Etniko Bandido Infoshop

Students and other youth advocates across the Philippines joined today’s global youth climate strike, with 300 from different universities and organizations across Metro Manila holding a carnival-like march to Mendiola to call for more ambitious climate action from the government.

Local Autonomous Network and Food Not Bombs joined in solidarity with the global climate activist movement. Climate crisis created a situation we’re everyone of us would never escape. A continues apocalyptic scenario happens every time in different places, specially for vulnerable countries like Philippines. It is clear that mega-development projects like dams, coal-power plant, mining and extracting fossil fuels reach it’s limits. Our planet gave us everything but consumerist and capitalist-mindset destroy it by seeing the Earth as a resources that can be converted through profit as much as possible.

The idea of using renewable energy will not lead to a solution as long as the decision-making process are still in the hands of the few elite individuals and the control over the technology are monopolized. Climate change is an issue of every single human being and it must be discuss from the ground to bottom-up. Politicians and the government made everything in favor always for the financial investor than serving the interest of the planet as a whole. If the climate crisis issue is urgent then we don’t need to depend ourselves with this representative and policy-makers, it’s time for direct-action.

The indigenous martial art that the Spanish encountered in 1610 was not yet called “Eskrima” at that time. During those times, this martial art was known as Paccalicali-t to the Ibanags,[3] Didya (later changed to Kabaroan) to the Ilokanos, Sitbatan or Kalirongan to Pangasinenses, Sinawali (“to weave”) to the Kapampangans, Calis or Pananandata (“use of weapons”) to the Tagalogs, Pagaradman to the Ilonggos and Kaliradman to the Cebuanos. Kuntaw and Silat are separate martial arts that are also practiced in the Philippine Archipelago.

More than 15 participants joined the workshop about the basic techniques of Kali or Arnis. Most of them are teenager and kids who we’re amazed and enjoying their Sunday activity beside the Linear Park. It takes more than 2 hours to facilitate this as we didn’t expect that many will be interested to join. We would like to continue this kind of activity and search for a facilitator/instructor that are open with community-centered free workshop.

By: Bas Umali / C

Few people are in-charge in the distribution of material and social goods which the ultimate aim is to maintain social order under the framework of massive hierarchical structure wherein in people compete to the top. Those who are sitting at the highest post enjoys power and privilege. To maintain and further expand their power and profits which are most common and recurring to many politicians; they must exercise control and they would “create” events as despicable as wars and invasions just to assert its agenda.

Local autonomous activists adopted Food Not Bombs (FNB) tactic due to its applicability in terms of action and propaganda. In our local context, over ten million people in many areas of the archipelago go hungry every year. The latest record puts the number of unemployed and underemployed people at about 4.5 million. Every year, almost one million women and men want to leave the country to seek job opportunities. The country has one of the largest numbers of malnourished children in the world. In 2000, the country ranked 77 out of more than 150 countries with a poverty incidence of 34%. The human development index (HDI) figure was 0.656 (NGO’s for Fisheries Reforms’ strategic planning January 2007). 80% of fisher folk households live below the poverty line (Israel, 2004).

Instead of addressing poverty and hunger, the Duterte administration launched “War on Drugs” campaign that killed thousands of poor people. The number of dead bodies continuously rise.

Four FNB volunteers are dead and one is incarcerated. He is in the detention cell in Sta. Fe Bantayan Island Cebu.

FNB Volunteers are here to criticize social injustices that we are enduring many decades ago. Our criticisms employ only peaceful and non-violent methods to effectively convey our MESSAGES OF PEACE, EQUALITY, ECOLOGY & LOVE. We are armed nothing but utensils, cook set and dishes. Our ammunitions are books, zines, documents and skills-sharing workshops. We share nutritious food and relevant information because we know that this our contribution to the over-all initiatives of many communities around the world that is set to end poverty and war by uprooting the system from its core. By eliminating hierarchy and control.

Around 1pm, creative resistance started. We assemble in Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City. Different individuals and groups coming together with their own propaganda materials, foods to share, clothes for the Really Really Free Market and others initiated spontaneously their free school with free coffee and tea. In the middle of the afternoon they set up a free t-shirt printing with the design stated “War on Drugs, War on Poor” while some do wet pasting their political statement on the wall. It was also participated by some street children and other by passers. Volunteers distributed foods and flyers on all the moving cars, trucks and busses while others playing music with an open jam atmosphere. Some volunteers engage themselves with street kids giving them art workshop and basic education. There are also people coming from cannabis community who join the protest event. When the night fall, we solemnly light up the candle to remember all the victims of state atrocities.

JUSTICE TO ALL VICTIMS OF TOKHANG!

JUSTICE TO ALL VICTIMS OF POVERTY AND HUNGER!

“I see humans but no humanity”                                                                                                                                         – Jason Donohue

 

In this date October 16, World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world in honor of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organizations concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

October 16, also is Worldwide Anti-McDonald’s Day.  Remember however, that any day is a good day to protest against the promotion of junk food, the unethical targeting of children, exploitation of workers, animal cruelty, and damage to the environment and the global domination of corporations over our lives!

Coincidentally, the creation of Food Not Bombs Baliuag were born on this date Oct. 16, 2003, that composed of young individuals who started organizing DIY punk/hc shows, joining and collaborating on socio, political and ecological action. At this day, we celebrated the 16^th year of continues existence of hard-working volunteers and peace warriors of Food Not Bombs Baliuag to provide free meal to all the people who are neglected by the government and other institution. In 16^th years many attempts and efforts to establish community project emerge in this place like providing Alternative Learning Center or Infoshop to promote literacy to marginalized communities and Guerilla Gardening for giving an importance on making your own food. Collectives like Urban Chaos and Pinagkaisahan Kolektiba rise and fall. Food Not Bombs Baliuag are also part of the campaign to Free Sagada 11 punks who we’re tortured and detained in 2006. In 2007, FNB Baliuag volunteers take an action against JPEPA (Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement) and also involved themselves in Solidarity action against G8. Until today, aside from giving free foods to homeless, senior citizen, street children, beggars and other bystander, the FNB Baliuag volunteers remains critical on how the system runs. Still imagining, admiring and creating changes for a better world.  FNB Baliuag also adopts Really Really Free Market, giving away clothes and others useful resources to unprivileged people, not only that other volunteers initiated Free school called Atinto Otonomiya Free school providing street set-up platform for free teaching, awareness and education.

This day, an event was organized to celebrate and gather all of our friends, sympathizer, volunteers and family to join with us in a night of devastating art of noise and protest against humanitarian crisis. We believed that the uncontrollable war, famine, poverty, injustice, ecological destruction are made by humans who are profiteering on this occurrence, this worst situation totally undermined relationship, compassion, love and peace. We are in a bridge of humanitarian crisis and we don’t want this crisis to continue. This event also are part of our solidarity with the victims of State atrocities as two FNB volunteers in Baliuag, Bulacan (Patrcik Paul Pile and Jessie Villanueva De Guzman) and two FNB volunteers in Davao City   (Chris Jose Eleazar aka Mokiam and Jan Ray Patindol aka Pating) got killed by police and another FNB volunteers in Bantayan, Cebu ( Marco Giducos aka Cram) detained in jail because of this War on drugs/ War on Poor. We condemned this State instigated violence which brought an estimated of 25,000 casualties, mainly coming from the poor families. Even local peace advocates are not safe to be subject of random killings without due process.

The night before October 16, 2018, the volunteers already meet up. They wake up early morning to gather vegetables and ingredients to prepare foods to all the visitor who will come.  We invited local bands like Anomalya, Total Alarm, Noise Baragsx, Censorshit, Experimento ni Alien, Balatay Core, Unknown System, Power Abuse, WeekEnds and Australian bands “I Have a Goat and Stoned to Death” to come and play with the help of BCHC DIY Tour Booking and in coordination with Etniko Bandido Infoshop and Food Not Bombs Baliuag the event happened smoothly as planned. We borrowed and rent the band equipment like amplifiers, speakers, drum set and talked to the host venue Gourmet Food Park to materialize this gig. The show started around 7pm with film showing, art exhibition, free t-shirt printing, freedom wall for messages and free expression. The effort of all the people behind this event were tremendous and overwhelming. We are thankful to all of you who made this possible.

Stop the War and Killings.

Stop the State Atrocities.

Spread love and the culture of sharing.

 

Review: RaEd (Radical Education)
UNCONFERENCE ON COUNTERCULTURAL PRAXIS IN EDUCATION

By: Taks Barbin/ SafeHouse Infoshop Q.C.

The first unconference on Radical Educational practices in the archipelago was held last June 23. Kids, parents and educators gathered at the Solo Arts and Dine despite the heavy rain. The topics discussed: Democratic schools; Free schools; Unschooling; and Infoshops.

Teacher Mon Armenia started the discussion on the first topic. He was a teacher at a democratic school in Payatas area called Fair Play For Kids, which mostly caters the poorest and most vulnerable kids in the city. He shared how things work at a democratic school, how the kids themselves, with the teachers, decide the subjects they take and the rules they will have to remember and revise every now and then. The only permanent rule in their school: You’re free to do anything you like, as long as you do not disturb others.

This first part was ended by a discussion where groups were invited to speak out what they think kids and adults should learn. It turned out to be a very good way of having the participants share their own stories on the subject of alternative education.

Jestoni Franco next took the floor. He shared how a couple of his co-facilitators decided to set-up a free-school in North Caloocan. It supplements the traditional education of the kids in their community. Mayari Independent Academy it is called. The teachers raise money in order to maintain the space, aside from accepting donations. It projects to conduct short series of different workshops, exposing the kids to the different arts which are usually lacking in traditional schools. It continues to invite volunteers to share their time and skills to their students.

The third speaker was Kimmi Del Prado, a mother and an advocate of Unschooling. Kimmi shared her experiences in unschooling her kids. She shared the benefits and challenges of unschooling , and emphasized the commitment required of parent-educators.

It also became a good time for the audience to share their experiences and tips, including one parent who home-schooled all his eight children. He mentioned how advanced his kids were compared to traditionally schooled ones.

Questions arose, like how to keep alternative education up with the requirements of a globalized world, and when to keep up with it. Systems like proficiency exams and the instituional Alternative Learning System were mentioned. While one parent suggested that kids should go take this step only when they desire to do so.

The last topic, on Infoshops, was delivered by Chung De Vera of Etniko Bandido Infoshop located in Pasig. He used a powerpoint to tell the story of infoshops abroad and in the locality. He listed at least 10 Infoshops in the archipelago. He mentioned how each Infoshops differs from each, having a library and conducting workshops as their commonality.

The discussion part was wrapped up by Safehouse Infoshop, prepared by Taks Barbin and Mon Armenia. They demonstrated how one can make a Do-it-yourself Zine using only one piece of bond paper. With a few folds and cutting, the participants were able to produce 8-page Zines containing words and drawings which expressed how they felt for the event.

After this, a video showing different activities practicing the principle of sharing information was played. The video was shot during an event which demonstrates alternative practices by different people in different communities. It was entitled Mga Pinagtapi-tagping Kaganapan sa Sining Kalikasan Aklasan, filmed and edited by Pulang Balintataw Films.

   

  

 

Aside from the discussions, the whole event was also enlivened by the booths. One booth by Safehouse Infoshop offered a number of different Zines containing practical and political knowledges, for reading and for sharing. Another booth by Pag-ibig was full of books containing non-mainstream topics such as Folklore, History, Indigenous Astronomy, the first Labor Union in the archipelago, accounts of Indigenous practices, and many others. Another booth, also by Pag-ibig, called Culture of a Colonized People Museum invited the participants to talk about and play indigenous musical instruments.

The event was more than successful having a very captive audience. Secondly, it was successful on emphasizing learning more than schooling. It was also successful in formulating a next step: by suggesting to create a network of like-minded individuals and groups who care for, who are involved, and critical towards education itself- a network or community which supports each member in this pursuit to love of learning and being critical. It is a community which, we can say, already started.

In solidarity of grassroots community, Jestoni Franco-Mayari Independent Academy/Kimmi Del Prado/Pheng Muncada- Solo Arts and Dine /Raymund Christopher Armena-Safehouse Info Shop/ Gnuhc De Vera-Etniko Bandido InfoShop/Taks-Safehouse Infoshop/Magisa Kolektib-Notra Block/Benji Domingo-Wild Tofu/MerdehekasLetterhead/Abot Tala

April 6, 2018
As the busy footbridge in Mandaluyong City. A group of peace advocates stage a protest in the area providing free meal to all the passers-by. They put up a banner and made a photo exhibition of war images. The action was plan and initiated by individuals who are fed up on different war going on in various places. This atrocities against fellow human happened because of the interest to control and dominate other being. Destroying culture and annihilate future generation. The people responsible and continued this brutality are the one who wants a total power like corporation/capitalist, states/government, fundamentalist religious group and other progressive political blocks. Most of them rely on war and it became an industry producing weapon, ammunition and war machineries. Tons of minerals needed to excavate to make this weapon available. Thousands of lives perish to this endless war and with the advancement of technology still we didn’t make a solution out of it. We are in favor with peace talks but this process constantly deliberating millions of budget that are wasted.

We are opposing the Indonesian State instigated genocide in West Papua.
We are against the Turkish state invasion in Afrin, Syria. Defend Afrin.
Stop the atrocity on Lumad communities.

The 2nd episode of Season 7 is co-hosted by Ocean and Daniel. First, group member Delia reports on news and resistance actions – collaboratively culled – from around the world; then, we hear an interview conducted by working member Ocean with Cris, a working member and founder of Etniko Bandido Infoshop in Metropolitan Manila of the Philippines. The second interview is also conducted by Ocean, and is a conversation with Michael Higgins and Byron Lee on their work with the Brooklyn Anti-Gentrification Network.

“Anarchy is based on actual practices of humans. The term “anarchy” was coined to describe something that has already been existing.The essence of this term is based on the need of humans to help one another so that life could thrive for the next generation.

for copies check and contact:

https://onsiteinfoshopphilippines.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/OnsiteInfoshop/?hc_ref=ARQUWXKRxPlmKLm82zquGoTZQTmujB9mEce_TwBN1KpLzyansR-SFkXJSzBpjx8mpts&pnref=story

PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE REGIONAL GATHERING

TRANSFORMING INITIATIVE THROUGH PEACE AND NETWORKING

FEBRUARY 2 – 4, 2018 NORZAGARAY, BULACAN

FOOD NOT BOMBS BULACAN

NARRATIVE REPORT AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE TRAINING-WORKSHOP ON CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION

 INTRODUCTION

 Rationale

In the Philippines, estimated unemployment averaged from 5.1% in 70’s, to be at an annual average of some 10.2% in the period 2010-2016. The official definition of ‘unemployment’ has removed millions of discouraged jobless Filipinos from the labor force. Underemployment remains on a high annual average of 18.9% from 2010-2016. The number of employed Filipinos dropped by 393,000 in April 2017. Meanwhile, an average of 5,771 Filipinos left the country daily in 2016 to work abroad.

There was a concentration of economic activity in corporations, and income and wealth in a few individuals while transnational companies (TNCs) have disproportionate control of the economy. The gross revenue of just the top 100 corporations, for instance, increased from being equivalent to 59% of GDP in 2010 to 71% in 2015. TNCs accounted for 37% of Top 1000 revenues and 63% of manufacturing by 2015. The net worth of just the 40 richest Filipinos grew from being equivalent to 14% of GDP in 2010 to 26% in 2016.

On the other hand, researchers estimated at least 56 million Filipinos as poor with a poverty line of around Php100 per person per day. These included the 21.9 million Filipinos officially counted as poor by a very low poverty line of Php60 per person per day.

Despite decades of land reform programs, millions of peasants remain landless. Land monopoly persists and continues to expand under various agribusiness venture agreements (AVAs) and other market-oriented land reform schemes such as the stock distribution option (SDO). Farmers and farmworkers who stand their ground demanding land distribution are meanwhile met with violence or intimidation by landowners and corporations.

According to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), 93% of the remaining balance for land redistribution are private agricultural landholdings. There are more than 97,000 hectares of agricultural land converted to other uses while more than 120,000 hectares have been approved for conversion between 1998 until January 2016. The number is bound to increase as the Duterte administration’s economic managers barred the proposal for a moratorium on land use conversions. Land that can be planted to food is continuously narrowed.

The human rights situation in the Philippines worsened in the second half of 2016 under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the latest European Union Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy.

With martial law still in full effect in Mindanao.  The human rights situation has already worsened due to the continuing implementation of Duterte’s counterinsurgency program called Oplan Kapayapaan, but this all compounded by Duterte’s termination of the GRP peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the recent verbal threats by the President. As the Malacanang poised to extend the martial law declaration in Mindanao and, possibly, to expand the coverage nationwide, the situation is set to become much more fragile and dangerous.

This turmoil happening in the Philippines and experienced by millions of marginalized people are irreversible as the trauma, pain and self-esteem attacked side by side. This situation is the backbone why the volunteers of local Food Not Bombs and other anti-authoritarian activist are continuing their effort to promote different tactics and organized strategic community-building and protesting social injustices, hunger, environment destruction and war.

The volunteers believe in the inevitable violence and conflict brought by social, economic, and political repression. All the more, the volunteers also believe that in shaping a new world, a more vigilant, creative and active participation of every individuals is a necessity. There is an urgency to be trained and be a part of a worldwide struggle for peace and social justice. There is a hunger and thirst for a gathering of activists in transforming initiatives through peace and networking.

DATE and VENUE

 The event took place on 2-4 February 2018 at the Bakas River Grounds, Norzagaray, Bulacan. The venue was about 40 kilometers from Manila.

PARTICIPANTS

 The event was participated by the following;

• Food not Bombs Baliuag
• Food not Bombs Sapang Palay X Mutual Aid Not Charity
• Food not Bombs Paombong
• Etniko Bandido Infoshop

FACILITATORS

 The facilitators were Chris De Vera of Etniko Bandido Infoshop and Asher Israel G. Quimson of Mutual Aid Not Charity/ Sapang Palay Food Not Bombs both of the facilitators graduated in the Training for Conflict Transformation Trainers in Baguio City in 2009. In addition to this the facilitators are also volunteers of the Food Not Bombs in Bulacan.

GOALS and OBJECTIVES

 At the end of the training the participants shall be able to;

• To learn principles on nonviolent Conflict Transformation.
• To gain insights on ways to apply newly learned skills on Conflict Transformation to conflicts in their lives, collectives and communities.
• To network with other food not bombs peace activists.

In daily basis the facilitators create goals plan for the success of the event.

Day 1    

• Settling and setting up the mood
• Sharing of experiences
• Present chronology of FNB by Chapter/Collective

Day 2

• Understanding of Direct Education and Experiential Education
• One-on-one sharing
• Building trust and confidence through sharing of experiences
• Opportunities and positivity of conflict
• Defining and experiencing the levels of conflict, violence or struggle
• Basic community defense (village game)

Day 3

• Creating a community
• The strength of communication
• Creative-Collaboration

DAILY NARRATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

 DAY I: February 02, 2018

 Around 2 in the afternoon Food Not Bombs Volunteers from different towns of Bulacan start coming and gather in Food Not Bombs Sapang Palay. By 5 pm all the participants travelled going toing to the proper venue, Bakas River Grounds, Norzagaray, Bulacan. Two jeepneys were used as transportation for the participants, materials, food, and luggage. In 30 minutes time all were came to Norzagaray. Participants now started to pitch tents and hanging the hammocks, these were followed with the preparation for the dinner.

While waiting for the dinner, volunteers were gathered in a big cottage to have a body count and introduce each other and discuss the rationale and objectives of the activity for the next two days. Aside from that ideas were asked for the expectations and also shared the difference of the kind of training that were about to be done in the following days. A short explanation about Conflict Transformation and its importance in the daily dealing of every Food Not Bombs volunteers.

The exact location of the activity does not have any electric connection that we may use for slide show presentation and film showing.  But then again, the activity continued with butane-powered lights, volunteers stayed in the cottage and the discussion of the Food Not Bombs chronological history from different chapters/collective started and flowed smoothly. A video was presented with the limited battery in the mini-laptop of one of the facilitators. The short-documented video of Food Not Bombs Baliuag was produced in 2007 produced by a foreign anarchist. The video was entitled “Workers of the World Relax”, which was part of the Anti-G8 Info-tour which then would like document different collective, projects and action. The video also reminds with the different actions that took place in 2006, as a solidarity support to the wrongful incarceration of 11 Food Not Bombs Volunteers nabbed in Northern Philippines also known as the “SAGADA 11”.

The night was finished with small discussions, informal talk and gave also an advised that the next morning will be the formal beginning of the activity, 08:00 in the morning. In the same way harmony tasks were raised instead of giving any rules or ground rules. The counted volunteers at that time were 39.

DAY II: FEBRUARY 03, 2018

The matrix of activity was intended to have the morning preparation by 6:30 and formally start at 8:00. But with the inviting weather of the venue it helps us to stay in bed and adjust an hour late in the activity, thus we began the activity by 09:00 in the morning. Unorthodox to any training-workshops, the activity was designed for the participants to learn their obligation and have time sensibility while on the event, a feature deemed as horizontally organized where facilitators act as sharers not a teacher-authoritarian figure. As part of being facilitators, participants were reminded that the success of the activity depends on how to act according to will and how to practice freedom in the engagement of any activities. The facilitators had been flexible and observant in the dynamics of the groups.

Activities were followed as expected and lined up in the matrix. One of the highlights of the day is the village game that reflects community defense and how to react in times of surging capitalist-invasion in a community.  Another part of the training that had a positive response was the rapporteur from the body system-sharing with guide questions given. While some highlighted as a positive tool that the facilitators shared was the brainstorming list that leads to good communication between different parties-may it be internal or external.

The second day was a wonderful day that needed a sumptuous meal. The prepared viand was “pakora”, an Indonesian dish made from Jackfruit and flour, and “vegetarian puchero,” a Spanish dish which means Stewpot known especially in the Autonomous Communities in Andalusia. The day ended with 45 participants.

 

DAY III: FEBRUARY 04, 2018

 Unlikely to the previous day were everyone woke up late, much of the participants woke up early and started to prepare noodle soup for breakfast. Most of the participants still enjoyed the rice and puchero with coffee from last night meal.

The same time as the first day the third day of training started at 9:00 o’clock. Prior to the formal workshop, one of the participants suggested to host an energizer in form of body stretching and basic exercises.

As the Conflict Transformation Workshop continued on the third day, the facilitators started with the tool tape in the forehead. The tool was chosen in order for the participants to feel and analyze the conflict happening in the Mainstream/Margin Identity issues, such as discrimination and division. It was a grouping activity. Participants were asked to be in two ques and close the eyes. While the eyes were closed, facilitators started to post the tape in the forehead of the participants. The marked symbol in the forehead of the participants were the groups they are into. Some groups were composed of three, two, four and some symbol are unique and alone. As the tapes were posted in the forehead already, the facilitators started to challenge the participants to look for their groups according to the symbol in posted in the forehead without any sounds or talking. It was important to note that the mouth was not taped in order to realized how they were group in silenced, and also marshalled every time the participants talked or made sounds. After 10 minutes, the participants were now in their respective groups while there were 3 participants with no groups. The facilitators started to ask for reflections in the activity, such as “How do they find their group?”; “How do they feel when they finally belong on their group?”; “How was the feeling for the unique individuals who has no group and separated from the rest?”. From the question poised, conflict automatically discussed wherein a common situation in everyday life.

The next tool that was used was Group Juggling. More than 30 participants were asked to form a big circle to play in a game with timing, coordination, clear communication, listening focus, strategy, accuracy, advance thinking, preparedness, anticipation, and accountability. Group Juggling is not just a game but a simulated scenario in time of adversity and needed a resilient spirit – coping up in time of unprecedent circumstances. The participant enjoyed the game especially seeing the big number of participants actively participating.

The Group Juggle was followed with another adventure-based tool that practice decision making, collaboration and communication, the Ankle Walk. The group were divided in to two groups with equal numbers of participants. They were instructed to solve a problem placing them in somewhat vulnerable state. Participants were asked connect their feet together and needed to race to the line given without breaking contacts of the foot. If breakage of feet were committed the whole groups should start in the starting line. The two groups given an enough time to strategize and collaborate. Both of the groups were noisy and trying to do different options. Experimenting strategies and how they can make it through the finish line. Each group were allowed to finish the race. After the race was finished, the groups were debriefed with the question “what worked” or how they strategize in a limited time or in a time pressure scenario. In the same manner they were asked of what makes an effective group.

TRAINING MATRIX

TIME	Friday/TOPICS/TOOLS	Participatory Activities
02:00 – 04:00	Arrival to Sapang Palay, Bulacan
04:00 – 5:00	Travel to the Venue Norzagaray, Bulacan
06:00 – 09:00	·   Cooking ·   Rationale and Objectives ·   Chronology of Food Not Bombs by Chapters ·   Dinner	Sharing of Experiences Shared Tasking
09:00 – 10:00	Bon Fire Sharing
	DAY 1/Topics/Tools	Activities	DAY 2/Topics/Tools	Activities
06:30 – 08:00	Wake – up Wash Up Cooking and Breakfast
08:30 – 09:30	Direct Education Experiential Learning       Buddy System	Max and Mini Lists Ways to have a valuable learning experience	Creating a community	Popcorn Game Tape on the forehead Mainstream/Margin
09:30 – 11:00	Conflict and its positive potential (Context)	Brainstorming/Listings	Communication Self-limiting Belief	Group Juggle Creative Collaboration through Ankle Walk
	Level of Conflict, Violence and Struggle	Power Sculpture
11:00 – 01:00	Cooking and Lunch
01:30 – 03:00	Transforming Initiatives	Story Telling (Participants)
03:30 – 04:30	Community Defense	Village Game
04:30 – 05:30	Local Issues and actions	The Coconut Experience
05:30 – 08:00	Cooking and Dinner
08:00 – 10:00	Sharing with Buddies Musical Night

 

CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATION

 The Food Not Bombs Gathering of Bulacan Province is a success. Training-workshop, a gathering and a conference that has fun, enjoyment, learning, and solidarity. It is seen as a 3-day commune among volunteers. Each of the participants were happy and enthusiastically much motivated in the upcoming events in each respective collective and chapter. The days of training towards the journey of transforming initiative through peace and networking was done but needs to be applied in respective towns.

All participants enjoyed the time together having a different kind of seminar that participants will not just sit and listen but a proactive and adventure-based training. Though everything is done through somewhat informal discussions and games all of it were informative materials that strengthen the solidarity of each collective and at the same time solidify the comradeship of the greater FNB volunteers in the province. Like for example the newly formed Food Not Bombs Paombong.

The event also serves as a model and platform to the participants to recreate the training in their place. Looking at conflict as an inevitable factor in any lives which also creates division and leads to violence. This matter brings the volunteers into the importance of the event and the continuity of the program/project. It was recommended that it should be done annually. There is a need to be trained and be part of the greater changes in the community. There is a need to respond in the violence and angst that taking place in the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For many years Marxism has been the dominant ideology among dissent in the archipelago. It is a convenient tool utilized by social movements, civil society, scholars, academics and even a few government agents. This framework deeply influenced the way we view our history and alternatives. Its evolutionary logic provides certain analysis and proposes sets of actions and alternatives.

Historical accounts showed that resistance is not new to indigenous communities in the archipelago. Our ancestors were not dumb; indigenous people do not need to borrow ideas from the west to realize their own situation. Indigenous communities have mechanisms designed to protect and sustain their existence, culture and well-being.

Resistance that led to violent confrontation and war in different regions of the archipelago was complex. Every resistance has a peculiarity based on its context, culture and time. But statist politics became the dominant framework among those who have challenged the status quo. Because dominance is the very nature of the state. This kind of politics greatly affected the conduct of local dissent which led to the establishment of republican and leftist institutions.

Marxism in the archipelago, which you today refer to as the “Philippines”, has many variations. Like the dominant religions, Marxism produced a variety of thinkers, ideologues, politicians, activists and even faith-based groups and individuals. Dialectical historical materialism (DHM) is one of Marxism’s fundamentals to analyze a society. This is widely criticized for putting heavy emphasis on economy. It reduces the societies through a focus on economic progress and sets the bench mark of development with the system and scale of production and accumulation of material wealth. It inevitably disregards other essential aspects of society by elevating some class into the pedestal of revolution.

It is said that capitalism will prepare the material and social capital for the establishment of socialist society. Since workers are the primary force of production of a capitalist society, Marxists believe that the proletariat will lead the revolution with the aim to establish a “dictatorship”.

Social revolution is a process of overhauling social relationships that reinforce inequality, social injustice, environmental destruction and patriarchy. This process can only be realized if heterogeneous agents of society participate. The workers’ role is to liberate themselves from the chains of capitalism; women should act against patriarchy; other sectors and classes must do their share for social change by acting directly in their interests. Social revolution will not take place if the people’s mode of thinking is generally respectful to the institutions that reproduce and reinforce rules that define property, ownership, privileges, roles and power. Putting a particular class or group into a pedestal of power is another form of hierarchy and therefore invites privilege and the centralization of power.

In relation to this criticism, I would like to reiterate that the dialectical process is hierarchical. It is no different from the band-tribe-chiefdom-state model pioneered by the archeologist Elman Service, which refers to the hierarchical progression of society. It presents an evolutionary process of community from simple stateless egalitarian indigenous organizations like bands and tribes into chiefdoms and states, which are generally characterized by central power, uniformity and non-egalitarianism. The Marxist evolutionary model of the authoritarian left in the Philippines is consistent with this model. To apply this in our context, the indigenous communities “discovered” by Magellan in Leyte were supposedly primitive, inferior, savage, wild, ignorant and in need to be tamed.

Spain, according to the DHM model, was a feudal society governed by a King. Based on historical accounts, Philip had no intention of conquering the archipelago, it was an enterprise and he was in business with Magellan. They had a contract that defined every party’s obligations and shares.

The word “primitive” is in most cases used with prejudice by referring to traditional cultures as underdeveloped. There are hosts of communities that maintained their indigenous ways of life because they chose to protect and defend their culture by practicing it, by reproducing, innovating and improving it. They sustained their existence not because they were left out of social progression, as presented in the chiefdom model or the dialectical historical tool. Their resilience is attributed to their love of freedom and self-determination. Most of indigenous communities consciously maintained their cultures. Like any organization, they had mechanisms to protect their well-being by continuously doing things based on their customs and indigenous ways. Like the indicator of a healthy ecology, they were highly diverse and their systems myriad. Their commonality was a decentralized pattern of politics and of managing resources. Communities were autonomous and generally have horizontal social relations. The indigenous communities of the archipelago still live according to these principles.

Electricity, gadgets, cars, groceries, malls, appliances, bombs, cannons, nuclear power and arms, churches, guns and bullets do not exist in the remaining stateless societies. They lack sophisticated technology and material culture in the same way they lack hunger, poverty, crime, ecological destruction, forced labor and different kinds of abuse and exploitation and social issues attributed to large-scale, centralized power, to authoritarian, consumerist and patriarchal modern societies.

For sure, indigenous communities are not perfect, but the imperfections are far less destructive than systems of states, corporations and churches that instigate war, exploitation, environmental destruction, hunger and poverty through the control of centralized political power. Since the common interest of organisms is to secure their existence, I could say indigenous communities are more developed and advanced because they are more sustainable than modern institutions, which are in constant struggle for dominance and aiming for infinite growth, which is totally inconsistent to ecological systems and the self-determination of communities.

I heard several times that what Marx did in his DHM was to interpret history. I agree. But you and me, we can also have our own reading. I would say that the evolutionary approach is not suitable to analyze our local context. Based on historical accounts, the indigenous organizations did not evolve into states but were rather coerced to adopt centralized patterns of organization such as states, churches and corporations.

Autonomous/indigenous resistance was the resistance staged by different communities and tribes throughout the archipelago. These were anti-colonial in nature and aimed to re-install their indigenous ways of life. Among them were Magat Salamat, Tamblot, Tapar, Bancao, the Mandayas, the Ifugao, Zambal, and others. In the perspective of statists, their initiatives will be labeled “primitive”.

DHM’s hierarchical process downplayed societies they considered part of a “lower” evolutionary process and treated them as underdeveloped and in need of evolving into higher form. I am not really sure whether they treated poverty, environmental degradation and social injustice as pre-requisites for their imagined perfect society.

Diversity, horizontality and spontaneity are the very foundation of life; ergo, life on earth will not flourish through singularity but rather through a multitude of systems that are interdependent, directly and indirectly connected to one another. No life on earth is guided by a systematic plan and a singular direction. Life on earth thrives due to an ending process of evolution of conflict and cooperation.

Our modern age is characterized by centralized politics; an approach that is seeking an absolute truth which aims to establish uniformity and singularity; a framework that is totally opposite to the foundation of life, i.e., diversity, heterogeneity and tolerance.

Institutions such as states, markets and churches exist due to a particular objective. They are designed to ensure obedience, submission and control.

You may observe that we are experiencing environmental destruction, discrimination, war and exploitation. It occurred due to anthropocentrism. Humanity’s domination and control over one another and the earth resulted in the destruction not only of our diverse systems and cultures but also of our very own habitat.

One will notice that DHM’s logic is not only hierarchical but also reinforces uniformity. It is supposed to promote freedom, and many leftist revolutionaries believe this. But its singular and hierarchical direction inevitably discriminates societies that are not Eurocentric and that oppose systems of industry, market, democracy and one-God-based spirituality. DHM replicates oppressive systems. We have seen this in various places that have adopted Marxism.

Bas Umali