DIE HARD III
A diverse stream of ideologues from the political intelligentsia came, too. Not long after Cuban Ambassador Jorge Jimenez arrived and sat at the front row beside Ka Dodong Nemenzo, veteran activist cum theater and TV director Joel Saracho opened the event, followed by the Philippine National Anthem. Ka Dodong was the first to speak and explained that the Venezuelan ambassador could not make it due to a sudden health issue. The Venezuelan flag did arrive later and was installed beside our national flag — though we missed the Venezuelan anthem which the embassy didn't bring.
Ka Dodong gave a comprehensive and humorous account of President Hugo Chávez's struggles, especially toward building his Bolivarian socialist reforms in Venezuela as well as his constant jousts with US imperialism, particularly against Bush Jr. Following Ka Dodong were songs from Noel Cabangon, including the emotional chorus from everyone of "The Internationale" in Filipino. I was seated on the aisles as I lost my seat when I went out of the auditorium a second. That was how crowded it was. I stood to sing "The Internationale" which never fails to well up the emotions from the dreams of my youth, which I suppose was also the case for everyone in the auditorium at that moment. Dr. Ed Tadem, UP Professor of Asian Studies, explained the experience of change and social justice in Venezuela under Chávez's socialist revolution.
Then I was called to speak my piece. In brief, I said: "Hugo Chávez has already done a lot for the Philippines. For one, I notice that personalities identified with the Old CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines, Lava tradition) as well as the New CPP, the "rejectionists" and the "reaffirmists" (pro- and anti-Jose Ma. Sison factions from the National Democratic Movement), the Social Democrat and Democratic Socialist movements, pro-Marcos, pro-Trillanes, anti- and pro-PeNoy elements from the "Left" have been brought together under one roof and in one forum by Hugo Chávez. That is no simple feat. And it is the inspiration of Hugo Chávez that brings us together, we people who have no greed in our soul the way Hugo Chávez represented all people with no greed in the soul."
I went on to narrate the other good deeds Chávez would have done for the Filipino people and the world, like his offer of very cheap petroleum to President Joseph Estrada during his state visit to the Philippines in 1999, which, unfortunately, Venezuela could not work out as this ran counter to the interests of the private US-controlled oil companies that benefited from the privatization of Petron and PNOC (Philippine National Oil Co.).
Estrada and Chávez had many similarities as presidents. Both were extremely popular and populist; they were elected almost at the same time and deposed by coups d'etat backed by US corporatists (Erap in 2001 and Chávez in 2002). Their only difference: Erap's pro-poor and patriotic intentions were framed in a mainly civilian, patrician and paternalist approach while Chávez had a clear socialist-nationalist framework backed by militant socialist and reformist military movements.
I finished my tribute flashing the front page of a newspaper that used an article of mine, which had the word "Poison" boldly emblazoned over a portrait of Chávez. Yes, the late Venezuelan leader was most likely poisoned and murdered, as what had happened to many anti-imperialist, anti-US-Israel political figures, from Gen. Omar Torrijos of Panama to the six current Latin American heads-of-state struggling with cancer, as well as Yasser Arafat a few years back. So half-jokingly, I turned to Ka Dodong and said, "Please be careful."
For now, we offer "Hasta Siempre" (Till Forever), the title of the popular tribute to Che Guevara, which Noel Cabangon sang and is now also aptly dedicated to our "Comandante Eternal" Hugo Chávez:
"Till eternity
"We learned to love you/ From the heights of history
"Where your sun-bright courage/ Laid siege to death
"For us on earth you left behind
"The clear and deep transparency, of your beloved presence
"Comandante Che Guevara (Hugo Chávez)
"Like the revolutionary, who led a new enterprise
"Your liberating strength, awaits and guides us still…
"We will carry on now, as we followed you then."
And with Fidel we say to you: Till eternity, Comandante…
(Tune in to 1098 AM, Tuesday to Friday, 5 to 6 p.m.; watch GNN's HTL show, GNN Channel 8, Saturdays, 8:15 to 9 p.m., 11:15 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m., and over at www.gnntv-asia.com, with this week's topic, "Catholic Argentina: The Dark Years;" also visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com)
Herman Tiu Laurel
3/18/2013
Last March 14, Thursday, at three in the afternoon, the Science Auditorium of the University of the Philippines-Diliman on Velasquez St. was filled to its rafters. Former UP president Francisco "Dodong" Nemenzo organized a gathering to pay tribute to the recently martyred President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez. I was one of the earliest at the auditorium and saw the crowds streaming in; to my surprise, it filled in no time. Groups came in. The masa were very well-represented and I thought: How encouraging that so many of them have taken the time for Chávez. Maybe there's hope that enlightenment can overtake Willie Revillame and the Sotto brothers."
A diverse stream of ideologues from the political intelligentsia came, too. Not long after Cuban Ambassador Jorge Jimenez arrived and sat at the front row beside Ka Dodong Nemenzo, veteran activist cum theater and TV director Joel Saracho opened the event, followed by the Philippine National Anthem. Ka Dodong was the first to speak and explained that the Venezuelan ambassador could not make it due to a sudden health issue. The Venezuelan flag did arrive later and was installed beside our national flag — though we missed the Venezuelan anthem which the embassy didn't bring.
Ka Dodong gave a comprehensive and humorous account of President Hugo Chávez's struggles, especially toward building his Bolivarian socialist reforms in Venezuela as well as his constant jousts with US imperialism, particularly against Bush Jr. Following Ka Dodong were songs from Noel Cabangon, including the emotional chorus from everyone of "The Internationale" in Filipino. I was seated on the aisles as I lost my seat when I went out of the auditorium a second. That was how crowded it was. I stood to sing "The Internationale" which never fails to well up the emotions from the dreams of my youth, which I suppose was also the case for everyone in the auditorium at that moment. Dr. Ed Tadem, UP Professor of Asian Studies, explained the experience of change and social justice in Venezuela under Chávez's socialist revolution.
Then I was called to speak my piece. In brief, I said: "Hugo Chávez has already done a lot for the Philippines. For one, I notice that personalities identified with the Old CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines, Lava tradition) as well as the New CPP, the "rejectionists" and the "reaffirmists" (pro- and anti-Jose Ma. Sison factions from the National Democratic Movement), the Social Democrat and Democratic Socialist movements, pro-Marcos, pro-Trillanes, anti- and pro-PeNoy elements from the "Left" have been brought together under one roof and in one forum by Hugo Chávez. That is no simple feat. And it is the inspiration of Hugo Chávez that brings us together, we people who have no greed in our soul the way Hugo Chávez represented all people with no greed in the soul."
I went on to narrate the other good deeds Chávez would have done for the Filipino people and the world, like his offer of very cheap petroleum to President Joseph Estrada during his state visit to the Philippines in 1999, which, unfortunately, Venezuela could not work out as this ran counter to the interests of the private US-controlled oil companies that benefited from the privatization of Petron and PNOC (Philippine National Oil Co.).
Estrada and Chávez had many similarities as presidents. Both were extremely popular and populist; they were elected almost at the same time and deposed by coups d'etat backed by US corporatists (Erap in 2001 and Chávez in 2002). Their only difference: Erap's pro-poor and patriotic intentions were framed in a mainly civilian, patrician and paternalist approach while Chávez had a clear socialist-nationalist framework backed by militant socialist and reformist military movements.
I finished my tribute flashing the front page of a newspaper that used an article of mine, which had the word "Poison" boldly emblazoned over a portrait of Chávez. Yes, the late Venezuelan leader was most likely poisoned and murdered, as what had happened to many anti-imperialist, anti-US-Israel political figures, from Gen. Omar Torrijos of Panama to the six current Latin American heads-of-state struggling with cancer, as well as Yasser Arafat a few years back. So half-jokingly, I turned to Ka Dodong and said, "Please be careful."
For now, we offer "Hasta Siempre" (Till Forever), the title of the popular tribute to Che Guevara, which Noel Cabangon sang and is now also aptly dedicated to our "Comandante Eternal" Hugo Chávez:
"Till eternity
"We learned to love you/ From the heights of history
"Where your sun-bright courage/ Laid siege to death
"For us on earth you left behind
"The clear and deep transparency, of your beloved presence
"Comandante Che Guevara (Hugo Chávez)
"Like the revolutionary, who led a new enterprise
"Your liberating strength, awaits and guides us still…
"We will carry on now, as we followed you then."
And with Fidel we say to you: Till eternity, Comandante…
(Tune in to 1098 AM, Tuesday to Friday, 5 to 6 p.m.; watch GNN's HTL show, GNN Channel 8, Saturdays, 8:15 to 9 p.m., 11:15 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m., and over at www.gnntv-asia.com, with this week's topic, "Catholic Argentina: The Dark Years;" also visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment
REMINDERS:
- Spamming is STRICTLY PROHIBITED
- Any other concerns other than the related article should be sent to generalkuno@gmail.com. Your privacy is guaranteed 100%.