mandurugas at magnanakaw? Maglingkod sa mga kamag-anak at kanegosyo?

Hindi dapat malagay sa alanganin ang kaligtasan at kabuhayan ng tao.

Kaya pala pinatupad niya ang EVAT, ang lateral attrition, ang buong pagbebenta ng mga public utilities gaya ng kuryente at tubig sa mga dayuhang korporasyon.

Kaya pala patuloy ang deployment ng AFP sa Mindanao, Southern Tagalog at Central Luzon upang patayin ang mga sibilyang Muslim, mga human rights advocates, at mga progresibong opisyales ng LGU at mga taong simbahan.

Samantala pinapaubaya ko sa pinuno ng AFP at hepe ng PNP ang mga nararapat na pagkilos. Mag-uulat sila sa media hinggil sa mga darating na pangyayari.

Dapat talikuran na ng AFP at PNP ang gobyerno ni Arroyo. Kahit yun man lang ang gawin nila bilang kaisa-isang tunay na porma ng paglilingkod sa mamamayan at sa bayan.

Mag-uulat naman ang secretary of foreign affairs sa mga embahador.

Ano iuulat nila? Na naghihintay at nag-aabang din ang mga Pilipino sa ibang bansa sa bumagsak na ang administrasyon ni Gloria? Dahil ito ang nangyayari.

Ito naman ang babala ko sa mga nagbabalak laban sa bayan - babagsak sa inyong pagtataksil ang buong bigat ng batas.

Ito naman ang babala ng mamamayan kay Gloria: bilang na ang arwa mo. Babagsak ka din at malaki din angmagiging kabayaraan ng katiwalaan mo at karahasan laban sa mga inosente at walang laban.

Ipinapahamak n’yo ang mga mahihirap sa inyong paghatak sa bansa palayo sa ating nararapat na antas sa daigdig bilang kuta ng pagkakaisa, pagsasakripisyo, pagmamalasakit at kahusayan sa mundo.

Gloria, pinapahamak mo bawat segundo ang lahat ng mahihirap sa iyong paghatak ng bansa pababa sa kumunoy ng kahirapan at karahasan, bilang kuta ng kaguluhan, kagutuman, kawalan ng pag-asa, at simbolo ng kurapsyon sa mundo.

Kinakalaban n’yo ang ekonomiya sa kanyang mga tumatatag na saligan.

Sinisira mo ang ekonomya na saligan ng bansa.

Mga kababayan hinihiling ko sa inyong lahat na manatiling mahinahon.

Panahon na upang mag-aklas! Humugos sa lansangan at sumama sa mga protesta! Isigaw ang galit sa isang gobyernong palamunin at palalo!

Nananawagan ako sa media na iulat ang pangyayari sang-ayon sa tungkulin sa bayan at huwag palampasin ang mga nakakasamang alingasngas at maling balita.

Tungkulin ng media na iulat ang mga tunay na kaganapan. Sandamakmak ang alingasngas at kabulukan ng gobyernong Macapagal-Arroyo. Ito ang dapat na iulat ng media sa mamamayan.

Salamat sa inyong pananalig sa bayan at sa ating magandang hinaharap.

Nananalig ang mamamayan sa kanyang sariling lakas at determinasyon na magpatalsik ng isa pang presidenteng bulok.

Pagpalain nawa ng Diyos ang sambayanang Pilipino.

Pagpalain nawa ng Diyos ng kasaysayan ang sambayanang Pilipino. 

Dating binyagang Kristiyano ang chairwoman ng Helpers of Islam Group sa Hong Kong (Jamaitu Ansarul Islam) na si Sis. Madeena Medina Molina. Segundina Molina ang kanyang dating pangalan bago siya naging convert sa relihiyon ng Islam noong 1987.

“Galit ako  dati sa mga Muslim. Lipunan na rin kasi ang nagtuturo sa mga Kristiyano na mamuhi sa mga Muslim, at sa ganung oryentasyon ako lumaki. Hindi ko talaga naiintindihan kung bakit may tinuturing na kaaway ang mga Muslim o bakit sila dapat na katakutan; pero dahil yun ang napapanood ko sa telebisyon, naririnig sa radyo, ganun na rin ako mag-isip,” kwento niya.

“Mahalaga na patuloy abutin ang mga Pilipino dito sa Hong Kong, at partikular ang mga  Muslim. Minoridad kami dito sa Hong Kong, at minoridad pa rin kumpara sa mga Kristiyanong Pilipino. Mas maliit ang support network namin dito, kaya kailangang magtulungan,” pagwawakas niya. 

Bayan kong sabay na pinagpala at sinumpa. Trahedya kaliwa’t-kanan na di dala ng kamalasan kundi ng isang gobyernong buktot at pabaya; at walang ginawa kundi magsinungaling, mangulimbat at pumatay ng mga nangangahas na tumutol at lumaban, kahit man lang magsalita .

Brgy. Guinsaugon,  St. Bernard, Leyte. Sino nga ba silang doon ay nakatira, at doon ngayon ay nalibing na sa ilalim ng tone-toneladang bato, putik at lupa? Mga karaniwang mamamayan - mga pamilyang magsasaka na walang ninais kundi ariin ang lupang binubungkal; mga Pilipinong ang kapakanan ay di minsan sumagi sa kamalayan ng Malacanang.

Ngayon, sa pag-hugos ng bato, putik at lupa mula sa gilid ng bundok na matagal nang nakalbo ng mga kaingero, kilala na ang Brgy. Guinsaugon di lang sa Maynila kundi sa buong mundo.

Parang bumagsak ang langit at buong pwersang dumagan sa maliliit na bahay ng kahoy at semento sa paanan ng bumigay na bundok. Sa loob ng mga bahay, di magkamayaw ang mga bata at matanda sa tindi ng takot at gulat.  May panahon pa kaya silang makapag-isip nang maipit na sila sa pagitan ng sahig at umulang lupa?

naloloka na yata ako. wala kasi akong makausap ngayon dito,e. ang lungkot-lungkot ko na.

——-

Pero sige, dahil blog ko naman ito, at lahat ng tututol ay pwede nang tumalon sa bangin, hala isiwalat ang bersyon ko ng katotohanan.

Mayabang ako.

Nagmumula sa aking pagiging miyembro ng pambansa demokratikong kilusan ang yabang ko.

Pero pinipili ko kung kanino ako magyayabang (at kung kanino ko nararamdamang superyor ako).

Pag masa ang kaharap (halimbawa ang mga OFW dito sa Hong Kong — ang bata-batalong Filipino domestic helpers na nandito), e tiklop ako. Pag nakikita ko sila, ang naalala ko palagi ay gawain; ang ubod ng paglilingkod at sinumpaang yayakapin at gagampanang  tungkulin. Bilang manunulat, primarya ang ilarawan ang  kanilang kalagayan at iguhit ang wastong pagsusuri tungkol dito.

Pero pag mga katulad kong peti-b (halimbawa yung mga UP grads na nandito, o yung mga nasa Konsulado na walang puso at simpatiya para sa mga kababayan nila dito), case-to-case basis - at madalas di ako nai-impress. Mas malimit pa nga mapikon at mabwisit ako pag naririnig kong magsalita tungkol sa mga pananaw  nila sa kung anong nangyayari sa Pilipinas (sa ekonomya, sa pulitika, sa mga anila’y ‘magulong mga rally’).

(Parang ang dali maging consul. Sa tutoo lang. Parang pulos sosyalan lang at consultations. Di sila aktibong nagsasalita para depensahan ang mga DH dito pagdating sa isyu ng sahod at mga kasong kriminal na kinasasangkutan nila -kung saan mas madalas kaysa hindi sila ang biktima.)

Pinalaki ako ng Kilusan. Labing-apat na taon na akong bahagi nito. Ang pinakamaayos, matino, matalino at mabait na bahagi ng pagkatao ko, binuo ng Kilusan, kahati ng aking mga magulang. Sino ba naman ang hindi magiging mayabang?

My husband complains that whenever I email him to tell him about how my days here in Hong Kong go, all I ever write about are the stores and the shopping habits of Hong Kongites.

"Aren’t there museums there? Theatres?! Libraries?!!"

Actually, there are quite a lot of the aforementioned here. There are even free glossy magazines that come out every week, and they’re crammed with announcments about recitals, plays, concerts, poetry readings, etc. Do I go to any of them?

Let’s put it this way, even if I had the money, I probably still wouldn’t go.

At least not now. I want my husband with me before I go to any of those plays, recitals and concerts. I don’t think I’ll be able to enjoy anything fully without him, so I’m being patient.

That aside, in truth, I am not much of a tourist. I’m by nature a very lazy person, andleft to my own devices, I settle in bed with a book, eat junk food and daydream. I used to this in Manila whenever I had free time (which wasn’t often; but I’m not complaining).

So old habits die hard.

On weekends I go on a walk-about in the areas of Hong Kong I’ve become familiar with. I go where the OFWs are gathered - eating their lunch, playing cards, exchanging those romance novels that are less than an inch thick at the spine- and talk to them. I as them questions how they are, how’s work, why they left the Philippines, any problems they’ve been encountering.

On the one hand I do this because it’s my job as a writer for a newspaper whose main audience is comprised of OFWs. Gathering stories, getting leads, etc; but on the other, well, I go around talking to OFWs because I constantly want to remind myself of the country I temporarily left behind and why I should go back at the soonest possible time.

Sob stories abound here; but there are also small bits of happy news.

                    For instance, late last week, two children  of  a Filipino couple who have been working as domestic helpers in Hong Kong since 1985 have been granted the Right of Abode by the Hong Kong government .

Dariel, 13  and Darlene, 11, the children of Irene Pineda Raboy-Domingo and Daniel de Leon Domingo will officially be Hong Kong permanent residents beginning February 17 when their official papers stating their new status will be released by the HK Immigration Department in  Wan Chai.

Dariel is a student at Po Ying Secondary School, while Darlene attends Precious Blood Primary School in Wha Fu, Pok Fu Lam.

According to Hong Kong law, a person is According to paragraph 2(a) to (f) of Schedule 1 to the Immigration Ordinance which has come into operation on 1 July 1997,  a person not of Chinese nationality who has entered Hong Kong with a valid travel document, has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven (7)  years,  and has taken Hong Kong as his or her  place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the HKSAR can be granted right of abode.

Both children are Hong Kong-born, delivered through caesarian section in Queen Mary Hospital. Their parents have been employed as domestic helpers since 1985 and have not left Hong Kong to work elsewhere since then. They have only gone to the Philippines for occasional visits to Ilocos.

The parents, Irene and Daniel pushed for the change of status of their two children upon the prompting of Immigration authorities themselves two years ago.

“They were the ones who told me that my children were eligible for permanent residency,” Irene said.

Irene and Daniel submitted all pertinent documents proving the children’s eligibility, among them their respective birth certificates and their school records. The Domingos also submitted documentary evidence establishing their work experience in Hong Kong, including the endorsement of their employers and their involvement in the various community organizations in Hong Kong.

During the interviews with the immigration authorities, the Domingos also presented themselves as leaders of the Vilumin Asia Hong Kong Association, an organization of Filipino migrants which have links with UNIFIL. Through the years, both have been active in Vilumin’s activities that also have to do with  various campaigns of the Hong Kong government such as those on environmental awareness and public area cleanliness.

“We had to establish that even as migrants, we have been able to contribute to the   improvement  of  Hong Kong. We also said that our children themselves will grow up being aware of their adopted culture and country, and that they too will also make valuable contributions to Hong Kong as citizens.

Irene has also taken paralegal seminars at the College of Law in Kowloon Tong University.

“We believe that that the change of  status will be good for the children. We want them to enjoy the same rights and privileges as other Chinese children here in Hong Kong,” Irene said. “We also want them to learn Cantonese, and to be able to find good employment someday.”

Irene said that they only spent around $2000 during the entire process of filing for the right of abode of their children. This amount covered the photo-copying of the various documents, and transportation to and from the immigration office.

Asked on how they feel about their new status as permanent residents, the two children said that they were ‘happy about it.”

“We have made friends here in Hong Kong, and we like living here,” Dariel said.

       Darlene, in the meantime, said that she would be even happier if her own parents would also be allowed the right of abode.

       Under Hong Kong law, domestic helpers are not allowed to apply for the right of  abode, no matter how long they have been working here.  Irene and Daniel can apply for ROA if they are endorsed by their employers. In the meantime, they can also wait until Dariel comes of age and can petition for them.

     What does this story imply?
      The usual - Filipinos here are always on the lookout for what’s best for their family. They’ve had such a difficult time in the Philippines that they’re doing their darnest abroad — even if it means slaving 24-7 for foreigners as domestic helpers.

For the last three weeks, there have been daily updates in the various protests and riots against Denmark and its embassies all over the world. Riots as a result of the publication of a series of cartoons depicting Islam, some of them even featuring the prophet Mohammad.

The caricatures from Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten paper included drawings of Muhammad wearing a headdress shaped like a bomb, while another shows him saying that paradise is running short of virgins for suicide bombers.

In Libya, Pakistan, Iran and Africa, protests have erupting left and right — Danish embassies fire-bombed, and Danish products being boycotted in the rest of the Arab and Muslim world.

The debate has now forked into two avenues; one is over the continuing discrimination against Muslims; the other is on freedom of the press/freedom of expression.

Regarding the first,what can I say? At the risk of being labelled a terrorist, I cannot help but understand the outrage of the fundamentalists against decades and centuries of persecution and oppression of Muslims. This, I think, also reveals the enormity of the challenge to give correct political direction and guidance to the anger and outrage. Civilians are always the victims of riots when the protests should be wholly directed against governments.

I cannot wholly condemn the protests, but this is what I think: Revolutionary violence, not mere mob violence.

"They’re a pretty touchy race," I heard one BBC commentator say about Muslims.

Who wouldn’t be touchy when the governments of the most powerful nations of the world target your people –  kick them out of their jobs, beat and arrest their children, and bomb their houses - and twist, demonize your religion as one that rests on the principles of retribution and revenge?

The Danish government is now at the centre of demonstrations by Muslims all over the world. In a Belgian documentary I saw last night, it was reported that there’s a strong rightist bloc in the parliament, and its main representative is vocal in her opposition to the continuing and growing presence of Muslim in Denmark. This legislator has been quoted as saying "200 Muslims,that’s not a problem; but when you have 200,000 of them, that’s something else."

These racist and bigotted legisators want to impose laws that will crackdown on the entry of Muslim migrants, and to limit the welfare benefits that they get from the government.   

In the meantime, the Bush government is increasing pressure on Iran, demanding that the country scrap all nuclear research. Iran is arguing that its nuclear research is not directed towards increasing Iran’s nuclear weapon capability, but to develop its energy resources for the benefit of its own economy and technological progress.

Ang kapal ng US! All it wants is to maintain its monopoly over nuclear reasearch and continue being the biggest superpower, nuclear weapons manufacturer and dealer in the world. Yet here it is, saying that Iran is potentially a terrorist nation  and all measures must be made to stop it from arming itself.

"Muslims, terrorists, same difference. "

Who wouldn’t fight back if their religious belies were being attacked?
I have been told that Muslims do not only consider Islamas a religion — it is their way of life. Islam is their guide to how they should live their lives the best possible way, respecting self and others; developing ones gifts and abilities for the greater glory of Allah and all Muslims.

To attack Islam is to attack Muslims.

(As an aside, am supposed to be Christian, but heck, I find so many hyprocrites among Christians — the likes of Macapagal-Arroyo, for instance, who prays 24-7 that all her political problems just dry up and go away — that it’s hard to not want to upchuck when I sometimes catch televised mass. Pero ibang usapin pa yan. Why blame Jesus for the failings of his followers? The Man let himself be flogged and crucified already, for crying out loud.)

On the second point: freedom of the press.

Utang na loob. Luma nang debate na yan. Sinabi na nga ni Peter Parker aka Spiderman: "With great power comes great responsibility."

Journalists should also have limits. Why print materials that do not aim to build bridges of unity, or provide alternatives, or expose the harsh and cruel realities that confront Muslims because of the doings of the US and Brittain?

Hel-lo! What does printing cartoons depicting Mohammad as a terrorist aim to achieve?

e.e. cummings sez it for me. for my best friend Kim

i like my body when it is with your

   i like my body when it is with your

   body. It is so quite a new thing.

   Muscles better and nerves more.

   i like your body. i like what it does,

   i like its hows. i like to feel the spine

   of your body and its bones, and the trembling

   -firm-smooth ness and which i will

   again and again and again

   kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,

   i like,, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz

   of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes

   over parting flesh . . . . And eyes big Love-crumbs,

  and possibly i like the thrill

   of under me you quite so new

———————-

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)