Etniko Bandido Infoshop

EKSTRA-ORDINARYONG KOLABORASYON
[Pagbubunyi ng BUHAY sa pamamagitan ng Malayang Inter-aksyon]

Pagninilay-nilay ni Itim Luntian

MAIKLING BACKGROUND
Ang kahirapan ay isang nagdudumilat na katotohanan. Hindi ko alam kung nababagabag pa tayo sa daang libong mga walang tahanan at ang bilang ay patuloy pang lumolobo. Nababalisa ka pa kaya sa napakaraming paslit na nagkalat sa lansangan na dinadahas ng kasalatan at kagutuman? Ang mga namamalimos, nagso-solvent at marami ding nasasangkot sa maliitan at mga seryosong krimen ay karaniwang eksena sa ating kapaligiran. Ang ating kumbinyenteng paliwanag ay sisihin sila sa kanilang kalagayan, kesyo pabaya ang kanilang mga magulang, tamad, walang disiplina, bobo at mangmang.

Sa kabilang banda, bibihira nating sulyapan ang isa pang nagdudumilat na katotohanan na may iilang taong nasa posisyon na nakaka-impluwensya sa distribusyon ng yaman ng lipunan. Sa tuwing may nakikita kang paslit na namalimos habang karay ang isang sanggol sa ilalim ng init ng araw sa gitna ng mapangnib na lansangan, una mo bang naiisip ang labis-labis na luho ng iilan na may direktang kontrol sa mga pasilidad, budget at resources ng pamahalaan? Naiisip mo kaya na may iilang korporasyon at negosyo ang may kontrol sa mga likas-yaman at mga istratehikong industriya kagaya ng pagkain, kuryente, supply ng tubig, pabahay at edukasyon? O mas madaling tanggapin ang dahilan na kumplikado ang problema ng kahirapan at hindi ito maso-solusyunan ng isang kumpas lang.

Ang kahirapan ay isang tanggap na problemang panlipunang, sa katunayan may iba’t-ibang programa maging sa pandaigdignang antas upang ito ay tugunan. Subalit sa awa ng ating mga Ninuno, nanatiling miserable ang kundisyon ng napakaraming bilang ng mga tao.

Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw, ang KAHIRAPAN ay pangunahing suliranin na dumuduhagi sa malawak na bilang ng mga tao at pamayanan. Kailangan pa ba ng mala-“rocket science” na sistema upang maintindihan ang ugat ng suliraning ito? Napakalayo na ng inabot ng teknolohiya ng tao, ang pinagkaka-abalahan na sa kasalukuyan ng mga pantas at eksperto ay kung paano makaka-pamuhay sa ibang planeta. Ang sistema ng produksyon ay nakakalikha na ng labis-labis na pagkain, gamot at iba pang pangangailangan at luho ng tao. Hindi ka pa rin nagtatanong kung bakit sa kabila ng labis na produksyon ay may 836 milyong tao ang nabubuhay sa labis na kahirapan sa daigdig (United Nations World Data Forum).

Hindi naman nalalayo ang programang pang-kahirapan ipinatutupad ng kasalukuyang administrasyon sa mga nakalipas na pamahalaan kagaya ng public-private partnership sa modelo ng Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP). Ang programang ito ay nakabalangkas pa rin naman sa isang neo-liberal na kaisipan kung saan ang mga malilit na kabuhayan ay nakasandig sa malalaking negosyo kung saan ang malalaking korporasyon ang makikinabang at magse-sentrelisa ng higit na may malaking benepisyo.

Hindi sa hinuhusgahan ang administrasyong Duterte sa programa nito sa kahirapan, pero kung susundan ang lohika ng programang ito, makikita na ang resulta ay katulad lang din ng mga nagdaang administrasyon.

ANG HIGIT NA MALAKING INVESTMENT NG ADMINISTRASYONG DUTERTE AY NASA PROGRAMA NG DIGMAAN LABAN SA ILLEGAL NA DROGA. May mas mahalaga pa ba sa buhay ng 10,000 mahihirap? Ang labis na kahirapan kailanman ay hindi kumikilala sa batas, katulad ng rebelyon ng kaliwa man o ng mga rebeldeng muslim na kung tutuusin ay kumitil ng buhay hindi lang makatlong-ulit kumpara sa mga namatay sa krimen kaugnay sa droga.

Baka naman sadya lang siyang uhaw sa dugo? O baka naman siya ay psychopathic o serial killer? May iba pa kaya siyang rason sa likod ng kanyang marahas na polisiya laban sa mga tao lalo ng mahihirap na sangkot sa illegal na droga? Wala akong tiyak na kasagutan, pero ang sigurado ako, ang polisiyang ito ay mababaw na tugon at wala sa tono para ma-solusyunan ang nagdudumilat at patuloy na lumalalang problema sa kahirapan at mga kaugnay na isyu nito.

Sa kabila ng takot at banta na inihahasik ni Digong, marami pa ring mga tao ang may higit na respeto sa BUHAY na nanindigan at nagpahayag ng paninindigan laban sa nagaganap na karahasan. Nagkita-kita ang iba’t-ibang grupo, kolektiba at indibidwal upang tutulan ang marahas na kampanya laban sa droga na ang pangunahing layunin ay ITIGIL ANG NAGAGANAP NA MALAWAKANG PAGPATAY NG MGA PINAGSUSUPETSAHAN AT MAGING ANG MGA NADADAMAY NA MGA INOSENTENG TAO KABILANG ANG ILANG PASLIT.

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Patungkol sa Proseso
INTERESANTE ANG UGNAYANG NABUO ng napaka-diverse na mga tao at pamayanan, hindi ordinaryo na magsama ang mga taong simabahan (EIMELIF o Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands), Peace Church Philippines), Theo sa Kanto, indidbiwal at mga kolektiba ng mga Anarkista, mga alagad ng sining, mga Anarcho-Punks at Food Not Bombs Crew.

Interesante dahil sadyang malawak ang pakakaiba-iba sa kultura, gawi at pananaw ng mga kalahok sa kampanya. Mga pagkakaiba-ibang hindi aasahan na magkakadaupang-palad. Sa kabuuan ay naging makinis ang daloy ng proseso ng preparasyon, matingkad ang pagkakaiba-iba sa pinagmumulan ng pagsusuri subalit dahil sa kapwa-respeto na ipinapakita ng mga sangkot sa proseso ay lalo pang umigting ang unawaan. Lumutang ang praktika ng kapwa-tulungan. Sa pamamagitan ng serye ng dialogo at pagiging bukas sa isa’-isa naging kapuna-puna ang pantay na turingan. Transparent sa bawat detalye at hinihikayat ang bolunturismo ng bawat isa.

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Patungkol sa Aktuwal na Kondukta
Sa aktuwal na kondukta ma-o-obserbahan ang pagkukusa ng bawat kalahok. Naging sensitibo ang karamihan sa pagtukoy ng mga gawaing kailangan punan at buong pagkukusa na gumampan sa mga bagay na dapat gawin. Mula sa preparasyon ng pagkain, ng venue, paghahanap, pag-transport at pagsasa-ayos ng sound system, pag-install ng mga likhang-sining, pag-estima sa mga panauhin, pakikitungo sa mga homeless at mga batang lansangan. Ispontanyong nagawa ang mga akbtidad at workshop na kung tutusin ay bonus dahil hindi na bahagi ng mga pinag-usapang plano subalit naging epektibo at nakadagdag sa pagpapa-ganda ng aktibidad sa kabuuan.

Mainam na lumutang ang usapin ng partisipasyon ng mga tao at mga batang direktang kumakaharap ng talamak na kahirapan, diskriminasyon, kagutuman at kamangmangan. Hindi sila ang mga tao na nasa laylayan ng lipunan na tinutukoy ng ilang mga pulitiko. Sila ang mga taong ITINAKWIL NA NG LIPUNAN. Sila ang higit na nakadarama ng malupit na epekto ng hindi pantay na bahaginan ng biyaya mula sa ating mga ninuno at kalikasan. Kung mayroong mang dapat i-prayoridad ang mga instituyon sila iyon. Mainam at nagkaroon tayo ng malusog na talakayan upang i-konsidera ang kanilang paglahok sa anumang mga aktibidad na iniisip nating gawin sa hinaharap.

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Patungkol sa Layunin
Malinaw ang layunin ng Biag, Buhay Kinabuhi 2.0; ito ay upang makapag-pahayag ng pagtutol sa walang habas na pagkitil sa buhay ng mga tao na itinataguyod ng estado. Nakadisenyo ito na magbahagi ng mga napapanahong impormasyon tungkol sa isyu at makapaghain ng mga posibleng alternatiba sa halip na patayan, kaya nga nag-imbita ng mga tao institusyon na makakatulong sa pagkamit ng nabanggit na mga layunin. Sa pangkalahatan ay epektibong nakamit ang mga ito; nais ko lang susugan ang nabanggit ng isa sa mga kasama noong assessment na dapat sana ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataong magtanong ang mga tagapakinig sa bawat pagtatapos ng talakayan ng mga tagapasalita ng sa gayon ay magkaroon ng pagpapalalim at paglilinaw.

Nais kong idagdag na mas mainam kung nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga alagad ng sining magsalita tungkol sa kanilang mga inspirasyon sa paglikha ng kanilang mga likhang sining na ini-ambag.

Natural wala namang perpekto at hindi ako naghahangad nito, ang naganap na gawain ay higit pa sa isang daan porsyento lalo’t ang bawat isa ay hindi naglimita sa kanilang mga ambag at partisipasyon.

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Mga bonus na nakamit ng Aktibidad

– Ang pagkatuto ko ay hindi lang sa mismong paksa, nadagdagan ang mga taong nakilala at nag-uumapaw ang kasiyahan dahil maraming tao at pamayanan na may katulad kong pagtanaw sa kapwa kung saan ang relasyon ay umiinog sa respeto at pagkilala sa pagkakaiba-iba.
– Tumaas ang aking moral at na-engganyo na ituloy pa ang mga katulad na gawain.
– Napatibay ko ang pananaw na kailanman ay hindi hadlang ang ating pagkakaiba-iba para magsagawa ng kapwa-tulungan upang itaguyod ang kapakanan na kapaki-pakinabangan sa buhay ng mga tao, lalo ng mga marhinalisadong mga komunidad at ng ating mga pamilya mismo. Gayundin ng ating kalikasan at likas-na-yaman.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA ATING LAHAT! NAWA’Y PATULOY TAYONG GABAYAN NG ATING MGA NINUNO.

“Ecological Re-connection and Our Responsibility as a Human Being”

“Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.”       Henry David Thoreau

 

 

The human being already consumed, extract and destroy the only habitable planet on the solar system, our mother earth. We people, are already detached ourselves with the land, sea and other creatures that supposed to be our brother and sister. Our modern practices dependent on the values of consumerist lifestyle, alienation, destructive progression and greed. We are no longer connected to each other, to our culture, to our language and to our traditional life ways. We are already influenced by the capitalist market and gradually forgetting our true local identity. This whole system teach us to become a product and think that nature is our commodity, disrespecting the importance of life.

There is a necessity now for us to re-think our sole purpose in life and why we are here in this planet. Re-connecting ourselves with nature that support our daily function as a human being. The mother earth is calling us to protect the mountains, rivers, sea and each other from an onslaught that is already happening in different side of the globe.

As a human being like you, we are encouraging you to be part and express your willingness to an experience that will tackle the culture of sharing, cherishing lives, promoting diversity and rejoining ourselves to the nature.

Workshop/ lecture: Mono print, Detergent soap making, Yoga for Earth and Health, Marginal World music, Silk-screen printing, Cooking demo, Solar power demo, Percussion workshop, Participatory Zine-making, Eco- menstrual pads workshop, Poi dance and DIY film making and editing.

 

 

 

 

Eksena Sa Kalye were spontaneously plan and participated by various individuals. To popularize the topics on environment, food politics and oppression. Creative approach should be done to address this issue and it need to do it from below.

An attempt to showcase a lifestyle or culture of sharing in a marginalized communities in Pasig City, the reaction by the people were different. They not usually see this kind of activities that gives away free clothes, shoes, utensils. cd’s etc. in the principles of Really Really Free Market “bring what you can and take what you need” and one of the effect was positive as an unknown lady with her child who are getting some stuffs voluntarily order a pizza for us to say thank you. Art exhibition also happen and kids are excited to paint the sculpture made by our friend.

Kids playing with bubbles make a relaxation moment for their parents while watching their kids having fun. At night time, our friend gave some information and tips about basic composting for kitchen waste disposal as a practice to lessen the the daily waste produce by it. Lastly, our friend from Davao with his partner share their music.

Making this an everyday reality will possibly change the way people think, act and behave.

 

By Chuck Baclagon

Climate change challenges us to rethink and build a new world using the lens of equity and sustainability. This entails the protracted work of changing our personal lifestyles and raising the awareness of others to take action individually and in coordination with the many other struggles that are fighting against the system that brought the climate crisis.

We exist on a particular juncture in history. The prospect of our collective extinction as a specie, forces us to endure and challenges us to strive harder than before to speak truth to power, highlight the alternatives, and demonstrate possible solution to the current crisis by bringing out counter-narratives to the ones that we have been accustomed to like the capitalist-consumer myth of infinite growth in a finite planet.

In the forum I was able to explore the theme of climate change as a being both a crisis and an opportunity to build a socially just and ecologically sustainable world. While the next speaker Bas Umali of Onsite Infoshop explored the theme of responding to the ecological crisis through direct action as a way of to undermining the current system and showing it to be unnecessary and harmful. Lastly, Chris De Vera of Etniko Bandido gave practical examples of how direct action can be integrated into our individual lifestyles and our communities, these actions involve urban gardening, do-it-yourself solar installations, cycling among others.

Baliwag Food Not Bombs gave away freshly cooked vegan food at the event as their way of taking direct action to show how a myriad corporate and government priorities are skewed to allow hunger to persist in the midst of abundance.

The forum served as a venue for discourse and dialogue that could pave the way for developing pathways for the participants to develop their own strategy of taking climate action.

An event coordinated by Food Not Bombs-Baliuag with the help of Bulacan State University and with the support from Etniko Bandido Infoshop, 350.org and On-site Infoshop.

We will present different topics concerning the issue of climate change, environmental degradation and the autonomous initiative in response to this phenomenon.

Last Dec. 25, 2016, Typhoon Nina hit the archipelago. One of the most affected was the town of Sagnay in the province of Camarines Sur. Most of the houses and infrastructures were torn down by the wind. Crops like bananas and coconuts were severely destroyed.

Therefore, the event Tarabangan Kitang Gabos (Tulungan Tayong Lahat) was initiated to declare solidarity to the people most affected by Typhoon Nina. On January 29, we will be calling to all performers ,artists and individuals to spend their time, resources and energy to raise funds to help reconstruct the victims’ houses and sources of living.

Proceeds will be spent for seeds, seedlings, housing materials, or school supplies. A P15,000 peso target is to be set. All of the resources collected from this event will go to people that need it most. Likely are farmers who ‘s livelihood depends on agriculture. These also include people with no capacity to buy materials to rebuild there homes and school supplies for their children.

We do not expect too much from this event, whether or not it will generate alot of resources. But the good thing is that we, people, try with our best effort to extend out to fellow brothers and sisters who are in need of support in continuing there lives. This event will also show us how Mutual Aid and Cooperation defines what kind of society we want to see in this world, and how Climate Change affects us all.

Ways to Participate:
1. Donate cash thruthis page or on the actual event.
2. Artists may donate thier works, to be auctioned online and on the event. Kindly share photos of your craft for the online auction.
3. Share songs, dances and poetry on the event program. Kindly contact us, so we can include you in the program and poster.
4. Share this event to friends and families who may be interested in helping and participating.
Come jam with us on this meaningful night!
Dios Mabalos sa Indong Gabos! Maraming Salamat sa Inyong Lahat! Patnubayan Kitang Gabos ng Kagurangnan!

For inquiries, please contact Ron:
+63 915 869 8940

 

Bulacan is one of the major industrial and agricultural center. It is strategically located between the commercial center of Manila and the industrial and trading centers of Northern Luzon. One of the traditional rice granary of the Philippines. Despite the great challenge posed by El Niño on agriculture, this province pulled off a bountiful harvest that has propelled it to being recognized by the Department of Agriculture as a Hall of Famer in the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Award. All of a sudden this claim progressively changing due to land conversion for real estate development, mall culture and consumerism. The food production in this area are now getting low because vast agricultural land are now becoming a low-cost housing project, supermarkets and malls. This building and construction will be requiring a huge amount of electricity and it will be dependent on coal and fossil fuel as a source of energy. The situation of food security is at risk and will create an impact on climate related issues.

   

At 8am some of the participants already at the Hero’s park waiting. Volunteers from Food Not Bombs Baliwag, 350.org, some friends from Manila and other bikers gathered and other FNB crew are at Bustos preparing foods. While we are waiting we discuss the route and give some brief background of the Critical Mass Action then we put propaganda materials on our bike. The weather is calm with darker clouds as we think it will rain soon, so at 9 am we started the ride going to the north side of Baliwag. We saw a Shell gas station and decided to stop to take a rest and bring out our banner stating “Bikes Against Coal and Fossil Fuels”. After that we ride again, take the one lane of the road at the same time speaking through our megaphone to share the road and promoting the use of bike as an alternative form of transportation to minimize our dependency on fossil fueled cars and motors. We already feel the small drops of rains so we decided to rest and take a cover. The bike ride ended at 12nn timely for lunch break but we waited for FNB crew to come for the free food distribution. Then around 12:30pm food was ready, Food Not Bombs occupy a tent space in the park to set-up the table, install a banner and share foods while giving out flyers.

Culture of sharing is a practice in which we encourage people to share their skills, talent, information, stuffs etc. for free. Culture of sharing are horizontally organized and self-managed by the volunteers. There is no need for coercion and domination. Culture of sharing is a tool to minimize our dependency on State, Corporation, NGO and any other institutions in providing and exchanging services or goods. Culture of sharing is a values that promotes mutual-cooperation, self-reliant and willingness. Culture of sharing defies private property and intellectual property rights. Culture of sharing respects individuality for collective emancipation against monopoly and control. Culture of sharing applied in family house hold, with friends, neighbors, collectives, communities, etc. Creating a harmonious relationship with each other.

On October 29, 2016 autonomous individuals, cause-oriented groups and local networks shared their thoughts about the on-going war on drugs and affirmed the life force through poetry, music, performances and talks. Friends from Peace Church and volunteers from different info shops initiated an event at project 20 Maginhawa to launch Manlaban zine, a do-it-yourself publication which features critical content and writings on drug-related and extra-judicial killings. It was an expression of sentiments, info sharing, narration, perspective and idea of resistance. Such is the core of Manlaban, amidst the hate, stigma and violence, the freedom to express, to think for one’s self, and criticality to resist all forms of violence, authority and hierarchy. Fread from Theo sa Kanto and Chung of the Etniko Bandido Infoshop traced the series of meetings which lead to the Biag, Buhay, Ikabuhi event. Taong Grasa Orchestra opened the night with communal music.

Jestoni of Notra Block, a network of autonomous groups in Caloocan and the rest of Northern part of Metro Manila provided a context and rationale of Manlaban zine. Greg Bituin Jr. a self-published poet commemorated the 150th death year anniversary of the slain Filipino general, Antonio Luna through an spontaneous poetry. While Darnell, a Canadian anabaptist and also part of peace church shared a counter-narrative about people of the bible.

Meanwhile, a volunteer from Marindukanon Infoshop also offered a solidarity message on the newly-launched zine, Manlaban. Members of Linangan ng Imahen Retorika at Arte (LIRA) took turns in reciting poems about the current state of killings and violence in the archipelago. While I-Defend, a human rights and dignity coalition gave the current score on the war on drugs of the present administration. Musical performances from folk punk Bata,Xterm Zoid, A.lien, Kaibuturan and Kontemporaryong Gamelang Filiipino (Kontra Gapi) followed.

In addition, there were simultaneous happenings in support of the cause like free t-shirt printing, pot luck, film screening, really really free market. The said creative resistance and direct action was a manifestation of the long tradition of sharing culture based on horizontal organising, anti-authoritarian alternative and non-hierarchical politics.