Chief Justice Reynato Puno Warns of "Social Volcano" — Says "Walang Tunay na Katwirang Magdiwang ng Kalayaan Kung Ganito ang Kalagayan ng Inang Bayan"

12 June 2009

Chief Justice Reynato Puno led the flag raising ceremonies in today's Independence Day festivities at the Monumento in Caloocan City but in his speech, the country's chief magistrate stressed, "Wala pong tunay na katwiran magdiwang ng ating kalayaan kung ganito ang kalagayan ng ating Inang Bayan!"

"Isang bansa na gaya ng isang bulkan, ay tila handa nang sumabog," that was how the Chief Justice characterized the present state of Philippine society especially given the administration ongoing attempt to effect charter change through the much-criticized Con-Ass or constituent assembly.

Here's the report from ABS-CBN's Mariton Pacheco via kyte.tv:

end

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Will the Filipino Nation Meekly Surrender Its Honor and Dignity at Monumento? Will Our Presidentiables Ignore the Issue of Cultural Preservation?

10 June 2009

While everybody is preoccupied with the Hayden Kho sex video scandal and now the nationwide effort to oppose Con-Ass, I appeal to all fellow Filipinos, wherever you may be to rise as one and defend the honor and dignity  of our nation at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also known simply as the Monumento.  

What is happening at the Monumento is a legacy worse than Con-Ass because while Con-Ass threatens to destroy the political fabric of our nation, the desecration at Monumento will forever tarnish our dignity and honor as a nation. 

This is how the Monumento looked in the 1980s

This is how the Monumento looks today ... 

and like this and much worse is coming ...

unless we wake up and fight for our country's honor

The desecration that is happening  at the Monumento is unprecedented in our history.  Not even the Japanese who occupied the Philippines from 1941 to 1945 dared to  do what is happening now at the Monumento — the imprisoning and desecration of the greatest monument to valor and to love of freedom on earth! 

To make the task of explaining easier, I'll attach at the end of this post an earlier article I posted entitled, May 10, 2009 is the 112th Death Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, National Hero of the Philippines — Does the National Historical Institute Care?

The short video clip below which I took yesterday, June 9, will give you an idea of what I'm talking about. It shows the Monumento Circle and the area where the northern edge of the LRT will reportedly connect physically with MRT3.  The video clip shows a huge crane and a heavy digging equipment preparing the hole which will serve as one of the foundations of the physical interconnection.  This is what is known as "closing the LRT-MRT3 loop" project.   

I have posted the much longer video clip below at youtube wherein I made an appeal for national unity in defense of the Monumento (I would like to beg your kind indulgence if there are pauses in this video; this is probably due to the annotations I made earlier, then deleted, but still appears to affect the playing of the video):  

What can each of us do?

For a start, I'll send a copy of this post to the Office of Senator Loren Legarda and Senator Mar Roxas.  Senator Loren Legarda gave emphasis to cultural preservation during her appearance at the 2nd ANC Leadership Forum on June 5 at the UP School of Economics Auditorium.  I'd like to see how Senator Legarda matches her public stand with her firm public pronouncements.

Senator Mar Roxas is the Chairman of the Senate Committtee on Education, Arts and Culture. Much earlier, his office, in response to my appeal, wrote letters to the offices of Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri of Caloocan City, the LRTA and the MMDA.  I am reproducing here a copy of my post dated March 6, 2009 on that issue:

Friday, March 6, 2009

The Office of Sen. Mar Roxas Shows Concern For the Monumento

5 March 2009

This morning, I was pleasantly surprised to notice an email in my inbox whose subject reads: "re: Feedback from Sen. MAR."  The short message reads:

"Hi. Please see attached files.  We would appreciate confirmation of receipt."  

The attached files consist of three (3) letters sent in PDF format.  Clicking on any of the images below produces an enlarged copy:

Letter to LRTA Administrator, Melquiades A. Robles:

Letter to Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "RECOM" Echiverri

Letter to MMDA Gen. Mgr. Roberto Nacianceno

For expressing interest and concern in the ongoing desecration of the Bonifacio Monument, and for sending referral letters to responsible officials of our government encouraging them to promptly respond directly to me, copy furnished his office, thanks to Sen. Mar Roxas!  Thanks as well to Atty. Blas James G. Viterbo, Sen. Roxas' Chief of Staff, who actually signed the three referral letters in behalf of the Senator.

I'd say a good job, so far, from the office of Mr. Palengke.    

This is my start of earlier post dated May 10, 2009:

Sunday, May 10, 2009

May 10, 2009 is the 112th Death Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, National Hero of the Philippines — Does the National Historical Institute Care?

10 May 2009

Today, May 10, 2009 is the 112th death anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.  

The National Historical Institute (NHI) is the government agency tasked with protecting our cultural heritage and that includes national monuments such as the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also fondly known simply as the Monumento.

This is the link to the full NHI Guidelines on Monuments Honoring National Heroes:

I will quote here excerpts from the NHI's guidelines and show pictures of the Monumento for us to find out whether the NHI follows its own guidelines:

GUIDELINE

Monuments and memorials must, therefore, be treated as sacred3 or hallowed grounds andaccorded with the same full reverence as we have for the Philippine Flag. Any form of desecration against the monument, such as squatting, graffiti andimproper advertising commercialism shall not be allowed. (NHI Guidelines, Section 1, Definitions. Paragraph 4)

REALITY

GUIDELINE

Maintain a simple and unobstructed landscape development. Commercial billboards should not proliferate in a town center where a dominant monument is situated. (NHI Guidelines, Section 2, Definitions. Paragraph 4.2)

REALITY

This is what the National Historical Institute (NHI) website has to say about May 10:

If we zoom in on the relevant portion, this is what the NHI is saying:

That's right!  "10 May ... No Today in History events were found."

After coming out in force against performing artist Martin Nievera for alleged improper rendition of the national anthem before the Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton boxing championship bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, what should officials of  the National Historical Institute (NHI) do regarding the Monumento? What is in their hearts and minds right now?  In fairness to Martin Nievera, I don't think anyone can say that he did not give his heart out in singing Lupang Hinirang in the Pacquiao-Hatton bout.

I believe NHI Chairman Ambeth Ocampo and the other Commissioners of the NHI owe all Filipinos an explanation as to why they are allowing the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to be treated in this manner.

Perhaps the question equally important is: What are we, who call ourselves Filipinos, going to do about this?  Close our eyes and do nothing and be proud about it?!  

This is the end of my earlier post dated May 10, 2009:

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May 10, 2009 is the 112th Death Anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, National Hero of the Philippines — Does the National Historical Institute Care?

10 May 2009

Today, May 10, 2009 is the 112th death anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.  

The National Historical Institute (NHI) is the government agency tasked with protecting our cultural heritage and that includes national monuments such as the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also fondly known simply as the Monumento.

This is the link to the full NHI Guidelines on Monuments Honoring National Heroes:

I will quote here excerpts from the NHI's guidelines and show pictures of the Monumento for us to find out whether the NHI follows its own guidelines:

GUIDELINE

Monuments and memorials must, therefore, be treated as sacred or hallowed grounds andaccorded with the same full reverence as we have for the Philippine Flag. Any form of desecration against the monument, such as squatting, graffiti andimproper advertising commercialism shall not be allowed. (NHI Guidelines, Section 1, Definitions. Paragraph 4)

REALITY

GUIDELINE

Maintain a simple and unobstructed landscape development. Commercial billboards should not proliferate in a town center where a dominant monument is situated. (NHI Guidelines, Section 2, Definitions. Paragraph 4.2)

REALITY

This is what the National Historical Institute (NHI) website has to say about May 10:

If we zoom in on the relevant portion, this is what the NHI is saying:

That's right!  "10 May ... No Today in History events were found."

After coming out in force against performing artist Martin Nievera for alleged improper rendition of the national anthem before the Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton boxing championship bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, what should officials of  the National Historical Institute (NHI) do regarding the Monumento? What is in their hearts and minds right now?  In fairness to Martin Nievera, I don't think anyone can say that he did not give his heart out in singing Lupang Hinirang in the Pacquiao-Hatton bout.

I believe NHI Chairman Ambeth Ocampo and the other Commissioners of the NHI owe all Filipinos an explanation as to why they are allowing the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to be treated in this manner.

Perhaps the question equally important is: What are we, who call ourselves Filipinos, going to do about this?  Close our eyes and do nothing and be proud about it?!  

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The Bonifacio Monument, Nominee As One of the Most Endangered Monuments on Earth in the 2010 World Monuments Watch

16 March 2009

                              click image to enlarge

Yesterday, as nominator, I had the honor of submitting by email the nomination form and nomination signature form for the inclusion of the Bonifacio Monument in the 2010 World Monuments Watch.  Joining me in making the nomination is Prof. Ding Reyes, as endorser in behalf of Kamalaysayan, Inc.. In the World Monuments Watch page of its website, this is what the World Monuments Fund has to say about the 2010 Watch:

World Monuments Watch 

Launched in 1996 and issued every two years, the World Monuments Watch calls international attention to cultural heritage around the world that is threatened by neglect, vandalism, conflict, or disaster. The 2010 Watch will continue this tradition of identifying endangered sites, while also encompassing sites with compelling issues or progressive approaches that could inform the field at large.

Watch listing provides an opportunity for sites and their nominators to raise public awareness, foster local participation, advance innovation and collaboration, and demonstrate effective solutions. The Watch nomination process also serves as a vehicle for requesting WMF assistance for select projects. 

Since the program’s inception, 544 sites have been included on the seven Watches. Nearly half the listed sites, representing 79 countries, have received WMF grants totaling $50 million. These WMF monies have leveraged an additional $150 million in assistance from other sources.

As the flagship advocacy program of the World Monuments Fund, the Watch is emblematic of WMF’s commitment to inspiring heritage stewardship, forging partnerships, and advancing conservation. 

In sponsoring the Watch program, WMF seeks to highlight emerging issues and opportunities in the field, confront urgent challenges, foster community engagement, and build capacities and constituencies for sustaining heritage protection in the long-term.

This is what we wrote in the Watch Listing portion of the Nomination form in justifiying inclusion of the Bonifacio Monument in the 2010 Watch:

The inclusion of the Bonifacio Monument on the World Monuments Fund Watch would leverage in a significant way the implementation of the plan of action outlined above.  Once the millions of Filipinos around the world notice the inclusion of the Monumento in the World Monuments Fund's 100 Most Endangered List, it will start a global rescue campaign unprecedented in the annals of Philippine cultural preservation and heritage conservation history. 

It will send a clear signal to Philippine government leaders and the National Historical Institute that the world community is watching and will not agree to a further desecration of the Bonifacio Monument.

Inclusion on the Watch will hasten submission by the Philippine Government to the Tentative List and should also help hasten UNESCO listing on its World Heritage cultural list. The Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign, convened by the nominator, has an online petition at http://www.gopetition.com/online/23996.html which seeks inclusion of the Bonifacio Monument in the list of UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites.

As a nation, let's join together in prayer and collective action so that the World Monuments Fund considers our submission and includes the Monumento in the 2010 World Monuments Watch. 

To God be the glory, always!

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Online Petition to Declare Francis Magalona a National Artist for Music (by Kevin Limkinglam)

09 March 2009

Mark Kevin Limkinglam, of Plaridel, Bulacan, perhaps one of the sharpest Internet surfers in the planet has gone ahead and posted earlier today the online petition to declare Francis Magalona, National Artist for Music.  I intended to do it but he beat me to the punch.  Mabilis talaga 'tong si Kevin Limkinglam!  Astig!  Batang Pinoy!

               please click image to enlarge

I'm not surprised at all.  Kevin, whom I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting and thanking in person, signed the online petition of the Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign while I was still editing it on December 14, 2008.  

The other thing I've thought of doing since Francis M passed away is to launch an online petition to establish a tribute monument to him.  I will admit that my inspiration for this is the online petition to Bob Dylan entitled ETERNAL CIRCLE:  A Tribute Monument to Bob Dylan in Washington Square Park, NYC. 

I'll explain to you the rationale:

I've been looking at how the Bob Dylan online petition had been doing almost everyday since December 14, 2008, the same day our Bonifacio Monument online petition was launched, and its performance has been impressive.  As of today, 9 March 2009, the petition for Bob Dylan has 2,366 signatures while the Bonifacio Monument petition has 723 signatures.  

                               please click image to enlarge

Until about the end of January this year, our online petition was doing relatively well when compared to the Bob Dylan petition.  But a new policy at www.gopetition.com which took effect on 29 January 2009 required all petition signatories to sign with their email addresses.  This slowed down our manual signature gathering campaign considerably.  Unlike in North America and Europe where most people have computers and broadband Internet access, I guess that is still a luxury here for Filipinos, many of whom still don't have email adddresses, especially those belonging to the older generation.  

And while we were trying to make adjustments, the LRT-MRT3 construction in the Monumento area began which drew the focus of my attention from the online petition to the effort to defend the Bonifacio Monument from real desecration.  My various posts in this blog chronicle the effort to defend the Monumento which have gained the attention of a few Internet bloggers, two of them based abroad.  One of the latest developments in that regard is the reaction coming from the office of Senator Mar Roxas (The Office of Senator Mar Roxas Shows Concern for the Monumento) wherein they sent out three (3) referral letters to Mayor Recom Echiverri of Caloocan City, LRTA Administrator Mel Robles and MMDA General Manager Roberto Nacianceno.  Of these three government officials, I have had a reaction, so far, only from the LRTA.      

If everything goes as planned, the title of the online petition for the tribute monument will be URBAN PATRIOTS' CIRCLE: A Tribute Monument to Francis M.  It will pay homage to Francis M and to the legions of ordinary people for whom he lived and dedicated his life, his artistry and his music. 

When one comes to think of it, the Ultimate Urban Patriot, in most people's book,  is Gat Andres Bonifacio.  We can use the concept of synergy here.  A much-deserved tribute monument to Francis M who is very much alive in the memory of the Filipino masses will somehow bring focus to our beloved but beleaguered Monumento, a monument to the great hero of the Filipino masses.  We can achieve that synergy by bringing up and promoting the online petitions together. 

Through the life and passing into immortality of Francis M and the adoration this generation of Filipinos has showered him, maybe our people will finally come to see the utter folly of this government's desecration of the greatest monument to valor and to love of freedom on earth, the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, also known simply as the Monumento.  

If that desecration has not sunk into the Filipino consciousness yet, maybe these pictures should give everyone an idea of what we're dealing with here:

These diggings are being done right at the Monumento Rotunda!  Even the Japanese Imperial Army, fabled for its brutality, did not dare dig up the Monumento Rotunda when they occupied the Philippines during the Second World War.  Bakit kapwa Pilipino pa natin ang gumagawa ng pagyurak sa dangal ng ating bayan ngayon?!  

The tragic thing about it is that it is happening.  But it will be even more tragic if we allow this cultural hooliganism to succeed.  I wonder whether the National Historical Institute (NHI) and its Chairperson Ambeth Ocampo knows about it or not.  

Your reactions and comments, favorable or adverse, are very much welcome. Your prayers for our campaigns for promoting Filipino cultural heritage and defending national dignity and honor will always be heard and honored by God who controls the destinies of men and nations.  To God be the glory!

Before I close for now, I want to thank Mark Kevin Limkinglam again for showing exceptional commitment to defending and promoting our cultural heritage as a people.  (If you click the title of this post, it will take you to Kevin's personal blog.) To all of you, God bless always!

  

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Senator Roxas Expresses Concern on LRT-MRT3 Diggings in Monumento (A Quick Reaction from Cebuano Blogger Kevin Ray N. Chua)

8 March 2009

Kevin Ray N. Chua, an 18-year old blogger from Cebu City, Philippines and an IT student at Cebu Institute of Technology noticed the entry in my blog about the action taken by Senator Roxas' office regarding the Monumento and quickly made this post in his own blog, Senator Roxas Expresses Concern on LRT-MRT3 Diggings in Monumento.

One sharp, speedy blogger.  Senator Mar Roxas is one fortunate presidentiable to have somebody like Kevin Ray on his side.  

From the land of the unconquerable Rajah Lapu-lapu and the Cross of Magellan to the beleaguered Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City is quite a long way.  But Visayans are bridging distances and are joining the rest of our countrymen in rallying to the call for national unity and the defense of national dignity and honor at the Monumento.  Thanks to people like Senator Mar Roxas and Kevin Ray Chua for caring for our cultural heritage.  God bless!  

 

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Morale Booster from Old, Formidable Warrior Jovito Salonga

6 February 2009

This afternoon, I had the chance to talk over the phone with Senator Jovito Salonga.  I had faxed to his office at Kilosbayan and to his residence my appeal to the Philippine government to suspend the diggings at Monumento and give way to public consultation that will save the Monumento from further desecration.  

Senator Salonga was kind enough to hear my small voice over the phone.  He was in agreement with the call for consultation over the issue of protecting national dignity and honor at the Bonifacio Monument.  I expect to hear a public pronouncement on Monumento from Sen. Jovito Salonga, easily one of the greatest living Filipinos. 

Humility is a hallmark of this man's character.  

Here's an excerpt from Senator Salonga's "A Letter to the Filipino Youth of Today" published in the maiden issue of Living News and Good Education, June 1, 2005 (the entire article is found in the The Jovito R. Salonga Journal).

"Later, Japanese troops landed in Lingayen, Pangasinan, and in several places in Luzon. Filipino-American troops in those places fought back but had to retreat to Bataan and Corregidor. On December 26, 1941, Manila was declared an open city, which means the Japanese could enter freely without armed resistance. On January 2, 1942, Japanese officers and soldiers were swarming around Manila and surrounding areas, such as Pasig and Marikina. Because of the abuses committed by the enemy, especially against Filipino women and children, I went underground and joined the fight against Japan. During the Holy Week of 1942, I was captured by the Japanese military police (kempeitai), was tortured, jailed in Pasig, then to Fort Santiago, transferred to the City Jail on San Marcelino, then to the Old Bilibid on Azcarraga, and eventually sentenced by the Japanese military tribunal to a prison term of 15 years of hard labor. By a stroke of good luck, I was released from Muntinglupa one year later (1941) on the occasion of kigen setsu the Foundation Day of Japan. In 1944, I was allowed by the Supreme Court to take the bar examination and I passed it with a good rating. I joined the guerrillas in Rizal. US forces landed in Leyte; in the second week of January 1945, they landed in Lingayen, Pangasinan and Manila was liberated by American GIs, guided by Filipino guerrillas, in February 1945. Other places were also liberated in quick succession. The atomic bomb was dropped by US Air Force on 2 Japanese cities: Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Japan surrendered to the US in August 1945."

How's that again? "Passed the bar with a good rating?"

Here's what another source say really happened:

"However, because of the advent of World War II, he postponed taking the Philippine Bar Examination until 1944—which he and José Diokno both topped with a grade point average of 95.3%, the 2nd highest score in Philippine Bar history (Florenz Regalado holds 1st place).^"  

For more on Senator Jovito Salonga, please see this Wikipedia article: Jovito Salonga.

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Paghuhukay sa Monumento Rotonda Malapit Na sa LRT

04 February 2009


Kung pamilyar ka sa Monumento sa Caloocan, madali mong maa-identify ang lugar na ito.  To the left of the picture is the northern edge of the LRT.  At the foreground is a pink enclosure marked FB.  This is where the LRT-MRT3 closed loop project contractors obviously intend to dig another hole.  The threatened Bonifacio Monument is at the background. 

The picture below provides an update of an earlier picture I've taken in the post entitled "Terrible Diggings Continue at the Monumento."  They have dug this hole deeper; if you will note, there are sacks at the left side of the picture where they've gathered the dirt dug up from the hole.

Mga kapatid na Pinoy, we should act before it's too late!  Gumagapang na ang namumuong dilim sa banal na bantayog sa kadakilaan ng lahing Pilipino -- ang Monumento ni Gat Andres Bonifacio.

 

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Terrible Diggings at the Monumento Continue

31 January 2009

Dapat magpakita kahit konting respeto ang gobyernong ito!  (This government needs to show even a little respect!)

Notwithstanding our call for an immediate suspension of the LRT-MRT3 closing the loop construction project near Monumento to give way to public consultation, the diggings continue.  There are big holes already in the periphery of the Monumento Rotunda.  One of them shown below even has water in it.  This is evident because of the reflected image of the Monumento in the water on the hole. Apparently, the workers may have hit some pipes.  Talagang mukhang nagmamadali ang mga mamang ito!  Calling on Caloocan City Mayor Atty. Enrico "RECOM" Echiverri and Chief City Engineer Rolly Eduria.  Where is the permit for diggings like these that already encroach on the rotonda enclosing the Bonifacio Monument? 

 

  

Let's pray for our country and our leaders that God may touch their hearts and direct their minds to do the right thing.

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Kapusong Gani Oro, Mabuhay Ka! Going on Air at DZBB 594kHz SuperRadyo

28 January 2009

This afternoon, I was blessed with the opportunity to what I set out to do -- to get on air via radio and what better place to do it than at   in Mr. Gani Oro's super program, Aksyon Oro Mismo.

I will be forever grateful to Kapuso Gani Oro and his staff, DZBB 594KHZ SuperRadyo and the entire GMA network for airing an urgent appeal for the Philippine government to cause an immediate suspension of the LRT-MRT3 construction near Monumento to give way to a public consultation that will spare the Monumento from further desecration.

True to Aksyon Oro Mismo's format, Ka Gani hosted a discussion on air between us and LTFRB Chairman and DOTC spokesman Thompson Lantion.  During the discussion, I was able to make the appeal for immediate suspension and public consultation.  Chairman Lantion asked me to write the DOTC.

To hear our on-the-air discussion:  

  

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Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, A Giant of Our Times

27 January 2009

Today I had the chance to personally hand over to the Bishop of Kalookan, the Most Reverend Deogracias S. Iñiguez, D.D., a copy of my appeal to government authorities to immediately suspend the LRT-MRT3 diggings near Monumento and to conduct public consultations that will allow our people to arrive at a solution that will spare the threatened Bonifacio Monument from further desecration.  

The good bishop promised to look into the matter and asked me to furnish him other materials that will support the call for public consultation and dialogue on the issue of the LRT-MRT3 closing the loop project at Monumento.

Bishop Iñiguez is a giant of our times.  I consider it a privilege just to stand beside him.  Here is a man who stands head and shoulders above ordinary mortals, exerting his spiritual and moral authority on earth for the good of God's people.

 

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Calling on All Filipinos to Unite in Asking for An Immediate Suspension of the LRT-MRT3 Diggings Near Monumento

27 January 2009

Today, I'll try to go on air via radio and will attempt to reach other sectors of media to issue an urgent appeal to Philippine authorities led by PGMA,MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "RECOM" Echiverri for them to cause an immediate suspension of the construction related to the "closing the LRT-MRT3 loop" project being conducted near the Monumento area.  The Bonifacio Monument is the greatest monument to valor and to love of freedom on earth.  We are not against modernization but progress should not come at the price of desecrating our country's soul.  We have an online petition to have the Bonifacio Monument included among the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

We hope that Filipinos whom we look up to for leadership, moral courage and ardent nationalism will speak out in support of this call.  Our leaders have to consult us closely on every vital issue and this has not happened in the issue of the Monumento. 

We call on people like Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez of the Diocese of Kalookan, Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches, Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus Is Lord Church, Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai, Executive Minister Eraño Manalo of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Engr. Jun Lozada and Mr. Joey De Venecia (who exposed the ZTE broadband scandal) to mobilize our fellow Filipinos in heeding the call to defend the Monumento.   

We call on the Honorable Chief Justice of the Philippines Reynato S. Puno, perhaps our country's greatest living jurist (who normally gives the keynote address at the Monumento during Independence Day) to rally our people in defense of the integrity of the Bonifacio Monument.  

We call on war hero and senior statesman, Sen. Jovito Salonga, the best President the Philippines never had, to relive the heady days when he led the Philippine Senate in rejecting the RP-US Bases treaty thereby ending the last vestiges of centuries-long foreign military presence in Philippine soil.  This time, we need his unswerving commitment to freedom and his unfailing vision in preventing the loss of the monument that he can rightfully call his own. 

We call on NUSP and Youth Act Now! led by Mr. Alvin Peters, its spokesperson, to mobilize the youth of this country in the struggle to save from desecration a priceless symbol of our country's rich cultural heritage. 

We call on our Senators and Congressmen, especially those who in 2010 will seek higher positions of public office to make known their stand.  Will they stand for the dignity and honor of our country or will they turn a blind eye to what is going on?

We call on all people's organizations and NGOs and our party-list representatives to set aside their differences and unite all Filipinos under the banner of the Monumento.

Monumento in January 2009 -- at this critical time in our history -- is a true acid test of Filipino nationalism.  Are we going to pass this acid test or are we going to flunk the call for the defense of the dignity and honor of our country?  This is a golden opportunity to renew national pride and greatness. It will show to the world that even in a time of severe economic crisis, Filipinos everywhere still have the capacity to respond to the call for cultural nationalism founded on our spirituality and faith as a people.  

Dito po sa Heroes del 96 at sa ibang lugar sa Caloocan City, alam namin na mahirap ang laban na ito.  Ngunit sa tulong po ng ating Panginoon, bigyan Niya sana kami ng sapat na lakas upang manatiling nakatindig nang may dangal. 

Before I end this post, I'll take the opportunity to publish here a short excerpt from the poem Monumento, Kaluluwa ng Bayan Ko by Jose David Ricardo:

Sana nama’y mula ngayon kapag natanaw mong muli

Sa malayo pa lang Monumentong pilit ginagapi

Ialay mo ang lakas at buhay sa pagpupunyagi   

Nang ang kaluluwa ng bayan mo’y 'wag mapalunggati       

Gunitain ang dusa't pagpapagal ng iyong lahi    

Pinoy, Mabuhay ka, kamtin ang laya mong minimithi!   

Laya mula sa gutom, pambubusabos at pang-aapi   

Laya ng bayan kong sinisinta’t pinagbubunyi   

Mula sa Silangan, libong sulo nga’y magliliyab   

Dala ang apoy ng damdaming tigib ng pag-aalab   

Minamahal ko ang bayang kong Pilipinas   

Buhay ma’t yaman ko’y sa sarili’y ipipilas    

Sukdulang mawalay ang buhay sa katawan    

Sukdulang ialay ang munti kong buhay   

Makita ka lang sagana at may tunay na kalayaan   

Sapat na ‘yang tagumpay ko, Pilipinas, Inang Bayan.        

Kaunlarang pangmayaman, pangdayuhan, pang-iilan,    

Tandaan mo, kaibigan, wala itong katuturan    

Kung bayan mo'y nagdurusa't nakalublob sa putikan    

Tutulan mo't salungatin, ito'y isang kahibangan    

Daang taon mula ngayon, patuloy titingalain    

Monumento na bantayog sa giting ng lahi natin    

Kung tayo ma'y nakalugmok, panahon na ng pagbangon    

Burol sa lamay ng laya mo, tapusin na at iahon    

Iahon mong buong giting, itong bayang nakasadlak    

Iahon mo sa dusa, sa pagdarahop at pagsasalat    

Iahon mo't huwag nang hayaang dumausdos muli    

Iahon mo sa putikan, ilayo mo sa pusali    

Hahayo ka't anong bitbit sa puso mong ma'y lunggati    

Hahayo ka't anong lakas mayroon sa diwa mong sawi    

Humayo kang sa puso mo'y Monumento nakakintal    

Humayo kang sa puso may dambana ng iyong dangal

Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!  Mabuhay si Gat Andres Bonifacio at ang magigiting nating mga bayani!  Mabuhay ka Pinoy nasaang sulok ka man ng mundo!

Please support the Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign.  To sign the online petition, click this link:  www.gopetition.com/online/23996. I also hope you can visit and follow my blog at http://tagamonumento.blogspot.com/,

To God be the glory!

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