Guerrilla Tactics: A Backward Fashion in the 21st Century (Mine Alone)

As I passed through the hallowed halls of Greenhills and SM Megamall, I felt a deep and inner-pity, not for myself, but for others. It is a matter of being fashionable- one of which I never imagined nor fantasized to journalize about.

Ofcourse, I'm a teenager, and what you'd expect from me, is the common suit, that is used by my fellow teenagers. But, sad to say, I felt (without boasting) an inner difference amongst these idle and poisoned colonial minded humans. This is why, without words, I humiliate myself as 'baduy' compared to the cycle of interrelationships that exists with me and my fellas'. I can't be too forlorn, for I am not a geek. It's just I attempt myself not to be a 'conyo', a gangster, a 'rakista', or a 'jejemon' when it comes to my 'japorms', or fashion outfit. I'm considering my own style that is far rough from that of my age- a fashion that is far different from those that I mentioned above. It's a fashion that mainly adapts my affection for guerilla standards that activists, hippies, John Lennon-wannabees, rebels, and Che Guevara fanatics would claim as their uniforms. Weird me, isn't it?

Although, in sharing, I felt my being 'sexy', when I wore my favorite expression shirt that expresses, TANGINA THIS! I concluded my being sexy because of the high appeal and cute reactions that I received chicks.

I'm just trying to practice my self-indoctrinated dogma of the quote, "while others pursue the right, I pursued the left." Jizz, its not just because I'm an activist, its just that I believe in my artistic medium- that is madness.

But this kind of fashion owns a deep meaning in my spirit. The simple way I wear my bonnet, or my cap (that has a red star) and wear my black shirt and (even) broken rubber shoes has a meaning- far from the way the many ignorant teens conceptualize of. Its my devotion to radical poverty.

To add up and full-pack my playlist, here are my unsolicited fashion tips for those who want to adapt this weird kind of being, that with all lowliness to claim: mine alone, the Guerilla Fashion:

1.) STUDY CHE GUEVARA. The  guy behind the hip and 'astig' image that Cubans (and even some Filipinos, especially the radicals, like me) merely venerate because of his realistic epic that serves as an inspiration to many armed leftists all-over the world, never alone fails to execute a unique fashion genre, but as well as a history of being a true warrior. But a true learning of his philosophy will validate you to be like him.

2.) ADORE LEGENDARY MUSICIANS. Listen and inhale the vibes of songs that were voiced by John Lennon, Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain, etc. For Filipino's sake listen and take in heart the hearty songs of the famous OPM folk band ASIN, Joey Ayala, APO Hiking Society, Heber Bautista, Francis Magalona, and (my favorite) Eraserheads. Ofcourse, make Lennon's 'Imagine' and ASIN's 'Tuldok' your personal national hymn.

3.) DEVOTE YOURSELF TO SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, whose story of evangelical and radical poverty that astonished the materialstic church of that time. This may even help you earn the faith that Jesus Christ, who (for me and for many believers) is God became lowly and poor, inspite the fact that He owns all the riches of the whole world, really- that leads to the conclusion that He is one with the socialists.

4.) READ PABLO NERUDA. His poetic beats makes you a true guerilla.

5.) DO NOT LISTEN TO KRIS AQUINO. Her white 'peps' ain't tempting, really.

6.) OBSERVE LOURD DE VEYRA. Yeah, look at how weird he is, yet he rose to the popularity in the media world.

7.) JOIN ACTIVISTS. You may really never feel the soul of this fashion statement, without knowing it's true and authentic foundation, that is far from being a fashion. Be a common man. Be one with the fights against a colonial government and to earn the one true national socialist democracy. (Otherwise, you're a hypocrite.)

8.) PROFESS THAT YOU ARE A 'PETTY-BOURGEOIS'. For you really are, from the heart. You are not supposed to wear this if you're not a 'burgis'. To have a deeper understanding, please do search for the 1981 Lino Brocka film, "Burgis"- starring Gabby Concepcion and Amy Austria.

9.) DRINK SAN MIGUEL BEER AND SMOKE MARLBORO BLACK CIGARETTES. It's the true initiation for this fashion. You may only acquire a good voice in singing if you do so, says Rico J. Puno.

10.) YEAH, SHUT THE F*CK UP, KID! Study your lessons in class, before joining the guerilla revolution.


Speaks off, niggas'.

Christmas is Ego-Centric

From east to west and north to south, no one can really deny the fuzzy holiday season that all folks have been waiting for months. Its Christmas- the season where people would spend all their savings and earnings on the account of food and other material objects that is preferably known as 'gifts'.

But aside from all the stars and lights that goddamn politicians display in streets next to their celebrated faces that ignites the compulsive hell in my nerves that are used (aside from promoting their political aspirations) to celebrate Christmas and to cover-up the truths of poverty amongst their constituents, another symbol has arisen in the advent of the season of Jingle bells: the mass of cars that flock within the streets of Metro Manila.

Poverty is always an issue, isn't it? But why is it that there is a flock of fancy cars that cause party-animals and seasonal shoppaholics the bang in their nerves?

Damn, I can't get it, because I believe that a country must be swollen in poverty if the public owns only few cars. But in our case, aside from the elites who day by day pass along EDSA, C5, Commonwealth, Taft, and other common pathways, lo and behold the traffic jam that causes a half and an hour of travel from Shaw Blvd. to Ortigas Ave.

I can't be angst to argue if there really is a problem in poverty in our country, ey. But it seems to call my meditation to bear a fruit of thought to believe that there isn't really poverty for Filipinos who are dead-hungry (patay-gutom) before the alluring delight of materialism. It may not be a conclusion, yet to say, but a theory of pure selfish nature exists 'tis season whose soul is gift-giving; for it is in Christmas where no one is in the state of poverty, nor do they think of being choked in the chains of its wrath. Except for a family who radically experiences the season with a bitter taste of celebration: the poor family of Bethlehem, of whom hails the true King of kings and the reason of perpetual merriment. That is Jesus.

‘THE MANILA KINGPIN: The Asiong Salonga Story’: Ang Pagbabalik ng Tunay na Pelikulang Pinoy?

Napaka-unique talaga ng taste ng mga Pilipino pagdating sa pelikula. Basta maganda at pogi ang bida- blockbuster hit agad. Kapag nag-tambal si Budoy, ay este, si Gerald at Sarah sumisipa sa takilya! (Sorry Kim.) At higit sa lahat, kapag baklang mukhang kabayo, na sa matinong mundo ay sadyang ubod ng pagiging non-sense, ang bida, aba eh, highest grossing film of all time sa Pilipinas.

Leche!

Ewan ko lang kung bakit ever since namatay si Da King, Fernando Poe Jr. (na pinaniniwalaang ika-15 na Pangulo ng Pilipinas) ay wala nang pumapatok na Filipino action movie. Gagawa nga sila ng aksyon, commedy at may halong horror pa ang kasamang timpla. Nakakasuka. For short, figurative fictional action.

Ito nga siguro marahil ang dahilan kung bakit ngayong bukana ng dekadang 2010’s ay dumami ang may lahing berde, at kung bakit numinipis ang bilang ng mga barako sa mundo. Pero, to make it clear, hindi ko po dinidiskrimina ang mga bakla. Mahal ko sila.

Pero sa awa ng Diyos, may mga matitino pa rin palang Filipino artists/filmmakers, tulad nina Ricky Lee Jim Libiran, at Tikoy Aguiluz na siyang may dakilang pangalan sa inaabangan kong ‘THE MANILA KINGPIN: The Asiong Salonga Story’ na pinagbibidahan ng napaka-maganda at propesyunal na artistang si Carla Abellana at ng matikas na gobernador ng Laguna, na si E.R. “Jeorge Estregan” Ejercito bilang si Nicasio “Asiong” Salonga- isang makototohanang Tondo Robin Hood noong 1950’s, na ibang-iba ang imahe sa mga aspiring state-side gangsters sa Pilipinas. Pwera kasi sa aksyon, inaabanagan ko rin ang makulay na ebolusyon ng pop-culture sa Metro Manila, sa pamamagitan ng black and white cinematography, na kung titngnan ng isang may perspektibong artist, ay nagpapakita sa’yo ng isang malupit na artistic interpretation na hindi kayang tumbasan ng pelikulang may ‘ina mo.

Ang orig na hari ng Tondo: Asiong Salonga

Pero, katulad ng inaasahan, kahit gaano kaganda ng konsepto at artistic value ng pelikulang Asiong Salonga, ay asahan nating hindi ito tatabo sa takilya katulad ng Agimat at nang napaka-uhm, na Enteng ng Ina Mo. Unang-una sa lahat, kilala mo pa ba si Jeorge Estregan?

Ipinagdarasal ko pa rin na sana, ang pelikulang ito ay siyang maging hudyat ng cinematic revolution sa Pinas. Cinematic-cultural revolution na magpapakita ng tunay na pelikulang Pinoy na astig, na siyang titingalain ng mga kabataan sa halip ng Praybeyt Benjamin, na kung saan obvious ang pagbibigay ng kalituhan sa pangalan ng realidad.

It's 'P'GMA Again

“So let it be written, so let it be done” as the famous biblical 50’s film “The Ten Commandments” dictates. But now a different dictation that comes from an accused dictator hails.

Back some few months ago, Noynoy Aquino began his backlashes on his predecessor President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo- whose shorthand name is PGMA. These bangs probably horrified the now, Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (or simply CGMA) because of the fact that she might spend her Noche Buena in jail.

Thus made a beautiful story of dramatic spiritual care and devotion to St. Luke, to whom the ‘abused’ and ‘demoralized’ (or for sweeter adjective, ‘demonized’) manang, to whom she owed everything for the past few months. The ever blessed thing is that St. Luke’s became a witness of certified, though kwak-Medical Doctors who treated their repeating imperfect treatments. And even of lawyers and spokespersons who were willing to have a piece of their testis to be cut off and were spokespersons for doctors, respectively.

A dramatic ‘epic fail’ even snatched the eyes of the Filipino public who were focusing on Willie Revillame’s ‘big time’ show or fantasizing the seductive and poisonous tempt of Marian Rivera or most likely were on their tears on a preoccupied tear-dropping scenes of an influential (and even stupid) conceptualized drama. This dramatic even, was the award-winning and world changing scene at the one of the ugliest airports in the world NAIA, whose starring roles were the love team of Mike and Glo, who faced different consequences and obstacles in their imitation of Houdini’s sweet escapade from the country whom these lacoste models made bitter for almost a decade, who by the way makes their lives bitter, now.

Well, they have faced it all. They proved a synonymous quote wrong. The bitterness they suffered, by which as every other movie exemplify to God’s mercy, failed.

Arroyo, as the moment this journal is being read (except if you want to read this in the year 2050), is now under the jurisdiction of the police, who considered her as commander-in-chief for 9 years. She is now detained, though unfortunately and undeservingly is detained in an air-conditioned and comfortable hospital suite. Damn, many humans are alike her, who’re being suspected unjustly in an instant and police-dictated state who are dumped in excruciating and odorous-tattooed goon-filled prison cell. Isn’t it just to place a (let’s say) (as of the moment) ‘innocent’ criminal who plundered and mocked the Philippine democracy, plus her robbing of the presidency twice in a detention cell where we usually see rapists, holdapers, ruthless mother fuckers end up in every day national television?

But still, Gloria Arroyo has succeeded in regaining the ‘P’ in her name for she is now ‘Prisoner’ Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, or once again, ‘P’GMA. (Notice the horns in the ‘P’). Congratulations, Madam ‘P’GMA. (‘P’ ng ina mo.)

Ang Kapangyarihan ng TVJ

Tatlong dekada na ang samahan ng isa sa mga pinaka-kwelang trio sa balat ng telebisyon.


Ang trio nina Senator Vicente C. Sotto III, Victor C. Sotto, at José María Ramos de León o mas kilala bilang Tito, Vic, and Joey.


Kailan lang ay ginunita ng tatlo ang 'unang tatlong dekada' ng kanilang longest-running noon time show na Eat Bulaga! at sa episode na 'yun at sa launching ng kanilang coffee table book na "Unang Tatlong Dekada' ay nakitang lumuha ang dakilang mga haligi ng Philippine showbusiness.


Magugunita natin na nabigyan sila ng pagkakataong sumikat noong dekada 70's sa ISkul Bukol at Eat Bulaga! na noo'y katapat ng mas pormal na show ni Eddie Elarde na 'Student Canteen'. Syempre Pinoy tayo at dahil sakop ito ng ating popular na kultura, mas bumenta ang EB dahil mas bibenta talaga ang mga makukuwla. Naging katapat rin sila nina 'Pidro', este,  APO Hiking Society.


Subalit sa pagdaan rin ng panahon ay marami-rami na rin ang hinarap na kontrobersiya at tuwa. KAtulad na lamang ni Enteng (Vic) na kung ilang babae na ang napa-ibig at napa-lobo. Si Joey na marami na ring nakaaway dahil sa kanyang masyadong pagka-pilyo. At ang accused rape nila sa dating bold star na si Pepsi Paloma, na later on ay binira ng Eraserheads sa kanta nilang 'Spoliarium' sa pamamagitan ng linyang, "sinong sinula ni Enteng at Joey dyan.." at kalauna'y 'di umano'y ginantihan ni Tito Sen sa pamamagitan ng pag-ban sa kanta ng banda na 'Alapaap'. Pero mahal talaga sila ng masa. In fairness, re-elected si Tito.


Napaka-lawak rin ng impluwensiya ng tatlong ito sa larangan ng Manila sounds.


Kaya sa kanilang unang tatlong dekada, tanggapin nawa nila ang aking simpleng pag-bibibgay pugay sa haligi ng industriya ng popular na sining, sina TITO, VIC, and JOEY!

Patay na si Khadaffy

Mahigit 8 buwan ang pakiki-baka. Mahigit 8 buwan na walang kapayapaan. Mahigit 8 buwan ng putukan.

Yang ang naranasan ng mga tao sa Libya sa loob ng naka-lipas na walong buwan. Ang huling walong buwan ng mahigit apat na dekadang diktador ng Libya na si Moammar Ghadaffy o Moammar Ghadaffi o Moammar Khadaffy o Muammar Ghadaffy o Col. Muammar Al'Quadaffi (siguarado ako madi-drain ako masyado sa probability ng spelling ng pangalan ng hayop na 'to.) (Maraming spelling ang pangalan niya kaya wag mag-taka kung bakit iba-iba ang spelling na gagamitin ko.) Pero, flashback, tantaranananan, 4 decades ago, noong nagkaroon ng kaguluhan sa Libya, isang dakila at batang sundalo ang nanguna sa pag-aklas. Walang iba kundi si Col. Muammar Al'Quadaffi. Fast forward, nananararatanat, 2011, nag-aaklas ang radikal na partido sa Libya laban sa diktador na kanilang kinamumuhian dahil sa kanyang labor discrimination sa kapwang mga taga-Libya na kung saan mas mataas ang sahod ng mga dayuhan kaysa sa kanilang mga Libyan nation. Ang naknambetch na ito ay si Moammar Khadaffi.

Nakakalungkot na nakakatawang isipin na ang pinaka-makapangyarihan at kinakatakutang naghahari-hariang gago na namuno sa Libya ng mahigit apat na dekada ay magsasambit ng mga salitang humihingi ng awa- ng mga salitang mistulang nakakahiyang ibanggit sa bingit ng kamatayan ng isang pinunong kinakatakutan. Subalit hindi siya pinagbigyan ng kanyang mga kababayang gigil na gigil na siya'y patayin. Sabay binaboy pa ng mga sugo ni Allah ang mortal na bangkay ng nag-aakalang imortal na diktador.

Patay na si Ghadaffi. Magkakaroon na kaya ng wagas na kapayapaan sa Libya? Bababa na kaya ang presyo ng krudo sa world market?

Nakakatakot! (Part 2)

Dia de la Muerte- Day of the Dead- Araw ng mga patay.

Ito na naman tayo. Bakit ba pag-undas ang hilig natin sa mga kakatakutan? O sadyang trip lang ba talaga nating pagtripan ang ating mga sarili sa pamamagitan ng pananakot? Pero, talaga kasing napaka-interesting pag-usapan ang mga kababalaghan na nakiki-sikisik sa ating sumisikip nang daigdig-mga kababalaghang galing 'di umano sa mga iba't-ibang elemento sa ating planeta. Total ito rin naman ang pag-uusapan natin, nais ko lang itanong kung gaano ba talaga ka totoo ang mga misteryosong nagaganap sa ating daigdig?

Ayon sa ilang psychologists, ang tendency raw ng pananakot natin sa ating sarili ay halos pantay sa tendency ng ating reaction kapag nakikiliti ang ating mga sexual apetite. Hindi man ako psychologist pero nais kong i-hypothesize na sadyang napaka-extreme nating mga miyembro ng animalandia sa mga misteryo at sa libog. Hind natin kayang tanggihan ang temptasyong dulot ng libog, at ganun rin ang hindi natin pag-tanggi sa pakikinig sa mga kwento tungkol sa white lady sa Balete Drive. Parang kung paano tayo nasasabik sa pelikulang katulad ng 'Coming Soon' ay ganoon rin ang ating pananabik sa mga porn movies na pinagbibidahan nila Maria Ozawa o Faye Reagan.

Nakakatawa lang minsang isipin kung gaano tayo ka-hook sa mga pelikulang horror na 'di umano'y 'based on a true story'. Isang halimbawa ay ang cinematic documentary na 'Paranormal Activity' na ayon sa ibang psychic na iskolar ay hindi naman raw talaga totoo. Pero hindi naman natin pinapansin ang mga makatotohanang kwentong horror, katulad ng 'The Exorcist' at 'The Rite' na actual na mga pangyayari mula sa mga kapariang pinagpala ng panginoon ng kapangyarihang exorcismo. Sa Pilipinas, ay kilalang exorcist si Fr. Jocis Syquia- ang kasalukuyang official archdiocesan exorcist ng arkidiyoses ng Manila. Maraming banal na santo na rin ang kinilala dahil sa kapangyarihang pinagpala sa kanila ng May Kapal na makapag-palayas ng mga masasamang espiritu. Ilan rito ay sina Padre Pio de Pietrelcina at si Beato Pope John Paul II (na ayon sa tala ay mahigit apat na beses nang nakipag-engkwentro sa Diablo).

Sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa ay makikitang hindi impluwensiya ng mga Kastila ang ating mapag-celebrate ng Halloween. Galing ito sa mga sina-unang paganong Mexicano na kapag November 1 ay nagtatanghal ng Dia de la Muerte- isang tradisyon na kung saa'y pinapaniwalaan nilang nagpipyesta ang mga yumao. Ang atin ring pag-aalala sa mga yumao: ang ating pagdalaw sa mga puntod o sementeryo ay hindi rin galing mula sa mga Kastila, bagkus ay galing ito sa mga Intsik na ginagawa ang pag-samba sa mga yumao o 'Ancestral worship'. Hindi ba't inaalayan nila ng pera o pagkain ang mga mahal nilang nauna sa kanila. At lalo't higit ang pag-hahanda natin ng halloween parties kung saan ay patok ang mga costume na nakakatakot at ang 'trick or treat' na isang kulturang kanluranin. Siguro ang ambag lang ng mga Kastila sa ating popular na kultura sa araw ng mga patay ay mga pag-dasal ng Santo Rosario at pagpapa-misa sa kaluluwa ng ating mga mahal sa buhay.

Ang November 1, para sa Iglesia Catolica ay isang dakilang kapistahan o 'solemnity'. Pero nakakatuwang isipin na ang Dakilang Kapistahan ng mga Banal o Solemnity of  All Saints ay isang araw ng mistulang pagbibigay pugay kay Satanas- sa Diablo. Hindi ba't ang mga mukha ng mga santo ay napaka-banayad, mahinahon, maliwanag, at dakila pero bakit ang mga mukhang kumakalat sa mga bangketa at sa mga mall ay mga mukha ng kalabera, ng mga aswang, ng Diablo, ni Kamatayan, mga mangkukulam, mga gagamba, mga ligaw na kaluluwa, at iba pa. Ganoon ba ang mukha ng mga itinuturing na banal ng simbahang Katolika?

Ito ang isang bagay na pinatatamaan ni Kuyang Mideo Cruz sa kanyang 'Kulo' (na naman).

Hay, mga minamahal na kaibigan, ito ang isang simpleng paglalahad ng ating sabog-sabog na polymerizated occidental and oriental pop culture. Pero ito lang ang huling nota: ika nga ni Lourd de Veyra sa kanyang nakaka-TANGINA THIS! na 'Word of the Lourd', "WALANG BASAGAN NG TRIP."