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SINAGBAYAN
Sining na Naglilingkod sa Bayan
(Art in the Service of the People)
Press Release
April 5, 2008
Rice all you can for PGMA's minions, half-rice and none for the people
Young artists’ group SINAGBAYAN, in coordination with Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan, presents a mockery drama as Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her
first family and her minions in crime and corruption, among them COMELEC
Commissioner Benjamin Abalos and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales,
celebrate her 61st birthday in the midst of worsening poverty.
The drama, directed by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, is an expression of social
ironies: an agricultural country that cannot produce enough rice, a
country full of hardworking minds and laborers but unemployed, a country
blessed with all natural resources you can name but the people do not have
a share of its wealth.
Artists are part of the majority of people suffering due to a country’s
national leadership that does not care. Artists are one with the people in
calling for genuine dramatic change in economic and political condition of
beloved Philippines.
For the occasion, SINAGBAYAN composed the song Happy Birthday Gloria that
goes:
Happy ang birthday mo
Happy ang birthday mo
Ikaw lamang ang happy
Lahat kami ay hungry
Happy, happy ang ‘yong birthday
Sagana ang inumin, ang daming pagkain
Happy, happy ang ‘yong birthday
Inubos mo’ng, lahat pa’no na kami?
Happy ang birthday mo
Sa laki ng tubo
Sa kurakot, sa ganansya
Sa kickback at suhol
Happy, happy ang ‘yong birthday
Ika’y nagsasaya, kami’y nagdurusa
Punong-puno na sa’yo ang masa
Kaya dapat patalsikin ka na!
SINAGBAYAN is a member of LUMAHOK (Lupon ng mga Alagad ng Sining para sa
Hustisya at Katotohanan), an alliance of artists calling for Justice and
Truth. Its next activity is a forum and cultural jamming dubbed
P(hp)riceLess: What artists say and do, happening on April 8 at Conspiracy
Bar, Visayas Ave., Quezon City. Forum starts at 5 PM and jamming starts at
7 PM.
Speakers include Nanding
Josef, Joel Lamangan and Bonifacio Ilagan.
.............................................................................................................................
SINING na NAGLILINGKOD sa BAYAN (SINAGBAYAN Phil)
creating music, visuals, literature and drama for human rights
and national democracy
www.sinagbayan.multiply.com
www.geocities.com/sinagbayan
email
sinagbayan@yahoo.com
contact +63921.6165726
ART for the PEOPLE!
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People don't share Arroyo's
joy on her birthday, Protesters to air birthday wishes at Mendiola
News Release
April 4, 2008
April 5 marks the 61st birthday of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
This year, the president will observe her birthday amid renewed
allegations of corruption and other misdeeds. For the past two months,
critics have launched a series of mass actions demanding truth,
accountability in government and the president’s resignation.
“Since it is her birthday, and since this happens only once a year, we
will just politely reiterate our call for her to step down and end the
political crisis. That is our simple birthday wish for her,” said Bayan
secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“This may even be the collective birthday wish for her from many of our
countrymen. We hope she understands that many Filipinos can’t share her
joy on her birthday,” the Bayan leader said.
A small protest action is set for Saturday at Mendiola Bridge in Manila,
just outside the presidential palace. The Mayor of Manila, Alredo Lim, has
a policy allowing protesters to gather at the historic bridge on weekends
and holidays.
“We can’t blame the people if they can’t share the happiness of the
President on her birthday. Many of the people are poor and hungry. Many
are unemployed. The rice crisis is hitting hard the consumers. Oil prices
are increasing every week,” Reyes said.
“Ordinary folks are a long way from being ‘happy’. Quite the opposite,
it’s those in power who are the happiest,” Reyes added.
At the protest action, Arroyo critics will “sing birthday songs, offer a
birthday cake, and express their birthday wishes for the president.”
“This is our way of saying that the issues are still alive and the groups
demanding accountability are still here,” Reyes said.
April is not only the president’s birthday. It also marks two months since
ZTE star witness Jun Lozada was abducted at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport after he arrived from Hong Kong.
“April 5 marks two months since the Lozada abduction of February 5. During
the past two months, we witnessed cover up after cover up. There has been
no serious effort on the part of government to address the allegations of
corruption. The standard policy has been denial and cover up,” Reyes said.
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