Floro E. Balce: Iskolar ng Bayan (Last Part)
"Nahirapan talaga kaming intindihin ang personalidad ni Floro, 'he was really a study in contradictions,'" ani Bing. Isipin mo, ang sipag gumanap ng mga trabahong alam naman niyang bahagi ng ND movement, pero pag kinulit mo tungkol sa pormal na pagpapaloob sa ND organization ay ayaw naman. Ang sabi pa niya, mas advantageous daw ang 'non-card bearer'."
"Naisip nga namin, siguro dahil may kapatid siya sa military, kaya nagdadalawang-llob sa pagsapi sa ND movement. Sumuko na nga ako pagkatapos ng apat na buwang walang humpay na pangungumbinsi. Kaya nang marecruit namin siya sa natdem noong Setyembre 1975 at pumaloob sa Partido Komunista noong November 1976 ay apaw talaga ang galak sa puso ng mga kasama. Isipin mo, mula 1974 namin siya inumpisahang organisahin."
Vintage Floro...hindi conventional mag-isip. Matagal magproseso ng desisyon ngunit masinop. Mahirap kumbinsihin, pero pag nakumbinsi at sumagot nang oo, ay di umaatras. Iyan si Floro, na noong Pebrero 1978, nasa ika-apat na taon sa pag-aaral ng BS Electrical Engineering sa UP ay nagpasyang tumungo sa kabundukan at maging mandirigma ng bayan na ikinabigla ng maraming kaibigan at kamag-aral.
"Totoo na aktibong-aktibo siya sa mga gawain sa kilusan. In fact, malaki ang naging papel niya sa KM organizing sa hanay ng mga Bikolanong estudyante sa UP noong 1975-76, naging miyembro siya ng Bikol Liaison Group/STU sa Kamaynilaan noong 1976, at naging 'full-time cadre' siya noong 1977. Pinagtiyagaan niya mula 1977 hanggang early '78 ang pinakamainit na Bikol-STU group sa Manila-Rizal," paglalahad ni Bing. "Pero hindi ko rin ini-expect na kagyat siyang lalahok sa armadong pakikibaka. Inalaska ko pa nga, na baka naman broken-hearted lang siya kaya aalis. Hindi raw...sigurado at desidido siya."
Maging ang mga magulang at kapatid ni Floro ay nagulantang nang malamang sumapi na ito sa New People's Army. Sabi nga ni Gerardo, nagpaalam pa sa kanya si Poloy na uuwi sa Bikol...pagkatapos ay nabalitaan na lamang niya na nasawi ito sa isang engkuwentro.
Marahil ay si Floro lamang ang higit na nakauunawa sa kanyang desisyon. Sabi nga niya kay Bing, "I have come to terms with my life, my questions regarding the revolutionary struggle have been sufficiently answered, I know what I want...to be with the masses in the hills."
Pagdating ni Floro sa Bikol noong Pebrero 1978 ay idineploy siya ng pamunuan ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan sa rehiyon sa Partido area. Naging kasapi siya ng Mass Work Team, isang semi-legal team na ang pangunahing gawain ay balikan ang lumang base sa Camarines Sur nina Kumander Tangkad/Romulo Jallores.
Masikhay na nakipamuhay si Floro sa mga magsasaka ng Partido area. Masigasig na ipinagpatuloy ang kanyang gawaing pag-oorganisa at edukasyon sa hanay ng mga magsasaka't magbubukid sa teritoryo.
Ang mga samu't saring kuwento ng mga kasama at masang nakasalamuha niya sa sonang gerilya ay nagpapatunay kung gaano kasigasig si Floro sa pagganap sa kanyang mga gawain at tungkulin sa kilusan...na hindi nito ininda ang mga 'petty bickerings' sa kolektibo niya...na lagi itong masaya at nagbibiro. Natuto rin itong magluto na dati ay di niya type gawin. Nakahiligan rin nito ang pagsusulat ng tula at binabasa tuwing may programa sila, di nga lamang naitago ang mga ito.
Sa isang sulat niya kay Bing ay nasabi nitong sa hinaharap ay nais niyang magtayo ng paaralan para sa mga bata sa bundok. Ani Floro: If I can teach little children the values of kindness and nationalism, then that would be pure happiness on my part." Kung noong araw ay hindi siya mapakanta sa Ibalon, sa bundok ay kumakanta siya habang tinuturuan ang mga bata.
"Maganda ang relasyon ng yunit na kinabibilangan ni Floro sa masang inoorganisa sa teritoryong saklaw nila." paglalahad ni Bing. "Malakas ang suporta ng masa sa kanila. Kaya nga lamang, ang Partido area ay kinonsentrahan ng military operation ng AFP. Ang policy na 'supression and encirclement' ay ginamit sa kanila. Kasabay nito ay nagpakawala ng 'ahente' o espiya ang AFP sa lugar at sino mang makapagturo ng NPA ay binibigyan ng pabuya."
Bunga ng sunud-sunod na operasyon ng kaaway at kasalatan sa gamit-military ay nadepensiba ng husto ang yunit nina Floro hanggang matirhan na lamang sila ng tatlong baryo sa boundary ng Tigaon at Goa.
"Sa kalagayang 'compromised' na ang seguridad ng yunit ay nagreconcentrate sina Floro noong Hulyo 30, 1978 sa isang lugar sa boundary ng Tigaon-Goa," ayon pa kay Bing. "Nagpulong sila at nagpasyang magmove-out kinabukasan. Ngunit bandang alas sais ng gabi ay nakubkob sila ng PA unit na pinamumunuan ni 1Lt. Malali, isang Muslim officer na dating kasapi ng MNLF."
Isa si Floro sa tatlong NPA na tinamaan sa naganap na pangungubkob ng militar. Siya ang unang tinamaan ng bala dahil kalalabas pa lang niya sa payag (kubo) na pinagpupulungan nila. Nakuha ng mga sundalo ang kanyang sugatang katawan at dinala sa kampo nila sa Bgy. Caraycayon, Tigaon, Camarines Sur.
Namatay si Floro sa pagitan ng alas otso at alas nuwebe ng gabi noong Hulyo 30, 1978...sa mismong araw ng kanyang kapanganakan sa edad na 23 taong gulang. Bago siya nalagutan ng hininga ay naibigay niya sa mga sundalo ng PA ang kanyang tunay na pangalan, pangalan ng kanyang mga magulang at lugar na pinanggalingan.
Matapos ang isang araw ng pagbuburol sa munisipyo ng Tigaon ay ipinalibing ng mga sundalo ang bangkay ni Floro sa Tigaon Cemetery. "Hinawak-hawakan pa raw ng Mayor ang kamay ng anak ko...sinabing sayang, bago pa lamang ito sa bundok."
Pagkalipas ng tatlong taon ay saka pa lamang naiuwi ang labi ni Floro sa Daet, Camarines Norte...
"Noong 1981 lamang namin nakuha ang labi ni Poloy sa Tigaon Cemetery. Ayaw kasi itong ipahukay at ipadala sa mga kapatid niya noong puntahan ito noong Agosto 15, 1978. Nangangamoy na raw dahil 15 araw nang nakalibing. Pero kung kasama ako noon sa pagkuha ay hindi ako papayag na di madala ang bangkay ni Poloy dito sa Daet para mabigyan namin ng maayos at marangal na libing. Kung nalaman lang sana kaagad namin ang pagkamatay niya." ang sabi ni nanay ni Floro.
"Huwag ka nang malumbay Inang Pilipinas Kahit na may ilang anak kang malagas Moog nating bakal sa kubling likuran Ang mga bukirin ay isang katiyakan Uring mapang-api ating ibabagsak At mailalatag ang mapulang bukas,"
(Mga may-akda: Antonio A. Ayo, Jr. at Ma. Leny E. Felix; halaw sa "Pulang Hamtik")
A Hurried Comet Blazing In The Night Sky
Thirty years after the fatal shot which took his young life, UP Ibalon recalls Floro E. Balce. Those who know and love him ponder on the evanescence of his time, the greatness of his sacrifice and the humanity of his dream. They pay tribute to Ka Manding, one among the heroic braves who died in the pitch-blackness of the night--- of yet to be won battle, before the sun comes up for a better day. The noble cause he embraced remains contentious---that which draws others to learn and admire his lofty path. –Totie Mesia
In an ill-descript spot along EDSA highway in Manila, there is Bantayog ng mga Bayani, a memorial of remarkable human beings whose lives are weightier than the heavy stone on which their names are engraved. Etched on a simple black slab of concrete is the name of UP Ibalon’s Floro E. Balce, a Bicolano hero who died from gunfire which blew an excruciating rugged hole on his belly, leading to his agonizing death. It happened in July 30, 1978, in Tigaon, Camarines Sur on his birthday.
A man of strong principles and unbridled dreams, Floro was my roommate at Molave Residence Hall in UP Diliman. He was a bright idealistic electrical engineering (EE) student, a National Science Development Board (NSDB) scholar from Daet, Camarines Norte---- my indulgent friend and math mentor in the dorm.
In the same room with us was Larry Ajel, our buddy from the Ilocos who dreamed to work in a hospital as a medical technologist. Larry shared our provincial plebeian background. He was our big brother who taught us the urbane ways of the campus. His stay however was cut short by a decision to migrate to America.
Rudival Cabading was another roommate. The rambunctious guy felt the state university wasn’t his piece of cake, so he moved to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA.) He became a military officer who never saw me stepped out of our dormitory to become a physician.“Bakit dito sa UP, ang mga estudyante, nagsasalita ng Espanyol?” I recalled Floro asking me on our first day of school inside the Arts and Science (AS) building. Feeling my way on the unfamiliar ground, I was as naïve and perplexed as he was.
“Why? What did you hear?” I asked.
“Que hora es,” he said with a spark in his eyes.
Having survived his early years in UP, my soft-spoken buddy transformed into an assertive, knowledgeable, and brave gentleman. But he kept a low profile, humbly sharing his private thoughts with the people he knew and trusted.
He also trusted me, but perhaps, he didn’t feel it was a good idea to let me know too much of his leftist leanings. His linkage with the New People’s Army (NPA.) was something I suspected, but I didn’t ask. The guy had this palpable intolerance against injustice which was nurtured in campus. I knew he was opposed to the corruption of the Marcos, drawing him to join protest marches and rallies.
Had I shown enough sympathy for his cause, he might have led me deep into the sanctum of his beliefs and the core of his convictions. Yet, he was considerate, respectful, and even protective of my own safety. He didn’t want me to be distracted, for he knew I was hell-bent to become a doctor.
We talked about poverty and inequity when we were supposed to be focused in our studies---if not fiery hot, pursuing girls in campus. Setting aside school work at night, we discussed social issues that otherwise wouldn’t have bothered the care-free college students we knew. At semester’s end, there was silence that pervaded the dorm before the residents left for the school break. For us, nothing triggered so much adrenaline release and worry when the last days of class wore on. The teachers were sternly aloof and the final exams they gave were difficult. We were all preparing for the killer tests that would dictate which way we’d go in our studies.
“How was your exam?” I asked Floro after he took his test.
“I submitted my blue book empty,” he said wryly. “I didn’t answer any of the test questions. They were hard. I wrote my teacher to explain why,” he continued.
That worried me. In my mind, if he failed the test, that meant he’d lose his scholarship; at worst, he’d be kicked out from the college and be forced to return home to Bicol. I would not see him again just like some of my friends who drifted away from college.
Convinced by his honesty, the teacher gave him a chance to retake the test. It was hard for me to believe that there was such a teacher in UP who would be so kind to a troubled student. I knew I needed such kindness too. While Floro fought to keep his scholarship to earn an engineering degree, I was in rabid pursuit for higher grades to get me into medical school.
But life seemed to have taken a different turn. The social cause he pursued was eating up his time and he started acting as though finishing college wasn’t that important anymore. Although he returned to the dorm late from meetings with people I didn’t know, it never crossed my mind that he was mulling to go full-time as Ka Manding in the NPA movement.
I was with him for so long that I’d quickly recognize his low-toned voice if he called me from heaven. In ROTC, we bonded together in that green military uniform and combat boots during practice marches, lectures, and GT’s (graded tests.) We belonged to a jolly platoon of fellow-Ibalonians with Ray R.G. Rayel, Julius A. Lecciones, and Arnel V. Malaya. Our group’s tail-scout, Floro guarded our backs during a bivouac. He was our loyal sentinel when we took surreptitious rests under the cool shade of acacia trees.
I still kept the image of Floro as an active student catholic action member (UPSCA ) waiting at the dorm door for our Sunday mass to hear the socially-charged sermons of Fr. Unson in the campus chapel. Gratitude was on his face as I lent him cash sometimes when he didn’t have time to travel to far Bicutan to pick up his NSDB stipend. His steady gaze was transfixed on my face, as he pointed on social issues at Mrs. Rodrin’s cottage during our lunch together.
In a soiree, we had a good laugh donning our sartorial best at the alumni center, sipping cold beer to be with the most beautiful Bicolanas in campus. In a fond conversation, I naughtily poked on a pretty Ibalonian Rebecca Espeso wearing that orangey ethereal “kulambo” blouse which made Floro twinkle.
“Magayonon!” I whispered on his ear. He reacted with those jerky convulsions on his shoulder; his elated radiant eyes were as thin as the coin-hole of a lucky slot machine. He chuckled loud as though I heard Brad Pitt laughing somewhere.
A fine human being who truly cared for the poor and the disadvantaged, Floro was a hurried bright comet blazing in the night sky. He was fast on his trail to let the world know of his mission. Martyrdom he must do, for he couldn’t wait to hear more of the cries of the poor without doing something. In Molave, my friend, the shining gem in the sky had this old alarm clock, a brother’s gift, he told me, which sounded like a time-bomb. He laughed in earnest when Mario Genio, another Bicolano and I kidded him of the noisy white clock.
I borrowed this funny time piece to wake me up at midnight in order to study. When the alarm rang, I thought I saw Floro’s shadowy figure in that rickety chair fronting his table, deep in thought, as if something heavy was in his heart. I wondered if God was there speaking to him by his side. Maybe that moment was his epiphany. In the pitch blackness of midnight outside, it was his time to illumine the sky. =0=
US Marks July 4th With Parades, Fireworks And Hotdogs
"Hallowed be the day, forever bright its memory
in the heart of the Nation.
Sing to it, poets;
shout to it, freemen;
celebrate it with bonfires,
parades, & triumphant assemblies"
-Daily Alta California, 4 July 1855
Commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the United States of America celebrates its freedom from the Kingdom of Britain. The historic day is celebrated by Americans all over the country with parades, fireworks, concerts, family reunions, picnics, barbecues, and baseball.
An annual hotdog eating competition in Coney Island New York had Joey Chestnut winning the contest for the second time after downing 59 hotdogs in 10 minutes---an unprecedented tie with Japan’s Takeru Kobayshi (see pictures by Reuters.) A five-dog eat-off tie-breaker failed to bring back the winning streak of Kobayashi, a six –time contest winner.
“On the 232nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Boy Scouts in Hartford, Conn., rang a replica of the Liberty Bell, while organizers of the annual New York fireworks display promised the rockets' red glare would be better than ever.
Near Kissimmee, Fla., a wounded bald eagle, the national bird, was flying free after spending more than two months rehabilitating from a fight with another eagle. It was freed Thursday in Lake Tohopekaliga, the heart of Florida's eagle country.
In Boston, the 211-year-old USS Constitution, the Navy's oldest commissioned warship, was the backdrop Friday morning as two dozen people were sworn in as U.S. citizens. Vice President Dick Cheney greeted the new Americans and later, in a second ceremony, administered the re-enlistment oath to a group of servicemen.” Associated Press (07.04.08, Long, C.) =0=
Floro E. Balce: Iskolar ng Bayan (Part 2)
"Clear-cut ang plans ni Floro pagpasok niya sa UP. Gusto niyang maging isang matagumpay na Electrical Engineer, at magpakadalubhasa sa propesyong ito," ayon kay Jake. "He was very serious in his studies, matiyagang mag-aral, at nagsusunog talaga ng kilay. Mas bulakbol pa nga ako sa kanya. Sabi nga namin, mukhang seryoso ngang talagang maging president ng Pilipinas ang taong ito. Sabagay may 'K' naman siyang mangarap, di lang naman siya ordinaryong UP student, NSDB scholar pa...at basically hardworking."
Kasabay ng masikhay na pag-aaral ay todo-todo rin ang paglahok ni Floro sa mga 'extra-curricular activities.' Sumapi siya sa UP Student Catholic Action (UPSCA) kung saan siya ay naging 'chairperson ng socio-cultural committee.' Naging 'core group member' din siya ng Molave Kurahaw, isang organisasyon ng mga Bikolanong estudyante sa Molave Residence Hall noong 1973-75.
Noong itatag ang UP Ibalon, isang varsitarian organization ng mga Bikolanong estudyante sa UP noong Disyembre 1, 1974 ay kabilang siya sa 'charter members' nito. Sa organisasyong ito inukol ni Floro ang malaking halaga ng kanyang buhay-estudyante.
Ayon kay Mar, "Floro was around the most difficult times of UP Ibalon. He was there when the chips are down. N'ung 1974 kasi ay nagkaroon ng problema sa UP Paglaom, ito ang pre-Martial Law organization ng mga Bikolano sa UP. May mga pagkakaiba sa paniniwala at estilo ng pagpapatakbo ng organisasyon. Ang differences na ito ay nauwi sa split kung saan na-polarize ang membership. This polarization resulted to the formation of UP Ibalon by certain members na kabilang sa Floro. Bandang huli ay nalusaw ang UP Paglaom...at mas lalong tumatag ang UP Ibalon."
"Mga dalawang beses rin siyang nag-inactive sa UP Ibalon dahil nainis siya sa 'leadership style' nung president namin at that time, pero kapagka in crisis ang Ibalon ay bumabalik siya para tumulong sa pagpatch-up ng mga gusot. Sabi niya nung bumalik sa Ibalon, "dito na ulit ako, pagod na ako sa UPSCA, 36 balloting na kami, wala pa ring nahahalal na chairman. "At that time kasi ay may split ang socdem at natdem sa UPSCA kaya matindi ang labanan sa eleksyon."
Pagsibol ng Bagong Pangarap
Sa gitna ng paglahok ni Floro sa iba't ibang aktibidad ng mga organisasyong kinabibilangan niya sa UP ay unti-unting nalalantad sa kanya ang 'reyalidad ng lipunang Pilipino.' Nag-iwan ng sugat sa puso ni Floro ang ginawang dispersal, panggugulpi at damputan ng mga estudyante sa sinalihan niyang protest rally ng mga estudyante sa Avenida. Ang mga exposure trips sa urban poor areas, picket lines ng mga manggagawa at pakikipagtalakayan sa mga magsasaka, ay nagdulot ng sigwa sa kanyang kalooban...nag-iba na ang pangarap ni Floro...katulad na ng pangarap ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal...
"Unti-unti nang nagtatanong si Floro," ani Bing, pinakamatalik niyang kaibigan at dating kakolektibo. "Ang madalas niyang itanong sa gitna ng pakikipagkuwentuhan ay: "Bakit mas maraming mahirap kaysa mayaman? Bakit may mga rebelde? Bakit may Martial Law? Ano ang pwede kong gawin? Saan ako patungo?"
"Floro was practically caught in the midst of the turbulent '70s", ani Ted, dating kasamahan sa Molave Kurahaw.
Patuloy ngang namumuo ang sigwa sa kalunsuran at kanayunan noong 1973, taon ng pagpasok ni Floro sa UP. Ang sigaw ng First Quarter Storm ay nag-aalimpuyo pa rin.
Si Floro, ayon kay Ted, ay katulad rin ng maraming estudyante sa UP noong 1970's, a regular guy, bookworm, mahilig mag-girl watching, nais maging engineer, magtrabaho at siyempre umasenso, kung pwede eh, yumaman...tumulong sa magulang...mag-asawa at magkaroon ng masayang pamilya, the usual dream eka nga.
"Kaya lang iba ang sitwasyon namin noon. Wala 'yang ambience ng SM City na pinag-eenjoyan ng mga Peyups ngayon. Kadedeklara pa lang ng Martial Law, thus the climate of fear and apathy was prevalent in the campus. Pero dulot nga ng matinding kahirapan at karahasang bunga ng Martial Law, ay nagpatuloy ang daloy ng aktibismo sa UP campus. Tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang teach-ins, demonstrations, rallies at kilos-protesta. Sa ganitong 'atmosphere' nasalang ang buhay-estudyante ni Floro at nagkaroon ng bagong hugis ang kanyang mga pangarap."
Gayunpaman, matagal bago tuluyang pumaloob at tuluy-tuloy na lumahok sa national democratic movement si Floro.
"Floro was my most difficult recruit in the national democratic movement kahit na nga as early as 1973 ay exposed na siya sa ND elements," paglalahad ni Bing. "May pagka-devil's advocate. Puro whys...minsan nga napikon ako ng tanungin niya ako, 'paano mo masisisguro na people's democratic revolution (PDR) ang sagot sa feudalism, imperialism at fascism? Are you sure of your strategy and tactics? If you are sure, bakit natalo sa Isabela?"
Si Floro ay katulad din ng maraming aktibista noong panahon matapos ang FQS, o pagkatapos ideklara ang martial law--tanggap ang linyang anti-pasista, anti-pyudal at anti-imperyalista...pero ibang usapan pa ang pagyakap sa armadong pakikibaka bilang porma ng pakikibaka.
"Theoretically ay ready si Floro para sa natdem." banggit ni Bing. "He was anti-fascist, anti-feudal, at anti-imperialist, pero hindi pa siya kumbinsido sa armed struggle. He needed more time to reconcile his beliefs."
"Di naman kataka-taka na natagalan bago napaloob sa natdem organization si Floro," ani Igme, dati rin niyang kakolektibo. May pagka-stubborn kasi siya sa paghold ng position on issues at hand. He has this pride and belief in himself. He may recognize that somebody is better than him, pero sasabihin niya, give me time. Very frank talaga siya, not one who will hold back his feelings. Kaya nga, palagi naming pinaghahandaan ang pakikipag-usap sa kanya, otherwise lalamunin niya kami sa sunud-sunod na pagtatanong at pakikipag-debate. Eh, noong 1973-78 ay pahirapan talaga ang ND organizing. Kailangan ay equipped ka amply with revolutionary theories and practice."
Sa kabila ng pagtanggi na pumaloob formally sa natdem organization ay patuloy na tumulong si Floro sa mga kaibigang natdems sa UP. Tumulong siya sa pagsuri ng mga posibleng 'ahente ng kaaway upang mapangalagaan ang mga ND personalities sa Molave. Gayundin, aktibo siya sa paghahanda ng mga placards at streamers para sa mga rallies, habang masigasig pa ring nag-aaral para sa kanyang mga exams.
(end of Part 2; mga may-akda: Antonio A. Ayo, Jr. at Ma. Leny E. Felix; halaw sa "Pulang Hamtik")
Part II: The Mighty Guy of UP Ibalon
Nakakaabisita ka pa sa Bicol?
-Kaining past years, poon kan naghelang an mother ko, pirme na man ako nakakaduman sa Bicol. It just whetted my appetite to come back.
Kun iguang bagay na yaon sa “Mighty,” ano ini na mayo sa Apolonio Baylon?
-Dipisil simbagon ini. Tibaad sabihon naghahambog ako. Basta aram ko lang matibay ako kun minsan (ngirit!)
An Ibalon sa Camarines aktibo, ano an hiling mo sainda?
-Harayo an madudumanan kan grupo. Baka sa huri an Camarines group pa an guikanan kan Bicol chapter with a large non-resident membership, kaiba idtong mga Ibalonians na nasa hararayong lugar.
The Naga group in Camarines Sur has a big reservoir of resources and goodwill. I also found out na dahil mas mature an membership sagkod dakul an enterpreneurs (including doctors who must sell their services) habo kaini magparasayang ki oras, they will put their money where their mouth is. Marikas maghiro (samantalang ini an kaluyahan kan main group).
Ano an karahayan na hiling mo sa grupo ngonian?
-Diit na tulod lang nalarga an chapter. Dakul ang kamot na nagtuturulod pati na su mga nasa abroad. Live bodies lang na maguibo nin legwork an kulang kan chapter lalo pa an attitude kan iba duman (which is understandable) is "sabihon lang nindo an kaipuhan pero dai na nindo kami halaton sa meeting." (ngirit!)
Dakulang bagay na sa chapter may mga miyembro na pabalik na. Pa-ride off na sinda sa rat race sagkod may pagmawot to "give something back". You can never devalue their worth in an organization lalo na if successful sinda. Magayon na mga pace-setters. Sinda an mga tawo na makakadara satuya sa harayo sagkod halangkaw na lugar.
May possibilidad daw na ma-saro na sana an mga grupong Bicol haling UP?-Pwede. Madali na lang makipag-combine sa similar groups like UP Harong, UP Ibalon, UP Alumni Association and su iba pang Bicol varsitarians pati na su mga bako UP Diliman-based. Madali na ini pag napakusog ta an grupo. An UPCAT review project is a good step.
Tibaad mangyari an Naga an maging pacesetter. In terms of brains I think, the brain trust of the chapter is good, marhay na ejemplo kan ibang grupo.
Ano an ma-i-tatabang kan Ibalon sa ibang mga organisasyon?
-An chapter sa Naga posibleng maging beacon kan ibang Bicol varsis kaiba su malataw na mga alumni orgs ninda. I think trusted man ninda kita. Puwede kita mag-recruit nin alumni member na dai dating resident member kan Ibalon. Puwede man magku’a ki alumni member hale sa ibang Bicol varsitarian. Madali an procesong ini. Kaya kun may aktibidades comun kita sa UP Ibalon-Bicol, mapapadali an mga bagay.
Ugos ka sa mga tawong mga simple sagkod kapobrehan, si’isay an marhay na maging presidente kan Pinas sa 2010?
-I don’t think any president will ever be successful in running the country. Grabe na an mga problema. Nagpaparagrabe habang nagdalagan su mga taon na dae ta nareremedyuhan. Mayong malataw na presidente, na good enough o strong enough, given the time, to untangle all these problems.
But in the future, matatauhan man guiraray an tawo na the current system of muddling along should stop. Pag-abot kaini, a leader who is product of the moment will appear. He might not be successful at first, but later, with a clamor for change, someone will.
Naka-isip ka man lamang na mag-laog sa politika?
-Dae. Ni minsan.
Ano an si’mong prediksiyon paghale ni Presidenta Gloria M. Arroyo?
-After GMA it will be more of the same. Tiba’ad maiba lang an style o ang rapacity. Interest groups will again devour the gains of the nation. Puwede lang magbag’o an factions na mas titiba, gagalansiya. And again people will be forced to seek advancement by going to other lands.
Sabi kan bola crystal mo, ano da’a an puturo kan Ibalon?
-The main group will just muddle along unless somebody really takes charge. Someone should really invest time, effort, and resources to get Ibalon going. Importante an tawong may matagas na taludtod. May paninindogan na labanan an mara’ot--- tawong malaban para sa tama contra sa sala. Kaipuhan niya an satuyang supporta.
Sa pag-agui nin panahon, nagurang na an Ibalon. An ibang mga miembros may kamatean na. Ika may diabetes na. Ano man an naguinibo saimo kan mga doctores kan grupo?
-Pigtutulod ninda akong magpabulong! Yaon an saindang pagmakulog, pagmalasakit---even to the extent na sinda pa an magpacheck-up sako (big smile.)
Nabisita ka sa UP Ibalon-Bicol blog, ano an gusto mong mabasa sa website?
-More about Ibalon and Bicol. Personally taha ako sa news and analysis sa Bicol. =0=
Abangan!
A hurried bright comet blazing in the night sky“Thirty years after the fatal shot which took his young life, a UP Ibalonian recalls Floro E. Balce--- the evanescence of his time, the greatness of his sacrifice and the humanity of his dream."
"This is a tribute to Ka Manding, one among the heroic braves who died in the pitch-blackness of the night--- of yet to be won battle, before the sun comes up for a better day. The cause he embraced remains contentious, yet noble---that which draws others to learn and admire his lofty path.”
“In our fond conversations, I naughtily poked on a pretty Ibalonian Rebecca Espeso who made Floro twinkle-eyed.
“Magayonon!” I excitedly whispered to his ear. With jerky convulsions on Floro's shoulder, his elated eyes were as thin as the coin-hole slits of a piggy bank. He chuckled loud as though I heard Brad Pitt laughing somewhere.”
Part II: The Mighty Guy of UP IbalonHe isn’t called strong or powerful for without a reason. Battle-scarred, insightful and mellowed, Apolonio “Mighty” Baylon who feels tenaciously united with Bicol, continues his thoughts on his love---the UP Ibalon. More than 30 years after he successfully rallied Bicolano students in Diliman campus to establish an organization, here he is---still loyal, ponderous, and unexpurgated.
Floro E. Balce: Iskolar ng Bayan, Part II“An incisive account of Floro’s involvement with Pulang Hamtic as a selfless cadre of the New People’s Army. In a hallowed memorial of Bantayog ng Mga Bayani, his name is etched with another intrepid Bicolano, a former Naga Parochial School student, Alexander Bellone II.
Decaying bodies at sea, an inflation rate of 11.4%, and a cascade of woes for Filipinos
Barely three weeks after the negligent grounding of the Sulpicio Lines ferry at the height of typhoon Frank, a cascade of adverse effects has surfaced adding more injury and pain to untold number of people, near and far from Romblon, the site of the tragedy. As evidence of negligence surface, decaying bodies float in the sea, making retrieval difficult. As days go by, the burden to identify these bodies has overtaxed the forensic experts, raising anew the lack of preparedness of the nation to tackle a catastrophe of this magnitude.
Relatives of those who died have lost sleep grieving their lost loved ones. They’re confused about their legal rights---what options they have to pursue justice for those who perished. Rather than fight the gargantuan obstacles posed by the sluggish legal system, can they be appeased by measly settlements by the owners of the ferry company? They mull on whether the P200,000 being offered by Sulpicio Lines to each victim is the right compensation for each human life.
A hideous find of toxic insecticide in the sunken ferry has posed problems on how to contain a potential contamination that could sicken people in the area and destroy the livelihood of countless fishermen dependent on the resources of the sea. Time is of the essence. It isn’t easy to remove the 10-ton illegal cargo that's sitting dangerously in the hull of the Princess of the Stars. Endosulfan (thiodan) is highly dangerous and a significant leakage of the chemical poses destructive possibilities that could last for years. It poses health risks for those working to recover anything from the ill-fated ferry.Hundreds of miles away, like in poor Bicol villages of Balatan and Pasacao in Camarines Sur, innocent people bear the brunt of the disaster. In Naga City, a sharp drop of fish consumption on fear of contamination has driven down price of fish to 80% below its normal value while the cost of rice rose to 43%.
“Before the news of dead bodies floating in Ragay Gulf broke, fish sales were okay. Of the 100 customers who buy here during normal times, you could only have one today who would dare to buy our products,” Corazon Diaz, vendor of Naga City said, dramatizing the immediate impact of dead bodies in the seas to their business even as the Department of Health has officially announced that there was no immediate danger on people’s health. Bicol Mail. (O7/05/08, Escandor, J. Jr.)
Parallel to the damage wrought by storm, the effects of fuel price increases continue to batter the nation. The rainy season has set in and more typhoons and landslides are expected by the weather watcher PAGASA. Mayon volcano in Albay has shown signs of activity which augurs a possible eruption. The dollar exchange which hovers at P45.70 per dollar has weakened, prompting central bank to prop up the currency from further devaluation. In June, the inflation rate has risen to 11.4%, pegging a record high in 14 years. "The price of rice soared by 43 percent because of growing demand and increased costs of inputs. This means that the rice a consumer bought for P100 in June last year may be had for P143 last month.
Prices of food products included in the Filipino consumer basket rose by 17.4 percent. This means food products that had cost P100 in June last year, cost P117.4 last month." Inquirer (07.05.08, Remo, M.)
The hideous chain of events is nothing that anyone could have imagined, but it has happened--- wrecking havoc to the entire nation. To what extent the public will cope with these calamities (natural or man-made, local or global) is something for now and the future. Certainly, there’s enough blame to spread around, but in this situation, it’s the poor, the young, and elderly who suffer the most. =0=
Floro E. Balce: Iskolar ng Bayan (Part 1)
Hulyo 30, 1978
Isang 23 23 taong-gulang na binatilyong kasapi ng New People's Army ang nasawi sa isang "military encounter" sa pagitan ng Philippine Army na pinamumunuan ni 1Lt. Malali, at yunit ng New People's Army sa Tigaon, Camarines Sur...
Nang mabalitaan ng mga magulang at kapatid ni Floro na nabaril ito at nasawi sa isang 'military encounter' sa Tigaon, Camarines Sur ay tila tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo. Hindi sila makapaniwala na wala na ang kanilang mabait na si Poloy...ang kanilang bunso, na ayon sa kapatid nitong si Gerardo, ay nagpaalam lamang na uuwi sandali sa Bikol noong Pebrero 1978.
"Birthday ng anak ko nang siya'y mamatay. Hindi ko lubos na nauunawaan kun ano ang kanyang ipinakikipaglaban...basta't ang alam ko lang, napakamatulungin ni Poloy kaya siguro siya nagpunta sa bundok...gusto niyang tulungan ang mga tao doon..."
Ito ang tinuran ng nanay ni Floro, si Aling Vicenta, isang biyuda na sa edad na 81 taong-gulang ay kakikitaan pa rin ng liksi at sigla. Hanggang ngayon ay yakap-yakap pa rin niya sa kanyang puso ang mga alaala ng kanyang anak...si Floro Elep Balce, ang iskolar ng bayan...
Ang Simula
Ang kasaysayan ni Floro ay nagsimula sa araw ng kanyang kapanganakan noong Hulyo 30, 1955. Siya ay tubong Camarines Norte, isang lalawigan sa Bikol na mayaman sa kuwento ng mga kabayaniha. Dito sa lalawigang ito nagmula ang mga bantog na bayaning sina Jose Ma. Panganiban at Wenceslao Q. Vinzons.
Si Floro ay isinilang sa San Gregorio Village, Daet, Camarines Norte. Bunso siya sa pitong magkakapatid na karamihan ay nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral at maayos ang pamumuhay. Ang kanyang ama ay si Monico Balce, dating docket clerk ng Court of First Instance sa Daet, at ang kanya namang ina ay si Vicenta Elep-Balce, isang butihing maybahay na piniling propesyon ang pagiging 'full-time housewife & mother' sa kanyang asawa at mga anak.
Ang kinalakhang pamilya ni Floro ay payak ngunit hitik sa pagmamahalan. Sabi nga ng nanay ni Floro, pinalaki ito na busog sa pagmamahal at pag-aaruga kaya't maituturing na masaya ang kanyang 'childhood'.
Si Floro/Poloy, ayon sa kanyang mga kapatid na sina Gerardo, Hernanco, Antonio, Victor, Corazon at Leonor, ay mabait na bata at walang ibinigay na sakit-ulo sa kanila. Maliit pa ito ay bibong-bibo na kaya't palagi itong kalahok sa mga programa sa kanilang eskuwelahan, lalo na sa declamation at oratorical contests.
"Very simple, honest, hardworking at idealist si Floro," ani Jake, dating kaklase na ngayon ay isa nang executive sa isang kompanya sa Makati. "Puwede mo siyang bigyan ng loyalty award bilang kaibigan. Anumang oras ay laging handang tumulong!"
Isa pang matingkad na katangian ni Floro ay ang likas nitong sense of humor. "Joker ang tawag namin sa kaibigan kong iyon," ani Mar, ka-miyembro sa UP Ibalon. "Ang punchline nito kapagka tinatanong namin kung paano siya nakapasa sa NSDB scholarship ay ganito: " Nagkataon kasing may leakage sa hanay ng mga apelyidong nagsisimula sa N-Z kaya disqualified sila, eh. Balce ang apelyido ko kaya pumasa ako." Minsan naman ay tinanong ito ng roommate niya: "O, kumusta ang exam mo sa Physics? Ang sagot ni Floro ay: "Okay naman, nasa top ten ako, number 8...pero walo lang kami sa klase." Kahit sa gitna ng kagipitan ay nakukuha pa nitong magbiro. 'Favorite joke' niya sa gitna ng 'protest rallies' ang kapatid niyang si Hernando, isang Koronel sa Philippine Air Force, na namatay sa 'plane crash' sa Zamboanga noong 1981. Sabi ni Floro, "habang nagra-rally ako sa kalsada, iyong kapatid ko naman ay nasa ere at nambobomba ng mga raliyista."
(picture caption: Minsan may isang nagsabing, "Anong malay ninyo kung maging presidente ako ng pilipinas."
Si Floro ay itinuturing na 'one of the brightest sons of Camarines Norte.' Consistent honor student siya mula elementarya, hayskul at kolehiyo. Siya ang valedictorian ng klase nang magtapos ng elementarya sa Abano Pilot Elementary School sa Daet noong 1969, at salutatorian nang magtapos ng hayskul sa Camarines Norte High School noong 1973. Gayundin, isa siyang iskolar ng National Science Development Board (NSDB) nang pumasok sa University of the Philippines sa kursong Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering noong 1973.
Hindi lamang sa 'academics' ipinakita ni Floro ang kanyang kahusayan, kundi maging sa 'co-curricular activities.' Naging lider siya ng Cub Scout at Boy Scout sa kanilang paaralan noong elementarya. Noong high school ay naging aktibo din siya sa mga grupong aktibidad. Sumali siya sa 18th Provincial Rally ng 4-H Club noong Marso 15, 1970, at sa DMST PMT & WAS Provincial Seminar ng Camarines Norte High School noong September 17-22, 1973. Bunga ng ipinakita niyang kahusayan sa 'academics at co-curricular activities' ay pinarangalan siya noong nasa 3rd year high school siya, taong 1972, bilang 'model student for his exemplary character, creative abilities and special talents, scholastic standing, excellent health, and cheerful disposition" ng Children's Museum and Library, Inc.
(end of Part 1; mga may-akda: Antonio A. Ayo, Jr. at Ma. Leny E. Felix; halaw sa "Pulang Hamtik")
Fast and Fair Justice Needed
Although the slow pace of justice in the Philippines has been repeatedly criticized, the verdict on the Julia Campbell case must be the blue print of how fast cases must be resolved. After more than year of investigation, confessed Benguet killer Juan Donald Duntugan, a 25 year-old woodcarver, was sentenced to 40 years in prison without parole. He was asked to pay P39 million in damages to the Campbell family.“An attack made by a man with a deadly weapon upon an unarmed and defenseless woman constitutes the circumstance of abuse that superiority which his sex, and the weapon used in the act afforded him, and by means of which the woman was overcome and rendered unable to defend herself,” said the decision of Judge Ester Piscoso-Flor of the Ifugao Regional Trial Court branch 34 on June 30, 2008. Philstar (07/01/08, Lagasca, C.)
The monetary compensation seemed huge and the prison sentence apt, but we know the wasted life a US Peace Corps volunteer is more valuable. To compare, those who perished in 911 when terrorists blew up the Twin Towers got an average of $3.1 million from the government, insurances and charitable institutions. Julia Campbell who went missing on April 8, 2008 deserved more compensation. She had a rich and productive life ahead her---more than what the US Peace Corps might have envisioned when it was started in 1961 by Pres. John F. Kennedy:
“Coming from all walks of life and representing the rich diversity of the American people, Peace Corps Volunteers range in age from college students to retirees. Every Peace Corps Volunteer's experience is different. From teaching English to elementary school children in Zambia to launching a computer learning center in Moldova to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in South Africa to working on soil conservation in Panama, Volunteers bring their skills and life experiences to where they are needed most.“ www.peacecorps.govBe as it may, the verdict on the Campbell case brings a sigh of relief to the nation. Filipinos are pushing that other legal cases be handled expeditiously, particularly those involving crimes of citizens, irrespective of who the parties are.
There are still a lot to be desired with our justice system. It must not be too slow or too fast as Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo’s wishy-washy order (Inquirer,07/01/08, Dalangin-Fernandez, L.) that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) wrap up its findings on the Sulpicio Lines ferry tragedy in 10 short days. Critics suspect this haphazard unrealistic presidential edict as a form of political posturing which risks the proper carriage of justice.=0=
The Princess of the Stars' Sinking
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The Princess of the Stars which sank off Romblon was by no means a "floating coffin" as some quarters alleged. It isn't a rust bucket either. It is in fact the flagship of Sulpicio Lines and it can easily match the amenities and comfort of any local ship. However, Sulpicio ships never match the cleanliness of the SuperFerry ships. It was the biggest local passenger ship ever, both in terms of Gross Registered Tonnes and in dimensions.
It is also not an old ship by local standards. Actually it is one of the newest among the local ferries. At 24 years it is not really that old even by international standards. Even in Europe, where standards are stringest by continental comparisons, a ship must be over 35 years old before it is refused registration.
The Bureau Veritas (BV), an international ship inspection and certification organization recognized worldwide confirmed that the ship was BV-certificated. It was also IMO (International Maritime Organization, a UN agency)-compliant according to a report. Most local ships are not internationally certificated. I don't think there's a about the seaworthiness of the ship.
So what went wrong?
I don't think the fault lies in the lack of government regulations. As it is, government rules regarding sailing of ships when there is a weather disturbance are already over-restrictive. Small ferries can't sail when storm signal #1 is hoisted. One must understand that storm signal indicates not just storm strength but also distance. The typhoon might be strong but it is still of some distance so only signal # 1 is raised. So you always have the scenario that it is still calm and shining in Matnog, Sorsogon and Allen, Northern Samar but the ferries are already grounded and the passengers are stranded on both sides of San Bernardino Strait.
I think our local weather service, the PAGASA is already passe. In a world where local weather conditions to the level of barangays can already be predicted (like www.fallingrain.com) and where predictions are changed every 3 hours or even more often PAGASA forecasts are already an anachronism. One does not need PAGASA to track storms. So many weather agencies, government and private do forecasts and it is available on the Net. Even our own Mike Padua can do a better and more timely forecast than PAGASA at much, much lesser cost. I do not know if PAGASA responds to text inquiries but Mike Padua's service certainly does.
It is clear from 2007 government guidelines that the final responsibility in sailing under storm conditions lies with the master (or captain) of the ship. PAGASA, JMA and JWTC has storm trackings from 3am and every 6 hours thereafter and it is available on the Net. aside from these satellites pictures are available almost every hour and it is also available on the Net.
When the ship sailed out of Manila on Friday at 8pm it still had the chance to check the 9pm weather bulletin. The ship then was still near Corregidor island. At 3am Saturday it is still just leaving Mindoro island of the coast of the municipality of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. By plotting the known positions of the typhoon from the late afternoon of Friday to Friday evening and Saturday dawn, the ship's navigators should have already sensed that the typhoon has changed course. The ship could then have turned back and hide somewhere in Batangas and Mindoro (yes, the Princess of the Stars is faster than the eye of the typhoon because it has a speed of 20 knots or about 37 kph whereas a typhoon seldom moves faster than 20 kph) or it could have turned south towards Antique. Many ships going to Cebu take a detour and pass around the southern tip of Panay island when there is a weather disturbance in Eastern Visayas or in Bicol.
In here one must already suspect negligence on the part of the navigation crew and on the Sulpicio port captains who also have authority to change the course of the vessel. I do not know if there was a gung-ho attitude on the part of the ship's navigation crew especially the captain. They must have known that in Japan ships of that size and construction are designed to sail in near-gale conditions. But signal #3 typhoons in the Philippines are much stronger than near-gale conditions.
I have plotted the course of the typhoon and the ship. At 7:30am when the ship was buffeted by very strong winds and mountainous waves it was just 70kms from the eye of the typhoon and definitely within the storm radius and they were in a collision course. Maybe the ship's navigation crew was lulled just before that time because they were being partially sheltered by the island of Sibuyan. They might not have known it but they were already in danger then. At that point I am not sure if they can still safely turn back.
At 12:30pm when the ship sank the typhoon's eye was just 35kms away from the wounded ship. At 3pm when the ship already sank, the storm's center passed very near the ship's grave.
I cannot express my appallment at such kind of navigation both on the part of the captain and on the part of the port captain. They are on the path of the typhoon and the ship and the company does not know it? And now they have the gall to blame PAGASA? And attribute it as an "act og God"? Who's God, by the way?
Did the ship's engine conk out during the storm and as such is the proximate cause of the sinking as others asked? No, it isn't as simple as that.
The ferry was a Ro-ro (short for roll on-roll off) vessel. But more exactly it is a Ro-pax (roll on-passenger) vessel. Ro-ro vessels have one critical weakness. It has a flush cargo deck inside the ship just above the water line. It is designed for ease in loading and unloading rolling cargoes (such as container vans mounted on truck chassis and vehicles). It might be convenient to load a Ro-ro but its design does not permit compartmentalization of the ship. Thus, when water enters the ship it cannot be localized and under a storm if the rolling cargoes break its lashings the cargoes will move.
When the ship was hit by monstrous waves, it tilted to one side. Obviously the lashings broke when that happened and the cargoes moved. That's why the ship cannot recover from lying on its side. When this happened it is finis to the ship no matter what the crew does. It is just a matter of time before it sinks.
Why?
When the ship lies on its side and cannot recover, only half of the water pumps will be effective because the other half is already out of suction with the water. And lying on its side the ship will take in water faster because some of the openings will then be in the water. In a short time the remaining pumps will become submerged in water conking them out. Soon the engine room will flood and the main and auxiliary engines will fail. All the power of the ship will then be gone and there is no way anymore to steer the ship. Actually, having a ship lying on its side is already very difficult to steer especially if one propeller is sticking out of the water and the rudder is also partially sticking out. Tha's why a ship lying on its side is already a dead ship.
A Ro-pax is more top-heavy than a normal ship because of the relatively empty cargo deck below and several passenger decks have to be built above. A Ro-ro lying on its side when it capsized has the tendency to sink upside-down if it is top-heavy. A passenger ship that capsizes upside-down has the tendency to trap passengers inside.
Once trapped the portholes (windows) and doors are very difficult to open because it is designed to open to the outside and the weight of water is simply too heavy to push. The passenger areas are then very dark because it is already under water and the ship's lights are no longer working. It is simply a matter of time before the trapped inside the ship is exhausted.
It is a grim death.
