Stay Awake With Nicanor Perlas

Dear Friend,

Are you staying awake? I hope you haven’t rushed to judgment on Nick Perlas for not conceding the elections because he thinks he should have won the elections, have you?! If so, you haven’t truly understood the man nor his campaign.

We ought to know better. This is an intelligent man with a HUGE and stellar track record in awakening societies, coalitions and governments (see UN, APEC, BNPP, organic farming, micro-funding, etc. track records) towards greater consciousness, responsibility and service. Think about it. (Go to www.nicanorperlas.com for his press statement.)

We ran this campaign on new politics. And, unlike others who only used the phrase to win an election, we are standing by this platform by living it now. We know Perlas did not win the elections and, seeing the way the country has voted (i.e., weak track record for #1 spot; horrible track record for #2 spot) we’re clear it is not ready for anything but a status quo, keeping it safe and mediocre-at-best government.

Actually, we’re doing this because we are not giving up hope on the Filipino’s true essence -- the true self that heroes and revolutionaries gave their lives for to free. We think the Filipino is far better than one who breathes a sigh of relief and moves on because “at least there was less violence”, “at least there were no riots”, “at least it’s not Erap or Villar”. When did Filipinos have such low standards of itself and when are we going to realize we are and deserve far better than this low-grade-fever kind of self-esteem that is running us such that we’re actually ready to do a major sweep-it-under-the-rug to defend the success of this last election?

We have till June 30, 2010 to at least get to a place of feeling good and confident that the leaders this country has chosen (whether we like/agree with the choice or not) were chosen by a true and free majority. Let’s practice our right as citizens to keep the COMELEC - given the immense power they have to shape the future of this country – truly honest and simply “doing their jobs”.

Thank you for reading on and staying awake with me!

All the Best,
Tressa

PS- Meanwhile, reports of voters who either could not vote or were given sleight of hand tricks switching ready-filled ballots, or being sent to a seminar before voting (on day itself), and countless other anomalies, not to say the rampant breakdown of machines are coming in. (Oh, sorry, would you just really rather not know and go on with your lives?) If you did experience or observe anomalies in your polls, please report it to www.bantaygarci2010.com, a joint investigative body formed by the campaign organizations of Jamby Madrigal, J.C. de los Reyes & Nicanor Perlas.)

Post-Election Analysis: HALAL to COMELEC

This is an important press statement of one Mr. Roberto Verzola from Halalang Marangal who has been closely studying automated elections for over 4 years and has been advising Comelec as an independent outsider. Halalang Marangal has a former Comelec Commissioner as a member of its Board. From a professor at UP Los Banos: “I know Obet Verzola because he is a member of our Pabinhi group. Super intelligent and credible guy, and a strong vanguard of people's rights during the elections. His involvement with Comelec goes way back, and he has always put out thorough, deep and highly credible reports.”

From: Roberto Verzola <rverzola@gn.apc.org> 
Date: May 12, 2010 9:46:20 PM GMT+08:00 
To: Philippine Greens <philippinegreens@yahoogroups.com> 
Cc: No to BNPP <NOtoBNPP@googlegroups.com>, AER_buzz@yahoogroups.com, stopthewar.philippines@lists.riseup.net, "Korakora.org List" <kuro@korakora.org>
Subject: [NOtoBNPP] Post-election analysis by HALAL, please circulate 
Reply-To: notobnpp@googlegroups.com

HALALANG MARANGAL PRESS STATEMENT (May 12, 2010)

HALAL to Comelec: Too soon to proclaim. Too many questions.

Early reports of discrepancies between machine and audit counts
in Manila highlight the need for prudence, especially since
machine-count winner Alfredo Lim was prematurely proclaimed May
11, 3 p.m., barely 15 hours after election day and without
waiting for the audit results.

People want a successful election so badly, that it is easy to
get carried away by flood of incoming election returns. Many
want to believe that a clean and speedy election has finally
happened, at last. But let not the public euphoria at the speed
of counting erase the persistent concerns about the process.

The vice-presidential election is yet to be settled. The contest
between the 12th and 13th places in the senatorial race still
has to be settled too. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of local
races also await to be settled.

Already news is coming in about delayed Election Returns (ERs),
malfunctioning, missing or otherwise questionable memory cards,
and other indicators of potential or emerging problems.

This is not to say we advocate a full return to the old manual
system, but only a prudent scrutiny of the automated process in
the light of its earlier miscounts, apart from the automated
results. In 2004, many who wanted “anyone but FPJ” embraced the
results, relieved that the elections fulfilled their
expectations, and chose to ignore the niggling questions that
eventually exploded in our collective faces as the “Hello Garci”
scandal. Let us not repeat the same mistake; let the niggling
questions be answered satisfactorily, before we finally accept
the final results.

As in the manual system, the precinct level count is always the
fastest. Even when election inspectors, watchers and the public
counted votes by hand, most of the election results had always
been available past midnight or early morning. Even under the
manual method, the biggest challenge has always been at the
municipal level and higher, where wholesale cheating operations
occurred.

In fact, the automated election system failed spectacularly its
first truly public test a week before election day, when many
candidates got zero – a “bawas” -- and some got more than the
votes actually cast for them – a “dagdag”. The results were
worse than most manual counts. An embarrassed Comelec quickly
called off the public test, and traced the problem to misaligned
ovals on the ballot. Because of a last-minute change from
single-spacing to double-spacing in the ballot layout for local
candidates, their oval locations did not anymore match the
coordinates stored in a configuration file in a memory card
within the PCOS machine.

Reconfiguring the memory cards was somewhat easier than
reprinting ballots, so that is what the Comelec and Smartmatic
tried to do.

Smartmatic only had 18,000 spare memory cards, so in addition to
the spares, Smartmatic recalled the cards that could still be
recalled; imported the rest from Hongkong and Taiwan; edited
each of the 1,631 ballot layout configuration files (unique for
every town); programmed these configuration files into 76,340
memory cards (one for each machine); delivered the 76,340 newly
reconfigured memory cards to the waiting machines all over the
archipelago; found the right machines for the right memory
cards; replaced the misconfigured memory card; and conducted a
second round of public testing and sealing of the PCOS machines.
All within a span of five days – 120 hours. Aside from some 400
machines that malfunctioned, the rest of the 76,340 machines
worked fine and gave the country its first successful automated
elections. So they say.

Can we now trust the machine results?

These machines had grievously failed to count a few days
earlier. This was followed by a mad rush of recalls,
importations, file reconfigurations, card reprogramming,
deliveries, reinstallations, and a second round of testing and
sealing. In the rush, were security procedures and chain of
custody guidelines still observed? Did anyone see an election
inspector with an ultraviolet lamp to check for authentic
ballots, for instance? (We have not found anyone who did.) What
about more subtle potential problems that a ten-ballot test set
was insufficient to detect – ovals that were misaligned by only
one or two millimeters, for example, or oval coordinates that
were purposely changed slightly to shave votes from targetted
candidates. Were tests done at all for these potential problems?

Suppose an ATM had earlier given you only half the money than it
deducted from your account, and the bank tells you the machine
is now ok. Wouldn't you count the money yourself at least once
in subsequent withdrawals? Suppose most ATMs of a bank network
shortchanged its clients, wouldn't you demand every ATM of that
network to be carefully tested and recertified for its counting
accuracy?

For exactly the same reason, every candidate who lost – and
won – in the machine-counted 2010 elections should demand
thorough post-election testing and audit for accuracy of every
counting machine and its results.

Losing candidates should demand it, because they might have
actually won.

Winning candidates – especially those who lead by a huge
margin – should demand it, because the gross machine errors a
few days earlier and subsequent doubts about machine accuracy
have devalued their victory.

Apparent president-elect Noynoy Aquino should demand it, if only
for the sake of his running-mate. We welcome his reported
intention to revisit “all issues his camp raised during the
campaign against the automation,” especially since one of the
more than 400 counting machines that failed conked out on him.
The results from the random manual audit must be awaited, and
the issues that may arise from it resolved. Questions that were
unsatisfactorily addressed before election day and especially
about the CF memory card fiasco must be answered.

There was no time for proper testing in the mad rush to the May
10 elections because few wanted the elections postponed. But we
have fifty days before June 30, when the new set of elected
officials are scheduled to take over. Remember, haste makes
waste. We still have enough time check, double-check, and be
sure about the results of the 2010 elections.

In the meantime, the Comelec and local election authorities
should not be in a hurry to proclaim winners and to declare the
elections a success. ###

Did Your Vote Count?

Dear Volunteers and Supporters,

As part of our ongoing research in determining whether the electoral process is fair, clean, and accurate, we are going to cross check votes actually casted for Nicanor Perlas versus votes that were transmitted by the PCOS machine and tallied and counted by Comelec. We need your assistance in this task.

To those who are willing to contribute, may we know the following information:

1.  Your precinct number and area (barangay/municipality/city/province);
2.  If you voted for Nicanor Perlas;
3. The number of other people you are DEFINITE who voted for Nick in your precinct/clustered precinct (family, friends, neighbors).

We need this information the soonest.

Please e-mail us at info@nicanorperlas.com, or text us at 09088737527, 09166445806 or call at 02 4669520.

You may also verify if your vote was actually counted by checking www.electionresults.ibanangayon.ph.

Thank you for your continued support.


Tammy B. Dinopol

Is The Majority Always Right?

NOTE: We usually send you to read a really good post right on their blogsite -- and you should go there anyway because Light and Shade (and everything in between) is such a source of sensible and profound wisdom. But, we so resonated with this one blog post, we want to feature it here, too! Thank you, Mary Anne! (We're following you!)

Our voting history somehow does not give much hope. We say, “We need change.” Unfortunately, it seems that such a statement for hunger for change is just a lip-service. We are not serious about wanting change. We just like how the words sound. As if by saying those words, we are truly becoming nationalists. Are we, really? I don’t think so.

Because come May 10, 2010, we are still voting for the old politics. The old bananas. Noynoy Aquino. Manny Villar. Gibo Teodoro. Dick Gordon. Loren Legarda. Mar Roxas. Bong Revilla. Lito Lapid. Juan Ponce Enrile. Ralph Recto. And the list is endless. I give my thanks and respects to the old guards like Sen. Enrile but…

What is the most tragic part here? We are voting for a president based on popularity and emotions. Not by platform or a genuine promise for a new day. (I certainly do not favor a Villar presidency. Let me reiterate my stand once again: I am voting for Nicanor Perlas.)

And so today, I woke up with sadness. Because I realized that Noynoy Aquino may just win the presidential race. The latest INC endorsement for the presidential bid of Noynoy Aquino may have just clinched the tide in his favor.

I fear another Aquino presidency.

Why do I fear his brand of politics?

I fear his brand of politics because it looks like it is based on opportunism. With all due respect to him and his Mother (I am still a Cory fan), I really think that deep in our hearts, we know that Noynoy will not even consider running for President if his Mother were alive. And that if Tita Cory is still alive now, and her son still decided to run, I am fairly sure that she will not give his blessings to him. Why do I believe so? Because Tita Cory is a woman of intelligence and discernment. She knows the capacity of her son and being a president is certainly not one of his strong competencies.

Sadly, however we look at it, the death of Tita Cory gave him the idea and motivation to run. Not even the dreams of Mar Roxas stopped him from wanting the top post. Never mind the ultimate dreams of Mar. The swelling of yellow colors right during Tita Cory’s funeral march told him, “run, run, run!” These yellow-bearing people need another hero and you are the hero, Noy! Are you, really?
In the deepest of your heart, do you really think you are the hero that we are hungry for? In the deepest of your heart, do you honestly believe your Mom wants you to run?  Mga kababayan ko, is he really “the One”? Why are you voting for him?

Popularity? The emotional pull of Tita Cory’s death? His ‘clean’ image? Are these reasons enough? Aren’t we looking at the wrong reasons? We certainly need honesty and integrity. Oh, we are all crying for that! Making it No. 1 criteria for choosing the next president. But is Noynoy the only one who has that? Look at the other candidates: Nicanor Perlas, Eddie Villanueva, and JC de los Reyes; they seem to me people of integrity and better yet, had not been tainted with the colors of old politics. They are new and fresh faces. Why couldn’t we try them?

Oh yes, we go back to popularity. See now? We always end up to voting for those who are popular. And then later we blame the government for the poverty around us. Haven’t we learned enough? We certainly deserve the government we voted for. We voted for popular names and so we live with it. This is not even about Noynoy per se. It is about us, Filipinos. The way we squander our voting power.
Under a Noynoy presidency, you give up the right to complain if you voted for him. If our poverty level remains the same during a Noynoy presidency, I will blame you for it. Because you, the majority, those who belong in the yellow army, took away my voice.

Noynoy reminds me of an old salesman who never really sold anything in his long career as a salesman but will suddenly earn the CEO post in his company because the owner (who is loved by millions) suddenly died.

So the millions who are enamored with the dead owner cannot let go of his memories and suddenly, just like magic, turn their hearts and souls to the son whom they think will save the company from downfall. Because he is the son of the old hero.

Sadly, the voice of the minority who knows a much better and competent manager (but who is not a relative of the dead owner) will just slowly fade away in the deafening and almost-hypnotic screams of the millions who believe that the son is indeed the savior.

Is Noynoy really clean? No one can judge. But what is ‘cleanliness’ really? Is it enough that he did not steal? That he was never associated with any scandalous transactions in government? I don’t think so. Cleanliness and integrity, when it comes to the top post in the political ladder, should always be associated with making one’s powerful position very useful. I said it once before: positions of power are privileges. You are not voted into power and then just sit there, listen, vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or ‘abstain’, go home, and sleep contentedly at night. The votes were given to you because you are entrusted with the task of making a BIG difference. Voting for laws is NOT making a difference. Not stealing from the public coffers is certainly NOT making a big difference. Being honest is certainly not something that should earn our politicos the accolades. We thank Noynoy and vote for him because he is clean and honest? Napaka-baba naman yata ng standards natin for a President! 

Let us not forget that Noynoy had three terms in Congress and one in Senate and yet we all know he did not really deliver exemplary performance. He is talking so much about corruption in his TV ads but what did he really do while he was within the system? Suddenly, now, he is talking about corruption? Naman…

Please think about your vote for another Aquino. Noynoy is of the same mold as old politics. He is not the ‘newness’ that we say (?) we need now, more than ever. He comes from an old lineage of politicos who own vast tracts of land and who up to now, refuse to relinquish ownership that would have otherwise improved the lives of thousands of farmers and workers. This is not even about the rich and the poor. I also believe that all classes should have equal rights. I never liked the campaign lines that say, “Para sa Mahirap” because it is already divisive. It is like saying one’s poverty already earns him certain privileges. I do try to avoid that kind of thinking. But yes, it is important for a presidentiable to know what to do when he is in the seat of power. Noynoy had the chance to work for meaningful changes while in Congress and Senate. At least he could have tried to do something for the farmers of Hacienda Luisita.

You may say, “But he has promised to distribute the Hacienda Luisita to the farmers in five years!” Really? But why is he saying that only now?

Because he needs your votes and sadly, you will give it to him.

LAKARAN! PASYON, REBOLUSYON, RESUREKSYON

Join us on Friday, April 30, 2010 to walk the way of Our Collective Pasyon.

11:30am-2:00pm

Media Spreading the New Story of a New & Different Campaign

Media Conference at Handuraw, Lahug (11:30am-1pm) 

Drop-in Interviews with DYLA, DYRF (1:00pm-2:30pm)

3:00pm-7:00pm 

Lakaran! Seis Palabras Para Sa Bag-ong Pilipinas 

          

Starting with Mass at Basilica del Santo Niño (3:00pm)

Stopping at Six Public Sites for Each of Six Pillars toward the New Philippines 

7:00-7:30pm

Prayer Walk from Guadalupe Church to Langub, the Guadalupe Pilgrimage Site

8:00pm-10pm

Resurrection of the New Philippines: Ika-Siete Nga Palabra 

          

Reflections and Conversation with Nicanor Perlas on What It Will Take to Rebirth a Country

Earth Day & Greenest Presidential Candidate Nicanor Perlas, An Easy Fit!

Independent presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas was named the “Greenest Candidate” by the GEI survey conducted by the independent organizations Greenpeace and EcoWaste Coalition in time for Earth Day 2010 on April 22. 

Supporters and volunteers of Perlas congregated at the Earth Day Festival of the new shopping center, Persimmon, in Mabolo to celebrate Mother Earth and they rocked the night away with musicians and artistes like TaPati, Jim Perez, Cattski Espina and Zarah Smith.

The Earth Day theme was carried in the songs the artistes chose for the jamming session. “Organik Magsasaka” (working title) by Rom Dongeto is about going organic and how pesticides and chemical fertilizers poison our land, first, and then, us. “Agila” by Joey Ayala was sung by TaPati & Jim, likening people to eagles, and the state of our endangered forests will also endanger the Agilas. Cattski’s “Hero” sang to the hero in all of us, waiting to be awakened and to take responsibility for the world we want to create.The songs all reminded the visitors and viewers at the shopping center to Think Earth, It is our home, afterall!

There were fun activities for children, organic food stalls, books on organic farming, associative economy and sustainable development, recycled chairs, tables and loveseats by quintessential artist Budoy at the festival.

A buyer of organic peanuts, and the healthiest organic bokchoy and arugula from the San Gimignano Wellness Farm vegetable stand expressed the sentiments of the earth day celebrators when she commented, “If you truly love Mother Earth, you must choose for the leader who loves Mother Earth! Perlas ta bay!”

Nicanor Perlas Campaign Caravan Comes to Cebu

Nick Was Here! On April 7 he reached out and touched the hearts of many Cebuanos from Carcar to San Fernando to Mandaue to all the hot spots in Cebu City.

The beauty of it is? That the people he and we met along the way reached out and touched us right back with their excitement and sheer delight to have him among them. They were incredulous at seeing him walk among them, stopping to chat and listen, pose for photos with them, share their "butong" and "pan" with them. Through them, they could see with their hearts and what they saw in Nick was authentic and new and hopeful.

Watch this video to see portions of this magical, sun-drenched, heartwarming, spirit-lifting day! and listen to the campaign jingle that our own Cebuano artists and youth brought together from their own hearts. For only from our hearts, will the Truth be freed -- and set us free!



Spread this good news around. You can also find this on our Perlas Cebu YouTube. <<-- Click this to go to YouTube and spread the word about the true love between Nick and the Filipino people!

Butterflies and Easter

Written by Fr. Tito Soquino of the Sto. Nino de Cebu Basilica

Butterflies are among the amazing creatures on earth! The physical metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly is indeed a wonder. This amazing transformation begins inside the cocoon or the chrysalis. What happens inside the cocoon? The caterpillar starts to produce liquid called “imaginal cells” which are the seeds of the future butterfly. What is interesting is that the caterpillar cells are so different from the new imaginal cells. The immune system of the caterpillar thinks these cells are enemies and starts to gobble them up. But these new imaginal cells continue to reproduce until the caterpillar immune system bogs down due to the continued reproduction of imaginal cells.

What happens inside the cocoon is actually a war of attrition. A war between the old dispensation and the new dispensation. The caterpillar used to being a caterpillar is threatened by these new invaders. Threatened, it starts to kill the initial wave of invaders. But you cannot put a good man down. Imaginal cells continue to appear. This war of attrition continues until the caterpillar is inundated by these new cells, surrenders and joins the new order!

You cannot put new wine into old wine skins. This is what Jesus said. The new order must come from a totally new creature, not from the old. Just like the caterpillar, we refuse to leave our comfort zones and acknowledge that there is indeed something new beyond the horizon. ...

Jesus was the greatest imaginal cell! He came to us bringing a new way of living, never before thought of, a new life, a new hope. But just like the caterpillar, people resisted his advances. We are just too comfortable with our life, being a worm. But Jesus tells us that we are not worms, we are butterflies! We have to get out of our caterpillar mentality in order to have a butterfly mentality!

The violence that happens inside the cocoon is similar to the struggle that we experience within ourselves, the fight between the old and the new, between good and evil. In the end, the good will prevail. The first waves of imaginal cells, the prophets were killed because people refuse their message of change. And finally, the greatest of them all, the greatest Imaginal Cell, Jesus Himself, suffered, crucified and died. He entered his “cocoon”, and in three days he arose again, and becomes “The Butterfly”.

The butterfly has been as a symbol of the resurrection since ancient times. Today we seldom see butterflies, for the environment where butterflies thrive has disappeared. Butterflies live in clean environment. If we are to become butterflies, we have to change our caterpillar mentality. We have to create an environment where butterflies can thrive. By the way, the only role of butterflies is to lay eggs for the next generation. It does not even eat; it totally gives itself until it fades away.

Jesus gives himself totally for us to give us life. He is the New Life. He is the New Creation. He is the New Hope.

Happy Easter to all!

Written April 3, 2010

Cebu Artists Take A Stand on the Stage with Perlas for a New Civil Society & Philippines

The artists came, eager to bring their voice and art to jam for a New Philippines and to connect with the man they believed would partner with them in paving the way for ART to have its rightful place in the development of our society. Singers, songwriters, event organizers, interior designers, painters, poets, writers

I hosted & emceed the evening with Tapati Tarongoy, lead singer of Joey Ayala’s Ang Bagong Lumad. We opened with reflections of the day, caravaning to far off towns of Cebu province and walking deep into the inner streets of Cebu City. We earnestly spoke of our belief in Nick’s stance -- that we are all artists, our own life being the medium for our art, to create the inner and outer landscape of our world.

The following artists then gave heartfelt performances, each expressing their commitment to a brighter future for all:
* G.K. Band playing rastaninja music in the call for peace, freedom and love, and in tribute of another peacemaker for civil society, Bob Marley.
* Cattski “The Cat” Espina, independent recording artist, singer of infusion of pop, folk & modern rock music.
* Poet Kabino performed “Gugmang Napusay” by Engr. Inday Zener with such panache evoking the audience in dramatic and humorous fashion to check our assumptions before closing our minds around what we think we already know.
* Budoy Mirabiles – Budoy! Budoy! the people on every street corner chant their recognition and delight as he passes out Perlas leaflets -- of Cebu-based Junior Kilat Band and reggae musician, songwriter and TV host. Budoy, after singing his signature song Ako si M-16, proudly and excitedly introduces Nick Perlas as his next president of the Philippines in 2010.

Nick comes on stage with an illuminating and inspiring talk on the place of ART in the new civil society as part of reclaiming our true soul as a Filipino people. He exuded passion and dedication to endorsing and supporting this belief in every way he can.

His rousing call to stand up as artists of our lives and world was received and warmly embraced by the audience. In a silent reflection led by Barba T. Godinez, leader of Access Road, a group of visual artists, Nick and then many of the audience walked up to the board to write “My Wish for a Brighter Philippines”. Nick’s Wish: “A new Philippines powered by artistic, creative, conscious and knowledgeable Filipinos” followed by audience wishes for “Musikultura!”, “A Wowow-wee-free Culture Philippines”, “Peace not War”, “Creative & artistic education” and other beautiful wishes. Followed by the silent lighting of candles in a dimly-lit Handuraw, as Fr. Tito Soquino led a group through prayer evoking the power of one little candle lit inside each one of us and together, to make into reality the hope and vision for a new Philippines.

At the count of three, audience held their wishes in their hearts and blew out their candle while the drums exploded into the powerful and upbeat Cebu-composed Perlas Campaign Jingle, “Perlas Kitang Tanan” (to mean, we are all pearls and we are all for Perlas).

As Tapati led the Perlas jingle with her powerful voice, the audience jumped up to dance and chant “Perlas Ako! Perlas Ng Silanganan! Perlas Kamo! Perlas Kitang Tanan!” and cry out for the new Philippines -- “Bag-ong kinabuhi! Bag-ong pagsalig” (New way of living, New way of believing”) and “Buhi-on ang Bag-ong Pilipinas” (Free and make alive the New Philippines).

Evening proceeded with a wide spectrum of musical genre in the talented bands of Cebu gifting their music and hearts to Nick and the campaign for Nicanor Perlas for President. PG-18 belted hiphop rock; Islandrudebwoy and selassiesons dj playing world music; Acid Burn playing alternative rock and Blacksmoke playing classic rock.

The place was rocking to Nick Perlas as he exited close to midnight, exhausted but warmed and buoyed by Cebu’s most talented and artistic endorsement!

Nicanor Perlas' Cebuano Campaign Jingle

We are SO excited to be able to play Nicanor Perlas' new Cebuano Campaign Jingle, "Perlas Kitang Tanang'.

You can play it by clicking on the audio player below:

Perlas Kitang Tanan

Perlas ako
Perlas ng Silanganan
Perlas kamo
Perlas kitang tanan

Bag-ong kinabuhi
Bag-ong pagsalig

Bag-ong paglaum
Bag-ong pag-tuo

Dali na Sugbu!
Dali na Sugbu!

Dali na Sugbu!
Dali na Sugbu!

Dali na
Dali na
Dali naaaaaaa

Kitang tanan kay Perlas
Buhi-on ang Bag-ong Pilipinas!

Kitang tanan kay Perlas
Presidente sa Bag-ong Pilipinas!


Copyright 2010 Perlas Cebu

Since we know you will want to share this with your friends, we have two download links for you.

The first is a shortened version of this you can use as the ringtone on your phone.  Please click on the link below, then save the download so you can load it into your phone from your computer.

Perlas Kitang Tanan Ringtone (Short Version)

(The exact link for this ringtone is:  http://tinyurl.com/ya2pfw2.)

And if you have friends with internet capability on their phone via WiFi or directly, you can copy the link, text it to your friends, and THEY can download it directly into their phone from the link.  Just tell them that after they have downloaded it to save it as their Ringtone.  Only problem here is that EVERYBODY is soon going to be using this as their ringtone, so how do you know whose phone is ringing? :)

The second is the full version of this jingle, suitable for loading into your computer or once again directly into phones using the exact link.

Perlas Kitang Tanan Ringtone (Full version)

(The exact link for this ringtone is:  http://tinyurl.com/ybqukhe.)

PLEASE -- pass this on to your friends!

Cebu as a Stage for New Politics

I heard Nick's talk during the launching of his candidacy in Cebu last Feb 13... and I understood why Cebu is strategic in the game of politics, and why he chose Cebu as the launching site of his candidacy. Roughly, here are the points that he mentioned, with my addition:

1. Cebu or the Visayas is in the heart of the Philippines. This connects to the principle ...that the heart of the revolution is the revolution of the heart. Indeed this strong heart sense manifests in the region's strength in arts and music.

2. It was in Cebu that Christianity was first implanted (remember the first baptism... of Rajah Humabon and his wife; ... the Magellan's cross?). The essence of Christianity remained, despite the flaws... and we are considered to have the biggest heart and spreading this love principle all over the world.

3. It was also in Cebu that the "first resistance" to invaders was staged (Lapulapu vs Magellan)... Now another invader is to be conquered. That which remained from the past is now deeply internalized, thus for societal change we need start from within.

4. In Cebu the people's consciousness of the "rural reality" is still very strong and integrated. This is not so in the bigger cities. Cebuanos still strongly feel the reality of the farmers, fisherfolks, urban poor and other sectors of society.

I am sure there are other reasons. May I invite you to add to the list? Also feel free to modify the expression to make it inspirng? I'd like to add too that the phenomenon of the Sto Nino is a great unifying factor. Then there is the fact that Cebuano politics runs very differently from those in other influential cities. And the synergy of the volunteers in the province is just incredible.

Cebu, continue to be the shining star for New Politics. You will do a quantum leap very soon. 

Posted by Pam Fernandez

Women, It's Our Turn!

I am a woman. And while I do not spend my days consistently thinking consciously that I am one, I am. And there are times, though, that a statement made by someone, perhaps in jest, or an incident happens or simply noticing a beautiful new bloom on my mother's hibiscus plant brings home that beautiful fact of my life....I am a woman.

This morning my friend Becky sent me Cosmopolitan Philippines' online issue which had a four-page exclusive interview with Nick Perlas. As I read their exchange, and perhaps only other women would understand this, I could actually see & feel the women asking Nick the questions and listening deeply for his responses. As each question and thoughtful response was laid out, I had one of those moments when the fact of me being a woman was brought home to me. I am a woman. With interests, curiosities, cares and concerns very near and dear -- and present! -- to a woman.

It made me realize how important it is that we women truly go in search of the candidate who not only knows and respects women, but also, as a man sharing this life and world with women, truly gets the difference of being women. The type of difference that does & will make a difference in our world.

Nick gets it. Read the interview to know in what ways he does, and then, go share it with your girrrrlfriends!

Women, like Nick, YOU can take a stand for women & make the difference in our world. Begin with your choice for prez in 2010.

Thanks, Cosmo! http://tinyurl.com/ydl5lfr

A Hopeful & Comprehensive Education Agenda by Nick Perlas

Nick Perlas through the Partido ng Marangal na Sambayanan (Pangmasa) presented a four-point action plan to carry out his education agenda.

* Identify the top 100 secondary educational institutions of the country, provide support for their innovative practices, document and disseminate their creative educational practices, and enter into partnerships with them as hubs of educational excellence.

* Do an in-depth study, involving all stakeholders, as basis for the gradual transfer educational services to the cultural non-profit sector of society especially in partnership with the community.

* Create the policy environment for strengthening the role of private education in all levels of the school system.

* Increase the usage of educational vouchers to widen the choices of parents. Increase focus beyond just quantity of education services to quality of education services including more holistic educational approaches that develop multi-talented, creative, critical-thinking, socially-oriented students and citizens

“By a holistic approach to these problems in education we will be able to provide affordable education as a right of every citizen that goes beyond our generation into the next,” the party said.

Representing Nicanor Perlas

"What am I doing here?!?"

Here was at the Coliseum of the St. La Salle University of Bacolod filled with over a thousand college graduating students, faculty and administrators of the university and about a hundred more guests. It was packed, warm and the students had already been sitting there for an hour or more going through the final requirements and drills of graduating.

And now they were about to sit through another hour and a half on the upcoming May 2010 Elections, starting with an orientation on the use of the new electronic voting machines and following it up with a forum wherein a representative of each presidential candidate was to speak about their candidate and their candidate's platform for 10 minutes (or the mic would apparently be turned off) and then finally there would be a Q&A session between the audience and the reps.

That's what I was doing here. I was here to represent my candidate for president of the Philippines, Mr. Nicanor Jesus Pineda Perlas III. Given that I myself had only met Nick and started to read about his work a mere 4 1/2 months before getting on that stage; and given that I'd only gotten the part a day before the forum because the person who was to do it couldn't make it; and given that the others who shared the enormous stage with me were campaign managers or the wife of their candidate or had been on the campaign trail with them for many years, one would expect - as I did - that I'd be shaking like a leaf. But, I wasn't. Instead, as I said to Nick himself in a text after the forum, I was calm, centered...and on fire.

Well, yes, I had spent the whole night up reading both Nick's and others' writings, news clippings, and blogs; and watching a few (quite powerful) interviews of Nick. And, yes, I had spent the 7-hour bus-ferry-bus ride slicing through 10 pages of material to have it be as close to the strict 10-minute rule. And, yes, when I practised reading my talk over lunch to my two fast friends Eleanor and Mario, I was still over by about 20 minutes. And, yes, when I looked out over the vast sea of faces, I could easily see the huge splashes of yellow in front, and red and dark green to the sides, each one out in force for their candidate. And, yes, while seated among the reps, I got to listen to stories about the parties they'd been to and why the other wasn't there, giving me the distinct sense that they have been moving in the same circles over many years.

So, given all of that, why did I just not want to sink right through the floor, suffer from amnesia and never be seen again? I'll tell you why:

1. I had something to say and that something was the truth. When that happens, don't you just want to jump out and shout it out to the world? Nick, his platform and his track record are so clear, so genuine, so uniquely and refreshingly grounded in truth and integrity, that speaking of him is not only the easiest, but the most joyful thing to do.

2. Nick, the man, his genius, his heart and his platform are a huge gift to society. And so, speaking of these to the audience felt like I was handing over to them the best gift of their lives -- a real and viable and stellar option for the next president of the Philippines of their own choosing! This is why my opener was "Do you know how lucky you are?!?" As the Manila Bulletin article, The Race of His Lifetime, of March 23, 2010 said: "If slowly but surely wins the race, then Nicanor 'Nick' Jesus Pineda Perlas III may just end up being the leader that the country never even knew it had." I just felt thrilled and honored to be able to hand this gift to them.

3. Friends like Eleanor and Mario (how precious to see their glowing faces clearly in the crowd) who believe in you and remind you at each step that, no matter what, speak from your heart. And so, through each extremely complex and unrehearsed question tossed, though I had no idea in my head what I was to say even as it was my turn to grab the mic and head out to the audience, what came out of my mouth was honest, truthful and came from my heart which is, like yours, connected to our collective heart that is the source of the greater wisdom. The reminder is critical -- that we only have to empty ourselves of ego and of a full, overly active, smart mind, to let the deeper wisdom through. (Hey, don't get me wrong, studying the audience and their hot topics/issues beforehand would have helped tremendously! So, study, too!)

4. When you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are exactly where you need to be, when it feels like the universe has colluded to get you there, and when you get that you've been preparing for moments like these (even or especially when your mind is still trying to make sense of it...and is failing miserably), then - and only then - do you enter a zone. To me, a zone is when you are simultaneously aware and connected to everything while also in laser-like quality aware of yourself (without ego) as a unique channel of the greater wisdom that is wanting to be revealed. Make sense to you? It shouldn't perhaps at the level of mind, but it's real nevertheless. Nick has been tapping and spreading that wisdom in his words and deeds all his life. Now, is calling upon each of us to do the same.

At the end of the Q&A, here were the words I remember hearing that attest to what I say above had a positive impact on those around us:
1. The rep beside me, whose candidate shall remain nameless, said he had been reading Nick's writings and has followed his campaign closely and is so impressed. And that I was very "cool" and "the coolest speaker of the 10-min speech" (which I decided to do semi-extemporaneously)

2. Mayor Kate Gordon who was there to represent hubby and the Vice Chancellor of La Salle each came up to me and together said how much they have always admired Nick, his works, the person he is and his convictions and they are so glad he is fighting the fight. And how impressed they always are with what comes out of his campaign.

3. One man appeared from the crowd eager to volunteer to campaign for Nick in Bacolod and has been true to his word since.

A final interesting note. Someone who wasn't there asked me if the audience clapped louder for me than for the other reps. I'm not sure. Maybe not. I wasn't connecting in with the audience in that manner. Perhaps, just like surveys, clapping and cheering is all fanfare and fun and games. What matters the most is how much in each moment we get to touch our hearts and speak from there in a way that touches and speaks to their hearts, too. Hand over Heart, and Heart-to-Heart.

Thank you Nick and dear friends for your support throughout that time and for the opportunity to speak from the heart of our campaign! Such an honor to be in this journey with you.

Waking Up Civil Society Through the Arts

The first encounter between the Cebu Volunteers Perlas for President and some of the most respected Cebu artists on Wednesday (March 5, 2010) was a mind-stirring and heart-warming (heart-tugging) revelation about the life of artists in this part of the country.

Artists expressed feelings of repression. Not that they are prevented by anything like Martial Law from expressing their thoughts and feelings. What constrains them is that their art cannot sustain even their mundane needs. How can it then buy them the tools needed to hone their craft? Many have to hold regular jobs like call center jobs and other available means of living, making them fall short of the demands of their jealous muses.

Budoy’s experience was revealing. From Samar, he came to Cebu to train and be a visual artist. Since he found that this art form could not sustain his needs, he shifted to another art form. As Junior Kilat he rose in the local music scene. Still, he needed media exposure in Manila to hit it big. This came to him courtesy of a stay in the Pinoy Big Brother house. With it, he became public property. Unfortunately, the public had a different appreciation of the image they wanted him to project. Budoy had to find new options.

Who shall support the artists?

Is it the government? Zarah Smith, a popular musician and song writer pointed out that some countries like Switzerland support their artists, to the extent of allocating funds for them to share their art with other peoples of the world.

But how can a political administration give consideration for the special needs of artists when it cannot deliver basic services to the majority of its people? How can a political leadership provide a nurturing environment to artists when during its watch there was a considerable rise in number of journalists and media practitioners killed?

Is it business? As an event organizer, Fil acts as bridge between the artist and the business client. Forging a contract between these two is not easy. Artists value their sense of identity. For some of them to sing the songs they did not write goes against their principle. On the other hand, business puts premium on earnings on any given transaction. It is important to business sponsors that their chosen artist can bring in the patronage avalanche for the company’s products or services.

Is it civil society? Paolo Varela, a radio/TV host who is apparently a witness to the struggles of artists said, “culture of this society is not ready for their art.”

Why is this so, when culture (and art with it) gives identity and builds values and moral fiber of society?

Unfortunately our identity is still chained to our colonial frame of mind. This loss of identity became worse with the destruction of democratic structures and institutions during the regime of President Marcos. (The military was politicized; civil service was bloated by patronage, the control of the economy in the hands of few.) Moreover, with the Arroyo’s administration’s desensitization of our national psyche to corruption, violence and abuses, we are demolished at the core. There seems little left of true ideals and time-honored values.

According to Becky Smith, head of the Information Section of the Cebu Volunteers Perlas for President, “ this situation pushed Nicanor Perlas to run for the highest political office.” If the current callousness is allowed to prevail, a point will be reached when our society will lose its soul. After this, it will be difficult to restore our sense of spirituality or regain our capability for the sublime.

A President can trigger social transformation. According to Nicanor Perlas, “culture is an exciting dimension of Philippine excellence that has yet to be fully mobilized for national development.“ It is people constituting institutions. When people change their mindset and their values, collectively they can change institutions and work towards obtaining their aspirations. For us the Cebu Volunteers of the Perlas for President campaign, the election is just the beginning. We are in this for the long haul.

What will the artists contribute to this social transformation?

Music artists, who have risen in their craft, like Zarah Smith and Cattski Espina, believe that the artist must “do it himself,” pull away from frustration and low esteem, focus on creating quality work and a distinct identity -- an authentic voice. Cattski Espina and other artists have formed a cooperative for mutual support. On process is the promotion of song writing in Bisaya and enabling artists to produce their own songs.

Cebu is now known for excellence in reggae. G.K. Gonzales, reggae musician, culled from his experience in Hawaii, “ we artists have to start with ourselves, we have to have a sense of community by helping each other and we have to also become part of a larger society.”

Teresa Ruelas, who heads the Secretariat of Perlas Cebu articulated one realization, “This campaign is a bit like the artists’ experience of being marginalized because we are not mainstream, traditional, popular. Together, starting with ourselves, we are to awaken civil society. How do we do that?”

There was so much to think about, several proposals and suggestions and a number of concerns but the meeting had to come to an end. As a meeting ender, Becky shared a beautiful lesson drawn from her experience working with the Cebu Volunteers of Perlas for President, “if the intention is clear, the mechanism will appear.“

For me, the evening still offered another beautiful perspective. Budoy shared with us his social development project. He is making furniture from industrial wastes with the idle kids in an upland neighborhood. Certainly, he shall enrich the community with his visual art, which , being his first love, shall enrich his soul as well.

Shall this -- the coming together of one's true purpose and art and applying it in service of something bigger than oneself -- might this be one way of awakening and enriching civil society? In this conversation between the Cebu Artists and the Cebu Volunteers for Nicanor Perlas, we realized we had come together to live the question.

Partido Kalikasan Joins Coalition for New Politics

For immediate release

05 March 2010

PARTIDO KALIKASAN JOINS

COALITION FOR NEW POLITICS,

Declares Support for Green Presidentiable Nicky Perlas and Launches “GREENING CAMPAIGNS” for the May 2010 Elections

“Partido Kalikasan (PK), an emerging national Green political party operating in 15 bioregions nationwide; today, formally joins the COALITION FOR NEW POLITICS and declares our endorsement for the Presidential Candidacy of “Green Candidate” Nicanor Perlas, reports Cagayan de Oro environmental lawyer Maning Ravanera, PK Chairperson & National Leader.

We join a growing number of social and political movements across the country who are fed up with the massive graft & corruption in government & other sectors of Philippine society and with unsustainable forms of development policies & programs that are driving the triple crises in our environment, economy and culture; adds Environmental Engineer Dr Michael Nunez, PK Vice Chairperson from Cebu.

PK Secretary-General Roy Cabonegro from Rizal reminds everyone that the Filipino people deserves NEW POLITICS NOW and by joining this Coalition, we claim our direct stake in “…eradicating poverty, improving health and livelihood, removing corruption, improving the quality of life for all, establishing genuine peace, regenerate the environment, provide quality education, harness the Filipino creativity, energize broad-based economic development”.

Towards this end we shall mobilize our members, supporters, other Greens in the country and like-minded Filipinos, here and abroad to “…create a sustainable nation capable of taking its appropriate role in world affairs” adds Cabonegro, quoting from the agreement signed today by PARTIDO KALIKASAN and PANGMASA (Partido ng Marangal na Sambayan) as founding members of the Coalition for New Politics during the “2nd Perlas ng Silangan” Festival at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.

PK National Spokesperson Jules Penales of Metro Manila explains further that for this coming May 2010 elections, Partido Kalikasan believes that supporting national and local candidates who carries the “GREEN DEVELOPMENT POLITICAL AGENDA” of Partido Kalikasan within the context of NEW POLITICS is the way forward given the imperative to challenge Traditional Politics and the need for decisive actions for the environment; particularly the challenge of climate change.

For the office of the President, Penales adds that PK has reviewed the competence, integrity and political agenda of all Presidential Candidates and have come to the conclusion that it is Nicanor Perlas; who heads PANGMASA, who is the best option consistent with PKs Green Development Political Agenda. We are therefore declaring him as our Presidential Candidate and calls on all our members and supporters and other greens to mobilize and support his campaign.

PK Cordillera head Ms. Liberty Talastas reminds us; however, that while the powers and authority of the Presidency is the most potent political force that can be mobilize for our intended new politics and green reforms and actions, it will take more than one green and new politics President for this country to confront our many challenges. It is therefore imperative that we campaign and win genuine Green and new politics candidates running in the other national positions and more importantly at the local levels where the real fight for the environment is.

For our part, Talastas reminds the public that PK local groups have endorsed and is now campaigning for some of our members who are running for local post carrying our green agenda and within the context of new politics. These include; organic farmer Padz Pangan running for Governor or Zambales, peace advocate Arbee Talaslas running as Vice Governor of the Mountain Province. Aeta leader Lito “Tubag” Jugatan running as Zambales Provincial Board member and anti mining advocates Rodney Galicha and Domingo Marin running as Sibuyan Provincial Board member and town councilor respectively.

PK Secretary General Cabonegro concludes that for this coming elections, we will run several campaigns to identify, rate and convince local & national candidates from Vice President to Senators and Party List who carries new politics and the green development political agenda to sign a “PEOPLES’ GREEN COVENANT” with us.

On April 26, at the eve of the elections, Partido Kalikasan will present to the public these “GREEN CANDIDATES” whom we shall endorse together with Nicky Perlas, concludes Cabonegro.

For more information:

Jules Penales, National Spokesperson. Mobile 0928 4611873 Email: jules@partidokalikasan.org

Roy Cabonegro, Secretary-General Mobile 0929 4418247 Email: roy@partidokalikasan.org 

Visit our website at: www.partidokalikasan.org Follow us in twitter; facebook

PK National Secretariat: Room 119 Ground Floor, Asian Social Institute (ASI), 1518 Leon Guinto Street, Manila