Features

Nangyari ang panayam noong Disyembre ng nakaraang taon (2009) sa isang restaurant sa kahabaan ng Katipunan. Plano ko sana itong ilabas sa pagbukas ng bagong taon, ngunit may ibang mga kahingian sa pag-aaral ko rin ang kinailangan kong harapin.

MANILA - Catholic priest Fr. Joe Dizon, convener of the anti-fraud and election monitoring group Kontra Daya, raised hell earlier this week over the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) accreditation of a partylist group that is, by its own declaration, a project initiated by an official of the Arroyo administration and a prominent ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

MANILA - A 2010 election watchdog group launched yesterday is geared not only to monitor the upcoming elections, but also to rally the public to respond accordingly should the electorate's will be frustrated.

Kontra Daya 2010, which was launched yesterday morning in Intramuros, Manila, has this early raised several fears about the May elections. These include the possibility of massive fraud and failure of elections.

Habang tinatangka kong sumulat ng papel na ito, pumasok ang "bagong balita" sa aking email mula sa isang yahoogroup na hindi man ako aktibong nakikisangkot , bahagi pa rin naman akong maituturing ng pangkat sapagkat patuloy pa rin akong tumatanggap ng mga balita, mensahe at kung anu-ano pang impormasyon na bumabaha sa worldwide web o sa internet.

May kaganyakan na ang kultura sa pagtanggap ng estetikang bading sa pananamit (fashion). Una, tila may umaalagwang sektor sa ekonomiya-partikular ang call center at BPO (Business Process Outsource)-na nagpapaariba rin sa estetika ng bading. Ikalawa, ang mismong estetikang ito ay magkaalinsabay na may dating na kosmopolitan at sterile na hitsura, kaya nagpapaugnay sa metropoles ng bansa sa aspirasyong wanna-be First World ng estado.

SAN FERNANDO, Camarines Sur-In a thriving eatery along the National Highway in Naga City, there is one thing on display aside from kinalas-the distinctive hot broth prepared by mixing beef strips with noodles and spices.

Displayed conspicuously inside the eatery is a framed photograph of Camarines Sur first district Representative Diosdado Ignacio "Dato" Arroyo together with a man who is probably the owner of the place.

MANILA - May afinidad ang pelikula at relihiyon. Ang partikularidad ng katangian ng pelikula sa iba pang media ay dalawang bagay: lumilikha ito ng ritualisado at personalisadong intimacy kada boluntaryong pagbabayad ng manonood. At ang pagbabayad natratransforma ang sweldo sa paggawa na ipinambayad sa pagdanas ng sine bilang kasiyahan o pagtransforma nito sa domeyn ng leisure.

As the country opens a new year in its political life, one explores for a breath of hope and optimism. But optimism is borne out of one's ability to grapple with the problems that lie ahead and events that will yet unfold. The roots of these realities - others call it uncertainties - took shape in the year just past and even farther back.

MANILA - Jan. 22, 2010, would mark the 23rd anniversary of the Mendiola massacre. On that fateful day, thousands of farmers marched to Mendiola to demand for land reform and were mowed down by gunfire from soldiers from the Philippine Marines and the police. Yet, more than two decades later, those responsible were never held accountable and peasants continue to be denied the land they till. This is the kind of injustice that peasants continue to suffer from.

MANILA - Magtatapos na ang ika-sampung taon pagkapresidente ni Gloria Arroyo, at matatag ang kanyang kulturang kontribusyon. Kakaiba ang mga ito sa karanasan ng mga kamakailang presidente ng bansa. Ito ang pinakamasahol na kulturang kontribusyon ng anumang presidente sa kagyat na kasaysayan ng bansa. Lantaran naman ang gamit ng fasismo ng anumang rehimen pero ang kay Arroyo ang naghasik ng pinakabangkaroteng kulturang tahasang ginamit para sa politikal at ekonomiyang ganansya.