GOD BLESS YOU PRESIDENT CORY!

GOD BLESS YOU PRESIDENT CORY!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Fasting to Resist the Monster of Morong - Oppose the Commissioning of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP)

12 April 2009

It's Easter 2009 and even as I write, Prof. Ed Aurelio "Ding" Reyes persists in his seven-day fast to protest the commissioning of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.  Fasting is not only a physical undertaking but more so a spiritual one. I have to admit that I am not spiritually prepared to join this seven-day fast but I've tried my best to do the next best thing which is to pray for the safety of Prof. Reyes and his fellow fasters, do a one-day fast starting mid-afternoon today and, if possible, put up an online petition against BNPP and then go to Morong, Bataan to directly cover this momentous event.  


You'll find below the statement by Prof. Reyes on the BNPP fast.  For more information, please go to this website:

“LUMALAWIG NA PAG-AAYUNO” vs. BNPP

(MATAIMTIM NA KAHILINGANG IGAWAD ANG LIWANAG NG KATINUAN AT NG KARANGALAN SA USAPIN NG MULING-PAGBUHAY SA LUBHANG MAPANGANIB AT LUBHANG MAGASTOS NA PROYEKTONG PLANTANG NUKLEYAR SA BATAAN.)


Simula ngayong ika-9 ng Abril, makasaysayang Araw ng Bataan, at banal na Araw ng Huwebes Santo ng kasalukuyang taon, at sa mga araw na kasunod pa nito, kaming nakalagda sa ibaba ay kusang-loob na nagdaraos ng LUMALAWIG NA PAG-AAYUNO upang humiling ng liwanag ng karangalan, katinuan at katalinuhan na makapagpapatigil sa karamihan ng mga mambabatas sa sa ginagawa nilang pagtataguyod ngayon sa muling-pagbubuhay sa lubhang mapanganib at lubhang magastos na proyektong Plantang Nukleyar sa Bataan o BNPP, nang wala man lamang pagbubunyag, pag-aaral, at pagsasaalang-alang sa makapal na opisyal na siyentipiko at teknikal na dokumentasyon sa ilampung libong depektong natuklasan sa plantang naitayo. Iresponsableng pagsusugal ito sa buhay, kaligtasan, kalusugan at kapanatagan namin at ng aming mga anak, at ng isisilang pang mga salinlahi. Ipinasya naming gawin ito upang humiling ng dagdag na liwanag ng kaalaman, tapang at katatagan ng mamamayan upang pigilin ang mga kinatawan ng kani-kanilang mga distrito sa ganitong kriminal na iresponsibilidad. At ipinasya naming gawin ito upang humiling din ng liwanag ng dagdag na katatagan sa katinuan at kabayanihan ng kakaunti pa ngayong mambabatas sa Kongreso na tumututol sa binabalak isabatas ng mayorya ng mga kasapi nito.

Bawat isa sa amin ay nagpapanata ng pitong araw na pag-aayuno, at sa bawat isa’y maaaring mabawasan ng araw na ipag-aayuno kung ang bawat araw na ibabawas ay tutubusin ng isang kalahok na magpapanata rin ng pitong araw na pag-aayuno, sa isang sistema ng pagdudugtungan at pagdami ng mga mag-aayuno, na tiyak na ikalalawig nito.

Tatapusin namin ang ayunong lumalawig sa sandaling ilabas ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ang isang opisyal na pahayag na hindi na tatanggapin ang HB 4631 o anupamang panukalang batas na nagtatakda ng pagbubuhay muli sa plantang nukleyar. o sa sandaling ilabas ang isa man lamang opisyal na pahayag na ititigil ang anumang pagtatalakay nito sa Kapulungan habang hi-nahanap, ipinalalaganap at pinag-aaralan pa ng lahat ng mga kasapi ng Kapulungan ang siyen-tipiko at teknikal na dokumentasyong ipinagawa at ginastahan na ng Republika ng Pilipinas.

Habang walang pormal na inilalabas na alinman sa ganitong mga opisyal na pahayag ay itutuloy namin ang pagpapalawig ng ayunong ito sa Morong, Bataan at sa iba’t ibang dako ng kapuluang Pilipinas -- laluna sa mga distritong kinakatawan ng mga kongresistang maka-BNPP -- at saanmang iba pang bansa na mayroong mga Pilipinong nagmamalasakit sa mga kababayan dito sa ating lupang tahanan.

Kasihan nawa kami ng Bathalang Maykapal!

1. Prof. Ed Aurelio C. Reyes, edukador at may-akda ng maraming aklat sa iba’t ibang tema at paksa; residente ng Subic, Zambales na di-kalayuan sa Morong, Bataan; Pasimuno at Punong Tagapagsalita, Kamalaysayan (Kaisahan sa Kamalayan sa Kasaysayan); at Kalihim-Pangkalahatan ng Pamayanang SanibLakas ng Pilipinas

2. xxx xxx

Sumisimpatiya kami at nagtataguyod din sa panalangin ng mga nagsasagawa ng “Lumalawig na Ayuno” laban sa Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

1.

2.

(Sa bawat buong araw ng pag-aayuno, ang kalahok ay kakain lamang ng isang magaang na tanghalian, halimbawa’y dalawang malasadong itlog na may crackers o kaunting kanin o anumang katumbas nito, nang walang anumang limitasyon sa iinuming tubig o anupamang malabnaw na likido. Ang pag-aayuno ng sinumang kalahok ay dapat magpalaganap ng mga datos ukol sa isyung ito at dapa iparating sa mga tagapag-ulat ng mass media sa kani-kanilang pook ng pag-aayuno.) 

ang anumang komentaryo ay ipaabot po lamang sa saniblakas.foundation@yahoo.com


For a concise discussion of the basic objections to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, please read Seven (7) Reasons Against the Revival of BNPP

Below in reverse-chronological order is an update from Prof. Reyes on the progress of his fast:

ACCOUNTS / UPDATES ON "LUMALAWIG NA AYUNO" VS. BNPP

(in the reverse-chronological order)


 SATURDAY, April 11:  'SLEEPY, WITH SLIGHT DIZZINESS'

FOR THE FIRST TIME since starting his fast in the first minute of Thursday, April 9, Prof. Reyes has observed that the feeling of drowsiness has not been leaving him the whole morning and a good part of the afternoon. Fr. Loreto has mentioned the need to monitor his blood pressure and plans to make arrangements for this.  For his part, Reyes, who has been taking only a light lunch of two soft-boiled eggs, two bananas and some crackers as his only meal for the whole day (24 hours), said he has been given "booster shots" by personal friends who had been expressing their support for him and, more importantly, for the issue he has been carrying.

Reyes said: My fasting prayer is for adequate light be given to the almost 200 members of the Lower House who have signed their support for the BNPP revival bill without even looking at the officially commissioned thick scientific and technical audit documentation on the plant, including no less that 40,000 discovered defects. Why can't they wait and see that report first before expressing their informed choice through the votes they will cast? Why gamble very irresponsibly with our lives, safety, health, and peace of mind?  Even professional gamblers study the odds!"  

With regards to the encouragement he has been getting from his friends, the International Academy of Management and Economics (IAME) chairman, Dr. Emmanuel T. Santos, PhD., had earlier told him via his mobile phone, "Kaya mo yan!"  This afternoon, as word got out through the texting network about a slight turn in his health, more such encouraging messages from his personal friends streamed in, including one each from Knights of Rizal Supreme Commander and Rizal Provincial Adminstrator Virgilio Esguerra and Commission on Elections officer Atty. Ferdie Rafanan.  Reyes said many of his friends have vast spheres of influence, "and we are only praying for the light of reason to obviously prevail in this discourse."


 FRIDAY, April 10: POSSIBILITIES FOR CO-FASTERS BROADENED

BECAUSE FEW PEOPLE would be ready to undergo a seven-day fast, the "Ayu-NO to BNPP!" leader was prevailed upon by suggestions that people may "redeem" days from his 7-day commitment with shorter durations of fasting. Instead of having to commit to fast for seven days fast to deduct one day (24 hours) from his, one may fast for four days and take away half a day (12 hours) or two days to take away 6 hours, or just a day to deduct 3 hours.  Full fasting (no solids at all) counts for double these values.

Reyes clarified that he is not mainly interested in reducing the seven days he had committed to undertake, but to broaden the possibilities and really increase the number of co-fasters. 

As this developed, Gigette Reyes, the fasting leader's own younger sister in Quezon City declared she was having a full fasting for three days, and this, combined with Mr. Sta. Cruz's two days of full fasting, has been enough to reduce the duration of Prof Reyes's fast by a full day.  Other supporters have signified through text messages that they planning to start their own sometime this week.


 THURSDAY, April 9:  'SIETE PALABRAS' NG AYUNO VS. BNPP UPLOADED

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS, in a special version for the anti-BNPP campaign was completed by Prof. Ed Aurelio C. Reyes and immediately uploaded in the AKMA website for possible use by all members of the broad campaign wherever they are, if they had any opportunity to do so.  But it was designed to be useful even to individuals who would seek to relate their Holy Week activities to this campaign and its broader context.  (For full text, click here.) 

A personal sharings session was held right at the fasting venue in the early afternoon, led by the author of the piece and participated in by the guests who were there at the time.


 THURSDAY, April 9:  VISITORS COME FROM FAR AND NEAR

THE 'AYUNO' AGAINST THE BNPP REVIVAL was visited by close friends and associates of the fasting leader in the morning of the first full day of the fast.  Two Metro Manila-based leaders of Pamayanang SanibLakas ng Pilipinas, namely, PSLP Deputy Secretary General Edward Sta. Ana and National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA) President Dr. Ernesto Gonzales, who was accompanied by the latter's relative arrived first but were followed shortly after by a SanibLakas active member who had come all the way from Davao City, Ernesto Sta. Cruz.  Sta. Cruz immediately decided to join the fast and even made it a full one (no solids at all).  Other visitors of the fasting activity also came from within Morong itself.

There were reports in the afternoon that Rep. Marcos Cojuangco of Pangasinan, author of the BNPP Revival bill, came to town that time in a long convoy of vehicles.  The arrival was immediately reported to media people in Metro Manila who asked to be informed of developments if any.


 WEDNESDAY, April 8: PARISH LEADER RECEIVES 'FASTING' LEADER

THE VICE PRESIDENT of the Parish Council received LUMALAWIG NA AYUNO leader Prof. Ed Aurelio Reyes mid-afternoon, hours before the latter was to start his planned seven-day fasting. Reyes was warmly received by Julito Velasco, who has also been one of the active local leaders of the campaign to oppose the revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant which is situated in this municipality. 

Velasco told Reyes that arrangements had been made to facilitate the start of his fast but that he would have to understand that all the parish leaders, especially Fr. Ronie Loreto, were very busy with the Holy Week activities. Noting that Reyes was still to start fasting at midnight, he invited the latter to join them for dinner, about a couple of hours thence, for they still had a procession to take care of. He advised his guest not to join the procession and instead conserve his strength.


 MONDAY, April 6: BISHOP SOC BLESSES PLANNED 'AYUNO'

LUMALAWIG NA AYUNO initiator Ed Aurelio C. Reyes received this text message from Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas very early today, April 6, in response to a letter Reyes left with the Bishop's residence late the previous night. With that letter were the Filipino and English texts of the main statement of the Lumalawig na Ayuno where the purposes, the mechanics and other details are indicated. (For Filipino text click here; for English text click here.) 

The short text message from 'Bishop Soc,' as the prelate is fondly called, reads in full:

"Bishop Soc here. Good morning po Prof Reyes. I bless your fasting for the intentions of our campaign against BNPP. You may have your fast at (specific area near the parish church). Fr. Ronie Loreto will assist you. God be with you.


 SUNDAY, April 5: ENCOURAGING MESSAGES POUR IN

A TOTAL OF 37 SHORT TEXT MESSAGES came in quick succession to the cell phone of the "Lumalawig na Ayuno" leader Ed Aurelio C. Reyes on April 4 and 5, and were uploaded into the very new website created by SanibLakas CyberServices mainly for promoting the culture of active stakeholdership, but also timed to prepare for the launching of the "Ayuno" laban sa BNPP.  The messages came from various parts of the country, including the single town and the cities of the national capital region, and the following provinces: Palawan; Davao; Cavite; Pampanga; Zambales; Bataan; Rizal; and Bulacan.  There were also encouraging messages that came in via email.

Reyes later told a friend that all these messages, responding to his own which spelled out the purpose and issue, had become his weapon against physical and emotional difficulties he expected to face in the duration of his fast. (to view his own text message and the responses, click here.)


Let's pray for the safety of Prof. Ding Reyes and his fellow fasters!  Let's pray that God will enlighten the minds and touch the hearts of Philippine government officials so that our country will be spared of the grave perils posed by the Monster of Morong. Let's support the people's struggle against the BNPP!


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