Read or download this excerpt from Chapter 1 of Marcos Martial: Never Again book
By Raïssa Robles
With the sudden heightened interest on Martial Law, let me share with you excerpts from Chapter One of our Marcos Martial Law: Never Again book. This book is actually a study of a “benevolent” dictatorship.
When he imposed Martial Law, Marcos promised to reduce poverty, bring peace, security, development and progress to the nation. What happened was the exact opposite, as this book details.
Chapter 1 narrates how Marcos made extensive preparations to impose military rule and how he actually carried it out. The chapter is based, among others, on Marcos’ own diaries (which he accidentally left behind in Malacañang Palace), on face-to-face interviews with military officers who took part in the imposition, on recently declassified papers from the United States including the Nixon papers and dispatches to and from the US Embassy in Manila.
My deep appreciation to my publisher, Filipinos for a Better Philippines, for allowing me to share this with you.
You can either read the Chapter extract online or download it and share it with your friends and relatives. The extract comes from the Collectors Edition.
You can read or download this chapter extract by clicking on this link.
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You will notice that this extract has missing pages.
It is because I shared with you previously those missing pages which gave a capsule biography of Ferdinand Marcos. For those who have not read this particular extract, you can do so by clicking on this link.
And now the GOOD NEWS.
Copies of the softbound edition (or Student Edition) will soon be available again in National Book Store.
Pls. wait for my announcement.
Parekoy says
Matobato sa Langit ang Tamaan ay Pangit!
With the claim of Abeto Salcedo Jr., a retired adjudicator of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Southern Mindanao, that Matobato was trying to kill him in October 24, 2014 as he was emerging from the DAR provincial office, but Asst. City Prosecutor Jehrameel Libre, who received Salcedo’s complaint, said they have 60 days to decide whether or not to pursue the case in court, this new development shows a double edged sword!
The job of DU30’s diehard supporter Senators is to cast as much doubt on the credibility of Matobato by hitting him with every trivia inconsistencies which do not really affect the facts that:
1. Matobato as the ‘Tirador’, which even Gen. Bato Dela Rosa admitted that Matobato is a known killer in Davao City.
2. Matobato was employed in the City Government of Davao with all the ATM and records of drawing wages.
3. Matobato was a known member of DDS even by is neighbors who attested that he usually brandished guns in their neighborhood, in DU30’s City that only the Police and DU30’s DDS members have the license to carry guns aside from the military.
4. Paolo DU30 did not disclaim that he does not know Matobato and did not contest that Matobato was one of those who accompanied him to school aside from Paolo’s police bodyguards, but only the name of the school that he went to, clarifying that Paolo went to Philippines Women’s before going to college in Ateneo. Meaning, nobody is denying that Matobato is a fixture in DU30’s Heinous Crime Unit and present during those times where DU30 was giving orders to Lascañas, who was the lead in the DDS operations or liquidation projects.
5. Matobato has owned to the killings that he did and with graphic details in a manner that is consistent and even his gesticulations made the Senators cringed when he made the ‘bitay’ in a garrote manner.
6. Matobato can narrate his accomplices in the DDS who were with him on those liquidation operations with certainty even enhanced by counting with his fingers and his cold eyes looking at some imagined screen to help him recall their presence in those operations.
7. DU30 did not refute a word against Matobato’s testimony for more than a week and only midnight on Thursday in an ambush interview that he does not know personally Matobato and followed it up with a hedge with a qualified “I don’t remember … when I was the mayor, the one providing the security, puro pulis (were the police),” he said.
8. Majority of the viewers including a large number of DU30 avid supporters believe Matobato’s testimony for Matobato just corroborated what DU30 was claiming in his unguarded statements to show how tough and vocal about killing as a solution to almost every problem DU30 wanted to solve.
Cayetano, Dumb Fac, OLD LIMP DICK, Sotto (protector of druglords), Ping, and other Senators whose noses are covered with DU30’s feces can’t shake off the credibility of Matobato as member of DDS and a confessed killer which is even corroborated by Gen. Bato that Matobato is a known ‘Tirador’ in Davao City, all else are just hollowed noise.
Now this new accusation that Matobato is the suspect in shooting Abeto Salcedo Jr. is a Hail Mary move on the part of DU30’s defenders. The purpose is to muddle the issue that even after Matobato claimed that his last killing was in 2012, they want to link Matobato to this 2014 failed hit, but the prosecutor is still mulling if they are filing the charges. It shows that they are bluffing since they could not build a probable cause to charge him with just the claim of Salcedo. DU30’s camp is also testing Matobato if he is going to fold under pressure and see if he zips his lips and even retract his testimonies.
The other purpose is that they are laying the ground similar to what they are doing to De Lima in the Moro-moro in the House to build a case and issue arrest warrant so that DU30’s government could snatch Matobato away from Trillanes’ protection and everything goes when they have Matobato under their custody. Once Matobato is in their custody, they will convince him to retract his testimonies and if he refused then Matobato is dead meat and DU30’s ‘Limpiador’ will claim that Matobato tried to grab their guns and wanted to fight it out, the customary unbelievable excuse that DU30’s killers usually claim in a national scale whenever there is a rubout.
The other edge of the sword is now cutting and hurting DU30’s camp for Salcedo’s claim even bolstered Matobato’s credibility as a hitman thereby even giving more credence to Matobato’s testimonies. DU30’s camp is in a pickle when it comes to Matobato for now they found how formidable Matobato’s character and credibility.
We have also witnessed that eventhough Matobato is handicapped by language barrier hardly understanding English and even Tagalog, Matobato was able to hold his ground and consistently able to narrate his believable confessions and observations in a manner that is outright convincing! If DU30 is proud of his mediocrity being a 75percenter, Matobato outshines DU30 and his Gang of Senators by being able to stand his ground and remains credible on his DDS confessions, despite only finishing ‘Grade One’. Indeed he has proven himself as a credible witness- Matobato is a Grade #1 Witness!
Matobato is a dead man walking and he admitted it himself that he is ready to die now that he unloaded his conscience through his confession of his crimes.
Matobato indeed fits the altered saying, Matobato sa Langit ang Tamaan ay Pangit!
Parekoy
09-23-2016
Mel says
Great elucidation @Parekoy.
Edgar Matobato, DDS turncoat witness – First Grade, A+ !
Manny Pacquaio at the 2nd Senate Justice Hearing chaired by pandering Dick Gordon, took the pulpit to preach about credulous right witnessing to one (EM) and all (senators & whole pinas).
Simple but First Grade witness EM had the courage and boldness to confess (testimony, patotoo) his murderous sins and blind servitude to Mayor R ‘Digong’ Duterte.
Whereas, Manny Pacquiao, born-again 8 world boxing title holder can’t call out, even stand up against DU30 for his murderous crusade in his Davao City for 20 years.
Both witnesses, galing sa hirap, of the same camp – one is left standing tall among the serfs to expose DU30’s DDS Skeletons.
kalakala says
aba at biglang lumaki ang ulo ni pacquaio when gordon addressed him as “atty.” hindi nya ba alam na bumabalik sa kanya at kay du30 ang mga pinagsasabi nya o mga tanong nya kay em?
imo, masyadong hambog si pacquaio noong tinatanong nya si em.
Mel says
heh he heh.
si brod MPacquiao, may gatas pa sa bibig.
maya-maya, may bible study nasa sa plenary hall.
Coming from the PA, calling Manny to lead us in Prayer… please bless us with more Mannies (rhymes with monies) over the halls and corridors of the sinate.
Will Pacquiao author a bill for righteous laws for lawmakers? How tough will pakyaw be against lawbeakers?
Mel says
addendum.
Request pala ni Sen D Gordon during his first hearing as a Senate Chair of Justice.
For Senate to have more or many Manny Pacquiaos.
impex123 says
Same observation @ kalakala, masyado syang naging excited si Pacman. Dyan natin makikita na nagde decide through emotions without thinking. Paano si Duterte na million times na nagbago bago ng salita. Bakit nire respeto pa rin niya?
vander says
no, manny did not act accdg to his emotion nor his intellect.
manny is evidently a coached senator.
i will not believe he knows that a motion can oust a senate committee?
it is clear mp allowed himself to be a pawn or he himself did not know it.
Parekoy says
Yup! First Grade Witness indeed!
There are photos with DU30 and Matobato and DU30’s camp knows that Trillanes et al have them and even records that corroborate Matobato’s employment and timeline in DDS.
DU30’s camp of Cayetano, Lacson and Gordon made sure to contain any clusterf*ck when Matobato’s DDS accomplices who are Policemen will be interviewed in the next hearing. The Busal Gang of the Senate made sure that the hearing is in closed doors thru executive session.
DU30’s camp is now getting some assistance from Gloria’s operators though Mr. Noted Pangilinan is well aware of the tactics, thus they are also being monitored.
Mel says
Photos of both DU30 & Mabobato together?
That would be swell!
Paano kung may kabul na memorabilia si EM of his DDS days with gov’t officials and PNP officers?
Kasama si Bato? Hulog kaya ng langit?
Mel says
Pinangunahan na sila ng isang pulis opisyal na nanduon sa senate justice hearing, retirado na raw ang ibah, iyong iba kung nasa national roster ng pnp.
Yesterday or today’s news, DU30 ordered the military in mindanao to get rid of all militias.
CLEANSING TIME!
I’m still looking for that weblink news source.
Parekoy says
Actually yung ibang DDS ay nagtatago na ngayon kasi alam nila na baka sila na ang isunod na likida para wala ng tetestigo.
Dead men tell no tales!
Naglilimpia na si DU30 ng mga tao na pwedeng magpatunay na meron talagang DDS!
Mel says
Parang drug lords (overt EJKs, piggy back) killing their own little soldiers (or competitors) to eliminate the trace or links to the upper echelons.
And when the cat is away? Mices takes over the fallen pedigree to keep their lords happy.
Vhin AB says
Nice one, Parekoy.
Kalahari says
DOJ orders NBI to probe bilibid drug trade after receiving AMLC report pertaining to bank documents linked to drug transactions.
Aguirre said the NBI can use the documents to determine where the proceeds of the transactions went such as protectors of drug lords allegedly led by Sen. Delima.
“Makikita mo lang doon the names of the individuals, account names, Ito yung mga trasactions sa accounts ng individuals na may sinasabi na merong deposit na P500,000,000, merong nakalagay doon ang ilang beses nagtrasaction and nagdeposit.” Aguirre told reporters.
Aguirre also said he is considering seeking freeze order from the CA on accounts of personalities linked to the Bilibid drug trade
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/582477/news/nation/doj-orders-nbi-to-probe-drug-trade-inside-nbp
“De Lima denies keeping billions in “dummy” accounts”
Sen. Leila de Lima who is parrying allegations she received kickbacks from the illegal drug trade, said Friday she does not keep billions of pesos in secret bank accounts.
De Lima fired back at one of her chief accussers, DOJ Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre, as leader of a “mafia of lies and intrigues,”
“I have no millions or billions in my bank accounts. And I have no dummy accounts. Any alleged accounts that would be linked to me and my alleged drug links can only be fictitious.” de lima said in a statement
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/23/16/de-lima-denies-keeping-billions-in-dummy-accounrs
Mel says
Kung makuha in favor of the state, may pondo nah to renovate their NBP. Better look’in, fresh paint for equal conjugal visits to all incarcerated mates.
No more kubols? With better cells to jail captive & additional captured drug traders whilst serving to finish what remains of their punishment and who survived extra-judicial extermination outside, now to languish inside.
Ancient Mariner says
If President Duterte thinks that China will come to his aid if the West walks away, let him think again.
http://www.financialsense.com/contributors/valuewalk/nomura-first-major-bank-predict-china-default
The Chinese economy is deep in the poo and it seems unlikely that funds would be made available to Digong. Why would China come to the assistance of the Philippines when it is to their advantage for the PI to become as financially desperate as they themselves are. Whilst the Philippines is scrounging around for money to fuel is surveilance aircraft and vessels China will be up to all sorts of mischief in the West Philippine Sea.
No, Digong should not be biting the hands which are currently feeding the Philippines by means of their investments and business contributions. Rough times lie ahead and will continue until Digong comes to hs senses and starts acting like a President and not a spoiled brat.
beachbum says
In a ridiculously short time the philippines image/advice has gone from ‘buy’ to ‘hold’ to ‘sell’
Duterte’s economic team are nowhere to be seen or heard and this is only the start of a rough quarter which will result in a breaking point in jan/feb 2017 as the impact starts to filter through.
Nov – US election. A possible trump president – bad news
Dec – Fed rate. A probable rate hike – bad news
Jan – s&p, moody’s. Any downgrade – disastrous
Currency – will continue to weaken
Remittances – stagnant at best, but decline likely
Job retrenchment in middle east, and possibly US
BPO’s – already drawing up contingency plans to switch traffic elsewhere. Job losses.
Prices – increases
Balance of payment – increased deficit as imports increase ( especially for xmas), and exports are falling. Bad news
Tourists – philippines no longer ‘more fun’
short term speculators – stick market – already voted with their money and ditching philippines
Capital investment – FDI – sharp drop likely in 4th quarter. Very bad news.
Meanwhile dozy duterte drones on about drug addicts and glories in mob killings.
The tide will turn when the ‘common man’ realises that dutertes ‘common good’ is not based upon ‘common sense’.
Internationally duterte is regarded as a freak show with no credibility. His cronies seen as amateurs.
Ancient Mariner says
I agree. Sadly those Duterte crony amateurs are powerful amateurs. Vis-a-vis Aguire whose bias is so obvious and who does not understand the meaning of the word, impartial. A pedigree Duterte Lap Dog.
I don’t have the means/skills to do it but I believe a historical list of all Duterte’s speechs since he came to office, to whom and where, would give a good indication of what is in Digong’s mind. Perhaps Raissa could consider such an analysis??
beachbum says
If you’ve heard one speech, then you’ve heard them all!
His obsessions are clear.
Drugs and killing criminals – (He will keep exaggerating the drug and terrorism menace to keep buying time as he organises the troops/police. A one con-trick pony)
Railway for mindanao (a white elephant?)
Independent Mindanao ( he knows that he only has one roll of the dice so will concentrate on the future of mindanao, not the future of the philippines as a whole. He hates manila and the ‘white’ northerners, almost as much as he hates white westerners. He has inferiority complex about his color, height, intellect, and being an outsider/misfit. He is venting a lot of rage/revenge.
As much tax payer money will be pumped into mindanao for as long as possible. His chinese friends in davao are a lynchpin and the conduit to china)
Chinese as ally/financier – china has its own problems, particularly the increasing risk of the property bubble bursting, and all that follows, but the philippines us important – to reduce US influence in asia, the minerals in mindanao, a dumping ground for crap chinese products & drugs)
Autocracy, in whatever form. Especially after he has appointed enough SC judges. That may well determine the time-table
Anti-west
Anti-imperialism
Anti-manila
Anti-intellectualism
Anti criticism!
Pro dynasty ( no anti-dynasty bill)
No meaningful FoI, with teeth
Anything to do with fear and control
– death penalty
– new military force
– cyber control/wiretapping
Keep pushing the envelope, and if no real resistance then keep on pushing until too late to resist.
Impacts
Collective culture and conformity
Isolationism and protectionism – non interference from outside
Cultural confusion
Political chaos/infighting ( that’s business as usual)
Results
Lack of innovation
Reject ASEAN integration and TPP
Brain drain
Social unrest
Economic decline
Geo-political isolation
Technological backwater
Political instability
Legal rubber stamp
Reduction in foreign aid/help
Other than that all is well!
Like the curate’s egg there should also be good parts, but are his team professional enough to deliver on big changes/projects etc.
And with his friends, villar, singson, tonyboy cojuangco, ang all hovering for their share it will not be plain sailing.
I don’t think he is interested in federalism per se – that is pimentel seniors obsession but it is a convenient vehicle for constitutional change and is really only mindanao politicians that are interested. It would be disastrous.
I think duterte sees a ‘constitutional dictatorship’ well before 2022 so federalism is irrelevant to him.
The acid test will be 2019 elections which could change a lot of things, especially if the economy has gone into decline.
Duterte may have vociferous/rabid supporters, but they are a small percentage. The rest of his support did not sign up for a killing spree. They will judge on the economy first and foremost.
The top 5 concerns were
Poverty
Employment
Education
Health
Peace & order
‘It’s always the economy, stupid’
Ancient Mariner says
@beachbum. It’s not the content of the speeches which interests me but to whom they were addressed. In other words who apart from the military and PNP is Duterte trying to brainwash?
My opinion is that the speeches are part of his recruiting campaign and their success or failure will dictate whether Digong goes down the road to Martial Law or not.
Mel says
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2021347/philippines-crime-war-risk-economy-sp-warns
wwwDOTphilstarDOTcom/headlines/2016/09/23/1626570/rody-not-worried-about-turning-investors
vander says
beachbum,
you are painting the repeat of marcos brilliancy in sending our nation’s economy to nil.
will bduts eventually break the dictator’s record?
canadadry says
Once china goes under, Philippines led Du30 may just go with it.
A link from Aljazeera on China’s comming crash:
…” In a rare admission, government advisers say local planners from as far south as Yunnan province to as far north as Heilongjiang have made “monetary missteps”.
Economist Anne Stevenson-Yang says it is more like “monumental missteps”: “Wet your finger and stick it in the air and you’ll find a useless project in China.”
Over the past 20 years, Stevenson-Yang has travelled the country. Those travels took her through many outlandish developments including replicas of inaand Paris, and hectares and hectares of empty high-rises.
“It’s a craziness on a level that you haven’t seen elsewhere in the world and you have to think that that’s going to create a crisis on a level that hasn’t been seen elsewhere,” she says.
What worries her and a growing chorus of economists is that all this building is sinking China under a mountain of debt.”
http://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/asia/2016/09/china-ghost-towns-developers-run-money-160914084316042.html
GemsVann says
Example of INCOMPETENT or CORRUPT Cabinet Secretary of Duterte.
A while ago we spoke about Dengue medicines procured by DOH as ineffective and waste of money. It involved the son of Heherson Alvarez and its deal filled with corruption trademark. Secretary Ona was told to resign because of other scandals too. At that time I posted that a vaccine would be coming out soon after phase 3 trial in Brazil.
Dengue vaccine is out now and the Pholippines is one of first 3 countries to be supplied by Sanofi, the drug manufacturer. DOH Sec Guaron being a medical doctor understood the clinical research underwent by the vaccine and its efficacy trumps unknown side effects yet. PNoy administration contracted with Sanofi and started Dengue vaccination program all over the Philippines. Vaccine has to be given in 3 phases for absolute immunity.
Here comes Du30 appointing a career DOH employee without a medical degree as DOH sec Ubial, , in which it could be ascertained that ther medical background and expertise clinically was scratching the bottom although her administrative capability is certainly qualified.
She ordered the Dengue vaccination program stopped and cancel Sanofi contract a couple of weeks ago with this reason”Vaccine needs further studies because its effects are not absolute” she ordered vaccines delivered in provinces to be stored in DOH warehouses with refrigeration. Vaccines to retain their potency should ALWAYS be refrigerated.
Her only reason to stop vaccination and threatened contract termination is to squeeze the drug manufacturer to come out with Bribe Money” because her reasoning was stupid and preposterous. All countries with clinical research capabilities including Singapore approved the vaccine while Sec Ubial without clinical medical expertise was talking about clinical efficacy needing further research. Ubial knew very well that the Philippines does not have the means to conduct clinical research. The only conclusion is CORRUPTION minded DOH in which Ubial was used to.
Here is the problem:
Because the vaccination for second phase was delayed and the vaccines were not stored properly the potency might have been compromised and the FILIPINO PATIENTS would suffer the consequences. If it happens Sec Unial might say ” I told you so” but in all probability she caused the problem by stopping the program for intended CORRUPT practices.
One dead Dengue patient who had first phase vaccination is in the “bloody hands of Sec Ubial”.
She should resign and replaced by Du30 with a medical doctor with clinical practice experience.
Johnny Lin, MD.
He he he
sup says
”only da best”
Diño is the father of Liza Diño, who is now married to singer Cariza “Aiza” Seguerra.
Duterte recently appointed Seguerra as chairperson of National Youth Commission while the young Diño was appointed as chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/818342/aspirant-who-gave-way-for-duterte-presidential-bid-to-head-sbma
GemsVann says
Latest News
Senator. recto says” Bad policy, not Duterte language would imperil Phl”
Majority of our senators are dumb shown lately by their own press statements starting from Pacquiao, Sotto, Gordon, Cayetano and now Recto.
Foul mouth against UN, head of States is Bad Policy! What are you talking about Recto? You should have studied well on your schooldays instead of copying during exams to pass.
He he he
Johnny Lin
sup says
”erecto”
moonie says
defecto, may defect si recto. minority lang kasi siya. maybe, to become efecto, recto would need more senators on his side.
bad policies, foul language, not only imperil pinas, but also serve to make its citizens less loved in the eyes of the world, wallowing in miasma that is not only toxic but unhealthy to both mind and body.
Mel says
Maybe you mean, errect tile o ewreck mooh?
vander says
if bad language is not bad at all, we don’t need our ambassadors/diplomats.
Gems Vann says
Bakit magsalita Si Pacquiao sa hearing ni Matobato?
Stupid Pacquiao
Sa hearing ni Matobato magsalita siya at binatikos Si Matobato at DeLima.
Kasi sa unang Pagkakataon sa Senado Meron mas mayabang pinag aral an kay Pacquiao. Si Matobato hanggang Grade 1 lamang Pero si Pacquiao nakatatlo ng Grade 6.
Gusto kasing magpakita ng “talino” Si Pacquiao” pareho ng kasama niyang mas mataas ang pinagaralan dahil college graduates sila senador Cayetano, Gordon at Sotto,
Pinakita nila sa puro English nila na mas MAGALING sila sa Grade 1.
Kawawang Pilipinas.
It’s more PUN in the Philippines like in PUNtang Ina mo!
He he he
Johnny Lin
Gems Vann says
During last Senate hearing with Chairman Gordon talking to Matobato in English.
Gordon: You better be consistent in your answers or else I will cite you for contempt.
Matobato: Opo!
Trillanes(translating to Matobato): Naintindihan mo ba ang sinabi ni Chairman Gordon. Dapat daw totoo lahat sinasabi mo at kapag nagkamali ka “contempt” ka niya. Nakuha mo?
Matobato: Opo sanay po ako nung bata ako pag inutusan ako ng tatay ko kumuha ng pandesal sa almusal parati niya sinasabi yun, condents lamay mo!
Trillanes smiling: Gatas yun, iba ito. You see Chairman Gordon why you should not speak in English to a Grade I educated witness just to show you are very bright than him
He he he
Johnny Lin
Gems Vann says
“Condents” ilagay mo( put condense milk)
vander says
i’ll cite you in contempt, sabi ni gordon.
in tagalog, “lalagyan natin ng condensed milk”
iyan ng pagkakaunawa ni matobato.
hahaha!
ingles pa gordy dick…
sam says
Duterte: China claims over sea made ‘in good faith’
——————————————————————
Read about this at
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/582413/news/nation/duterte-china-claims-over-sea-made-in-good-faith/top_picks?order=1
—————————————————————-
Do dirty during his election campaign, we all hear him said , he will sail alone only armed with a Philippine Flag to push back the chinese military.
Do dirty also accused Pnoy of have selling to China and send Trillanes to make the deal
Now .. Do dirty do not only sold West Phil Sea to china but delivery it right into their hands and justify for them that china did it in good faith .. WOW ha? ano ito wow mali?
Now .. Do dirty is telling us the GMA’s JSMU was something good for the country? .. again wow ha? sana he look muna into its legality ..
Do Dirty tells the US and EU people .. he don’t need them and will talk to china and russia instead?
Again WOW ha! .. how many filipinos are employed as call center agents and pay their taxes .. Maybe Do Dirty don’t need them but others do ..
beachbum says
Duterte logic
Drugs are destroying the nation
The market is controlled by the chinese
Let’s kill each other and love the chinese.
Mmm.
Let’s ‘kill’ the chinese and love each other!
No. 1 rule of doing business in China – never trust a Chinaman.
Duterte is going to be screwed by a big panda.
beachbum says
The bridge to nowhere
Imelda marcos visited a corrupt Asian president’s lavish residence.
“Let’s be frank,” she whispers into the ear of her host.” “I know your official salary. So, how can you possibly afford all this?” she asks.
The president leads Imelda to the terrace and, pointing to the horizon, asks, “Do you see those two mountains?”
Imelda nods.
“Do you see that bridge between them?” Imelda nods again.
“Twenty percent,” he explains.
A year later, Imelda hosts the same president at her even more lavish residence.
Let’s be frank,” the president whispers into the ear of
Imelda. “Given your salary, how can you afford all this, let alone so many shoes?”
Imelda leads the president to her terrace and, pointing to the horizon, asks, “See those two mountains?” The man nods.
“Do you see that bridge between them?”
The puzzled president says, “But there is no bridge.”
“Exactly,” Imelda replies, “One hundred percent.”
The bridge to somewhere
Years later the president returned and met chairman duterte. On the terrace the president noticed a half-finished bridge between the two mountains.
“I see that you are in the process of building the bridge” he said.
“No” chairman duterte replied, “it is finished”
The president looked puzzled.
“To those who are loyal, they see a beautiful bridge. To those who question, we prove it to them by making them walk across it!”
‘Inscrutable these chinese’ thought the president, as Alice came to mind.
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
‘I don’t much care where -‘ said Alice.
‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.
‘- so long as I get SOMEWHERE,’ Alice added as an explanation.
‘Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, ‘if you only walk long
enough”
Lewis Carroll , Alice in Wonderland
In the war on reality, fear counts.
In the war against fear, imagination counts.
In the war against the chinaman, go for the googlies.
greenpea says
That people will just grumble but do nothing is part of the calculation of plotters of a dictatorship in implementing their evil plan to hijack the freedom of a people.
Condemnation of a wrong is proper but it is action that can lead to a desired outcome.
greenpea says
A propos my comment at 22.1, I did not mean it as a criticism but simply an observation and a call for ideas for what people can do to defend their freedom and democracy.
canadadry says
Rising voices against Du30, Aguirre and company: Rene Saguisag on Delima vs Aguirre and Du30
Former Senator Rene Saguisag, a veteran anti Marcos advocate has the following piece in his Manila Times column of Sept 23, 2016
Healing and killing BY RENE SAGUISAG ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
It is plain wrong to mark September 21, 1972 as the notorious Day of Infamy. For me it was just another day in the office.
As head of the San Beda Free Legal Aid Clinic, I monitored from my Mendiola office a rally in Plaza Miranda, that Thursday, just in case
I’d need to rush over. Ka Pepe Diokno, Charito Planas, Bal Pinguel, et al.. spoke. September 22, Friday, ho-hum, again, save that on my way
home that night from San Beda, to our rented Sandejas, Pasay City apartment, my Beetle radio announced the spurious ambush of Manong Johnny
Ponce Enrile, who admitted the falsehood on February 22, 1986.
44 Septembers ago, when Macoy (Marcos) inflicted martial law, the following describes how I felt as an uhugin lawyer and saw other panyeros/as
like – “The German lawyer [who]was . . .particularly prepared to accept as `law’ anything that called itself by that name, was printed at
government expense and seemed to come `von oben herab.” L. Fuller, Positivism and Fidelity to Law – A Reply to Professor Hart, 71 Harv. L. Rev.
630, 659 (1958). “Hitler did not come to power by a violent revolution. . . . The exploitation of legal forms started cautiously and became
bolder as power was consolidated. The first attacks on the established order were on ramparts which, if they were manned by anyone, were manned
by lawyers and judges. These ramparts fell almost without a struggle.” Id.
Tañada, Diokno, Salonga, Ordoñez, Garchitorena, Arroyo, Gonzalez (Raul), Bobbit Sanchez, et al. were grossly outnumbered by the Fil-German
types, as the ramparts fell with little struggle. So newbies such as the Jojo Binays, Odie Melchors, By Bocars, Ed Araullos, Boy Ellas,
Jimmy Malanyaons, Jun Factorans, Boyet Fernandezes, Hessie Mallilins, and a few others, including myself, tried to fill in the breach.
Macoy failed to heed the advice in Shakespeare’s Henry VI on what take-over plotters should do: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the
lawyers,” in supreme tribute to those who would ask the foolish questions of the day, and hang the costs and consequences, and not let the
ramparts fall without any struggle. (Of course St. Ives was a lawyer and yet became a saint, and the people were astonished.)
Ka Pepe organized the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), after being detained from 1972 to 1974 without being charged! I joined. In 1980,
some of us who thought lawyers should take public stands aside from traditional lawyering, formed MABINI (Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood,
Integrity and Nationalism Inc.) but kept our warm ties with FLAG and iconic Ka Pepe. I am among the relics and antiques left, MD, Masamang Damo,
marching again to the beat of a different drummer (Thoreau), taking the less traveled road (Frost), sailing against the wind (the Kennedys),
and asking “why not?” while seeing things that never were (others may ask “why”, seeing things that are – GB Shaw).
We are now forming a new group, with new blood, while we watch what the quiet Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Philippine Bar Association,
the Philconsa, the big bufetes, and others will do in the wake of the extrajudicial executions far exceeding what happened in late 1972.
Population reduced violently by 3,000 in weeks!
In the late 1980s we were delighted to gain vocal support from interlopers President Jimmy Carter, State Assistant Secretary Patricia Derian,
Amnesty International, atbp. Pakialameros/as.
In 1986, alien interference was capped by divine intervention. The world was shocked and awed by People Power, which saw the nearly bloodless
end of the reign of a kleptocratic gross human rights violator who Digong idolizes and would now want him to rest with heroes. Digong should
consult FVR, who the Marcoses put one over on, in 1993.
I am on the side of fellow Bedan Leila de Lima against fellow Bedans Vit Aguirre (our hardworking colleague in the case of Hubert Webb)
and Digong Duterte (with whose courageous principled Mom I marched in Davao after Ninoy was “salvaged”). I was flabbergasted to see Vit acting
like the Speaker or committee chair of the House he seemed to own last Tuesday. Usually, outside counsel is not much more than part of the
furniture, while the elected lawmakers dominate and scintillate.
Of course litigators walk through with their witnesses on their testimony. And no lawyer should ask a question the answer to which he doesn’t
already know, particularly on cross. Trial Technique 101.
Speaker Bebot Alvarez, who may or may not remember me, is sounding like a Certified Tuta.
Vit and Digong should stop naming and shaming people and instead just file cases against them, particularly the wealthy and well-connected.
Not enough to increase the body count of the poorest of the poor who should be rehabbed, with better planning. Packed prisons depress and
convert humans into brutes.
I am comfortable with underdogs. Sen. Dick Gordon took ousted Leila’s place. I trust him if only because ang hambog galit sa kapwa hambog.
He can stand up to Digong, on principle. When Erap kicked Dick around so needlessly in 1998, I assisted him against my canvassing client
Erap. Dick told me that some Jesuit taught him that “in this world, the world laughs with you but, you weep alone.” As a human being,
Christian and lawyer, I say, “If you need me and you have no one else, you’ll never walk and weep alone. I’ll walk and weep with you,
if you will allow me.” When Erap fell from overdog to underdog, I finally heeded his request to join his legal team. I walked and
wept with him, along with his friends and wives. I entered my appearance and joined his formidable battery but an accused goes to bat with
two strikes against him.
Like beleaguered Sen. Leila. Hang in there, Lei! I admire your moral stamina. Let’s see what Vit will do with the names you supplied as
elements of the alleged Davao Death Squad.
There is no substitute for due process and no hardline bloody policy has succeeded anywhere in the world. If there is money to be made,
the failed drug policy won’t erase trafficking in which Dona Josefa Marcos engaged while teaching in Arellano High School, and arrested by
top cop Telesforo Tenorio, according to Tibo Mijares in the Conjugal Dictatorship. Tibo disappeared while his teenaged son, Boyet,
was sadistically “salvaged.”
I see a ray of hope in Imee’s seeking forgiveness for her Pop’s abuses and am appalled by Bongbong’s insult of the human rights victims
as only after money. No wonder, poor unknown Leni G. Robredo beat him, and fellow Bicolanos Alan (by marriage), Chiz, Gringo and Sonny,
splitting the votes with the Oragons while billionaire BB had his Solid North. Feisty Leila is also Bicolana.
The voters could have chosen a Healing President. But a plurality preferred a Killing One, who gives the rich due process but spares few
in unkind naming and shaming.
Traffic, after 80 days of Digong is much worse in Metro Manila. What if he and Bato de la Rosa execute ten “resisting” scofflaw drivers?
A remedy worse than the disease.
Vit Aguirre can just file charges, if he has the evidence, against Lei and others named and shamed. He should recall how our common client,
Hubert Webb, was named and shamed, tried and convicted by publicity, early on, and spent more than 15 years in jail for something I then said
I’d carry to my grave he did not commit. He was thousands of miles away but the hooting throng carried the day.
Obsta principiis. Resist the first encroachments.
Oh, yes, kudos to Ted Locsin, who may share with Digong a liking for the dirty finger sign, but the communications guys can always
explain they only mean to say, “You are No. 1.” The spin I gave in 1986, if my memory is true.
http://www.manilatimes.net/healing-and-killing/287408/
canadadry says
An observation worth noting: The Duterte Government destruction of the lone voice against Du30’s extrajudicial killings
Months from now, when Du30 and gang no longer controls the Philippine governement and questions will be asked on who abetted and cooperated in making possible Du30’s policy of extrajudicial killings many will be named most prominently will be the Senators and congressmen aside from Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
An observation from the Inquirer editorial will be most sought dramatizing how the Congressmen of the House of representatives acted out their part in crucifying the lone voice in Philippine legislature against Du30’s policy of extrajudicial killings. For posterity here is the editorial dated September 23 2016:
3 moments in the House
The inquiry of the House of Representatives into the illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison earlier this week was many things, most of them unbecoming of any Congress. It might be best to start any review of the first two hearings with one of the few grace notes:Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali was, by and large, a fair and objective chair of the most anticipated hearing in the House. That is,
when he did not yield the floor to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
Perhaps three moments from the first two days of hearings will suffice to show that, despite some serious accusations raised, and in spite of the gravity of the situation, the House inquiry was an exercise in calculated intimidation and calibrated harassment.
Despite repeated assurances from officials of both the executive branch and Congress itself that there would be no attempt to single out any individual, the target of harassment and intimidation was clear: Sen. Leila de Lima.
President Duterte already set the tone during the election campaign, regularly directing his ire at De Lima in his campaign rallies. He raised the stakes when, after taking his oath of office as president, he suggested that De Lima was involved in the illegal drugs trade that supposedly flourished when she was justice secretary.
Taking their cue from the President, Aguirre and Solicitor General Jose Calida have publicly accused De Lima of just such a crime. In fact, even before the hearings started, Aguirre provided a preview of the testimonies that the witnesses he would present would give. The big picture, in sum, was that De Lima allegedly oversaw an illegal drugs empire inside the national penitentiary.
The first of the three moments was Aguirre virtually taking over the hearing, presenting the witnesses—including convicts serving their sentences in Bilibid—and himself asking the questions. While Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas was quick to explain that the rules allowed a resource person who is not a member of Congress to ask questions in place of the representatives, it was still an extraordinary spectacle: a justice secretary directing the line of questioning in an investigation in aid of legislation.
In those hours the House committee on justice yielded the floor to Aguirre, it struck many Filipinos watching the hearings that Congress had practically abdicated its responsibility; the Duterte administration, through the justice secretary, had taken over its role.
The second moment that serves to sum up the first two days of the House investigation was provided by the witness Rodolfo Magleo, who conducted himself bizarrely. He seemed overeager, and sometimes gave answers to questions he for some reason seemed to have anticipated. He gave the impression of an amateur actor too obviously following a script.
The third moment was an act of deliberate cruelty, performed on live television and with the ready help of some representatives in attendance. Aguirre managed during his presentation of witnesses to disclose the specific address of De Lima’s residence—and also her cell phone number. In fact, when the witness Herbert Colanggo, a convicted bank robber who claimed that he had donated money to De Lima, at first gave the wrong number, Aguirre corrected him. Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia then offered confirmation that it was the same number she had in her phone book, under De Lima’s name.
It was completely unnecessary for De Lima’s number to be broadcast to the entire country. It only reinforced the perception of some observers that the object of the hearing was not so much to resolve the trade in illegal drugs as to harass and intimidate the clear target: De Lima
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/97585/3-moments-in-the-house#ixzz4L1E15mcD
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
canadadry says
Washington Post reacts on Delima’s ouster and recent insult by Du30 on Delima
WorldViews Analysis By Emily Rauhala September 22 at 9:10 AM
Duterte mocks woman senator investigating Philippine killings as ‘screwing her driver’ and nation
The Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, has already lobbed insults in the direction of President Obama, Pope Francis and the European Union. Thursday’s target: a Philippine senator investigating the violent deaths of some 3,000 people possibly linked to Duterte’s calls for anti-crime purges.
The latest insult — a crass, sexually tinged quip about Sen. Leila de Lima — was cheered by some Duterte fans online. His backers have reveled in his jabs despite diplomatic fallout such as Obama calling off a planned meetings during a trans-Pacific summit earlier this month.
But a presidential spokesman on Thursday urged Duterte’s supporters to stop harassing both de Lima and journalists. Be “responsible” with
words, he said.
It seems the president missed the memo.
“She was not only screwing her driver, she was screwing the nation,” the president said in a jab at allegations over her personal life, according to a translation by the Inquirer, a Manila-based paper.
De Lima, a longtime Duterte critic, has investigated alleged death squads during his time as mayor of the southern city of Davao. This summer, she launched an investigation into the wave of extra-judicial killings linked to his call to “kill all” the country’s criminals.
In a Senate hearing last week, de Lima presented a witness who claimed to have served as a contract killer for Duterte. She was quickly demoted. In a subsequent hearing, she was accused of taking bribes from drug dealers and her address and phone number were broadcast live on national television. She says she now fears for her life.
Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, called her ouster “a craven attempt to derail accountability for the appalling death toll from President Duterte’s abusive ‘war on drugs.’”
In recent weeks, de Lima’s critics — and much of the press — have zoomed in on rumors about her personal life, alleging she was having an affair with her driver. On Thursday, at the inauguration of a power plant, Duterte said that de Lima’s critique of his rights record was a bid to build her career at his expense and was hurting the country.
Last month the president suggested she commit suicide. ”If I were de Lima, ladies and gentlemen, I’ll hang myself,’ he said.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/22/the-office-of-philippines-president-duterte-urges-responsible-comments-
he-still-lets-the-insults-fly/
beachbum says
“I am only a small town mayor”
Duterte
And therein lies the problem.
Duterte’s tirade against a female senator is vile on a number of levels, but regrettably also shows that misogyny and sexism thrives in the philippines, underlined by the fact that other female senators, and the media, give licence by their silence.
Misogyny is a hate crime.
Duterte is a role-model for barbarism.
It should not be tolerated.
The EU will only need to send a legal intern to demolish duterte’s simplistic approach to the law.
His inferiority complex is in overdrive.
And when it comes to macro-economics, a 5th grader would soon deflate his ass-et bubble, and downgrade his marginal propensity to bullshit.
Duterte must have learnt about failure at school, and now demonstrates an IQ equal to his age, and an ideology from a bygone era.
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery”
Winston Churchill
drill down says
promoted to his level of incompetence – peter’s principle.
to be fair, probably all those who have been elected president have been promoted to such level. therefore, implementing the rule of law fairly makes their job easier and better instead of trying to be heroic. there are great consequences, sometimes long-lasting, for making mistakes.
greenpea says
Senator De Lima is an honest public servant who simply did her job but which now turned out to be a fight for our freedom and democracy. The government’s war against Senator De Lima is also a war against the people. It is not her fight alone but our fight as well to save our country from despotism, plunder politics and thug rule. But why do we merely watch what unfolds like we are merely viewing a telenovela?
Parekoy says
PLOT
Conspiracies abound!
1. There was a plot to assassinate DU30 by hired guns of the Bilibid Druglords and Narco Generals as claimed by Gen. Bato Dela Rosa and DU30.
2. There is a plot by the LP to install Leni Robredo once DU30 is impeached or ousted, according to Cayetano. Before Leni Robredo’s proclamation, DU30 and his inner circle were pushing the claim that Robredo is Plan B of LP to takeover Malacanang in order for Bongbong to bolster his claim that he was cheated!
3. There is a plot to oust DU30 Movement in NYC by the FIL-AMS according to the claim of Andanar!
4. There is a plot to smear DU30 led by De Lima and supported by Trillanes in the Senate by bringing in Matobato, according to DU30 and cohorts.
5. There is a plot of US and EU to support a coup against DU30.
6. Etc.
There are plots indeed! But for sure the plots that are real are the plots at the cemetery for more than 3000 killed alleged pushers, users, and innocents!
Marcos Family is still coveting a plot inside the Libingan ng mga Bayani to erase their sins of infamy and thereby rewrite history that being buried in that plot will vindicate and absolve their family of their heinous crimes and massive plunder and misery they burden the generations of Fiipinos.
But for the sake of unity and moving forward, I would like to entertain the idea that Marcos be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani in one condition:
Only after DU30 meet his creator, then and only then these two will be buried together in a special plot with epitaphs of greetings from their victims, welcoming them in the next life for their final judgment and punishment!
One thing for sure, there are reserved plots for both Marcos and DU30 in hell!
Parekoy
09-22-2016
Kalahari says
There are too many yellowtards than dutertards in Raissa’s blog site – about 95 to 5 – but 91% approved of what PDU30 was doing in his war against illegal drugs, his battle cry against daang matuwid in the last elections that gave him 16M+ votes
jaq says
we support de lima sobra panggigipit sa kanya ng administrattion..
HighFive says
I think suppression of dissent yan. Di makakabuti sa well-being ng ating bansa.
beachbum says
A group of filipinos were on a cruise ship to america when the ships steward took over from the captain and steered the ship to china instead.
What do the passengers do –
a) throw the steward overboard
b) lower the life-rafts
c) are happy anywhere which has jollibee and karaoke
d) pray for divine intervention
e) cheer for their chinese dream
Or
Does the steward run the ship aground
GemsVann says
Timeline of Matobato in Witness Protection Program:
Sept 2014- admitted to WPP with DeLima as sec of DOJ
Nov 2014- DeLima interrogated Matobato briefly and decided to form a team to investigate his revelations
Jan 2915- NBI team formed to investigate Matobato claims about Davao Dearh Squad composed of many policemen in Davao city.
Sept 2014- NBI filed cases against Davao policemen for violation of anti torture acts while preparing to close their investigation for turnover to DOJ to finalize report on Matobato.
October 2015 – DeLima resigned from DOJ to run for senate.
Nov 2015 – DOJ received the files from NBI but say on it because of maneuvering by officials to juice appointments in next administration.
March 2016- du30 name started to come out as probable winner from impossible. DIJ officials put the Matobato files in the bottom while NBI sat on the complaints against Davao policemen.
May 2016- Du30 won and Matobato got out of WPP and started hiding. De Lima elected senator.
July – Sept 2016- killing spree by PNP and vigilantes started nationwide.
Aug 2016- DeLima as chairman of senate judiciary scheduled hearing on Extra Judicial Hearing and human rights violation of killed druggies
Sept 2016- Matobato came out of hiding and volunteered to testify to DeLima
Sept 13- 2016- Matobato released bombshell that Du30 was mastermind of DDS and ordered all Davao killings
Sept 16- 2016- Du30 senatorial allies accused DeLima of coaching Matobato while testifying and replaced her with Gordon.
Sept 22 2016- Gordon resumed senate hearing with Matobato who refused a lawyer to assist him. Gordon and Cayetano did not want to continue with hearing with the excuse that Matobato could not testify without a lawyer to coach him.
Sept 22 2016 – NBI deputy director Lavin testified that Davao policemen were charged in court out of the testimony of Matobato while on WPP but the preliminary report was on hold by DOJ after DeLima left office. Aguirre took over as DOJ sec and after 3 months he has not touched the dossier of Matobato until after his testimony last week. Instead of ordering a preliminary report to be released he crusaded to get witnesses from prison to testify and crucify DeLima in HOR investigation on drugs in prison
Cayetano also question the non release of DOJ preliminary report on Matobato why he was on WPP and refused to testify while on WPP.
How silly is Cayetano twisting the testimony of Matobato as unaccomplished instead of criticizing DOJ run by Aguirre now?
Matobato is uneducated finishing grade 1 level wishing to testify against Pres Duterte in Congress without a lawyer and blocked by Chairman Gordon and Cayetano while the 30 witnesses gathered by Sec Aguirre were mostly educated at college level and each one represented by their private lawyers while testifying against Sen DeLima in Congress.
Go figure who is inclined telling the truth!
He he he
Johnny Lin
GemsVann says
Corredion Sept 2015- NBI filed charges against Davao policemen
kalakala says
oct 2014 – failed ambush
buhay ang victim. atty. identified his assassin – matobato.
Mel says
Today’s Chair Sen D Gordon of the Senate Committee on Justice
Edgar Mabobato as witness.
REPLAY: Senate hearing on extrajudicial killings , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fynM6dlcufE
Mel says
Callous Sen Cayetano on display.
Too legalistic anglo showmanship pitying against an illiterate witness whose english affidavit arranged by the NBI … was different from the witness’ visayas dialect.
Very revealing.
Example of witness’ conversant language between TagVis dialects.
Libug in visayas is ‘nalito’
Libog in tagalog is you know what.
How much more for english if he can’t read & express himself in tagalog from a visayas background.
martial_law_baby says
I think thats where the problem of Matobato started. He was grilled by the biased Senators from an affidavit he did not write, and was written in a language he did not speak.It could have been easily debunked by Trillanes or De Lima if they asked Matobato if he could read the affidavit, or understand what was written on it. Example is his timeline on CHDF and CAFGU. Second, his reference to the act of chop-chop which Cayetano loosely translated as different from slashing of the throat. Third, Tito Sotto’s claim that Lambada wasnt even a hit yet when Matobato claimed he was part of a group with that name. But a quick check with google one would find out that Lambada is not just a hit song, but refers to a Brazilian dance of African origin. The biased Senators picked on these inconsistencies to conclude that his testimony was based on hearsay. But as what Fr. Ranhilio Aquino wrote, ” When a witness contradicts himself on a material point, the reason that his testimony counts for very little is because it is difficult to ascertain which, among his contradictory assertions, he affirms to be the truth. But it is really unreasonable to expect of a witness so lucid a recollection of events that the chronology is perfect at every turn. This is the reason that the Supreme Court has admonished courts to be circumspect about rejecting testimony because of inconsistencies. A coached witness, it is believed, tells an airtight story. A veridical account will be afflicted somehow by the vagaries of human recall.” Matobato is the latest casulaty of Duterte’s war on drugs, and the Senators are his accomplice. He is a walking dead man. They might as well hang a placard on him which states “Nagsabi ako ng Totoo, huwag nyo akong tularan.
Mel says
At video time stamp 3.29, Sen Trillianes’ interpolation hit the head of the head?
Lost in translation comparing the witness’ supposed english affidavit (with the NBI) translated and/or interpreted in Tagalog or from the visayas tongue.
In Sen Trillianes’ time, Edgar was in tears and moved emotionally narrating how his father was beheaded by the NPA, and how his DDS’ associates also tried to kill him when he tried to disassociate himself from them.
Mel says
my turn for typo
correction ‘… hit the head of the
headnail!kalakala says
palagay ko iyon ang dahilan kung naging membro sya ng lambada boys hanggang sa tumiwalag na sya. in short sinamantala ang kanyang masakit na kahapon instead na tulungan sya ng gobyerno para sa kanyang magandang kinabukasan.
Mel says
Tugma.
—-
Si Sen Tito Sotto and some peers are libug, libug (nalilito).
martial_law_baby says
JL, you might want to visit this link. It concurs with your last paragraph.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/opinion/columns/pens-es-by-fr-ranhilio-aquino/216294/what-counts-and-what-does-not.html
lydia says
This is a hopeful poem for Sen. De Lima. Can you pass this on to her? Thank you
Maya Angelou Poem for Mrs De Lima
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise
Ancient Mariner says
Absolutely wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it out aloud to my wife.
I’m sure Leila de Lima will enjoy it much.
Waray waray says
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poetry.
kalakala says
wow!
wbar says
https://www.facebook.com/100007638798233/videos/1727707500827193/..bakit baliktad ngayun? si D5 pa ngayun ang sinasabing protector nina Colangot?
Ancient Mariner says
THE CONTENT YOU REQUESTED CANNOT BE DISPLAYED RIGHT NOW.
This is the message I get when I try to follow your link. Perhaps the subject matter has been blocked by facebook or removed by the poster?
sup says
Make sure you are signed in in facebook first…
Ancient Mariner says
I get the message at the same time as, or just after facebook opens.
sup says
I could watch it after signing in at facebook…..
sup says
I just watched it again 2 minutes ago..still there Ancient Mariner….
Kamote Procopio says
👏👍👏👍Bravo!