Tuesday, December 30, 2008

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

Transitions 2009.

A lot of people usually equates new years as new beginnings.

Pampanga, however, started its best beginning in decades in May 2007.

2009 is critical for the Philippines as it is the year before the next local and national elections. It is most critical in Pampanga because it will be the end of the first term of Among Ed Panlilio as governor. Why?...

The political (im)maturity of the Kapampangans will be tested. Will the election of Among Ed as governor be just an exception? Or will it signify the acceptance of clean politics by electing non-traditional politicians who will always put province first before self?

Will Among Ed run for governor of Pampanga again? Will he run for another office, perhaps on a national level? If he does not run for any position in 2010, what will be his role before, during, and after the 2010 elections?

What will happen to the numerous civil society groups that sprouted in Pampanga the past year? Will they be engaging their groups directly in the coming political exercise? If yes, how?

Unfortunately, a lot of these questions will only sire more questions; for now.

This makes the visions, missions, and goals (VMG) of the civil society organizations very important. The VMG provides the direction to the groups. If the VMG are personality based, the success rate will be very poor. However, issue based VMG will not guarantee continuing success for the groups. There will always be financial issues. There will always be people issues. And many more. . .

There is, however, one thing, that can overcome these numerous issues; THE HEART TO GO ON AT ALL COSTS.

With the wealth of intellects from among the Kapampangans, the advocacy for good governance and responsible citizenship will succeed if we put our hearts into it.

Pampanga will always be a fountain of heroism that will always flow when called upon. It is civil societies' responsibility that this heroism is perpetually cultivated for the good of the Kapampangan race.


NELSON MALIT

WE CONDEMN THE MURDER OF NELSON MALIT OF FLORIDABLANCA , PAMPANGA!

WE SALUTE NELSON'S HEROISM FOR THE PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA!

MAY THE SWORD OF JUSTICE CUTS THROUGH THOSE WHO COMMITTED THIS HEINUOUS CRIME ON NELSON, HIS FAMILY, AND THE PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA!

We pray for the soul of Nelson. We also pray for those whom Nelson left behind so that justice may be given them and their beloved Nelson. We also pray for those who are responsible for this crime.

LUID KA!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

Bukas Pasko na!

Dakal kekatamu ing gagawan da ing anggang agyu da ban maging masaya ya ing pasko. Maski na masakit ing bie ngeni, ing pasko pane yang babie pag-asa at tula kekatamu.

Balu tamu ngan na ing pasko metung ya karing pekamasalang gawa ning GUINU tamu para masalang mayakit nung makananu na ka tamu kaluguran. Subali kanita, buri ku sanang pasyag ing metung pang maulagang papalto ning pasko kekatamu.

Iti ya ing KABABAN A LUB.

Inyang binie ne ning IBPA tamu ing kayang bugtong a anak, pepalto nang dapat makayagnan ing lugud king kababan a lub. Alang tune lugud nung alang kayabe kababan a lub.

Itamu ngan, uli ning lelangan na ka tamu ning GUINU, sadya tamung mayap pangatau. Wapin madalas magkamali tamu; mikakasala tamu. Potang magkamali tamu at mikakasala, midadayu tamu king GUINU. Ing kababan lub tamu, lalto neman potang tatanggapan tamu ing kekatamung pamagkamali at panyawad tamung kapatawaran iti.

King pamanyulung tamu king malinis a pamamahala at mayap a pamakimemalen king kekatamung lalawigan, atin tamu naman pamagkulang at pamagkamali. Iti ali mu karing meging katunggali tamu king kekatamung susulungan, nune pati mu rin karing kekatamung meging kayabe.

Ing KASAUP, Inc., tutu yang makatao at tutu yang lulugud king kekatamung lalawigan. Uli ning kakambal ne pin ning tune lugud ing kababan a lub, buong kaladua ming papasyag ing pamanyawad ming kapatawaran karing anggang tao a agawan ming pamagkamali.

Papasyag mi naman na ing KASAUP lalo ne pang isulung ing alang patnang kasuyuan na king lalawigang KAPAMPANGAN.

MASAYANG PASKO PU KEKAYU NGAN!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

This year is still the year of Panlilio BASHING!

I have never seen anything like this before. I have never seen any government official subjected to so much open hostilities. Not even the dictator President Marcos nor the current and most corrupt president of our country has been exposed to this!

Obviously, no one fears Governor Panlilio.

Is this bad? NO.

To me, this clearly means that democracy is really working in Pampanga.

Anybody can say anything about or against the governor. What is sad about this is that those who have to protect their turf, thier "other sources" of livelihood, their benefactors, etc., are the noisiest and are really having a field year bashing the governor. I just hope that the silent majority of our Kabalens can stay active in making their voices heard and not allow themselves to be outshone by the voiciferous minority led by the TRADPOLS.

How do we do this?

The churches should be at the forefront of this fight. The JESUS IS LORD group led by former and future(?) presidentiable Brother Eddie Villanueva have been most consistent in this regard. The other Christian and Protestant Churches and Ministries have also been consistent.

Sadly, the biggest group among the churches in the country, the Roman Catholic Church, seem to be disarrayed in regard to providing a very clear direction for Her flock. There are Catholic Organizations who are very active participants in ensuring Good Governance and Responsible Citizenship in Pampanga. The Couples for Christ group is foremost among them. But the other organizations seem to have gone over to the sidelines of silence.

The Academe should also be into this. They have the power of influence to a good number of our people, specially the youth. The Academe also have the tools to organize people better. However, it is sad to note that they too have gone over to the sidelines of silence.

The local media should also be into this. But the Panlilio bashing continues in local media as I write this. It is not as bad as it was during the first year of the governor's term. A few local journalists have been standing up for the good actions of the governor. Sadly, there are those who only see the bad actions of the governor. They can even impute negative meanings to worthy actions and ignore the positives of the governor. Perhaps the dictum of BALANCE NEWS can be practiced even more accurately by some of our Kabalen Journalists.

The ordinary Kapampangan will always want to have a peaceful and prosperous life. We had peace before but our province was being robbed dry by some of our previous government officials. We can not be prosperous if we allow this robberry to happen again! We will not have sufficient services to our Kabalens if we allow the greedy few to control our province again. We will stop being the envy of a lot of our neighboring provinces if we let our resources' benefits be wasted by allowing a select few to pocket the monies out of it.

We will never be prosperous if we do not stop the bondage of jueteng in our lives. We will never be prosperous if we allow jueteng to erode our culture of hard work. We will never be prosperous if we continue relying on the ridiculous chance of winning big in gambling.

Let us go on bashing the governor when he is wrong. Let us also go on also by bashing ourselves when we forget the culture of hard work that our ancestors passed on to us. Let us also bash ourselves when we commit sins of ommission by turning a blind eye on the injustices that happen around us everyday.

When all of that is done, WE CAN BASK IN THE GLORY OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY amongst our midst.

LUID KA KABALEN!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

MISSING THE ACTION by: Kiko Ortelano

My ingkong is again mad at me!

Taksyapo mo Kiko! Mepagal ka ba inya pepainawa na kang susulat? Mepagal na ka ba king kasuyuan mu king lalawigan tamung Kapampangan?

Ali naman pu Ingkong. Kaya mu pu. . . . I replied but was immediately cut short.

Ena ka gagawa pang nanu man sangkan! Alang kayangganan dapat ing pamagobra para karing kalupa mung tau, lalu na karing kekang kabalen! Makananu kang makasimba balang aldo Domingo? Makananu kang makaharap king Apung Guinu? Alang kwenta ngan ita nung ali mu talakaran alang patugut ing kasuyuan karing tao!

I am really embarrassed.

When I think about what my Ingkong just told me, and then think about all the other leaders of KASAUP, I am more embarrassed.

What I just experienced is probably a picture of how the Kapampangan citizenry must be experiencing now. Laying thier guards down when Among Ed won the gubernatorial elections. Going back to ordinary business as if the fight was all over. Just turning a blind eye on what is actually happening not just in Pampanga, but the whole country. Avoiding involvement in anything other than personal matters.

Now I am more embarrassed.

The KASAUP leaders, specially the municipal coordinators are working so hard, they often have no more sufficient time for their personal matters including their source of livelihood. They sacrifice family times, rest periods, and sometimes, even risk their lives just so they can continue their participation in serving our Kabalens.

I do not know if people understands the absolute difficulties that KASAUP leaders face everyday. The struggles of organizing at the municipal and barangay levels and the requirement of educating their "constituencies." Add to this the endless meetings, coordinations with local leaders, the provincial leadership, the other civil society organizations, the church leaders, and the most difficult part of sourcing funds for all of these activities.

Now I am absolutely embarrassed!

A good number of people think that KASAUP is just a political arm of Among Ed.

I can not blame them. People see KASAUP mostly with Among Ed. This is because of the natural inequalities in media coverage. I am not blaming media. They can only cover so much.

KASAUP is not a political party and definitely not the political arm of the governor.

KASAUP is a people's organization that advocates Good Governance and Responsible Citizenship. Among Ed is not the be all and end all of KASAUP. KASAUP will continue its advocacies with or without Among Ed as Governor of Pampanga.

Undoubtedly, today, Among Ed is the best symbol of Good Governance for KASAUP. No matter what some people will say, specially the majority of traditional politicians, Among Ed have been a model of Good Governance. He is not perfect, but so is everybody else. Among Ed has shown grit in pursuing his advocacies. He has not wavered in delivering his campaign promises; no to graft and corruption, no to illegal gambling, no to partisan politics, deliver basic services to the poor, etc.

Fortunately, Among Ed is not alone. KAYA NATIN has identified a few more governors, mayors,and vice mayors that are planting the rare seeds of Good Governance in the country. Very few some may say. Not really. Before, there were a lot fewer.

I know all KASAUP members and officers are leaders in their own communities. I also know that all of them love their families so much. I also know that what they are doing for Pampanga in KASAUP is just part of loving their families. KASAUP wants a better Pampanga for the future of their children and their childrens' children.

Let KASAUP be the beacon that will keep the light shining for Pampanga for RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP!

LUID KA KASAUP!