Free Joseph Canlas and Pol Viuya, Stop the attack on labor leaders

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the midst of the worst Covid-19 surge in the country, two prominent activists in Central Luzon - Alyansa ng Magsasaka sa Gitnang Luson & Bayan-Central Luzon were arrested this morning in raids in their homes & offices.

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas  (Lamp) and Kilusang Mayo Uno  (KMU) said two of their leaders, Joseph Canlas (Left) and Florentino Viuya (Right), have been arrested in separate operations. 

KMP vice chairperson and AMGL leader Joseph Canlas already nabbed by PNP-CIDG elements. Authorities are taking him to Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Reports indicate the same modus - the use of search warrants and planted evidence by joint PNP and AFP units. Both leaders are long time activists in the region and have been continuously red tagged by the RTF-ELCAC.

In a time when our healthcare sector is crippled due to inadequate government support, the Duterte administration prioritized silencing progressive individuals and groups. It just proves that the people's welfare is not their best interest in mind. 

The text in the placard held by Joseph Canlas says it all.

Ang mga magsasaka na nagpapakain sa atin ay gutom at inaagawan ng lupa sa kanayunan. Ang tugon ng estado? Red-tagging, pag-aresto, at maging pagpatay!

PALAYAIN SI JOSEPH CANLAS AT POL VIUYA!

They arrested Joseph and Pol, tireless peasant leaders, community organizers & human rights workers. They are all these things to many people. 

Joseph is a Central Luzon-based peasant leader nabbed on undoubtedly fabricated charges by the PNP-CIDG in Pampanga.

Canlas champions the rights of fishers in the region and upholds sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. 

He was a wonderful teacher who patiently answered all our questions as doe-eyed kids spending their practicum in Pampanga. 

Joseph is one of the leaders ng mga magsasaka sa Central Luzon. No one deserves to be arrested without proper warrant and knowledge kung bakit sila inaresto. 

Meanwhile, Pol Viuya, has been arrested by CIDG Tarlac in Bamban, Tarlac.

Viuya has been involved in union organizing, and Canlas in leading land disputes, and campaigning for the poor peasants of Central Luzon victimized by land grabbing. 

Both Pol Viuya, and Joseph Canlas are known for championing the rights of farmers and workers in Central Luzon. 

Human rights worker Renalyn Tejero arrested on March 21, peasant leader Calixto Cabildo on March 24, urban poor leader Concepcion Opalla on March 26, unionist Dandy Miguel killed on March 28—and today, arrested peasant leader Joseph Canlas and labor leader Florentino Viuya Sr.

This government is at its worst.

Ngayong pinanumbalik ang Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) at militaristang lockdown ng rehimeng Duterte, mas pinatindi ang mga pasistang atake mula sa red-tagging hanggang sa pagsasampa ng gawa-gawang kaso at pagpatay sa hanay ng mga nagtatanggol sa karapatan ng mamamayan!

Palayain si Joseph Canlas! Palayain si Pol Viuya! Hands Off Central Luzon activists!

#HandsOffCL

#StopTheAttacks

Normalizing the "Dirty Mouth and Maniac Moves""

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Can we still voice our opinion online without being rude. Does being a celebrity exempt you from following good manners and right conduct?

Here is what people say:

"Normal na ang kabastusan, madalas makita sa government leaders naman so quits lang"

"Well, we have to thank the president for normalizing rudeness and dirty words."

"Well, naging normal na naman siya (kahit ayaw natin)... Leaders cursing people, saying stupid things, nangmamanyak... What do you expect?"

"Sometimes you have to be bastos to bastos people. You can’t play nice all the time."

As you can see, people have grown familiar of how "bastos" our government officials are, thus the despicable attitude. We need to have a new set of leaders with good morals and transparency with the right priorities and leading by example not exemption.

Tama naman yung nagsabi na kapag maayos talaga ang ugali mo, hindi ka maiimpluwensyahan ng kahit sinong bastos sa paligid. Hindi naman tayo magiging kasing bastos ni Duterte at Roque, pero kaya natin silang i-call out sa kabastusan nila, unlike nung karamihan na ipinagwawalang bahala lang, enablers. Hindi tayo bastos pero alam natin paano at kanino natin ibabato ang kabastusan. 

Kung well mannered ka na tao kahit ano pa makita mo sa paligid na hindi maganda hindi mo yan gagayahin. Don't blame other people sa pagiging bastos ng isang tao. 

But not everyone think alike. The DDSs are paid to mock our intelligence and patience coz every engagement is a point for them to earn. That is why they are void of any logic because it is intentional to keep the debate going until they made you as mad as cursing as well.

Duterte’s camp released a video supposedly to capture his fake, “simple” 76th birthday celebration, but it only exposed how unrepentantly misogynistic Duterte is. #DuterteMANYAK. Our President needs to know right from wrong.

Pakitanong kay Harry Roque kung si PRRD lang pwedeng gumawa nito dahil "the president is the president"?

This is very concerning because;

1. Roque is defending groping as a "sense of humor".

2. the tendency of the maid complaining is low because of authority complex and losing her job.

#DuterteManyak fits the regime's culture of impunity to a tee. Duterte surrounds himself w/ YES enablers, apologists, & sycophants. So, even when you say NO, his sick mind will twist it into YES.

DEAR WOMEN,

Nobody can take away your voice, dignity, & power if you don't let #DuterteManyak men walk all over you. You are either the hunted or the hunter; the prey or the predator; the victim or the ballbusting survivor; the pushover or the fighter.

ARE YOU ONE OR THE OTHER?

And after he is done with you—he'll just pardon his unpardonable acts of depravity.

At sa mga kababaihan na panig sa kanya nakakasuka kayo. 

There is something wrong with our government officials in general. Wala na yung delicadeza. 

Unlike in Japan, specifically on the latest issue, 2 Tokyo Olympics officials resigned for sexist and demeaning comments on women.  Sanaol.

I won't tolerate or condone any form of harassment.

"You were not born to be harrassed or abused, downplayed. You were born to be respected & loved." 

We all have the same rights, we are all equal. Regardless of race, gender, religion and status.

Matagal pa ba talaga before we can hold him and his cohorts criminally liable?

How do they sleep at night?

Feet and feat: Mangyan parent leader moves mountain for her community

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


With courage and determination, a Mangyan Parent Leader from Bansud, Oriental Mindoro showed that no mountain is higher than her desire to help her people. For her, poverty cannot dishearten a woman filled with passion and commitment to serve even in the midst of a pandemic.
Haydilyn “Haydi” Dimaano, 37, belongs to the Bangon Mangyan tribe who lives in the mountains of Brgy. Rosacara, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro. Before becoming a Parent Leader, she has been serving the Uyugan Bangon (Group of Bangon Tribe) — a group organized through the Pamayanang Mangyan Ugnayan, Inc. (PMUI). As the secretary, Haydi leads different development sessions that aim to empower Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Her fellow Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries have seen her passion to help. Hence in 2018, she was chosen by the beneficiaries to lead their cluster in Bansud.

Moving Mountains

Even before the pandemic, Haydi is already known in their tribe for being resourceful. She can quickly think of solutions to the challenges her community faces. In September 2019, she initiated the cooperative called Ufudan Mangyan 4Ps (Ufudan is a Buhid word that means group). It was initially formed to address their problem with expensive and low-quality rice. Thus to answer the call, Haydi helped the Mangyans to access good quality and cheaper rice.

Months after, the transaction between the rice supplier and the Mangyans went well. In return, the supplier has offered Haydi`s tribe a discount on every sack of rice her fellow beneficiaries will purchase. “May ibinigay po sakin na Php 2,000.00, pero sabi ko po, sa grupo ito [money]”. Instead of taking this as an advantage, the Mangyan parent leader has seen this as an opportunity for Ufudan Mangyan 4Ps to generate savings for their group. Haydi informed her fellow beneficiaries about the discount they will get which will directly go to the fund of their group. “Ngayon po nasa Php 41,000.00 na ‘yung pondo namin. Sabi ko po sa kanila, dapat magkaroon kami ng mapagkakakitaan kahit wala na kami sa 4Ps. Pag-uusapan pa po namin pero balak po naming magtayo ng tindahan para mapalago pa ito.”

When the pandemic came, this mother of two became an instrument of change and a channel of blessing to the Bangon tribe as well as to the Buhi (tribe that also lives in Bansud). “Nakita ko po sila [fellow 4Ps beneficiaries] na labis na naapektuhan ng pandemya. Madami po ang nawalan ng trabaho. Ipinagbawal po ang pagpunta sa ibang lugar kaya po naapektuhan ang hanapbuhay nila.” Different challenges came along their way that has greatly affected their livelihood and source of income. This includes limitations on mobilization because of the community quarantines and increased transportation costs as protocols in physical distancing have to be followed.

Haydi knew that she must remain steadfast for the tribe. Thus to address these problems, she lobbied and sought help from different partners. One of those who heard her was the Soro-Soro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC). The cooperative has traversed the mountains and brought a rolling store to the Mangyans. “Naging mahal po kasi ang pamasahe pa-bayan. Nasa Php 60.00 po hanggang Php 100.00 balikan. Pang-ulam na po ‘yun sa maghapon. Kaya nakiusap po talaga ako sa kanila na akyatin kami dito”. Because of Haydi, the rolling store has benefitted not only her fellow IP beneficiaries but as well as non-IPs and non-beneficiaries. Aside from saving from the transportation cost going to the town proper, market prices of the goods remained the same.

Feet and Feat

The heart for public service of the IP parent leader has been also seemingly inherited by her children. “Pinalaki ko po silang mababait at matulungin sa kapwa. Sabi ko po sa kanila, kahit maliit na pagtulong, nabibilang. Wala po sa maliit o malaki”. Together with their mother, Derwin, 13 years old (Grade 7), and Trisha, 11 years old (Grade 5), they take turns in helping their neighbors to answer their school modules.

For Haydi, no initiative is small as long as it is from the heart. She said that everyone can start with baby steps. Those baby steps count as long as you keep on moving forward. “Likas po sa aming mga Mangyan ang pagiging matulungin. Kahit maliit pong pagtulong, nabibilang. Wala po sa maliit o malaki”. She believes that compassion and benevolence are innate to everyone. “Ang tao po, likas na matulungin. Iba po kasi ang pakiramdam ng nakakatulong sa kapwa. ‘Yung nakikita ko pong saya sa mga ka-tribo ko, doble po ang sayang naidudulot sa akin. Kumabaga, mas masaya pa po ako sa kanila.”

The 37-year-old Mangyan parent leader also acknowledges that it is not just her who moved the mountains. It is a collective effort of all the people, fellow IP beneficiaries and partners, who want the same for the Mangyans – a community where no one is left behind. She firmly believes that no culture, gender, race nor poverty or even a virus can divide the IPs and non-IPs, rather it unites us.

As of this moment, Haydi’s tribe is planning to officially register the Ufudan Mangayan 4Ps as an organization. She also plans to submit project proposals on livelihood to different government agencies and private organizations. In fact, she will meet her fellow beneficiaries this coming Sunday to convene them and decide on how to grow their funds.