YOU conducts organizational trainings throughout the country

Recently, the Young Organizers' Union (YOU), the civilian arm of the Young Officers' Union (YOU) has just conducted various discussion group (DG) sessions with its members nationwide. DG sessions were conducted in Santiago Ilocos Sur, Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac, Barangay San Jose in Antipolo Rizal, Davao City, Zamboanga, Roxas City in Mindoro and Jolo Sulu. Affiliate organizers also conducted food assistance programs in Manila, Taguig, Caloocan City, Paranaque and Muntinlupa, as part of its regular " Programa Para sa Tao" (PPT).

YOU has numerous partner organizer's groups nationwide. It has about 650,000 organizers and an estimated 1.2 to 1.3 million members. It is silently organizing and is in fact, looking for the day when the majestic sun will rise in the East.

YOU has not waivered in its principles and has, in fact, strengthened its ranks ever more. YOU acknowledged its historical roots---the Katipunan. The Bagong Katipunan has shown resiliency in the face of trapo politics.

Now, it is waiting for the day when it will fully realize its political aims---that of making laws for the sake of the majority of our people. It will be the day when slowly we see the emergence of a New Democratic Filipinism--an ideology for the People and by the People--in action.

Mabuhay YOU!

YOU Original Founder Running for President

This is verified information.

If things will not improve, the original founder of the Young Officers' Union (YOU) will run for president in the May 10, 2010 elections.

Superintendent Diosdado Valeroso, class president of Class 1982 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) intimated his desire to seek the highest post of the land to Patricio Mangubat, secretary general of the Young Organizers' Union before he left for China.

Valeroso, one of the original members of the Reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the predecessor of the Rebolusyunaryong Alyansang Makabansa, said that the present circumstances of our country is most depressing and ordinary people should go out of their comfort zones to fight for what is right, just and moral.

Valeroso who led the forces that ousted former dictator and president Ferdinand Marcos said that the situation in the Philippines is reminiscent of the days before Edsa Uno, where people started going out of their homes to look for solutions to the pressing problems of the country. Valeroso said that the only solution to the core problems of the Philippines is for Filipinos to unite behind a candidate who has the will to effect changes in society.

YOU and Bagong Pagasa

After reclaiming its historical legacy from other so-called claimants, the Young Officers’ Union (YOU) has just re-invigorated its grassroots organization with the founding of its civilian arm, the Young Organizers’ Union (YOU).

Led by its Secretary General Patricio Mangubat, the new YOU aims to uplift the lives of the youth and Filipinos living in urban communities in the Philippines. It strives to continue the struggle against bad governance and graft and corruption.

The YOU has about 750,000 member organizers’ nationwide and an estimated core grassroots organization of 2 million Filipinos not only in Metro Manila, but also in Bacolod, Davao, Northern and Central Luzon, some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The YOU main advocacy is the fight against traditional politics, graft and corruption, food security and enhancing the quality of life for every Filipino.

Today, it has launched its new logo. The logo symbolizes a mythical chalice of the sun, symbolising its desire to sacrifice itself for the service of the Fatherland. The sun at the center of the chalice symbolises "Bagong Pag-asa"--the new slogan of the YOU.

Carlos Maglalang, spokesperson and original founder of the YOU said that they hope that Filipinos would support the Young Organizers’ Union (YOU) in the 2010 elections, after the COMELEC approves its accreditation bid as a partylist organization.

For its part, Secretary General Mangubat said that the Young Organizers' Union will continue the legacy of its forebears by actively organizing the disparate forces in Philippine society.

"The unorganized masses deserve their own organization, " says Mangubat. " This is the New Pambansang Katipunan of the Filipino Masses."

YOU organizers are actively building new chapters in Region 1, 2,3,4-a, 4-b, 6, and ARMM.

Recently, the new YOU has aligned itself with the Democratic Party of the Philippines (DPP).

Who wants Noynoy to run?

Why are we so fond of emulating what Americans did or why do we always relish the idea of replicating a success story when it's always better to create something fresh and new?

Noynoy right now is re-tracing the steps of his mother, by doing the same things that her iconic mother did before she went into battle with Macoy. Many people, especially the CBCP thinks its touche. Some, however, think, it's a bad idea. In fact, many people see this as what we Filipinos call "hinihinog sa pilit."

Come to think of it, who really urged Noynoy to run? Is it really the Filipino People? If its the people, do we have concrete evidence that most of us really want him to run? Aside from those sheets of yellow paper that Ed Roces gave people to sign their names with, are there other proof that majority of us, Filipinos, really want him to sacrifice his personal freedoms and become our president?

If you listen quite closely, you'll find that only those who are either aligned with or sympathizes with the Liberal Party that says Noynoy is the one. Think about it. The rest of us Filipinos are not quite gaga over the idea simply because either we're already too pragmatic or we know that these times are quite different from Cory's.

Don't get me wrong. I want the best president to win, someone who really has the vision, the political will and the exact opposite of the one who sits illegally in that chair beside the Pasig. But, I don't want to say that I chose the lesser evil. Or, I don't want to arrive at a conclusion that I am voting into office someone who will just perpetuate elite domination at the expense of the majority.

This elections is not about personalities, I agree. It is about principles. It is about letting New Transformative Politics replace the existing old and traditional politics.

For many days now, I have been in deep contemplation. Unlike Noynoy, however, I am not about to consult my God for this one. I want to consult my people, whom I regard as the best political analyst in this country. What is their pulse? What are their feelings about this? And I don't agree that if Noynoy fails in this, that's the end of the New Transformative Politics. No. The struggle for a True, Just and Humane Filipino society will thrive with or without Noynoy.

Noynoy may be the candidate with a clean record, but so does Nicanor Perlas, and he's not getting the same reaction compared with Cory's son. Maybe because Perlas is not a Liberal and he does not have the machinery. But, he, indeed, has the principles and probably the best platform compared with all the rest of the candidates. And if this is really an election that would pit ideas against other ideas, then, Perlas deserves more of our attention than say, Noynoy who still does not have any.

Or, maybe the founder of the Young Officers' Union (YOU), my friend, Dado Valeroso, deserves more of our attention than what we're giving Noynoy. Valeroso has the academic credentials (MA from AIM). He sacrificed his life for the vision he believed in and even gave his career up just to build a New Society. And he silently wants to declare his candidacy for the presidency. Or, maybe Capt. Nicanor Faeldon deserves more of those adulations we heap on Noynoy. He's still out there on the run, convincing people of the viability of struggling against an illegal regime and getting nothing of the praises some people are giving Noynoy.

In the end I hate to say this, but we are being conditioned by media to accept Noynoy as the best alternative candidate. And probably he is. I just sincerely fear that Noynoy is being used by forces bigger than us who has vested interests, like the Lopezes whose power were marginalized under Arroyo. Or, maybe those businessmen controlling Makati wanted him to run to protect their businesses in case an Estrada or a Villar wins.

But, of course, if we, indeed want a Noynoy, then, why only now that we realize it and not before when we were on the verge of victory over Arroyo? Maybe, Conrad is right that Noynoy is destined for this. Maybe he really is the anointed. But, what are those things which Noynoy stands for? For freedom? For democracy? Or the perpetuation of elite rule?

PGMA paid 3 million pesos to 3 leaders to sign Y.O.U. death bill?

Yesterday, I got a chance to talk with a retired Marine major. He's now working for a Makati-based company. He went out of the service because he was disillusioned with the leaders of the reform movement.


I asked why? What was wrong?


The major said he's disappointed with the recent claim of leadership in the Young Officer's Union (YOU) by General Danny Lim.



" Carlos is right. Danny Lim is not the founding chair of the YOU. There's another who I will not name now."

The ex-major says it is totally uncalled for for Brig. General Danny Lim to call himself the founding chair of an organization, which in 2002, he reportedly declared as "dead."

"It was sometime in January 2002 that General Lim, Ariel Querubin and Abe Purungganan declared the Y.O.U. dead without even consulting other members of our organization. The YOU is not dead. It is still alive."

The marine major was privy to the negotiations between Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and three alleged YOU leaders namely Abraham Purungganan, Danny Lim and Ariel Querubin. The three, says the young major, agreed to "kill" the Y.O.U. in a so-called Statement called "Manifesto of Support".

The statement, which was published as a full-page ad in January 2002, was signed by 71 officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). That manifesto, says the major, was a fake.

" I talked with the officers who allegedly signed the manifesto and they denied it. I later learned that the three---Abe Purungganic 'The Messianic", Danny Lim and Ariel Querubin just lifted their signatures and pasted it in the statement."

What's worst, says the major, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reportedly gave 3 million pesos to the three officers. The sum, reveals the major, is for the three to sign the "death bill" against the Y.O.U.

" That's the problem with Mrs. Arroyo. Sinusupalpal niya ng pera ang mga kumakalaban sa kanyang administrasyon. Ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit naman tinanggap nina ser ang pera?" I was not able to answer back because I really don't know if they really did receive the money.

Later after the publication of the Manifesto of Support, Mrs. Arroyo promoted Lim to Brigadier-general. In 2006, Lim, together with some officers of the AFP, withdrew their support from Arroyo. He's since been incarcerated for alleged mutiny charges.

The major believes that Lim etal is not really true revolutionaries.

" If it is true that they're revolutionaries, why go to the trapo route? Kung ako sa kanila, I'll continue the fight against the Arroyo regime. Malala na nga ang sitwasyon tapos politika ang nasasa isip nina Lim at Querubin? Para nilang sinabi na mali ang ginawa nila at pagtakbo na lang sa pulitika ang dapat."

The major says that he'll only salute Lim and Querubin back if they'll withdrew their plans for politics and continue the struggle to change Philippine society the right way---thru a New Philippine Revolution.

The struggle continues! More on this in next entries...

2002: YOU is dead, says Gen. Danny Lim (updated)

"It's so strange", Carlos told me once when I chanced upon him a few days ago when I visited a sari-sari store, " that those who were not there, with us at EDSA, when we decided to fight it out with Macoy, are now the very ones shouting "hallelujahs!", praising its name. How in the name of God that this happened!"

I was not ready to answer back. Carlos, who was with the original group of the Reform the Armed Forces or RAM, was somewhat amused by the way things are unfolding, what with different people saying this and that about the EDSA revolt. When they went out and decided to stand their ground against Macoy, Carlos was then a young and idealistic officer. He was the one who told me how they decided to really just fight it out.

When Jake Malajacan and some RAM members were arrested, the rest of the RAM members were hold up in the safehouse (Ministry of National Defense). Macoy and Ver were playing it all up in the TV broadcast. Macoy threatened to blow these rebels to smithereens if they don't stop their "adventurism". Carlos and the rest of the RAM leadership saw the telecast.

Some of them wanted to just do their thing some other time. Yet, Carlos saw then the late Col. Rudy Aguinaldo who looked at the ceiling and counted. What on earth was Rudy up to! After counting, Aguinaldo just told the group that they have the upper hand and they must fight it out. That made the day for Col. Vic Batac, Red Kapunan, Tito Legaspi and Col. Gringo Honasan. They went out of their safehouse (security group at the Ministry of National Defense building) and marched straight to History.

" I never saw General Danilo Lim there," says Carlos. " Danny Lim was with Marcos at that time. And later on, when we decided to fight Cory, Danny just joined us because he wanted the old regime back. Lim was with Jimmy Zumel at the PMA academy teaching. Lim was never an original member of the Young Officer's Union (YOU). "

Ah, the Young Officer's Union (YOU), the organization that nearly brought the Cory Aquino administration to its knees. YOU was the lead during those tumultuous years under Cory. They made nine attempts, one nearly succeeded in that week-long war in 1989. Querubin was shot and left for dead only to resurrect a few minutes after being declared KIA.

" I was one of those who established the YOU and I remember that time, very vividly." says Carlos while sipping his favorite barako. " And I never saw Danny Lim there."

Eventually, most of those affiliated with the YOU got caught and was imprisoned. During Ramos' time, they, along with the RAM-SFP, forged a peace agreement with the government. Most of the officers went back to their barracks. Some, including Carlos, decided to serve the country as cops.

In 2001, the YOU leadership again spearheaded the revolt, this time, against former president Joseph Estrada. It successfully installed Mrs. Arroyo, who now rule this land with impunity and immorality. In December of 2002, Danny Lim and Ariel Querubin declared the YOU dead. Shortly thereafter, the original leadership of the YOU was prosecuted, and charged with ridiculous crimes. One of them was even shot and killed and the crime was blamed to an innocent organizer and co-founder of the YOU.

In 2005, Lim even said that YOU members were living ordinary and peaceful lives and that "any group could use the name "Young Officers' Union" for their own ends.

" Now, Danny and Ariel claim to be members of the YOU and that they use the very name of the organization to further their political careers. How ironic, right? They claim membership to an organization which they said already died in 2002. What on earth is that for!"

I understand where Carlos is coming from. Carlos, who sacrificed his life for his country, is now silently re-organizing and fortifying the organization which still struggles towards a True and Just Filipino society.