Hanggang sa Huli, "Free Palestine!" ang Kanyang Sigaw

Larawan mula sa artikulong "US Air Force's Aaron Bushnell pictured as he dies after setting himself on fire at Israeli Embassy" <https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/air-forces-aaron-bushnell-pictured-32217370>

Hanggang sa Huli, "Free Palestine!" ang Kanyang Sigaw

ni Louise Vincent B. Amante

A US airman has died after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli
embassy in Washington DC on Sunday, shouting "free Palestine".

Aaron Bushnell, 25, was taken to hospital after Secret Service officers
extinguished the flames.

- "Aaron Bushnell: US airman dies after setting himself
on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington",
BBC News <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68405119> 

Balisa ang kanyang mukha. Walang hinto siyang lumakad patungong embahada ng Israel
sa Washington, D.C.

Isa siyang sundalo ng U.S. Air Force. Pamilyar siya sa utos na “Obey first before you complain.”

Pero ngayong araw na ito ng Linggo, 25 Pebrero, higit pa sa pagrereklamo ang kanyang ginawa. Gamit ang kanyang cellphone, nag-livestream siya, via Twitch.

Aniya, hindi na siya magiging “complicit in genocide” at ngayo'y gagawa ng isang “extreme act of protest.” Pero kung ihahambing sa dinaranas ng mga taga-Palestina, ay “not extreme at all.”

Isinandal niya ang cellphone sa ibaba ng bakod. Lumayo rito at sinuot ang kanyang beret. Inayos ang tindig. Binuhusan ang sarili ng likido na nasa tumbler. Itinapon ito.

“Hi, Sir, can I help you?” tanong sa kanya ng guwardiya ng embahada.

Gamit ang lighter, sinindihan ang sarili. “Free Palestine! Free Palestine!”





29 Pebrero 2024
Lungsod Pasig

The Clash - London Calling (Live)

Soundtrack for the day, 23 August 2018. (Video not mine.)

Plate Number

Plate Number
ni Louise Vincent B. Amante

Isang kuting

Maingat na tumatawid

Sa kalsada

Humaharurot ang kotse

Sa kanang direksyon

Sapul ang kuting

Nangingisay

Nakabuka ang bibig

Mula sa bungo
Ng hayop

Napaliguan ng dugo

Ang mainit na kalsada

Nakunan ng cctv

Ang pangyayari

Ang plaka ng kotse

PDU 301

18 Setyembre 2017

How peculiar: Foodcourt and the INC

I logged out from work late last night. From Pearl Drive in Ortigas, I walk to Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Edsa-Shaw Blvd. to get my train ride going home.

Almost hungry, I decided to have a bite at the said mall's food court. It is downstairs, at the basement level. As my foot touched the last step of the stairs, I turned my head to the right and I saw that all seats of the food court are taken. Those without seats are sitting at the floor. Some are eating, some are chatting. Nothing peculiar. I see this almost everyday.

As I approach a certain food stall, I saw near its entrance a guy wearing a light blue polo shirt with an Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) logo. Nothing peculiar again, I said to myself. The food stall is also occupied with people. But I noticed that some of them are wearing the same shirt of the guy I saw earlier.

I started to roamed around and there they are -- INC members eating and chatting at the foodcourt. Now, that is peculiar. I wonder why they are here.

Ah! Some INC members are staging a protest action at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Ermita since Thursday. They are reiterating the principle of the separation of Church and State. This is about the alleged illegal detention of some INC ministers loyal to a faction of the Manalo family who heads the INC.

Are these people at the foodcourt will proceed at the DOJ to strengthen the ranks of their fellow INC members there? I totally forgot to eat and headed straight to the train station.

Upon reaching home, I relayed to our family about the INC members being at the foodcourt. Then the TV flashed a breaking news about the INC staging another protest at Edsa-Shaw Blvd.

Does the security service of the mall haven't had any idea about the swelling of INC members at its premises last night? How about the local government of Mandaluyong? Why were they caught unaware about this incident?

But the biggest question here is this: why are they insisting that the conflicts of the Manalo family be considered as "internal and MUST BE RESOLVED BY THEM" when in fact a case is filed citing illegal detention?

The issue gets bigger day by day.

I just hope this INC hullabaloo end soon. And the rule of law, and reason, prevail.

29 August 2015

Always remember the Mendiola Massacre of 1987

A scene from the infamous 1987 Mendiola Massacre. Photo courtesy of http://31.media.tumblr.com/dca9bf36ecf7258b653094e059d17e53/tumblr_mh28qjduxZ1qdch30o1_1280.jpg

 

Always remember

the Mendiola Massacre 

of 1987.

The worn out slippers

and the numerous calloused feet,

searching for each other.

Intercepted, interrupted

by the wrath of guns,

chasing the farmers away

from the one who seats in power.

Always remember

the Mendiola Massacre 

of 1987.

Thirteen bodies, lying on the street.

Thousands howled in pain and anger.

When the farmers asked for land,

the answer is firing guns.

Always remember

the Mendiola Massacre 

of 1987.