Athena….

Happy Birthday.

 

That is the thing I wanted to say, this December 7, to the person that gave me a helping hand during the one of the darkest chapters of my life. Please Fate, don’t make me put a ‘yet’ on the end of that sentence. 🙂

 

“Tang Ina Mo, lubayan mo na ako!” meaning, “Son of a bitch, leave me for good!” is the cruelest of things that the person you pursue would say to you.

 

It happened just a week after the most disappointing day I’ve ever had with that person. You can imagine yourself, alone, in an unexplored land, hoping someone special would join with me and have a splendid adventure. But, that someone did not came.

 

My thoughts, self-esteem, mood and confidence were in the dumps. I’ve been thinking back them, “why that special someone did that?”

 

I’ve no clues back then. Everything was dark. And I was alone.

 

That was until the moment when a person, in the name of Athena, came to my life.

 

She helped me forget that person, even though it wasn’t her intention.

 

She helped me forget that October 14 date, the event which I thought would never forget.

 

Her smile made me forget that person’s smile.

 

Her eyes made me forget that person’s eyes.

 

No matter how hard I’m trying to remember, I’ll always forget. No matter how hard I’m trying to forget, I’ll always remember. That is how a human heart is.

 

But on Athena’s actions and reactions, I realized that, that person doesn’t exist in my life anymore.

 

And based on what happened between us, I’ve realized that I was the one at fault here and also on what happened in the past.

 

Without her intentions and knowledge, she became a light in the dark. She gave me the path which I will take.

 

I’m in the bliss now, already happy with my special someone. It is all thanks to someone, although unintentionally.

 

I feel a little bit sad that we have to part. But I know it was my fault again.

 

I’m dedicating this post to someone who earned my appreciation and admiration.

 

I know I’m forever in debt to her deeds. Although she did not know that she approached me at the time that my life seemed to be the darkest.

 

I have a little crush on you. I will always remember that a person who is 5’3 tall, who always wears jeans and a slightly tight t-shirt, who has decorated fingernails, who wears colorful and cute shoes, who have an ideal body figure, whose way of walking is very memorable, who rarely talks and who has a very memorable smile.

 

I’m wishing you luck and caution. There are a lot of dangers for someone as beautiful as you.

 

As you are nearing the end of your pursuit of happiness, by the help of your friends and that special someone you treasure, always remember to thank our Mighty Father who made it happen and set-up our meeting.

 

Just remember Athena, always smile. You’re the most beautiful when you do.

 

Don’t let the hardships of college life prevent you from being happy. But by triumphing over them, you will also be happy.

 

This is Joshua, wishing you luck, encouragement and happiness this college life.

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Why is the Issue of Charter Change Still Alive In the Philippines?

 

When I first saw the TV news about Cha-Cha, I was baffled to see criticisms and protest made against charter change. I’ve lots of thoughts jam-packed in my mind back ten. Why a dance like Cha-Cha would receive such criticisms.

I don’t know the true meaning of Cha-Cha back then until that following year, when the TV News featured Cha-Cha again. I’ve watched the whole scoop and I’ve found out that Cha-Cha is not a social dance that I used to think was. The playful mind of the Filipinos has just used that as an abbreviation of the term called Charter Change.

According to the scoop, Charter Change is the amendment or revision for the current constitution which is the current 1987 Philippine Constitution. I’ve remembered that that scoop was shown on 2005.

Years later, another news rang out of television. De Venecia was proposing another Charter Change. I’ve heard that issue again for the third time. I wondered why the issue of Charter Change is still alive in the Philippines.

News came out, “De Venecia ousted from House Speakership, and Nograles takes his place.” That news made me sought in relief. I thought that the issue about Charter Change was gone. I sight to the question that I’ve been thinking that time.

2008, a House Concurrent Resolution, supported by a Senate resolution from the senate, came into news. This resolution proposed another charter change.

Now for the last four years, four different attempts for Charter Change were done. I’ve been thinking about it until recently. I am ought to do a term paper. At first I was aiming to focus on the past attempt for Charter Change. But my professor gave me first-hand hint. First is that the issue must be recent. Second is that the issue must be bound from my interest.

The topic that my professor gave to me gives me back the sight of finding why the issue regarding Charter Change is still alive in the Philippines.

I came out with the topic aiming to define why the issue of charter change is still alive in the Philippines, what are the positive and negative effects imposed by the pros and cons, what is charter change itself, what are the reasons why charter change was pushed and why charter change was prevented and how did the past administrations attempted to do Charter Change.

Charter Change is the series of political actions and processes involved in changing or amending our current constitution, which is the 1987 Constitution. The constitution defines Charter Change as well. According to the constitution, there are three modes in which Charter Change can happen.

The first mode is the People Initiative (PI). The constitution defines this mode, under Article XVII, Section 2, as the direct proposal of a group of people through an initiative with an approval of 12% of the total population of registered voters, in which every legislative district represented by at least 3 per centum of the registered voters. The initiative (proposed amendment and revision of the constitution) will be only valid if the majority of the Filipinos agree in its ratification.

The second mode is the Constituent Assembly, known as Con-Ass. According to the constitution, the joint bicameral congress, which is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, convenes to propose amendments and revision to the current constitution. But the assembly should be approved by the Senate and the Congress separately. The proposal will be approved with three-fourths of the total votes.

The third mode is the Constitutional Convention (Con-Con). Con-Con is a gathering of people, elected or appointed, aiming to change or replace the current constitution. The Con-Con is called if the majority of the House of Representatives and the majority of the Senate voted in favor of it. The revised or the new constitution will be only approved if the majority of the people are in favor of it through vote.

For twenty-three years after the 1987 Constitution was drafted, attempts of Cha-Cha are overflowing. The recent one being the proposed Constituent Assembly by Former House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. through Senate Resolution no.10, backed by House Concurrent Resolution no.15 and sixteen senators. This Con-Ass aims to transform Philippine government from a centralized type to a federal type, meaning a part of the sovereignty will be distributed to local bodies, weakening the power of the central government. According to Pimentel and that time President Arroyo, this would solve the crisis in Mindanao. The proposed Con-Ass or maybe a Con-Con aims to transform Philippines from a 76 province country to an 11 state one. It received criticisms and it was never resolved since the 2010 Elections happened. Pimentel and Nograles are out of the running, so the proposal died out.

Why do issues of Charter Change come up and down in Philippine politics always? Why do Charter Change always come to life then die? Why was Charter Change perceived as either good or bad? Maybe history can explain. So I started looking back in history.

 

 How Charter Change was pushed by past administrations

 

Back then, the term “Charter Change” was still not coined yet. When the 1935

Constitution was still ruling the Philippines, the modes that Cha-Cha defined were perceived separately. Minor attempts and revision were made since 1946.

The climax of the history of charter change happens in the 1970s, when successful attempts were made during the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos was the first one to be reelected successfully. According to the constitution that time, a president shall not serve for more than eight years. At 1971, he was already six years in office with only two to go. He wanted his wife Imelda to succeed him but she showed poor in the polls. He was running out of choices, so he called for a Constitutional Convention.

The proposed convention aimed to change the Philippine Government from a Presidential Type of government to a Parliamentary type of Government. The House of Representatives’ approval was won by landslide but the Senate’s approval was won by a very small margin.

One of those who opposed it was Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., which people think will be the succeeding president. But he and his party’s opposition were squared out by the Nacionalistas.

A Constitutional Convention was called, the members were elected and they elected former president Carlos P. Garcia as the president of the convention, but Garcia died suddenly, so former president Diosdado Macapagal replaced him. Things went well accordingly but some representatives in the convention doubted it.

But an expose changed the flow of the convention. The expose, released by Antonio Quintero, said that the Palace was bribing representatives to do their jobs according to their will. The government accused Quintero being bribed by the opposition. The National Bureau of Investigation investigated this event. The representatives had no choice, it is either they vote yes or to be found that they were bribed, but a resolution was proposed. The resolution says that no incumbent president or his spouse shall be elected in power. The resolution was approved and the new Constitution was drafted. Before the constitution was ratified, in 1972, President Marcos, declared martial law and some representative and certain legislators were put in jail. Those representatives and legislators that remain were given a draft of a constitution by Marcos and they had approved it. The new constitution, being also approved by majority of the people represented by barangay councils, was ratified in January 1973.

The Philippines now have a Parliamentary Type of Government without a parliament. In the 1976, another amendment was approved again by the Citizen Assembly. The amendment says that a parliament – named the Interim Batasang Pambansa – will be convened (which was in 1978) and the president – which is Marcos – will possess legislative powers, becoming the prime minister, before the parliament was convened. Just before the Batasan convenes, another amendment was approved. It says that the Prime Minister can dissolve the Parliament but the parliament cannot dissolve him, which is through a vote of no confidence, and if the parliament cannot do its job properly, the Prime Minister can also legislate.

In 1980, another amendment was made. That amendment extends the retirement age of members of the Judiciary. In 1981, another amendment was made. The amendment gives power to the president and the president shall now be elected by popular vote. Marcos won the 1981 Presidential elections. Marcos, at that time, was both a president, elected by popular vote, and a prime minister, which cannot be dissolved by the parliament. At the same year, martial law was lifted. In 1984, the final amendment of the constitution was done. That amendment restores the position of Vice-President and abolishes the executive committee.

In 1986, Marcos was toppled from power and the 1973 Constitution was replaced by a “Freedom Constitution”. A constitutional committee was formed by President Corazon Aquino. The constitution the committee made was approved in 1986 and ratified in 1987.

After the term of Pres. Aquino, attempts were made to amend the Constitution of 1987. The spirit of the Amendment of the Constitution came back to life in the name of Charter Change.

The issue heightened in 1997, when the presidential elections came near. Vice-President Joseph Estrada showed great in the polls. According to some analysts, Estrada’s popularity upon the masses may be a disadvantage to the rich and the middle class. In September 1997, a People’s Initiative was filled by PIRMA or People’s Initiative for Reform, Modernization and Action. The initiative received many criticisms and mass protests, the most significant being the rally organized by the church in Rizal Park. The initiative was narrowly dismissed in the Supreme Court under Andres Narvasa. The election took place and Estrada was elected president.

Under Estrada, a similar attempt was made, but it is different from Charter Change. It was named CONCORD or the Constitutional Correction for Development. It aimed to change some economic policies. But the CONCORD received many criticisms just like PIRMA. After the EDSA Revolution 2, Estrada was ousted from power and Vice President Arroyo took the presidency. Coincidentally, CONCORD retired at the same year as the plane Concord retired.

But the flame of Charter Change isn’t dying out yet. As Arroyo took her second term as president, a Consultative Commission was created by the virtue of Executive Order No.453. After a year, the commission proposed 2 things: one is the shift to a unicameral parliamentary-federal type of government and two is the liberalization of the economy. The proposal received criticisms from certain groups, mainly the famous Makati Business Club.

The proposals were campaigned by the Sigaw ng Bayan group and ULAP. The groups aimed to impose those proposals through the People Initiative mode of Charter Change. In 2006, the Supreme Court dismissed the Initiative but a narrow 8-7 voting margin.

A month after the Sigaw ng Bayan’s People’s Initiative was dismissed, another attempt for Charter Change was made. That time House Speaker Jose de Venecia proposed a Charter Change on the mode of Constituent Assembly. Rallies of those who oppose it came across the nation. De Venecia quitted pushing Con-Ass and now had proposing Constitutional Convention. According to him, the elections of the delegates of the convention will be held at the same time as the incoming 2007 National Elections. The proposal had never continued since De Venecia was ousted on his House Speakership at that time.

The issue now came to life again in May 2008, when House Concurrent Resolution no.15, which is supported by Senate Resolution no.10, was filed by Rep. Ortega. Then again, due to widespread protest and countless amounts of accusations, the Supreme Court judged these resolutions as unconstitutional. In these many attempts, none of them succeed, but they still kept pushing it. That leads to an ominous question: “Why was Charter Change pushed?”

 

Why was Charter Change pushed?

 

Why? Why would they favor a change to a parliamentary system of government? What are the advantages of the parliamentary system compared to the current presidential system in the Philippines?

According to some books, especially the book “Politics” by Andrew Heywood, a parliamentary system of government is the fusion of the executive and the legislative branch of government. The best example of the parliamentary system of government is the Westminster Model of Parliament in England.

In this a parliamentary system, governments are formed on the elections of the assembly, the executive head is not elected by the people but by assemblymen. People in government are drawn from the assembly. It is mainly majoritarian unlike in the presidential system.

The government or the executive branch is felt responsible to the assembly. If that government fails what the assembly demands, the assembly can ask for its replacement. Besides the Prime Minister, which is the head of the parliament, there was another separate head of state, which is ceremonial, with exceptions on some countries.

Unlike the British bicameral parliament, the proposed Parliament is a unicameral one. The executive branch roots from the legislative branch. After the elections took place and members of the parliament were elected, they will vote for the Executive Head, which is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will now appoint members of his cabinet.

In this system of government, the executive head acquires his own mandate from his party mates and from the people in general elections.

This system of government delivers a responsible and effective government (the two can contradict each other). The government becomes effective because it governs as long as it lies on the confidence of the assembly.

In the parliamentary type of government, the power rests upon the legislative branch, with the executive branch at its heels.

The condition of the Philippine politics in President Arroyo’s term was unstable. The upper house- the Senate- and the lower house- House of Representatives- are at times opposing each other and some times, the legislative branch and the executive branch are the ones opposing each other.

The fusion of the upper house and the lower house and the fusion of the legislative and the executive branch may result to a more effective government. Since both the branches are cooperating with one another.

And if the head of state is not directly elected, then real leaders will emerge. Consider what happened to Raul Roco in the 2004 Presidential Elections. At the first months of campaign, Roco was number 1 in the polls, but what happened to him, his campaign budget was not enough even though there were many supporters of him. The high cost of a national election is the source of all evil. Cha-Cha will lead to the abolishment of the national elections.

People elect members of the parliament because they trust them. Then the members of the parliament elect their head of state because they trust him to that position.

The head of the consultative commission, Jose Abueva wrote in his report on Federalism that federalism will solve the uprisings in Mindanao. Peace will be obtained even in a multicultural country like the Philippines. Federal government will tend to achieve national unity, democratization and decentralization.

The parliamentary type of government is surely applicable due to the positive effects and changes that those who propose it see, especially in our country. We are talking the positive things. There is no perfect good or perfect bad, so when there are good, there are some bad too. The brighter it seems, the darker it can be. So what are the negative effects that those people who oppose it see?

 

Why are some people against it?

 

            If there are ones who propose it, there are ones who oppose Charter change. What are the negative effects seen by the opposition?

People prefer to stay in tradition. They prefer presidential system over the parliamentary system because the presidential system is already proven in the Philippines in many ways.

In the presidential system, the fixed term of office of the president gives executive stability. The executive branch takes the blame for every decision being taken. It is easier for the people to punish the president since he was voted directly be them.

In choosing the cabinet members, the president is ought to choose what he thinks the best for that position. These persons with integrity will do their best in their jobs. Unlike those in the parliamentary system, a cabinet member’s service can be half-hearted because he has other worries in his legislative position.

In the presidential system, political defection rarely happens. In the parliamentary system, it becomes it’s common trait. Making political life clean is the common thing that the parliamentary system hasn’t.

Some people prefer to stand against it because the parliamentary system, to them, gives negative effects.

In the parliamentary system, the government is accountable, as the responsibility is taken by the whole cabinet and not a single figure. It is difficult for electors to establish who was at the fault here. They often make wrong judgments that often result to the misinterpretation of the government performance.

Parliamentary systems are often classified with shifting coalitions. Disciplined parties are rarely seen. And government tends to be weak and unstable leading to the misleading of public policies.

It is unfair in some parliamentary governments to have a barely-the-majority wins all the power. Barely-the-majority means that the population of the majority is just slightly over the minority.

Lastly, greatest weakness of the parliamentary system is the lack of transparency. There are no “real” checks in power at all since the executive came from the legislative. The worst of all is the tyranny of barely-the-majority which is really unfair compare to others.

Another thing, federalism, what are disadvantages of federalism? In the federalism government, it promotes unity in exchange to cooperation. Federalism will further diverse the people. The social capital will decrease as parochial political culture emerges over the other two political cultures.

Charter Change is change. Change will mean reform. Reform causes resources. In the transition, it will consume lots of resources.

One critical point was drawn. Political parties are not disciplined enough here in the Philippines. If a parliamentary system replaces the presidential one then it will take turn for worse.

 

Conclusion

 

In politics, there is no definitely true answer. Answers should be presumably true. That is the reason why Charter Change is perceived either good or bad.

It is seen as good because the parliamentary and federal system of government gives advantages such as the efficiency and effectiveness of government. It can eliminate government gridlocks that slows Philippine’s development.

It is also seen as bad because the parliamentary and the federal system of government lacks transparency compared to the presidential system and responsibility since it is always the political party who takes the blame and because sovereignty is divided further down.

The parliamentary system has its own advantages and disadvantages. The presidential system has its own too. It was just like on the comparison of the centralized and federal system.

What makes Charter Change controversial is that it was once used once to perpetuate power and to prolong the terms in office, as shown by President Marcos in the past. Since Pres.Arroyo’s  term is about to end, others may thought that her move towards Charter Change is her move to perpetuate and prolong her power but others may thought that her move was on found the after finding the solution in the past 9 years in her presidency.

Now, the son of a senator who had once mainly opposed Charter Change, even his life was on the line, was elected the president. The President of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III gives the Filipino people a new hope for a responsible, transparent, efficient and effective, unified government. And when that time comes, it is up to the Filipino people if they are going to need Charter Change anymore.

 

 

Pagturing Sa Mga BakLa Sa mga Awitin Ni Michael V.

           Bakla. Babaeng nakulong sa katawan ng lalaki, kung lalapatin sa pangkalahatang kaisipan: lalaki na may gusto sa kapwa lalaki. Ano ba talaga ang turing natin sa kanila? Sila ba ang inaapi at itinatakwil. O sila ang nagkokontrol ng pagalaw ng lipunan natin?

Ang isa sa mga sumagot niyan ay si Michael V. Napansin niya ang mga tinukoy sa mga pagganap niya bilang isang bakla sa ilang palabas sa telebisyon at sinehan; at marahil sa pangugutya at pangaasar kay Diego sa Bubble Gang.

Siya ay si Beethoven “Bitoy” del Valle Bunagan. Ipinanganak noong December 17, ______ . Ipinangalan siya sa isang kilalang kompositor ng kasaysayan, si Ludwig van Beethoven, na ka-birthday niya. Inakala ng kanyang mga magulang na pangngalan ang Beethoven, hindi nila alam na apelido pala ito.

Na siya ng kanyang mga kaklase at kababata bilang isang komediyante. Hindi sa kanyang pangalang Beethoven nakuha ang kanyang palayaw na “Bitoy”, kundi sa kanyang paggaya kay “Bentot” ng Iskul Bukol upang magpatawa. Nagtapos siya ng kursong Mass Communication sa Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Nagsimula ang kanyang pagsikat noong maisama sa demo tape ng kaibigang niyang rapper na si Dianne ang kanyang awiting “Maganda ang Piliin(Ayoko ng Panget)”, isang parody sa noo’y sikat na awitin ni Andrew E. na “Umibig ka ng Panget”, noong 1991. Itinampok din siya sa mga palabas ni Joey Marquez at Vic Sotto, at doon nakilala ang kanyang galing sa pagarte at pagpapatawa.

Kasama si Ogie Alcasid, sinumulan nila ang “Bubble Gang”, isang pangkomedyang palabas sa telebisyon, noong 1995. Ang mga kapansin-pansin sa ginawa niyang spoof sa “Bubble Gang” ay MTB(Myusik Tagalog Bersyon), isang gag ng nagsasalin sa mga sikat ng kantang banyaga sa Tagalog, sa kakatwang paraan; “Bubble G Anthology”, isang koleksyon ng mga kantang naggaling sa iba-ibang banda at mga artista ngunit iniba ang mga liriko at ang mga mensahe. ; “Sumbong sumbong kay Bonggang-bonggang Bongbong” isang palabas na maihahalintulad sa “Isumbong mo kay Tulfo “ ni Ben Tulfo, ngunit ang sinisiyasat ng ginagampanan niyang tauhan, si Bongbong, ay ang iba’t-ibang paguugali ng mga Pilipino; “Cheche at Bureche”, kwentong tunggalian ng mabait na si Cheche, at ng maldita niyang kapatid na si Bureche; at “Pick-up” na nahango sa sikat na rap battles ng “Fliptop” ngunit sa halip na rap, ang paglalabanan ay pagandahan ng “pick-up lines” kay Neneng Bakit,  na ginagampanan ni Sam Pinto.

Marami na siyang mensaheng ipinarating sa atin. Ang pinakabago nga ay ang pagpapalabas sa Bubble Gang ng spoof na “Wonderboys”. Ang “Wonderboys” ay isang “sikat” na grupo na kumakanta ng isang awiting may iisang salita lamang ang isinasambit sa buong awitin . Makikita ito bilang patama sa mga kanta ng K-pop, kung saan ang mga liriko at tono ay paulit-ulit,  na ngayon ay kinababaliwan ng karamihan sa mga Pilipino ngayon.

Sa kanyang “Bubble G Anthology” maraming mapupuna at makukuhang mga mensahe na may kinalaman sa mga issue ng kasarian. Sa mga awitin niyang, “Hindi ako Bakla”, “Dondon”, “Chaka Niya”, “Wag na ‘wag” at  “Mamaw”, mapapansin na ang mga paksa ay puro para sa mga bakla.

Ang“Hindi Ako Bakla”. ay tungkol sa isang nag-ngangalang Tom Yam at sa kanyang pagtanggi sa mga kuro-kuro na siya ay isang bakla. Ito ay nahahati sa tatlong bahagi: Una, si Tom Yam na nagboboses lalaki. Pangalawa, si Tom Yam na nagboboses silahis. Pangatlo, si Tom Yam na nagboboses bakla. Ang mensahe ibinigay niya sa mga nambibintang sa kanya ay, “Hindi ako Bakla…..Babae  ako.” Si Tom Yam ay inihango kay Tim Yap. Ang ibig sabihin isa itong pangaasar sa kanya. Dahil kapag siya ay ikakahon, masasabing isa siyang bakla.  Hindi katulad ng iba, na mga parody sa ibang awitin, ang musika at ang mga liriko ay galing kay Bitoy.

Ang “Wag na Wag” naman ay parody ng awit ni Kitchie Nadal na “Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin”. Si Bitoy ay gumanap bilang Kitchi Naday, parody kay Kitchie Nadal. Ito ay awitin na may kwento tungkol sa pagaalinlangan ni Kitchi na magladlad bilang isang bading.

Ang “Mamaw”. naman ay isang parody ng awit ng Kamikazee na “Narda”. Ang mga lalaking tauhan sa Bubble Gang ang gumanap ng “Kayo kasi Eh”, parody ng Kamikazee. Ito ay awit tungkol sa isang bakla. Halos paanlalait sa baklang ito ang palaging bukambibig ng Kayo kasi Eh, hanggang sa mga koro nito. Pero may mga mahalagang punto itong ibinigay tungkol sa pagtingin ng mga tao sa mga bakla.

Ang “Chaka Niya”, “Dondon” at “Mamaw” ay puros panlalait kay Diego, ang itinuring na Pambansang Bading”. Ngunit ang “Mamaw” ay nagtuon din sa ibang kapuna-punang paksa tungkol sa mga bakla bukod sa panglalait kay Diego. Ang “Wag na Wag” at “Hindi Ako Bakla” ay tumuon din sa ibang paksa.

“Anong kinakalat mo? Ba’t ka naman ganyan? Tinitira mo ko ng talikuran. Di mo ba  alam ako’y nasasaktan. Turing ko sayo’y kumpare ba naman….”Ito ay ang panimula bahagi ng awiting “Hindi Ako Bakla”. Isinasaad sa unang bahagi na hindi nagugustuhan ni Tom Yam ang mga paninira na ginagawa ng taong kinakausap niya sa awitin. Ang tinutukoy niya ay nandito sa sumunod ng bahagi, ”Sabi nila, tinawag mo kong bakla..at ang kapal ng mukha.” Ibig sabihin, may kuro-kuro na bakla si Tom Yam.

Sadyang masasaktan ang isang tao kapag sinabihan siya na isa siyang bakla kahit na hindi pa niya inaamin o itinatanggi ito. Nakita ko ito sa aking kamag-aral noong sekondarya. Nagalit siya sa aming guro noong tinanong siya kung isa siyang bakla. Dalawa lamang ang maaring dahilan doon, una ay hindi naman ito totoo pero ipinapipilitan ng nakapaligid sa kanya na ganoon siya, at pangalawa ay ayaw pa siguro niyang mabuko, dahil “baka” ikasira ito ng pagtingin sa kanya ng iba o sa tinatawag nating “pagaalinlangan”

Sa unang koro ng “Hindi Ako Bakla”, mapapansin na ginawang batayan ang boses sa pagkalalaki. Isa sa mga kilalang pagaakala ng karamihan ay ang pagaakalang kapag malalim ang boses ay “lalaking-lalaki” ang isang lalaki. Una sa lahat, nakakatakot kausap ang baklang may malalim na boses. Nakasanayan ng mga bakla na magboses-babae sa lahat ng oras. May mga palihis ding makikita, kilala na dito si Ate Gay, ngunit sadya lang talaga ito dahil ang ginagaya niya ay si Nora Aunor na may malalim na boses kumpara sa kalakaran o pamantayan na medyo mataas na boses. Yun ang kalakarang mapapansin dito: kapag mataas na tining ng boses, babae, kapag mababa, lalaki.

Pagkatapos ng unang koro, naghubad si Tom Yam, ang suot na niya ay medyo maikling damit kumpara sa nauna at mapapansin dito  ang kanyang pagbabago. At ganoon din pagkatapos ng ikatlong koro. Sinasabi niya ngayon na naiingit lang sila sa kaanyuan nila: …”di ko inahit, natural ang kilay ko, insecure ka sa flawless na beauty ko.” Sa kanyang kaanyuan madaling masabi mula sa mga pagkakahon at pagkukumpara sa kumbensyon na isa talaga siyang bakla. Ngunit sa ikalawang koro, itinatanggi niya pa rin niya na hindi siya bakla. At dito ipinakilala ang isa pang konsepto, itsura. Paano ba maikakahon na ang isang tao ay isang bakla sa pagtingin pa lang sa kanyang itsura at kasuotan? Malaki ang pagkakauri sa pananamit ng mga bakla. Ang pinakahalata ay ang pag-kro-“cross-dress” o ang pagsusuot ng mga lalaki ng mga damit na para sa babae.May matagal nang umiiral ang kalarakan ng paraan ng pananamit. May mga “masculine” na mga damit at mga “feminine” na mga damit. Kaya pag ang lalaki ay nagsuot ng damit na pambabae, masasabi sa pamamagitan ng mga pagkakahon na may “feminine” nature ang nagsuot. Ganoon din sa babae kapag nagsuot ng mga panglalaki.

Ang alanganin pa ay ang nagsusuot ng mga tinatawag na “metrosexual” na damit. Iba-ibang pagkakahon ang maaring mangyari dito. Maraming masamang epekto ang pagkakahon sa kasarian ng isang tao na nakabatay sa kanyang paraan ng pananamit, lalo na sa nagsusuot ng “metrosexual” na damit. Ngunit sa mga taong nag-kro-“cross-dress”, madalas ay ibinabatay pa rin nila ang kilos kaysa sa pananamit sa pagkakahon dito.

Sumunod na dito ang ikatlong koro. Sa ikatlong koro, makikita na ang konsepto ng kilos bilang batayan ng kasarian. Nasa kalakaran na natin ang pamantayan kung paano kumilos ang lalaki at paano kumilos ang babae. Ang lalaki ay matipuno, tigasin kung kumilos. Ang babae  ay mahinhin at makurba kung kumilos. Ngunit kakaiba ang sa mga bakla, ipinaghalo: matipuno ngunit makurba kung kumilos. Sa mga koro ng awitin mapapansin ang pagkakahon sa mga kilos ng mga tao. Kapag ang lalaki ay nanampal sa kapwa lalaki, o kaya sinabunutan ang kapwa lalaki, o hinalikan ang kapwa lalaki, masasabi mo na bakla siya.

Pero sa huli itinatanggi pa rin ni Tom Yam na bakla siya…Babae siya, …Kapal ng mukha….Ching……

Sa awitin naman niyang “Wag na Wag”  inidiin ang mga konsepto ng pagaalinglangan, pagamin ng tunay na kasarian at ang pagtanggap ng lipunan. Ang taong gustong tumawid sa gender-line, o ang linyang naghahatid sa pagkalalaki at sa pagkababae ay nahaharap sa isang pressure sa lipunan. Iniisip niya kung tatanggapin ba siya o ipagtatabuyan. Yun ang pumipigil sa kanya na umamin o magladlad. Magiging biglaan ang pagbabago sa pagturing sa kanya ng mga taong malapit sa kanya. Maaaring mayroon siyang pinapanatiling imahe o impresyon na maaring masira kapag nagladlad siya.

“Wag na wag mong sasabihin lalong-lalo na sa tatay ko…” Bakit ayaw nilang malaman ng tatay nila na bakla sila? Una sa lahat, ito ay pagsira sa ekspektasyon ng ama na magiging katulad niya ang kanyang anak: isang matipuno, responsable at butihing ama. Ikakasira rin ito ng imahe ng ama, dahil lalabas na nagkulang siya sa pagpapalaki sa kanyang anak, sa pagmumulat at pagsasanay sa mga pamantayan upang maging lalaki. Mababawasan din ang pagkalalaki ng ama.

Bakit ba siya nagladlad? Tinawag niya itong “kahalayan”. Ang salitang mahalay ay nangngangahulugang hindi normal at hindi katanggap-tanggap. Ipinapahiwatig na dito sa awitin na iba na ang takbo ng kanyang kaisipan. Hindi na ito normal at marahil hindi ito tatanggapin ng iba.

”Mapanpansin kaya na may milagrong ginagawa, nangaagaw siya ng lakas,  ingat ka kapag nakilala ka.””Kahit na tinatawanan marami yatang pumapatol diyan, pag meron siyang pagtritripan, bibigyan niya ng limang daan.” Ito ay mga liriko galing sa “Mamaw” ni Bitoy.  Ano ba talaga ang imahe ng mga bakla sa lipunan? Kinakatakutan? Yun ang mga paniniwalang ibinigay sa atin ng lipunan. Pero alam na natin na hindi ganoon ang lahat ng mga bakla. Bakit ba tayo natatakot? Titirahin ka ba nila sa puwet? Sipsipin ba nila ang iyong burat? Nakakatakot ba talaga ang mga bagay na iyon? Marahil ang mga bagay na ginagawa nila ay hindi normal, kaya ipinagtatabuyan sila ng lipunan sa pamamagitan ng pananakot. Pero sa totoo lang, ang mga bagay na iyon ay “natural” na, o “likas”, hindi nga lang katanggap-tanggap. Ipinapahiwatig din dito kung paano ginagamit ng mga lalaki ang kahinaan ng mga bakla para makalamang at para magkapera. At marahil iyon na ang tingin nila sa mga bakla, mapagkukuhanan ng pera, kahit gaano pa ito kapangit,. Mayroon ngang kasabihan na, “Kapag nagigipit, sa bakla kumakapit.”

Sa pagtalakay sa panget papasok ang konsepto ng pagturing kay Diego. Sino nga ba siya? Ang kanyang buong pangalan ay Diego Llorico. Nagsimula siyang gumanap sa Bubble Gang noong 1997. At madalas siya ang sentro ng panlalait. Ang unang mapupuna sa kanya ay ang kanyang malaking nguso, kaya inaasar-asar siyang kabayo. Ang pagiging pangit niya ang kanyang naging sangkap sa kanyang pagpapapatawa. Ano ba kasi ang turing sa kanya sa mga spoof sa Bubble Gang? Siya ay kinukutya, pinagtatabuyan at panagtatawanan, hindi lang dahil sa pangit siya kundi dahil bakla siya. Siya ang in-iconize na “Pambansang Bading”, ibig sabihin kung ano ang ginagawa sa kanya ay siya ring ginagawa sa karamihan ng mga bakla sa Pilipinas.

Kawawa nga ba talaga si Diego. Kung oo bakit? Dahil sa kanya makikita ang mga trahedya ng isang bakla. Ito ay kung siya ay pangit o mahirap. Kung pangit ka na, mahirap ka pa, magpakalalaki ka na lang, dahil ikaw ay katumbas na rin ng “Untouchables” sa sistemang caste. Hindi ka lang aapihin dahil sa pangit ka, aapihin ka rin dahil bakla ka.

Nagtanong ako sa mga tao kung sino ang pipiliin nilang makasama, isang mayamang baklang may itsura o isang mayamang babaeng pangit. Mas matimbang pa rin ang babaeng pangit.Bakit? Papasok dito ang konsepto ng reproductive roles ng lalaki at babae. Mas matimbang ang may “puke” sa wala. Kahit na may mga panganib na mabuntis, iba pa rin ang lebel ng pagiging kuntento o “satisfaction level”. Yun ay mangyayari lamang kung pareho ng katayuan ang dalawang ipinaghahambing. Kung mahirap ang bakla at mayaman ang babae, babae na ang pipiliin. Kung mahirap ang babae at mayaman ang bakla, magdadalawang isip ka pa. Ang mga sitwasyon na hindi kabilang dito ay ang mga sitwasyong pinasukan na ng pagibig. Sa pagibig, iba na ang usapan.

Kung hindi naman, bakit? Kahit kasi na tinatawanan mo siya, kumikita pa rin siya ng pera. Ginamit niya ang pagiging pangit at bakla niya upang yumaman. Sino sa ang halos kumokontrol ng media, mga bakla. Mayroon pa rin balanse ng pagiging api at makapangyarihan ng mga bakla sa lipunan. Dahil sa sinusubukan nilang makuha ang lahat: ang kalakasan at kapangyarihan ng lalaki at ang mga karapatan ng mga babae; hindi sila tatanggapin ng lipunan.

At sa pagbubuod ng kanyang mga akda, maaring sabihin na si Beethoven Bunagan, na kilala bilang Michael V., ay hindi lang basta nagpatawa sa atin sa kanyang mga awitin. Pinatawa niya tayo, pero nagiwan siya ng mga mensaheng nagmumulat sa atin kung paano umuusad ang ating lipunan ,at naguudyok sa atin sa kilatisin kung paano tayo kumikilos at magisip. Marami rin siyang mensaheng ipinarating sa atin. Hindi lang para sa lalaki; hindi lang para sa babae; pati na rin sa mga bakla. Gusto ko ring maging makata tulad niya. Nagpapatawa ngunit nagpapahiwatig din. Sikreto lang to ah. Galit ako sa mga bakla. Napilitan lang….Magsulat….

SANGGUNIAN:

The Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes

On the Social Contract, Jean Jacques Rosseau

Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men, Jean Jacques Rosseau

Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx

Two Treatises of Government, John Locke

The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, Friedrich Engels

Dondon

Hey, baby, my life is okay ngayon
wala nang panget,
now that you’re gone
It’s been a long time
now we’ll make it through
wala ka na
‘wag kang babalik, BABU!

You make it hard
cause you don’t know the game
Minsan hindi mo nga
ma-spell ang ‘yong name
Palpak lahat
’cause you can’t get things right
Pero feeling mo
ay alam mo ang lahat

‘Pag ang boss mo ay gay
kasama mo everyday
ok lang kung
matalino siya at smart
Pero kung ang totoo
E baklang bobo ito
This is HELL,
Kulang na lang murahin mo

(Chorus)
Don-don, joklang don-don
Nagmamarunong s’ya
he’s feeling so smart
Don-don, joklang don-don
‘kaka- imbyerna ka ‘day
‘wag ka ngang pasaway

You keep talking
ingles mo sablay
E mas magaling pang
mag-ingles si inaday
Sa elementary
you spent fifteen years
At mga idol mo
Si Paris at Britney Spears

Pag ang boss mo ay gay
kasama mo everyday
ok lang kung
matalino siya at smart
Pero kung ang totoo
E baklang bobo ito
This is HELL,
kulang na lang murahin mo

(Chorus)
Don-don, joklang don-don
Nagmamarunong s’ya
he’s feeling so smart
Don-don, joklang don-don
‘kaka- imbyerna ka ‘day
‘wag ka ngang pasaway

At kung magmando over
like no one can defy him
Parang bilibid
Kung sasamahan mo
You can’t make it through the night
Ang IQ n’ya ay minus 500

(Chorus)
Don-don, joklang don-don
Nagmamarunong s’ya
he’s feeling so smart
Don-don, joklang don-don
‘kaka- imbyerna ka ‘day
‘wag ka ngang pasaway

Don-don, joklang don-don
Nagmamarunong s’ya
he’s feeling so smart
Don-don, joklang don-don
‘kaka- imbyerna ka ‘day
‘wag ka ngang pasaway
Pwede bang wag kang pasaway

Hindi Ako Bakla – Tom Yam

Echuss….

Anong kinakalat mo, ba’t ka naman ganyan
Tinitira mo ‘ko ng talikuran
Di mo ba alam, ako’y nasasaktan
Turing ko sayo’y kumpare pa naman

Sabi nila
Tinawag mo kong bakla
Maldita kang talaga
At ang kapal ng mukha

Hindi ako, di ako bakla
Sa boses palang, di mo ba halata
Pag di ka tumigil ng pagsasalita
Sasampalin kita
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…

Ho ho hoooooo…

Di ko sadyang tumatalsik ang fingers ko
Bakla na ba porket makembot ang puwet ko
Di ko inahit, natural ang kilay ko
Insecure ka sa flawless ng beauty ko

Chika nila
Tinawag mo kong bakla
Hoy bruha kang talaga
At ang kapal ng mukha

Hindi ako, di ako bakla
Itsura palang, di mo ba halata
Pag di ka tumigil ng pagsasalita
Sasabunutan kita
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…
Di ako baklaaaaaaa…
Ho ho hoooooo…

Pare, pare
Pa pa paaaa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
Pare, pare
Ayos baaaa mga pare ko
Pare, pare
Pa pa paaaa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
Pare, pare
Okay baaa, pa pa pa pa pa pare!

Hindi ako, di ako bakla
Sa kilos palang, di mo ba halata
Pag di ka tumigil ng pagsasalita
Hahalikan kita
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…
Hindi ako baklaaaaaaa…
Di ako baklhaaaaaa…

Hindi ako, di ako bakla
Hindi ako, di ako bakla
Hindi ako, di ako bakla
Hindi ako, di ako…
Hindi ako baklaaaaaa…
Babae akoooooo!
Babae akoooooo!
Babae akoooooo!
Hindi ako bakla!

Ching…

Mamaw

Verse 1
Sa talahiban ika’y lumitaw
Sumama ang hangin ako’y napa-iling
tao nga ba o kabayo…….
mahiwaga?

nung mapansin ko sya…
ay may milagrong ginagawa
mang aagaw sya ng lakas…
ingat ka kapag nakilala ka …

(chorus:)
kahit na tinatawanan…
marami yatang pumapatol dyan…
‘pag meron s’yang napagti-tripan
bibigyan nya ng limang-daan

baklang sagad sa pangit
ang kagandaha’y pinipilit
sa likod ay mukang mama
‘pag humarap ay MAMAW!!

Verse2:
ang swerte n’ya namang bading
lagi s’yang may kasiping
kung takot sa kanya
babayaran lng nya…

napapansin ko sya
na may milagrong ginagawa
mang-aagaw sya ng lakas
ingat ka pag nakilala ka

(Chorus:)
kahit na tinatawanan…
marami yatang pumapatol dyan…
‘pag meron syang napagti-tripan
bibigyan nya ng limang-daan

baklang sagad sa pangit
ang kagandaha’y pinipilit
sa likod ay mukang mama
‘pag humarap ay MAMAW!!

Verse 3:
Tatalon kaya ako sa bangin]
‘di ko s’ya kayang mahalin
pero kung walang-wala ka
sige pumatol ka

napansin ko s’ya
na may milagrong ginagawa
mang-aagaw sya ng lakas
lagot ka mamaya….

(Chorus:)
kahit natinatawanan…
marami yatang pumapatol dyan…
‘pag meron syang napagti-tripan
bibigyan nya ng limang-daan

baklang sagad sa pangit
sa mga gay bar sumisilip
sa likod ay mukang mama
‘pag humarap ay MAMAW!!

baklang sagad sa pangit
ang kagandaha’y pinipilit
sa likod ay mukang mama
paghumarap ay MAMAW

Wag na Wag

May gusto akong sabihin
Di ako mapakali
Para akong nangangati
Parang type mo na nga akong sipain
Ang sama mong tumingin
Para bang sinasabi mo na

[Refrain]
Aba, bakit di pa umamin
Na tunay akong, aahh, bading

[Chorus]
Ooohh, wag na wag mong sasabihin
Lalong-lalo na sa tatay ko
Ako ay isang baklang
Bumigay na sa kahalayan ko
Tama ang iyong akala
Na ako’y isang bading
Wag mo na akong sampalin
Di ko man ito ipakita
Huling-huli ang dating
Kaya nga sinasabi mo na

[repeat Refrain and Chorus]

At sa gabi, ang ganda-ganda ko
At sa umaga, tsaka na’ko magbabayad sa’yo

[repeat Chorus]

Ooohh, wag na wag mong sasabihin
Lalong-lalo na sa jowa ko
Ako ay isang baklang
Bumigay na sa kahalayan ko

Chaka Nya

Nagulat ako nung unang makita ka
Kakatakot ka, gurang
At ngayo’y napipilas pa
Ang balat sa pisngi na binubuni
O ako’y nangati

Kailangan bang sabihin
Lumayo ka na sa akin
Dahil pag sinaksak kita
Magdurugo ka rin

[Chorus]
Chaka nyang bading, kakainis
Mukha’y nanggagalit
Chaka nyang bading, kakahiya
Ulong naging nguso
Kung buhay man ang mga papa
Wala ring magtatagal
Ang nagmamahal tumatalon sa tulay
Dahil chaka nya

At sa hatinggabi ay nangingisay na lang
Pag minamasdan ang larawan mo
At pag siya’y humalik
Sa laki ng nguso nya, hihikain ka
Sa buong magdamag

At ang laging sasabihin
Lumayo ka nga sa akin
Pag hataw ko ng tubong ito
Mangingisay ka rin

[Repeat Chorus]

[Repeat Chorus except last two words]

1982 World Snooker Final – Higgins vs Reardon

Before the World Championships this year, during the past 6 months, the then-current World Champion Steve Davis and the 1979 World Snooker Champion Terry Griffiths, contested on every final. The most notable were the 1982 Classic, where Steve made the first televised maximum but lost to Terry on the final and the 1982 Masters where it was Steve’s turn to win.

They became favorites to win this upcoming World Championship, Davis(being the defending champion) being the 1^st seed, Thorburn(being the World’s no. 1) being the 2^nd seed and Griffiths(being the World’s no.3) being the 3^rd seed.

But….They were all defeated in their first round encounters. The first match at the Crucible, Steve Davis vs Tony Knowles, Davis tasted his most bitter defeat in the World Championship by losing 1-10. Terry Griffiths then became the favorite to win it, but then lost 6-10 to Willie Thorne, and then the World’s no.1, Cliff Thorburn, losing to Jimmy White 4-10.

With the Nugget gone, one man, little by little, became people’s favorite again to win again for the title. It was the Hurricane, Alex Higgins. He beat Jim Meadowcroft 10-5 in the First Round, last year’s finalist Doug Mountjoy in the deciding frame in the Second Round and Willie Thorne within 23 frames in the Quarter-finals.

Another man was also becoming another surge and source of entertainment for the sport. After his first round defeat to Davis in last year’s championship, Jimmy White, only 20, looked set to became the youngest ever World Champion. He beat Cliff Thorburn within 14 frames, the 1978 World finalist Perrie Mans 13-6, and will-be-then-rival Kirk Stevens 13-9 in the Quarter-finals.

Also, the old names were beginning to re-emerge, they were 6-times World Champion Ray Reardon and “Steady Eddie” Eddie Charlton. Reardon had a First Round Encounter with Jim Donelly. He beat the Scot 10-5. He then beat John Virgo 13-8 in the Second Round and Silvino Francisco 13-8 in the Quarter-finals. While Eddie beat Cliff Wilson 10-5 in the First Round, Canada’s Bill Werbeniuk 13-5 in the Second Round and Tony Knowles 13-11 in the Quarter-finals.

The Reardon-Charlton semi-final match, in which Reardon won 16-11, attracted little attention. Most the people looked up more in the other semi-final match, between Alex Higgins and Jimmy White.

The first session ended 4-4. The second session became much interesting when Jimmy made 4 consecutive frames, all of those frames were won with style and extraordinary potting abilities. Alex answers by taking the remaining 3 frames of the session to be just one behind at 7-8. The third session became more of a display of offensive capabilities. Alex leveled the match at 11-11 at the end of the third session. In the final session, Jimmy raced ahead to one frame behind from his first final at 15-13. But Higgins made a 73 break in the 29^th frame to be just one frame behind. In the penultimate frame, Jimmy was on the table making the frame-winning break while Alex was agonizing on his chair, watching what would most likely to be his defeat, until at the break of 59, with a red and color away from sealing the frame and the match, he missed the only open red in the cluster with the rest.

“Alex breathes again”

Their roles became switched, with Jimmy agonizing in his chair as he witness Alex made the match saving break of 69 and took over the deciding frame to win by 16 frames to 15.

It was Ray Reardon vs Alex Higgins again. Their previous final encounter was at the 1976 World Snooker Final in which Reardon won 27 frames to 16.

Higgins took the first frame 61-41. Reardon won the next two with scorelines of 64-31 and 84-47. Alex answered back with a century. 2-2. Reardon pulled three in a row(64–53, 77–30, 65–55). Alex took the final frame of the First session, 87-28, to trail 3-5.

Higgins took the first frame of the session, 89-8. Reardon answered one back,  76-8, that was the one of the two frames he only took at that session. Higgins lead 10-7. Reardon took the third session to be just one frame behind at 12-13. At the mid-session interval, the match was tied at 15-15. After the interval, Alex pulled 3 consecutive frames, with the final one being a 135 break, to win 18-15.

Then mixture of emotions started to emerge.