Si Ka Bel ang anti-thesis ng pagtaliwas sa linya ng historikal na panlipunang pagbabago. Nanatiling naninindigan si Ka Bel sa kilusang masa hanggang sa huling sandali na ang wanna-be gitnang uring mamamayan ay higit na nahahalina sa Nokia N-90, Trinoma at Mall of Asia, Krispy Kreme, budget airlines, Asus computer, at paper-thin na Mac na…
Category: Culture
The Planet as Homeland
E. San Juan, Jr. Balikbayang Mahal: Passages from Exile. Morrisville, NC: Lulu.com, 2007. A book of translations, Balikbayang Mahal or Beloved Returnee is about making history in unexpected places. Take, for instance, the following cases. The names of the dead haunt the poet-exile as dusk descends on Punta Spartivento—Juvy Magsino, Benjaline Hernandez, Eden Marcellana, Rafael…
John Cusack’s War: The Actor Battles to Un-embed Hollywood With His New Film, “War, Inc.”
“War, Inc.” is a radically different kind of movie. In fact, it really defies genre. It is sort of like this generation’s “Dr. Strangelove,” “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Wizard of Oz” mixed together with the unembedded reporting of Naomi Klein, spiced up with a dash of “South Park.” It is a powerful, visionary response…
John Cusack’s War: The Actor Battles to Un-embed Hollywood With His New Film, “War, Inc.”
“War, Inc.” is a radically different kind of movie. In fact, it really defies genre. It is sort of like this generation’s “Dr. Strangelove,” “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Wizard of Oz” mixed together with the unembedded reporting of Naomi Klein, spiced up with a dash of “South Park.” It is a powerful, visionary response…
Binugtong na Bayan: Paglikha ng Makabayang Bugtong sa Ninunal na Panahon
Ang bugtong o palaisipan ang pinakapaborito kong porma ng tula: maigsi ngunit mabagsik. Kung ang mga bugtong noo’y alinsunod sa animistikong tradisyon (paniniwala sa mga ispiritung naninirahan sa kalikasan), ang mga historikal na karanasan ng bansa ang magdudulot ng pagbabago sa konsepto’t nilalaman ng mga bugtong. NI MICHAEL FRANCIS C. ANDRADA Iniambag sa Bulatlat KULTURA…
Botong and San Pedro: Angono National Artists Sharing Same Death Anniversary
The greatness of Carlos “Botong” Francisco and Lucio San Pedro becomes doubly admiring because their feet remained on the ground even after they had achieved iconic status. They mirrored and represented a generation of Angono whose parents – despite being fishermen, farmers and duck raisers – were trained and disciplined to value the meaning of…
A Review of Balikbayang Mahal/Passages from Exile by E. San Juan, Jr.
San Juan is always an eloquent and forceful writer, and his poems are no exception. This latest work is his most artistically creative yet, and adds significantly to his already weighty collection of writings. BY TAMARA POWELL Associate Professor of English, Louisiana Tech University Contributed to Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 48, January 13-19, 2008 E.…
Hiling Ninyo’y Lupa
NI OLIVER CARLOS Inilathala ng Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 47, January 6-12, 2008 Sa alaala ng mga Martir ng Mendiola Massacre Nakatindig akong kasama n’yo sa balisbisang iyon ng Mendiola… sa harap ng sementadong tulay na naghiwalay sa atin mula sa kanila… silang mga panginoon dito sa lupa, at tayong mga aliping bumubungkal ng lupa.…
Sagana Raw ang Buhay
NI PAPA OSMUBAL Inilathala ng Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 47, January 6-12, 2007 Sagana raw ang buhay at hibla lamang ng alamat ang gutom. Iyan lagi ang matibay na haka-haka ni Aling Gloria na kasinglusog ng elepante na kung makita mo naman masasabi mo na hindi nga kulang ang biyaya sa mundo. Hindi niya batid…
Binugtong na mga Kuwento ng Monopolyo Kapitalismo
NI MYKEL ANDRADA MAIIKLING KUWENTONG BINUGTONG Inilathala ng Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 47, January 6-12, 2008 1. Bagong laging naluluma, lumang laging nababago. 2. Mababa kapag marami, mataas kapag kaunti. 3. Marami kapag mababa, kaunti kapag mataas. 4. Lumolobo palabas, lumolobo paloob, hindi pumuputok. 5. Gulong na umiikot, ikot na gumugulong. 6. Kapatid ng Tatay;…
Is Decolonization Necessary to the Lives of Filipino People?
We have been suffered so much by the hands of the colonizer and now the neo-colonizer and of course the Filipino people who choose to collaborate to these people. However, we can not let them ruin our future and dehumanize us. It’s time to rapture their boundaries and interrogate their ways. It’s time to decolonize…