Detail from a cartoon by Leon Khun
Monthly Archives: March 2010
News Item: Ifugaos Applaud Court Of Appeals Junking Of OceanaGold Petition
Indigenous Ifugaos of Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya are in a triumphant mood with the recent Court of Appeals’ resolution junking OceanaGold’s petition seeking to annul the Regional Trial Court Branch 30’s decision.
Last December 29, 2009, OceanaGold filed a petition for certiorari seeking to annul and set aside the order of Judge Panay denying the mining company’s motion to dismiss the case lodged at the Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya Regional Trial Court Branch 30. In 27 February 2008, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Bayombong restrained OceanaGold from demolishing the houses of indigenous peoples in the upland village of Didipio. The RTC granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) in favor of the indigenous peoples and cited in its decision that OceanaGold’s demolition activities are ‘tainted with irregularity and contrary to law’.
OceanaGold is based in Australia.
-o-
Going Retro 1: The Victorious Army of Gobbledygooks Penetrates the City
“Why do they hate us? We’re setting them free!”
– a foot soldier
They were expecting
sweaty hugs and kisses
from dark veiled women
and their adoring children.
Ears cocked, they anticipated the struggle
of the local band in playing
their beloved anthem,
as if it were not foreign.
But only hollow,
sporadic shouting of men
who gathered from nowhere
welcomed the forces.
The army was laden
with a quick,
calculated victory,
craving for popular jubilation.
Instead, this caricature of a show
put on by these nowhere men.
Stick figures in the desert sun,
sure of only one thing:
Tear down the giant statue
designed originally
by a previous generation
of gobbledygooks.
This show had been triangulated
for the world to see
moment by breathless moment
on their most trusted TV.
And then what? An awkward silence
as the statue grates to a stop,
refusing to crash down. A monologue broken
by coughing in the background, off-camera.
Days later when the local population
finally came out with their voices raised,
the victorious gobbledygooks felt
strangely welcome, unable to decipher
Joy and ecstasy from utter hatred.
It is only now with proper translation
years later that we have
a clear understanding of gang rape.
-o-
Last night during the local weather report the meteorologist (hmmm, that’s what they called him) said today, 20 March, was the equinox. I thought it was also the day of something else in recent history, but couldn’t quite put my finger on which. When I was browsing through my files looking for translations I had done of earlier works, I stumbled upon this poem which was written in 2008. I haven’t tried to translate it to Filipino, perhaps one day. As it turns out today, according to Wikipedia (haven’t verified other sources yet), is the day of the US Invasion of Iraq.
This poem (if it is one) was written largely in response to a documentary called Control Room.
-o-
Walk, Run, Fly, Just Go
I put up another blog for some of the photos we took on our recent trip. Here is the link: http://walkrunflyjustgo.wordpress.com/
Hope to get back in here more often to add more random thoughts. Apologies for the long silence.
Matangmanok 