What do we do then? – Ding Generoso

I THOUGHT I heard President Arroyo say on radio yesterday morning something like “We did well” in rescuing victims of and responding to the Typhoon Ondoy disaster.

I’m sorry, Mrs. President, but I could not disagree more. Just because we recovered fewer dead bodies than what we thought could have been does not mean we did well.

Because, to be brutally frank, government response has been not only slow and late, but severely wanting.

And we should not accept—or even entertain the thought—that we did well because, if we do so—as we had always done each time disaster hit us in the past—we will never learn our lessons, we will keep repeating the same mistakes, and we will not move a finger to mend our ways and prepare ourselves for future disasters.

It’s true that in times like these, there will always be individual heroes, like Muelmar Magallanes and Judge Ralph Lee, but individual heroism is not what is needed in times of emergency and disaster. What we need is timely, organized, efficient response that saves every life that can be saved and mitigates the damage.

More than that, we need a warning system to enable people to prepare. And we need an agency that prepares long before disaster strikes and does not meet only when disaster has already struck, which is what the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) often does.

In the first place, we are probably the only country in the world that has a council that “coordinates” disaster. Why do we have to presume that there will always be a disaster when what we have to prepare for is, first, just an emergency situation? A strong typhoon about to hit is not a disaster, but just an emergency that we need to prepare for. It becomes a disaster only if we fail to prepare for it and we are unable to prevent massive deaths, displacement of people and damage to property.

I remember when I was about five years old when a strong typhoon was about to hit our town in Mindoro Oriental. While the storm raged, we heard knocks on the door early in the night. It was a member of the Philippine Constabulary (PC), in thick green raincoat, a flashlight in hand. He asked my father if we needed help or if we want to be brought to higher ground. (Our bamboo-and-nipa house was in the middle of our rice field, less than a kilometer away from the irrigation canal, which could overflow.) I doubt if this still happens today, but this gives us an idea of what kind of preparedness we should have in place.

Sometime ago, when National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales was concurrent defense secretary and NDCC chairman, I happened to meet with him to offer some ideas on disaster response. At the time we met, a storm was approaching the Bicol region. And the first thing I told him was, “You know, Secretary, what I think is wrong with NDCC is that it acts only when the typhoon has already wreaked havoc, not before. I think what you need to do is to dispatch now to Bicol an emergency-response and rescue team and send over water, food and other relief items that might be needed in case the typhoon hits hard. How are you going to send rescue teams and food when the roads are already flooded or the bridges have been washed out?”

Gonzales was receptive to my suggestion, and I believe he actually did it, except that the storm changed course and did not hit the region as feared. But that did not mean the effort was lost.

I don’t know exactly how the NDCC operates. But from what we watch on TV, hear on radio and read in newspapers, it seems to me that the NDCC is more of an ad-hoc body than a permanent agency that can manage emergencies. And the people that run it have other daily jobs to do.

For instance, you have the defense secretary as chairman—but as it is, he is already loaded with other jobs at the defense department fighting an insurgency, a secessionist movement and terrorism. How do you expect the defense secretary to have time to plan for a natural emergency?

On top of that, the members of the council are secretaries of other departments whose primary duties are with their agencies. The entire organization, if you can call it an organization, down the line, is made up of people on part-time assignment.

This situation does not bode well for a country visited by disasters and calamities as often as we celebrate holidays.

So as I had suggested to a senator sometime in 1999, it is about time we abolished the NDCC and create instead a National Emergency Management Authority (Nema) that will be manned full-time by persons with experience in emergency management and disaster mitigation. And it should have under its wings both full-time and part-time rescuers and emergency personnel that are on call 24/7.

And, more important, it should have a permanent budget, unlike our current setup where there is just a calamity fund government officials can draw from when a state of calamity has already been declared. We should use the money to prevent a calamity from happening, not after a calamity has already happened.

And, perhaps, we can also have the equivalent of the US National Guard, which are called upon in case of emergencies, natural or man-made. I think this was one of the roles of the old Philippine Constabulary before. But the PC was abolished by the Aquino administration and merged with the Integrated National Police. So now we don’t have any that we can call upon in case of emergency.

As part of its mandate, the Nema should draw up standard response systems for every type of emergency, study areas prone to floods and other disasters, and draw up emergency evacuation systems, maintain evacuation centers and institute an alert or warning system that can guide people in times of emergency. It should even draw up scenarios and advise people accordingly.

It’s true that natural emergencies are bound to happen anytime and we cannot prevent them. But we can always prepare for them and mitigate their impact. Unless we do that, we will have another Ondoy disaster in a year or two.

E-mail: ding.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/opinion/16658-what-do-we-do-then.html

Nightmare in September – Art Umbac

First, there was Ormoc City. Then, Iloilo City. And now, Metro Manila, to mention only three in living memory. Common denominator: destroyed by flood water of unimaginable magnitude, wreaking havoc in the lives of people in these communities. Death, destruction, twisted way of life.

The massive flooding of the aforementioned places dramatized nature’s determination to have its own way. There was absolutely nothing that human power or governmental intervention could have done to prevent floods or at least mitigate its deleterious impact on an unfortunately brute power – unstoppable, unrestrained, merciless, overwhelming, dominant, destructive. This was typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila last Saturday.

When the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) predicted the entry of typhoon Ondoy into the Philippine area of responsibility, it considered the weather disturbance just like any other packing tremendous wind power and bringing rain along its path.

Since we are frequently visited by typhoons, we considered Ondoy as just one of those that have come and gone in our islands to continue their journey of destruction against humanity in some Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese shores.

Ondoy appeared to be so ordinary a typhoon – packing winds of only 85 kilometers per hour – that its devastating capacity was unexpected and, probably, underestimated. Not being a super typhoon this consideration of Ondoy missed the fact that it was a very dangerous typhoon for reason other than its wind power.

Consider the following insight from Pagasa spokesperson which is relevant to typhoon Ondoy. It is said that when a typhoon packs strong winds say 175 kilometers per hour the danger here is the devastating effects of its velocity. Not so much with the rain that comes with it, generally true. It is when we have a typhoon that moves slowly on its path that the threat of heavy rainfall, and thence a deluge, becomes a cause fro great concern.

In terms of wind power Ondoy was a weak typhoon compared to the many others before it. This made it a more dangerous carrier of destructive rainfall – a sinister load of it waiting to be dumped into the earth below. Unknown to many of us, up there in the sky hovering over Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces, was literally a vast ocean of water the volume equivalent to one month’s rainfall.

And so began this nightmare of September 26, a Saturday. Slow-moving Ondoy unable to hold on anymore to its ocean of water, let loose its destructive load. In just six hours the equivalent of thirty days of rainfall transformed Metro Manila into a sea of death and destruction. This was the worst flooding in forty years of any place in our country – Ormoc and Iloilo considered.

Ours is a flood-prone country. Some people asked whether this kind of tragedy can happen to our province of Negros Oriental – its cities, towns, and barangays. Let’s share some insights into this matter next week.

http://www.negroschronicle.com/?p=6543#cut-1

North and Central Luzon brace for Typhoon Ramil

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines—Julie Otinguey, 63, on Friday had to rush down her two-story building in Barangay Betag here to check if her boarders were safe.

Otinguey said she was afraid that rains on Friday afternoon would get stronger and again flood the building’s ground floor, as they did last week when floodwaters swamped it and forced people downstairs to seek refuge on the upper floor.

She then went out to check that the canal nearby was not clogged and made sure that all electric wires were hung properly and that leaking ceilings were plugged.

Otinguey, after all these, prayed that Typhoon Ramil would change course and spare the Cordillera region, where massive landslides spawned by tropical Typhoon Pepeng last week killed more than 300 people.

Down in Pangasinan, where floods spawned by Pepeng’s continuous rains last week submerged farms, communities and business centers in 38 towns and cities, officials and residents of riverine communities started preparing early for Ramil.

“We have started to evacuate our people to a vacant space away from the dike,” said Jasmin Gamboa, village chief of Carmen East, a community along the Agno River in the municipality of Rosales.

Her village was one of the most devastated areas in Pangasinan when the San Roque dam in San Manuel released excess water into the Agno River, causing it to swell. Flood waters topped the earth dikes and eroded them, eventually inundating the village.

At least 800 families were left homeless when their houses were either swept away or toppled by rampaging flood waters. They have settled in makeshift structures on vacant lots just across the road.

“We are scared by the typhoon’s coming,” Gamboa said. “Our people have suffered so much and I’m worried for them.”

As Typhoon Ramil continued moving toward Northern and Central Luzon, residents and local governments still feeling the impact of Pepeng started preparations to lessen the blow of the approaching typhoon.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said he asked the province’s 13 mayors to move people away from danger zones.

He reminded people to be extra careful and ordered all disaster coordinating councils in Benguet to stay alert as the province braced itself for the typhoon.

Local officials, he said, were also tasked to find safe areas to serve as evacuation centers and temporary relocation centers.

Fongwan said municipal and village officials were under strict orders to ensure that families displaced by landslides will not return to where their homes stood.

“We will not allow the families to return to their homes if their areas are considered as geohazard [zones],” he said. “We do not want to hear reports about new casualties since we failed to give the proper warning.”

Local officials are worried of possible delays in relocation and relief operations should Ramil hit the region.

Since Monday, two Huey helicopters of the Philippine Air Force have brought rice and other goods to areas that had run out of food, like villages in Buguias, Atok, Kibungan, Sablan and Bokod towns.

The same helicopters delivered relief goods to Mountain Province.

In Pangasinan, Rosales Mayor Ricardo Revita said he had no choice but to “face the problem and prepare for it.”

Revita said he has yet to order the evacuation of residents in villages along the dike.

“We will have to focus on critical areas. We will have to constantly monitor the water level in the river,” he said.

Rosales resident Leny Flores, 58, said she was ready to open her house again in Carmen West if floods again ravage her town.

Flores’ house was turned into an evacuation center for at least 30 families when Pepeng hit the province.

“We were like sardines; nobody lay down. We just stood there until the water receded,” she said.

Gamboa said residents will place sand bags on the damaged portions of the dike to stop water from seeping into their village if the Agno swells again.

Revita on Saturday said the San Roque Dam should release only as much excess water as the Agno River can take.

“With no rainfall, I think the river can absorb as much as 2,500 cubic meters per second (cms),” he said.

At noon Saturday, the National Power Corp. increased the opening of San Roque Dam’s two spillway gates from two meters to three meters.

In a general notice for dam water releases it issued on Friday, Napocor said the San Roque reservoir’s water level was expected to rise due to rains brought about by Ramil.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the dam’s water elevation was 283.35 meters above sea level. It was releasing water at 772 cms.

“Due to additional release of water, the water level and flow in the Agno River is expected to rise. Please be on the alert and take necessary precautions,” Napocor said.

In Baguio City, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. asked residents to avoid panicking.

Landslides spawned by heavy rains accompanying Pepeng last week blocked major roads and isolated the city for about two days.

Bautista said the new typhoon was still far and people have time to prepare, he said.

In Pampanga, couple Jesus and Lucy Tingin, who own a bakery in the town plaza of Guagua, transferred their baking machines and other equipment to their house’s second floor to save them from any more floods.

“We have no choice but to salvage our baking machines and equipment. If not, we will lose our source of livelihood,” said Lucy, 65.

“There’s always flood in our area because of the high tide. Heavy rains raise the flood level. We lost our customers due to the floods,” Jesus, 63, said.

The Tingins hope the coming typhoon will be less destructive.

Another resident, Natividad Verzano, said she placed important documents, like birth and marriage certificates, in a vault in her house’s second floor.

Guagua Mayor Ricardo Rivera said evacuation centers have been identified and relief goods were readied in his town.

In Isabela, officials of Magat Dam continued the releasing water at a rate of 833 cubic meters per second in anticipation of the typhoon.

Melchito Castro, director of the Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley, said his office has alerted all local governments in the region to prepare for the typhoon and evacuate residents in areas expected to be hit.

“Preemptive evacuation has been our priority in flood-prone areas. Even if they resist, if it is for their safety, we will carry them from their houses to evacuation sites,” said Antonio Montereal Jr., information officer of the Ilagan government.
Reports from Delmar Cariño, Gabriel Cardinoza, Yolanda Sotelo, Vincent Cabreza and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Charlene Cayabyab and Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon

DSWD pre-positions relief goods for typhoon Ramil

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Sunday that it has been “pre-positioning” relief goods in anticipation of typhoon “Ramil” and has put on hold the government’s relief caravan for the victims of typhoon “Pepeng” in northern and Central Luzon.

“We felt it was better to advance the delivery of goods so we started pre-positioning yesterday,” Cabral said on Sunday, as she indefinitely postponed the project dubbed “Sama-Samang Pagtulong Relief Caravan,” according to a DSWD advisory.

In a text message, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that the postponement was “because of the impending storm.”

The caravan would have included a hundred truckloads of relief goods to be distributed to some 500,000 families in 19 provinces in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Aside from several national government agencies, more than 30 private and international organizations have pitched in for the relief caravan.

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 15:42:00 10/18/2009

The Culprit in Our Time – Art Umbac

During the 46th Founding Anniversary of the National Defence College of the Philippines (NDCP) last August 14, 2009 at the Philippine Plaza, Manila, Sec. Norberto B. Gonzales, National Security Adviser of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, reiterated once again what he has been emphasizing in various forum that: the greatest threat to our national security and stability is the kind of politics that we have in our country.

Sec. Gonzales knows from whence he speaks. He has distilled all the date and information pointing out to what is terribly wrong in our country. The culprit, the central problem: our kind of politics. Unless this central problem is effectively addressed we shall continue to wallow in instability as a way of life.

The armed confrontations in our countryside, the unrests and protests in our streets are only some of the manifestations of the many things terribly wrong here and now. These are by-products and outbursts of the cancerous cells eating the spectrum of our political life.

What are the marks of “our kind of politics”? Let us put it this way. What are the badges that characterize our kind of politicians that make up our kind of politics; the kind of which is given a negative connotation by our country’s national security adviser?

A very concerned, very responsible and discriminating personality in the academe once told me thus – if we have to put a human face on the demon that has been the cause – and should be held accountable – for all the miseries suffered by our people, presto! We have Mr. Traditional Politician himself! No contest.

Traditional politics by traditional politicians. The culture of corruption in high places – unbridled, shameless, unconscionable corruption. The use of public funds and resources for purely partisan purposes as if these are personally theirs which they can dispense to their friends, relatives, political supporters. The traditional politician is convinced that the money and resources of the government that come his way by virtue of his position is his. He is so obsessed with his power and authority that he refuses to believe that the money and resources of government are rightfully owned by all the people – those who voted for him, those who voted against him, and those who did not vote at all.

The venerable Gov. Mariano F. Perdices once told me: “Arturo, we have a saying in Spanish which means that when a cat is scalded by boiling water it will stay away from water even if the same is cold.”

The Filipino people have been scalded by the boiling water of traditional politics for quite sometime now. Will the collective electorate stay away from traditional politicians come May 2010?

Come 2010 our people will be scanning the horizon for these: trustworthiness – can one be trusted; credibility – can one be believed; moral integrity – can one be an example and role model for honesty and exemplary family life; competence – can one be relied upon to implement programs of government; and track record – can one present record of accomplishments in the service of our people?

All the above will surely correct the negative complexion of our kind of politics which is considered to be the most serious threat to our way of life.

http://www.negroschronicle.com/?p=6359#cut-1

FFW condemns killing of Sumilao Farmers Leader

FFW condemns killing of Sumilao Farmers Leader

“The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) condemns in the strongest terms possible the violent killing of Sumilao Farmers Leader Rene Peñas,” said Atty. Sonny Matula, Vice President of the FFW.

Ka Rene, a leader of Pakisama, a federation of farmers groups and a paralegal from Sumilao was ambushed at around 11:00 pm on June 5. He was on his way home, with two other companions when he was shot.

Matula, who is Chief Legal Counsel of the FFW, served as lawyer of Pakisama during Ka Rene’s time.

“The labor movement condemns this brutal killing of a leader who lived a life fighting for agrarian reform and social justice,” added Matula.

The FFW has maintained that: “All and every instance of extra judicial killing is condemnable, be this committed by the armed forces of duly constituted governments or by the armies of rebel forces or by pure and simple criminal elements.”

“We pray for his loved ones and for justice to be served,” added Matula.

With the death of Ka Rene, the FFW reiterates its support for agrarian reform. “This is indeed a great loss for agrarian reform advocacy. While it will be difficult to fill in his shoes, we hope that more peasant leaders will come out and pattern their style of leadership and dedication after him,” said Matula.

The FFW has had strong ties with the peasant movement since its inception in 1950, when it was established by a Jesuit priest, Fr. Walter Hogan and Ateneo Class Valedictorian Johnny Tan.

http://www.ffw.org.ph/2009%20UPDATES/JUNE%202009%20UPDATE/FFW%20condemns%20killing%20of%20Sumilao%20Farmers%20Leader.htm

FFW condemns killing of civil society leader

“The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) condemns the killing of Danilo Yang, general secretary of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).”

Yang, who is also a Laguna provincial board member, was murdered last Wednesday with two of his aides in Brgy. San Juan Bautista, San Pablo City, when five unidentified men ambushed them during a program in celebration of the barangay fiesta. A fourth companion of the victims survived but suffered several wounds.

“Violence has no place in a democratic society,” said FFW National Vice President Sonny Matula. “A culture of tolerance should prevail, where there is utmost respect for other people’s beliefs,” he added.

Yang was apparently warned by army intelligence about two weeks ago of possible attempts on his life by the New People’s Army (NPA). Investigators have not confirmed any suspects to the murders thus far.

The PDSP leader is believed to have been in the order of battle of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA since 2004. He went to communities presenting alternatives to the communist influence.

“Resolving disagreements through the barrel of the gun is not only barbaric, it also negates the gains of humanity in establishing just and lasting peace and resolving differences through peaceful means like social dialogue, said Matula.

Yang’s murder together with his two other colleagues, follows yet another killing of a peasant leader a few weeks ago, Ka Rene Peñas, leader of Pakisama who successfully led Sumilao famers into owning the land they till. His advocacy also led to the newly approved Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPer).

The case of political and extra judicial killings have risen, peaking in 2007.

Already, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights investigated the incidents in the country and noted that government efforts at containing the same have been wanting.

By next month, a High Level Mission from the International Labor Organization (ILO) will be arriving in Manila to investigate the alleged extra judicial killings of union leaders in the country and possible violation to the ILO treaties on the freedom to form and join unions and to bargain collectively.

Yang, a PDSP community organizer and political officer since his youth, rose to become a board member of Laguna in 2007 after topping the election for the councilors of San Pablo City and later the provincial league of all city and municipal councilors.

Killed with Yang were PDSP members Manolo Barcenas (Brgy. Chair of Brgy. Santiago 2, San Pablo City) and Brando de los Santos (security staff).

http://www.ffw.org.ph/2009%20UPDATES/JUNE%202009%20UPDATE/FFW%20condemns%20killing%20of%20civil%20society%20leader.html

Social Democracy by Father Ruben Tanseco S.J.

Once again, today’s Scripture readings emphasize God’s law of love for all humanity. The Letter of James (5:1-6) condemns the rich who live in luxury and exploit the poor and underprivileged, while the Gospel reading (Mk. 9: 38-48) speaks of God’s universal love and justice for all. And once again, we realize how our laissez-faire capitalistic system is so incongruous with God’s plan for mankind. Now that we recognize the late Ninoy Aquino as a national hero, let me focus on his conversion experience while in prison, found in his writings which were later published by his beloved widow, the late Cory Aquino. A few excerpts from his Testament From A Prison Cell are worth quoting here:

“In time, I came to accept: Capitalism must be reformed by an ideology that will restore the original balance between economic and political freedom.

“Capitalism must be corrected by vigorous anti-monopoly legislation, supplemented more positively by social welfare and security measures than now exist. Basic economic decisions must be made by the community -— the government — and not by private owners of the means of production. More efficient national economic planning must be adopted to husband our meager resources and bring the greatest good to the greatest number. I believe in a Christian Democratic Socialist ideology that will harmonize political freedom with social and economic equality, taking and merging the best of the primary conflicting systems — communism and capitalism. I believe in the Christian Socialist ideology that seeks to establish a set of rational, pragmatic, empirically viable criteria that qualify an industry for nationalization. I agree that monopolies in private hands must never be allowed. I also believe that basic and strategic industries must be nationalized, because it is too dangerous to leave the determination of national needs and priorities in the hands of a few. My primary concern is national interest and the general welfare, not nationalization.”

That was Ninoy Aquino. Today, the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) under the leadership of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez is strongly advocating a very similar and even more articulated ideology and program for our country. Their slogan:

We need a change of system, not just a change of leaders.

It is time for social democracy.

In my limited space here, I cannot do justice in fully explaining the God-inspired principles and programs of the PDSP. But let me try my best, with the prayer that more and more of our citizens and leaders may be actively involved in supporting social democracy, for the common good of our people and the future of our country.

Social democracy rightfully condemns the evils of liberal democracy in a pre-existing situation of grave social inequality. Liberal democracy, while theoretically promoting formal equality under the law, does not promote equal social power, so that the already powerful gain all the more power, because they have the economic and intellectual means and social connections to use the law to their own advantage. Liberal democracy in the Philippines amounts to “elite politics”: the participation of and advantage to the economically and socially prominent families and individuals or their media allies.

Our social democrats advocate reforms in three main systems of society: the economy, politics, and culture.

Economy: A socially equitable and sustainable economy through the following:

• socially equitable by appropriate government intervention to protect and improve the income, safety, health, and welfare of the citizens, especially the working people

• sustainable by safeguards for the integrity and health of the natural environment

Politics: A participative and formative democracy through:

• substantial participation of the citizens in social discussion and governance

• systemic formation of the citizenry in the values, knowledge and skills for effectively engaging in civil life and public affairs

Culture: An authentically humanist culture that is

• interfaith in basis

• formally expressed in human ethics

• favorable to moral renewal through work for the common good and promotion of virtues _ personal, domestic and civic – especially patriotism, honesty, and diligence.

I end this brief presentation by emphasizing that all the social teachings of the Church are socialist in ideology – from Pope Leo XIII to our present Pope Benedict XVI.

May the merciful Lord lead us to elect national leaders in 2010 who will carry out the prophetic vision of Ninoy Aquino, the principles and programs of social democracy, all in harmony with the social teachings of the Church. Maka-Diyos. Maka-Tao. Maka-Bayan.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=509015&publicationSubCategoryId=64

Comrade Manuel “Manolo” A. Daza

On 2 October 2009, at 4:30 p.m., Comrade Manuel “Manolo” A. Daza was shot to death by members of a team of five assassins, from all indications from the New People’s Army (NPA). The assassination took place at Barangay San Lorenzo, Rosario, Northern Samar.

Comrade Manolo Daza was the most senior member of the Philippine Democratic Socialist Party (PDSP) in the province of Northern Samar. He was 64 years old when he was assassinated.

During the Marcos regime his work with the party took him for some months to the quarters of the PDSP collective at the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) base at Jampiras, Sungai Besar, Sandakan District, Sabah, East Malaysia. This was in 1981.

He also helped the party in Madrid, Spain, in the work of organizing in Western Europe the democratic opposition to the Marcos regime, in 1982 and 1983.

His main base of operations for the party during the Marcos regime was in California, in the United States of America.

After the restoration of formal political democracy in 1986, and to the time he was assassinated, most of his party work was done among farmers and fisherfolk, especially in Samar.

Comrade Manolo Daza is a brother of Northern Samar Governor Raul A. Daza, and uncle of Rep. Paul R. Daza of the 1st District of Northern Samar.

The wake is in Barangay Bantolinao, municipality of Rosario. This is the home barangay of his widow, Madame Lorna “Ingay” Cajandab – Daza. You may send messages of condolence to mobile phone number 09189125920, and these will be passed on to her. Please indicate your full name and include important data to identify you well.

Comrade Manolo Daza’s interment will be in the morning and noon of 10 October, Saturday. His remains will be fetched from Barangay Bantolinao at 8 a.m, and brought to the Annunciation Cathedral of Catarman Diocese, at Catarman municipality, for Mass at 9 a.m.. Interment is scheduled for 11 a.m., at the Catarman Memorial Park.

“Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended . . . “ (Preface I for Masses for the Faithful Departed)

“Blessed are they who offer this mortal life for our country and people.”

“Let us carry on his fight, until victory.”

PDSP Secretariat

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Ka. Manuel “Manolo” A. Daza

pinatay ng mga asesinong NPA

Sa ika-4:30 ng hapon noong 2 Oktubre 2009, binaril nang ikamamatay si Ka. Manuel “Manolo” A. Daza ng ilan sa pangkat ng limang asesino ng New People’s Army (NPA). Naganap ang asesinato sa Baranggay San Lorenzo, Rosario, Hilagang Samar.

Si Ka. Manolo Daza ang pinaka-senior na kasapi ng Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) sa lalawigan ng Hilagang Samar. Anim na pu’t apat na taon siya noong pinatay.

Noong panahon ng rehimeng Marcos, dinala siya ng trabaho sa partido na tumira ng ilang buwan sa himpilan ng kolektiba ng PDSP sa base ng Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) sa Jampiras, Sungai Besar, Distrito ng Sandakan, Sabah, Silangang Malaysia. Naganap ito noong taong 1981.

Tumulong din siya sa gawain ng partido sa Madrid, Espanya, sa pag-oorganisa sa Kanlurang Europa ng demokratikong oposisyon sa rehimeng Marcos. Naganap ito noong mga taong 1982 at 1983.

Ang kaniyang pangunahing base para sa mga gawain ng partido noong panahon ng rehimeng Marcos ay sa California, Estados Unidos ng Amerika.

Matapos maibalik ang pormal na demokrasyang pulitikal noong 1986, at hanggang sa panahong pinatay siya ng mga asesino, ang malaking bahagi ng kanyang pagsisikap para sa partido ay sa hanay ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda, laluna sa Hilagang Samar.

Si Ka. Manolo Daza ay kapatid ni Gobernador Raul A. Daza ng Hilagang Samar, at tiyuhin ni Rep. Paul R. Daza ng 1ng Distrito ng Hilagang Samar.

Ang burol para sa kaniya ay nasa Baranggay Bantolinao, bayan ng Rosario. Ito ang tahanang baranggay ng kaniyang biyuda na si Ginang Lorna “Ingay” Cajandab – Daza. Maaari kayong magpadala ng mensahe ng pakikiramay sa teleponong mobil na numero 09189125920, at ipapasa sa kaniya ang mga mensahe ninyo. Tiyaking isama sa mensahe ang inyong kumpletong pangalan at ibang mahalagang datos upang makilala kayo nang mabuti.

Ang funebre ni Ka. Manolo Daza ay magaganap sa umaga’t tanghali ng 10 October, Sabado. Susunduin ang kaniyang mga labi sa Baranggay Bantolinao nang 8 n.u. at dadalhin ito sa Annunciation Cathedral ng Diyosesis ng Catarman, sa bayan ng Catarman, upang ipanalananginan at mabasbasan sa Misa na magsisimula sa ganap na 9 n.u.. Nakatakda ang libing sa 11 n.u, sa Catarman Memorial Park.

“. . . para sa mga may pananampalataya sa iyo, Panginoon, ang buhay ay hindi nagwawakas, bagkus nagbabago . . . “ (mula sa Unang Prepasyo sa Misa ukol sa mga Yumao)

“Pinagpala ang nag-alay ng lumilipas na buhay na ito alang-alang sa Inang Bayan at sa sambayanan.”

“Ating ipagpaluloy ang kaniyang laban, hanggang sa tagumpay.”

Kalihiman ng PDSP