p.poop

Word of the Lourd - Walang Silbi ang Art?

2009-03-04T22:29:00.000-08:00

Wag Natin Silang Ibale-Wala

2009-02-13T00:29:00.000-08:00

Click for the high-res version.

Rock Ed Celebrates Batch HS 2009! (www.rockedphilippines.org)

2009-02-11T10:27:00.000-08:00

Project: Fresh Take is our way of celebrating High School graduates. It is a program that engages photographers to volunteer their services in order to provide graduation pictures for public schools.

Many public schools across the country do not offer nor provide graduation photo options for their students. Usually, it is a relative with a camera or the ones who show up to take your photos anyway then charge you after. So Rock Ed decided to offer this service for free. All we need now are donors to help with the printing so each graduate can have 20 copies each to give away or keep or hang in their homes. A testament to the endurance and work they put in to become high school graduates.

Right now, all our resources go towards renting lights, togas, setting up tents and a decent photo booth. The photographers will take care of the cameras, memory cards, editing and sorting by class. Rock Ed is still on the look-out for financial support so that we can carry this project through to fruition. That translates to: we REALLY need cash (or equipment support) donations in order to print at least twenty (20) copies per high school graduate. So far, all we have are photographers, the physical set-up of booths and tents. We were able to rent a set of lights for a good price (thank you, David Hanson) and the willingness to wake up at 5am to start taking photos all the way til 3pm on an ordinary Tuesday.

Make this your alumni batch project! (Batch '89 HS, this is what hard sell looks like.)

If you’d like to help out with this project we need:
1. Photographers with DSLRs willing to wake up early and take photos.
2. Rent money for lighting set-up – or lend us your lights, OR come and take the photos with your lights.
3. Rent money for tents that serve as temporary photo-studios.
4. Rent money for togas OR maybe if you have a dressmaking business (tailoring, too) maybe you can donate togas instead. (whee)
5. Tell us where or how we can make or buy our own graduation hats. (is that what they’re called?)
6. Water, juice, some food for the FRESH TAKE TEAM on photo days in schools.
7. Administrative coordination with the public school near you, if you can talk to their Prinicipal, ask them for: a) number of Seniors graduating b) available schedule for photo day c) willingness to attend a Fresh Take gathering of seniors early April.
8. Volunteer marshals to facilitate movement of student lines on photo-day.
9. Money for printing out copies to be given out to students. (or donate a decent photo printer! ßthat’s the dream)
10. Donate or solicit for a decent photo-printer from Canon, HP or Epson.
11. Donate or solicit for a decent photo-printer from Canon, HP or Epson. (Wait, I think I said that already. Okay, we end at #10 then.)

Email: freshtake@rockedphilippines.org

Lupang Hinirang

2009-02-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

Lupang Hinarang is a film in two parts about a fierce and deadly battle raging between farmers and landowners in the Philippines. The documentary opens with the tribal Sumilao farmers, Ka Rene, Linda and Bajekjek, who, inspired by Gandhi’s protest march, journey on foot for two months from their mountain village in Bukidnon to the presidential palace in Manila.

It is a gruelling 1,700 kilometer journey through scorching heat, rains, fatigue, and great uncertainty. After weeks of walking, the farmers reach Manila, rally at the corporate offices of San Miguel, confront the agrarian reform secretary and grapple with anti-riot police before finally meeting the President.

The second part tells the story of the sugarcane workers from Negros. When the landowner’s armed guards kill one of the farmers in 2007, Chay Lindy, Chay Gamay, and Chay Biray go on a harrowing 29-day hunger strike with other farmers on the steps of the agrarian reform office in Manila. The hunger strike results in victory for the farmers until the film ends in a shocking climax.

Lupang Hinarang is a timely documentary set against ongoing debates in Congress to extend and reform CARP (CARPer) or to kill it.

Reproductive Health Bill - Updates

2009-02-06T03:54:00.001-08:00

Recent surveys say:

76% of Filipinos want family planning education for the youth (SWS)
71% favor the passage of the RH Bill (SWS)
Family planning education and RH Bill are supported by 76% of Catholic and 78% of non-Catholics (SWS)
75% of men and 77% of women support family planning education and the RH Bill (SWS)
82% of Filipinos think that government should not only educate couples regarding modern methods of family planning but also provide them with services and materials on these methods (Pulse Asia)
Almost all Filipinos consider it important for one to have the ability to plan the family for the welfare of both the family (93%) and the country (90%) (Pulse Asia)
Most Filipinos are aware of the reproductive health bill pending at the House of Representatives (68%) and are in favor of the bill (63%) (Pulse Asia)

Yay!

The RH Bill remains a priority of the House of Representatives.
Despite the vicious backlash from the "pro-life" camp, all 113 co-authors continue to support the bill.
The plenary debate in congress resumed last 27 January 2009.

Nay!

Anti-RH legislators are delaying the proceedings.
This is not only obnoxious, it's expensive. For every day that drags on, they're wasting about about P12.5 million pesos (the House's daily budget) of tax payers' money.
The deceitful tactics they're employing are disgusting. Rep. Roilo Golez was recently slammed for deliberately misleading the House and the general public when he misrepresented data during his interpellation. He claimed his figues came from the Department of Health, the National Statistics Office and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute but all three agencies officially denied producing such data.

Hey!

We're not going to stand for this. We RH Bill advocates will be heard. Ms. Elizabeth Angsioco, Secretary-General of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) suggests five simple things we can do:

Write to your Representative and let him/her know your stand on the issue.
Write Letters to the Editor and send them to your favorite broadsheets.
Monitor the proceedings in Congress.
Sign/invite more people to sign the Declaration of Support for the Immediate Passage of the Reproductive Health Bill into Law
Wear your sentiments on your sleeve or your car, as the case may be. (Pro-RH stickers and pins are available from the RHAN Secretariat. Call 927-1766 from 9 am to 6 pm.)

In addtion, let's harness the power of the Internet and use our e-mail, blogs and social networks to engaged others. Let's use every opportunity to educate people and counter propaganda with factual information and sound arguments.

If you believe that access to comprehensive reproductive health programs is a basic right, if you are against eleven women dying every day due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, if you are against the growing number of medically unsafe back-alley abortions, if you are against the youth engaging in risky sexual behavior without understand the full consequences of their actions, if you are against more children being born into poverty because their parents simply don't know any better -- now, more than ever, is the time to make your stand.

On the Reproductive Health Act of 2008: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Juana Change - The Movement for Good Governance

2009-01-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

WE DESERVE BETTER . PH

Word of the Lourd.

2009-01-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

DON'T JUDGE ME.

2009-01-05T01:15:00.000-08:00

Friday Night at Route 196 for RockEd Philippines' forum on "The Golf Valley Incident" went wonderfully. Hosts Lourd De Veyra (of Radioactive Sago Project) and Gang Badoy also introduced three guest panelists as Atty. Adel Tamano, Danton Remoto, and Bobby Garcia. I found myself, for the first time in a long, long, long time, too shy to step up to the mic and speak up about the issue. But I do hope that this whole thing doesn't blow over just as things did with the whole "Joc Joc Incident". (and I guess several others.)

Anyways, besides great a forum and the preceding gig with bands Radioactive Sago Project and Sandwich, P.Poop #1 sold 15 copies that night! I had curious folks that would ask what sort of drugs I was selling out of my sketchy looking pencil case only to find P.Poop and 50's in my hands. (They bought copies from me anyways.) Paolo Cruz of Dumpling Press bought 3 copies that night; one for him, Claire (Co-Publisher for Dumpling Press), and Tin Garcia (whom I haven't met yet, but apparently Paolo says I should).

Here's our first review!

"

P.Poop #1 feels like the print equivalent of a haiku, or maybe a hors d'ourve at some fancy-ass party. It often feels deliberately scarce, but perfect for whetting the appetite, and setting one's mood. Scacely larger than a business card, it packs a lot of varied content into its tiny pages: gorgeous visuals, historical blurbs, personal anecdotes, and tidbits on the politics of self.

P.Poop and the partners-in-crime maximize the space for optimum aesthetic effect. I honestly felt a bit short-changed, but in a *good* way. I wanted MORE! The content is intriguing, but it's necessarily restricted by the small format. It works for some pieces, but ion others, I felt like the topics could have been explored with significantly more depth, given just a bit more space. (Quarter-size A4, maybe?)

"
-Paolo Cruz
Co-publisher for Dumpling Press
(/Humble Writer/Infrequent Editor/Self-declared Pop Critic)

P.S. Hopefully with more funding, more submissions, and a cheaper xerox place, I'll be able to switch over to the Quarter-size!

My First Zine.

2008-12-31T01:09:00.000-08:00

So I haven't been design blogging as much as I should be,
but it's because I've been a bit busy working on tons of projects that half get worked on, half unfinished, and another half finishing.
(Does that make sense?)

Progressive Poop, the streetart project, has turned into a handmade 32 page local (to Metro Manila) zine. It features several artists and writers in the area and is packed full of current events, social commentary, art, photography, poetry/creative writing, a giglist, upcoming art shows, and frustrating shit that just doesn't make any damned sense.

For 50php, you can have one this friday!
I'll be at Route 196 / RockEd Philippines' open forum on:
The Valley Golf Incident. (i highly suggest you go!)

TOP BANDS AND ARTISTS ROCK FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL

2008-11-30T23:55:00.000-08:00

TOP BANDS AND ARTISTS ROCK FOR RH

The country's hottest rock bands and veteran performers will gather for a free concert in support of the immediate passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill on the eve of Human Rights Day, December 9, 2008, Tuesday at the Liwasang Aurora, QC Memorial Circle (fronting Philcoa and Commonwealth Ave) from 6 pm to 12 midnight.

Titled “RH Rocks!” and celebrating with the theme “RH is a Human Right” the concert features Sandwich, Lolita Carbon, Sugarfree, Noel Cabangon, Imago, Chikoy Pura, Itchyworms, Skarlet, Pedicab, Susan Fernandez, Duster, Cambio, Peryodiko, Bob and Anya, ZoneOne, Wandering Dew, FMD, Jeepney Joyride and more.

The RH Bill, also known as HB 5043 mandates government to help couples, especially those who are poor, to achieve their desired family size by providing information, medicines and reproductive health and family planning services. The RH Bill advocates informed choice for couples on both natural and modern family planning methods and aims to provide age-appropriate adolescent sexuality and reproductive health education.

“The constitution guarantees freedom of choice, the right to health, and the right to education. People have the right to be informed. We deserve no less than an informed choice regarding our bodies. Our children deserve no less than the truth about the facts of life and health,” says Vin Dancel, lead vocalist of Peryodiko.

Katwo Puertollano, Duster vocalist, says, “The RH bill, if passed, can be a chance for us to shine in this critical point in our history where the demands of our current generation put an incredible strain on our natural resources and the over-density of population renders the government incapable of providing the basic needs of the population.”

The support of these performers comes in the wake of highly respected artists like Lea Salonga and Lisa Macuja-Elizalde who have expressed their support for the RH Bill.

In the November issue of Marie Claire, Salonga says: “I want every Filipino woman empowered with information regarding all options available regarding family planning. I want every Filipina to be armed with the right education regarding their bodies in the context of sex and reproduction; to exercise their free will in ensuring the quality of life based on their own personal, religious and moral convictions and belief; and to have a fighting chance at a better life.”

Elizabeth Angsioco, general secretary of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN), a network of 40 NGOs and people’s organizations and co-organizer of the concert along with the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), said that the bands and performers enthusiastically committed to the concert because they believe in the importance of the RH bill especially where it concerns the youth.

“The delay in the passage of the RH bill increases the vulnerability of our young people to risky sexual behaviors, sexual abuses, teen-age pregnancy and its possible life-threatening complications, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. We cannot close our eyes to the fact that more and more young people are getting sexually active. They need to be empowered by learning to make intelligent decisions so they become more responsible with their actions including on matters pertaining to sexuality and relationships,” Angsioco said.

“RH Rocks!” is supported by Frenzy Condoms, the Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Government of Quezon City, Jam 88.3 and NU 107.

For more information, please call 927-1766 or click on www.reproductivehealth.com.ph

Rock The Riles 2008 - RockED Philippines

2008-11-30T23:54:00.000-08:00

Since 2005, Rock Ed Philippines has been ending its work-year with a mammoth celebration of Human Rights. We hold eight (8) simultaneous events in eight (8) train stations of the MRT line along historic EDSA. ROCK THE RILES is held every Sunday closest to International Human Rights Day. (Intl HR Day is celebrated every Dec 10)

Despite having no commercial funding this year, we all decided to push through with it anyway. Everyone involved in 'Rock the Riles 2008' pitched in to make it possible. Shelled out cash, lent some equipment, lent expertise, talent and time.

So we can squarely say: This one's ours.

This gathering is our rally of sorts, that one time we decide to physically come together and say the same thing at the same time. That one time we decide to pool our voices and say "No more excuses, Philippines."

Next Sunday, take the train. Choose a station. Watch a gig. Take a stand. Rock and roll.

Save the date: 7th of Dec, 2008. 2-7pm at any MRT station nearest you.

Confirmed artists:
Radioactive Sago Project, Sugarfree, Up Dharma Down,
Gasulina, Giniling Festival, Paramita,
Ang Bandang Shirley, Sleepwalk Circus, Swissy,
Juan Pablo Dream, Musical O, Outerhope,
Urbandub, Intolerant, Taken by Cars,
Typecast, Switch, Out of Body Special,
Hilera, Nyctinasty, Salamin,
Severo, Faspitch, Subscapular,
Peryodiko, Cambio, Enemies of Saturn,
Blue Jean Junkies, Analog, Agnes Ingarra,
Pin-up Girls, Bagetsafonik, Roots of Nature,
Chillitees, Mozzie, Lahi,
Chicosci, Lowtechs, Playphonics,
Nyco Maca, College Coed, Join the Club,
The Youth, Jeepney Joyride, Sopiz,
Zelle, Menaya, Ciudad,
Head, Chardonnay, Miko Aguilar,
Nityalila, Matilda, PhilTag,
Nokia-Rock Ed ACTS Music Scholars from Childhope Asia and Virlanie Foundation,
Tribu rap artists, Beware of Death Threat, Miscellaneous, Monique, Ill-J, Mike Swift, Pamilya Dimagiba, People's Future and more.

Details to follow.

For now, kindly help us spread the word that Rock the Riles 2008 is on.

Article II. Section VI. 1987 Constitution

2008-11-27T06:35:00.001-08:00

RH bill headed for defeat--Church

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 21:13:00 11/20/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The Roman Catholic church on Thursday said it has sufficient support in Congress to defeat a controversial family planning bill promoting sex education and the use of contraceptives.

"The bishops are confident they have the numbers," said Maria Fenny Tatad, executive director of the church lobby group Bishops-Legislators Caucus of the Philippines.

Only 99 members of the 238-member House of Representatives have openly said they will support the Reproductive Health Care Act, while the rest are expected to side with the church, Tatad said.

Population control is a highly politicized issue in the Philippines, where more than 80 percent of the 90 million population are Catholics.

The church, which wields considerable public influence, frowns on any artificial form of birth control and has been waging a high-profile campaign to block the passage of the bill, which is now before congress.

International aid agencies and economists have backed the bill saying it is crucial if the Philippines is to curb its annual population growth rate of 2.04 percent, one of Asia's highest.

The bill seeks to establish a national family planning program that would include sex education and advice on birth control, which the church considers "immoral."

Such provisions go against established church doctrine and puts the social fabric of the mainly Catholic Philippines in peril, said Father Melvin Castro, head of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life.

"We can't simply follow what the world wants us to do," he told reporters.

He said the church was now drafting a parallel bill with the support of some senior members of Congress, a majority of whom are Catholics.

The bill is still in its initial phase, but is expected to include provisions on regulating over-the-counter sales of contraceptives without prescription, as well as controlling the sale of condoms.

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-P.Poop