I Need Your Strength

Two top media company has already come in our place to look at the matter but we never see any light at the end of the tunnel. Days passed by swiftly and the thoughts of losing the roof on our heads beyond January 30, 2009 makes me weaker each day. I can’t even feel the Christmas in the air, although cold wind is already embracing me… I guess it just makes me numb each passing day. The show of force is so demoralizing, watching the regular round of soldiers in our neighborhood is creating fear and confusion among the children. I already written our cause to some top leaders of our society but it seem our issue had just fallen in deaf ears…

 

 

I started blogging to ease my pains

To ease my feelings and gain some friends

To voice out my opinions and ravings

and to pacify the anger in my surging veins

 

The journey to blogging seems interesting

It lessen the worries that makes me lame

It makes me feel alive once again

From more than 3 years of silence

 

I was silenced by the forces of evil

Who threaten to take my life If I never refrain

Refrain from what? You may ask me that

From being radical which narrowed my path

 

But I can’t live in silence for many years

It makes me crazy and will paralyze my brains

Now I need to go out once again

Maybe not in the street but in the field of blogging

 

 I love my kids, I don’t want to endanger them

That’s why I shut my mouth off and quit from work

But how long shall I stop and just stare at them?

While they are crashing our rights and our home

We were all strangers in this land

Which created by God for every man

But some men are greedy and cruel

They draw the boundaries and created their titles

 

But how dare you claim you own the land created by God?

You just draw the line and claimed it’s yours?

And for that claim you’re ready to harm and maybe kill

Whoever blocks your plans and claims?

 

Fights and wars has just one cause

The greed in every man’s heart to rise in power

By trampling the rights and freedom of other men

Just to place themselves in the pedestal of fame

 

The journey to freedom maybe long and hard

Millions of men had already sacrificed their lives

For the call of justice, equality and sovereignty

Despite all these, we still have to take our steps in this journey

 

I am drawing my strength from God and friends

And I am calling you to internalize the cause

The fight will be stronger if you joined mine

I need your strength in the darkest time…

 

~by: Juliet B. Corpuz ~

12-8-2008 4:00am

Poetry is my healing balm… I need to put into words all the bad feelings I have in my heart…

Related posts of our issue:

Demolition Issue

Demolition update

Eviction notice

Jan 1, 2009

I would like to thank all my readers and blogger friends who extend their hands and support to our demolition issue. The good words coming from you guys is very important to me as this keeps me going and stand on my feet each day.

I also want to give my sincere thanks to SSNUFY for a wonderful poem he composed for this post.

POEM FROM SSNUFFY

Be still my friend have you not forgot
that an awesome God Controls the lot
His word is law and very true
and you know the depth of His love for you

So Stand in faith and and trust His Word
to doubt His power is quit absurd
For He is God and on His Throne
and your promise is your not alone

In His good time this storm will pass
and you will stand at peace alas
and the threat so bold that held you there
will disappear in the morning air,,,,,,

Gods very best >>>SSNUFFY

Thank you very much….

Here is my response for this poem…

Thank you very much SSNUFFY
For this sincere poem you created for me
The thoughts made its way to my heart
Which adds to my strength and made me glad

Never will I forget I have a Big God
Who always leads my path
In him I draw my strength
To face all my struggles and pains

I always thank him for all the friends
That He sent my way as an instrument
Who cheers me up when I’m in vain
Which cushion the blows and ease the pains

I stand still and keep my faith
To trust His word is my shield
This storm will go and never win
Cause I have a God who never fail

<<<<Juliet >>> [January 1, 2009     7:30 a.m.]

Pinoy Entrepreneurs

Everyday we hear different stories about Economic problems. Oil price hikes, recession, depression, business foreclosure and now the flight of our fellow Pinoy OFWs coming home in batches because they lost their jobs due to economic turmoil.

The magnet of poverty line is getting stronger everyday pulling so many people down. Government is very diligent to sustain and increase the magnitude of the magnet energy reserve to further attract more people and so far, they are successful. And now they are keeping up with the latest trend in entertainment and fashion. They are on their feet practicing the latest step of Latin American dance of Cuban origin, Cha-Cha. Wow, this government just can’t get enough of us. They are like blood sucking creatures that will not stop until the last drop of our blood.

Thanks God, He give us beautiful minds to survive the cold. Despite the economic glitch, Pinoys are surviving within the underground economy wherein the circulating currency is by bulk of coins. The government, despite dancing to the tune of cha-cha is crippled in terms of providing employment and health care for the common “tao”. But my fellow Pinoys are innovative. They are embracing the beauty of Entrepreneurism. Despite the lack of capital, they are still coping up to run their business to support their daily needs. And I believe that these are the real entrepreneurs. The real survivors.

This is the clear picture of Pinoy Entrepreneurs and often times they are dislocated by dispersal because of “illegal operation” which according to the authority, they are hampering the traffic flow. During dispersal, their goods are sequestered by the police and because they have no money for fines, oftentimes, recovery of their products is impossible and of course their products would fall “in good hands”.

Masyadong brutal kahit maliliit walang patawad.

Mobile Refreshment

Mobile Barbeque

Mobile Smoked Fish

 

Refreshment Stand

Hand Carried Delicacies

Mobile "Tinapa"

Mobile Banana Industry

Banana Stand

Mobile Botique

Mobile Natural Coconut Juice

Mobile Dried Squid with Vinegar

Snacks and junkies

Mobile "Mani" Store

Mobile Corn Store

Pinoy Chicken Barbeque

in short, Lechong Manok

Ice Candy for Sale

Mobile Fast Food Chain

Mobile Fruit Store

Mobile Quick Meals

Mobile Burger Machine

Mobile Token Store

Mobile Rice Cake Store

in short Bibingka

Eviction Notice for Zone A, B & C

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

This post is an update regarding the demolition problem at Zone A, B & C San Miguel, Tarlac City.

The Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) issued a final eviction notice which must be complied within 60 days otherwise they would be constrained to make representation for the employment of counteractive legal measures within the authority of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This Final demand is blatantly contained in the document I scanned below.

The threat of demolition is like a plague spreading in the barrios of San Miguel; Zone A, B & C. Just like my neighbors, I am trying to go over with my normal routine although I had a good laugh with my previous post but the reality will always sets in. The fear of losing our home is a daily nightmare to us. One of the residents from Zone B, a retired army had a heart attack after reading the final notice and he died instantly. A 6 by 6 truck with heavy weapons and armies was roaming the barrio and creating confusion and fear among the residents. This is a clear manifestation of harassment. This show of force is a psychological warfare which is a common dirty trick by our very own army.

Joyce Segue of GMA Balitang Amianan conducting an exclusive interview

It’s really frustrating that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the institution that is liable for the security and protection of the common Filipino is engaging in this outrageous activity. My kids are asking me; why are they doing this to us mommy? My teacher said Soldiers will protect us, but why they are threatening us? Will they kill us too?

These are the simple childish question that I cannot answer. I still have to gather my strength to reckon and give the best answer that would convince my kids that the army, like my dad is a servant and protector of the people. How can a child love a government when at this early stage, they are already experiencing this dilemma?

Joyce Segue, GMA reporter for “Balitang Amianan”news program conducted an interview the other day regarding the escalating issue of demolition. The newly elected association president Col Felipe Damo is instituting several options on how shall we deal with the problem, from legal battle to collective effort of the masses and the residents to defend our home physically. Our strength may not be equal to the guns and goons of the government but we will not just stand at the corner, staring at them doing nothing while they are crashing our home. A bloody dispersal that has wasted many lives at Hacienda Luisita while farm workers are waging fight for just compensation and benefits was also maneuvered by NOLCOM and now, their bloody fingers are once again thirsting for the same scenario.

I am asking for your support my fellow bloggers, in behalf of my neighbors and the children in my community please help us spread this news and blog this issue.

I don’t want another Hacienda Luisita tragedy.
Please spare our home and the children.

Eviction Letter from NOLCOM. Please click for larger view.

NOTE: Watch Joyce interview with Col. Felipe Damo at my YouTube channel: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/redwarriorheart

Previous posts:

Post 1 – Zone ABC: We are Facing Demolition Issue

Post 2 – Demolition Update

Semestral Break

OCTOBER 29, 2008

It’s my Kids’ semestral break so I’m a bit rested this week without having to worry with their early breakfast meals, snacks and packed lunch.

Our days typically starts at 4:30a.m. That is from Monday to Friday. I have 4 students here, 1 college, Junior high and 2 grade school and every morning, my house is busy and noisy as my kids are arguing who will use the bathroom first. Each of them has a morning task, they have to arrange their beddings, sweep the floor, feed their pets, clean their shoes and iron their uniforms. I use to do these things but as they grow up, I begin to distribute the tasks to train them juts like how my day trained me.

After all the fuss, I would send them off to school at 6:30am. Classes starts at 7am but they should allocate a 30 minutes travel time. I will be left with all the mess, dishes on the sink and kitchen stuffs used in preparing their breakfast and packed lunch. But this is already a minimal task since they already do the rest. I don’t have to worry about their beds because they already finished cleaning their rooms.

Motherhood is really a tough job. No vacation and no rest days lol! When I was still working at a private firm, I used to leave early with them and the mess are are left to my 2 maids. After the birth of my son, I decided to stay home to personally attend to my kid’s needs.

Everyday, after they all left, I will quickly clean the mess and would sit in my desk to start working. I am running a homebase business and working online as well. Before I left my job, I really have fear if we will survive if I will stay home but hub insisted that I should personally attend my kids since they are growing and maids cannot replace my role.

I really enjoy staying with them and I realized that after I sent them all to school, I still have all the time to myself, so to maximize my idle time, we decided to open a homebase business. I manage to help hub earn a fair amount to sustain our financial needs. I also found online writing jobs which really fills my idle time.

I guess this is just a matter of initiative and resourcefulness, so to all mommies out there na maraming idle time pero meron namang talent, you can consider working online, yung fit lang sa oras mo at di ka naman ma pe pressure.

Another occasion that will make us busy this week is All Saints’ Day. We have to go to cemetery to clean my in-laws tomb. This is a yearly event celebrated by the Catholic Community all over the world. I’ll tackle that topic in my future post

Til here guys, sa susunod uli 🙂

Zone ABC: We are facing Demolition Issue

Zone A, B and C of Barangay San Miguel, Tarlac City are facing Demolition issue and this is a very crucial matter for us. It means there is a threat that we will lose the very home that we have now and it is very eminent lately. There have been a series of meetings between the Zone association and the NOLCOM – Northern Luzon Command and Nolcom issued a proposed MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) which in my assessment is very unfair on our part.

I met my husband in Tarlac when I was relocated here 18 years ago. I am a daughter of a military, Col. Aureo B. Bustinera, a US WWII veteran. I was raised to embrace home and family and my dad taught me to be righteous and loyal. My husband’s father and 4 brothers served the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well and 2 had died in active duty. This is the reason why my hub’s family is residing here. The lot where our house was built had been awarded to his father more than 50 years ago. This serves a permanent home for my hub’s family for many years. I never had the chance to meet my father-in-law since he was already deceased many years before I meet my husband. We were both military children so we knew the essence of discipline and loyalty to home and family which our dads taught to us. When I married hub, 15 years ago, we embraced the same principle of raising our kids in the light of loyalty and discipline. My kids are growing with leadership yet, very loving and homebody.

When I read the MOA from Nolcom last week, I had a hard time getting a normal sleep. My kid’s future is at stake. There is a threat that one day we shall wake up homeless. It is so unfair. How can the government tolerate this? For more than 50 years, people are living here peacefully, soldiers served their purpose and some even died like my 2 brothers-in-law, tilled this land and made it a home. Now that progress is coming to our place, will it be the same progress that will make us homeless and poor? How about our house that we built for years? We were in debt for many years to build our house so we can provide our kids a decent home.

Is this the Strong Republic that the government is flaunting in their speeches? How sincere is the call when they are threatening us to take our home instead of providing it to its constituents? I can say that everytime the government is taking steps like these, they are creating enemies and waging war against the very people that have been very loyal and dedicated.

As I write this post, I know it will add another danger in our lives but I cannot rest and wait for that day that I will wake my kids homeless. I am asking the Government to take a second look and pay attention to people’s issues. I am lobbying this in behalf of my 4 kids and the rest of the small children in our neighborhood. Please don’t make them homeless… Please provide us a home… don’t take it away from us.

Robin, Juliet, Jessica, Sabrina, Rajisha & Robin Jr.

Calamansi Street Zone C San Miguel Tarlac City Philippines

The same place where my husband robin and my kids grew and experienced their childhood

This is the MOA from NOLCOM. Please read it tell me if this is just and right….

MOA – Page 1

MOA – Page 2

MOA – Page 3

Thoughts on Friendship

More than 2 weeks had passed since my last post and its because of my flooded scheds lol. I had so many activities to post and I have to do it now before September ends.

My last post was Sept. 14, about San Francisco Daycare Center blogsite and I’m still working for 3 more blogsite for my other clients and some ID projects on the side added by my online job deadlines, these made me wish to have more than 2 hands 🙂

My 3 precious days from September 15-17 has been wasted settling a financial dispute at CIDG (Criminal Investigation Detection Group. I filed a case against my “friend” who owe me a good some of money for more than 3 years now. It really saddens me that I need to bring this issue to this venue since she’s one of my close friend. Decades of friendship was trashed just because she betrayed my trust. Maybe one of the hardest lesson I had handling friendship. That money was allocated for the payment of my hub’s motorcycle but because of negligence on their part, that motorcycle was relinquished by the motorcycle dealer. That made our life harder since we cannot go far and have to turn down clients from far flung areas. One of the reason why we are struggling now, thanks God I am blessed with some work online so we can survive our daily need.

She used to be the first person that I put my trust since I set my foot in Tarlac. We had good times together but I may say that from the very first time we met, that friendship has always been a one way street but I never noticed it then.

She used to borrow money from me for their farming needs and I need to go on sleepless nights solving her sibling’s projects and assignments. I still remember a day that I saw his brother, the one who owe me the money, He was standing at the gate waiting for his interview result at IWSPC. I managed to ask the guard on duty to allow him to go inside the canteen so I can help him have his lunch. That’s how I accommodated her family. You know why I can’t forget that incident? Because my hub (my boyfriend during that time) seen us eating and talking at the canteen and I learned from his bestfriend’s (bong) niece, Gigi that he was so mad confiding to his uncle Bong that he saw me with a guy. He thought I was still entertaining suitors! My God, lol! Inside the company premises? At the canteen in broad daylight 🙂

Well, those were my younger years. I may say that I managed to show her and her family how I love and trust them. In fact I treated them as my second home in Tarlac. I even help her father work in a good contract with one of my friend when she asked me to help her look for group of people to build her house, and of course, instead of giving it to Manoy Guito, I recommended her father. I’ve lost count on how I managed to show her that I’m always there for her and her family til one day after my retirement that her brother borrowed a big sum of money. With a promise that he will return it after a month. I was an idiot that  I gave my full trust and gave him my retirement pay and alas! 3 years had passed and they never settled it. I was forced to take the necessary steps to elevate the matter. That’s a big lesson for me.  My kids have the right to that money and I just gave it to strangers? That’s from my retirement pay and it’s too late to know that we cannot really trust people as far a money is concerned. Friendship must have its limitations… I learned it the hard way.

Seeing her at CIDG office, I feel I am looking to a total stranger. No sign of gratitude. No sign of friendship. I wonder why I cannot feel anything but anger. Where did my love for her goes? I don’t know… But one thing is clear to me now, it will take sometime on my part to forgive her. Maybe if I am still single, it will be different. Seeing my kids deprived from some of their needs because the money was never returned on time made the issue more complicated. The effect of that negligence is so crucial and my kids had suffered because of my irresponsible decisions. Thanks God my hub didn’t take it against me.

Now I am very cautious because of that experience. It’s really true that years of experiences made us wiser and tougher. I am grateful I still have one precious friend left… Liza. She’s a friend, sister and comrade rolled in one. One of my best trophy joining a union struggle. I met her. I may say that our friendship is never a one way street. She’s the kind of friend that can hear your woes even in a complete silence… who would always give up her activities just to listen to me when I need her. She’s always my first visitor at the hospital if I am sick or delivering my babies, the first person I always turn to if I am far away and I got to have someone to fetch my kids, or if they need money and I am not there but Liz is always on the rescue. Liz has been with us, see us in our worst and it’s good to know that you have a friend who will pat your back with a tearful look and reassuring embrace and will whisper in your ear: “don’t worry, things will change eventually… and hey! We’ll celebrate okay”.

January 11, 2021 update for this post…. I just ended my friendship with Liza. 

Tarlac City Schools’ Division Press Conference 2008

This is a yearly activity for public and private High School and Elementary Schools in Tarlac City. It was held at San Miguel Central Elementary School (SMCES) on September 11 and 12, 2008. Delegates from different schools participated for the following categories;

Day 1

Editorial writing – English and Filipino

Feature Writing – English and Filipino

News Writing – English and Filipino

Editorial Cartooning – English and Filipino

Photo Journalism – English and Filipino

Day 2

Sports Writing – English and Filipino

Script Writing – English and Filipino

Broadcasting – English and Filipino

The activity started at 8 a.m. with a short program facilitated by Tarlac South District and SMCES. Some expected speakers didn’t show up in this activity.

My daughter Jessica from TSU Lab School was one of the participants in that activity but according to her, they never had enough time to prepare unlike other schools which are preparing months prior to this event. I know this because she only just told me last week that they have to practice. TSU Lab School didn’t participate for the past 2 years and my daughter said that Mr. Dungca have done an effort so they can join. She asked me for 200.00php registration fee but fortunately, it was returned to me after the event. According to her, TSU shouldered the expenses but she was so disappointed by the certificates. I understand why, it was printed in a half bond paper printed in economy mode. My daughter is compiling all certificates for every activity that she attended and this is the worst certificate that she received.

Tarlac Montessori and Maliwalo National High School bagged most of the awards. TSU Lab School had managed to get 4 slots for Regional School Press Conference.

Jessica told me that most of the winners came from public schools wherein they really expressed their innermost feeling towards poverty and other political and economic issues. Of course, these students are directly affected and can express their emotions whether in writing or drawing unlike students from private schools who never really experience the real face of poverty and oppression.

Here are some of the photos that my hub was taken during the press con.

San Miguel Central Elementary School Front Gate

San Miguel Central Elementary School “Bahay Kubo”

Day 1 – TSU Lab School Participants

Day 2 – TSU Lab School -Jessica with her friends

Jessica – Feature Writing

Masakit na ata ang ulo mo anak… kaya mo yan 🙂

Editorial Cartooning Entries

My daughter is extending her warm gratitude for their Trainer Mr. Jayson Bernardo Dungca for his patience and support for the entire team of TSU Lab School. Salamat Sir!!

Men and Women: The Strong & the Weak

Whenever I hop from one forum to another, I often see discussions regarding differences of men and women, battle of the sexes, why men can’t understand women? etc…

Hmmm… because I’m an activist, I always have a different perception of these concepts. I learned that men and women are partners and co-creators of this world. The women being weak have changed when the world recognized the important role of women in achieving workers’ right to just wages, humane environment, right to vote and many important benefits that we have today especially if we are unionized. In honor of this important impact of women to global arena of Peace and War, we are celebrating March 8 as International Women’s’ Day.

For further info of March 8: http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/days/women/how.asp

But to add fun to stereotype thinking of men and women of the modern world let me share this poem to you:

I JUST CAN’T UNDERSTAND WOMEN

If you’re well dressed, she thinks you’re playboy

If you’re not, she thinks you’re rugged

If you kiss her, you’re not a gentleman

If you don’t, you’re not a man

If you praise her, she would say that you’re lying

If you don’t, you’re as good as nothing

If you visit her very often, she claims it’s boring

If you don’t, you are cold and dry

If you make love to her, she’ll accuse that you’re an experienced guy

If you don’t, you’re an innocent man

If you failed to assist her in crossing the streets, you lacked ethics

If you do, she would say it’s just one of man’s tactics

If you give her gifts, you’re spoiling her

If you don’t, you don’t love her

If you say you truly love her, she won’t believe you

If you don’t she’ll break up with you!

Whew!!

Oh Women!!

You are so simple

Yet so complex to understand

So weak

Yet proven conqueror

So confusing…

But desirable

See, that’s how men perceives us women, feeble minded…

The only way that men can truly understand us, women is to embrace our world wholeheartedly. This would only happen with real patience and love. When we made that solemn bow “till death do us part” we have to comprehend the meaning of the word forever; no amount of differences must separate us. It’s a package deal; we have to accept all strength and weaknesses.

But beyond the bounds of love, relationship and marriage, men and women will remain different, competitors and friends. It’s the law of balancing the weak and the strong. But as the famous saying goes: “Behind every man’s success is a woman”

Let’s just put it this way: These differences colors our world🙂