Labor department order no. 57-04 provides a different framework of inspection: instead of requiring all establishments to be inspected, it prescribes that larger companies may voluntarily assess themselves, and the smaller ones may be subject to advisory services. Francis Y. Capistrano

'The Secretary of Labor or his duly authorized representatives, including labor regulation officers, shall have access to employer's records and premises and the right to copy therefrom, to question any employee and investigate any fact, condition or matter which may be necessary to determine violations or which may aid in the enforcement of this code and of any labor law, wage order or rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto.' -- Art. 128, Labor Code


Labor standards inspectors: 209. Companies to inspect: 815,444.

With a rate of almost 4,000 business establishments per labor inspector, the enforcement of labor standards -- wage compliance and health and safety in particular -- is in a bad shape.

Furthermore, it would seem that the number of inspectors would remains the same, especially now that the government has admitted that it is in a fiscal crisis.

To address the situation, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas signed in January an order that would aid the department's inspectors in checking compliance to labor standards.

Department order (DO) no. 57-04 provides a different framework of inspection: instead of requiring all establishments to be inspected, it prescribes that larger companies may voluntarily assess themselves, and the smaller ones may be subject to advisory services.

Emilia Anaya, head of the labor inspection standards division of the Bureau of Working Conditions, (BWC), said that the sheer number of establishments is intimidating in terms of the labor inspectors's work load.

"The policy of the government is to go into every establishment. It seems impossible that we can go and inspect every establishment. So we thought of this scheme so there would be slight changes to the enforcement framework," she said

She noted, however, that not all of these are checked, if the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) regional offices make a priority list depending on the imminent hazards in a company's workplace, or if there are complaints against a company.

Nonetheless, she underscored the dilemma of labor inspectors: "Which company would come first?"

Section 1 of DO 57-04 has determined three means to ensure labor standards compliance, depending on the size of the company.

Large companies with more than 200 workers, as well as unionized establishments, will be subject to a self-assessment mode, wherein they would be allowed to check their compliance with labor standards based on a checklist provided by DoLE.

Establishments with 10 to 199 workers will still be subject to regular inspection. Those with lesser number of workers, or are registered as barangay micro-business enterprises (BMBEs), will be provided with advisory services to help them comply with labor laws.

According to DO 57-04, "Non-compliance with labor standards usually stem from inadequate understanding of the legal obligations by employers. The conduct of education and training services is seen as a means of ensuring voluntary labor standards compliance."

"There are mechanisms in big companies. Most of the time, there are unions, labor management councils, health and safety committees. So we want to really utilize all these implant mechanisms, so we don't really have to go into every establishment," BWC's Ms. Anaya said.

The self-assessment checklist has four pages and 70 items covering general labor standards -- such as wages, benefits and work hours -- and occupational safety and health standards.

It is to be distributed by the DoLE regional offices to companies within the first quarter of every year. A management representative and a union representative -- or an elected worker's representative in the absence of a union -- must jointly conduct the self-assessment and accomplish the checklist.

The checklist must be submitted to the regional offices within one month from the receipt of the checklist.

A regional monitoring team (RMT) would analyze the checklist for veracity and accuracy. If the RMT finds the checklist dubious, or if the workers complained against the conduct of self-assessment, the RMT would automatically subject the company to a spot check.

However, not all large companies and unionized establishments can avail of self-assessment.

Ms. Anaya noted that companies with complaints against filed with the DoLE, as well as establishments with hazardous work places, will still be subject to inspection.

She noted that this new framework has been presented to different trade unions and management councils.

At the other end of the spectrum, companies with less than 10 employees and BMBEs comprise almost 99% of all establishments in the country, said Ms. Anaya.

According to DO 57-04, regional offices "shall conduct training and advisory visits to assist small and micro establishments map out an improvement program geared at increasing productivity to facilitate their eventual compliance with labor standards."

"We want to help these establishments comply with the law," said Ms. Anaya.

She said that there is a one-year period wherein establishments covered by the advisory mode will undergo training. These would also be giving the establishments a one-year grace period from inspection. After one year, the establishments will be assessed if they indeed will already be able to comply with labor laws.

Ms. Anaya said the training for employers of the companies have started this year.

"If they're not willing [to be trained], they will be subject to inspection. If they are willing, we invite them to attend the orientations training seminars. It's for free, it's covered by the government," she said.

She noted that even if BMBEs are exempted from providing minimum wage to its workers, these are still not exempt from other benefits as well as health and safety standards.

Meanwhile, Employer's Confederation of the Philippines vice-president Sergio Ortiz Luis agrees to the new labor standards enforcement framework, given the DoLE's limited capacity.

"The reality is that DoLE has no capacity to inspect everyone: in terms of budget, in terms of manpower allocation," he said.

"They really have to come up with a system where they can randomly check effectively So segregating them in terms of sizes maybe something that might be useful rather than 'shot-gunning' everybody," he added. "It's an administrative way of doing things, understanding that there are limitations."

On the self-assessment mode for large companies, Mr. Ortiz-Luis, who is also chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, said that this approach is consistent with the good governance approach of corporate governance.

"Sometimes when you are confronted with a checklist, you come to realize where your shortcomings are, where your strengths are. And, somewhere along the line, some executives begin to realize that they have to strengthen in some areas," he said.

He does not see any room for abuse of the self-assessment mode. "If you do not properly complete the self-assessment, you're fooling yourself. But maybe you will not necessarily fool [DoLE] when they inspect you," he said, noting that the voluntary mode may, in fact, encourage a culture where firms correct their own errors.

Mr. Ortiza-Luis said the advisory services mode for smaller establishments "would be good. As a matter of fact, lately even the President [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] is saying that not only compliance by law but even value-formation is something that they would like to introduce to the different NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and communities I think it's also a gargantuan job."

NO CONSULTATION

However, the labor unions may not be as happy with DO 57-04.

Though it agrees to the new inspection framework, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said DoLE did not consult them on the department order.

Ariel Castro, TUCP director for education, said, "We did not hear of any consultative workshop or activity that would at least hear the views from the various sectors that would be affected or that will be held responsible for the implementation of this DO.

"What happened was that they released an order without first hearing what we have to say about this particular mode, this is basically new and a very different approach towards inspection."

He noted that DoLE usually gets in touch with TUCP when there are new orders that need the opinion of workers.

Mr. Castro said that as far as TUCP is concerned, "we welcome this strategy that we have been asking for a a long time from DoLE to at least make an upgrading or an honest-to-goodness assessment of its inspection mechanism."

"The worker has a large role to play in the self-assessment mode," he said, noting that this empowers the worker since the checklist cannot be valid if the labor representative did not confer with it.

However, "we are yet to hear of a plan on how the government would ensure that the worker is ready to take-on the responsibility in this DO," he said.

"I have not heard of any capacity building exercise or DoLE reaching out to provide training and information to workers about the contents and their eventual roles in the implementation of this DO," Mr. Castro added.

Another issue by Mr. Castro is easing the burden of inspectors, who may have more work to do with the new DO.

"DoLE will have a major role to play, I don't know how they see the impact of their role; in this case they willonly provide advisory services," he said, noting that small enterprises comprise a large majority of all firms nationwide.

He added, "Although the inspectors do their work, you hear of a lot of things that are detrimental to the work of the inspectors. You hear of corruption, you hear of all these things."

Mr. Castro was clueless as to how DoLE will prepare its inspectors to cover small enterprises, many f which have low regard for health and safety. "The inspectors who had a hard time doing their job before might have a heavier job now."

STRATEGY

He said there is a need for a grand design on how to improve working conditions.

"I don't think one DO can solve the problem alone. I think this starts with government prioritizing health and safety as a primary issue for its programs and activities. Job creation and job protection need equal attention," Mr. Castro said.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (May 1 Movement, or KMU), on the other, hand sees the framework by itself as flawed.

KMU chairman Elmer Labog said the DO's premise is questionable, adding that they don't believe that the voluntary mode will be implemented even with any amount of education.

He added that self assessment is next to impossible, since "in our experience as workers, we still have not encountered a benevolent employer."

Mr. Labog said due to increased competition among companies, especially during economic crises, many will ensure capital first and consider labor costs as variable, which they can expand or squeeze whenever they want.

He said for a self-assessment mode to succeed, a strong labor union should be present in an establishment; otherwise, the workers would be blind followers of management.

He added that only 10% of the total work force is unionized.

Mr. Labog said that there has to be regular labor standards inspection, but a problem occurs when it becomes a "root of corruption," alleging that, in some companies, the inspectors connive with the employers.

"What happens is that the worker is not able to know about the result of inspection," he added.

Instead of issuing similar orders, he said DoLE must first ensure the basic rights of workers: to unionize, to collectively bargain, and to strike.

He alleged that these rights are still violated now, with union-busting and contractualization of the work force.

Mr. Castro said that in economic zones, investors are lured by promising that the companies they will build will not be unionized.

"In a nutshel, how the Labor Code was written was very good, but its implementation is negative," said Mr. Labog.

Ang ginawa namin, kumain na lang kami sa Deep Red at lumagok ng tig-isang erbi. Sinama namin si Doug. Naisipan naming mag-rengga.

Nakita nga pala ni Doug ang isang kaibigan doon, si Denise. Isinali namin sa ikalawang rengga. Pero medyo iba ang hitsura ng pinagrenggahang papel sa kung ano ang makikita ninyo dito. Kasalanan ng alkohol.

(Ano? Rengga na naman? Wala na bang ibang saysay ang blog na ito kundi limbagan ng rengga? Paumanhin pero bukod sa mga sinusulat ko para sa BusinessWorld, ito na lang ang nasusulat "ko." Minsan, may tula. Bakit di na ako masyadong nakakapag-komentaryo? Ang kabalintunaan pala ng pagiging reporter ng diyaryo ay ganito: Ikaw mismo ay mawawalan ng oras magbasa ng diyaryo. Talk about alienated labor.)

Deep Red Renga # 2 sa Filipino

*Samantalang walang matirhan ang karamihan
sa ating mga kababayan, sa mga hotel naman
ngayon ay walang nangungupahan

Itinuturing ng mga ekonomista ang
'hotel occupancy' bilang indicator
na malala ang kalagayan ng ekonomiya

*Ngunit mahirap kapahin ang lalim
ng mga punto ng mga indicator
ng ekonomista.
Mahirap intindihin
sa mundo ng marmol at ginto.

*Ginto rin ang tanikalang gumagapos
sa akin at sa iyo; gintopa rin
ang nagsasalita't nasusunod; ginto
ang nagpapaikot ng mundo.
At oo, ginto siguro ang balangkas
na nilapatan ng bato at semento,
upang hindi upahan;bagkus,
upang gawing entablado
ng pambansang moro-moro.

*Ginto maging ang mga gripo
at mga kubyertos. Ginto maging
ang mga pihitan at mga kandado.
Ginto ang susi papasok
sa hotel, ginto ang ngipin
ng mga nangungupahan sa hotel.
At kung indicator ang 'hotel occupancy,
*Sa gitna ng ginto sa mga gilagid
ng mga nangungupahan sa hotel,
ng ginto sa susi't kubyertos
sa silaw na nawawala sa nangangalawang
na gripo kinukuha ng mga
ekonomista ang pangsukat ng kabuhayan
ng tao-*na siyang patunay na
oo nga, kinakalawang din ang ginto,

na oo, matibay ang Tore ng Hotel;
na oo, ang ginto't marmol ay matutunaw,
magsasa-abo, guguho,
guguho! Tulad ng kalawanging
bakal na banghay ng hotel ng
kumprador na guguho rin.

mga renggista: Kapi, Doug, Jonar

Deep Red Rengga # 1 Trilingual (salamat kay o kasalanan ni Jonar)

*Sun. Person. Tree. Flower.
The birds and the bees,
the flower and the trees
and the thing they call love.
The nicest fucking
thing on earth.

*And oh, I also saw the moon for the first time in what seemed to be
a year or so, determined by F=Gm₁m₂ and the numbers
                                                        r²
of gardens of dragons fucking, and oh, 311 blaring on worn-out speaker
from worn-out CD to stilettos of smoke from the last moonrise,
the last flock of butterflies, the last sprig of baby's breath.

*Beyond the moon and the blaring speakers on the worn-out CD
far beyond the fucking sounds of the dangerous moaning
lies the fool on the hill and the solitary wanderers
of old days
drinking beer and spearing barbecue chunks
from an old tin drum

*And guess what the nicest fucking thing on earth is?
it's the moon barbecued on a stick, grilled
by the torrid sun set on a hill from the other
side of the planet, where I planted
a seed the sun is currently forsaking.
I am a forsaken tree bugged by bees
for I cannot bear flowers I cannot bear
flowers I cannot bear fucking flowers.

*When it comes to real
all it takes is one second
pretty
flower
pretension
prettiest
word in
the world.
murmer
why? 'coz
it's how we
feel when we
like
ourselves.
sex.
in two words
this is near to
impossible
profound sex.

. *Y los arboles estan dormiendo tambien.
Y los flores, y un millon lunas.
¿A donde vamos el sol, los flores?
Soy una persona tengo plantano negro grande, y
dispalinghado. O buwan, o sun, nasaan
ang mga puno? Naglaho ba, tulad ng pag-ibig,
ng puking-inang mga punong pinupuke ang mga bulaklak?
Nilimot na, marahil, ng mga guhit, mga sugat.

*To forget the flowers, the trees and the music
the libidous dragons going beyond the deep,
the massless nothingness reaching out to
the Spanish, Filipino and the English
and forgeting the sky.

*And yes, up in the sky, is not a bird
but a flower we mistake for the moon,
the moon we mistake for barbecue.
And inserting the stick
through meat is the
nicest fucking thing
on this planet.

mga renggista: Denise, Jonar, Doug, Kapi
(note: the original transcript is much more chaotic and multimediaic (is there such a word?) than this.)

Mula nang 'inilimbag' ko rito sa blog ang kauna-unahan kong istoryang nailimbag sa diyaryo (i.e. ang tungkol sa pelikulang 'Imelda,' na di ko pa napapanood), may tatlo pa lang akong istoryang nalimbag: isang Stock Pick ng PLDT, obitwaryo para sa yumaong Sen. Arturo Tolentino, at isang istorya tungkol sa commercial overloading ng mga istasyon ng telebisyon. Bilang na bilang. Marami pang lalabas, lalo na ngayo't nagkakandarapa ako sa mga patay-guhit.

Masasanay at masasanay din (sa mga kasama ko sa Mata, pinagsisisihan ko na ngayon ang hindi ko pagsasanay sa pagtupad sa patay-guhit).

* * *

Ito naman, lumampas sa patay-guhit ng komunidad.

Noong Biyernes pagkatapos kong maburyong sa trabaho, dumiretso ako sa Deep Red para makipag-renggahan (at para na rin uminom ng erbi). Tutal, kay tagal ko na ring tagtuyot, baka may lumabas kapag naki-rengga. Naratnan ko roon si pareng Javie, si Peachy at si Em. Dahil umaambon-ambon, nagpasya na lang kaming tumuloy kina Javie (at the opulent Albert Residence). Sumunod sa amin si Wappy, at sinundo nila ang kaibigan nilang si Lyn, isang Lit Major. So doon kami nag-inuman, kuwentuhan, at iba pa. Pagsapit yata ng bandang alas-dose, nagrengga kami sa Filipino. Pagkatapos noon, nagbasahan ng mga tula. Hayop magbasa si Wappy ng "Howl" (Allen Ginsberg), gamit ang 'nakatikim ka na ba ng singkuwenta anyos' na boses. Ayun, wasak na kaming lahat (puwera kay Javie na gayot na sa tunggaan), at hinatid na ni Javie ang mga babae sa kani-kanilang mga dormitoryo. Doon na kami natulog ni Wappy.

Kinaumagahan, pagkagising namin, nagrengga muli. Hay, tulad nga ng sabi ni Javie, mga 'adik sa tula.' Siguro, sila na nasa paaralan pa't nag-aaral ng panitikan. Ako, sabihin na nating 'sabik sa tula.'

Narito ang dalawang renggang nag-aparisyon sa bahay ng lolo't lola ni Javie:

Albert Residence Rengga # 1 (ika-7 ng Agosto 2004)

*Lasing ako, Beybeh, at
marami pang iba.
*At marami pa akong nainom:
mula sa iba-ibang bote, iba-ibang baso,
iba-ibang dila ang nalalasahan ko.
At marami pang iba, beybeh, marami
pangibang labi ang lumulutang-lutang
sa isang libo't isang
*alak-serbesa-espiritu.
Nanunuot sa bawat ugat
ng katawan, ginagawang
bola ang isipan.
isinasayaw ng tala't buwan.
*At pagsabay sa indayog at ritmo
ng sumasaibayong katotohanan
nananaig, isinasambulat
ng bawat labing dumadaplis
sa bawat basong hinahawakan,
at pinanghahawakan--
Hindi ako lasing.
Hindi ako sabog.

*Sa totoo lang, pare ko, sinusubukan
lang kitang sabayan, ang bilis,
ang layo ng iyong tinatahak, at ako'y
'di hamak na basang sisiw sa lasingan,
*Pero hindi ako lasing, hindi ako sabog.
Isa lang akong basang sisiw na handang sumabog
kabag sinilaban. Kaya huwag mo, pare, huwag
mo akong silaban, ang mga balahibo ko'y
magtitila-tala kapag sinindihan.
*Hayaan mo nang kumunot ang
noo, humilab ang tiyan,
umiikot-ikot ang kaluluwa't
katawan. Pinilit kong
masakyan sa siklab ng kidlat, pare
nang hindi ka isinasama.
*Hahanap-hanapin ang sayaw ng mga tala
ang pag-ikot ng mundo
ang paghimas ng tuyong balahibo
na maaaring umapoy
sa sandaling matikman
nang panandalian ang sukdulan.
Gaya ng pagdaplis ng libong mga labi
sa basong may serbesa, alak, at espiritu.
Hindi ako sabog
Hindi ako lasing.

(mga renggista: Wappy, Kapi, Javie, Lyn)

Albert Residence Rengga # 2 (ika-7 ng Agosto 2004)

*I'm drunk and I love you.
Not to say that when the
substances leave my blood,
so do you: but I feel you
nearer to me than each drop
of scotch, each gasp for
breath after each sip.
You seek me out more
completely than each
vodka-7, and turn me
inside out more than each
chunk of vomit

*It is you who spins my world, Love, and
not the slurred vowels that spill from
the reflected pools of crystal white wine,
backwashed like the ebb and flow
of my consciousness. The sound of my
slow consonants chop the verses of A,E,I,O and U
slow countenance with words wells up inside me
and I begin to fumble incoherently with
my tongue, so I just lick the fine edge of
the rim of such icy glass,

*such feverish hands, such icy stare, cold
as your teeth sink into my spine, love.
And don't leave me here, don't you dare
melt on me like a forgotten scotch on the rocks,
don't leave me here like a lonely shot
of white wine whiplash wimpy whatever, don't
you dare leave me, sweating heavily and
making malicious circle marks on the
marble table, don't leave me here, love,
hands feverish and slimy like a forgotten
glass of scotch for the waiter to pick up.

(mga renggista: Javie, Wappy, Kapi)

* * *

Kaunting puna lang: maaari bang ilayo sa konteksto ng inuman ang mga rengga natin? Mukhang imposible iyon, pero maaari kaya tayong sumubok ng ibang paksang walang may kinalaman sa alak? Kung hindi, eh di buuin na nga natin ang Kilusang Wasak. Hehe.

(Kaunting pahabol: sumuko na ako sa wakas sa kalokohan kong tinaguriang "mga tulang indicator." Sa mga di nakakaalam, magtanong sa isang kasapi ng bawal isilang dito).

Isang laro na ehersisyo sa pagsusulat ang rengga, kung saan magsasalong bumuo ng isang tula ang dalawa o higit pang manunulat. Sisimulan ng isa, at ipapasa sa iba pagkatapos ng dalawang minuto (ideyal) para ituloy nila ang tula. Kailangang manatili ang kaisipang nasimulan, at kailangang maitali ang lahat ng naidaragdag. Sa pagre-rengga, bagamat may mga nagpupumilit ng kani-kanyang imahe (at maaari ring nambabara ng iba), nagkakaroon ng milagro at nabubuo ng komunidad ang tula.

Kanina, dalawang rengga ang ginawa namin: isa sa ingles (lahat sumali), at isa sa filipino (kaming tatlo ni Mikael at ni Javie ang nag-threesome dito). Wala akong kopya ng rengga sa ingles. Narito ang unang rengga sa filipino na ginawa ng mga "renggista" ng Rod's Deep Red Mart:

25 Hulyo, 2004: Rod's Deep Red Mart Rengga #1 sa Filipino

(kael)Ganito: kung hihilingin kong
hayaan mo akong uminom, huwag kang
mag-alala: mahal pa rin kita.
Pawis sa namamanas na bote, bulang
umaapaw, kumakawala sa labi ng baso,
iyan ka sa akin, iyan ka,
(kapi)isang bote ng serbesang nanginginig sa lamig,
sabik sa mainit-init at namamawis kong
labi. At huwag kang mag-alala: ako man din
ay nananabik din, nananabik ang lalamunan
sa lamig-init mong paghagod
sa pagal kong kalamnan, sa pagal kong katawan,
(javie) sa butong unti-unting
nadudurog sa pakikipagbuno
sa mga pinuno.
Kailangan ko ang dalisay
ng haplos sa likod,
mainit, at malinamnam,
may hatid na pag-asa.
(kael)At ano ang pag-asa? Lagi, palagi, sinta,
bumabalik ito sa iyo: kumakawalang-asó
sa aspalto, paglitaw ng iyong mukha
sa likod ng namamagang ulap sa ibabaw
ng nangangatal na mga bituwin,
tinta sa nagnanasang papel, ikaw,
ikaw at ang karayom sa bawat patak
ng ulan, ikaw at ang sugatang lansangan,
ikaw at itong mapangutyang gabi,
(kapi)ikaw at ang bawat butil ng
hamog sa namamawis na bote ng serbesa
na nilalagok ko sa mapangutyang gabing ito.
Ikaw ang ginhawa, ikaw ang inaasam-asam
na pagkahilong humihilot sa kumikirot kong
bumbunan, nananakit sa kaiisip
at sa katititig sa matatalim
na mga ilaw sa lungsod, ikaw ang pagkahilong
nagpapapanglaw sa maliliwanag na ilaw,
nagpapapurol sa tagak na tangan ng liwanag.
(javie)Ikaw, sinta.
Mangyari mang malunod
sa serbesa, o matangay
man lang ng bula.
Sa simula't simula,
hanggang sa wakas ng wakas
ikaw pa rin.

Nakalimutan ko bang sabihing may inumang kasama ito? Hehe. Minsan nga, magtungo kayo sa Rod's Deep Red Mart para tumungga ng ilang beer at umiri ng ilang berso at talinhaga. Tuwing Biyernes, pipilitin kong dumaan. Sina Mikael at ang tropa, mukhang naroon araw-araw.

Di man namin inisipang i-alay kaninuman ang rengga, iniaalay ko ito kay PJ, iniaalay naman ito ni Mikael kay Lij, at palagay ko ay inaalay ito ni Javie sa sinumang suwertehing makatanggap ng kanyang pagmamahal at panroromansa.

Nahuhumaling ako ngayon sa pakikinig sa mga CD na kabibili ko lang noong nakaraang Sabado (sapagkat kaka- sahod ko lang noong nakaraang a-kinse). Bumili ako ng dalawang CD (tatlo, sa katunayan, dahil double album yung isa): yung isa, ang pinaka-huling CD ni John Scofield (o ng The John Scofield Band): überjam. Yung isa naman, katipunan ng mga dati nang nailabas na kanta ni Joe Satriani: The Electric Joe Satriani: An Anthology. Inabot ako ng higit sa isang libong piso, o humigit-kumulang sa walong porsiyento ng unang sahod ko (kayo na ang bahalang magsipnay).

Marahil, higit na pamilyar sa inyo si Satch (Joe Satriani) kaysa si Sco (John Scofield). Rakenrol ang tug- tugan ni Satch (alam nating lahat iyon, o at least yung mga nakakakilala sa kanya). Siguro, higit na di-kilala si Sco dahil maskipaps (o jazz) ang kanyang musika, at hindi ganoon ka-sikat ang naturang genre sa Pilipinas (ang tanging jazz na alam ng mga Pilipino ay ang naririnig sa mga istasyong Citilite, na wala na ngayon, at Crossover, at pagkatiwalaan ninyo ako sa pagsasabing hindi pangkalahatan ng jazz ang tinutugtog sa mga istasyong iyon).

Gayumpaman, bakit nga ba ako nahihilig na makinig sa dalawang gitaristang nabanggit? Sabihin na natin-- hindi sa pagmamayabang--na nakahanap ako kay Satch at Sco ng kapareho ng estilo sa pagtugtog ng gitara. At sabihin na rin natin--hindi sa pagmamaliit ng sarili--na sa kanila ko nahanap ang estilo at gilas ng pagtugtog na nais kong tularan (ngunit hindi tahasang gayahin).

Ano ba ang meron kay Satch? Mahilig siyang magpatili ng gitara, una sa lahat, at kaya niyang gawin ang mga tiling hanggang ngayon ay di ko alam kung paano gawin. Siyempre, alam naman nating lahat na pagka-bagal-bagal ng mga daliri ko, at siyempre, nais kong habulin ang tulin ng pagtakbo ng mga daliri ni Satch sa mga kuwerdas. At pati mga daliri niya sa kanang daliri ay matino niyang napalulundag-lundag sa mga kuwerdas (i.e. two-hand tapping technique). Mahilig din siyang magpa-garalgal at magpa-dagundong ng gitara: metal sa mga pangangailangan. Antemiko naman ang karamihan sa kanyang mga solo, nananatili sa utak ang mga himig. Pero ang gusto ko sa kanya, hindi niya kailangang "magdiyakol" (ang nakahiligan kong tawag sa sobrang bilis na pagtugtog na hindi na maintindihan ang mga nota) para lamang makakapag-solo: Kahit isang nota lang, kaya niyang bigyan ng emosyon.

At kailangan ko ring banggiting si Satch ang nagturo kay Steve Vai at Kirk Hammet (ng Metallica) na tumugtog ng gitara.

Si Sco naman, hindi basta-basta maskipaps: jazz- rock ang tugtugin niya, na may higit na pagkiling sa funk (kaya ako tuwang-tuwa nang mapakinggan ko ang CD niya). Kasabay ng umiindak na mga tambol at baho, nagsasayaw rin ang paggigitara ni Sco: lumulundag, umuunat, kumakandirit, parang batang nakarinig ng "Ispageti." Sisimulan niya muna ng mabagal na linya (para ma-establish ang emosyon ng kanta), at saka na siya magwawala, maski papaano: mabibilis na matitinis na mga linya, mahahabang paunat at paiyak na mga nota. Kung minsan, parang hip-hop na naglalakad sa kalye, parang payasong nagpapaka-kengkoy sa isang handaan, parang magsing-irog na nagtatalik: mga tunog na nais ko pang matutunang gawin sa aking gitara.At kaiba sa kara- mihan ng mga gitarista sa jazz, nilalagyan ni Sco ng kaunting distortion ang gitara niya. Dahil dito, nagtutunog trumpeta, saxophone, o organ (yung tunog-Hammond na nakasaksak sa mga Leslie Speakers) ang kanyang mga linya.

At, lingid sa kaalaman ng marami, tulad ni Satch, ine-endorso rin ni Sco ang Ibanez. Pareho silang may signature model sa ibanez. At naglalaway ako tuwing makikita ko ang mga gitara nila. Kay Satch ang JS Series, mga gitarang super strat ang disenyo, mabibilog ang mga sulok ng katawan, makikintab na mga pintura (may isa nga siyang personal na gitara na tinubog sa chrome), may dalawang humbucker na pickup at pang-Gibson na switch . Kay Sco naman ang JSM Series, katulad ng Gibson ES-335 (tignan ang nakaraang post ukol dito) ang disenyo ng katawan, eleganteng headstock at tinubog sa ginto ang mga bakal na bahagi ng gitara.

Ngunit huwag kayong mag-alala sa paghanga ko kina Satch at Sco. Nangangako akong hindi gagawin ang mga sumusunod:
1) Maging Joe Satriani o John Scofield imitation (mananatili pa rin ang aking mga "kapi-isms" kahit sa pagtugtog ng gitara);
2) Bumili ng pagka-mahal-mahal na JS o JSM Series na gitara ng Ibanez (mas gugustuhin kong magpasadya ng gitara sa RJ. O ha, magkaka-custom guitar series na rin ako. Pero kailangan kong aminin: ang una kong naisip na disenyo para sa gitara ay ipa-tubog ang katawan nito sa chrome. hehe.);
3) Sambahin si Satch at Sco, sa puntong hindi na ako nakikinig sa iba pang gitarista (balak ko pa namang magsaliksik pa ng mga gitaristang rakenrol at maskipaps na maaari pang tularan/ nakawan ng licks;
4) Magpakalbo.

Ang Tungkulin ng Makata
Pablo Neruda

Sa sinumang hindi nakikinig sa dagat ngayong
Biyernes ng umaga, sa sinumang nasa loob
ng bahay, opisina, pabrika o babae,
o kalye o minahan o tuyong bartolina:
sa kanya ako lumalapit, at walang kaimik-imik
binubuksan ko ang pinto ng piitan,
at isang walang-katapusang ugong ang maririnig,
dagundong ng kulog na nag-uugnay
sa bigat ng planeta at bula ng alon,
mag-aalsa ang namamaos na mga ilog ng dagat,
manginginig ang bituin sa kanyang mga talulot
at ang karagatan ay titibok, papanaw, magpapatuloy.

Kaya, bilang pag-alinsunod sa aking tadhana,
dapat kong pakinggang lagi at pakaingatan
ang panaghoy ng dagat sa aking budhi,
dapat kong damhin ang hampas ng matigas na tubig
at ipunin iyon sa isang tasang walang-hanggan,
nang sa gayon, saanman naroroon ang nakabilanggo,
saanman siya dumaranas ng parusa ng taglagas,
makasisipot akong kasama ang gumagalang alon,
makapapasok ako sa mga bintana,
at ang sinumang makarinig sa akin ay titingala
at magtatanong: Paano ko mararating ang dagat?
At walang kibo kong iaabot sa kanila
ang alingasngas ng mumunting alon,
ang pagsambulat ng bula at buhangin,
ang anasan ng asin na kusang humihiwalay,
ang abuhing hiyaw ng ibon sa dalampasigan.

At sa pamamagitan ko, ang kalayaan at ang dagat
ay tutugon sa pusong nasa karimlan.

Kapalit ng nasabing address, lumikha ako ng bagong email address, kapicapistrano@tinig.com, na gagamitin ko para sa mga egroup.

Kung nais ninyong personal na magpadala ng email sa akin, mainam na gamitin ang kapi@matanglawin.org.

Magkakaroon din ako ng email address mula sa Businesswolrd kapag regular na ako pagkatapos ng anim na buwan.

Independent filmmaker Ramona Diaz expressed disappointment over the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Imelda, the controversial documentary film that she directed on the former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos.

"It's freedom of the press and of expression that's put in question here," she said.

Ms. Diaz also said she found it ironic that Ms. Marcos sought for the TRO on the film, especially since some critics of the film said it was soft on the wife of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.

My intention was never to malign her... neither am I an investigative journalist. I'm a filmmaker." said Ms. Diaz in a press conference yesterday.

She pointed out that her film aimed to show Ms. Marcos as a complicated character "beyond the caricature of a woman that has 3,000 pairs of shoes."

She added that she intended to give Ms. Marcos "her say in a film that would be balanced, fair to her and also fair to the situation-at-large." She did not intend to do a "hatchet job," which was, according to her, easier and has been done before.

In an affidavit Ms. Diaz showed to the media, she said: "I deny having misled Mrs. Marcos into thinking that the filming we were doing was for the purpose of a thesis documentary." The former first lady earlier made such an allegation.

She also said in the affidavit that Ms. Marcos actually signed in 1997 a pro-forma personal release document, which indicated that she gave permission to use her "name, likeness, voice, biography and history in connection with the production, distribution, and exploitation" of the film.

She also said she did not do a propaganda film, but rather, "I'm more interested, more than the black and white, the grays in between, because I don't think it helps any discourse to say good or evil. I think it's better to understand what makes a person like Mrs. Marcos thrive in this culture."

"My surprise is there are really bad pieces on her done by the western press," said Ms. Diaz. "Why didn't she go after them?"

She also said "what the oppositional voices say in that film is nothing new. She's heard it before, everyone has heard it before, so I don't know what is the fuzz about it." She also pointed out that majority of the film were interviews and footages of Ms. Marcos and her family and friends.

"Why shouldn't [Filipinos] see [the film]? Everybody else in the world is watching it," Ms. Diaz said.

She wanted Filipinos to watch the film, especially the youth whom she said have no memory of Martial Law and the people's uprising in EDSA in 1986 that followed.

The showing of the film is still being discussed at the Supreme Court. Unitel Pictures, the distributor of the film, earlier filed with the Supreme Court a petition to review the TRO issued by Makati RTC Judge Ma. Cristina Cornejo.

"We're confident that the rule of law would prevail," said Tito Velasco, marketing head of Unitel Pictures.

On the publicity gained by the documentary, "Any whiff of banning something makes it more interesting," said Ms. Diaz.

Si Noel Cabangon ang tumutugtog ngayon, mahal. Di kasing-
lagong ng kay Joey Ayala ang boses niya, pero dinuduyan
pa rin ako ng malalim na hagod nito. Mula sa lalim ng
dibdib niya, mahal. Mula sa kanyang gulugod, sa kanyang
bituka, sa kanyang ngala-ngala, mahal. Mula sa kaibuturan
ng kanyang kaluluwa. Likod man lamang niya ang tanaw ko
mula sa labas, nangungusap pa rin.

At ako lang yata ang nagtatangkang pumalakpak dito sa
labas, sa harding napalilibutan ng mga punong mala-saging.
Nakatukod ang siko ko sa basang mesang marmol, binasa
ng hamog mula sa mga bote ng serbesa. Apat na mesa lang
ang okupado dito sa labas, mahal. May tig-dalawang aninong
nag-uusap. Ako lang yata ang pumapalakpak, mahal. Ako
lang yata ang nag-iisang nagtatangkang pumalakpak. Ako
lang yata ang nag-iisang hinahagod ng boses ni Noel
Cabangon, ang nag-iisang dinuduyan ng boses niyang mula
sa kaibuturan ng kanyang dibdib, ng boses niyang mula
sa gulugod, mula sa bituka, mula sa ngala-ngala. Mula
sa kailaliman ng aking kalamnan ang pangungulila.

(p. 6-8)

"Any modern propaganda will, first of all, address itself at one and the same time to the individual and to the Masses. It cannot separate the two elements. For propaganda to address itself to the individual, in his isolation, apart from the crowd, is impossible. the individual is of no interest to the propagandist; as an isolated unit he presents much too resistance to external action. To be effective, propaganda cannot be concerned with detail, not only because to win men over one by one takes much too long but also because to create certain convictions in an isolated individual is much too difficult. Propaganda ceases where simple dialogue begins. [...] Conversely, propaganda does not aim simply at the mass, the crowd. A propaganda that functioned only where individuals are gathered together would be incomplete and insufficient. Also, any propaganda aimed only aat groups as such--as if a mass were a specific body having a soul and reactions and feelings entirely different from individuals' souls, reactions, and feelings--would be an abstract propaganda that likewise would have no effectiveness. Modern propaganda reaches individuals enclosed in the mass and as participants in that mass, yet it also aims at a crowd but only as a body composed of individuals.

"What does this mean? First of all, that the individual never is considered as an individual, but always in terms of what he has in common with others, such as motivations, his feelings, or his myths. He is reduced to an average; and except for a small percentage, action based on averages will be effectual. Moreover, the individual is considered part of the mass and included in it (and so far as possible systematically integrated into it). because in that way his psychic defenses are weakened, his reaactions are easier to provoke, and the propagandist profits from the process of diffusion of emotions through the mass, and, at the same time, from the pressures felt by an individual when in a group. Emotionalism, impulsiveness, excess, etc.--all these characteristics of the individual caught up in a mass are well known and helpful to propaganda. [...]

"Conversely, when propaganda is addressed to a crowd, it must touch each individual in that crowd, in that whole group. To be effective, it must give the impression of being personal, for we must never forget that the mass is composed of individuals, and is in fact nothing but assembled individuals. Actually, just because men are in a group, and therefore weakened, receptive, and in a state of psychological regression, they pretend all the more to be "strong individuals." The mass man is clearly subhuman, but pretends to be superman. [...]

"Thus all modern propaganda profits from the structure of the mass, but exploits the individual's need for self-affirmation; and the two actions must be conducted jointly, simultaneously. Of course, this operation is greatly facilitated by the existence of the modern mass media of communication, which have precisely this remaarkable effect of reaching the whole crowd all at once, and yet reaching each one in that crowd. [...] These individuals are moved by the same motives, recieve the same impulses aand impressions, find themselves focused on the same centers of interest, experience the same feelings, have generally the same order of reactions and ideas, participate in the same myths--and all this at the same time: what we have here is really a psychological, if not a biological mass. And the individuals in it are modified by this existence, even if they do not know it. [...]"

According to your answers, your political philosophy is left-liberal.

Left-Liberals prefer self-government in personal matters and central decision-making on economics. They want government to serve the disadvantaged in the name of fairness. Leftists tolerate social diversity, but work for economic equality.

Your Personal Self-Government Score is 80%.
Your Economic Self-Government Score is 30%.

Other Political Philosophies

Libertarians are self-governors in both personal and economic matters. They believe government's only purpose is to protect people from coercion and violence. They value individual responsibility, and tolerate economic and social diversity. (nasa tuktok na bahagi ng graph)

Centrists favor selective government intervention and emphasize practical solutions to current problems. They tend to keep an open mind on new issues. Many centrists feel that government serves as a check on excessive liberty. (nasa gitnang bahagi ng graph)

Right-conservatives prefer self-government on economic issues, but want official standards in personal matters. They want the government to defend the community from threats to its moral fiber. (nasa kanang bahagi ng graph)

Authoritarians want government to advance society and individuals through expert central planning. They often doubt whether self-government is practical. Left-authoritarians are also called socialists, while fascists are right-authoritarians. (nasa ibabang bahagi ng graph)

(Teka, bakit parang tabingi 'ata ang bipolar political spectrum na ito?)

Sinagutan ko naman muli ang quiz na binigay ni Nunuy dati, na nagsabi dati na Libertarian Left naman ako. Ganoon pa rin naman ang resulta:

Economic Left/Right: -7.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.33

(Kay hirap i-link ng resultang grid. Kaya base na lang sa grid na nasa itaas, kaliwa pa ako nang dalawa hanggang apat na hakbang mula sa Dalai Lama)

Ayon sa ika-16 post ko (langaw ber 4, mar-hul 03), "...pumapatungkol ang x-axis sa ekonomikong kaliwa o kanan. Ang kaliwa ay patungkol higit na kontrol ng estado sa ekonomiya, o higit na associated sa komunismo. Ang kanan naman ay higit sa neo-liberal na ekonomiya, o maaari ring malayang merkadong kapitalismo.

Pumapatungkol naman ang y-axis sa pamamaraang pulitikal. Sa itaas ang awtoritaryo, kung saan higit na mahalaga ang estado sa indibidwal, at pasismo ang karukrukan nito. Sa ibaba naman ang libertaryo , kung saan higit na mahalaga ang indibidwal sa estado, at anarkismo naman ang karukrukan nito."

Narito ang grid ng mga, uh, ideological "thunders":

Interesante ring tignan ang sumusunod na political spectrum ng mga batikang kompositor:

Astig, kasama ko sina Schoenberg, Mozart at Beethoven!

Sa itaas ang larawan ng Gibson ES-335, isa sa mga aking mga dream guitar. Mainam na gamitin sa jazz ang gitarang ito: pang-jazz nga naman ang disenyo. Semi-hollow ang katawan, o may puwang ang kalamnan, kung baga, parang acoustic na gitara (di tulad ng electric na panay kahoy ang katawan). Ngunit di tulad ng ordinaryong acoustic na gitara, walang malaking bilog na butas sa ilalim ng mga kuwerdas nito: pansining may dalawang butas sa gilid na katulad ng sa biyulin (o f-holes). Di tulad ng ordinaryong electric (na ngayo'y kadalasa'y may tatlong pick-up), dalawang humbucker pick-up ang mayroon ang ES-335: mainam sa jazz ang ganitong pick-up sapagkat makapal, bilog, at malambing ang tunog nito, di tulad ng sa ordinaryong electric na matinis at mainit-init ang tunog. Gayumpaman, kaiba ang ES-335 sa ordinaryong gitarang pang-jazz (na kadalasang tinatawag na archtop na gitara). Manipis lamang ang katawan nito, kaya maaari pang panipisin at patapangin ang tunog nito (aayusin lamang ang timpla sa amplifier). At kapag sinaksakan ng distortion, hindi madaling magkakaroon ng feedback. Kapag butas kasi ang katawan gitara (o hollow), mas madaling magkaroon ng feedback. Dahil nga semi-hollow ang ES-335 (manipis lamang ito at may makapal na kahoy sa ilalim ng mga pick-up), hindi madaling mag-feedback ang naturang gitara, sa gayon, maaaring saksakan ng distortion, maaaring gamitin sa rakenrol.

Ang problema nga lang, mananatiling dream guitar sa akin ang gitarang ito. Sa huling dalaw ko sa Perfect Pitch (na pag-aari ng Yupanco Music, na siyang tanging nagbebenta ng mga Gibson na gitara sa Pilipinas), humigit-kumulang P150,000 ang orihinal na Gibson ES-335, samantalang nasa P35,000 hanggang P50,000 naman ang imitation ng Epiphone (na pag-aari rin ng Gibson). Hay, sana kayang gayahin ng RJ Music ang disenyo nito, at magpapasadya na lang ako sa kanila (o doon sa kakilala ni Gerard, ka-banda ko dati sa White Chapel, na sumasadya ng gitara). Aabutin lang siguro ako ng P15,000 hanggang P20,000, depende sa gamit na kahoy at mga ikakabit na pick-up. Nakatipid na ako, maaari ko pang dagdagan ang disenyo (malamang, yung pagkakaayos ng electronics para higit na dumami ang mga pagpipiliang tunog ng gitara; tulad ng ginawa ko doon sa isang gitarang binaklas ko dati, ngunit nasa morge na ngayon dahil bumigay na yung kahoy), at higit sa lahat, tinangkilik ko pa ang lokal na industriya ng gitara.

Ngunit hindi ko pa prayoridad ang pagpapagawa ng gitarang ito. Saka na siguro, pag nakaipon na. Kailangan ko pa nga palang pag-ipunan ang mga sumusunod na gadget:
1. stereo digital delay and reverb. Taga-likha ng alingawngaw mula sa gitara, maaari ring gawing sangkatutak na gitara ang tunog. Yung Boss na tatak na ganito, nasa P8,000.
2. rotary speaker simulator. Ginagaya nito ang tunog ng organ na naka-saksak sa rotary speaker, o yung umiikot-ikot na speaker, parang wangwang ng pulis, o katunog ng speaker na hinarangan ng bentilador. Hindi kayang sabihan ng shut up ni Digz Dilangalen ang ispiker na ito. Yung pinopormahan kong tatak ay yung Danelectro Rocky Road, nasa P2,000 hanggang P3,000.
3. sitar simulator. Ginagaya nito ang tunog ng sitar, isang insturmentong katutubo sa India. Para makapagpasayaw ako ng ahas sa tugtog. Yung Sitar Swami ng Danelectro, may P3,000 hanggang P 5 000.
4. whammy pedal. Ito yung natatanging tunog ni Tom Morello, yung kapag inapakan mo, matarik na aakyat ng isa o dalawang octave ang anumang tugtuging nota sa gitara. Ito yung gamit sa Killing in the Name. Yung tunog alien. Yung binebentang ganito ng Digitech ngayon, may kasama nang wah, yung nagpapasalita sa gitara. Nasa P6,000 siguro.

At oo, ipapaayos ko pa pala yung dalawa kong bumigay na gitara (yung Washburn na kinalikot ko nga yung electronics at yung Yamaha na gaya ng Fender Stratocaster ang disenyo), at ipapa-pintura ko yung Univox Rhythm and Blues ko (imitation ng Gibson Les Paul na mas pang-jazz ang tunog, mas pang-rakenrol kasi yung orihinal), yung ni-spray paint ko ng ginto kaya mukhang tae na ngayon. At siyempre, kuwerdas. Kung may lima akong gitara ngayon (dalawang gumaganang electric, dalawang electric sa morge, at isang acoustic), at sabihin nating ayos lahat iyon, aabutin ako ng P1,500 hanggang P2,000 pambili ng kuwerdas buwan-buwan. Hay nako, di pa nga sumasahod, nag-iisip na ng gastos.

Pasaway ka, o gabi, hindi mo ako pinahihintulutang mahimbing.
Nilalandi ng maginaw mong hangin ang bawat balahibo
sa aking binti, pinaglalaruan ang mga pilikmata, sumusuot
sa lahat ng butas ng aking damit. Pinananatili mong gising
ang balat; malay na tela lamang ang kadikit.

Nakatitig sa akin ang mga bituwin, tumatagos sa bubunga't
kisame, pinapanood akong paikot-ikot sa kama, kinukusot
ang kumot, hinahagis-hagis ang unan, sinisipa ang anumang
gamit sa paanan, inuunat ang mga binti't braso sa kamang
ako lang ang laman.

Pasaway ka, gabi, pinaaalala mong di ko siya ngayon katabi.

President Gloria Macagal-Arroyo said that the first-quarter 6.4 percent growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is the strongest since 2001. Following this, her own spokesperson, Ignacio Bunye, stressed, “(This) can be attributed to the robust performance by the agricultural sector and strong domestic consumption.”

Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry indeed grew 7.7 percent. Palay and corn posted growth rates of 13.1 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively. Bunye claimed that the administration “vigorously implements the agriculture and fisheries modernization program which allocates P20 billion annually for various infrastructure projects like irrigation, farm-to-market roads and post-harvest facilities.”

On the other hand, personal consumption expenditure (PCE) posted a growth rate of 5.9 percent for the first quarter of the year. Romulo Virola, secretary-general of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), admitted that heightened consumer spending was boosted by election-related activities.

According to Virola, “(t)hese were reflected in the marked increases in the expenditures of food, beverages, clothing and footwear and transportation/communication. Increased remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), improved farm income, the Filipinos’ insatiable passion for text messaging and the stable prices of consumer goods and services also contributed to the vigorous growth of PCE.”

Scrutinizing growth

Noticeable in the latest national income accounts data, however, is the negligible growth rate of Manufacturing. It grew only 4.3 percent during the first quarter, the lowest among Industry subsectors. This sector’s performance is significant since a substantial growth rate theoretically reflects more employment opportunities.

Instead, Mining and Quarrying posted the highest growth rate with 21.0 percent followed by Construction (6.5 percent) and Electricity, Gas & Water (5.4 percent).

The double-digit growth rate of Mining and Quarrying is both speculative and short-term and cannot be effectively sustained without dire repercussions on the environment.

The speculative and short-term nature of growth also applies to Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry as various external factors like the weather and the El Niño can spell gloom or doom for this sector at any particular time.

Much as the administration provided funds for agriculture and fisheries modernization, the liberalization of agriculture much be taken into account since the current policy environment does not allow direct subsidies to local farmers. Under the principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), direct subsidies constitute unfair trade practice since both local and foreign industry players must be treated equally.

Growth due to “Pasa Load”?

It is interesting to note that among the Services subsectors, Transportation, Communication and Storage, according to the NSCB, “fortified its growth to 9.3 percent in (the first quarter of) 2004, from 8.6 percent in the same period last year.”

The NSCB admitted, “Mobile telephone service providers showed substantial gains in profits with the introduction and consequently, the popularization of the low-denomination over-the-air reloading scheme. This innovative offering made mobile phone services more available and affordable to a larger base of consumers.”

In other words, the domestic economy remains cellphone-driven. The mobile telephone service providers’ effective marketing of the “pasa load (pass-a-load)” scheme helped in boosting its profits and gave prepaid subscribers a more convenient way to reload their cellular phones. Through this, a person can send a certain amount of load to someone in need.

Prior to this scheme, it may be recalled that mobile telephone service providers introduced SMS-only prepaid cards at lower prices as an alternative to prepaid cards which cost from P300 to P1,000 (or $5.37 to $17.90 based on an exchange rate of P55.88 for every US dollar).

Low remittances and taxes on ,?p>cellular phones?

There was a marked reduction in net factor income from abroad (NFIA) as it grew by only 3.4 percent during the first quarter of 2004, compared to 16.7 percent during the same period last year.

OFW remittances comprise a substantial part of NFIA and these only amounted to $1.2 billion from January to February 2004, roughly the same amount in the first two months of 2003.

To raise much-needed revenues, the administration is planning to impose taxes on cellular-phone text messaging. A government official who requested anonymity was quoted as saying that “too much texting,” especially of jokes, made the activity go beyond being a necessity. “Texting” therefore may be subjected to excise tax, similar to what is imposed on items like alcohol, cigarette, luxury vehicles and jewelry.

Around 100 million text messages are sent throughout the country daily. If government were to collect even just P0.10 ($0.002) for every text message, this would already translate to government revenues of P10 million daily ($178,954.90) or P3.6 billion ($64,423,765.21) in one year.

That the administration is toying with an idea that will draw flak from various sectors already reflects its desperation to look for funds.

Services still biggest contributor

Among the three sectors, Services accounted for the biggest share of 46.0 percent to total GDP, followed by Industry (32.5 percent) and Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (21.5 percent).

It is ironic to think that a supposedly agricultural country depends on Services for the much-needed boost for the economy, a situation that traditional economists say only happens to a country that has reached post-industrial status.

As economists get confused in analyzing the economic model that is the Philippines, the Filipino people wonder why there is so much euphoria about economic growth and continue to try to survive in these trying times. Bulatlat.com

Gross National Product by Industry Group
Jan-Mar 2004 (growth rates in %)

Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry: 7.7
a. Agriculture: 4.7
b. Fishery: 19.5
c. Forestry: 96.2

Industry: 5.5
a. Mining & Quarrying: 21.0
b. Manufacturing: 4.3
c. Construction: 6.5
d. Electricity, Gas & Water: 5.4

Net Factor Income from Abroad: 3.4

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: 6.4

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT: 6.2

Source: NSCB

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The constitutional provision calling for the election of party-list representatives to the House took shape in 1986 in the midst of the clamor for making representation in Congress equal and so that the voice of the poor is finally heeded. The 1986 charter replaced the 1973 Marcos constitution that upheld authoritarianism, military rule and the suppression of democratic rights.

In the old Congress, it was the power of the ruling elite of landlords and comprador-bourgeoisie that held sway. The members of the elite and new ilustrados that lorded it over used the legislative institution to legitimize their political and economic domination of the country. It was this Congress that, among others, legitimized the stay of the U.S. military bases, enshrined the unequal free trade with the country’s colonial master and enacted bogus land reforms that made the tenant masses more oppressed and miserable while making the landlords more despotic. To traditional politicians, Congress was a step closer to the presidency; it was also used to further enrich oneself and plunder the country’s wealth while the people wallowed in poverty and hunger.

It is now 18 years since the new constitutional provision on party-list was written and nine since RA 7941 was enacted by Congress providing for the election of party-list representatives who shall occupy 20 percent of the lower House’s 250 seats. Although the elections for the party-list representation began in 1998, it was the campaign period for the May 10, 2004 elections that the law guaranteeing the participation of marginal and sectoral political parties came under the most vicious attacks. And this was because, as far as the ruling faction of the elite and its military and police conduits are concerned, the law which calls for “full, free and open party system” cannot just open avenues for genuine representatives of the toiling masses of workers, peasants and other poor classes.

May 2001

The militant Left took part in the party-list elections in May 2001 under the people-first platform where it also committed itself to making Congress a venue for articulating the poor’s concerns and popular demands. According to Carlos Padilla, House minority leader of the 12th Congress, when the three members of Bayan Muna (BM or people first) took their seats as party-list representatives, the elite-dominated Congress was never the same again. Its halls echoed of bills and resolutions that called for legislated wage increases, the review of the country’s WTO commitments, the advancement of women’s rights, the indemnification of Marcos torture victims and opposition to the U.S. war on terror and military presence in the country. But the presence of BM representatives also angered top defense and Armed Forces officials especially when they began to be grilled over the rising incidence of military abuses all over the country.

Since the beginning, however, the entry of the militant Left into the party-list system had been secretly opposed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her underlings and allies in Congress as well as, openly and brutally, by the military and police establishments. Since 2001 until the May elections this year, more than 40 leaders and members of BM, Anakpawis (toiling masses), Anak ng Bayan (nation’s youth) and other progressive party-list groups have been killed and scores of others harassed. Lawyers, church leaders and human rights groups who investigated the cases said military, paramilitary and police forces were the perpetrators. No single alleged perpetrator has been arrested by the authorities.

The vicious attacks against the party-list groups became known with a confidential statement by Victor Corpus, erstwhile AFP intelligence chief, revealing a military plan in 2001 to launch a new crackdown against the Left. The following year, the AFP’s official newsletter, Ang Tala, came out with part of the action plan in the guise of an article directing the “neutralization” of Bayan Muna and other militant organizations. A top military official also raised alarm signals about the presence of BM legislators in Congress with a veiled threat that they no “communist” has any right being there.

Macapagal-Arroyo

That same year also saw Macapagal-Arroyo lambasting BM representative and labor leader, Crispin Beltran, and other allied organizations as “communist.” The president