November 2011
2 posts
WatchThis is just a short preview of our Expo trip.
To see more footage and learn more about our experiences there, come to “Halong: Philippine Exposure 2011” on Sunday November 13!
8 tags
August 2011
11 posts
WatchFootage from the August 25 anti-budget cut protest in front of the House of Representatives. We left for the airport shortly after this was taken, when the rally was still peaceful.
By the time I arrived into Seattle, news started going around that the rally had turned violent. I couldn’t believe that the very people I had shared space and built with over the past month were being blasted...
Post-SONA
The run-down of what I’ve been up to:
- Hacienda Luisita integration for 3 nights, 4 days in Tarlac.
- Educational Discussion
- AB National budget meeting @ UP Diliman
- Educational Discussion
- Educational Discussion
- Political prisoners visitation in at Batangas Provincial Jail
- Educational Discussion
- Lightning rally @ The House of Representatives during the budget hearings.
-...
Watchnclrmrz:
Sayaw Sa Bubog (by Nicole Ramirez)
One of the highlights of this year’s SONA for me was watching AKLAS and Anakbayan San Roque sing and dance to The Jerk’s performance of “Sayaw Sa Bubog.”
This is what Happy and Determined looks like.
July 2011
43 posts
11 hours until People's SONA
tomorrow is the culmination of our collective exposure trip: the people’s State of the Nation Address. i’m still trippin that i will be reppin BAYAN USA with a rap i just wrote last night. speaking of last night, cabug and i and Hanalei from FiRE got to rock the San Roque youth concert. San Roque is the urban poor community that survived demolition last September and continue to fight...
one week in seattle
It has been one week back in Seattle and the sleepy days / restless nights have come to an end! I have had some time to check-in with friends, meet up with folks in CARW and type up my notes… and continuing to process everything. Still trying to reflect on some favorites …hearing anakbayan organizers sing their “theme song” about growing up petite bourgeoisie and becoming politicized…. to being...
Goodnight
I wrote a reflective blog entry and then it cancelled on me and all got lost. Thanks a lot, internet cafe. Now I’m sad. But basically: Jenilee is here, yay! Participated in a nation-wide youth/student walkout, yay! Back in Manila from an amazing trip in Mindanao, yay! Starting urban poor integration tomorrow, yay!
That’s it for now. :)
-Janelle
1st Night In Manila
I made it! I still can’t believe I’m here, it doesn’t seem real. This kind of heat will take some getting use to, as well as the crazy roads. I got picked up at the airport by Janelle, Nicole, and Mike. It was really nice to see some familiar faces. I had a mini HnD Orientation over dinner I can’t tell you how excited I am for these next for days.
While everyones Expo trip...
Greetings, from the Apple Store in Waikiki.
Yes, I’m only in here just to give an update.
I arrived in Honolulu around noon and settled into a hostel in Waikiki. Nothing fancy, just a place I can put my luggage and rest up before my connecting flight to Manila. I am having a wonderful time here. Leaving gloomy Seattle to a hot and sunny Hawaii has made this solo dolo trip more bearable. I dropped my stuff off at the hostel and headed...
Its been...
2 days since I arrived back in the states. Still haven’t adjusted fully to the time and haven’t had the time to process. I’m full on busy with my cousin’s upcoming nuptials and feel overwhelmed. I just want a full day of nothing. :\ I have had a few quick chats with family and some friends, but can’t wait to really talk about my experiences and the...
here i go. falling in love again.
general santos city, i never know how much i miss you until i return. i think you and i deserve another chance.
on the real, i have never really imagined myself organizing in the philippines full time, and being happy.
until this moment.
don’t worry, conversations will be had before final decisions are made.
that is all for now. i just found out we have to wake up in 2 hours to go visit...
Saranggani Bay, Fish and Prison
July 13th, 2011
We entered Queen Tuna Park to view the Saranggani Bay. The guards gave us permission to hang out on the beach for 20minutes. Here we learned that a many homes will be demolished to increase development of eco tourism. Many residents along the bay are fisher folk and their lively hood is dependent on what they catch. Well, according to the surrounding burangays, there isn’t...
back in my hood
i am filled with joy to be posted up and posting this from the bayan office here in general santos city, where i was born. it feels incredible to finally be able to understand the conditions of this region and integrate with the organizers and community here. tomorrow, we will be with the urban poor community, and the day after we will be hiking to Upper Suyan to learn more about the situation...
“We are like seeds and the people like soil. We must unite and be rooted within...”
– Elmer Labog, Chairperson of Kilusan Mayo Uno (May 1st Movement)
Day 14
We just sent off two of our exposurists, Rhondalei and Sean, off to the airport. While it’s sad to see them go, I know that their stay here has been spent wisely and that they’re taking away so many good things along with them. I am glad I was able to share a short integration experience with the both of them in a Southern Tagalog peasant farming community as well as a heavily-policed...
