So glad I am able to join PhotoHunt again this weekend. I’ve missed so much already. It’s also good news that the PhotoHunt blog is up and running again so this week’s PhotoHunt would be another great one.

This week’s theme is “Painted“. For my part, I’m sharing a photo I’ve taken with my Sony Ericsson K800i cyber-shot phone of Pilipino artists doing street painting to voice out their support for the renewal of Philippine society and to decry the Arroyo administration’s efforts in suppressing the truth about its corrupt, illegal and anti-people deeds and practices.

This was done during the “Truth Festival” held at the Raja Sulayman Park in the City of Manila where hundreds of artists, muscians, students, teachers, civil society groups gathered for a night of art, music, dance, and cultural celebration showcasing the Filipino people’s desire for truth and accountability from the corrupt Arroyo government and justice for all their evil deeds.

It was the height of the NBN-ZTE corruption scandal involving the President’s husband and the former Chair of Commission on Elections. At the center of all this, was the star-witness Jun Lozada who braved the odds and evil machinery of the Arroyo government to silence him and prevent the truth from being exposed to the Filipino people.

To the present day, Arroyo’s government and allies continue to harass and oppress Jun Lozada fearing that the truth he carries would be one of key reasons for their downfall.

You can view more photos of the colorful event here at my Flickr page.

Happy PhotoHunting to everyone!

PhotoHunt

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Fellow Bloggers’ Kapihan crew Bikoy beat me to posting what I’ve been meaning to say about this new campaign that has been making the rounds among blogs and making quite an impression during the Pacquiao vs Hatton match; “Ako Mismo.”

The TV ad was catchy and well done, it was packed with celebrities the youth of today would not think twice to listen to, or watch on TV at least. Heck, even the legendary Ely Beundia is in it.

Allow me to reiterate, borrow and short of plagiarize what Bikoy has said, which I couldn’t have said any better:

I don’t wish to offend anyone. I have friends from many advocacy campaigns of this type. But let me explain my reservations whenever I’m invited into these campaigns. My problem with “Ako Mismo” and the dozens of other “I” campaigns that have been initiated (and have flopped) these past years, is that it fosters an illusion that mundane individual efforts to do good, and nothing more, is enough to change society. These are well meaning campaigns, but I don’t think they actually call for positive action or call for change. These are calls for neutral action–to do things we’re supposed to be doing anyway.

What I think is dangerous about campaigning for this is that it neutralizes a person’s capacity to do more than what one is supposed to do in the first place. It’s like, fine, just pay your taxes, smile at people, sweep your backyard, do things within your comfort zone and that’s enough to change society. It’s not. Let us not justify the laziness or the inability of the middle class to get out of their comfort zone to change society.

These are the types of campaigns, believe it or not, that people in power or in government and big businesses employ to maintain the status quo, simply because doing ’simple everyday good things’ do just that and nothing more. It effectively cloaks their part in the equation as to why we are where we sadly are. It makes you forget their role in sustaining the rotten order of society. It makes you think of questioning their policies or their authority as simple pagrereklamo. And worse, it demonizes those who do that. “Forget about the corruption and the repression we commit, just do your own little nice things!” And even worse, it blames the individual Filipino for all the problems he is experiencing!

Exactly! This is the classic “divide-and-conquer” tactics of the ruling class. Since our individual selves are to blame for the so-called problems of the country, we, in our individual capacity can and should fix this.

Again, why not “we” or “tayo”? Bikoy once more answers this eloquently;

Its always about the individual. It’s never about the collective. It’s never the “We”. Collective action is too dangerous for the status quo. It’s all about pacifying the individual to be content with the things he already does and to buy a dog tag, a t-shirt, or a bracelet to show it off.

What’s really dangerous about the “ako mismo” ideology is that the individual is left to blame himself for the troubles this country has. And since he blames himself, he takes on efforts to change himself and only himself. But I’m telling you, your entire life could be spent on trying to change yourself, but the troubles are still there because everyone else around you has not changed. My college mentor once said it beautifully,

“Mamamatay ka na siguro, hindi mo pa nababago ang sarili mo. Kaya paano mo mababago ang lipunan kung hihintayin mo munang mabago ang sarili mo?”

Since when did social change became a one-man thing? Was Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio alone when they worked to free the Philippines from tyranny and suffering? Did the brave Filipinos made individually-unique pledges when they sign-up for the Katipunan? Heck, even Jesus took on twelve disciples to carry out his mission and ministry. Kung gusto natin ng pagbabago, magsama-sama tayo, hindi lang ako o ikaw, TAYO.

It’s election season

With the election season shifting to full gear, I cannot help but be suspicious of this campaign, particularly its website. When I visited the site to explore it last Sunday, it required me to register first, before I was allowed to check out all the pages and sections.

The registration asked for my real name, home address, e-mail address and telephone numbers. A confirmation e-mail is even required to activate your account and verify your email address at the same time.

From a PR perspective, every sign-up is another individual in my database of potential contacts/targets for a campaign to help a candidate, party or group.

The many stars and high-profile individuals who were featured in the TV ad hint that the folks behind this campaign have deep pockets. Even if the celebrities volunteered, the fact that the TV ads were shown during Pacquiao vs Hatton match in which airtime cost millions, it simply validates my earlier hunch.

Lastly, since reports have said that Edu Manzano had launched this campaign last month, I cannot help but get even more suspicious of this one.

Addendum:

As I’ve commented on Sir Martin Perez‘ (a fellow BK Crew) blog, I thought for a while that he may have just started another big thing in PISAY, with a huge budget too! Because of all the stars and the TV ad spot during the Pacquiao match, but it was too good to be true. All because his blog’s name is “Ako Mismo” and has used this long before this campaign hit the television airwaves. Just like me, he too is bewildered by this.

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Harap-harapang naranasan ng mga guro, administrador at estudyante ng De La Salle Dasmariñas ang sistematikong paniniil sa mga demokratiko at sibil na karapatang pantao ng walang kasing-sama na Administrasyong Arroyo at panggigipit nito sa mga tao o grupong tututol o magiging kritikal dito kanina sa Bacoor, Cavite.

Matapos ang isang misa sa aming pamantasan, tumulak kaming mga taga DLSU Dasma para makiisa sa Inter-faith rally sa Makati City lulan ang 2 school bus ng aming pamantasan. Puno kami ng pag-asa at gustong-gusto nang makiisa sa mga libo-libong Pilipino na nagtipon na doon, lalo’t higit ang aming mga kapwa Lasalyano mula sa ibang paaralan. Pero ito ay sinabotahe ng mga kapulisan ng Cavite na nasa pamumuno ni Col. Posadas.

Bandang 2:44 ng hapon nang kami nakarating sa SM Molino, sa Daang Hari, Molino, Bacoor nang kami ay harangin ng PNP checkpoint sa naturang lugar. Hinanap at kinuha nila ang lisensya ng aming driver at ang registration ng aming school bus. Pareho namang ligal at tama ang mga papeles at wala naman kaming mga nilabag na batas trapiko o iba pang batas, pero hindi kami pinaalis agad ng mga pulis.

Sa halip, ang mga guro, administrador at kahit La Salle Brother na nakikipagnegosasyon sa kanila ay hindi nila pinapansin, iniiwasan at deadma lang. Ngayon ko lang nakita na aming Dekana at La Salle brother, na lubusang ginagalang naming mga estudyante, ay nagmukhang tanga na kumakausap sa hangin dahil ang mga pulis sa SM Molino checkpoint ay hindi namamansin.

Tumagal kami doon ng halos isang oras, kaya naisipan ko nang magtext sa mga kakilala kong bloggers; Tonyo Cruz, Mong Palatino, Neil ng es2pido.com at Ederic ng Tinig.com at sinabing i-blog o twit man lang ang aming sitwasyon.

Sa tuwing magtatanong kami, ang idinadahilan ng mga pulis ay “hi-way law” daw. Ano yung “hi-way law” na iyon? Walang maisagot ang mga pulis at muli kaming hindi pinapansin.

Unang Makati: Daang Hari

Dis is jay f jrocas.com.ph we lasallians frm dasma are blocked by police at daang hari, near sm bacoor (sm molino, actually). Pls blog or twit about dis

SMS message to my fellow bloggers @ 2:44pm

Dahil kami ay halos 45 minuto nang hinaharangan sa Daang Hari, tumawag na kami sa mga kontak naming media, pati na rin ang hepe ng Cavite PNP na si Col. Posadas. Kahit na nagkakausap na si Col. Posadas at ang pinuno ng Daang Hari check point na si Col Quilinguen, hindi pa rin kami pinapadaan.

Nauubos na ang aming oras at nang nakikita naming binabali-wala ang aming mga pakiusap, tama at ligal na pangangatwiran, napagdesisyunan na naming doon na isagawa ang aming rali kung kinakailangan. Kaming lahat ay gumawa ng ingay, inilabas ang aming mga tarpaulin at hinimok ang mga dumadaang motorista na bumisina bilang suporta. Natutuwa naman kami at marami sa kanila ang tumugon. Ang mga ilang guro namin ay humaharang pa sa mga dumadaang sasakyan, truck man o kotse, upang dumami ang mga susuporta sa amin.

Nang lumalaki ang kaguluhan sa check point na iyon, napagpasiyahan nilang padaananin na kami, pero hindi sa Daang Hari. Sinabi nila na bumalik sa Aguinaldo Hi-way dahil doon daw talaga papapadaanin ang mga sasakyan at dagdag pa dito, may “operations” daw na ginagawa ang PNP sa ruta namin kaya bumalik na lang daw sa Aguinaldo Hi-Way.

Ang walang-habas at garapalang pagsisinungaling ni Col Posadas at Cavite PNP

Inakala namin na tuluy-tuloy na kami sa Makati nang pinabalik kami sa Aguinaldo Hi-way. At narinig namin sa DZBB ang pahayag ni Col Posadas na hindi dapat hinaharang ang mga papunta sa Makati. Ngunit sa kabilang banda, may kutob kami na naisahan kami ng mga pulis. Kaya namin tinahak ang Daang Hari sa halip na Aguinaldo Hi-way ay alam naming mas maraming check point dito at mabigat ang daloy ng trapiko.

Totoo ang aming hinala. Pinasalamatan pa man din namin ang mga pulis sa Daang Hari checkpoint, sumaludo pa kami at ngumiti sa kanila. Yun pala, mga ngiting-aso at buwaya ang mga ngiti nila sa amin.

Col posadas*, pnp chief of cavite’s plan is 2 lure all anti-gma vehicles into aguinaldo h-way wer it is blockd at st dominic hospital (Bacoor-Zapote junction) by a bus across d road.

SMS message to Tonyo Cruz @ 5:05pm (*not in photo)

Pagdating namin sa kanto ng SM Bacoor, sa Aguinaldo Hi-way, muli kami ay pinatabi at ininspeksyon ang mga papeles ng aming bus. Dahil may “assurance” kami mula kay Col Posadas na hindi na dapat kami harangin, ito ang aming naging sangkalan nang makipag-negosasyon muli kami sa pulis na huramang sa amin. Matapos ang halos 20-minutos ng negosasyon at paghihintay, sinabi nila na pwede na kaming makalampas. Ngunit, tulad ng panlilinlang sa Daang Hari, may inihandang surpresa sa amin ang PNP.

Ang harassment mula sa kulay puting Toyota Tamaraw FX na may plakang UDJ-927

Nang matawid namin ang intersection sa kanto ng SM Bacoor, napansin namin na may puting Tamaraw FX na may plakang UDJ-927 ang tumigil sa aming harapan. Noong una, inakala namin na ang bulok at kakarag-karag na puting FX ay isa lamang sa mga ordinaryong motorista na naiipit sa trapiko.

Pero kakaiba ang ikinilos nito dahil kahit na lumuluwag ang kalsada sa harapan nito, hindi ito bumibilis, bagkos mabagal na tumatakbo sa harapan ng aming bus, kaya lalong bumagal ang aming takbo. Walang pinagkaiba sa pagharang na ginawa ng mga pulis.

Lalong lumantad na ang puting FX na ito ay asset o pakawala ng mga pulis dahil sa tuwing ang isa sa aming bus ay makakauna sa daan, ito naman ang uunahan nito at papabagalin ang takbo dahil mabagal siya aming unahan.

Lasing o tanga ang driver ng puting FX, dahil lagi siyang nasa gitna ng dalawang lane na okupado ng aming mga bus. Pero hindi lasing, tanga o bobong driver ang nagmamaneho nito. Sinasadya niyang dumikit, humarang at pabagalin ang aming takbo.

Sa ilang pagkakataon na sinubukan namin na ma-overtake siya sa daan, biglang bumibilis ang puting FX para makauna uli, at saka muling babagal siya para bumagal din kami. Ilang beses din naming sinubukan maka-una, pero sa bawat pagsubok namin, pilit niyang inihaharang ang puting FX, muntik na pa ngang sumabit o bumangga ang bus namin sa puting FX.

Dito na kami kinabahan, dahil may hinala kami sa kanyang palabas. Sadya niyang hinaharangan ang aming bus, at kapag nakipag-karera kami, gigitgitin nya kami kahit pa magkabanggaan ang aming mga sasakyan. Lalabas siya at aawayin ang aming driver na lalong magpapatagal sa amin sa Aguinaldo Hi-way.

Nasulyapan namin ang driver at isa pa niyang pasahero sa loob ng puting FX. Ang driver ay nakasuot ng t-shirt na may itim na “media vest” ang kasama naman niya ay malaking tao na ayon sa isa sa mga guro namin, ay ubod daw sila ng pangit. Walang duda, asset nga sila o sila mismo ay mga pulis.

The police put our lives in danger

Ito ang nasabi ng isa sa mga kasama kong estudyante nang muntik nang bumangga ang puting FX sa aming bus, sa kagustuhan nitong harangan at gitgitin kami. Kahit pa may masaktang mga estudyante, guro o La Salle brother ay gagawin nila, mapigilan lang kaming makarating sa Makati.

Ilan sa mga kamag-anak ko ay pulis, noon ay taas-noo ako sa pagsasabing may kamag-anak akong alagad ng batas. Mga taong nagsisilbi at pumuprotekta sa mamamayan. Pero sa aming karanasan kanina, ang mga pulis ngayon ay mga tau-tauhan na lamang ng kurakot, magnanakaw, mapaniil, at pasistang administrasyon ni Gloria “evil” and “bitch” Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bakit pilit nilang hinarahang ang 2 bus ng mga estudyante, guro at relihiyoso? Wala naman kaming baril, wala kaming armas, wala kaming bomba. Tanging mga sarili lamang namin ang aming dala. Magdadasal lamang kami sa Makati at hindi lulusob sa Malacañang. Pero bakit kami hinaharangan, ginigipit at nilalagay nila sa panganib?

Ngunit hindi pa iyon doon natapos. Alas-6 na ng gabi at dahil hindi na kami makakaabot sa Makati, napagpasiyahan naming bumalik na lang sa Katedral ng Imus o kaya sa De La Sale Dasmariñas. At para matapos na ang aming duelo, nilapitan namin ang puting FX at sinabing uuwi na lang kami. Sumagot naman daw sila ng “sige..” at kami ay pumihit na pabalik sa Dasmariñas.

Lalo lang kaming nalagay sa alanganin nang makita namin sa sumusunod pa rin ang puting FX sa aming bus! Dito ay talagang nagalala na kami. Sumuko na kami sa pagkakataong iyon pero naroon pa rin ang mga walang-hiyang pulis sa puting FX na nakabuntot sa aming bus.

Nang masalubong namin ang van ng FM radio station 101.9 at kahit alam naming hindi sila istasyong tagapagbalita, humingi kami ng tulong na bantayan ang puting FX at itimbre ito sa mga kakilala nilang mga media. Palagay namin ay naging epektibo ito dahil nang kami ay nakarating na sa Imus, wala na ang puting FX sa aming likuran.

Checkpoint-less checkpoint

Ang plano ng mga pulis ay sadyang i-delay ang mga papunta sa Makati na manggagaling sa Kabite. Dahil nang nakita ng ilan sa aming mga guro ang “checkpoint” sa Zapote-Bacoor junction, halos 50 pulis na may kasamang militar, na kumpleto sa gamit at matataas na kalibre ng baril ang nakarahang doon. Isa-isa nilang pinapadaan ang mga sasakyan kada-15 minutos.

Wala namang ginagawang “checking” ang mga pulis, hinihintay lang nila na makalipas ang 15-minutos saka nila pinapatuloy ang BAWAT sasakyan. Malinaw na paglabag sa mga alituntunin sa pagsasagawa ng “checkpoint.”

Nakakulong sa Bacoor

Ito ang sitwasyon namin kahapon sa Aguinaldo Hi-way, tama nga ang pangalan ng kalsadang ito, kapangalan ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking taksil sa kasaysayan ng sambayanang Pilipino. Dahil kami ay pinagtaksilan ng mga Pulis. Sila na nanumpang “to serve and protect” the people.

Kalokohan!!!

Nalilimutan nilang ang kanilang suweldo, mga gamit, baril, uniporme, sasakyan at gasolina ay nanggagaling sa mga buwis na binabayaran naming mga mamamayan.

Mas malala pa sa Batas Militar!

Ang aming mga karapatan sa pamamahayag, paglalayag, sa impormasyon at tamang proseso ay garapalan, harap-harapan at walang habas na nilabag ng mga tao mismong ang tungkulin ay proteksyunan at paglingkuran kaming mga mamamayan.

Ang mga instrumento ng estado para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan ay ginamit ng Administrasyong Arroyo na walang kasing halang ang bituka, itim ng budhi at kasamaan ng kaluluwa.

Ngunit kami ay nagtagumpay

Iniisip ni Col Posadas, ng driver ng puting FX at ng mga pulis na huramang sa amin na nagtagumpay sila sa pagharang sa amin, dahil hindi kami nakarating sa Makati. Totoo yun, at inaamin naming may mga pagkukulang sa aming bahagi.

Pero, tagumpay pa rin kami dahil ipinakita ng mga taga La Salle Dasmariñas na ang mga Kabitenyo ay hindi lahat taksil, kampon ng kasamaan, abusado at kontra-mamamayan. Ipinakita namin na ang mga Kabitenyo ay matatapang at lumalaban para ipagtanggol at igiit ang ating mga karapatan, kalayaan at hindi titigil hangga’t hindi nakakamit ang katotohanan at hustisya.

Ipinakita namin sa buong Pilipinas, kung gaano kasama, kagarapal, mapanupil, abusado at kurakot ang Administrasyong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Nakakalungkot lamang na naging kasangkapan ng kanyang kasamaan ang mga pulis sa Kabite.

Hindi man kami nakarating sa Makati upang magdasal at makiisa sa paghahanap at pagtatanggol sa ating mga kalayaan, karapatan, katotohanan at hustisya, pero sa 2 checkpoints kung saan kami ay hinadlangan, inabuso, ginipit at garapalang nilinlang ng mga alagad ng gobyerno, kami ay lumaban sa kaya naming paraan, ang mag-ingay, ikwento at ipamalita sa lahat, na sobra at sukdulan na sa kasamaan, panggigipit at opresyon ang gobyernong Arroyo.

Sa harassment at paglalagay sa panganib ng aming buhay dahil sa puting FX, ipinakita namin na walang pakialam ang gobyernong Arroyo, kahit pa may masaktan o mamatay na sibilyan, kahit estudyante, manatili lamang ito sa kapangyarihan.

Tuloy ang laban

Inaakala siguro ng administrasyong Arroyo na dahil sa munting tagumpay na ito ay panghihinaan kami ng loob at susuko na ng tuluyan. Nagkakamali sila. Lalo na ngayon na naranasan namin ang lubusan at garapalang kasamaan nito, ipagpapatuloy namin ang paninindigan at pakikibaka para sa katotohanan at hustisya.

Sa bawat pagbabahagi namin sa mga kwentong ito, dumarami ang mga namumulat sa katotohanang ang administrasyong Arroyo ay administrasyon ng kasamaan, kasakiman, pagpapahirap, at opresyon. Walang pakundangang binabastos at tinatapakan ang mga karapatan ng mamamayan handang manakit at kumitil alang-alang sa pagpapanatili nito sa kapangyarihan.

Umaasa kami na ang rali kahapon sa Makati ay simula pa lamang, at sa mga darating na mga araw, dadami at lalong lalakit ang mga mobilisasyon na ito. Hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi nakakamit ng sambayanang Pilipino ang katotohanan at katarungan.

Ang mga estudyante, guro, administrador at relihiyoso sa De La Salle Dasmariñas at ang mga kasamahan naminsa Kabite ay patuloy na maninindigan at susulong para sa katotohanan at katarungan. Nagsisimula pa lamang ang ating paglaban!

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Almost 20 days of no blogging. Wow, a new personal record for me I guess. But as early as now, I’d like to point out that I am still alive. To all those who helped me get medical attention last Saturday, many many thanks. Life will go on and go on with it I will. There are so many things that still need to be done and time is running out, sort of.

Nonetheless, I regret very little of the times I’ve been away from the blogosphere. Sure, traffic and earnings may have been affected but it’s all worth it when I take stock of the things I’ve done offline during my absence.

99% of it has been and continues to be school-related. My role in the activities and programs of the University Student Council has increased due to the nature of the projects the council has set out to do. Allow me to enumerate, of course academics is a given which is why I would not talk about it that much in this post.

First off, defending and promoting students’ rights has been the major activity that has kept me offline. As head of the Advocacy Committee of the University Student Council, I was tasked to provide assistance to any student of DLSU-D who had troubles with their academics, relations with their teachers and movements by the university administration that has somewhat run in conflict with our Constitutionaly-guaranteed rights as students and as Filipinos. In plain words, I’ve been busy acting as a student-lawyer to my fellow Lasallians in De La Salle University – Dasmarinas.

This is a pilot program for the USC’s main objective of establishing a Student-Lawyers’ Office that will provide assistance to every student of DLSU-D with regards to their grievances, complaints, or litigations against school administrators, staff, faculty and even their fellow students. Hopefully, the 4 cases so far that I’ve handled, and won if I may add will provide enough know-how and experience so that this project will be better implemented in full effect next semester.

Second, and this is related to being a student-lawyer, the USC has also given me a big role in their first major project this coming second semester. The revision of the existing University Student Council Constitution, which is 7 years old, chuck-full of loop holes, obsolete and amibigous provisions no longer suitable to the current needs and aspirations of the studentry. That major role is one of being the Chairman of the Constitutional Convetion which would be convened this coming December. It may be two months off, but preparations involving the entire USC machinery are now starting to fire in all cylinders. There goes my semestral break.

This project has been undertaken because of the USC’s desire to promote and further strengthen students’ rights, empowerment of the students and their organizations, streamlining of the USC and College Council beureacracy thereby promoting coherence, unity, and faster more efficient delivery of services to the students who are at the center of the student council’s thrusts.

Third, preparations for the start of my active role as the Presiding Officer of the Municipal Youth Development Council of Silang. In my two years in office I have the following goals:

• Expansion of the MYDC by gaining the support of the many many youth organizations in Silang
• Strengthening and empowering of those youth organizations so that they will become alternative avenues of expression, camaraderie, development and growth for the youth in general of Silang
• Establishment of a youth-operated paper/gazette/blog tru a consolidation of the various campus journalists and editors in Silang
• Acquisition of vital equipment like a dedicated lights and sounds system for outdoor activities, musical instruments, sports equipments etc. so that the youth organizations will have something to work with instead of relying on donations, solicitations from politicians etc.

These are the short to mid-term goals but my ultimate goal which is a long-term one, is the establishement of Municipal Youth Scholarship fund for those who are deserving but are financially challenged to pursue education. It may not happen in my term of office, but the very least I could do is to lay the groundwork for its ultimate realization.

It seems I have my hands full again right? True, then again this is only natural of being a dreamer, and the price of doing almost anything to achieve those dreams.

And so you’d probably ask what about my blogging? It will still go on of course. Because all these things will be a goldmine of ideas, experiences and lessons for content. So check back soon, as this four-eyed geek cum activist will be blogging once more.

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I am as surprised, excited and a bit militant at the moment, thanks to Banketa Republique, I just found out that the country’s number 1 band Bamboo is preparing to release a new album with this particular song included: Tatsulok.

Originally by Buklod, of which Noel Cabangon was once a member, a progressive musical group who created the timeless tunes, beats, music and songs for the Pilipino activist since the 1990′s. I first heard their songs, including the now famous McDonald’s tv ad song, Kanlungan, during my high school days when I was initiated into the Left-of-center line of thought. Their music has changed me forever.

Now, Bamboo is going to change it again. With their spin on one of the most powerful and progressive songs of Buklod, my idealism, optimism and love of the motherland has started to rekindle anew. So watch out for a renewed activity over at Sumilang.

What is “Tatsulok”? It mean ‘triangle’ in English and more to the point, it refers to the inverted social pyramid or triangle that characterizes the Philippine society, the wealth and elite few are on top, basking in the wealth of the nation while the majority of the people are languishing below in poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice. Tatsulok is the song that clearly describes this image of our society.

Head on over to Bamboo’s official site and listen to their version of this great progressive song, and you’d be hard pressed not to listen with your heart, conscience and do something about it.

Update: Here’s the video of this new single from Bamboo. \m/

Tatsulok

Totoy bilisan mo, bilisan mo ang takbo
Ilagan ang mga bombang nakatutok sa ulo mo
Totoy tumalon ka, dumapa kung kailangan
At baka tamaan pa ng mga balang ligaw

Totoy makinig ka, wag kang magpa-gabi
Baka mapagkamalan ka’t humandusay dyan sa tabi
Totoy alam mo ba kung ano ang puno’t dulo
Ng di matapos-tapos na kaguluhang ito

[Refrain]
Hindi pula’t dilaw tunay na magkalaban
Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan
Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan
At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman

[Chorus]
Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok
Di matatapos itong gulo

At ang dating munting bukid, ngayo’y sementeryo
Totoy kumilos ka, baliktarin ang tatsulok
Tulad ng dukha, nailagay mo sa tuktok

[repeat Refrain and Chorus]

[repeat Refrain and Chorus]

[repeat Chorus]

Di matatapos itong gulo

I can’t wait for a music video and the album to come out.

• Movie by Sponge Cola (Video + Lyrics) (12)
• Ale by The Bloomfields (video + lyrics) (11)
• Ikaw Lamang by Silent Sanctuary (Video + Lyrics) (59)
• Magbalik by Callalily (Video + Lyrics) (291)
• Nakapagtataka by Sponge cola (lyrics + video) (31)