The New Katipunan Revolution

Three years from now, and the Filipino electorate will have been a lot smarter then than now. Remnants of the old thinking in politics remain, expressed in several surveys by PulseAsia and SWS. Three years, and political thinking would have matured in an extent that would allow a "springing forth" of alternative ideas of governance.

There is a noticeable disillusionment in the way things are being managed in this country and with the availability of communication gadgets which promotes no-cost information at a click of a switch, more and more people are expected to have already formed their own interpretation of Philippine reality. People in the streets are more politically conscious now than before, and unknown to many, a lot smarter than self-proclaimed "political analysts".

I deem it wise to consult with the masses before I write my piece. My training in research equips me with the right tools to determine what bull-shit info is, and what is not.

I sense a palpable beat, a consistent pulse, among the masses. They yearn for true change. There is a necessity to communicate to them the promise of legitimate change thru historical conventions which they already know and has been imbedded in the mass psyche or what others call the people's consciousness.

I still cling to the belief that the ultimate desire of every Filipino is really just to improve their lives. Without the proper mechanism in this system whereby it allows the spilling of economic gains to those who are in want, there would never be real change. When people in government desire only their individual comfort and serve not the masses which they have sworn to serve, there will never be a time when people will feel a sense of improvement in their lives.

Economic figures being released by government show a bullish economy. The thing is, if the economy is really improving and this is the time to avail of public resources to improve one's life, then, why are people not buying high-ticket items such as houses and lots? Why are people not risking enough? This is due to the fact that most people know what is really happening, and the situation right now remains a hand-to-mouth existence to most, instead of a "perfumed" kingdom as what Noynoy wants us to believe.

This administration started on the right path then veered away from it when traditional forces merged with the small reform-minded block behind those curtain walls. So-called reformist groups who positioned themselves or branded themselves as illustrious sons of a new revolution, have proven themselves unworthy of the task and instead, only bother to enrich themselves and those who continually support them.

Those who have fought Arroyo have been transformed into apologists of a system waiting to be destroyed. These people continually cling to the notion that all is not lost, and this system remains viable and is still "salvage-able". No.

This system is ripe for the picking, and change should be made immediately along the lines of what the illustrious Supremo envisioned when he staged the Katipunan revolution. At best, this society which the Katipunan wanted is akin to the welfare state, with a socialist economy. This kind of political arrangement should immediately be implemented in this country to avoid it going down the path of anarchy.

Three years and there will spring forth, a New Katipunan revolution, one that is pure in its intentions and one that will bring prosperity in a land peopled by honest men and women who only desire an equitable and just society.

Noynoy as 16th President of the Philippines

A government, in order to be legitimate, must get the approbation of its citizenry, whose voice is Law.

A reader by the name of Lucille commented that I referred to Noynoy as our 16th instead of our 15th President. Well, Lucille, I still maintain the position that our beloved new president is actually our 16th if you consider the government established by Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio as a legitimate one. I had a chance to review my history, especially documents during the 1896-1898 revolt and found that the meeting held by the Katipunan on August 1896, was indeed one that established a purely legitimate government. In fact, even prior to this establishment, there was a fully functioning de facto government among the Filipinos during those times, and this includes even non-Katipuneros. The Katipunan government had a fully functioning de facto government, with its own executive, legislative and judicial branches. Its influence goes down through the barangay level. And the people recognized this government as a counter-government.

There were attempts made by the Katipunan to get international recognition, first from Japan, then the United States. A commission of Filipinos led by Doroteo Cortez and Jose Maria Basa was responsible in establishing diplomatic relations for and on behalf of the Katipunan government in 1896.

Now, regarding the one established by Aguinaldo, Mabini, one of the brilliant minds in that generation, said that it had a fatal flaw--it actually made the Philippines a protectorate of the United States, who, at that time, won the battle against Spain.

So, whose "government" is legitimate, particularly in the eyes of the Filipinos? Was it Bonifacio's whose Katipunan-inspired government was considered legitimate by the Filipinos? Or the one established by Aguinaldo in Malolos who actually followed the provisions of the Treaty of Paris and handed the Philippines over to the Americans as a protectorate? You judge.

The History of the Filipino People

This is the second installment of the History of the Filipino People. This is another gift which I want to share with my fellow Filipinos throughout the world.

Let us not forget that we have a rich revolutionary history and we are not a people who will let injustice and tyranny reign in our beautiful country. Onward with the struggle towards a Just and Humane Society!

Onward with the Struggle!

I offer this video to the millions of Filipinos throughout the world who long for Truth, Justice and Peace to our Motherland.


We can make change happen in our country if we'll only unite and fight those who continue to suppress our freedoms and rights. Fight for what is right. Establish a government that shall pursue democracy and freedom.

I love you all. Ituloy ang Laban! Don't wait for change to happen. Unite now and act to defend the Motherland from those who want her destruction.

Let's all be Bagong Maginoo ng Bagong Henerasyon! (By the way, you can see this video on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_NYNiPLBnM)

Rizal's death led to Elite Leadership in KKK

What's so significant about Rizal's death that we celebrate it a full thirty days after Bonifacio's birth? Does this signify anything at all?

Is Rizal's death more important than his birth in June? I understand why we celebrate Bonifacio's birth instead of his death because, by commemorating his untimely death at the hands of traitors such as Arroyo's great great ancestor Major Makapagal, we will be opening a can of worms.

Bonifacio was betrayed by the ascendant elite who want to wrestle the leadership of the revolution from the middle class represented by the Supremo. His death marked the change in the complexion not only of the revolutionary struggle, but also, marked a paradigm shift in the philosophical world view of the entire organisation. Bonifacio's death would also re-ignite passions and open old wounds and reveal the unsavory legacy of such big names now as the Paternos, the Aguinaldos, the Makapagals, the Aquinos and the like---all traitors of the True Revolution but now, enjoying some semblance of respect for their alleged roles in the revolution.

Rizal's death is significant for three reasons: one, it further add fuel to the Katipunan revolt. It served as fodder which led to the "defining moment" of decisive strategic victory in 1899. (Let me disabuse your minds: contrary to public view, Rizal's death did not trigger the Katipunan revolt. The Katipunan has already declared a revolt prior to Rizal's execution). Two, Rizal's martyrdom became a "cause" instead of just merely an "incident". His stature in society lent credence to the blossoming revolutionary struggle thereby attracting other sectors to the Katipunan. His execution showed the elite that it's existence is being threatened by the true-blooded Spaniards who did'nt even considered those half-breeds as equals. And lastly, his death was perceived as an "omen", a "fulfillment of a prophecy", which, all the more even enjoyed more publicity since it was done at the turn of a century. It was both an historic and propitious moment. Propitious in the sense that it further fueled fears of a millenarian end and the cause of a New Beginning for the country.

Yet, by celebrating his death rather than his birth, we are sending a message that his demise has been far more important to us that the legacy of his successful life. Rizal's death will not be as controversial, as monumentally important or as significantly tremorous where it not for his popular works. Culturally, we Filipinos celebrate our birthdays more than Halloween, but in this case, we put greater importance to Rizal's death rather than his birthday. What kind of paradigm are we really following here? Or what sociological viewpoint do we want to stress? Are we then dismissing Rizal's contributions to the medical field and now recognizing that, apart from Noli and Fili, Rizal's legacy in imparting new ideas in those fields which he so took part of, are miniscule compared to this contemporaries? Are we then, indirectly saying that, apart from his death, truly, Rizal is no more than a mere eye doctor who happened to have many girlfriends and wrote two novels and who came from a perfumed life but who elected to live a Spartan one because of his previous experience at the hands of two politically incorrect Spanish officers? Had he not died in Bagumbayan, will we ever even look at him as a hero?

Probably not, because at that time, the Katipunan has already succeeded the La Liga Filipina as the ascendant revolutionary organisation. Bonifacio already launched the revolt prior to Rizal's death so it is not historically accurate to say that Rizal's death led him to revolt. No. Rizal's death just crystallized the united front against colonialism. It just lead to a realization of the elite of the futility of further supporting the foreign power and the importance of seizing leadership of the blossoming revolt from a middle class millenarian believer to a Republican.

Rizal's death just signified the beginning of a leadership shift of the revolution from the masses to the "enlightened" caciques who were fighting a different cause, far, far different from the "cause" of the masses. Prior to the ascendancy of the Pinoy elite clique to the Katipunan leadership, the "cause" of the masses can be described as "agrarian" based. When leadership changed hands with the demise of the Supremo, the "cause" changed from "agrarian" to "nationalism" or even another abstract concept as "Republicanism".

The paradigm shift is premature since the previous Katipunan concept has not been distilled as yet by the masses who supported it. But since the change has been abrupt, it also affected the very nature and conduct of the revolutionary struggle. Worse, the Katipunan was infiltrated by the caciques which further weakened the entire struggle. That explains why, after nearly in victory over the Spanish, the movement was weak when the Americans came. Precisely because the support structures were absent during the arrival of the new conquerors. And what are these structures? The masses serve as the Katipunan structures. But since, there was a disjunct between "cause" and "prevailing belief", the structures crumbled. This, historically, is what Rizal's death really signified.

My take on the Bloggers vs. Trad Media Thing

First, do bloggers need gatekeepers? Answer, no. By the very nature of blogging as a journal we don't need an editor, unlike those in the mainstream media.

Second, is the lack of a gatekeeper the primary reason why traditional media practitioners don't consider us a part of the media industry? Yes. The statements of some journalists about the lack of gatekeepers are being used to delimit or even marginalize our important part in the information environment.

Third, is the lack of a gatekeeper a justifiable ration d'etre for bloggers not to be classified as true journalists? No. Bloggers are your online opinion-makers, your columnists, your influencers, your 3rd party endorsers even.

Fourth, is the blogsphere media? Yes, the blogsphere is media because it fits with the elements and description of a media outlet, especially since it has its own loyal audience.

Lastly, a blogger who's a bonafide member of the blogsphere, of this New Media, can he be considered a journalist? Yes. A journalist is one who professionally writes on what's happening in an outlet, either print or electronic media.

If a blogger, for example, writes due to his passion, can he then be classified as a journalist? Some would say, no, because he's not being paid to write articles for a living. Point to me a journalist that is not paid to write by his publication or a network. So, is a passionate foodie blogger or a tech blogger who writes for free and is not paid, will he be considered a journalist?

Yes, by all means, yes. Why? Because the money aspect is irrelevant. A blogger, like a journalist, is a writer. Whether he writes for money or his passion is irrelevant. A blogger has an outlet to express his thoughts, his observations, like a journalist.

So, those who castigate and belittle the blogger, think again. The blogger is the newest evolution of the journalist. He is the latest version of your everyday journalist. He writes because he loves writing. He observes because he loves to express what he feels, what he sees, what he hears. He's not only a citizen journalist.

In fact, the blogger is more than your ordinary journalist.

A blogger is your purest journalist because he writes without compromise. He is the purest of the pure. He competes with himself and does not write due to profit. No.

The blogger is your true journalist.

Palparan--Liability for the entire AFP

The Court of Appeals just found retired General Jovito Palparan liable for the disappearance of two farmers in 2006. This is concrete evidence of the culpability or complicity of the AFP in human rights violations. Do we expect this administration to prosecute The Butcher?

I extremely doubt it.

This administration has an unspoken policy against its enemies. And this policy involves elimination. Arroyo started the ball rolling with a declaration of war against the CPP-NPA-NDF. The AFP has a deadline--2010. Arroyo also pronounced death on the MILF and the ASG. The AFP has been unsuccessful so far. Why? Because the people hate them. And why do the people hate the AFP?

One, the AFP establishment continues to support an illegitimate president. Two, it continues to lie about its part on human rights violations. And third, it continues to stifle dissent from its ranks. Reform-minded officers are put in jail and those who advocate for the total cleansing of the ranks are branded as destabilizers.

Palparan's continued stellar role as this administration's Berdugo adds to the people's distrust. What's worst, Palparan's taste for blood continues even after his tenure as Army general. Much worst is this news that Palparan had a role in the killing of a Davao journalist upon the alleged instigation of a legislator. Palparan, now a paid assassin? I surely hope not. Because this puts the anti-Communist campaign on a very bad light.

It is to the best interest of the AFP to silence Palparan. Otherwise, we may yet see the people themselves silencing the braggart.

Magno's relevance

Philippine Star Columnist Alex Magno said that the CPP-NPA-NDF is becoming irrelevant. I ask Magno--what's relevant to him? Supporting an illegitimate and extremely becoming a conjugal dictatorship such as this Arroyo regime? What money can do for Magno.

Magno became "relevant" when he was used by Speaker Joe de Venecia in decimating the Estrada regime. After the successful coup d'etat, Magno was appointed to various positions in government. Magno became rich (ten million pesos richer, I was informed) when he sold his soul to the trapos. People in the academe says that Magno was a great loss to the movement because he's one of those who hold promise as a socialist.

I dare say with certainty that Magno is not a loss. In fact, it was a blessing for the Movement to have Magno exposed as an opportunist and a great double-agent.

If Palparan is this state's agent of physical destruction, Magno serves as its ideological ivory tower breaker. These two stooges form part of a team of deconstructionists whose sole task is to debilitate the Movement. I do believe however, that these two stupid dogs will die before the Movement totally loses relevance.

First, the Movement will live on, probably not in its complete form as a Marxist-Leninist-Mao Zedong thought organisation but as a totally dynamic socialist movement. The CPP-NPA-NDF will continue to innovate and assume forms attuned to the times. This is its fate. If it's really the genuine people's party, it will accept the winds of change instead of holding on to the Red Book.

Second, its 39 years of existence shows its enemies that the Party will survive the ravages of time, probably not in the form it envisage decades ago, but in a form still adherent to Maoism yet totally open to other socialist ideas of this time.

And third, the form that the Party will assume is now in its infancy. Going back to the tenets of the Katipunan, which the CPP-NPA-NDF recognizes as its original roots, the Party will continue to be relevant to those among us who want change.

I dare say and I say with certainty, Magno will lose relevance in 2008 and beyond along with Palparan because the people will see beyond their facades and deceit and find lapdogs with hollow brains and saliva flowing from their mouths. As the Bible says, they will be men who'll swallow their own puke.

A soldier as president

History has been extremely kind for the bold. European and Asian histories have seen ascensions by strong willed individuals whom the public adore yet the elites despise. I will not cite case histories here because if you read a lot, you'll know what I mean.

In my later blog, I said that the present crop of political parsonages suffer from lack of political differentiation. I cited the Liberal Party as one example. Though it has a fresh lineup of young blood, the party still lacks concrete image branding in the minds of the people. Yes, it positions itself as an antithesis to the NP and even Lakas. Yet, it does not do enough to position itself away from its category of being a traditional political party.

What the recent 2006 elections show us is that cheating and election manipulation prove ineffective when a party positions itself as a movement for reforms. The campaign of Trillianes is a brilliant case study. Despite the lack of campaign funds, it won the elections because election cheaters fear for their lives if they cheat Trillianes of his well-deserved victory and the overwhelming numbers of people who voted for him destroyed whatever sinister cheating plans or machinery they have against him. The LP can win like this but they need to differentiate themselves from the rest of the flock if they want to avert a loss.

The possibility of having a former soldier as president remains strong. What would prevent the Magdalo from launching a presidential campaign for Trillianes? Nothing except Arroyo. The Magdalo could register as a political movement and take on these trapo parties come 2010. First, they are differentiated in the minds of the people. Second, they have a cause. And third, this cause actually animates every Filipino mind.

One question though--momentum. The Bagong Katipunan has momentum cut out for it come the first quarter of January or even February. They have two options which they can use--either go for the jugular early on or wait for 2010. If they wait, many things could happen which could destroy momentum. In politics, which they have elected unwittingly or wittingly to participate, anything could happen. Fortunes change in a flicker. They could be rendered irrelevant in 2010 or maybe not. What is certain is that, they should not be blind to the opportunities God has presented to them now. Before the year ends, they should meet and talk about what they'll do in 2008.